Adam tore down the yellow tape that marked the entrance to his apartment. The day had come and gone and the detective was still not one step closer to finding out what the hell was going on. Thankfully though, he had gotten some good news. Grady was improving and out of danger. Beaudreaux was so intent on balling up the plastic that he didn't notice the man sitting in his chair. Beaudreuax dove to the ground, the tape sticking to his hands as he went for his gun.

"I am not armed." The man stayed in the chair, smoking a cigarette.

Adam narrowed his eyes and tried to make out the face in the smoke and darkness. "Who the hell are you?"

The man exhaled the smoke in a long stream. "Gary Lipton."

Adam didn't think the engineer was threat, but he was still going to follow police procedure. "Well, Gary Lipton, I want you to rise- hands in the air where I can see them and walk toward me slowly."

Gary did exactly as he was told, the remaining part of the cigarette burning away leaving ashes on the floor. Adam turned on the lights, patted the man down, feeling no weaponry he gestured for the man to sit as he shut the door and handed Lipton a cup to place the cigarette butt.

Lipton pulled out a package of cigarettes from his pocket. Adam shook his head. Gary smiled then clenched his hands, trying to stop the noticeable shaking. "I'm sorry about your friend. It was my fault. I came here to tell you that. I know it doesn't mean much coming from me, but I never thought anyone would get hurt because of me. I never thought I would hurt anyone. I'm really sorry."

Adam pulled a stool in the kitchen and sat down. "You were the mystery man in my apartment that night." Gary gestured to the gun that was still pointed at him. Beaudreux lowered his gun, and relaxed it against his thigh. "Why?"

"I'm not proud about it. I was selling government information to the Chinese—related to computer chips." Gary swallowed and then continued. "I heard you were on my case and hoped you could help me. But it wasn't you who came through the door. I didn't think, and reacted. I'm sorry, and I came here to turn myself in or you can kill me." Gary rubbed his eyes. "My life is over. The US government does not want to arrest me-they want to kill me-too many spies and secrets getting into enemy hands and the public loses faith—so why not eliminate a lonely scientist no one will miss. . ." Lipton chuckled. "You know if you killed me you would be doing everyone a favor."

"I can't say that it isn't tempting. That was my friend you left bleeding on the floor." Adam shook his head, trying to figure out what to do. It was tempting to do as Gary asked and killed him.

"I AM sorry. I didn't know what to do. I ran, and then when I came back there was already an ambulance. . ." Gary wiped his palms on his jeans. "Look, please put me out of my misery."

Adam grasped the man's arm. "Wait, I think I can help you. . ." Adam wanted to bring Gary to the police station, but this was a case where he needed to bend the rules.

"I won't put up a fight." Gary sighed.

The desperation the detective heard lessened his anger against the man who had shot Grady. Adam growled for a second; mad at himself for wanting to assist people. "Do you want some help?"

Lipton stood and began fumbling through his pockets. "Ha-please, against the Chinese? The Federal government? Can you smuggle me out of the country?" Gary found the cigarette and this time Adam let him smoke it.

The detective picked up the phone, thinking of a couple of people who could help. "Give me some time and I'll figure something out."

Gary pressed the receiver and kept his hand on it. "Why do you want to help me? I shot you friend. . .I'm a traitor to my country."

Adam hung up the phone once Gary moved his hand away. "If you could go back and change it-would you?"

"Of course," Lipton said without hesitation. "In a few seconds I made a decision that ruined my life." Gary took a few deep puffs on the cigarette. "Everything was tempting—the money, the excitement."

"All the stuff missing from your life?" Adam knew men like this who felt unfulfilled. Guys like Gary had no sense of self worth or self esteem so they figured a little risk would make them feel more like a man. But, the detective had to give Lipton some credit-he knew he was in deep trouble. "I'm not saying you're off the hook. You deserve to go to jail, and you will, but you shouldn't be killed."

Gary smoked the rest of the cigarette and placed it in the cup. "I'll go to jail."

Adam nodded. "Listen; let me call a friend who can hide you out for the night." Beaudreux grabbed Lipton's arm. Adam tightened his grip to convince the man. "You can have a good night's sleep."

"I don't think that'll ever happen," Gary involuntarily rubbed his bloodshot eyes. He paused a moment. "And I don't want anyone else getting shot or in the way of a bullet meant for me."

Adam nodded. "Don't worry he won't." He knew exactly who would help him.

Miguel still couldn't believe Adam was asking him to help the guy who had gotten Grady shot. "Beaudreaux, I'm not the witness protection program."

Adam glanced at Lipton and Miguel looked, too. Granted, the man did look pathetic, chain smoking and pacing. "Come on, Miguel, there has got to be a K-Street hangout where you can stash him for a night."

Mendez placed a hand on his mentor's shoulder. "You sure you know what you're doing? He shot Grady." The former gang member wanted to remind Beaudreaux about his recent passion for revenge.

Adam grinned. "There's more than that going on. He needs to be punished, and he will be, but by the authorities. You got that?"

"Okay, I get it." Mendez sighed. He gestured for Lipton to follow him. "You'll be safe with my hommies."

"Thanks, I appreciate it." Gary stuck out his hand. Miguel shook his head and grasped the hand lightly.

In the car Mendez kept silent. He began to drum his fingers on the steering wheel. Then he decided he needed some music. He quickly turned the radio on, fiddled through the stations, and finding nothing he liked turned the radio off. "You're just lucky that Grady's gonna pull through."

Gary had been looking out the window, also avoiding Miguel. He turned to look at the former gang member. "I'm sorry about your friend." Lipton cleared his throat then added, "really."

"Just want you to get this straight-I'm doing this for Beaudreaux." Mendez gripped the steering wheel.

Gary nodded. "I understand."

Miguel shook his head at the circumstances he had been placed in. He smiled though when he passed a corner and saw some of his friends. "Stay put, I'm going to talk to some people that'll have a place for you."

Mendez pulled the car over and slammed the door shut. He didn't wave to his friends instead he kept his hands in his jean pockets. He greeted them with a nod. These were K-Street gang members, brothers he had had grown up with on the street. "I need a place to stash someone." He knew he could turn to them in time of need.

Petey put out his cigarette. "I know of a place." He began to give directions when his words were drowned out by gunfire. The men gathered dove to the ground for cover, and kept their heads covered. A few of the gang members brought out their guns in preparation for a battle. As suddenly as the chaos started it stopped.

Miguel stood up slowly, and looked at his friends to make sure they were fine. "Oh shit," he exclaimed as he looked at his car filled with bullet holes and Gary Lipton slumped against the dashboard dead.

Part 18

Adam walked down the corridor of the hospital smiling. He carried with him a pile of magazines for Grady to read. Malloy had reported the martial artist was bored. He knocked before entering and was surprised to see Jamieson standing near the window.

"Should you be up?" Adam dropped the magazines on the chair and went to his friend.

Grady waved him off. "After movement you are able to appreciate stillness." He smiled as he began to shuffle back to his bed. "Ying and yang."

Beaudreaux hovered near his friend's side. The doctor was expecting a full recovery and Grady was going to be coming home in two days.

Jamieson held his stomach as he eased himself into bed. It still felt like all his guts would spill out every time he moved. "Miguel and Malloy filled me in about that Lipton guy." Grady pushed himself up on his pillows so he was sitting up. "You want to tell me the rest?"

Adam shook his head and sat down, placing the magazines on the bed. "Not my story to tell." The detective didn't want to talk about his failure. Pine had been upset when he found out Beaudreux had gone against his wishes and that of the federal government. Charlie would support his friend, but was upset at being placed in the awkward position.

"Miguel said it was some drive by. Malloy said the NSA was by the bar." Grady crossed his arms. "We smell a conspiracy."

Beaudreux sighed and took a seat by the hospital bed. Adam looked out the window, thinking back when Miguel had called him and told him what happened. The detective knew it was the NSA, but there was no proof.

Jamieson, noticing his friend was deep in thought over what had happened with Lipton began to pick at the sheets. "Heard you tried to help the guy." Grady looked up and stared at his friend. Miguel had filled him in. Adam was trying to protect Gary, and the martial artist knew when the detective failed he took it very hard.

Adam stood up then sat down again. "Yeah, and where did that get him-dead."

"You can't help everyone—some things are too big. . .even for you, B." Grady thought back to his horrific nightmares. He had almost become lost in that world. Jamieson stretched his hand out to his friend, then brought it back. "I'm just glad you were there for me."

"What?" Adam threw his hands up. "You're in this bed 'cause of me." The detective shook his head, and saw the movement Grady had made with his hand. The detective relaxed back into the padded chair. He had almost lost his best friend, and he was focusing his energy on something out of his control instead of Grady.

The martial artist laughed, although it caused him some discomfort so he decided to grin. "You were there when it counted, trust me."

Beaudreux reached out and clasped his friend's hand. "You scared me, man." Adam looked straight into the martial artist's eyes, conveying how frightened the detective had truly been at the thought of losing someone so important.

Grady grasped the hand firmly, relishing in the seconds of contact and wishing he had found Adam sooner. The detective could have been there to keep the monsters and the nightmares at bay. Jamieson didn't trust his voice and cleared his throat before answering, "Sorry, B. . ."

Adam brought his other hand up to clasp their still joined ones. "Just don't ever do that again." He squeezed the younger man's hand slightly. "I lost you once. I don't want to go through that again. You're a part of my life now . . ." Beaudreux's voice became husky.

Grady nodded, closed his eyes for a moment. Maybe later he'd blame his sentimental tendencies on the pain medication. "Thanks, B. Thanks for caring and being there."

In those few seconds both men believed in the power of friendship.

THE END