Epilogue

"Jim, I need some coffee." Simon pulled off the road and into a gas station. "You want one?"

"No, I'm good, but can you grab a bottle of juice for Blair? He'll probably be thirsty when he wakes."

"Sure, I'll be back in a minute." Ambling across the lot, he plucked his cell from his pocket and dialled the office.

"Captain, I'm so glad you called. I was just about to contact you."

"There a problem?"

"I've just had a call from Jim's brother, who's been urgently trying to contact him. I have some bad news about his father."

"Father," Simon repeated. "I didn't even know Jim still had a father."

"Well, apparently he does and he's had a stroke. It doesn't look good, sir. They don't think he'll make it through the night."

"Did he leave a number?"

"Yes sir."

"Rhonda, I need you to do me a favour and call Jim's brother back. Let him know that we're on our way back to the city. I'd rather keep Jim in the dark until he gets Blair back home and settled."

"Yes, sir," she said again."And give Jim and Blair my best."

"Will do," Simon muttered before hanging up. He knew that Jim had a brother who he'd been estranged from for a number of years, but he'd had no idea that Jim's father was still alive. Since he was never mentioned, he'd just assumed the guy had already passed away.

Whatever had happened between Jim and his family, Simon knew that he'd probably never find out, but he did know that if it were enough to keep Ellison from letting his family know he had a son, then it couldn't have been good. "It never just rains," he muttered, as he pushed his way through the cafe door. "It pours."

The End

TBC in Picking up the Pieces