From: lurker@iglobal.net Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Subject: Third Time's A Charm (Part 6) Date: Sat, 31 Aug 1996 22:51:04 -0500 Message-ID: <19960901034940441.AAE129@denp1-26.iglobal.net> THIRD TIME'S A CHARM by Deb Parizek and Rhonda Hallstrom ***** Following Peter's instructions, Sam got them to the Pheasant Run Apartments at 2350 Johnson Avenue. He parked the Corvair in front of the building. Peter strode purposefully to her apartment, which was 115. "Mai Li...Metro Police...." Peter shouted as he knocked loudly on the door. No response. He knocked again. "Mai Li...Metro Police....We'd like to ask you some questions about Jack Chan." No response. "Son, I do not believe she is home...." "Tell me something I haven't figured out, Pop...." Peter replied, slightly annoyed. "I believe she is gone," Caine said, with the patience of a saint. "If we were to look inside-" "Which is 'breaking and entering'," Peter reminded him. "Not 'breaking', just 'entering'," Caine continued, "we would find that all of her things are here but she is gone." Caine stepped in front of Peter and rubbed his hands together. He then pressed his thumb against the lock. "What's he doing?" Sam asked. "'Entering'," Peter told him. "Watch our backs while we take a quick look around." Caine 'turned' the lock and opened the door. He proceeded inside with Peter in his wake. The Ancient smiled devilishly at Sam, whose jaw dropped open at Caine's feat, then crossed the threshold. Sam remained in the hallway, nervously watching the entrance to the building and the other apartment doors. A few seconds ticked slowly by. Sam then heard the opening of the imaging chamber door. Gooshie stepped into view. "Good morning, Doctor Beckett." "Good morning, Gooshie," Sam whispered. "Ziggy and I thought we would check in and see if you require assistance." "Yeah, I do. Could you two check on a Mai Li? She was the girlfriend of one of our victims and now, may to be missing...." Gooshie typed in the woman's name, using the handlink, and received a lovely minor chord as feedback from the computer. "She certainly seems to like you better than Al...." "I believe she enjoys vexing the Admiral...." Gooshie replied as a smile curled up one corner of his mouth. "How is Al, by the way?" "He is 'resting comfortably'." "With Tina, I bet." Gooshie tactfully changed the subject. "He will not be able to interface with you, though, for another couple of days because of the concussion." Ziggy beeped the handlink. Gooshie read the output. "Ziggy cannot find any records of Mai Li after September 23rd, 1995, 3:45 p.m." "What is the last record?" "A credit card purchase at a department store named Dillards. She bought a hat." "Did Ziggy check hospitals, modes of transportation, etc?" "Yes, Doctor." The apartment door opened. The three explorers joined Sam in the hallway. "My Pop was right, Sam. Nothing small and personal left inside...." "Who is this?" Lo Si asked, staring at Gooshie. "Gooshie," Sam replied. "Uh, Al met with an untimely accident last night." Caine and Peter focused on the same area of space as the Ancient. After a heartbeat, Caine could see the new hologram. Peter concentrated and after several more heartbeats, could see parts of the hologram. "This image is...distorted," Caine remarked. "That's because...well, uh...the reasons are rather technical," Sam said, giving up the explanation. "Gooshie, have Ziggy check Mai's credit card purchases in the last few months - especially September, 1995. Look for modes of travel and/or travel expenses...." "That might take some time, Doctor. I will report back when she has completed the search," Gooshie said, then depressed buttons on the handlink and left the imaging chamber. "What did you find out?" Peter asked. "Mai Li has disappeared. Ziggy found no records of her after 3:45 yesterday. The last record was the purchase of a hat on one of her credit cards." "Terrific...." Peter said, sarcastically, then added, "but, to be thorough, we should check the rest of the leads on her, starting with the landlord here...." "Peter, if we go to the landlord and say she is missing, he will know we entered the apartment," Sam said. "Who said anything about telling him she's missing? Don't worry...I'll be the very picture of discretion." Caine and the Ancient shared "yeah, right" looks, but said nothing as they followed Peter and Sam back to the car. ***** Peter opened the apartment complex office door and stepped inside. A pleasant woman - Jun Martin, if the nameplate was correct - in her early thirties greeted him. "Good morning. May I help you?" "Good morning," Peter replied, as he reached inside his jacket to retrieve his badge and notepad. He flashed the badge. "I'm Detective Peter Caine, one-hundred and first precinct. Could you tell me if Ms. Mai Li lives in apartment 115?" "She does...I live next door in apartment 116." "And you are...?" "June Martin." Peter penciled her name down, then asked, "Ms. Martin, do you know if Ms. Li would be at work now?" "Please, call me 'June'," she replied. "...No, she wouldn't be at work now. She works the dinner to closing shift...." "At the 'Golden Pacific Restaurant' on Hickory?" he inquired, reading the restaurant information from his notepad. "Yes," June replied. "Would they call her in early - say to work the lunch shift?" "They haven't so far...." Then, overwhelmed by curiosity, she asked, "Is Mai in some kind of trouble?" "I am investigating the death of her boyfriend and need to ask her a few questions...." "Oh...that was a TERRIBLE tragedy...." June said, the sunny smile leaving her face. "The poor thing is STILL in shock, I think...." "Why do you think that?" Peter asked, gauging June as the talkative - perhaps, gossiping - type. "She seems so - oh, I don't know - cold and distant. Not at all the same Mai." "You two are good friends, then?" Peter asked, checking his conclusion. "Yes...and I hate that I can't seem to help her...." June's gaze shifted to the desktop. "Would she seek help from someone else?" "She might see her mother....They are very close." Peter chose his words carefully. "Do you think she might take a trip to 'get away from it all'?" "If she were to do so, I'd know. She always asks me to feed her cat and get her mail." "So, she hasn't asked you to do either recently?" "No...not since last December." Peter probed a little deeper. "When was the last time you saw her?" "Last night, around midnight. I was out walking my dog when she came home from work. She seemed stressed out." "Was her car in the parking lot this morning when you came to work?" "Now that you mention it, no, it wasn't. That's odd...." "Why?" "Since she works late, she usually makes appointments for the afternoon." "Might she be visiting other friends?" June shrugged. "I don't know. She never mentioned any one, except her mother and Jack, to me." "Well, I won't take up any more of your time...." Peter said, deciding not to push further. He pulled one of his cards out of the notepad's cover and handed it to June. "If you see her, please ask her to give me a call." "Certainly," June smiled. "Thank you...." he said, now flashing his most charming smile. "You've been very helpful." "Anytime, Detective...." With a nod, Peter turned and left the office. June watched him as he exited, appreciating the view. "How 'bout *I* call you sometime, Detective?" June whispered after Peter was out of earshot. "...and you can cooperate with me!" ***** Sam, Caine and Lo Si waited in the car while Peter checked with the apartment management. Gooshie reappeared after all three of them heard the imaging chamber door open and saw the flash of light. "Doctor, I have to report that Ziggy found no travel-related expenditures on Ms. Li's credit cards in all of 1995." "Okay, Gooshie. Thanks." "Anything else, Doctor?" "Does Peter still die at 3:00 p.m. today?" Caine asked abruptly. Gooshie stood there for a moment before he realized Caine was speaking directly to him. Once he figured it out, he quickly entered the question on the handlink. After a moment, he answered, "Umm...I'm afraid so...." "Thanks, Gooshie," Sam said quickly, looking at Caine sympathetically. "Um...why don't you check in again about two hours from now?" "Very well, Doctor," Gooshie said then disappeared, again, into the light. "Hopefully, Peter has had more luck...." Sam wished aloud to try to comfort Caine - and himself. He checked his watch. It was 9 a.m. ***** By 9:01, Peter was back in the car. "Well?" Sam was anxious. Peter summarized. "As luck would have it, I spoke to Mai's next door neighbor, June Martin. She said Mai came home from work at the regular time last night, stressed, and her car was not in the parking lot this morning. She thought Mai might be with her mother and not at an appointment and not at work. June didn't know any other of her friends. She also said Mai hasn't been herself since Jack's death but she would not take a trip without letting June know because June feeds the cat and picks up Mai's mail if Mai is out of town." "So, it seems she has left without telling anyone," Sam concluded. "Perhaps it is time to visit her mother...?" Lo Si suggested. "Fine. I want to check out the restaurant where she works but they wouldn't be open yet...." Peter agreed. ***** *It's nice to be able to ask for directions,* Sam thought as he stopped the Corvair in front of the Li home at 1490 Chestnut. "Ah, yes, I do know her mother...." Lo Si informed them after looking at the house. He had been here before. "Good. I'd appreciate you going in with me." Peter hoped the Ancient's presence would help loosen some tongues. Lo Si smiled and bowed slightly. "Of course." "You two want to stay here or go in?" Peter asked of Sam and his father. "We should stay so as not to alarm her with a crowd," Caine said. "I think your father is right," Sam agreed quickly. He had hoped to get a chance to speak to Caine and this would be perfect. "Okay. Let's do it...Partner," Peter grinned at Lo Si as they got out of the car, then walked up to the house. ***** When they had gained the front porch, Peter knocked on the front door. A sixtyish Chinese woman answered. "Lo Si...hello," she greeted. "Please come in." She opened the door and held it while Lo Si entered. Peter followed, then she closed the door and led them into the living room. "Please make yourselves at home. May I bring you some tea?" Peter kept quiet, deferring to the Ancient. "No, thank you, Sun," Lo Si replied as he and Peter sat down on the couch. "Please join us." Sun seated herself in an easy chair next to the couch, then asked, "To what do I owe the honor of your visit, Ancient One?" A snow white Persian cat jumped into her lap. She began to pet it. Peter regarded the woman. *She seems very sad.* "Sun, this is Peter Caine, son of Kwai Chang Caine...." Lo Si said. Peter nodded once at her. "He is a police officer and is investigating the death of your daughter's boyfriend. Would you mind if he asked you some questions?" "That would be fine." Lo Si turned to Peter and smiled. "Thank you, Mrs. Li," Peter said, taking out his notepad. "I need to speak with your daughter. Do you know where I may find her this morning?" "No." "Could you tell me if she might be visiting friends and if so, whom?" "I don't know where she went...." "She has left town?" "I don't know...." "When was the last time you saw her?" "Yesterday, before she went to work. She asked me to care for Miss Kitty here...." A tear slid down her cheek. Peter closed his notepad and put it back in his jacket pocket. Lo Si went to Sun's side to offer comfort. ***** Sam sat and silently gathered his thoughts. He HAD to speak with Caine. He knew it would be difficult because Caine would be an expert at dodging the questions that he really needed to answer. Peter had been easier, being more open with his feelings. After a few minutes, Caine looked at Sam curiously. "You have something to ask?" he said. Sam, only mildly surprised, smiled. "I'd like to know how you do that," Sam said. Caine only shrugged and looked encouragingly at Sam to continue. "I...uh...I'm worried about Peter," Sam began. He figured that Caine's defenses would be more vulnerable where his beloved son was concerned. "In what regard? We are all here to protect him-" "No, not this new danger," Sam said. "I mean, with what happened at the temple when he was 12." Caine kept his expression emotionless. "Peter told me about the evil priest that destroyed the temple," Sam pressed on. "It sounds like...you and he went through a lot that day..." "Yes. We did." Caine looked down. Sam kept quiet, holding his breath. After a few moments, Caine looked at Sam again. "I appreciate what you are trying to do-" "Then why don't you let me do it?" Sam interrupted, hoping the sudden offensive tactic would catch Caine off-guard. The man seemed to know what he was thinking, anyway.... "What happened at the temple?" "I..." For once, Caine was flustered. He could not help but think back to that time...Peter, felled by blocks of the ceiling...the pain....He cleared his mind once more. "I was injured. I saw Peter and I was unable to get to him." "Did you blame yourself?" "Yes." "But you were injured." "Yes." "You were incapable of helping Peter at that time, correct?" Caine didn't answer. Sam had to restrain the urge to shake the man! Like father, like son!! "What about Peter's mother?" Sam asked, feigning ignorance. "Did she die in the attack?" "No. She died when Peter was very young. He doesn't remember her." "But you do, don't you?" "Of course I do." "Do you blame yourself for HER death?" Sam asked. Caine was silent. Sam nodded thoughtfully. "I'll take that as a 'yes'. Why do you blame yourself?" When Caine still didn't answer, Sam pressed, "What did you do wrong, Caine?" "I am...somewhat skilled in the art of healing. I thought I could save her," Caine said woodenly. "I failed her...and Peter." "It wasn't your fault," Sam switched tactics to sympathy. He DID feel sympathy, more than he wanted to let on at the moment. "Let me tell you about MY father," Sam said. Caine, eager to have the subject changed, looked expectant. "Please do," he said. "He was a farmer from Indiana," Sam said. "I loved him more than....more than anything. He died, though, of lung cancer. He smoked...a lot." Caine nodded understandingly. "That particular poison has claimed many lives." "I was a DOCTOR, though!" Sam objected. "I kept telling him and telling him and telling him, even when I was a teenager, that the smoking would kill him. He died and there was nothing I could do about it!" They were silent for a few seconds until Sam said, "Except invent a time machine to try and prevent it." Caine looked at him in shock. "Is that why you did it??" "Partly," Sam confessed. "I lost my older brother in Vietnam, my sister married a jerk who beat her day and night, and I...just wanted to FIX it! Fix things for the better. I guess I got my wish." "Did you save your family?" "Only my brother, and Al had to suffer in his place," Sam said. When Caine looked askance, Sam shook his head. "It's a long story. I even leaped back into myself, as a teenager, and I tried to stop my dad from smoking and Katie from marrying the jerk. According to the records, I failed. There are just some things no one can fight." Caine narrowed his eyes, finally seeing where Sam was going with this. *This doctor was clever!* he thought in grudging respect. "Laura did not choose to die," he said stonily. "No, but Somebody did. That doesn't change the fact that it wasn't your fault." Sam hurried on before Caine could stop him. "Forgive me for butting in, Caine, but you and your son are STILL in a lot of pain, despite your love for one another. Don't you think it's about time Peter saw that you're human, too? Peter thinks he's the only one in the universe who feels the way he does - why don't you ever tell him that you hurt, too?" "One of us must be strong-" "There's an old saying, Caine: 'Happiness shared is doubled, sorrow shared is HALVED'." Caine looked at Sam sharply. Before Sam could lose his advantage, he continued. "Try it. Isn't Peter worth the risk?" Sam was grateful to see the Ancient and Peter emerge from the house - it looked as though the peaceful priest wanted to deck him! Caine composed his facial expression quickly as his son opened the door and slid in, followed by Lo Si. "Well, at least her cat has a good home," Peter commented. He looked at his father - something...felt wrong. *Was he ill again?* "Hey, Pop, you okay?" Peter asked. Caine nodded as Sam started the car. Lo Si wisely said nothing. He could feel his friend's emotions were in turmoil but now was not the time to discuss it. Sam pulled out into the mainstream of traffic. A few seconds afterward, a blue sedan did likewise. "What did you find out, Peter?" Sam inquired, endeavoring to get his mind back on the business at hand. As before, Peter summarized. "Mai stopped by her mother's yesterday and dropped off her cat. Mrs. Li doesn't know where her daughter is now." "Hmmm...very suspicious," Sam concluded. "They must know we are onto them..." "How?" Peter asked. "They could be monitoring the list members or monitoring who receives the messages..." Sam said. ***** Meanwhile, Alia and Jody were back on the Middleton case. "Let's go, Partner," Jody said as she hung up the phone and grabbed her jacket in one smooth motion. "What??" Alia said, doing likewise. "Nicky just called - blood doesn't match," she said. "The blood type doesn't match?" Alia asked as they nearly flew down the stairs. "Oh, of course, the type matches," Jody said over her shoulder, "Any idiot would've made sure of that. But the blood itself doesn't. There's a slight history of diabetes in the mother's family - Nicky wouldn't have looked for it normally. But since we needed confirmation on the identity..." They got in the car and sped away to question Burt Middleton. ***** It was hard to say who noticed the car first. Caine and Lo Si felt the malevolence, Sam's photographic memory remembered that the car had been with them for 4 miles, and Peter's naturally suspicious nature noticed that they were definitely being followed. In unison, they looked at each other. "What should I do?" Sam asked. Peter looked around to assess the neighborhood. "Um...hang a left at the second corner, Sam." Caine and Lo Si nodded approval. Sam turned as requested and found himself at a deserted used car lot. He drove in. So did the occupants of the sedan. The sedan sped up in an effort to ram the Corvair. "Ummm..." Sam warned as he sped up to try to avoid the oncoming car. "Sam, you gotta find a place to park this car! If you hurt this car, Kermit will kill US!" Peter said. Caine opened the car door while Sam turned the corner and vanished. Sam instinctively grabbed for the departing Caine. He missed and nearly managed to sideswipe Kermit's car on a four-by-four. "Don't worry about Pop," Peter yelled, "just stop the car!!" Sam swerved and finally slid into a space. The three of them piled out. "Scatter!" Peter said, unnecessarily. Lo Si had already vanished. Peter remembered that he had better keep an eye on Sam, whose martial arts skills were good but not quite a match for the competition. "Come on," he said, "let's go this way." Drawing his gun, Peter led Sam through the tight crevices. Jumping out of nowhere came seven black-garbed figures. Peter looked around him in dismay, hoping his father and Lo Si were nearby. Sam, now more acquainted with his opponents' level of skill, lost no time. He punched the nearest one and followed it with a circle-kick. Peter, astonished at Sam's quick movement, lost precious seconds as one opponent behind him kicked his gun out of his hand. He recovered quickly and back-kicked the one who attacked him while spinning around to fight back-to-back with Sam. As expected, Lo Si appeared from the direction closest to Sam and Caine appeared from the direction closest to Peter. Caine dispatched two with a double-kick and Lo Si threw one of his opponents into another. The one that had not yet attacked jumped up onto one of the trashed cars for high ground while Sam and Peter finished with their opponents. Watching the scene, the one on the car disappeared. Peter grabbed his gun and ran around a few of the cars. He could almost see the assailant and aimed his gun carefully. He was shocked when his gun vanished from his grasp. He turned to find his father holding his gun. "We can follow her," Caine said. "Her??" Peter asked as they made a mad dash for the car. They all halted abruptly as they saw the car where Sam had parked it. "DAMN!" Sam said. "Well, that's that," Peter said, dejected. "Next stop, the restaurant - after we change the front tires." "Sorry?" offered Sam tentatively. As he reached for the trunk release, he uttered, "I don't think I'm cut out to be a cop." ***** Meanwhile, Alia and Jody looked solemn as they broke the sad news to Burt Middleton. "I'm very sorry for your loss, sir," Jody said. Middleton sat heavily on the padded chair and covered his eyes with one hand. "Oh my God," he said as he tried to hold back the sobs. Alia and Jody looked at one another. His acting needed polishing. "Our little boy..." Jody could only tolerate so much. "We're so sorry, sir," she said again. "We'll leave you alone, now." Alia approached the man as Jody started for the door. "We really are," she said, putting a supporting hand on his shoulder, covering Jody's movement to the door. Jody's hand snaked out and pressed something to the man's well-worn leather jacket hanging near the door. Done, she opened the door and Alia joined her. Once Jody closed the door behind her, she and Alia could not suppress a knowing grin. Alia felt especially pleased - it was her idea to act as though they thought the boy was really dead to see what Middleton would do. Jody had found one of Kermit's special bugs in Peter's desk. He conveniently forgot to return it. The rest was teamwork. Alia thought she might be able to get used to this. ***** Sam pulled up to the curb of the Golden Pacific Restaurant. "Sam, you'd better take this one," Peter said. Sam turned and saw an interesting look of distaste on Peter's face. "Do I detect some history here...?" Sam asked. "Uhhh...you could say that...." Sam smiled and let Peter off the hook. "No problem. So, what do I need to know before I go in?" "The proprietors rank high in the Zo Tong, the most powerful Tong in Chinatown," Peter told him. "With Pop's help, I took down the one who was to become their leader when the old one was killed." "Perhaps I should accompany you," Caine offered. "There is a possibility...of violence." "Thank you," Sam said, grateful for the assistance. This leap had its good points; honesty and charity being among them. He and Caine got out of the car. "Good luck," Peter called as they walked away. When they were almost at the restaurant door, Peter, troubled, turned to Lo Si. "Lo Si, what's wrong with Pop? I can tell he's upset...." "Your father has much on his mind, Peter," Lo Si said, solemnly. "Do not worry. He will be all right." "If you say so...." Peter replied, unconvinced. ***** "I believe it may be best that I first approach them with the request for information," Caine told Sam once they were inside the restaurant. "They may respond more favorably to a priest than a cop." "Be my guest," Sam said. "By the way, Caine..." Sam bit off the rest of his sentence as a rather effeminate man approached them. "I am sorry, gentleman," the man said, "We are not open for business yet. You will have to come back later." Caine bowed to the man. "We do not seek sustenance, but information." "How may I help you, priest?" he inquired, recognizing Caine. "We are searching for Mai Li," Caine said. "It is very important. Is-" "She is not here." "Will she be working today?" "No. She quit last night." "Do you know why she quit?" Caine asked. "No, I do not and I do not know where she might be," the man said. "Now, if you will excuse me...." Caine bowed again. "Thank you for your time-" The man turned to a flunkie and said, "See them out." The flunkie stepped forward menacingly. Caine and Sam turned and retraced their steps back to the door. ***** "That didn't take long," Peter commented as Sam and Caine arrived at the car. "We weren't exactly welcomed with open arms," Sam said, getting in the car. Caine, after a second's hesitation, got in the front passenger seat. Peter smiled. "Can't imagine that....What did they tell you?" "Mai Li quit last night with no explanation," Caine said. "They do not know where she went." "Do you believe that, Pop?" Peter asked, skeptical. "He spoke the truth," Caine replied. "Well, all we have, then, is that Mai Li is gone," Peter said. "We may as well grab some lunch, then see if anything's turned up at the precinct." "Sounds good to me," Sam agreed. No one else disagreed. "Another restaurant, I would hope," Lo Si joked, hoping to lighten the mood. He got a chuckle from Sam and Peter and a token smile from Caine. Lo Si suppressed a sigh....He hoped that the reassurances he had offered Peter about Kwai Chang Caine was the truth.... Sam started the car and headed for Chandlers. ***** TO BE CONTINUED!