When I returned home from the park I called Dustin.
"Hello Traveler are you free to speak?" I asked.
"Yes, Nate is out riding with friends, how can I help you?"
"I've been released from my primary mission. Apparently certain of my actions have had the effect of changing the probability curve and my subject is no longer in danger. It has not been explained what was impending but I did know where it would occur. I wonder if I'll ever know for certain what was to occur," I shared with him.
Do you know the nature of my mission as it unfolded?" Dustin asked.
"Yes, the girl on the cliff, I was told about that," I allowed.
"She had been at the park with her family and they had passed and greeted me on the way to the overlook. I knew what was about to unfold and so I carried out my mission. It has affected me ever since and I will leave this life with a regret that I could find no other way to redeem that child," Dustin recounted.
"I have known that pain on this and other worlds. I know the feelings," I empathized.
"You may never know the changes you wrought, but accept the rest of this life as a gift. I am forever grateful for the gift of Nate in my life. It is because of you that he is with me and he has retrieved me from the brink of despair," Dustin invoked solemnly.
"Thank you Dustin, I'm glad you are happy with Nate. He is a good soul and needs your guidance and affection," I concluded.
After we disconnected I sat in my wingback chair in the comfort of my room. Suddenly I found I missed Chase terribly and wept.
There was a knock at the door between John's room and mine, it was John's tentative knock. "Jem? Are you okay?" John stood there in his sleepers having just woken from a nap. I held out my arms and he rushed to be embraced.
"What's wrong Jem?"
"Oh. I was just sad about something. Well maybe not sad but confused and a little upset I suppose. But I'm better now that I'm with you," I explained.
"I love you, Jem, you were my big brother the day I came here and you helped me be brave and go back to my old house. I miss Aunt Tammy a lot but I'm safe and happy here and she would like that," John said very clearly with a level of articulation that belied his age.
"Shall we get you dressed and go find some lunch and play a game?" I suggested.
"I can get dressed all by myself, but I like it when you help," John grinned.
With John dressed and thoroughly tickled we rambled down the stairs to the kitchen.
*****
"Morning Mike, do you have a moment?" Andy Watkins inquired.
"Sure, come on in and have a seat," Mike invited. "So what's on your mind?"
"Well, you are, I understand you have some issues with my nickname," Andy began.
"Ah well yes, the connotation that the word spook has in our society is just not something I want to further, I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me," Mike replied.
"I can appreciate that and it does you credit that you don't want to offend, but my nickname is Spooky not spook. Spooky for eerie situations is perfectly legitimate usage, the word has been around for centuries and I will not be held hostage by PC culture. It didn't become a slur until WWII when someone paid the Tuskegee airmen a backhanded compliment. Because they had completely spooked the German Luftwaffe, they picked up the name Spookwaffe. Prior to that there was no racial meaning to the word. And when I hear the word spook, my first thought is CIA agents and such like. I'm just letting you know there's nothing wrong with my nickname. I don't mind if you call me Andy but even Barry calls me Spooky, I think he actually gave me the name, that's all I wanted to get across."
"Well then, if you're comfortable with it then so am I. Anybody that has an issue with it, can take it up with you and you can set them straight. I can't say I knew about the origin of using the word as a slur. Language is a funny thing, Mike chuckled.
By the way Barry and I spoke yesterday and he asked me to say hello. He reminded me that you were one of the best officers he ever served with and that you weren't too shy to tell him he was wrong. Well, he said 'Full of shit' but you get the idea," Spooky laughed.
*****
"John, have you decided on a new name? I mean you can keep the name John if you want but if you want to change it the time is almost here. The formal adoption will be in a week you know?" I pressed. John had been all over the map on the name issue and I wanted him to know that he didn't have to change it if he didn't want to.
"Can you help me? I've been looking at names on my computer but I can't tell how they're supposed to be um, pronounced? Is that right?"
"Yes, that's the right word, do you have a list?" I asked.
John nodded and brought over a note pad with a few names written neatly in pencil.
"Okay, this first one is Grampa's name and it's pronounced Kay-lin, and Caelan means Victorious people or tribe, it's a really strong name but you would have to ask Dad about using it because of naming traditions in our family. Ewan or Yew-an is a good name and it means born noble. I like that one. And Graeme is the Scottish version of Graham, but pronounced Graime. It means a good home or a good family. You have really good taste in names is it just these?" I asked.
"Yes," John nodded. "I guess I need to ask Daddy, do you think Grampa would mind?"
"I really don't know. People can be strange about their names, but Grampa loves you as much as he loves me, if he objects it will be for a good reason and he'll explain why. So you want to be called Ewan Caelan MacGregor then?" I prodded.
"I think so, I want to talk to Daddy about it, what do you think he'll say?" John asked nervously.
"I think he'll probably agree with you and if Grampa agrees then everyone will be happy. I know that both of them will be impressed with your research into the subject. Either way there's no need to worry, we'll talk to Daddy as soon as he's home," I soothed.
I cuddled John for a while after that and we chatted about his projects in school. He was so happy with our school and the things he was learning. I knew the teachers were impressed. Tammy must have really encouraged his curiosity and nurtured his love of learning. He was so intelligent that he would be advancing grades at a phenomenal rate.
*****
"I missed you yesterday, it feels so empty when you aren't with me. I know you need to do things with family and it's okay. I just missed you and I guess it's a good thing," I admitted to Chase.
"Oh Jem, I'm sorry you were sad. But you're right, I need my time with Dad. I'm glad you know that. I'm here now, though, what would you like to do?" Chase nudged.
"What I'd like to do will have to wait until John is in bed asleep. But we could go for a walk and just be together," I suggested.
"Okay Mr. Practical, let's go hit the Mooks and see what's happening. I can't believe it's thanksgiving already what did your parents say about your guest list?"
"Approved one hundred percent, All of our dorm roommates will spend the weekend here and we'll all go back Sunday evening," I related.
"Great, it should be a fun few days. Most of the out of state boys are staying on campus but there's plenty to do. Dad and Janise are looking forward to it. I thought Janise' mom was going to come but she went to visit someone and doesn't want to fly this week because it's too crazy," Chase shared.
"I understand that. We took a trip one thanksgiving and it was terrible. Late departures and arrivals. People scrambling because they were stranded, and everybody was in a bad mood," I responded.
"Will Art and Madeline be there?" Chase asked.
"As far as I know, Madeline is supposed to be working on a family recipe for some dish. It's supposed to be a surprise," I passed on.
We were suddenly surrounded by John, Carter and a bunch of little guys from our neighborhood. It was a play group organized by the moms although a few dads were on the scene.
The attack was sudden and adorable. The kids swarmed us tickling and grabbing our arms and legs. I decided to go to ground to defend myself and avoid falling on one of the kids. I tickled back and gently flung attackers left and right. In the end I had six kids sitting on top of me pinning me to the ground as far as they could tell. I loved it and so did Chase. Soon it was time for their snacks and we lost our shine. Chase and I made our getaway while they savaged cheese sticks, apples and Graham Crackers.
*****
Mike's desk extension rang, it was the desk officer on duty.
"Sir we have a Jack Starrett here at the desk requesting a bit of your time. He's interested in the cold case group. I think he's hoping you'll take him on,"
"Please get someone to escort him to the elevator and send him up, I'll take it from there. Thanks Tom," Mike replied.
After a few minutes, the elevator doors opened and Mike rose to meet his visitor.
"Good afternoon, I'm Mike MacGregor but you can call me Mike."
"Afternoon sir, I'm Jack, Jack Starrett."
"What is your interest in the unsolved crimes unit?" Mike inquired.
"I'd like to join sir um, Mike. But before that can happen you'll need to review the nature of my departure from this department," Jack explained.
"So what were the circumstances, Jack?"
"Your predecessor set me up, evidence that would exonerate me went missing. It also showed a motive to do a hatchet job on me," Jack paused.
"Hold that thought for a moment, I want to do two things. Let me pull you up on the system and get Captain Foyle in here, to hear your side of things. Does that work for you?" Mike asked.
"Yes, that's fine. Foyle was always a decent guy and you never heard anything about him being bent," Jack agreed.
Mike called Frank and then opened the file on Jack Starrett's career. It was a pretty good record of achievement with just a blot at the end.
"It says here you took an early retirement for personal reasons. Nothing about Reyes at all, what am I missing?" Mike asked?
"Jack? Jack Starrett it is you what's going on?" Frank inquired cheerfully as he entered.
"Nice to see you, Frank, something came up and I think you guys need to know," Jack greeted.
"I retired early under duress, Frank. I was just telling Mike that some evidence that would have cleared me disappeared. You see, I had one of those digital cameras they used to issue and I caught Reyes taking an envelope from Enrique Salazar. I took photos and followed him and he picked up envelopes from several other gang types. I just happened to know Salazar. I was all set to go to I.A. but the damn XD chip disappeared. I was sure that Reyes found out and snatched it which caused me to do something stupid. I trusted the wrong man. Our illustrious former Undersheriff Lauderman. It turned out that he and Reyes were part of the same bunch of rotten apples," Jack paused. "Lauderman informed me that Reyes had enough evidence to put me in Larch for at least ten years, then he offered me early retirement. I asked to see this so called evidence but Lauderman indicated that I needed to take the offer right then or face a judge.
"So what brings you here?" Frank asked.
I got a call from my son. He told me about something he did when he was a kid. He borrowed my department camera and used it to take pictures of girls. He used his own card and replaced the one I had with a blank card. So when I went to show the evidence to Lauderman I had nothing on the card. When Danny called he told me the reason was that he found an old XD card and thinking it was one of his, he took a look. He realized it might be something I wanted so I came back here and retrieved it. It turned out to be the card with the pictures that would have sunk Reyes, Lauderman and a bunch of others. When Reyes hit the fan I figured I better get some help. I have a mini cassette recording of Lauderman offering me the deal that kept them from framing me for corruption. It wasn't authorized but I'd like you to hear it. I had to take a reduced pension and lose my self-respect because of Reyes and Lauderman.
"So who did you get to help?" Mike asked.
"You, I hope. I doubt if your computer can read this card but I brought an adapter, you can plug it into a USB port and open the drive," Jack explained as he handed Mike the small port device.
"You know Lauderman went toes up last year right, and Reyes is already thoroughly boned by IA. But if this is true and you got screwed over by Reyes and Lauderman, Ike is going to want to know," Frank growled.
"I agree, let me give him a call and see what kind of time he has available." Mike declared. Do you have the tape with you?"
"Even better, I have the original and a CD copy. Most of the tape is case notes with only me speaking. I'll be happy to put them in your hands and maybe you can get the lab guys to verify that it's Lauderman," Jack smiled.
"And your goal?" Mike asked.
"I was two months away from a full retirement but the management decided that they wouldn't honor that and gave me two thirds of what I should have had, I'd like that decision reviewed and if you find my record was the sort you're looking for, maybe I could come back and finish my career with more elan."
The date stamps on the digital images were from the right time and Frank saw a bunch of people he recognized. Some had just disappeared and others were victims of fairly public homicides. Some were still plying their trade although from a different echelon. Gangs generally don't have a pension plan and advancement is by the sudden absence of the previous big man, usually as a consequence of being in someone's way.
"Ike says he can see all three of us tomorrow. He'd like us to burn a copy of the XD card onto a CD and get a copy of the conversation with Lauderman. He thinks there might be something in there that will break Reyes and get him to roll on any other participants in his plan.
We'll take these into custody and give you detailed receipts of what you turned in. If this goes well, you could not only come back on the team, but there's a good case for reinstating your full pension and giving you the difference from what you would have been paid. That doesn't seem to be your motivation, but it would be a pleasant side effect.