The rain fell in blinding sheets as Hank drove across through the half-deserted streets. He slowed his car, looking for the house number. Finally locating the correct address, he pulled into the driveway of a turn-of-the-century Victorian-style house and climbed out. Before he could knock, the door opened and a hand reached out to pull him inside.
“Thanks for coming so quickly, Hank,” said Hayley Jorgensen.
“Well, you did say it was urgent,” replied the Captain, water dripping from his hair and clothing. “What's wrong?”
The woman smiled, her eyes glinting coldly. “Nothing, now that you're here,” she said, her hand sliding into her pocket. “Have a seat and make yourself at home,” she invited.
“Hayley, I don't have time for this. Tell me what you need and get on with it.”
The former fire trainee laughed. “I need you , Captain,” she answered, raising her hand. Her fingers were clamped around a small handgun. She pointed the weapon at her former boss.
Hank paled. “If this is some kind of joke, it's not funny,” he growled. “I'm leaving.”
“I'm afraid you're not going anywhere,” spat Jorgensen. She turned her head as a tall, solidly-built man entered the room. “Tie him up, Roger. We're going for a little ride, Hank.”
The Captain grunted as Roger yanked his arms behind his back and looped a rope around his wrists. Once he was securely bound, the man pulled him to his feet and shoved him towards the rear of the house. Hayley followed, her gun trained on the back of the Captain's head.
“The van's all gassed up,” said Roger. “Where we taking him?”
“To that place we talked about right after I got canned from the Department,” replied the woman. “I bet you didn't know that I over-heard you talking to McConikee, did you, Hank? Because of you, I lost my job. The Chief made sure that I would never be able to transfer to another station either.”
“I told him the truth,” said Hank, gasping as Roger threw him in the rear of the van. “You couldn't handle the work and disrupted my station.”
“Shut up!” blazed Hayley, kicking him in the ribs. “If it wasn't for that bastard Kelly, you never would have found out about my past! Don't worry, though. I plan to deal with him, too.”
Hank squeezed his eyes shut against the pain in his side as Roger started the van and drove onto the road. **”My God,” he thought. “She's out of her mind. I have to get out of this somehow.”**
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Back at the ranch, Louisa looked at the clock for what seemed, to her, the thousandth time. Two hours had passed since her husband had left and she was beginning to worry. “ Mami , do you know who called?” she asked her mother. “If Hank was going to gone this long, he would have called to let me know.”
Maria shook her head. “No, querida , I don't. It was a woman, but she never told me her name.”
“You know, I just thought of something,” put in Johnny. “Cap kept getting calls at the station from some chick. Maybe it was her. I hate to say this, but could Cap be having an affair?”
Louisa shook her head. “No way!” she stated. “Hank isn't the type, especially not when we have a baby on the way. Tell me more about these phone calls, Johnny.”
The paramedic scratched his cheek, thinking hard. “The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it. Every time she called, Cap went into his office and shut the door, so I never heard much.”
“When did the calls start? Do you remember?” asked Maria, resting her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
“About a week after Jorgensen got fired,” said Chet. “We never did find out why she left.”
“It was because she freaked out at that fire, amigo ,” said Marco. “I heard Cap and the Chief talking about it.”
“Oh yeah,” replied the Irishman. “I remember now. We got called out to an apartment fire and she totally lost it when Gage and Desoto brought out that little girl who got burned. Jorgensen flipped out and started screaming. After we got back to the station, Cap asked her to go into his office and not long after that, McConikee showed up.”
“You don't think she is behind this?” asked Louisa. “It wasn't Hank's fault she got fired.”
“Maybe she blames him for losing her job,” said Roy . “She was pretty mad that day.”
The young woman frowned. “It just doesn't make sense. Hayley is smart enough to get another job. Why would she go nuts about something like this?”
“I think someone should go over to her place and see if she's there,” said Mike calmly. “There's no reason to jump to conclusions because Cap has been gone for two hours. He could have run into traffic or something.”
“Why don't you all go home?” said Louisa. “I'm sure Hank will be back any minute.”
“Lou, if you need anything, call me,” said Johnny as he walked out the door. “I'm gonna drive by Jorgensen's house and ask her if she's heard from Cap.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hank felt the van slow down, then stop. When the panel slid open, he blinked, looking around. “Come on, get out,” grumbled Roger, grabbing the Captain's arm and dragging him out of the vehicle.
A few yards away, Hank saw a run-down old hunting cabin surrounded by thick woods. His senses told him that wherever they were, it was far away from the city. The only sounds he heard were the chirping of crickets and dripping water. “Where the Hell are we?” he demanded.
“Never mind that, Hank,” snickered Hayley. “We're someplace your sweet bitch of a wife will never think to look for you. It's such a shame, her about ready to pop and you not around. How ever will she manage?” she muttered sarcastically.
“Hayley, why are you doing this? It wasn't my decision to let you go. I told McConikee that you would toughen up.”
“Yeah, I'm sure you did,” replied Jorgensen acidly. “Too bad he didn't buy it and fired me anyway.” She gave the Captain a hard shove towards the cabin. “Get moving!”
Hank stumbled up the muddy path and climbed the rickety stairs leading to the door. Roger pushed open the wooden door and dragged the Captain inside. The room was dusty and cobwebs filled the corners. An old stone fireplace took up an entire wall. Small skittering sounds announced the presence of mice as Hayley slammed the door shut. “Welcome to your new home, Hank,” she sneered. “Ain't it rustic?”
“More like trashy,” muttered Stanley . Roger's face reddened and he punched the Captain in the face, sending him crashing to the dirty floor. “Watch your mouth, man,” he growled.
Hayley grinned at her boyfriend. “Now for step two in our little plan, darling. I want you to go back to my place and keep you eyes open for anyone who might come looking for him,” she said, nudging Hank in the ribs with her muddy shoe. “I know damn well that one of those creeps will come looking for him. Throw them off the trail.”
“You got it, babe. See ya in a few days. You got the CB all ready to hook up? I'll let you know when the coast is clear.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Next Morning
Louisa sat at the kitchen table, a cold cup of tea in front of her. She jumped when the front door opened and Marco came in. The Latino man stared at his sister, noticing her disheveled appearance and pale face. “No word yet, Lou?” he asked gently.
“No, Marco,” she answered, on the verge of tears. “Whatever you do, don't say anything in front of the kids. They don't know what's going on yet.”
“Did Johnny call last night?”
“Yeah. Hayley wasn't home, but he said some guy answered the door when he went over to her house. Johnny said this guy told him Hayley was out of town, but he didn't know where she was.”
“How are you holding up, little sister? Can I get you anything?”
“I'm all right,” assured Louisa, staring down at her cup. She started to say something else, but choked off her words when Emma and Matthew came bouncing down the stairs. “Good morning, Mama,” they chorused. “Hi, Uncle Marco.”
“Morning, squirts,” smiled Marco, hiding his anxiety over his missing brother-in-law. “How about I give you a ride to school before I go to work?”
“Yeah!” shouted Matthew, his face lighting up. “Can he, Mama?” he asked his mother.
“If you can be ready in twenty minutes, sweethearts,” smiled Louisa. “Your breakfast is on the table.”
As the children attacked their oatmeal, the phone rang. Louisa got up to answer, pasting a smile on her face.
“Hi, Chief. Uh huh, I understand. No, we can talk about that when I see you later,” she said, glancing over to see if her children were listening. “You did? Okay, I'll wait for you. Bye.”
Marco raised a questioning eyebrow, but his sister shook her head, glancing at Emma and Matthew. He nodded, then stood up. “Come on, kids. Get your teeth brushed so we can leave. We can't have you being late to school, can we? Your Mama might ground me if that happens.”
After Marco and the children had left, Louisa cleared the table and washed the dishes. Outside, Buddy barked, announcing a visitor. She opened the door and greeted Chief McConikee and Lieutenant Ron Crockett, inviting them to come in.
“Good morning, Mrs. Stanley,” said Crockett. “It's good to see you again, although I wish it was under better circumstances.”
“So do I, sir,” answered the young woman. “Would you like some coffee?”
“That would be nice, thank you. I've asked Howard and Brooks to meet us here. They should be along shortly.”
McConikee put his arm around the young woman, guiding her to a chair. “Don't worry, Louisa. If anyone can find Hank, it's Crockett.”
Louisa smiled thinly. “I certainly hope so, Pat. I just hope they find him before it's too late. I can't explain it, but I have a really bad feeling about this.”
The lieutenant added sugar to his coffee and took a sip. He pulled a notepad and pen out of his jacket pocket and laid them on the table. He looked up when Vince Howard and his partner, David Brooks, entered the room. “Have a seat so we can get started, boys. Mrs. Stanley, when was the last time you saw your husband?”
“Yesterday afternoon,” replied Louisa. “We were having a cook-out. His whole crew was here, as well as Dr. Kelly Brackett, Dixie McCall, and Dr. Cheryl Sinclair. She's my obstetrician,” she explained, seeing the detective's quizzical expression.
“Why did he leave the house?” asked Vince.
“He got a phone call and told me that he had to go out for a while. Before you ask, no, he didn't say where he was going,” said the young woman, anticipating the officer's question. “I haven't seen him since. He never came home last night.” The tears she had been holding in check all morning finally spilled down her cheeks.
“Do you know who called him?” asked Brooks, folding his arms. “Was it a man or a woman?”
“I didn't answer the phone; my mother did. She said it was a woman, but she didn't know who it was.”
“Have you noticed anything different about your husband's behavior lately?” questioned Crockett. “Anything out of character?”
“No, not really. He was upset about something that happened on a call recently, but he didn't say much about it.”
McConikee spoke up. “It had to do with a young lady that was training at Hank's station,” he commented. “Hayley Jorgensen reacted badly to a little girl that had been burned pretty bad and she, according to John Gage, ‘flipped out'. Hank called me after they returned to the station and told me what had happened.”
“Is Miss Jorgensen still working at the station, Chief?” asked Vince.
“No, we had to let her go. After speaking to the rest of the crew, I felt that she wasn't cut out to be a firefighter,” replied McConikee.
Crockett tapped his pen against his chin. “And how did she react?” he asked, leaning forward.
The Chief frowned as he thought back. “She was furious. She accused us of discriminating against her because she's a woman. It was a bad scene. She threatened to call a lawyer and sue the Department.”
“Mrs. Stanley, has your husband had any contact with Miss Jorgensen since she was fired?”
Louisa shook her head. “Not that I'm aware of. I didn't really know her that well. I always got the impression that she didn't like me for some reason. I dropped by her house with some chicken soup when she was out sick, but she was pretty cold to me. You don't think she has something to do with Hank's disappearance, do you?”
“Probably not, but we'll investigate every lead, ma'am,” answered Crockett. “Howard, I want you and Brooks to go over to this woman's house and question her. I'd like to speak to the rest of Captain Stanley's crew as well. They might be able to shed some light on this.”
“John Gage went over to talk to Hayley last night, but she wasn't home,” said Louisa. “Some guy was there. She never said anything about having a boyfriend that I know of.”
“Chief, do you have an address on file for Jorgensen?” asked the lieutenant.
“Yes, I do. I took the liberty of bringing along her file, just in case.” He handed the folder to the detective. “I was really surprised when she washed out. I thought she would work out, but I guess I was wrong.”
Louisa followed the officers to the door. “Vince, can you call me after you talk to Hayley? I want to know what she has to say about this.”
“Of course,” smiled Howard. “Come on, David. See you later, Crockett, Chief.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Captain Stone, who was filling in for Hank, looked up when McConikee entered his office. “Hey, Chief,” he said, his eyes widening when Crockett came in. “Hello, Lieutenant.”
“Captain Stone,” nodded the officer. “I need to speak with John Gage. Is he here today?”
“He and Desoto are out on a call right now, but they should be back soon. Is this about Captain Stanley's disappearance?”
“Yes, sir. We've already spoken to Mrs. Stanley, and she told us that Mr. Gage went over to Miss Jorgensen's home to speak to her. I have a few questions for him.”
Stone gaped at his superior. “Chief, you think Hayley had something to do with this? Well, I guess that would make sense, considering what Hank told me.”
Crockett's head shot up. “He spoke to you about Jorgensen?” he demanded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his notepad. “What exactly did he say?”
“Hank said she was a hard worker, but she made him a little uncomfortable. From what he told me, she was always hanging around the office, talking to him. Hank finally had to tell her to concentrate on her job.”
The lieutenant wrote swiftly. “So she spent a lot of time with the Captain, would you say that?” he asked.
“I couldn't really say, Lieutenant,” answered Stone. “His crew would be able to tell you about that. I covered for him when Louisa had to go to the hospital a couple weeks ago.”
Before Crockett could reply, the squad backed into the bay and Gage and Desoto jumped out. “Hey, Chief,” said Roy , his face registering surprise when he spotted Crockett through the open office door. “Hello, Lieutenant.”
“Hey, Roy, John,” replied the officer. “Good to see you. Now I can talk to all of you together, instead of chasing you boys all over town,” he chuckled. “John, Mrs. Stanley told me that you went over to speak to Jorgensen last evening. Is that correct?”
The paramedic nodded. “Yeah, I did, but she wasn't home. Some guy answered the door. He said Hayley was out of town.”
“Did he tell you his name or where Miss Jorgensen was?” asked Crockett.
Gage thought hard. “Roger something, I think. Roger Wilkins, I think he said. But he claimed not to know where she had gone. He acted kinda nervous, too, if I remember right.”
“Nervous how?” broke in McConikee.
“Like he wanted to get rid of me fast,” answered Johnny. “It didn't bug me at first, but when I found out that Cap never went home last night, it made me think this dude knew more than he was telling me.”
“How did you know Captain Stanley didn't go home last night?” questioned the Lieutenant.
“I told him,” said Marco. “I stopped by to see my sister before I came in this morning, and she told me. I told the rest of the guys about it after roll-call.”
Chet Kelly stared at Crockett. “Come on, man, I can see the wheels turning in your head? What are you thinking?” he asked.
“Nothing specific, but I'm beginning to think that Miss Jorgensen and this Wilkins fellow might have had something to do with Captain Stanley going missing,” he said. “Mrs. Stanley hinted that Jorgensen didn't like her much. Did any of you ever get that impression?”
Mike put down his newspaper and spoke up. “Now that you mention it, Hayley was always kind of cool to my sister,” he commented. “She always acted kind of annoyed when Lou would stop by to visit.”
“What do you mean, Stoker?” questioned McConikee.
“Hayley was always polite to her, but I could tell that she didn't like it when Lou would drop by. It ticked me off a little.”
Chet grinned. “It was almost like Hayley was jealous or something,” he mused.
Crockett closed his notebook and stood up. “Thank you, boys. I think I might have a lead here. Howard and Brooks were supposed to talk to Miss Jorgensen, but I haven't heard from them yet. I'll let you know what they turn up.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hank opened his eyes to see Hayley standing over him. “About time you woke up, Hank,” she tittered. “I thought you were going to sleep all day.”
The Captain rolled over and tried to sit up. Sometime during the night, Hayley had bound his wrists and ankles with rope. He struggled to free himself, but the knots were too tight.
“Did I ever tell you that I was a Girl Scout, Hank?” asked Jorgensen. “I earned a merit badge for knot-tying. The only way you'll be able to get loose is if I let you go,” she snickered.
“All right, Jorgensen,” growled Hank in his best Captain's voice. “This joke has gone on long enough. Untie me so I can go home to my wife and children.”
“Sorry, that's not on the agenda for today. Roger called me this morning and it seems that the cops are sniffing around my place. Your wife is smarter than I thought. It's really too bad she'll never see you again,” drawled Hayley, her eyes cold and hard.
“I'm sure we can work something out,” replied Hank, trying another approach. “Let me talk to the Chief about getting you reinstated with the Department. We can forget all about this.”
Hayley's face darkened angrily. “You already talked to the Chief,” she snarled. “And we both know how that turned out. He fired me on the spot! Besides, that's not the only reason I'm doing this,” she added mysteriously.
Outside the ramshackle cabin, a car pulled up. Seconds later, a door slammed and Roger walked in, carrying a brown paper sack. “Sorry I couldn't get up here sooner, Hayley. The cops have been watching me. I had to shake them before I could come up here.”
“What did you tell them?” asked Jorgensen, digging into the sack.
“Same thing I told that nosey paramedic,” answered Roger, shaking his head. “I don't think they believed a word I said, either. We better be careful.”
The former firefighter laughed softly. “I highly doubt they'll think to look up here, darling. We're out in the middle of nowhere. Did you drive by the station like I told you to?”
“Yeah, the cops were there, too. What are planning on doing with our friend here?” he asked, hooking a thumb in Hank's direction.
“You let me worry about that,” growled Jorgensen. “You just get back to L.A. and keep an eye on things. I'll call you when I'm ready to carry out the rest of my plan.”
Hank lay silently on the floor, watching Hayley as she emptied the grocery sack. His stomach rumbled with hunger as the smell of take-out Chinese food reached his nose. He licked his lips, swallowing the saliva that filled his mouth.
“I wonder what your wife is thinking right now, Hank,” commented Hayley as she dug into her food. “She probably thinks you ran off with some floozy.”
The Captain glared. “Lou knows me better than that,” he muttered. “And I know for a fact that she won't give up until I've been found. Neither will the police.”
Jorgensen laughed cruelly. “Is that so? By the time I get done with you, the only thing left will be a pile of bones. Then what will your poor wife do?”
“You're sick,” mumbled Hank, staring at his kidnapper as if she was below contempt. Hayley leaped to her feet, her face red with anger. She drew back her foot and kicked the Captain in the ribs as hard as she could.
“Shut up!” she screamed. “My life was going just fine until you robbed me of my dream job. So help me God, I'm gonna make you pay for that!”
“Go ahead,” taunted Hank. “You want me dead; why don't you just get it over with? Or don't you have the guts?”
Jorgensen looked down at him, an evil smile curling her lips. “No, that's too easy. I want you and your bitchy wife to suffer. Why the Hell did you ever marry her in the first place? She's nothing but trash.”
“You have no idea what she's really like. Louisa has overcome odds that would make a lesser person give up.”
“Oh, believe me, Captain,” shot back Hayley, “I know all about your wife. I never told you this, but Tom and Jason Parker were my cousins. That bitch you married murdered them in cold blood. She's gonna get what's coming to her for doing that, mark my words. Why do you think I asked to be assigned to your station in the first place?”
Hank's eyes widened in shock. His heart raced as he finally realized what was happening. Even though Tom Parker had been dead for several years, he was still capable of disrupting their lives. “Hayley, do you have any idea at all what Tom put my wife through? He kidnapped her and almost killed her. And if that wasn't enough, he tried to kill our children, not to mention my mother-in-law!”
“Louisa had it coming after what she did!” shouted Jorgensen. “Because of her, my cousin went to jail! My aunt told me all about it! Tom was a fool for ever getting involved with that bitch!”
“If your cousin hadn't threatened our children, Louisa never would have shot him,” protested Hank. “Did you aunt tell you that Tom also shot my brother-in-law, Marco, and left him for dead?”
The woman paled, uncertainty washing over her. “He did that?” she stammered. “I never knew that.” Her face hardened. “If Tom did that, I'm sure he had a good reason,” she said.
“A good reason?” scoffed Hank. “Yeah, I'll bet. Like being a complete whack job.”
Hayley's hands clenched and she threw herself at the Captain, striking him with her fists. Hank tried to fend off her brutal attack, but was unsuccessful. With a groan, he blacked out, his head ringing from the hard blows.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Louisa opened the front door, her face registering surprise when she saw Alberto Delvecchio standing on the porch. “Alberto? What are you doing here?” she gasped.
“Maria called me and told me what was going on,” answered the man. “I took the first flight out. How are you holding up?” he asked gently.
The young woman burst into tears and covered her face. “Terrible!” she sobbed. “The police were here this morning, but I haven't heard anything from them. The waiting is killing me!”
Delvecchio patted her shoulder then hugged her. “Louisa, calm down. It won't do you or the baby any good if you get all riled up.” He guided her to the couch and sat down beside her. “When Maria called, she told me that Hank got a phone call from some woman right before he left. Do you know who might have called him?”
Louisa sniffled and shook her head. “No, but Lieutenant Crockett, the guy who's handling the case, seemed pretty interested in a probie that was training at the station.”
“What's her name? Maybe I can have someone check her out.”
“Hayley Jorgensen. But why would she want to do anything to my husband? It doesn't make any sense.”
Alberto got to his feet. “Is it all right if I call my man in New York ?” he asked. When Louisa nodded, he picked up the phone and dialed. “Dante, it's Alberto. Do me a favor, pal. I want you to do a background check on a Hayley Jorgensen, last known residence, Los Angeles , California . Yeah, it has to do with that incident out here. Just find out anything you can about her and call me here at the Stanleys '. Thanks, man. Talk to you soon.”
“Do you think he'll be able to find anything?” asked the young woman, wiping her eyes with a tissue.
“If there is anything at all to find, Dante will uncover it. Now, how are you, really ?” questioned Alberto. “You still having trouble with your blood pressure?”
“No, I'm fine, except for the obvious. I just pray that the police find Hank safe and sound before this baby is born,” replied Louisa. “According to Dr. Sinclair, that could be any day now. I don't want to go through labor without my husband there.”
Upstairs, Hannah woke up and began to cry. “It's all right, stay there, Louisa. I'll get her.” Delvecchio went upstairs and returned a few minutes later, carrying the sleepy toddler. “She's getting big,” he commented. “How old is she now?”
“Two,” answered the young woman. “Listen, I need to get out of here before I lose my mind. Can we go for a drive or something?”
Alberto grinned. “Sure. Why don't we go downtown and visit the boys? Maybe they can give us some idea what the cops are thinking. Just let me call Dante and let him know where I'll be.”
Mike was outside, polishing Big Red, when Louisa and Alberto drove up. The engineer's face lit up when he saw them, and he called the rest of the crew outside to greet the visitors.
“Alberto! Great to see you again!” shouted Marco, shaking the man's hand. “Let me guess. Mama called you, didn't she?”
Delvecchio grinned. “Yup, she sure did. How's it going, fellas?”
“Pretty good,” replied Johnny. “Have you met Captain Stone? Stoney, this is Alberto Delvecchio, a friend of ours from New York .”
“Pleased to meet you, sir,” greeted the Captain. “Hi, sweetie,” he chuckled, tickling Hannah's chin. “Hey, Mrs. Stanley.”
Louisa nodded to the Captain, then turned to look at the crew. “Did Crockett talk to you guys? Any new leads?”
Chet shook his head. “Nah, but he has a few suspicions,” he said. “He was gonna follow up on a few leads and get back to us.”
Before anyone could elaborate, the phone rang. “L.A. County Fire Department, Captain Stone speaking. Who? Yes, he's right here. Mr. Delvecchio, someone named Dante for you.”
Alberto's eyebrows shot up. “Wow, that was fast. What have you got for me, Dante? What ?!? Are you serious? Uh huh, what else? Well, I'll be a son-of-a-bitch. No, no, I'll tell them. I owe you one, buddy.” He hung up, his face somber. “Dante found out something very interesting. You all better sit down for this one. It's a shocker.”
Once everyone was seated, the man went on. “Dante found out that Hayley Jorgensen is related to someone from your past, Louisa.”
“Who, Alberto? You look like you're about to explode,” said Louisa. “Come on, tell me!” she demanded when Delvecchio stalled.
“She's Tom Parker's cousin,” said Alberto. His words were met with horrified silence.
“Are you sure?” questioned Louisa, her face turning white. “Oh my God. Now it all makes sense. That bastard is dead and he's still finding ways to disrupt my life!”
Mike pushed back his chair and stood up, his normally gentle eyes full of rage. “I'm calling Crockett,” he announced. He picked up the phone and dialed. “Lieutenant Crockett, please. Yes, it's an emergency, damn it! Crockett, Mike Stoker. A friend of ours from New York is here and he found out from a source that Hayley Jorgensen is Tom Parker's cousin. Yeah, I'm serious! Yeah, my sister is here. Okay, we'll be waiting. He's on his way over, as soon as he radios Vince and David to give them an update.”
“I swear, when I get my hands on that bitch, I'm going to make her wish she was never born!” growled Louisa, breaking off as a pain shot through her belly. She cried out, clutching her stomach. “No, baby, not now!” she gasped.
“I'll get the gear!” shouted Chet, running from the room. He returned seconds later, carrying the OB kit and biophone. Marco ran out to the base station and called for an ambulance.
Johnny threw back the biophone's lid and frantically established a link with the hospital. “Rampart, this is Squad 51. How do you read?”
“We read you loud and clear, 51,” came the calm voice of Dr. Kelly Brackett.
“Rampart, we have a 30-year-old female, in the early stages of labor. Please be advised that the patient is Louisa Stanley. Correction, Rampart, her water just broke.”
“Dix, page Dr. Sinclair,” the doctor said over his shoulder. “51, we have the patient's OB-GYN en route. How far along is your patient's pregnancy?”
Johnny raised an eyebrow at Louisa. “About 38 weeks,” she panted through clenched teeth.
“Approximately 38 weeks, Rampart. We have an ambulance at scene. They just arrived.”
“51, start an IV, D5W, and transport immediately. Rampart out,” rapped Brackett. He looked up when Dr. Sinclair approached. “Louisa Stanley is in labor, Doctor. Her water broke about two minutes ago. She's on her way here now.”
Sinclair frowned. “She's not due for another two weeks,” she commented. “I had a feeling this was going to happen, considering what's been going on lately. Miss McCall, set up in Treatment Room Three, please. I'll go change and scrub up.” She ran off, muttering under her breath.
“I'll ride in with her, Roy ,” said Johnny, gathering up the equipment. “See you at the hospital. Marco, you better call Maria.”
“I already did,” answered the Latino firefighter. “I called her right after I called for the ambulance. Keep us informed,” he added as the paramedic raced after the gurney.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hank's eyes flew open, his instincts telling him something was wrong. The cabin was dim and silent, shadows filling the corners. He scanned the room, trying to penetrate the dimness. All was quiet except for the sounds of tiny clawed feet and the songs of birds in the trees outside. Hayley was nowhere to be seen.
“You look like you just saw a ghost, Captain,” said a voice. Hank looked around, his eyes settling on Roger, who was laying on the dusty sofa propped against the far wall. “Something eating you, buddy?” the man said sarcastically.
The Captain didn't reply, struggling against the ropes that bound his wrists. The rough hemp stung Hank's flesh as it scraped against his skin, opening several shallow cuts.
The door crashed open and Hayley Jorgensen walked in. “I just heard over the scanner that your wife is in labor, Hank,” she taunted. “Too bad you can't be there for the birth. Maybe I'll drop by and pay her a visit.”
“You bitch!” snarled Hank. “You stay the Hell away from her!”
“And what if I don't? You're hardly in a position to stop me.” She jumped back as the Captain swung his legs, trying to knock her off her feet. “Another trick like that, and you won't live long enough to see your baby,” she threatened.
“Do whatever you want to me, just leave my family alone,” pleaded Hank.
Jorgensen ignored him as she turned her attention to Roger. “Go into the city and keep an eye on things,” she instructed. “But stay out of sight.”
“Right,” answered the man, getting up and leaving the cabin. “Bye, bye, Captain.” His mocking laughter echoed behind his as he drove away.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Rampart Hospital
“Oh God, it hurts !” wailed Louisa as she pushed. White-hot pain knifed through her as another contraction took hold of her body.
“The baby's heart rate is dropping, Doctor,” said Dixie , glancing at the fetal monitor. “Rate now 100 beats per minute.”
“Come on, Lou, just one more,” encouraged Johnny from the end on the table. He supported the young woman's upper body as she gasped for breath.
“I can't,” protested Louisa, sweat running down her cheeks. “I'm too tired.”
“Damn, it's breech. Louisa, don't push. I have to go in and turn the baby. You hear me, don't push ,” ordered Dr. Sinclair, sliding her gloved hand into the young woman's body. “Come on, come on. All right, I've got it. One the next contraction, bear down and push as hard as you can.”
The young woman grunted in agony and did as she was told. Less than a minute later, the pressure between her legs disappeared as her son emerged. She lay back, panting harshly, a tired smile lighting up her flushed face as she heard her baby's first piercing cry.
“It's a boy!” cried Sinclair, triumphant in her relief. She clamped the umbilical cord and took the scissors Brackett handed to her. “I'd say he's about six-and-a-half pounds, Kel. Do you agree?”
Brackett grinned. “That sounds about right,” he answered, taking the newborn. He laid the baby in Louisa's arms, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “Congratulations, Louisa.”
The young woman held her son and stared at the doctor. “Are you getting all sentimental on me, Dr. Brackett?” she teased. “You look like you're about to cry.”
“I just have a speck of dust in my eye,” protested Brackett, glancing sideways at Dixie . The nurse bowed her head to hide her amusement.
“He's beautiful, Lou,” whispered Johnny, awestruck. “What are you gonna name him?”
“Robert James Stanley,” answered Louisa. “I just wish Hank was here. Thank you for standing in for him, Johnny.”
“What are friends for?” grinned the paramedic. “I'm gonna go call the guys. Be right back.”
“Is my baby all right, Dr. Sinclair? He looks kind of funny.”
“He's just perfect. A little small, but everything is right where it should be.” She bent down to take the child, handing him to Dixie . “He's a very healthy baby.”
“That's a relief,” said Louisa, lying back on the exam table. “I was kind of worried when I started having complications. But I'm very glad things turned out okay.”
Johnny tapped on the door then came back in. “You up for another visitor, Mom?” he teased. He turned and gestured to someone behind him. Roy poked his head into the room, his eyes sparkling. “Congratulations, Louisa,” he said, walking to her side and presenting her with a bright blue balloon. “For you and your little one,” he grinned.
“Thanks, Roy . Before long, it will be Joanne here. What did the guys say, Johnny?”
“Glad you asked,” laughed the paramedic. “Marco cheered so loud, I think he busted my eardrum. He said to tell you he'll be in to see you as soon as he gets off-duty tomorrow.”
The exhausted young woman yawned. “Shouldn't you two be getting back to the real patients?” she joked sleepily. “Go on, shoo. I'm wiped out and need my beauty sleep.”
“Kicking us out already, huh?” teased Johnny. “Well, I know when I'm not wanted. Come on, partner.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Five Days Later
Hank rolled over with a groan, blinking as sunlight flooded into the cabin through a dirt-encrusted window. He sat up, his body stiff and sore from sleeping on the hard wooden floor. Hayley was sitting at the table, humming to herself as she read the morning newspaper.
“Good morning, Hank,” she said brightly. “Roger will be here soon, and then the fun can really begin.”
“I can hardly wait,” muttered the Captain. “Uh, Hayley, I need to use the bathroom, please.”
The woman pushed back her chair and stood up. She picked up her gun from its place on the counter and motioned for the Captain to get to his feet. “It's outside,” she said. “I'll be right behind you, so don't get any bright ideas,” she warned, leading Hank to the outhouse, which was located several yards behind the cabin.
As they walked back over the weed-choked path leading to the outhouse, Roger pulled up and parked. He climbed out, carrying a large, white bakery box. “Breakfast is served,” he called. “I'll go in and start the coffee.”
“Any news, Roger?” Hayley asked around a mouthful of Danish ten minutes later. “The cops still watching my place?”
“Not that I could tell. I think they've finally given up. Too bad for you, Captain.”
Hank ignored him, busy juggling a Styrofoam cup and a doughnut. With his hands still tied, it was no easy task. He ended up spilling coffee down his shirt, cursing when the hot liquid burned his skin. “Damn!”
“Don't worry about it, Hank,” said Jorgensen. “Where you're going, a little burned skin won't matter much.”
Roger grinned. “We still taking him to that place we discussed?”
Hayley nodded, a cruel smile twisting her full lips. “It's fitting, don't you think? A cave for a caveman.” She laughed merrily, recalling her plans. “No one has been up to those caverns in years. It's the perfect place to leave a body.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“I appreciate you letting me stay with you for a while, Johnny,” said Louisa as the paramedic parked his Rover. “I can't stand being in the house when Hank isn't there.” She shook her head sadly. “I'm just glad that the kids bought my story about Hank being gone on fire department business. They're not old enough to understand what's really going on.”
“Don't lose faith, Louisa,” replied Gage. “The cops will find Cap. Didn't Crockett tell you that they were tailing that Roger guy?”
“Yeah, but they ended up losing him in the hills. Did you know that they found Hank's car down in San Diego ?”
“Yeah, Vince told me,” answered Johnny. “Come on, let's get you and the rug rat inside. I think it's gonna rain.” He led the way into the house, dropping Louisa's suitcase on the floor just inside the door. “Make yourself at home while I get the rest of your stuff.”
Louisa sighed and carried her son over to the overstuffed sofa that dominated the living room. She laid her head back and closed her eyes, her body limp with exhaustion and worry. “Hank, where are you? Are you all right?” she whispered.
When Gage came back into the house, he found both mother and baby fast asleep. With a grin, he bent down and picked up the sleeping infant and carried him upstairs. After placing Robert in the crib Marco had dropped off, he went back downstairs to cover Louisa with a blanket, then went into the kitchen and picked up the phone. “Hey, Marco, it's Johnny. Just wanted to let you know Lou and I got here okay. Nah, she conked out on the sofa as soon as she sat down. Okay, see you later.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“On your feet, Captain,” ordered Roger, nudging Hank with his foot. “We're going for a little walk.”
“And not for my health, I'll bet,” grumbled Stanley . He followed the man outside, blinking as wind-swept rain splashed into his eyes. Hayley stood near a faint trail leading into the woods, dressed in a lightweight rain slicker and brandishing her gun. “What's the matter, Captain?” she taunted. “Not up for a nature walk today?”
The trio started out up the muddy path, Hayley leading with Hank close behind. Roger brought up the rear, giving the Captain a shove whenever he faltered. “Looks like desk duty has made you a little soft, my friend,” he chuckled. “Too bad you won't have time to remedy that.”
An hour passed, then another. The rain slackened, then stopped, leaving the trail a sea of slippery mud. In the distance, Hank saw a cluster of small, dark caves. His eyes widened when he recognized the caverns. A few years before, Johnny and Louisa had discovered a series of cave paintings on the wall of one of these caves. While showing the markings to an archaeology professor, they had been stranded by a flash flood. Hank, Roy , and Marco had come to their rescue, making the long hike up from Gage's ranch. The Captain looked down to hide his recognition of the place from his captors.
“What's the matter, Hank?” said Hayley crossly when the Captain hesitated. “Afraid of the dark?”
Before he could respond, a heart-stopping growl came from the trees lining the path. Seconds later, a large, very angry she-grizzly launched herself onto the trail, roaring ferociously. Roger froze for an instant, the blood draining from his face, then turned to run. The bear was on him in a fraction of a second, slashing at the man's body with razor-sharp claws. His screams of pain faded into a sickening gurgle as one of the bear's claws gashed his throat. Blood sprayed like a fountain, drenching the carnivore's fur with scarlet.
“Oh my God,” breathed Hayley. “Roger!” she screamed.
“Jorgensen, freeze!” shouted Hank. “Don't move a muscle. If you run, you're dead.”
The woman whimpered softly, struggling to control her terror. Her eyes darted back and forth in their sockets, searching for an escape route. She slid one foot through the mud, flinching when the she-bear rose to her full height, baring her bloody fangs in an earth-shattering bellow of pure rage.
A pair of cubs, no more than a few months old, waddled onto the trail. The mother grizzly dropped back onto all fours, grunting. She herded her offspring back into the woods, completely ignoring the humans that had invaded her territory. As soon as the small family was out of sight, Haley ran over to Roger, kneeling beside the man's torn and bloody form. Hank saw his chance and took it, running as fast as he could into the nearest cave. Hayley cursed and jumped to her feet, chasing after the fleeing Captain. She stopped in her tracks and whirled around when she heard Roger groan behind her. Taking one last look at the caves, she returned to her partner-in-crime, desperately trying to stop the flow of blood from his horrific wounds.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Outside his barn, John Gage froze with his hand on the latch. He cocked his head, trying to identify the strange sound he had just heard echoing from the canyons above. His eyes flew open wide when he recognized the roar of an angry grizzly bear. He turned and ran for the house, locking the door behind him.
Louisa jumped up from the sofa, startled by her friend's odd behavior. “Johnny, what in the world?” she began.
“I don't want to scare you, but I swear I just heard a bear up in the canyon!” panted Gage. “It sounded like it came from up near the caves!”
The young woman turned white. “I'm betting it's not as friendly as Yogi, right?” she squeaked. “I had no idea there were still bears in this area!”
The paramedic nodded. “There are, and not just any ordinary bears, either. I've seen signs of grizzly bears in the canyon for the past couple of years.”
“You don't think they would come close to the house, do you?” asked Louisa. “I have no desire to tangle with a pissed off bear.”
Johnny grinned. “Neither do I,” he laughed. “Especially if it's a mother bear defending her cubs. I'd rather not end up as hamburger if I can help it.”
The young woman chuckled softly. “At least you've got some sense,” she teased. “I just hope there isn't any one up there. I've seen what grizzlies can do when they're mad. When I lived in Montana , a bear got one of our cows. It wasn't a pretty sight.”
They jumped as a fist pounded frantically on the front door. “Hey!” shouted a voice. “Let me in!”
Johnny threw open the door, stepping back when a man dressed in camouflage clothing barreled past him. The man stood panting, his hair sticking out at crazy angles. “Thanks, man. I ran all the way from the canyon. There's an angry grizzly up there! I thought I was dead meat for sure! She already mauled one dude up there!”
“Are telling me there's somebody up there?!?” demanded Gage.
The hunter nodded, gasping for breath. “Three of them. I was walking up the trail when I heard that bear roar. One guy ran and she was on him like a shot. I didn't stick around to see what she was gonna do next!”
“Louisa, call the police,” instructed the paramedic. “Tell them we have a bear attack. Call for a squad and ambulance, too.” He snatched his jacket from its hook and put it on.
“Where do you think you're going? Don't tell me you're going up there?!?” exclaimed the young woman, the telephone receiver dangling from her hand. “Are you out of your mind?!?”
“That guy might need help. You know that. It's my job,” answered Johnny calmly.
“To help people, not get yourself killed!” replied Louisa. “At least wait until the police get here.” She glared at her friend, her eyes blazing.
“I'm with her,” put in the hunter. He crossed the room and took the phone from Louisa's hand. “I'll call; you go reason with him, ma'am.”
Seeing that he was outnumbered, the paramedic gave in. “All right, all right,” he muttered. “I'll wait. Feel better now? Geez, I'm not even married to you, and I still can't win an argument with you,” Johnny grinned.
The hunter hung up the phone and turned around. “Help is on the way,” he announced. “Dang, where are my manners? I come busting in here and I didn't even introduce myself. Rick Carmichael,” he said, sticking out a hand.
“I'm Louisa Stanley and this is John Gage,” said Louisa.
“Stanley, Stanley ,” mused Rick. “That name sounds familiar. “I know! You're the lady whose husband is missing, right? Didn't you just have a kid or something?”
“Yes, I did.” Her face brighten suddenly. “You said you saw three people up there? Was one of them a tall man with dark hair, wearing a green button-down shirt and jeans?”
“Come to think of it, yeah, there was!” grinned Carmichael . “I only saw him for a second, but I could swear that's what he was wearing.”
“Oh my God! That means Hank is up there with that bear!” she gasped. “He wasn't the one the bear attacked, was he?” she whispered, turning pale.
“No, no, it was the other guy,” reassured the hunter. He looked up as sirens approached the house. “That was fast,” he commented.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hank crouched down in one of the caves. sawing at the ropes binding his wrists against a sharp rock. The fibers parted and dropped to the floor. Working by touch, the Captain felt his way along the wall, his eyes trained on a faint glimmer of light in the distance.
When he reached the small crevasse, he stopped to listen, his ears straining for any sounds that would indicate that he was being followed. Confident that he was safe, Hank wriggled through the crack and sat back against the rocky wall. After resting for a moment, he climbed to his feet and examined his surroundings.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Vince Howard and his partner, David Brooks, jumped out of their cruiser. “We got a call about a bear attack?” questioned Howard.
Louisa ran forward. “Yeah, and I think my husband might be up there someplace.” She turned and waved Rick over. “This man said he saw a man fitting Hank's description up in the canyon.”
The officers listened patiently as Carmichael related what he had seen. “And this was where? Near the caverns?” asked Brooks.
“Yes, sir,” answered Rick. “One guy was already down, and the other guy and some chick were standing a few feet away. I didn't hang around to see what that bear was gonna do next. I just high-tailed it outta there.”
“Okay, as soon as Animal Control get here, we'll go up and take a look around,” said Vince. “Gage, can you show us a fast route up there?”
Johnny nodded, pointing to a faint path leading into the woods. “That trail will take you directly to the caves,” he said. “It's a long hike, but it's pretty clear. At least it was the last time I was up there. Vince, I want to go with you.”
“All right, John. But don't take any chances. If that bear is still around, I'd like to avoid her if possible.”
Half an hour later, Johnny led the officers, Animal Control men, and search-and-rescue personnel into the canyon. The muddy path slowed their progress, but, before long, they reached the scene of the bear attack. The paramedic's eyes widened when he saw the mangled body. A flash of movement from the edge of the trail caught his eye, and he gasped when he saw Hayley Jorgensen standing in front of him. “Lou was right!” he growled. “You were the one who kidnapped Cap!”
The former trainee burst into tears. “I'm sorry!” she wailed. “I didn't mean for Roger to get killed! Please help him, Johnny!”
Gage knelt down beside the bloody form and checked for signs of life. He shook his head. “There's nothing I can do for him, Hayley. He's gone.” He looked around. “Where's Cap?!?” demanded the paramedic.
“He ran off, into the caves,” whispered Hayley. “He could be anywhere by now.” She glanced at Vince, then held out her hands. “I guess you're going to arrest me now, right?”
The officer nodded as he removed his handcuffs from his belt. “Hayley Jorgensen, you're under arrest for the kidnapping of Captain Henry Stanley.” He read the rest of the Miranda rights, then lead the woman to a fallen log, instructing her to sit down.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Marco knocked on the door of his sister's home, frowning when no one answered. he pushed open the door and walked inside. He grinned when Louisa came down the stairs, carrying her newborn son. “Hey, Marco. If you're looking for Vince, you're too late. He already went up the canyon.” She told her brother what had ensued.
“Is this guy sure it wasn't Cap who got mauled?” asked the Latino fireman.
“Yes, thank God. From the description, Johnny figured out that it was Hayley's friend Roger the bear went after.”
“So, you're just waiting for news? That's not like you, little sister,” teased Marco.
Louisa grinned. “Now that you're here, I can follow them,” she said. “Watch the baby for me, will you?”
“What are you up to, Louisa?”
The young woman raised an eyebrow. “I'm going to find my husband and bring him home, one way or another,” she informed, going into the den and opening the elaborately carved gun cabinet that stood against the wall. She selected a large caliber rifle and filled her pocket with ammunition. Seeing her brother's surprised look, she explained. “There's a pissed off grizzly up there, Marco. This is in case I run into her.” She turned and walked out of the house before he could stop her.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“Hank! Hank Stanley , can you hear me?” shouted Vince. His voice echoed off the canyon walls, but drew no response.
“Let's go into the caves, Vince,” said Johnny. “Only one has an exit on the other side of the hill. If he's not in that one, he has to be in one of the smaller caverns.”
“Show me,” ordered Howard, listening intently as the paramedic described the geography of the caves. “Okay, John, we'll go in the largest cave. Brooks, you and Bellingham go that way, and the others can try the others. Get moving, men.”
Louisa trudged up the canyon trail on shaky legs, sweat beading her forehead. A rustling sound coming from the brush a feet to her left caught her attention. She froze, straining her eyes to see what was coming. She gasped in shock when a large bear with blood-stained fur emerged from the bushes. The animal growled, angry, red eyes focused on the young woman. Louisa tensed, then slowly raised her rifle. “I'll make a deal with you, Mother,” she said softly. “You go back into the woods and leave me alone and I won't make a rug out of you.” The she-bear roared, advancing on the young woman.
Several yards away, Hank crested the top of the hill. His face paled when he saw his wife standing in the shadow of the bear that had attacked and killed Roger. He held his breath, afraid to make a sound, fearing that the carnivore would charge if he spoke.
Louisa swallowed hard and aimed her rifle. “Sorry I have to do this, Mother,” she whispered as she pulled the trigger. The gun went off, the bullet striking the animal square in the heart. She fell dead, her tongue flopping from her mouth. The young woman stood transfixed, not believing her eyes. Her body trembled and she sank to her knees, dropping the rifle in the dirt.
“Louisa!” shouted Hank, running down the hill. “Honey, are you all right?” he gasped, sweeping his wife into his arms.
She looked up, her jaw hanging open. “Hank?!? Is that you?” she questioned faintly, the world going gray as she passed out.