Date: Thu, 12 Sep 1996 16:57:02 -0600 (MDT) From: "Katherine R. Freymuth" Subject: Theresa- Chapter 4 (revise) Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Just a few things before I start this part to explain some little points. 1) I've put titles to every one of my chapters and forgot to put Chapter 2's title down. So here it is : Chapter 2, A New Assignment. 2) Gushie's last name is completely my own invention, derived from a really hair-brained mistake. In "The Leap Back", Sam and Al have a letter mailed to Gushie in the future. Being half asleep, I read the address on the letter as going to Gushie F. Conelf instead of to Dr. G. F. Crosnolf (I think that's how you spell it), Sam's dad's lawyer. I liked the mistake so I kept it. 3) There is also a slight reference to "Pool Hall Blues". *** THIS IS A REVISED VERSION. I've added a couple of lines and changed the height of the Stevens and Sterling Building. That said, on with the show: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 4 Murder Most Foul While Al was in the Imaging Chamber, Tina entered the Complex, receiving authorization to enter from the security system she installed. She was rather proud of what she accomplished. Four years ago, she would never have imagined working with the most brilliant scientists and engineers on a top-secret government-funded project. It was almost like a dream come true and it was all due to a flat tire in the middle of the New Mexican desert. If it weren't for that flat, she would never have met Al and she would never have been hired as the Project's Chief Pulse Communications Technician. A retina and palm print scan allowed Tina to enter the Complex. After she, she would only need voice print identification and ID number, which was confirmed by Ziggy herself. Tina arranged it so that Ziggy could control the entire complex and did. Only two of three people could change that: Sam, Al, and the Chairman of the Quantum Leap Project Committee. The new Chairman tended to let Al run the Project as he saw fit so, if there ever was the need, Al could easily acquire emergency control of all the Complex's systems. Tina smiled to herself. The smile faded when she twisted her ankle as she entered the elevator. "Level two, please, Ziggy." The elevator started down. "Where's Al?" "Admiral Calavicci is in the Imaging Chamber," Ziggy answered through a speaker in the cab. "He will not be available for quite a while." Tina huffed. He told her that he would call her last night and he didn't. All Tina wanted was to hear his excuse and forgive him, unless, of course, it was unforgivable. Then, she'd be happy. She liked to make Al feel guilty. It kept their relationship interesting. Al could become jealous so easily too. Tina thanked Ziggy as the elevator doors opened and she proceeded to the cafeteria to get herself some breakfast. There she saw Dr. Beeks talking in a friendly manner to a girl in a white dress suit. *Beautiful suit*, Tina thought, *but bad taste in make-up.* She went over and introduced herself to the girl and learned how Al had picked her up from the streets and was housing her until she could make it on her own. At first, Tina was jealous. Then she learned how old the girl was. *Al would never date a girl her age.* Tina agreed to show Theresa around the Complex. "Come on, honey. I'll show you some of our hot spots." She showed her all the non-essential areas of the Complex. Eventually, they found themselves in the recreational room, playing a game of pool. "So," Theresa said, just as they were setting the table for a third game, "what can you tell me about Al? I hear rumors about you and Al being best friends." "And you've only been here for four hours," Tina commented. "There's a new record. No, we just go out occasionally - an on/off item, if you know what I mean. Dr. Beckett is his best friend. They're very close." Tina shot her cue ball, sinking a couple of balls. "How close?" "Very close. In fact, when I first met Al, Al nearly sacrificed his career for Dr. Beckett." "You don't call him Sam," Theresa pointed out. "I've never met him. I've only seen pictures." "But you talk about him as if you know him," Theresa put down a couple of balls. "I know him through Al," was all Tina gave as an explanation. "Then, what's he like? I mean, I remember him vaguely but he seemed very...subdued... to me." Tina stopped before she made her shot. "Well, Al describes him as extremely stubborn and stiff but still the best friend he's ever had. He's kind, loyal, protective and very justice-minded. I have the impression that he would risk his life for Al if he had to." "Sounds wonderful," Theresa said softly as Tina made her shot. "I wish I had a friend like that." Tina smiled. "You'll get one. I'm sure of it. Everyone needs to have a friend who's that close." "Do you?" Theresa asked. "Have a friend like that?" she added. "Yes, I do." As she said this, she sank the last ball. Theresa's eyes widened. "That's the third game you've won in a row!" "I've had a good teacher," Tina told her with a smile. She looked at her watch. "Speaking of which, we've better go. There's one thing about Al; he's never late for anything." Tina paused. "Almost never," she corrected. She gently laid her and Theresa's cues on the table and then led her out of the recreational room. "Al taught you?" Theresa questioned as Tina led her to the cafeteria. ****************************************************************** "Hello, Chris," Al said as he entered the Waiting Room. Chris, who appeared to Al as Sam, sat calmly on the Waiting Room table, waiting for more than a simple greeting from the short Italian man. "My name's Al. I'd like to ask you a few questions." "Like what?" "I'd like to know a little more about Jeff. You probably know him better than anyone." Al sighed. *Here it comes*, he thought. "You see, Jeff's uncle has just been murdered." "Murdered!" Chris straightened up on the table. He lowered his head. "La illaha ill Allah," he said softly. He looked at Al. "You think Jeff did it, don't you?" "No, I don't," Al told him softly. "He was killed when he caught someone trying to rob his house. What I want to know is what would Jeff do." "What do you mean?" "I mean that, if what we know is correct, Jeff is going to commit suicide." "What!" Chris exclaimed. "He would never do that!" "But he will. He is going to jump off the top of the Stevens and Sterling office building unless we can find some way to stop him. You know him. If he were to commit suicide, how could we change his mind?" Chris looked directly into Al's eyes. "There is no way Jeff would commit suicide, especially by jumping off a twenty-seven story building." "You seem absolutely positive about that." "I am." "Why?" "Because Jeff is acrophobic." ******************************************************************** "Yes, that's him," Jeff told Burke with a firm voice, disguising great anguish. "Thank you, sir," Burke told Jeff softly as he led him out of the morgue and to a nearby office. "Please, take a seat, Mr. Sterling," Fulton requested. Sam had been waiting in the office while Jeff identified his uncle. Jeff looked ill when he returned. Sam wanted to get up and help him into a chair. However, he reminded himself that he was supposed to be paralyzed. *I'll have to have Al look into Chris's medical history*, Sam thought. *Maybe there's something we can do for Chris as well.* But for now, there was Jeff. "I do understand what a shock this is for you, Mr. Sterling," Fulton told him as Jeff took his place. However, I must ask you a few routine questions." "Lieutenant," Sam spoke up. "Can this wait until a later time. I mean...." "It's all right, Chris," Jeff interrupted. "It'll be okay. Besides, I'd rather get this over with. Go ahead, Lieutenant." "Could you please tell us where you were earlier today between four and six o'clock?" "I was at home in bed. I share an apartment with Mr. Raj-ad-Allah. We were both home." "Is there anyone other than Mr. Raj-ad-Allah who could confirm this?" "I don't think so, Lieutenant. You could probably ask our neighbors but I doubt any of them can confirm that we were home at that time. Why?" Jeff asked with concern. "We would like to know if you know anything which might help us to find the person who killed your uncle." "I'm afraid I don't. I wish I did," Jeff answered firmly but softly. "Do you Mr. Raj-ad-Allah?" Burke asked. It took a moment for Sam to recognize the name. "No," he answered. "No, I don't but if I find anything, I'll certainly let you know." "We'd appreciate that," Fulton told him. "I don't wish to keep you, gentlemen. Thank you for your cooperation." Sam waited for Jeff to start out before starting out himself. They were courteously escorted to the door and went out themselves to a police car which would take them back to their club. "I just don't understand why anyone would kill Uncle Joseph," Jeff told Sam as they were headed for Jeff's car. "He was the sweetest man in the world. He raised me when my father died. He treated me like a son." Jeff tried to hold back his feelings of hopelessness. Sam hesitated before speaking. "Maybe you should go home and get some rest." "I can't go home. There's too much to do," Jeff told him. He was seeking for a way to keep from returning home, where he would have memories to remind him of his loss. "We have groceries to buy and some files to look over." "Jeff," Sam reached out and grabbed Jeff's hand, stopping the later. "It can wait. Let's go home." Jeff seemed uncertain but he nodded in consent. The two took Jeff's car to their apartment, remaining quiet during the twenty-five minute trip. ********************************************************************* Tina and Theresa had been waiting for Al for almost fifteen minutes before he came in apologizing for being late. "Is something going on, Al?" Tina asked. She and Theresa were seated at one of the tables. Al didn't join them. "I'm afraid so. I was about to take you two out to dinner but duty calls. Why don't you go on without me and I'll meet you at my house later." "How serious is it?" Tina asked, knowing that it had something to do with Sam's leap. "On a scale of ten, it's a nine and a half," Al told her. Theresa was confused but remained quiet. Everything about the conversation told her that it was something she wouldn't be allowed to know. In fact, everything about this place indicated something very hush-hush was going on: military guards, security clearances. She wondered what it was all about. "Does Sam know about it?" Tina asked. The name caught Theresa's attention. "Not yet. I have to get a little more information on it. Ziggy's running a check right now." Al noticed Theresa's attention from the corner of his eye. "I'll tell you all about it later." He winked at Tina, making her smile. Theresa could easily understand the meaning in the wink. She shifted uncomfortably. Why did it bother her so much that Al and Tina were lovers? She wasn't sure but it did bother her. "Come on, honey," Tina beckoned to Theresa. "I know this great restaurant. You'll love it." Theresa left the cafeteria with Tina, looking over her shoulder at Al, who was filling a mug with coffee. **************************************************************** Al took his coffee with him as he returned to the Control Room. "Gushie," he said as he entered the Control Room, "what does Ziggy have for me?" The short, curly-haired man turned towards Al. "Joseph Sterling was murdered on March 22nd, 1990, as you know." Al nodded. "And four days later, Jeff Sterling supposedly committed suicide. I know." "Ziggy discovered that on March 27th, the day after Jeff's suicide, the New York police department found evidence that indicated Joseph Sterling's death wasn't pure happenstance." "Meaning?" "It was first degree murder." Al's eyes widened slightly. "Now I remember. The evidence indicated that Jeff committed suicide to avoid being arrested for his uncle's murder." Al stopped. "But, according to Chris, Jeff wouldn't be caught dead - no pun intended - on the roof of that office building. So...." "It must have been murder," Sam continued the sentence. Al had just arrived after Sam had made sure Jeff was asleep and had made himself a sandwich for dinner. He had abandoned the wheelchair in a place where he could easily and quickly get to it when it was needed. "Right," Al told him. "Chris told me that Jeff's acrophobic. There's no way that he could have jumped off that building! Sam, Jeff's going to be murdered and you have to prevent that." "Exactly when is he killed?" "We're not sure. All we know is that he gets killed on March 26th, 1990. But Ziggy thinks that in the next three days, Jeff learns something about his uncle's murder which gets him killed." Sam had a thought. "Who buys the law firm after Jeff's death?" Al pulled out the handlink and asked Ziggy. "Hastenson Law Firm, one of the biggest in New York. Oh," Al paused. "This is interesting. Apparently, Hastenson Law has wanted to buy out Stevens and Sterling for quite a while but Joseph wouldn't sell. And the owner of Hastenson Law is Edward Stevens, Joseph's old partner." "What does this law firm have that's worth killing for? Especially with Hastenson Law being such a large law firm?" Sam wondered. "It might not be about the law firm, Sam. It might be about pure, simple revenge." Al fiddled with the handlink for a moment. "Ziggy says there's a seventy-three percent chance that Joseph's murder was an act of revenge. Evidence keeps coming up all the time in this case. It's a controversy even today. That's why the whole thing bugged me. The problem is that the case was never really solved." "The Sterling Murder-Suicide case," Sam thought aloud. "You remember!" Al exclaimed. "Vaguely. There's something about this case that bothers me, Al." "Of course, it bothers you! Jeff's going to be killed in three days!" "It's not that. I'm not sure what it is but it gives me the shivers." Al nodded. "I know what you mean. Sam," he told him softly. "Let me worry about the details for now. You just watch Jeff and keep him safe." Al opened the Imaging Chamber door. "I'll have Ziggy do a complete run-down on the case, right down to any and all suspects." He stepped through the door and closed it, leaving Sam for the night. --------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 5 will be with you soon.