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SHADES OF BLACK, Part 2

by

D.L. Witherspoon

Chapter Seven

Blair tapped softly on Jim's door the next morning, prepared to go back to his room if he received no answer. Of course, the proper thing would probably be to go down and join the rest of the Family for breakfast but there was no way in hell he was doing that without Jim. Actually, he didn't want to do it even with Jim. Adam was right; there were some cutthroat members of the Family and it seemed they did the most cutting on their "sisters and brothers." He hadn't grown up in a large family, but he knew the viciousness he had witnessed couldn't be considered normal under any circumstance.

Of course, Jim had taken it all in stride. Probably because he was safe from the malicious chatter, back-stabbing, and name-calling. Although the temperaments and personalities were different, Father's children had one thing in common-- they were above average in the brains department and because of that, none of them was foolish enough to tick off the Elder. In fact they were all very obsequious when dealing with Jim. Blair wondered several times how his partner kept from throwing up or at least shooting one or more of them. Maybe that was because Adam had passed on the message that Blair too, was to be spared.

Poor Matthew had suffered the worst. He and Walter had arrived late last night, which told everyone that the Elder's ultimatum had solved whatever the problem was and that meant James had succeeded where Matthew failed. Like sharks smelling blood in the water, they had ganged up on the "loser", questioning not only his masculinity but his femininity, bloodlines, and place on the evolutionary ladder. He had retaliated, but by that time Blair had had enough and left for bed, convinced that the whole lot of them was insane.

"Come in." Jim frowned when he saw it was Blair waiting in the hallway. "We have connecting rooms for a reason, Chief. What are you doing knocking in the hall?"

"The way Juliette was all over you last night, man, I didn't want to interrupt anything," Blair explained. That was something that bothered him as well. It was one thing to learn your hero had feet of clay but to find out she was slutty too was difficult for an impressionable person like himself.

"She was clingy, wasn't she?" Jim admitted as he slipped into a sweater. "But I didn't encourage her, Chief."

"You don't have to tell me that. The look you had on your face at times... It's a wonder you didn't shove her away." He paused and looked closely at his partner. "Why didn't you? She's definitely not your type of lady."

Jim rubbed a hand across his face. "Juliette has always been infatuated with me. In fact, Father came to know her because she followed me home. She did a lecture at OCS. I asked her out and the next thing I knew, I couldn't get rid of her. I think Father gave her the European sector just to get her out of my hair."

"Apparently it wasn't enough of a deterrent."

"Nothing has been, Chief. After Peru, she came to visit me and let's just say I wasn't my usual charming self. Didn't faze her one bit."

"What about you getting married? Surely that put a crimp in her plans. Even she had to know you wouldn't be unfaithful to your wife."

Jim walked over to the window and looked out, avoiding his friend. "No, I never cheated on Carolyn. But she divorced me and two days after the papers were signed, Juliette was at the door. I wish I could tell you I had the strength of character to send her on her way, but I can't. That was the first and the only time I have ever deliberately used a woman. It was hard for me to look myself in the mirror after I sent her back to Europe."

The woman throws herself at him knowing full well she's catching him in a weak moment, he succumbs, and he thinks *he* used her-- only Jim Ellison would come to that conclusion. "So guilt keeps you from ordering her onto a plane."

Jim shrugged. "Eventually she'll get frustrated and leave on her own. Or I'll leave and go back to Cascade. She knows not to follow me to Washington."

"You know the more I get to know you, Jim--"

"The more you find to dislike about me, Chief?"

"The more I wonder how you've survived this long. All this guilt and blame you heap upon yourself, it isn't good, Jim," Blair explained for the nth time. "Forget the fact that you're a mere human, everybody you meet isn't a nice person, big guy."

"You're talking to a cop, remember?" Jim snorted.

Blair shook his head. "I think that's the problem. If it's not a criminal offense, you don't consider it a crime. But, Jim, showing up two days after you sign divorce papers, knowing that you had to be wallowing in feelings of guilt, failure, inadequacy--"

"You can stop anytime, Sandburg."

Blair grinned sheepishly, knowing he had gone too far. "You know what I mean, Jim. She was the one using you, using your bad opinion of yourself to get what she wanted. She attacked you at a low point in your life and you are not to blame if you grabbed the rope she held out to you."

Jim sighed. "It really doesn't matter now anyway. We won't be here long and I know you're glad of that. You'd probably like to leave right now, wouldn't you?"

Blair paced the room. "Actually, I'm not ready to go just yet." Jim looked at him as if he'd lost his mind. "Don't get me wrong, Jim. I don't like your new Family. In fact, after last night I even have a new appreciation for Adam. He, at least, didn't participate in the bloodsport they made of Matthew. And believe me, that's the only good thing I can say about last night. But you can't expect me to leave here, partner, without learning what it is the Family does. Don't toss me a puzzle, Jim, without at least showing me the picture on the box."

"After what you had to endure last night, how could I deny you anything, Chief? Let's go."

"Where?" Blair asked, wondering if he was dressed appropriately. But Jim was casual too.

"To look at the picture on the box."

*****

Blair was surprised when instead of turning toward the door when they reached the bottom of the stairs, Jim led him to the library. "Where is everyone?" he asked when he heard no loud voices or smelled spilled blood.

"On a group pilgrimage to the hospital. I figured if I stayed home they could bitch and moan to Father without having to fear my reprisals. Hopefully, they'll be in a better mood after that."

"You don't like them either, do you?"

Jim shrugged. "You should meet them one on one. It's the competition that stirs them up and makes them so ugly." He walked around several tables and chairs and a large oak desk before stopping in front of a door which Blair figured led to a storage closet but instead, Jim placed his palm on a panel and the door swished open to reveal an elevator.

"Cool," Blair commented as he stepped inside.

"Good morning, Sam," Jim called out as the small cubicle began to sink.

"Good morning, Elder," the elevator replied. "Earlier, I didn't get a chance to express my delight in having you home. Your presence is pleasing as usual."

"What a nice compliment, Sam. By the way, with me is Mr. Blair Sandburg. He will need a security package."

"Visitor or Family?"

"Family."

"Welcome to the Family, Mr. Sandburg. Please step forward and place your right palm on the panel."

Blair looked at Jim in amazement. "Is this for real? A talking elevator named Sam?"

"Not just an elevator, Chief. Sam is the latest thing in artificial intelligence. He is in charge of all security matters, the phone systems, and power controls."

"Your very own HAL," Blair said in disbelief as he placed his hand in position.

"My name is Sam. Sam I am. I do not like green eggs and ham. And I despise being compared to HAL. Please refrain from doing so again, Mr. Sandburg. Your left palm now, sir."

Blair's eyes widened at the reprimand. Wow. A miffed computer. "I'm sorry, Sam. It will never happen again. And please, call me Blair."

"Certainly, Blair. Southern hospitality dictates that I wait until you make the offer. Elder, will you be going to your office or to the labs?"

"The labs, Sam. I'm giving Blair the tour."

The elevator began moving horizontally. "Blair, look into my eyes," Sam directed.

"Excuse me?" Before Blair could question Jim, two bright lights flashed in front of him.

"Retinal scan complete," Sam reported. "Enjoy the tour, gentlemen." The door slid open. "Don't forget to don your lab coats. Contamination is a no-no. Also, certain areas have other safety protocols. Please observe them or you'll hear from me." Blair was suitably warned, then Sam blew it. "Was I stern enough, Elder? I have been practicing.

"That was fine, Sam. I'm impressed with your growth."

"Thank you, sir."

Blair rolled his eyes at the eagerness in the computer's voice as well as the pride with which it had accepted Jim's compliment. "Uh, what is it with the two of you? Sam sounded like an anxious child seeking parental approval, and he was just as ecstatic when you patted him on the head, so to speak." He slipped into the labcoat that had been waiting on a table just outside the elevator, crisply folded and bearing a nametag that read "B. Sandburg". It was a perfect fit. Blair knew if he thought about it too much, it would scare him.

"Sam needs encouragement, Blair. I give it to him when I can."

"Because you are the Elder?"

"Yes, and because I convinced Father to install the system. I think Sam considers me his benefactor." He buttoned the labcoat which was the perfect length for him. "I think the best way to do this is to start walking and when you have a question, you ask it."

Blair nodded. He was impressed with the anti-contamination processes which began with an airlock that they had to go through before emerging into a wide hallway. On either side of the hall were laboratories. Thick glass separated them from the hall and each other. The transparent partitions allowed Blair to see the varied projects going on. He frowned, looked up at Jim, then frowned again as his eyes swept the hallway. If anything, he was more confused now than before. This wasn't a nuclear weapon manufacturing plant. It was a sophisticated, state-of-the-art research facility-- the kind he knew most of the faculty at Ranier would kill for.

They continued to walk and each step raised Blair's hopes that he'd been wrong about the Family. He stopped at one window, stunned to see a scientist he'd seen on 60 Minutes a few Sundays ago. And, hey, that one won the Nobel prize last year. "Why is this so top-secret, Jim? Why all the talk about necessary evil?" He didn't wait for his partner to answer. A thought popped into his head. "How is this all funded?" Maybe that was where the problem was.

"It was originally privately funded. Now it's self-supporting. The marketable products are co-owned by the Family. They bring in a considerable amount."

"Sort of a research co-op, huh? Is that illegal?" he speculated.

"No."

"Then why the hush-hush? The rhetoric about shades of black?"

Jim sighed. "Come with me." They entered an anteroom to one of the labs, donning the paper robes, booties, and masks that awaited them. Inside, Jim pointed out to Blair the contents of a glass beaker. "Look familiar, Chief?"

Blair stared in dread at the pile of yellow powder. "Golden."

"Actually, it's a drug that will eventually help autistic persons connect with the world. It's real use was corrupted."

"Elder, it's good to see you," a thin, older man said as he approached. All Blair could see of his face were two inquisitive brown eyes.

"Dr. Branigan, this is my associate, Blair Sandburg. How is the research proceeding?"

"The clinical trials are going better than expected. I can send you a report--"

"The usual one at the end of the month is fine, Dr. Branigan. I was just giving Blair the tour and I knew you wouldn't mind our presence."

"You're always welcome here, Elder. I would have never been this close to success if it hadn't been for you."

Jim smiled, the response showing in his eyes since his mouth was covered. "I think your intellect and dedication also had something to do with it, Dr. Branigan. Good luck." He guided Blair out of the lab.

"He seemed to know you personally, Jim." When his partner would have continued walking, he stopped him with a hand to his chest. "This is driving me nuts. I know we aren't joined at the hip or anything, but when did this all occur? When did you have time to recruit all these scientists? It's still a long plane ride from Washington to Virginia, isn't it?"

Jim laughed. "Don't worry, Sandburg. I haven't been 'beaming' back and forth at night while you're asleep. Most of these scientists I know only by reputation and the white paper I receive on them. Dr. Branigan is a special case. I personally saw to his relocation because his research affected me personally. As I mentioned before, Adam screwed up. Branigan's research should have been contained before some money-hungry assistant decided to make a fast buck on Golden."

Blair nodded and started to continue down the hall but then Jim's words soaked in. "What do you mean by saying the research should have been contained? That sounds an awful lot like some type of suppression or censorship."

Jim knew what was coming. "We need to talk in private." He led him to a nearby elevator.

"A very short tour, Elder. Is there something wrong?" Sam inquired politely.

"To my office," Jim replied curtly. The elevator began moving. "And, Sam, you may hear loud voices coming from my office. It's okay. Blair and I have things to work out."

"As you wish, Elder."

The elevator opened directly into the spacious office. "Sam taps in to all conversations?" Blair asked, not liking that at all.

"No. He randomly samples sounds throughout the building, alerting the security team if something isn't quite right like voices raised in anger or sounds in a lab when no one is supposed to be there." He motioned Blair into a seat and took the one behind the desk with his nameplate.

"Considering what you people do, I thought maybe Sam was assisting your dirty work by monitoring what people said."

Jim looked at him. "What is it you think we do, Chief?"

Blair defiantly slouched in the chair. "At first I thought you were selling nuclear weapons."

"You didn't tell Simon that, did you?" Jim asked in concern. Promise or not, Simon wouldn't be able to keep silent about something like that.

Blair shook his head. "No. I had trouble believing it myself. I knew I needed evidence before accusing you. See? I have learned something from the station."

"Simon will be pleased. You said, 'at first'. What do you believe now?" He tapped his finger against the desk, a nervous habit Blair hadn't seen before. Even James' habits were different from Jim's. Total disassociation. As a psych minor, he appreciated the complexity of the reaction. As an anthropologist, he speculated that this was how Jim managed to juggle being a cop, Sentinel, soldier, black ops specialist, and whatever else Jim was called upon to be on a daily basis. As a Guide, he wondered if it had anything to do with the nature of a Sentinel. Maybe disassociation helped to keep the Sentinel on alert-- what one personality ignored, the other(s) would notice.

"Now I'm wondering how many of these scientists are here against their will."

Jim's fingers raced along a keyboard and once again, Blair realized how different Jim and James were. Jim tolerated a computer; James was quite comfortable with one. "Here is a list of the scientists who operate under the auspices of the Family. Find one that is not happy here or whose research has not prospered with our assistance."

"Will I find research that has been suppressed? Research that is market-ready but has been held back or destroyed?"

"Never destroyed, Chief. Perhaps altered, perhaps locked away, but never destroyed," Jim assured him.

Blair closed his eyes and counted to ten. He had already jumped to one wrong conclusion when it came to the Family. Not again. "Jim, what is the purpose of the Family?" he asked straight out.

"We police the scientific world. If a technology seems to be dangerous, we give it a home and monitor it. If it cannot be altered or controlled, we place it in a safe area until such time that there are suitable controls."

"Who the hell gave you the right to make that decision!" Blair blurted out. "Suitable controls? You know who you sound like, Jim? Those damn right-wingers who want to take away the books we read, the music that's played, or the contents of the internet. What gives you the right to judge for other people what's good or what's bad!" he continued to rant. "Hey, I watch the X-Files, you know. Sam ain't exactly a safe bet."

"And that's why he was packed away for years. His creator had to come up with several controls, most redundant, before it was deemed safe to install Sam. Even now, his actions are monitored and reviewed for anything which may be considered autonomous. Yes, Sam watches us, but we also watch him. That's why he exists only here within the confines of this facility." Jim sighed. "I knew you wouldn't understand, Chief. But I do, so whatever you want to say to me, whatever points you make, aren't going to change my decision that what the Family does is necessary."

Geez, he hated it when Jim got that patient, understanding tone in his voice. It was patronizing as hell. "Okay, Jim, since I have no hope of changing your mind, why don't you try to change mine?" Jim cocked an eyebrow. In his opinion, liberal was spelled B-L-A-I-R. "I'm serious, Jim. If this is important to you, I want to understand. I want you to be able to discuss this with me, without getting all defensive. I want to know what makes James tick."

Jim leaned back in the comfortable leather chair, recalling the one case that could get his point across quickest. "AIDS began as a research project in biological warfare. It was a government project and as usual, was left unchecked. The creators decided they wanted to do testing. They figured the insular gay community of San Francisco was the perfect test group. Unfortunately, the group wasn't as insular as it appeared to be. Some members were bi-sexual. Others practiced homosexual activities outside the group. The disease escaped and you know the rest of the story."

Blair rolled his eyes. "Oh, Jim, we've all heard that myth."

Jim chuckled bitterly. "Myth, huh? Sort of like that one about Burton and his Sentinels?"

Damn it. Don't use my own research against me. It isn't fair. "Okay, say the AIDS thing is true. What would the Family have done to stop it?"

"Moved the research to a controlled facility."

"And if these researchers didn't want to move, what then? Would they have mysteriously disappeared into the night?"

"That's the way of their people, not ours. Yes, there are researchers who don't want to cooperate and strong measures have to be taken. But not lives."

"Then why the suited goons and dark suits?"

"Atmosphere, Chief. They are symbols of power that everyone understands. From the Godfather movies to Men In Black-- there is a certain response to a man in a dark suit and sunglasses. We play into that response, making what we do easier."

"And your ultimatum to the head of Iraq?" Blair questioned, remembering the gut-wrenching message Jim had relayed. "Just another strong measure, huh, Jim?"

Cool blue eyes met his. "Did it work?"

Blair had to concede that it had, without a single life lost. "You said others haven't wanted to cooperate. Did you scare them into coming here too? What about the ones that get away? What about the discoveries that are leaked to the press before you godlike creatures permit it?"

"Oh, you mean like animal cloning or perhaps cold fusion? Both have been disproved."

"Conveniently."

Jim leaned forward across the desk. "You would rather have idiots running around cloning humans or randomly testing nuclear reactions? These things need to be policed, Blair. Father set up an organization that does so. It was a good idea when he started it and it is still necessary. Contrary to what you think, I don't consider myself a god. Gods would not have to agonize over what research should proceed and what should be suspended. A god would know. I don't. I have to rely on reports and opinions and sometimes just my personal beliefs of what is right and what is wrong. Sometimes the decision is easy. At other times, it is not because it may be the difference between a million more dying from some known disease or the million that may die if the cure or a component of the cure is corrupted. Shades of black, Chief. Very hard to detect. Very easy to ignore. But I can't."

Blair looked at his friend. "I have often wondered how you sleep at night. Now I wonder if you do."

"I sleep the same way I do everything else, Blair. I do it because I have to."

"That's not very healthy."

"Look at it this way, I'd probably have gone insane by now if it wasn't for you and I'm not just talking about handling the senses."

Blair acknowledged the tribute with a tight smile. "But I still don't understand all this secrecy. Why the cloak-and-dagger routine, the smoke and mirrors?"

"Think about your initial reaction, Chief, and multiply it by the entire scientific community, the knee-jerk liberals who hear the word censorship and start a ruckus, plus the politicians who decide that this would be the perfect platform against the Big Brother mentality of the current regime. The shadows are where we should stay."

"I hear you, man, but--" He was interrupted by a beeping of the phone.

"What is it, Sam?" Jim asked sharply, hitting the speaker button. He wanted to settle this once and for all. He knew Blair would fight him, fight the idea of limiting knowledge. But sometimes, ignorance was the only solution.

"Elder, Adam is on the phone from the hospital. He says it is urgent."

"Put him through. What's happening, Adam?"

"We need you at the hospital, James. It's Father. Someone tried to kill him again. And it looks like they may succeed."

Chapter Eight

They were met in the library by Raleigh who had their coats and gloves ready. He handed Jim a set of keys. "I had the Jaguar brought around, sir."

"Thank you, Raleigh. I'll call and let you know what's going on."

"Yes, sir."

Even the pall of an emergency couldn't dim Blair's delight as he eyed the powerful black sportscar, its lines as sleek as its namesake. His eyes widened as he made the connection, especially after he saw the license tag was a vanity plate-- ELDER. Jim's personal car. Jim's personal spirit guide. Wait a minute. This car was new! Why did Jim have a car here in Virginia if...

His thoughts showed on his face. "Father gave it to me as a Christmas present," Jim explained as he slid behind the wheel. "This is the first opportunity I've had to drive it."

"If you had shown me this earlier, maybe I wouldn't have cared what the Family did," Blair said as he got into the passenger's seat. Leather as smooth as butter. And that wonderful new car smell.

"Then you were right yesterday; you are a cheap date."

Blair made a funny face in Jim's direction, knowing the Sentinel's peripheral vision was also enhanced. "If this car is your idea of cheap, just how much are you worth, Jim?" No answer. Hell, he'd just been joking. It was just a rhetorical question because he knew Jim's ATM number, what he made at the station, what the monthly bills were. Why the clenched jaw this time? Then it hit him. He knew how much Jim was worth; James was probably richer. A lot richer. "Uh, there isn't the chance that one day the government's going to take you away for income tax evasion, is it?"

If looks could kill, Blair knew he'd be the oil slick Jim just drove over. "I pay my taxes, Chief."

Of course he did. And whatever income he had was reported to the last cent. Both Jim and James were strictly ethical. He knew that. "Just kidding, big guy. At least now I know why you refused my offer to do your taxes last year with that new computer program. Yours are a lot more complicated than that, aren't they?"

Jim nodded. "Have you spoken with Simon today?"

"No. Why?"

"Make sure you call in. We don't want him getting antsy."

"Can I tell him what's going on? I mean about the other 'police' department you work for?"

"Whatever you think is best. I trust Simon."

"He'll probably understand better than I."

Jim was running well over the speed limit so he took his eyes of the road only a second to look at his partner. "Do you understand, Chief?"

"I understand it from your point of view, Jim. But it may take a while for me, Blair Sandburg, anthropologist to accept it," he said in complete honesty.

"Thank you," Jim said gratefully. "I didn't like the idea of having this between us when we got back to Cascade. I mean we have enough differences to last us a lifetime without this one."

"Differences?" Blair questioned with a grin. "What differences, man? I thought you and I were like peas in a pod."

"Chief, if a farmer ever found a pod that contained two peas as different as we are, I'd have him and his field relocated as soon as possible."

"A genetic mutation not fit for the general public, huh?"

"We wouldn't want to scare any pregnant women out there."

Blair made a tsking sound. "I don't know why but I feel as if I've been insulted. You sure know how to make a person feel good about himself, don't you?"

"No, but you do." Another quick glance. "If Father dies, everything changes."

"Not necessarily. Your Sentinel skills could be quite useful to you in this alternate lifestyle. You could tell how experiments were proceeding, know if a scientist was lying to you, etc."

"But to use my Sentinel skills, I would need a Guide."

"Good thing you have one handy."

Jim started to smile, but then shook his head. "Thank you for the offer, but I won't accept it. You'll lose too much. In Cascade you could be you for short stretches of time. Blair Sandburg, anthropologist, student, teacher, whatever. Here, you would be..." he shrugged.

"Assistant to the Elder or would you be Father?"

"Father," Jim said hollowly. The thought was disturbing.

"Ooh," Blair replied flippantly. "Assistant to the Father. Sounds religious. Much loftier than police observer, don't you think?" He smiled and watched Jim's long fingers flex as he shifted the gears between them. Those fingers had rescued him from countless dangers, pushed him out of harm's way, lifted him when he'd fallen, comforted him when he thought comfort was impossible... How could he possibly be Blair Sandburg without Jim Ellison? "I'm not making an offer, just stating a fact. The Sentinel has a Guide. The man has a friend. Jim or James... makes no difference to me."

Jim refused to look at him. "I don't deserve you."

"Tell me something I don't know," Blair teased, knowing Jim was uncomfortable when the bond they shared was brought to light. Or maybe it was he who was uncomfortable and Jim merely reacted to that. It was becoming harder each day to know where one stopped and the other began. "We are not normal, man," Blair declared.

"Have we ever been? I know now that I've had my enhanced senses since I was a boy. Dad made me ignore and suppress them, but they were there." Jim remembered the anger he'd felt when his father admitted he had accused the young Jimmy of lying about what he could see while all along he knew his son had been telling the truth.

"And I was raised by Naomi. I think that says it all. You're right, Jim. We were never normal. Why start now?"

"You'll get no argument from me, Chief."

Blair listened to the sweet hum of the engine and watched the countryside fly by. "Virginia doesn't have any speed limits?" he asked casually.

"Did someone exchange my partner for my grandmother?" Jim asked dryly as he looked at the speedometer.

"Well, Jimmy boy," Blair said in his best granny voice, "we just whizzed past what looked like an official car of the local constabulary and so far we aren't being followed. I was just curious."

"Either they recognized the car or ran the plate," Jim concluded.

"Which means what? That the Family is above the law in these parts?" Jim advocating the corruption of a police department? Definitely something not to pass on to Simon.

"It means, Sandburg, that someone obviously informed the police that we are on an emergency. Probably Raleigh."

"Oh."

Jim slowed down slightly. Truth be told, the car handled so smoothly he hadn't been aware of the excessive speed. "You're determined to think the worst of us, aren't you?"

"Sorry, Jim. But you yourself said the Family deliberately set up an atmosphere of darkness. Can I help it that it feeds into my psyche's preconceptions? However, since you've logically dispelled my false notions, you don't have to slow down."

Jim's eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. "Yes, I do. You see, we're supposed to have a tail." Blair looked at him, wondering if he should panic. "Security, Chief. They were behind us when we left the farm. We must have lost them. Damn. The Army doesn't train them like they used to."

"Most of the staff have military backgrounds, don't they?"

Jim's Sentinel sight saw the security car appear in the mirror and he gently increased his speed. "Free training. Free testing of job performance. They are a bargain, Chief. Besides, their skills are sort of useless in the real world. Spend years training a man to kill, then expect him never to do it again. Doesn't make sense."

Blair felt his stomach do the panic dance. "Hold up, Jim. You told me you don't use force to coerce the scientists into joining the facility. Why do you need trained killers?"

"Competition."

"Oh, there are others out there wanting to kidnap the same scientists as you?" Blair scoffed.

"There are others who want the results of what these scientists do. For instance, one of the doctors has been working on an arthritis drug. Turns out to be a powerful steroid that can be out of a man' system in two days or less. Some of the less ethical members of the boxing world enjoyed the benefits of that research until we took it away. In short, they wanted it back, we said no, and we meant it."

Blair easily filled in the blanks. "How do you go about getting these soldiers and former soldiers?"

"Father has contacts who supply him with records of suitable candidates."

"And when you become 'Father', these contacts will be yours?"

"They are already. Don't worry, Chief. This isn't something I have to learn on the fly. I've been preparing for this a long time and although I would have preferred a delay of a couple of decades or so, I'm not being tossed to the wolves. If it hadn't been for the incident in Peru, I would already be in control, relegating Father to an advisory role and taking the CEO spot."

"I know this isn't going to come out right, Jim, and I'm going to sound petty, selfish, and insensitive. But even though I hate eight people had to die and you had to go through the trauma of their deaths, I am like so glad you went to Peru."

"It was a huge life-altering event and the only part I would change, Chief, is the death part. Everything else has been to my benefit." He pulled up in front of the hospital and waited impatiently for his personal bodyguards to arrive. He noted that William got out of the passenger's side. That wouldn't do. "William, you drive from now own."

"Yes, sir."

Blair noted the increased security at the hospital. "Looks like Adam has been busy."

"Adam's a good man, Chief. Part of what makes him so effective is that you don't expect much of him so you drop your guard and the next thing you know, you're out of the game."

"Elder?"

Jim and Blair turned toward the portly man approaching them with his hand held out. "John Appleton, hospital administrator. Dr. Renin had to take a very important tele-conference call, and he asked me to take you to your father. He has been stabilized, although his condition is still critical." He led them to the four cubicle area labeled ICU and stood outside the door with the security guards to give them limited privacy.

Blair was stunned to see how incredibly old and near death Father appeared to be. His blue-tinged skin seemed transparent, his jaws were sunken, and there was bruising around the eyes. This was the man who had challenged him yesterday, who had dared him to take Jim away? "What the hell did they do to him?" he murmured, outraged by Father's deterioration.

"I don't know," Jim said harshly. "But I'll find out, sir," he added as he touched the cool thin hand of the man whose life he was bound to. "You have to keep going, soldier," he whispered gently. "The watch is still yours, damn it. Your relief isn't ready yet." He eyed the machinery around the bed, knew all too well what each piece was doing. Yet, he used his own senses to check the beating of the heart, to count out the respiration rate, to gauge the too low body temperature.

Blair looked back at the administrator. ""I have nothing against your hospital, sir, but do you think you are capable of providing the care this man obviously needs?"

"I assure you he is getting the best care possible," Appleton hurried to say. "The Family Foundation has been most generous over the years and we not only have the latest technology but the best people to operate it." His fear was too great to hide. The Foundation was the single largest contributor to the hospital. If they were to lose its support, he and the entire staff would be out of jobs.

"Would you bring your father here?" Jim asked suddenly.

"Yes."

No hesitation, no signs of lying. "He stays then. Now I want to see Father's room. It hasn't been cleaned or anything, has it?"

Appleton was filled with such relief he barely heard Jim's question. "No, sir. Your brother Adam put a man in front of the door as soon as your father was moved."

Jim nodded, reminding himself to thank Adam for his quick thinking. He patted the thin hand one more time and turned away.

The Family was blocking the narrow hall of the hospital when Jim and Blair arrived on the fourth floor. Immediately Jim had the administrator secure them an empty room. He thanked Appleton and then assured the man he was no longer needed. "Adam, report," he ordered when everyone began to talk all at once.

Adam assumed the military stance that Blair was so accustomed to seeing when Jim was called before Simon or another higher-up: back straight, hands neatly folded behind the back, expression carefully bland. "Father was doing fine when we arrived this morning. There were too many of us so we decided to go in one at a time. That caused some dissension until one of the nurses made us draw numbers. I was last, that is until Arielle showed up."

Jim scanned the room until he saw the pretty Asian woman standing next to a very Nordic man. His eyes narrowed speculatively until he remembered Arielle had married one of the researchers stationed in Antarctica. He nodded to both of them. "Continue, Adam."

"By the time I went in, I knew something was wrong. He was unfocused, slurring his words. I signaled for the doctor. I figured he'd had a stroke."

"But?" Jim prompted.

"Dr. Renin thinks he was slipped something, maybe in his I.V. That's all he would tell us. He said he preferred to talk to you." Adam wasn't offended by the doctor's wishes. In fact he was rather glad James was around-- without him, everything would have landed on his shoulders.

"Appleton said you sealed off the scene?" Adam nodded. "Good man. I'm going to have a quick look around, then have a chat with the doctor. Come on, Chief," Jim said as he started out of the room.

Walter cleared his throat. "The doctor wanted to talk to you alone, Elder. If you want someone with you, shouldn't it be one of us?"

Jim paused in the doorway, turning to glare at his sibling. "Number one, Walter, I am on a case and I need my partner. Number two, why would I take any of you since you're all at the top of the suspect list. And number three, if I wanted one of you to come along, I would have asked. You are to stay here, in this room, and bother no one until I return. Is that clear?"

"Perfectly, James," Juliette purred. "Some of us know better than to question your orders."

"Good. Because one of you has worked very hard to put me in the position to give the orders. And just so you know, I don't want the position but I won't give it up and I won't let any of you take it away from me." His cold gaze encompassed all of them. "Also, you should know you won't get away with this. Sandburg and I have gone up against some of the finest criminal minds in the world and we haven't lost yet. Let's go, Chief. We have work to do."

Blair nearly had to run to keep up with Jim's long steps. "So? Any reaction to your threat? Any racing pulses, speeding hearts, sweat-drenched brows?"

Jim shook his head. "Everyone in the room was scared shitless, Blair. Maybe I came on too strong."

"Or maybe they're all guilty."

"Chief, if this is the way you cheer on the Jags, no wonder they're on a seven game losing streak."

They stepped into the empty hospital room, Blair knowing to keep on the fringe of the area until Jim had a chance to scan the scene as a whole. "Getting anything?"

Jim squatted and looked beneath the bed. "There are two syringes on the floor. Could be nothing, though. In an emergency no one cares about hitting the trash can. We'll take them with us, however, and the contents of the trash as well."

"Uh, Jim, we don't have an evidence kit with us this time."

Jim shrugged. "Doesn't matter. There won't be some lawyer getting this case thrown out of court because of tainted evidence."

"Why is that?" Blair asked hesitantly.

"Why do you think?"

Blair paled. "I don't want to know."

Jim opened his mouth, then closed it again. "I think you're right, Chief. You don't want to know."

Chapter Nine

"We're running tests now to make sure your father didn't suffer a stroke but I'm reasonably sure that is not the case," Dr. Renin said carefully as he looked at the two men in front of him. His patient had told him earlier that the one he called Elder was a detective. That was one of the reasons he refused to talk to the rest of the family. Another reason was that he didn't like the others, didn't trust them.

"What triggered your suspicions, doctor? Something you saw in the room?"

Renin shook his head. "I've been a doctor a long time, Elder. Some things I can just sense. It's hard to explain." Jim and Blair exchanged a glance that said it wasn't as hard as the doctor might think. "I've had patients stroke out on me in the middle of a recovery and I've worked with patients who have been poisoned, accidentally or maliciously. My gut says this was a poisoning. I'm not sure if I should have told your family that, however. I was just so stunned."

"It's okay, Dr. Renin. They would have found out about it sooner or later and since one of them is probably the guilty party...Where is the I.V. bag you had removed from the room?"

"In the lab." Renin sighed. "This place does not have the best laboratory facilities. With your permission, Elder, I would like to send a sample to one of the larger hospitals. Perhaps Walter Reed or--"

"Unnecessary. Prepare a sample for me and I will see to it that it is properly analyzed. How is Father at the moment?"

"Severely weakened. If we find out what he was given, we may be able to reverse some of the damage. But until then, we can only see to it that he is comfortable."

"Any danger of him dying?" Jim asked and Blair sensed the tension in him.

The doctor gave a faint smile. "He's a very strong-willed individual and I don't think he's ready to leave us quite yet. If we can keep him from further trauma, find out what he was given... he should recover in time." Jim couldn't keep the relief from showing in his face. "You really care for him, don't you, son?" Renin questioned softly. He knew that regardless of what they called each other, this wasn't a typical family and he suspected there was a criminal slant to the whole setup. But despite the attitudes of the others, this "son" actually seemed to feel for his parent.

Jim nodded. "If you could point us in the direction of the lab, not only will Sandburg and I get out of your way, but I'll get the rest of the crowd out of here too."

The doctor gave a genuine smile. "I know there will be several nurses who will be pleased to hear that. If I can be of any help to you, you will let me know? Good luck to you, sir. I know it will be painful investigating your own family."

"Not as painful to me as it will be for the guilty party, doctor."

*****

"Come in, Arielle." Jim stood at the door to the library and ushered her inside before firmly shutting the door. "I wanted to talk to you first because you are the least likely suspect since you never even got to see Father." He tried to guide her to a chair beside Blair but she stopped him, dropping to her knees and kissing his ring. Over her head, he glared at his partner who was making gagging gestures. He knew the whole thing was stupid but he couldn't go changing the rules in the middle of the game, especially since he was just pinch-hitting. The symbolic gesture had gone a long way in helping Father consolidate his power and control. He couldn't destroy it, even if it made his stomach churn.

"I pledge you my loyalty, Elder," she said softly.

He reached down and pulled her up, one hand in hers, the other resting lightly against her back in support. Something fluttered beneath his hand and he frowned. "Should you have made this long trip in your condition?"

The smooth yellow-tinged skin on her face pinkened. "You're sounding like Bjorn, James. Pregnancy is not an illness, you know. By the way, how did you know? I haven't told anyone besides my husband."

"He has a built-in radar," Blair said lightly. "Jim possesses several radars which make him the envy of bachelors everywhere. One of the reasons he's so hard to catch."

"Anyone warn Juliette?" she asked dryly as she took the offered seat. "Apparently your spy network is even better than Father's. Don't take this the wrong way, James, because I mean it as a compliment, but I tried to tell Gregory that you were going to be a bigger son of a bitch than Father ever was, but he was so certain you had mellowed during your years out of the loop."

"I was never allowed to be out of the loop," Jim said distractedly as he perched on the edge of the desk. "Why is Gregory trying to determine my leadership abilities? Does he have a desire to take over?"

Arielle laughed. "He couldn't if he wanted to. He's ticked off too many people with his arrogance. If he wasn't working South America where braggadocio and he-man macho crap still ruled, someone would have offed him by now." She lowered her voice. "I never felt comfortable discussing this with Father, but I've had my spies on you too, James. I know you're a man who knows how to treat a woman as an equal. Gregory doesn't. In fact, he doesn't know how to treat women at all. Look closely at the scientists he has in our Southern facility. The women outnumber the men although there are vastly less women scientists in South America than there are men."

"Are you saying he's abusing his power?" Jim asked, a deadly glint in his eyes.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying," Arielle replied, lifting her head indignantly. "I'm about to be a mother, James. I don't want a daughter of mine to have to go through the same shit I had to just because she's a girl."

"Do you think Gregory tried to kill Father?"

She shook her head. "He doesn't have the cajones to do it alone."

"But if he were working with someone?"

Arielle shrugged. "It has been my experience that if you put two men together, they are capable of doing all kinds of foolishness."

"So that's how my life got screwed up," Jim said, grinning in Blair's direction.

"The lady said it takes two," Blair said pointedly, matching his partner's grin. He liked the petite, but feisty lady.

Arielle belatedly realized she may have offended present company. "Hey, is it too early to start blaming everything on hormones?" she asked in lieu of an apology.

"So you've been pregnant ever since I met you?" Jim inquired. He always liked Arielle because she said what was on her mind.

"Touche, James. You know I liked you before, but I like you even more now. The changes are nice."

"Speaking of changes," he said quickly when he saw Blair was opening his mouth to ask Arielle what changes she was referring to, "I assume you aren't going to raise your child in Antarctica. So what do you want? Out, or a change of scenery?"

"Never out, James," she said. "I believe fully in what we do. But you're right about me leaving Antarctica-- no nannies. Anyway, my assistant down there is quite capable of taking over. I was hoping to be transferred to Europe. I know that means working for Juliette but Bjorn will be close to home and the kid will be able to visit her grandparents."

Jim lifted an eyebrow." You know this early that it's a girl?"

"So far I've had very little trouble. That says girl to me," Arielle replied with an impish grin. "Your friend is going to think I'm a flaming feminist." She turned to Blair. "Nope, never burned a bra in my life, although I did come close to burning a man's--"

"Arielle!" Jim exclaimed.

She batted her slightly slanted eyes. "But, James, it was a an accident. You told me you forgave me."

"You, man?" Blair asked with a laugh. "She almost--" He doubled over.

"It was an accident," Jim said sternly. "Just for that, sprite, you can get out of here. Go take a nap or something. Pregnant women should get a lot of rest and not go around telling tales about their supposed friends."

"You know, if I wasn't so tired, I'd take exception to that order," she said, barely hiding a yawn. She rose and Jim walked her to the door. "You know you're more than a friend to me, James,"

"I know, sprite."

"And whether this," she motioned to the signify the house, "is temporary or permanent, we shouldn't be apart this long again."

He nodded and leaned over to place a kiss in the center of the forehead that was on the same level as his chest. "I promise, sprite." Her arms came up around his neck and he squeezed her gently.

"Oh, and about my new position. Don't tell Juliette just yet, okay? I don't want to be around when you do because she's not going to take it well."

"What do you mean? I thought you two got along?" Jim asked, confused.

"Just when I think you've evolved further than most men, you get stupid on me," she said in exasperation. "Of the three women in the inner circle of the Family, James, how many of them share the same hemisphere with you?" She waited until she saw the knowledge in his eyes. "Juliette manipulated Father into it, you know. Guess she thought Theresa and I were competition... It's a wonder how the world is still going with so many men who can't see what's right under their noses."

"I guess it's due to the many smart women who feel sorry for us and give us a clue on occasion," Jim remarked meekly, although his eyes were shining with amusement.

"Ooh, a spark of enlightenment. My daughter definitely has to get to know you."

"She will, sprite. I promise." He closed the door after she left.

"I like her, man," Blair said.

"Told you you needed to meet them as individuals," Jim said as he took the chair Arielle had vacated. "But Arielle and I have always gotten along. She didn't particularly care for her home situation either. Very repressed and male dominated."

"I think she got over the repressed part," Blair quipped with a grin. "You're good with her though. First time I've gotten the feeling that you guys really are a family." He looked at Jim solemnly. "What are you going to do about Gregory?"

"First, I'm going to question Adam. He knows something but we haven't really had a chance to talk."

"You think Gregory is not only guilty of abuse but also of going after Father, don't you?" He nodded. "Teamed with who?"

"Walter, maybe. He seemed pretty upset with you going with me to check out the room." The phone on the desk buzzed. "Yes, Sam?"

"A messenger has a package at the gate from the hospital. He says it is for either you or Blair. Should I allow him access?"

"Yes. And Sam, I know I already had you secure a lab for the scientists who are working on the analysis of Father's poisoning, but I'm going to need another lab set up for just me and Blair."

"Of course, Elder. Anything else?"

Telling Sam no, Jim hung up and looked at Blair. "The drugs the hospital lab was sending over have arrived. Why don't you get them and head on down to the lab while I tell the rest of the Family that I'll question them later. They should all be pleased to hear that."

"You don't think you're giving the murderer time to cover his tracks?"

"I hope not, but Dr. Renin seemed to think Father's greatest chance of recovery is finding out what he was given. That has to be the top priority at the moment. If I can use these senses of mine to do what it's going to take the scientists a day or longer to do..."

"We'll find it, Jim. And we'll get the people who did this to Father too. After all, we're experts at this, right?"

Jim clamped his hand on his best friend's shoulder and felt some of the weight lift off his own. "Right, Chief. As always."

Chapter Ten

"Damn!"

Jim looked up from where he was sniffing an assortment of vials, trying to determine which one contained the unlabeled substance in Father's I.V. bag. Every other component he had identified and crossed off the list of what was supposed to be in there. But one scent he hadn't been able to reconcile and that had to be the one which caused Father's reaction. "Got a problem, Chief?"

"Actually, we do. I haven't checked in with Simon all day."

Jim looked at his watch. The only saving grace was that Cascade was three hours behind. "Go to my room and call NOW!"

"But I don't want to leave you here alone in case... you know."

"I'll control how deep I go. If I get a close match, I'll wait until you come back before taking it another step, okay?"

Reluctantly, Blair left and headed for Jim's room. There were only seventy-five drugs that could induce the reaction Father had, so conceivably they could get the answer tonight and Father would recover completely and they could go home. Of course, if what Jim thought was true, that Gregory and Walter had conspired to kill Father then Jim might have to take over their territory. It wouldn't be that bad, however. Africa was a fascinating continent and well, South America could be considered like, the Sentinel's home base.

"If you're hungry, Raleigh set aside plates for you and James," Adam said when he saw Blair emerge from the elevator. He sat at a table in the library, his feet up in another chair, a book resting across his lap.

"Thanks, man." Blair hesitated before opening the door to the rest of the house. "Where is everyone?"

"Let's see. Juliette got into a snit when James didn't accept her offer of help, considering she does have a degree in chemistry and yours is only in anthropology-- her words, not mine. Well, when Juliette is in a snit, everyone runs away. I hid in here. I don't know where the others disappeared to."

Blair continued up to the room, thinking that he was actually starting to see what Jim saw in Adam. He wasn't a bad guy and if he were honest with himself, he would admit that what he most disliked about Adam was that Jim liked him. There was something between the two men, a sense of brotherhood that Jim didn't even share with Stephen. Maybe it was because they were in the military together. He shrugged. He'd gotten over his jealousy of Stephen, so this too would pass.

He let himself into the room, grabbed the phone, and sprawled across the bed. "Hi, Simon," he said when the deep voice answered.

"Sandburg, how sweet of you to call."

Blair wasn't concerned about the pissed off captain. After all Simon was over 3000 miles away. But then he remembered he planned on going back to Cascade one day. "Sorry I'm late calling, sir, but I was busy finding out what the Family does." He told Simon all he had learned and as he had predicted, the captain agreed with Jim about the necessity of policing science.

"Thank God it was nothing grossly illegal," Simon said as Blair concluded his lengthy narrative. "Might have felt funny giving Jim his badge back knowing he was a criminal on the East Coast. So when do you think you guys will be able to come home?"

Home. Such a nice-sounding word. "Not as soon as we had hoped. There was another attempt on Father's life. He's alive but very weak."

"Have the local police been called in?"

"Jim's handling the investigation."

"On his own?"

"I'm here," Blair replied, a little ticked that Simon apparently didn't count him.

"Save the hurt feelings, Sandburg. I was referring to forensics support. Besides, he's close to these people. Can he really be objective?"

Blair rolled his eyes. "We're talking about Jim, Simon. He doesn't let something as inconsequential as sentiment get in his way. Wrong is wrong in his book. In fact his two leading suspects are members of the Family."

"Are they aware of this?"

"No, not really. They know Jim suspects them as a whole but he's been reluctant to name individuals." Blair idly traced a design on the bedspread as he talked.

"So what does Jim think is the motive?"

"Power."

"That means he'll be the next target. How's that early alert system you guys possess?"

Blair frowned. "Oddly, we've both felt safe here, Simon. I mean it's only been two days-- whoa, it has only been two days. It seems like we've been here for weeks. You should see Jim's cool car, captain-- a black Jaguar, fitting huh? And he has the sister Arielle who is hilarious and Jim just adores her. And--"

"Focus, Sandburg," Simon ordered. "We were discussing your safety."

"Oh yeah. As I was saying, we haven't sensed any malice directed toward us."

"That doesn't make sense," Simon argued. "If the end result is power, then Jim has to be moved out of the way. No one who knows Jim is crazy enough to think he will voluntarily surrender any of his control."

Blair felt a shiver creep along his spine. "What are you suggesting, captain?"

"Is there anyone there who would benefit by Jim's control? Maybe someone who doesn't have a hope in hell of gaining control but figures to manipulate Jim?"

"You mean one of the women," Blair said, easily following Simon's thought processes. "I told you that Arielle and Jim are tight, so I think she's safe. Theresa from Australia hasn't arrived yet. That only leaves..." Juliette. Who, everyone joked, was obsessed with Jim. "Oh, shit, Simon. I have to go. Jim needs to know... Call you later." He hung up the phone and reached for the door.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Blair." He turned and saw Juliette step out of Jim's bathroom, a gun in her hand pointed directly at him. "You figured it out, didn't you? Of course you needed the help of your police captain, Simon Banks. Too bad Jim won't find out from either of you."

Blair had been waiting to panic for the past two days. Apparently the wait was over. "It's a done deal, Juliette," Blair said calmly. Looking into her eyes he knew without a doubt Juliette Saunders was insane. But she was also brilliant. The two often went together with disastrous results. "Jim's no fool. He can, and will, figure it out on his own."

She crossed the room and rested the barrel of the gun against the back of his neck. "Not if he's grieving for his two best friends. You see, he'll need someone to lean on in his grief and I assure you it won't be that bitch you both seem to like-- Arielle. What is it with you men and tiny Asian women? You, I can understand. But a man Jim's size needs a woman to match."

Fuck. The last thing needed was the involvement of pregnant Arielle. "How do you think you're going to get away with murdering me, Dr. Saunders?" He hoped using her professional name would trigger the logical, saner part of her. No such luck.

"You and I are going for a drive, Blair, and only one of us is coming back. Seems you didn't like this new life of Jim's, yet you didn't have the spine to tell him to his face. Instead, you talked me into dropping you off at the airport and begged me into passing on the message of how sorry you were in deserting your partner."

"Jim knows me better than that. He won't believe it. He won't believe you."

She rubbed the gun along his jawline. "You two are so close, aren't you? Closer than he ever was to that bitch he married. She could never bring out the fire in him, but I could."

"You mean before he got tired of you and shipped your ass back to Europe," Blair retorted angrily. He knew it wasn't the brightest thing to say in his situation, but he just couldn't help himself. She sounded so smug and the thought of Jim cuddled up with her made him sick.

The gun smacked into his jaw with enough force to break the skin. "James loves me," she leaned over to whisper in his ear. "He always has. He's just scared to show it."

Stall for time. If I don't get back to the lab soon, Jim will come looking for me. "Not with me he isn't. I've lived with Jim for years now and he couldn't tolerate you for a week. When I'm tired, he makes me rest. When I'm sad, he cheers me up. When I'm scared, he makes me feel safe. And most of all, when I'm in trouble, he rescues me. Don't you get it, Juliette? It's not that Jim can't love... it's that he doesn't love you!" He flinched, waiting for the gun to strike him again.

Instead of hitting him, she laughed. "You think you're smart, don't you? Trying to tempt me to kill you here where I can't hide the body. But I'm smarter, smarter than everyone." Juliette poked the gun into the small of his back and urged him out the door. "If I shoot you now, you won't die-- but you won't have a spinal cord either," she warned as she held him close.

"Blair, Juliette, what's going on?" Adam watched them descend the stairs, his eyes going to the bleeding wound on Blair's face.

Before Blair could reply, Juliette whispered in his ear. "First you, then Adam, then Arielle." He nodded his understanding. "Blair tripped over his own two feet and hit the corner of the dresser in his room. I'm going to take him to the hospital. Stitches, X-rays, the works."

"I'll call James," Adam replied, reaching for the phone.

"That's not necessary, Adam. He won't mind if I take care of Blair. We're old friends, remember?"

Blair could see Jim was right; Adam wasn't nearly as slow as he appeared to be. "That okay with you, Blair? Not letting James know you've been hurt?"

The gun pressed deeper into his back. "Jim's my friend, Adam, not my keeper. If the lady says she's going to take care of me, she means it. It wouldn't be a smart thing to get in her way."

Adam stepped back and held up his hands in surrender. "Fine. You two do what you like. I've got my own life to live."

Juliette prodded her captive forward. "Gee, Adam, you have a life now? When did that occur?"

"Screw you, Juliette."

"There you go again, making promises you can't keep," she said tauntingly as she closed the door.

Adam stood there for a second, then reached for the phone. "William, do a discreet tail of Juliette and Blair. No questions, just do it. The Elder will contact you later." He pressed the flash button. "Sam, get the Elder on the line."

Chapter Eleven

"What the hell do you mean he left with Juliette and he was bleeding!" Jim bellowed when the elevator opened onto the library.

"She said Blair had tripped in his room and hit the corner of a piece of furniture. Supposedly, she was taking him to the hospital."

"But you apparently didn't buy it because you immediately called me. What gives, Adam?" He raced up the stairs toward his room. Where Blair was supposed to be. His partner had done some strange things in the past, but trip into furniture wasn't one of them.

"It just seemed odd, so I asked Blair and he said everything was okay. There was really no reason to stop them," Adam explained, following on Jim's heels.

"If you want reason, here's one." Jim stopped in front of the open door of his room, blood droplets soiling the carpet. He stepped inside and smelled Juliette's perfume. His skin crawled with the knowledge Blair was in danger. "Adam, tell me exactly what Blair said to you."

"Something like, 'if the lady says she's going to take care of me, she means it. It wouldn't be smart to get in her way.' She's kidnapped him, hasn't she?"

Jim analyzed Adam's response. "You're not surprised, are you? Tell me what you know."

Adam looked into the freezing blue eyes and knew James was prepared to get answers one way or the other. "Juliette is obsessed with you."

"That's not news."

"But there have been recent rumors that this obsession has grown. She's made up stories around the continent that she'll soon be living in the States with the only man she's ever loved. When her current lover over there protested, he disappeared. There was an investigation, but nothing came of it. I just found out this afternoon that she's closed up her houses in London and Paris. I think she's planning on staying here with you. I was going to tell you this when we talked, but you had to go to the lab first."

"Damn it. Arielle was right. How could I not see what was going on right under my nose?" Jim cursed himself. "Okay, I understand Juliette considers Blair a threat right? That's why she was so mad that I wanted him in the lab and not her. But why risk hurting him here? What made her go after him tonight?"

"I don't think she's exactly sane, James. We may not be able to figure out her motives."

"Blair could though. I told him he was a match for her in the brains department-- maybe too much of a match for his own good. He must have..." Jim hit the redial button on his phone and was rewarded with his captain's voice. "Simon, did you talk with Sandburg?"

Simon cursed. "I knew there was something wrong by the way he hung up. What's going on, Jim?"

"I'm not sure. What were you discussing?"

"Who wanted to kill Father. I said maybe the person wasn't trying to take Father's place but merely put you in it. He started mentioning the women and that's when he said he had to talk to you and he hung up."

"Thank you, sir. Call you back later." He heard Simon's protest as he dropped the phone back in its cradle. "It's worse than we thought, Adam. Juliette isn't just after Sandburg, but Father too. Blair figured it out and Juliette overheard." He looked at the crushed carpeting. "She was apparently in the bathroom was he was on the phone. He said he had something to tell me, hung up, and she appeared. She must have threatened him. He said something smart and she hit him with what?" He looked around at the lamps, picture frames, every blunt object she was capable of lifting but saw nothing out of place. That left only one thing. "She has a gun. Did she hold him close when you saw them together?"

Adam nodded. "I thought maybe he was dizzy and she was holding him up. But yeah, now that you mention it, she could have been holding a gun on him."

Jim took a determined step toward Adam and wrapped his hand around his throat, pinning him against the door. "I'm tired of the act, Adam. You forget I know how you operate. You knew something was wrong, out of place. Did you manage to put a tracker on either of them?"

Adam squirmed beneath Jim's punishing grip. "I didn't have one on me so I told William to tail them."

Jim growled and let him go."One of these days, Adam, you're going to play dumb one minute too long, and I'm going to have to kill you," he warned as he reached for the other phone by his bed. "Sam, get me William and monitor the call."

"Yes, Elder."

Five minutes later Jim had some idea of where his partner was, at least the direction Juliette was taking, which wasn't anywhere near a hospital but toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. "Thanks to you, we don't have a prayer of catching up to them, Adam... No, William, I do not want you to confront her. She's too unstable."

"May I suggest the helicopter, Elder?" Sam's voice called through the open line. "I can alert the pilot and he will be at the helopad in fourteen point nine minutes. Then by extrapolating the signals from William's cell phone I should be able to provide the pilot with the proper coordinates."

"Good thinking, Sam. Did you hear that, William? Keep the line open and alert us if she stops." Come on, Adam. We have just enough time to arm ourselves before the helo gets here."

"I'm with you."

*****

Blair remained silent as Juliette sped down the dark highway. Jim was wrong; the Family did have influence with the local authorities because anyone else would have been stopped by now. Unfamiliar with this part of the country, he had no idea of what the crazy woman had planned for him. He just hoped Jim had missed him by now and was on his way.

"You aren't sitting over there bleeding to death, are you?"

"No such luck, Juliette. You're going to have to kill me while I look into your face." He had thought about attacking her while her mind was distracted driving, but he reasoned that would only succeed in causing a wreck.

She laughed. "As if I won't. Done it before. Marcus thought I belonged to him, wouldn't let me go to be with Jim. I lured him to a small grotto only the two of us knew about. The fool actually thought I wanted to make love. I put a bullet through what little brain he had and left him there. Maybe in a century or two he'll be found."

"You're a sick person, Dr. Saunders. I would say I hope you get help, but once Jim finds us, that won't matter."

"You know I really thought we could be friends. We have so much in common: our love of knowledge and of course, James. Why did you have to rock the boat, Blair? Do you know how much Jim is going to suffer because of your betrayal?"

Blair shook his head. "How can you claim to love him, and yet hurt him? I won't be the one betraying him, Juliette. Do you know how much Jim needs me? He says if he hadn't met me, he'd probably have taken his own life by now. How are you going to feel, Juliette, if he does turn to you briefly, when you come home one day and find he's eaten a bullet? Will whatever time you've had with him justify that?"

"Shut up!" she yelled, waving the gun at him.

"No, I won't shut up! What are you going to do, Juliette? Shoot me here in the car? Know how much evidence that'll leave behind?"

She switched the gun back to her left hand, away from him. "Is this what you did with David?" she asked cooly. "Did you talk and talk to him until you got him mad enough to make a mistake?"

"What are you talking about?"

In the faint light from the control panel, he could see her grin. "David Lash, of course. He almost had you, didn't he? Just five more minutes and you would have been breathing duck waste. But no. You talk and you throw him off schedule. Then Jim almost dies saving your worthless life."

"What the hell do you know about that?" Blair asked, his heart pinging in his chest. She would have to bring up the worst moment in his life, wouldn't she?

"I sent David Lash to Cascade, Blair. It was no accident that he got himself in a position to work with you and Jim. I knew a crime such as the yellow scarf murders would require Cascade's best team. That is what you're called, isn't it?"

Blair saw red, literally. "Damn it, lady! Do you know how many people died because of that fucking psycho?" How I almost died? She laughed and he realized he was falling into her trap. No, he wasn't going to let her. He took a calming breath and shoved the fear into a corner until he could deal with it. Just as soon as Jim took care of this bitch and they could discuss it in private. "I guess it takes one to know one. A psycho, I mean. That's what you are, isn't it, doctor?"

"You better hope not, Blair. Psychos toy with their victims before the kill. They like to see how much pain a body can bear before it succumbs to death. Me? I was just planning to kill you and be through with it."

"I'm supposed to scared by such words, right? I'm supposed to sit over here and shiver, maybe soil myself because I'm so afraid? Ain't working, sister. Maybe before your boy Lash and a half a dozen other wackos, I may have been Jello over here. But this terror thing gets old quick. You see, this is how it goes. First, I'm kidnapped, then comes the threats, yada, yada, yada. The killer gets up in my face, maybe he hurts me, makes me beg-- please, please, please. Then Jim shows up and takes me home. It's just an old familiar movie to me, Juliette. Been there, done that, have the scars to prove it. But I'm still here and all those people who've come after me, they're not." He squinted through the darkness, trying to read the name on the exit she took.

"You afraid of the dark, Blair?"

"No," he lied confidently.

"Good. There are some lovely caverns up ahead I want to show you. The stalactites and stalagmites are magnificent. It's going to be a private tour, however. You see these caverns aren't as safe as the ones open to the public. In the one we'll be visiting, there is a sinkhole rumored to be at least 100 feet deep. One wrong step and... Well, it's such a scary thought it's been years since anyone has dared to go inside. And after I leave, it'll probably be years again. Note that I said after I leave. You'll be staying, of course."

"Of course." He staged a yawn. "I must say, you've been the dullest of my kidnappers. It'll be a relief when Jim takes you out."

"James," she corrected. "His name is James."

"I call him Jim, all his friends do. Do you know his favorite foods, Juliette? His favorite sports teams? His favorite television show, book, magazine? Do you know anything at all about this man you supposedly love?"

"I know what side of the bed he prefers, what turns him on, what gives him pleasure."

Blair rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you and at least a dozen other women. He's a man, Juliette. He has sex on a regular basis. And there are always a string of women waiting to get into his bed. Know why? He makes them feel special. Is that what he did with you, Juliette? Did he make you feel special? As if you were the only woman for him?" The car had stopped and she had yet to move. Good. The more wasted time, the better.

She sounded sad when she finally spoke. "If James could hear you now, Blair, he would be so disappointed. He thought you were a friend. But you sit here and malign him so easily. Why would you do that to the man who has honored you with his company? I was right from the beginning, you don't deserve him." Juliette switched the gun to her right hand and aimed it at him. "Get out of the car slowly." He just sat there. "Get out of the car or I will kill you, then go back to the farm and kill your little friend Arielle."

He got out of the car and after she retrieved a flashlight from the trunk, she prodded him into a dark arch which the light barely penetrated. With a soft, "Help me, Jim," Blair descended into what felt like to him, the dark side of hell.

Chapter Twelve

Jim looked down into the forested darkness in the Shenandoah valley and watched his best friend disappear into the cavern, heard his nearly silent plea. Hang on, Chief. Your Blessed protector is right here.

"I'm sorry, Elder. According to Sam there's not a clearing within a mile of here," the chopper pilot apologized.

Jim nodded, having seen it himself. But the pilot had to rely on Sam's topographic maps because the helicopter was being flown by instrument only. There were no running lights and definitely no spotlight to illuminate the ground below. Since the experimental helo was in a super quiet stealth mode, Juliette had no idea they were hovering above and Jim meant to keep it that way. "Just hold her steady and I'll ladder down." He looked at the mini arsenal he and Adam had gathered and chose a single 9mm. Shooting in a cave could be dangerous. One shot was all he was going to take.

"Good thing I brought along the night goggles," Adam said, offering him a pair as he prepared a pack for himself. When Jim didn't take them out of his hand, he looked up and saw his friend was already descending to the ground. No pack, no goggles. Just himself and a single weapon. Adam knew better than to call out and possibly alert Juliette to their presence, but damn it, James wasn't thinking straight. There was no way he could navigate that cavern without the goggles or a flashlight. Did Blair mean that much to him that the "perfect soldier" was about to commit a major screw up?

Damn it, James. You know I prefer the sidelines to this hero crap. He finished making up his pack and started down the swinging ladder. With the aid of the goggles he saw Jim slip into the cavern. He sighed and continued his descent. G.I. Adam to the rescue. You're going to owe me big time, James.

*****

"Ouch!"

"Oops, did Blair hurt himself?" Juliette asked with a giggle.

Blair heard the giggle and shivered, forgetting about the new knot on his head. Juliette was losing it fast. C'mon, Jim. "At the rate you're letting me bump into things, there's going to be a blood trail leading directly to my body. Might make people doubt that I just stumbled in here and fell to my death."

"Do you whine like this all the time or is this just for my benefit?" Juliette asked dryly as she pulled him into the center of one of the larger caverns they passed through. She waved the flashlight around. "Isn't it gorgeous?"

Blair took in the geological formations and had to agree. Too bad the path to this particular cavern was too narrow and dangerous to let the public in. It was far more spectacular than the ones he had visited. "It would be better if I didn't think it was the last thing I was going to see," Blair quipped.

"There you go with that whining again."

"It eventually grows on you, Juliette." Jim had followed the sound of Blair's voice and although squeezing through some of the smaller crevices hadn't been easy for a man his size, he nevertheless caught up with them quickly.

"'Bout time you showed up, man," Blair said sullenly, although Jim could hear the excited beat of his heart.

"Hey, I know how you are with the ladies, partner. Didn't want to cramp your style or anything." He stood back as Juliette took the flashlight and searched for him. He didn't care whether she saw him or not, but the light would blind him. "Let him go, Juliette," he ordered gently.

"You weren't supposed to find out, James." Her voice quavered with emotion.

He heard the stress, knew she was close to breaking. And Blair was still in her grasp. "You have my partner, Julie. I can't be without him. If you want me, we're a 'buy one, get one free' package. Do you want me, Julie?"

A sob. "You haven't called me that since our first night together, James."

Jim's sensitive fingers checked his gun. "I know, sweetheart. I've treated you badly over the years, haven't I? All you've ever wanted to do is make me happy and I just turned you away. Do you know why?"

"Be...because there was always someone else. Father, Carolyn, now Blair. Why not me, James? Why was it never me?" she asked plaintively.

Jim peeked around the corner, then jumped back when the flashlight swung around. He needed to knock out the light and the weapon. But he needed Sandburg out of the line of fire. "I was just a boy when we met, Juliette. I was intimidated by your intelligence. I thought I wasn't worthy of someone like you. Later, I felt guilty for rejecting you." Where's that psychic link when we need it, Chief?

"But what about in Cascade? You loved me then, James, but you sent me away."

She was crying now. Maybe she would give up... or maybe she would try to end everything right there. He wasn't about to gamble with Blair's life. "Hey, buddy?"

Blair heard intent in the voice and tensed for action. "Yeah, Jim?"

"Fake right." Blair immediately jumped to the left and rolled to the ground. When a startled Juliette turned, extending both the flashlight and the gun, Jim fired. The cavern went dark and pieces of both the light and the weapon clattered to the stone floor. "It's over, Juliette," he called as he stepped out into the cavern, able to see both of them clearly. "Let me take you to people who can help you."

"James, I--"

"It'll be okay, Juliette," he reassured her. "How are you doing, Chief?" Since Blair couldn't see him extend his hand to help him up, he merely grabbed his upper arm and pulled.

"Thanks, man. Can we get out of here now?"

"Sure. Come on, Ju--. Damn. She's gone, Chief. Juliette!"

Blair looked around futilely. "Where? Out? She's escaping?"

"No, she went further in. Juliette!" Jim patted his shoulder. "Stay put. I'll be back for you in a minute."

"Be careful, Jim. She planned on throwing me into a sinkhole that was a hundred-feet deep. Wouldn't want you to stumble into it accidently."

"Not a possibility, Chief. It's no so dark in here for me. But Juliette doesn't have a light. I need to--" To what? Save the woman who brought you here to die because I feel I'm to blame for all this? "I have to go after her, Blair." He just hoped his friend understood.

"I know you do." Blair's reply came to him as he followed the sound of the fleeing woman. She must have been in the cavern recently because despite the inky blackness she was moving almost with surety.

"Juliette, don't run from me," Jim called, now close enough to hear her rapid breaths. "It's James. I want to help you."

"But I tried to kill your friend," she cried. "I don't know what happened, James. I knew that was wrong. I knew it would hurt you. But I did it anyway."

He moved around the corner of a large rock and saw her standing still, wringing her hands. "You're a smart woman, Julie. You know the deal. You know you can be helped. Something inside you made you do this. But it can be controlled. We'll make sure. I'll make sure." He took a step toward her and saw that the sink Blair had mentioned was right behind her. "But you need to come to me, sweetheart. Just take a step forward and you'll be in my arms."

"Thank you for the offer, James. I really wish I could accept it." She took a step back instead.

"Julie, just stand still, okay. There's a hole behind you."

He watched her smile. "Good. I found it then. You say I'm smart, James. Let me be smart one last time. I don't think I can be helped and I'm not sure I deserve to be. I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you. I only wanted you to love me."

Jim took a deep breath as he read the determination on her face. "Don't do this, Juliette. Let me take you back to Cascade with me. Maybe there--"

"Maybe there what, James? Maybe you'll finally learn to love me?" She shook her head. "It's too late. I don't want your love or your pity. I just want to rest."

He knew there was no way to reach her in time. "Don't do this to me, Julie. Don't make me spend the rest of my life wondering how I failed you. Is this my final punishment for not loving you?"

"That was never your fault, James. As your partner said, you can love. So it must be me. And I think I understand now. You knew this was inside of me all along, didn't you? You saw the ugliness, yet you were still kind to me. Thank you for that, my love. Thank you." She turned and leapt toward the darkness.

He waited until the only sound he could hear was the rapid beat of his own heart and then he turned slowly back toward Blair. "Ready to go, Chief?"

Their voices had echoed throughout the tunnels and caves, allowing Blair to hear everything. "Just point me in the right direction, Jim."

He did more than point, guiding Blair out and occasionally pushing his head out of the way of low overhangs. As they reached the mouth of the final tunnel a full moon rose and bathed the mountainside in a silvery glow. Blair looked back to the cavern and then toward the outside. "Shades of black, Jim. I think I understand."

"I think she understood too, Chief."

"You two okay?" Adam asked as he and William ran over to them.

"I need a first aid kit," Jim ordered, steering Blair toward the cars. When he felt his partner's pulse pick up at the sight of Juliette's car, he kept walking until they reached William's. Seating Blair in the backseat, he cleaned the wound on his face. "I need to check to see if your cheek is broken, Chief. It may hurt a little." As if I haven't caused you enough pain.

"No it won't." He smiled beneath the gentle probe of Jim's sensitive fingers. "How did you find us?" he asked to keep the Sentinel from zoning.

"I had help. Adam asked William to tail you and then Sam got us a chopper and the coordinates."

"Thanks, guys," he said to the men huddled anxiously behind Jim. "That cavern must be soundproofed because we never heard a helicopter."

Jim chuckled and grabbed a couple of butterfly bandages. "It was sort of a special machine, Chief. And you're in luck, nothing's broken. We'll take you back to the farm, give you some aspirin, put you to bed and you'll be as good as new in the morning. Maybe a little purple around the edges, but I've heard that can drive women wild."

"Yeah, maybe a century ago. Women are into non-aggression now, man." He waited until Jim had wiped all the scrapes and bruises he had accumulated before he told the big guy of the change in his plan. "Aspirin is good but bed is going to have to wait. We've only accomplished half the job, Jim. That isn't how we do things."

The drug Juliette had given Father. I didn't even think to ask her. "It never crossed my mind, Chief."

"Gee, Jim, do you think that's because you were sort of negotiating for my life?" Blair questioned sensibly. "Besides, when have we ever done anything the easy way?"

"Now you sound like Simon."

They both looked at each other, each remembering they had hung up on the captain. "Simon!" was their collective cry.

Epilogue

Jim stood solemnly behind the wheelchair as the minister said "Amen," and began the procession past the rose-covered casket. There was a chill in the air as world-renown scientist Juliette Saunders was laid to rest after a spelunking accident. Press was shunned from the funeral but her friends and colleagues were allowed to bid her farewell and of course, her Family was there. Including Father.

Before the sun rose the next day, Jim and Blair had found the substance the troubled woman had given Father and he was on his way to recover by the time Adam and a crew had retrieved Juliette's body. Three days later, Father was released and the closed casket service was held. What really had happened was buried with her and no one suspected anything when the body of Marcus Laquis was discovered in a river near Paris, probably the tragic victim of a carjacking.

"James."

"Yes, Father?"

"I want us to be alone. Just the three of us." The old man nodded toward the coffin.

Jim went to the Family and told them of Father's wish. Gregory and Walter quickly returned to the limo. Both had been soundly reprimanded and knew they were now under strict surveillance. Theresa once again apologized for her late arrival and allowed Matthew to escort her to the car. Arielle shook off her husband's firm grip on her elbow and gave Jim a hug.

"It seems we women don't know everything either, James. I had no idea that she was that far gone."

"It's not your fault, sprite."

She looked up at him. "And it's not yours either. She was sick and you had nothing to do with it. I know everyone has tried to tell you that but you haven't accepted it. You've always said you like me because I tell it to you straight. Believe me this time, James."

"I do."

Arielle looked at him again. "Good. Because I hate it when a man lies to me, James. And you know what happens when I get mad..."

His eyes widened in disbelief. "You told me it was an accident."

"Yeah, well, when you show up for my daughter's christening, I'll let you know whether it was or wasn't."

"Blackmail, sprite? You've been in the Family too long."

She grinned. "Wait till Europe gets a load me." Ignoring the glare her husband was sending in their direction she gave him another hug. "He's a much better lover when he's jealous," she confided in Jim's ear. "So you make sure to visit Europe soon, okay?"

"You got it, sprite." He turned to Adam. "Everything's been so busy I don't remember if I thanked you for your back-up the other night, Adam."

"I didn't do anything," the man protested.

"I knew if my shot didn't get Juliette, yours would have."

Adam paled. "You know I followed you into the cavern?" When he realized James had everything under control, he had left as quietly as he entered, or so he had thought. How had James known? Well, that was a question he was asking a lot lately. To anyone else, James would have a lot of explaining to do. But not to him. "I'm too lazy a man to bother with secrets, James," he said reassuringly, offering him his hand as a promise.

Jim took the hand, then wrapped his arm around Adam briefly. "I never doubted you, bro." He looked at the remaining man. ""Go on back to the farm with Adam, Blair. Father and I have some stuff to work out."

Blair squeezed his arm in understanding. "I hear you, man. Whatever is decided, it'll be alright with me."

"Thanks, Chief. You'll be the first to know."

Jim watched the limos roll out of the cemetery. "Okay, Father. We're alone."

Father nodded and reached out to snag one of the flowers off the coffin. "I had an affair with Juliette. She had control of me from that moment forward."

"That was why you hired the groom she sent from Europe, the groom who cut the saddle?"

"Yes. Adam says he's no longer in our employ."

Jim gave a bitter smile. That was one way of looking at it. "And why you allowed her to assign continents to the Family members?" He nodded and although Jim wanted to be angry, he just didn't have the strength. The past few days had been long as he juggled the press and the Family. "We all have our weaknesses," he finally said.

"She wasn't my weakness, James," Father admitted softly. "You are. She made our affair sound like a betrayal of you. I started to tell you the truth after you were recovered from Peru but you were so cold, so distant, I thought it would be the final straw and you would desert me and the cause. I see now I was wrong. I shouldn't have doubted you, your loyalty or your honor."

"Maybe you shouldn't have. But I wasn't myself after Peru. Maybe I gave you reason to think I would turn my back on our agreement." He bent down beside the wheelchair, resting his hand on the chair's arm and staring at the coffin. "I used to be so sure of everything. Now I've learned to be more... flexible. Where once there were solid colors, I now see variations."

Father's hand covered his. "I don't want to lead anymore. I don't think I deserve to lead anymore. But give me the ring back, James, and I'll see if I can hang on a few more years."

Jim looked into the eyes which were even with his. "Are you sure, sir?"

Father saw the happiness flaring deep inside the blue eyes and knew he'd made the right decision. No matter what it took, he would see to it this special child of his had the life he wanted for as long as possible. "I'm sure, James. But I may need your help a little more often. Now that your young friend knows about us, you think that's possible?"

Jim smiled and Father felt a warmth in his old bones that he thought he'd never feel again. "It's more than possible." He tugged the ring off his hand and placed it on the finger where it belonged. Ignoring the tears that threatened to spill, he leaned forward and put his lips to the warm metal. "I pledge you my loyalty, Father."

Father lifted his other hand and placed it on the back of his favorite son's head. "No. Be loyal to yourself, James. This ring has always belonged to you. I'm just it's guardian."

"It's sentinel, huh?" Jim said with an odd smile. "Never knew I had one of my own."

*****

The seatbelt light winked out and Blair scrambled out of the restraint and impatiently waited for the flight crew to open the door. "We're back, Jim!" The door opened. "Smell that wonderful Cascade smog!" He bounced down the steps like a man newly freed from prison.

Jim followed a bit more sedately. "Didn't I tell you to leave those little bottles alone on the plane?"

"I'm not drunk, Jim, except on this heavenly West Coast air." He took a deep breath and looked around. "I thought Simon was going to meet us?"

"I made a change in plans," Jim explained as he thanked the flight crew.

"Oh, another limo?"

"No."

"Taxi?"

"No."

Blair folded his arms and looked at his partner. "You don't expect us to walk, do you?"

Jim shrugged. "Do what you want, Sandburg, but I prefer to ride." He walked around the plane and smiled when he heard Blair's footsteps behind him.

"Oh, my God!" Blair exclaimed when he saw what waited on the other side. "It's the Jag! You had the Jag brought to Cascade! Oh, man! Oh, wow! Wait till the guys at the station see it! And the babes! Thank you, man. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Whoa, Hugh Hefner! There are some rules that go along with this."

"Of course there are, Jim. No eating inside, right? No parking in a crowded parking lot. If I get a scratch on it, I'm dead. What else?"

Jim hated to bring him down, but it had to be done. "I'm a cop, Chief. I can't exactly explain away a hundred thousand car. What? I won the lottery? A rich relative died? We have to be judicial in its use. No showing it off at the station. No 'cruising for chicks'. Just an occasional day off trip down the coast or something, okay?"

Blair looked at Jim in disbelief, then realized his partner was right. Cops, straight cops, didn't own cars like this. They read magazines about them, they fantasized about them, but a cop's salary would never allow him to purchase one. "It's okay, Jim. Knowing it exists, that it's there when we want it, that's enough for me. But how are you going to explain it when we drive it to the loft today?"

Jim shrugged. "I'll say it belongs to my father."

Blair looked at him and burst out laughing. Leave it to Jim to lie without lying. When a man in a mechanic's jumpsuit put their luggage in the trunk and handed Jim the keys, he reached for the passenger door.

"Hey, Chief?" When Blair looked up, Jim tossed him the keys. "Take us home, partner."

Eyes dancing in delight, he did just that.

THE END

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