Summary and Warnings are detailed on the summary page
Blair was idly betting in his own mind how long it would take Jim to get impatient with Dan's secretary, who was trying every delaying trick in the book, when he heard the door open. Bored with Jim and the secretary, Blair turned to see the newcomer. Even without trying to read the emotion, the man's nervousness was apparent. Blair looked closer at the GDP officer, realising that there was no rank insignia on the man's uniform. Focusing on the pass clipped to the crisp GDP uniform, he recognized the flash coloring one corner of the newcomer's pass. Guide. Blair lowered his barriers and became puzzled when he didn't 'feel' the other guide.
Blair had opened his mouth to alert Jim to the newcomer when Dan's secretary called out, "Guide Martin? Lieutenant Curtis said she'd sent you over with the ... with something for the Commander." Blair watched as the secretary got up from behind her desk, quickly dodged past Jim, grabbed the large file that the guide held out to her and disappeared into Dan's office.
After exchanging a glance with Jim, Blair swung back round to greet the guide now that he had a name but the guide was on his knees with his head down at the side of the secretary's desk. Blair sighed internally; the new regulations hadn't made any impact at the heart of the organization after all. Blair moved closer to the guide but hung back as Jim circled the man, sniffing the air. "What is it, Jim?"
Jim glanced at Blair, his expression puzzled, "I don't know. Something chemical."
Blair nodded, somehow that fit. "I'm not getting anything, either."
"I'm unbonded, sir," supplied the guide in answer to their unspoken question.
"I'm not your superior." Jim's tone became irritated.
Blair rolled his eyes a little when the guide corrected him. "You are the Senior Sentinel Prime, and the Senior Guide Prime is present so therefore you are my superiors."
Blair suppressed a smile at the irritated 'hmph' that came from Jim. "Are you a working guide?" Blair was referring to the unbonded guides that the GDP 'employed' in certain situations.
"I..."
"It's alright, you can tell the Primes, Martin," said Dan, who had come out of his office.
"I was bonded for seventeen years." Blair raised his eyebrows at the length of time, Martin only looked as though he was in his mid-thirties. As if he could read what Blair was thinking, Martin continued, "I hadn't even started training when Fro... Frobisher ran across me. He ... we bonded straight away. I was only sixteen." Martin swallowed and paused before then continuing. "He was killed while out jogging; I'd gotten a cold so he made me stay indoors and he headed out by himself." He turned his gaze upon Jim, "The police never found the driver."
When Martin choked on the last few words, Dan took up the explanation. "Martin has been continually dampened since then. There have been no suitable bonds available and since Martin has been such an integral part of the investigative unit for so long, it was thought that it would be too great a loss to the unit if they were down two experienced men at the same time. Of course Frobisher was the head of the unit, that posting has been taken by one of our up and coming young officers, Janet Curtis. Have you come across her yet? She's very competent."
"No, I haven't," Blair watched keenly as Jim smoothly switched the topic of the conversation. "We were just passing by, Dan, thought we'd call in. Of course if you are busy with other matters, you know, matters that may or may not involve the clan..."
Blair lowered his barriers slightly to read Dan's emotional state and wasn't surprised to find that the commander was stressed. He was even more amused to see that Dan trying to switch the topic of the conversation.
"Martin, haven't you read the new regulations yet?" Dan asked the still-kneeling guide.
"Of course, sir."
"Well, get up then."
As Martin stood up, Blair made eye contact with Jim. He saw that Jim had sensed in his own way that Dan was extremely worried.
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Dan didn't miss the subtle interaction that was going on between the Senior Primes and thought back to the file that Martin had just brought over. He guessed that through the weird interaction of fate that was called the Sandburg Zone, the two Primes had gotten a whisper about something. He looked at Martin. "When does Officer Curtis expect you back? I may have some questions for you after I have reviewed this information. "
"She told me to wait for your instructions, sir. She also told me to tell you that she would be travelling up to the crime scene later this morning to review the forensic information. Officer Curtis thought you might wish to join her there," replied Martin.
"An invitation I can't refuse," muttered Dan--there was just something about Curtis that always rubbed him the wrong way. Seeing Jim's eyebrow quirk upwards, Dan returned to the matter in hand. Inclining his head in the direction of his office he said to Jim and Blair, "Come into my office, gentlemen." As he turned to follow the Primes he remembered he'd left Martin standing. Dan turned around and said, "Sit down, Martin. Marilyn, can you get Martin a drink while he is waiting."
As he sat down behind his desk, Dan was pleased to see Marilyn move across to Martin. Then Jim closed the door and stood against it. Dan, more by instinct than design, placed his hand possessively on the fat file that Martin had brought across. He was the first to break the silence. "So what brings a busy detective and a busy teaching assistant all the way out here to pay a social call?"
Jim moved away from the door to the vacant chair in front of Dan's desk. The detective stared at Dan for a few seconds and then relaxed back in his chair, "We were just wondering about the six degrees theory." "Six degrees?" Dan played for time wondering what the two of them had found and when. Hopefully he'd be lucky and it wouldn't be anything connected with the hijack.
Dan turned to watch Blair cross the room from where the anthropologist had been taking a keen interest in the bookshelves that lined Dan's office. As he moved, Blair commented, "Yeah, you know the six degrees where you can trace everything back to everything."
Dan shifted in his chair; somehow from the serious expressions on the faces of both men, he guessed that as always the pair had gotten to know something, probably the heist, that the GDP would have preferred to be kept in-house. 'Time to start playing the game, Slater'. "So what do you think might be traced from where to where?"
Dan realized that the pair were playing a game of good cop, bad cop as Blair smiled at Jim and sat down next to him.
Jim said, "We were wondering about a lowlife named Mancini."
Dan, relieved Jim hadn't mentioned anything related to the heist, shook his head. "Never heard his name before."
Jim brought out the evidence bag that contained the pills. "Well, that's a shame because we think he might have had contact with these." Dan reached for the bag; Jim kept it out of his reach.
Dan asked evenly, "What are they?"
"Dampeners. Our forensics lab tested them after we found Mancini's fingerprints on the bottle. We thought you might know who made them or at least find out who..."
"Let me have the bottle." Dan demanded.
"Only if you share."
Dan tapped the desk nervously. "Clan or PD?"
Blair leant forward. "What's the difference?"
Dan looked at the pair of them their gazes icy. "It makes all the difference in the world."
"Enlighten me." Blair said, almost menacingly.
"He means if it is a PD investigation then there are niceties to be observed."
Dan thought savagely, 'yeah like using legal means to collect evidence and administer justice in a transparent and public manner.' He merely observed, "There's nothing to indicate that this has anything to do with the Clan. At the moment it's an internal criminal investigation. I'm sure though the GDP officers on the investigation would appreciate some co-operation." Dan paused, "If there's any connection between the two cases of course."
Jim looked at Blair who shrugged. Jim nodded. "Agreed."
Dan held his hand out. "I'd like a look at that bottle if you don't mind."
Jim passed over the evidence bag. "Sure you don't know the name Mancini?"
Dan shook his head. "Name's not familiar." He fell silent as he looked at the label on the bottle. Even he could feel his heart rate speed up as he read the serial numbers.
Dan caught Jim's eye and knew that the man had also noted the fact that his heart rate had jumped. He put the bag down on the desk. Giving up any hope keeping the heist under wraps, he asked, "Where did you get this?"
"Is it one of yours?"
Dan sighed and nodded. "We lost some en route to our distribution headquarters. This could be part of the batch." He shrugged, "I'd have to check with our investigative team to confirm but..."
"How many and when?"
Dan glanced across at Blair and then focused on Jim. "Two hundred cases give or take. Mostly tablets, some gas cylinders and some injectables." He tapped the brown file. "A full listing will be in here. When? Early yesterday morning, as far as we can tell."
Jim whistled. "Nice haul for someone. Inside job?"
Dan shook his head. "Both loyal with excellent records."
"Even the most loyal have their price."
Dan shook his head sadly. "We found their graves this morning. Where did you get the bottle from?"
Blair sucked a breath in as if he hadn't been expecting that piece of news. Dan flicked a glance at Jim who was nodding to himself.
"One of our vice teams raided an apartment yesterday evening. They found the tablets, and ran some prints."
Dan raised an eyebrow. "Presumably the team had a sentinel on it, they aren't particularly distinguishable otherwise. So they've moved pretty quickly into downtown Cascade. Tell me about Mancini."
Blair interrupted Jim's rendition of the mobster's career, when Courcy's name was mentioned. "Courcy's trip is legitimate, Jim. He's funding a new research institute at Rainier, apparently been planning it for months."
Jim frowned. "What in?"
Dan fought to keep his heart rate steady as the businessman's name was mentioned. To cover his discomfiture, he commented, "Courcy? Isn't he the 'save the world ecologist' businessman?"
Blair nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah he is, you heard of him?"
Dan's face went sour. "Just a little." He flicked a glance at Jim, "He's got a lot to say on the subject of guides and sentinels, both in public and in the private and very influential circles he moves in."
Blair shook his head, his curls shaking. "He's got reasons, man..."
Dan said sharply, "And the GDP are all too well aware of those, believe me. It doesn't excuse..."
"While this discussion might be interesting another time..."
"I agree, there's more immediate things to take care of," Dan noted with relief. The shades that had been conjured up with Courcy's name retreated into the dark recesses of his mind once more.
Jim turned his attention to the case file and reached out a hand like a kid stretching out for a candy. "May I?"
"PD?" Dan asked.
Jim smiled coldly. "I thought we'd gone over that?"
Dan just shook his head and opened it up. "I didn't have time to look at it before your little social call." Dan opened up the file and retrieved an envelope from the back. He pulled out the contents, a series of photographs. "I've asked for a copy of everything the investigative unit produces on the case."
Jim picked up one of the photographs and studied it. Blair leaned over his shoulder; it was a picture of a stretch of road and the scrub that grew on the edge of a forest. Jim flipped it over and saw a label, 'before.'
"What's that?"
Jim put the picture down. "I presume it's before they dug for the bodies? Who found them? Your investigative team?"
Dan started working through the papers. "No, Frobisher was the only sentinel on that team. He's still not been replaced. We called in two from search and rescue. We had them walk down the road. They found the bloodstains and..." Dan looked up at Blair, "their guides reported what they felt."
Jim kept nodding through the explanation. "Why don't you leave this to others?"
"My tribe I guess," he said simply. They were simply a crew driving a truckload of medication from the plant to Cascade. Whoever hijacked them could have let them go."
Jim nodded and put the pictures down on the desk. "I agree." He looked at Dan and then at Blair. "How about a drive?"
"It's two hours out of Cascade," Dan cautioned.
Blair said, "I sorta promised Naomi I'd be around today, you know, for when she gets to town."
Jim spread his hands. "You will be, Chief, just later."
Blair frowned and then felt the pull of the bond, placing a hand on Jim's arm. "Yours."
Jim confirmed quietly, "Mine."
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Mancini let his left hand rest on top of his girl's head as she knelt down beside him. He was feeling good today, their link was humming and his barriers were solid. By the time he'd gotten back from Cascade, the dampener had been washing out of his system leaving him with his barriers low and an incipient migraine. But she'd been waiting for him; Frank, obviously, had known what he would need. Mancini shifted a little as he remembered the bonding, she'd been eager to please him, perhaps thinking a good bonding would make him forget her morning lapse.
He dug his fingers into her hair as he sensed her moving slightly, he whispered, "Don't think I've forgotten, girl." Mancini smiled to himself as he felt her head move slightly in response.
He leaned back in his chair and watched the early evening news to see if there was anything about the raid, but there hadn't been so far. Mancini nodded to himself, knowing that the GDP don't want to admit that they'd lost so much product. Still, the news would seep out onto the black market soon enough as the supplies dried up. As the channel switched to a commercial break, Mancini absently checked out Meg's senses, he'd earlier adjusted everything so that her dials were all turned down low, he just wanted his barriers supported, others were on guard here so she didn't need her senses really at all. With half an eye still on the news program, Mancini decided it was time for one of her exercises; keep her sharp. He adjusted the dial for hearing, admiring her self-control, as she didn't fight him as he turned the dial up to maximum. As she moaned in pain as the noise from TV hit her, Manicini stroked her hair, "Filter it out, filter the TV out." Mancini patted her shoulder as she relaxed, "Good girl, good girl." Mancini knew that filtering wasn't one of her better skills, in fact he reflected, as a sentinel she was pretty clueless, only skilled at the more basic level, providing his barriers and bonding. Mancini rubbed his fingers up and down her neck; they'd bond again tonight. Putting that pleasant thought away from him for now; Mancini whispered, "What can you hear, what is Frank doing? "He's cleaning the guns with Deke and Pete. Pete's asking him when we are going back to Chicago."
"What has Frank said?"
"That it is up to the boss."
"Yes it is." He saw Meg's face redden and she looked away from him. "What now?"
Meg frowned and bit her lip and then put her hands up to her ears in agony.
"What's the matter?"
"Your cell phone, it's ringing."
"Who is it?"
Meg concentrated and then said, "It's Tony. He told Stuey to get you directly, even if he's doing his guide crap, that's what he said."
Mancini frowned and paused, torn, between serving his sentinel and the call of the Heir. He ghosted a hand over her, reading her; she was in a lot of pain, on the verge of zoning even.
The door opened behind them. "Boss."
Mancini turned. "Yeah?"
Stuey held the phone up and mouthed, 'Chicago.'
Mancini nodded and said, "Two seconds, Stuey." He turned back to his sentinel. "Tell you what if you haven't zoned by the time I get back from this call, then I'll forget about what happened yesterday morning." Meg nodded.
Mancini levered himself out of his chair. As he passed Stuey and grabbed the phone off him, he passed the TV remote control to the younger guard. "Stuey, while I'm taking care of business, you stay here and make sure she doesn't go anywhere. You can watch MTV if you want. Turn it up nice and loud, after all we don't have any neighbors to annoy do we?" Without a backward look to his sentinel, Mancini took the cell phone and moved outside the old school building that served as his headquarters and into the centre of the quadrangle. "Hey, Tony! How's the family?"
Mancini's smile grew wider as he heard the first faint beat of some noise or other that Stuey called music leach out of the house into the night air. Knowing that Meg couldn't filter anything out if he wasn't in direct contact with her, Mancini smiled to himself as he listened to his brother's greeting. As the first signs of Meg's distress came over the link, he merely shut it down and concentrated on his phone call.
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Naomi sighed as she put the cellphone back in her purse. "That's strange; it's saying the number's unreachable."
Roger turned his gaze back to Naomi; he'd been watching the traffic to give Naomi a sense of privacy. "Did he know you were coming back today?"
Naomi nodded. "I called last night from your apartment. He said he had no plans to go anywhere and for me to call him when we got in."
"Perhaps his sentinel's dragged him somewhere."
Naomi frowned and held onto Roger's hand. "Roger, Jim's not like that. You may have a point though; they might be out of town on police business. I'll try him later."
Roger leaned back in his seat. He let silence fall between them for a few minutes. "I'm sorry Naomi. I'll try for Blair's sake."
Naomi grimaced, and shook her head. "You should be trying for yourself, Roger."
Roger shook his head. "I was lost seven years ago, Naomi. He turned away from Naomi and focused on the traffic,
"None of it was your fault. The FBI report said that they couldn't find any fault with how 'you' dealt with it. "Naomi extended her hand and placed it on Roger's knee. After Roger had placed his larger hand on top of hers, Naomi added, "It was a wise move coming to Cascade."
"I'm still not sure that it is." Roger turned back to look at Naomi.
Naomi moved her hand up to his neck. "Your muscles are so tight. I know a great masseur here."
Roger put his hand up and laced his fingers through hers. "You and your meditation are enough. I'm so glad that we met again, Naomi."
"Karma. I should have come and seen you straight after the kidnap."
"You had your own problems. Anyway, Rainier University is an ideal place for the institute what with the Cascades and its forest so nearby. Meggie loved the outdoors. In some ways I am so glad I don't have her body to bury, I'd much rather have something like this as a memorial to her than dead stone." Roger slipped his arm around Naomi when she placed her head on his shoulder. "Once the institute is up and running, with your help I'll be able to put it all behind me and start afresh, Naomi."
."Of course, Roger. That's what I'm here to help you with."
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Jim was the first to break the silence in the truck. Keeping his attention on the road, he glanced quickly over at Blair. "Managed to contact Naomi yet?"
Blair breathed out a sullen answer. "No."
Silence reigned once more. Jim paid attention to his partner's breathing and pulse rate, both of which were still slightly elevated and erratic. "You still..."
Blair interrupted him. "Yeah, I'm still angry."
Jim sighed, the GDP officer's attitude had irritated him as well, she'd managed to behave according to the rules, just. But he couldn't say anything, he was a guest on their turf and he had to work within the rules set up by Dan at the earlier meeting, it was a GDP / PD investigation, not a clan matter. So he couldn't intervene when Curtis used Martin as a fetch and carry boy, going for coffee, pens, paper and anything else that she asked him to do. He knew damn well that it was only because of Blair's presence she hadn't asked Martin to kneel. And he also guessed that Martin was the type to accept his lot and not protest that his treatment broke the spirit of the new rules if not the actual rule. "So what are you going to do about it?"
Blair looked at Jim. "What do you mean?"
Jim shrugged. "No point in getting angry about something if you're not going to do anything about it."
"What can I do?"
"Wasn't Dan talking to you about having some input into Guide education?"
Blair nodded. "I've been thinking about talking about the spirit guides, what their significance is. Been doing a lot of research lately about it. I discovered this great text..."
"What about something more practical?"
"Like what?"
Jim broke into a smile. "Umm what how giving it a title such as, 'Giving the Guide a Voice. A primer for working with the new GDP'?"
Blair concentrated for a second and then he looked at Jim. "Assertiveness training?"
Jim shrugged. "Well, Martin, looked as if he needed to have a little lesson on how to break out of the old patterns of working."
Blair nodded, his curls shaking as he did so. "Oh man that sounds great and of course if it comes from me as Guide Prime..."
Jim smiled. "When you try Naomi again, tell her we'll be back in about an hour. If she's free, why don't you two go out to dinner? I'll go back to the department and check over the files."
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Martin grimaced as his thigh muscles protested the fact that he'd been kneeling for some time.
"Uncomfortable are we, Guide?"
Martin kept his head down and his voice steady. "No ma'am, not at all." He could hear Curtis shutting a file and pushing her chair back and then walking a round the desk.
"I've just been reading your personnel file and it makes interesting reading." There was a pause and Martin was unsure whether or not Curtis expected a reply but then she continued, "No wonder they've not been able to find a sentinel that will have you. Did you two do it on this carpet then?"
Martin looked up at Curtis and shook his head. "NO! Frobisher was..."
Curtis cut in, "But that is incidental. Just what were you doing this afternoon?"
"Ma'am?"
"At the crime scene, stupid." Curtis bent down so her face was inches away from Martin's. "What were you doing in the scrub for so long?"
Martin looked up at Curtis who had straightened up again. "I was checking something out."
"What?"
Martin hung his head down. He just knew she wasn't going to accept his explanation. "The flowers on top of the graves."
Curtis folded her arms and asked, "Is this really relevant, Guide?"
Martin looked briefly up at the officer and shook his head. "I don't know. They just seemed off to me. I was looking around..."
Curtis shook her head. She paced around again for a few moments; Martin made sure his posture was absolutely everything a good guide would be expected to maintain.
Curtis stopped pacing and sat down in her chair. "Look at me Guide. This investigation is too crucial for me to be able to carry a member of the squad whose functionality is questionable at best." She leaned over the desk, "In fact I believe Commander Slater is searching for a replacement for Frobisher at this moment in time. So given your personnel profile...I've found an opening that will suit you perfectly. They need a latrine cleaner at the Correctional center. Transport will pick you up at 06:00 tomorrow." Curtis pulled over a file and opened it. "Dismissed Guide."
Martin stayed on his knees. "Ma'am, may I have permission to clear my table?"
Curtis sighed and looked up. "I've had Watts do that. She's sent your effects over to your room. Dismissed, Guide."
Martin looked around the room one last time. 'Bye Fro,' and stood up and fastened his jacket around him and left the office.
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As he heard the office door opening, Jim stepped into the shadows of a small alcove as the guide emerged from Curtis's office. Jim paused for a moment wondering whether to ignore the guide and speak to Curtis or to go after the guide and leave the questions he had about the case until later. The noise of the panther claws hitting the polished floor of the corridor made up his mind. Jim followed the trail left by the chemical marker that characterised this guide easily. Once out of the GDP head quarters Jim could see the guide walking disconsately towards the bleak barracks building that bordered the far side of the parking lot. Jim picked up speed. His long legs cut the distance between him and the slower guide with each step.
Jim slowed as he saw the guide stop and slowly turn to face him. As Jim came level, he commanded, "No need to kneel."
Martin hung his head instead. "Senior Sentinel Prime. What can I do for you? Lieutenant Curtis is still in her office."
"I know. I was about to visit her for the ballistics report when I heard her little pep."
Martin kept his head down. "Sir..."
"I know very few police officers with the experience you have," remarked Jim, mildly." I'm just a guide, sir, not a trained investigative officer like Officer Curtis or Watts."
"Hands on experience is as good as any diploma in this job," commented Jim. "Any information we can get that could help us nail the ones that killed those men would be helpful."
"I haven't been authorised by Officer Curtis to speak to you."
Jim could hear the nervousness and fear in Martin's voice. Whatever was 'noted' in his personnel file must be something powerful,. Jim sighed, what could be worse than being a GDP guide? Time for the Senior Sentinel Prime card. Without trying, Jim's voice became almost sibilant. "I am Senior Sentinel Prime, guide. "Tell me what you found."
Martin looked up at Jim. After a moment or two, while Martin licked his lips, Martin answered; ""My parents were gardeners sir, Frobisher allowed me to continue that. His house..." Martin swallowed and then smiled a little crookedly before continuing, "He enjoyed it too. He used to zone on the leaves in the fall." Jim remained patient. "The flowers on the grave, sir. I noticed them straightaway, when I looked at the photographs earlier. They're lupines sir, lupine latifolius."
Jim smiled internally at the warmth that had crept back into the guide's voice, although he kept his exterior expression questioning. "So?"
"Well I noticed that there were bunches of them growing everywhere." Martin started waving his arms around. "The thing is, sir, that some lupines are poisonous."
Jim began to have an inkling at what Martin was saying, "So what you're saying is..."
Martin finished the sentence. "The species used on the graves wasn't sir. I hope it helps, sir. Only a very keen gardener or amateur botanist would know the difference."
Jim thought about the information for a few moments and then filed it away. Maybe one of the Mancini associates was a keen gardener. He shook his head; somehow he didn't think any of them went anywhere near a forest or anywhere natural except to hide their bodies. "I'm not sure how yet but I am sure it will." He looked at the guide. "Correctional facility?"
Martin swallowed. "You heard? I, I..." Deciding to be honest with the senior prime, he nodded. "It's not the greatest assignment but at least I'm not sent there as an inmate." Martin shivered.
Jim asked, in spite of the questions that were crowding his mind, why put flowers on the grave of somebody you'd just shot in cold blood? Why those? "Where would you like to be assigned?"
Martin stared at Jim for a few moments and then said, "With the greatest respect, sir. I'd like to stay as an investigator." Martin ducked his head down immediately as if he was expecting to be slapped down, either verbally or physically. He muttered, "Sorry, sir, I... I'd better be going; the transport will pick me up at 06:00. I'd better pack before I go to bed." Martin waited, head bowed.
Jim sensed the man was waiting for permission to leave and gave it. "That's enough for now. If we need anything else from you, we know where to get in touch with you." Jim swallowed as he realised what he had said. Martin nodded, turned on his heel and walked quickly across the parking lot to the barracks building. Jim tuned into the guide's heartbeat and followed that as the guide made his way through the building. With his hearing attuned, he heard the close of the door to Martin's room and the first sobs that came from the Martin's mouth. Jim dialled back his hearing straightaway, even if it was only one person giving the man some privacy. Jim's mind instinctually went back to the semi-cluttered loft, and what would happen to it if he ever died. He shivered. Jim turned and looked back at the GDP office building, Curtis could wait, he needed to get home and to the by now Sandburg dominated loft that he inhabited.
Jim walked back through the light drizzle that had started to fall and contemplated what he could do for Martin. Blair would have some ideas. The panther that walked beside him, stretched as Jim thought of his guide. Jim muttered, "Yeah, old buddy, bonding first and the we can decide what to do." The panther purred his agreement in reply. As Jim walked back to where his truck was parked, he just hoped that Blair didn't bring Naomi back to the loft, tonight was not the night for sage burning or any mantras or meditation, tonight was for him and his guide.