Chapter 15

Ian listened intently as his son talked about his day at school. For the last couple weeks Anna'd been allowing him to see TJ more. Ian had to admit he was loving it. He was crazy about the kid. He'd never thought he had what it took to be a parent but after spending time with TJ he had to admit that fatherhood was a great job. It was nice to have a conversation that consisted of the latest Spiderman comic or the new ten speed a classmate had gotten for his birthday rather than bank robbers and gun calibers. More than anything though, it was the look of absolute trust and lack of intimidation when the boy looked at him. Like there wasn't any doubt in his mind that Ian was someone he was safe with. People he worked with put their lives in his hands every day. Don, Colby, David, Megan, they trusted him to have their backs when things got dicey. But it wasn't the same as having the trust of an innocent child. Now if he could just find a way to get the kid's mother to trust him like that. The awkwardness he'd heard in her voice the night she'd asked him to babysit TJ bothered him more than he'd let on. He knew she hated asking anyone for help but with him it seemed harder. Why? Why wouldn't she let him in? She had trusted him once. She had walked into many dangerous confrontations where the chances of getting killed were incredibly high, never doubting that he would protect her. When she'd been on the verge of a nervous breakdown after watching a teenage girl get shot right in front of her he had been the one she called. She trusted him with her son, the most precious thing in the world to her. That was a trust she put in only a handful of people. But he couldn't seem to break down this wall she'd put up between them. She avoided being alone with him. She was subtle about it, but he was a little too sharp not to notice how she always made sure there was at least one other person in close proximity whenever he was around. How she would suddenly need to get coffee, or talk to Don whenever she found herself alone in a room with him at the office. It was almost like she was afraid of him. The thought that Anna was scared of him was agonizing. It made him wonder about that night they'd spent together that had resulted in the boy that sat beside him as he drove to the office. He'd fantasized so many times about being with her. In his fantasies they'd gone slow, savoring every moment, drawing out every last ounce of pleasure before going over the edge together and then when he woke up she would be beside him and he would just stare into her eyes. He'd always loved her eyes. They were so dark and haunting. In his fantasy they would gaze at him full of passion and fire as he made love to her. What they'd done that night could hardly be called love. Lust, need, desire, adrenaline, maybe. He wondered even now if she regretted it. If that was why she'd left before he'd woken up and been so edgy with him the next day. Why she'd left D.C. without a word.

"Why are we going to Mom's office?" TJ asked suddenly. Ian pushed his thoughts of Anna aside for the moment and focused on his son.

"Your Mom asked me to bring you there when I picked you up since your grandpa's busy."

"She still thinks I need a babysitter," TJ said with a slight pout.

"Well she's the boss, she's the mom." They pulled in front of the building. Ian flashed his badge at the desk guard who knew him by sight by now and waved him in.

"Hi Drew," TJ said to the guard.

"Hey TJ," the guard greeted the boy. Apparently, TJ was no stranger around the office. They rode the elevator up to the fourth floor. Anna was nowhere to be seen but David and Colby were huddled around their cube.

"Hey TJ, my man." David greeted the boy.

"Hi Uncle David."

"You boys look hard at work," Ian said teasing. Both men looked a little embarrassed and TJ giggled.

"What are you laughing at shortie?" Colby said poking TJ in the side. TJ only giggled harder.

"This kid bothering you gentlemen," Don said coming up from behind and putting TJ in a headlock. "Looks a little shady."

"Yeah I caught him lurking around," Ian said. "Definitely a suspicious looking character."

"Definitely up to no good," David said.

"What's the penalty for not cleaning your room these days?" Colby said.

"It's what…twenty to life now," Don said.

"At least," Ian said.

"I clean my room," TJ said indignantly.

"Sure, that's what they all say," Don said releasing his nephew and turning to Ian. "I need to talk to you." Ian nodded and followed Don into a room.

"What's up?"

"We may have a lead on our shooter."

"What kind of lead?"

"Seattle PD pulled a guy over for a busted tail light. The approaching officer spotted a rifle in the guy's back seat. Brought him in for suspicious behavior."

"What kind of rifle?"

"Dakota T-76 Longbow." Ian let out a long slow whistle.

"That's one of the most accurate rifles out there. Right shooter behind it, it's capable of shots almost a mile away. Haven't used one since I left the army."

"Well, they matched the bullet to the ones that killed all our victims."

"They gonna give us grief about interrogating him?"

"We got the case two months ago it's officially our jurisdiction."

"Seattle," Ian said, glancing at his watch. "Bout a day's drive. If I leave now I can be there by noon tomorrow."

"You should take Anna with you," Don said. Ian's stomach clenched.

"What?"

"I need one of my people out there. Anna's the best profiler we've got, plus she's got a gift when it comes to making nice with local law enforcement."

"Twenty-four hours in a truck with Anna," Ian said. "She's gonna have some serious objections."

"Well when all's said and done I'm still her boss." Ian sighed. This was gonna be fun.

As he'd predicted Anna was not too happy with the concept of a day long road trip with him. The shouting match she had gotten into with Don when he'd informed her of it could be heard all over the building. Needless to say she'd not been in the best of moods. Also, due to her joining him they couldn't leave right away. It was almost seven when he pulled up in front of the Craftsman. He hopped out of the truck and grabbed her bags. She was too busy giving her father instructions to protest. He turned and saw TJ behind him.

"Hey kid," he said.

"How long will you be gone?" he asked softly. Ian felt a knot in his stomach. Was this how Anna felt whenever she had to leave him?

"Not long," he said. "Few days, max."

"Will you do me a favor?" TJ asked.

"If I can," Ian said. TJ glanced over at his mother who was still talking to Alan.

"Take care of my Mom okay," TJ said in a small voice. "Make sure nothing bad happens to her." Ian felt his heart melt.

"I promise kiddo," he said. "I won't let anything happen to your mother." TJ grinned. Ah, the innocence of a child.

"Anna, for pete's sake it's not like I haven't taken care of a kid before," Alan finally said. "If you don't get on the road it's gonna be dark before you hit Salinas. We'll be fine." Anna sighed. She was stalling. Ian could see in her face she was dreading being alone with him. He hated this. He hated that the woman who he'd spent so many hours with going over victimology, strategizing sting operations, hanging out in bars after work, just talking to, was afraid to be near him. She gave him a quick look and turned away.

"Okay," Anna said. "Give me a hug bubba. Be good, do your homework, go to bed when Grandpa tells you."

"Don't fill up on junk food, don't run with knives…." TJ said in whiny sort of voice. Ian fought not to smile. The kid might act tough but he knew how much he loved his mother. How protective he was of her.

"All right smart guy," Anna said giving him a little shove. "We'll be back in a few days." Finally, unable to put it off any longer Anna hopped into the truck. Ian shook hands with Alan and high fived TJ and slid into the driver's seat.

They had been driving for nearly two hours and she hadn't said one word to him. The moment he'd pulled out of the driveway she'd picked up the file on Enrique Marquez and had been reading it ever since.

"Don't you have that thing memorized it by now?" he asked finally breaking the silence.

"Hmm?" she said glancing up.

"You know you will have to speak to me eventually," he said. "You're gonna be stuck with me in this truck for the next couple days. "

"If you need background noise put a CD in," she said curtly. He sighed. This was gonna be a long couple days. He took her advice and popped in a CD. The sound of Bruce Springsteen filled the emptiness in the car. He found himself tapping the steering wheel along with the beat. After a bit he could hear her singing softly along with the words.

"Still into 'The Boss'?" she said as the song ended and the next started.

"Can't go wrong with the boss," he said. She chuckled. He smiled. Finally, she was talking. Leave it to Springsteen to break the tension. It wasn't the first time.

She would be here soon. After popping the frozen pizza in the oven and turning on the stereo for background noise, he gave the apartment a once over. It was fairly clean considering he was hardly ever here. He picked up a pair of boots that had been haphazardly thrown on the floor and tossed them in a closet. The magazines that were scattered over his coffee table he stacked neatly. The dishes that were in the sink he quickly washed and put away. He didn't know why he was nervous. It was just Anna. They'd hung out plenty of times before. But never here, at his apartment. When she'd told him she was planning on spending Christmas Eve alone he'd felt his heart ache. He hated the idea of her being alone today. So he'd invited her over to watch movies and hang out. She'd seemed a little surprised by the offer, but after a great deal of contemplation she'd accepted. She'd offered to supply the movies. She'd laughed when he begged her not to make him watch It's a Wonderful Life. She'd said she was thinking comedy to which he'd agreed. After the last couple weeks they'd had they could both use a good laugh. He finished the dishes just as he heard the knock on his door. He opened it to find her covered in snow. She wore a dark wool coat and a matching black hat and scarf. Over the top of her scarf he could she her cheeks were red from the cold.

"Come on in," he said.

"Thanks," she said. "It's absolutely frigid out there." He chuckled as he took the bag from the video store. He set it on the table and took her coat.

"I will never get used to this cold," she said stripping of her hat scarf and boots. He couldn't help but stare. She was dressed in a thick gray sweater, jeans and thick wool socks. Her dark hair was falling down from the knot she had it in. Her face was flushed from the cold.

"I'm a little windblown," she said running a hand over her hair.

"You look great," he said. If possible her face got even redder. She shifted nervously on her sock clad feet. Seemed he wasn't the only one who was a bit nervous. She tilted her head.

"Springsteen?" she said. "Not exactly Jingle Bells."

"Hey," he protested lightly. "Don't be putting down the boss. He's one of the great artists of our time." She smiled. God, she was beautiful when she smiled.

"I got nothing against 'the boss'. He's done some nice work. I just don't usually listen to him at Christmas."

"Well, I would have stocked up on Bing Crosby but I ran out of time." She laughed. He laid a hand on her shoulder and guided her into the living room.

"Nice place," she said.

"Yeah," he said. "I'm not here much. So what movies do we have?" He grabbed the bag and pulled out four DVDs.

"Some Like It Hot? Arsenic and Old Lace? Bringing Up Baby? It Happened One Night? These are all in black and white. I thought you were getting comedies."

"Those happen to be classics of the comedy genre," she said placing her hands on her hips.

"All the people in them are dead," Ian said. Anna shook her head.

"Oh ye of little faith," she said. "Just you wait. You'll be laughing your butt off. I guarantee it."

"If you say so," he said. He turned to go into the kitchen as the timer went off. "That's the pizza. Make yourself at home." He put the pizza onto a cutting board and cut it into slices. She came into the kitchen and asked if he needed any help. He handed her the cutting board with the pizza on it.

"Why don't you take that into the living room, I'll grab us a couple beers," he said. He grabbed a couple plates out of the cupboard and got two beers out of the fridge. A couple paper towels would have to suffice as napkins. They popped in the first movie and settled down on the sofa. Just as Cary Grant discovered a dead body in the window seat he noticed Anna was shivering a little. He reached behind the sofa for the blue fleece throw he kept back there and laid it over her legs. She gave him a small smile.

"Thanks," she said shyly. "California blood."

"Don't mention it," he said patting her knee.

It had definitely been one of the best Christmases he'd had in a long time. She'd been right about the movies. If he had to take a guess he would say that that was when he had started having feelings for her. Hearing her laugh, seeing her relaxed and not burdened down by a case had giving him a great feeling. She'd fallen asleep on his sofa and he'd decided not to wake her. She'd been a little embarrassed about it the next morning but he'd waved off her apologies using the excuse that the roads were so bad it was safer for her to have stayed. The truth was it had felt right having her there on Christmas morning. That first Christmas after she'd left was the most miserable he'd ever felt. He'd have given anything to get her back. Well, if he had anything to say about it he would never spend Christmas alone again.

"Still with me over there Edgerton?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said. "Just thinking we should stop soon for gas and food."

"Sounds good to me," she said setting aside the file and stretching her arms over her head. "I think the next exit is in about five miles. We can switch drivers if you're getting drowsy."

"That won't be necessary," he said with a slight growl. This was an old battle.

"1150 miles from LA to Seattle," she said her tone slightly mocking.

"I've gone farther than that on no sleep," he said.

"You just don't want to let me drive your truck," she said knowingly.

"I've driven with you before," he said. "You're crazier than I am."

"Hey I've become a much safer driver since last time you rode shotgun." He supposed that was true. Having a kid in the passenger seat would tend to make a person tone down aggressive tendencies. But he still wasn't moved.

"Not a chance in hell sweetheart," he said. She laughed.

"Speaking of..." he said. "Whatever happened to that heap you used to drive?"

"Speak of Bessie with some respect would you please?" she said rolling her eyes. "Poor thing died on the operating table. May she rest in peace."

"My condolences," Ian said sarcastically.

"Thank you," Anna said. "She lived a long full life and besides she wasn't really ideal for hauling TJ around." Ian smiled. He'd brought up a past memory they both shared and she hadn't stiffened or flinched. It was progress. It seemed that as long as he didn't bring up the last nine years, unless it was directly about TJ she was okay with it. They pulled off at the next exit. Ian filled the tank while Anna went to the restaurant across the street to get them some dinner. She returned with two steaming cups of coffee and a couple burgers. He noticed she hadn't got fries. Was it because she remembered he didn't like them? He hoped so. He couldn't help chuckling as she bit into her burger.

"What?" she asked.

"Just remembering the first time you joined the team for dinner at that steakhouse." She tilted her head and then chuckled.

"Oh yes," she said. "Everyone was so astonished when I finished off that porterhouse. They all assumed being from California I must be a vegetarian."

"And you told us that your family would disown you if you gave up red meat."

"Still would," she said thoughtfully. "My dad's forgiven me for a lot in my life. Getting suspended from school, passing up Berkeley to be a G-man, having a child out of wedlock, but if I ever gave up red meat…" Ian laughed.

"Suspended?"

"Couldn't let that one go, could you?"

"Nope," he said. "I must know all about your deep dark past." She shook her head and took a sip of her coffee.

"Sophomore year of high school," she said. "I'm in a stall in the girl's room and I hear this little blonde bimbo who I can't stand named Missy Strider gossiping with all her little blonde minions."

"Let me guess," Ian said. "Head cheerleader."

"Lost out to Kimberly Haftner, after which an ugly rumor that Haftner stuffs her bra with her brother's socks started to spread. So I hear Missy clucking to her cronies about me."

"What, that you stuffed your bra?"

"I didn't need to stuff," Anna said smugly. "No, she liked to use words like, white trash, dyke, cunt."

"Whew," Ian whistled. "What'd you do?" Anna smiled.

"Very calmly opened the stall, walked to the sink. Missy and her little bimbettes are just standing there with these deer caught in the headlights looks on their faces. I wash my hands, dry them off, throw the towel in the trash, and turn around and punch Missy right in the face."

"Oh man," Ian said. "I'd have given anything to have seen that." Anna chuckled.

"God," Anna said. "High school is such a turbulent time for a kid. Kids being cruel to each other for no other reason than that they can be. Makes me worry about TJ. He'll be in High School before I know it."

"You're not gonna have to worry about TJ," Ian said reassuringly. "I honestly can't see that kid picking on someone just for the heck of it."

"I hope so," she said softly. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She seemed to be relaxing a bit. Lowering her defenses.
"Can I ask you something?" he said.

"Depends," she said raising an eyebrow.

"Why'd you leave New York?" She suddenly became very interested in her coffee. He wasn't sure she was going to answer.

"What did Don tell you?" she asked after a long silence.

"He didn't know the facts. He figured it was cause of TJ."

"It was," she said. "To some extent." She sighed. He was about to tell her to forget he asked when she spoke.

"Four boys had been abducted," she said. "All of them between the ages of six and nine. We'd find their bodies about eight days after they'd disappear. Beaten, raped, tortured. The Mayor was putting the pressure on my supervisor to find this son of a bitch."

"Did you?"

"We took all the steps. Interviewed witnesses, went through all the list of registered pedophiles, but nothing. A fifth boy went missing from a park. Witnesses all described the same man who'd been talking to the kid minutes before. Description fit a registered sex offender perfectly. Wade Simpson. Busted for running a child pornography ring. We raided the creep's house found the usual. Studio set up in the living room, tapes, pictures, made me want to throw up. The kid was tied up in the basement. So everyone figures case closed."

"Everyone but you," Ian guessed.

"This guy was a creep no doubt about it, but there was no evidence that he'd killed those other boys. Creeps who deal with child porn rarely beat or rape the kids they use. Plus, none of the other boys showed up in any of the pictures or tapes. But the mayor was satisfied and so my boss dropped the case and told me to do the same. Three weeks later NYPD pulls over a guy for running a stop sign. The dead body of a seven year old boy was in the trunk. He'd been beaten and raped. Our guy was driving around looking for a place to dump the body." Her voice broke a little he reached over and squeezed her shoulder.

"Another kid died because my boss gave into political pressure and didn't look at the profile. Seven years old."

'The same age TJ would have been,' Ian thought.

"I requested a transfer a week later. I couldn't continue to work for a man I couldn't respect."

"So you decided to work for your older brother," Ian said.

"Don can be a real hard head when he thinks he's right about something. But he'd never put politics above his principals."

"Don's a good guy," Ian said. "And one hell of an agent. I thought so the first time I met him. Not a lot of agents would pull their mathematician little brother in to help them figure out a case."

"Yeah," Anna nodded. "When Don first told me about Charlie helping him out I thought I'd stepped into a parallel universe. Till I saw it for myself I never believed it."

"And now all three of you are working together. One big happy family."

"Yeah right," Anna said. Ian smiled. Around 2am they decided to look for a place to crash for the night. They found a small motel that looked decent enough that had a vacancy sign.

"We should get an early start tomorrow," Ian said handing her a key.

"Seven early enough for you?" she said.

"You gonna be able to function on only five hours of sleep?" Ian asked her.

"When you're an agent and a mom five hours is a luxury," she said grabbing her key. "See ya in the morning." He watched her go into her room and close the door behind her. Ian shook his head and went into his own room. He dropped his bag on the floor and stretched out on the bed. As exhausted as he was sleep would not come. He'd made progress with Anna but he still had a long way to go.

"I'm not giving up," he said to himself. "Just you wait Annabelle Graves. I'm not giving up till I win your heart." With this vow on his mind he drifted off the sleep.