Trixie waited and watched as Erica thanked her caller and hung up the phone. “Well?”

Erica shook her head. “Inconclusive. Coroner says the wounds could have been made by an old-fashioned nightstick, but we need to find the weapon to confirm it.” She slowly smiled. “Coroner says it may be what our perp’s been using in all the assaults. She just won’t say for certain until we produce the baton itself.”

“Did you ask about Sleepyside?”

“She said she didn’t want to speculate without autopsy reports, but she wouldn’t rule it out. We know they thought it was a baseball bat, but they never found it. And they could have been mistaken.”

Ping! Trixie looked back at her screen. “Yes!” She pumped her fist into the air. Several people in the squad room stopped what they were doing and looked over at her. She quickly began pounding on her keyboard, waiting until her co-workers returned to their tasks.

“So what have you found?” Erica stretched over the two desks trying to see Trixie’s monitor.

“Nothing specific yet, but I’m getting a lot of hits. This would be a whole lot easier if the Global Justice Data Model were up and running. At least there is a single LInX database, for the entire D.C. area. Daly was stationed there a couple of times. There’s also one for the Hampton Roads area in Virginia, so I’ve been able to combine a few places into a single computer search, but I’m still contacting a lot of places individually for information. And he’s moved around a lot in the past twenty years.”

“Global what?” Erica was familiar with LInX. All local law enforcement officers in the Tri-state area were begging for funding of a computerized law enforcement data exchange system, but she’d never heard of a Global Justice system.

“Global Justice XML Data Model, G-J-X-D-M. The Department of Justice has finally gotten their act together and is setting up a country-wide data sharing system. Unfortunately, it’s not quite operational. But just think of the possibilities once it is! Look at this.” Trixie pointed at the screen. “These are the open cases that fit our pattern and applicable dates, just in the D.C. area. Even with a computerized database, I could take a nap while they download. Then I’ll have to wait for each of the other areas that are computerized. At least I can make my individual requests while it’s all downloading.”

“Well, as usual the locals are ahead of the Fibbies.” Erica used the less than complimentary term for federal law enforcement, wondering why she was surprised Trixie was on top of some new technology and she wasn’t.

Erica sat back down and returned to her own computer screen, and stared at the contact information for the town of Highland Falls and the US Military Academy. “The Coroner said she’s still waiting for autopsy reports on the West Point victim and asked me to try to speed up the process. I’m afraid that if I contact anyone at the Military Academy it might tip off Sergeant Daly that we are looking at him as a suspect.”

“Maybe Chief Robinson has it,” Trixie suggested without looking up from her computer monitor.

Erica checked the phone number for the Highland Falls Police. “I’ll call him first. If he doesn’t have it, he might know who to contact at the Academy without alerting Daly. I also want to see if they’ve had any success in getting a search warrant for Daly’s home. We don’t have enough evidence to sway a Manhattan judge, but sometimes it’s easier in a small community where everyone is related or lifelong buddies.”

“You forget I grew up in one of those small towns,” Trixie reminded her. “Sometimes the judges do know the prosecutors and police officers personally, but it’s as much that they trust their instincts as it is pulling favors. However, you’re right—they might be more lenient.”

Erica looked at her watch, then at the door to the Captain’s office, and offered a silent prayer of thanks that Sgt. Daly lived off base, before picking up the phone receiver. If it would be difficult to get a warrant from a state judge, it would be impossible to get one from the base Judge Advocate General.

Brian Belden walked out the doors of the Kimmel Cancer Center and through the public areas of the Weinberg Building for what was probably his last time. He had purposely come this way instead of navigating the complex maze of underground passageways that traverse the Johns Hopkins medical complex so that he could admire the gleaming modern facility that had been his workplace, home, and more, for so long.

Halfway to Broadway he stopped and turned around. He admired the building for some time before scanning the rest of the bustling urban campus. Here was where he had spent the bulk of his waking hours and many of his sleeping hours for almost a decade. Here was where he had earned the title Doctor. Here was where he’d gained the knowledge, skills, and confidence that he would use the rest of his life to heal and console his young patients and their families.

Here was where he had met Debbie.

His fledging relationship with her seemed to be having as much of an impact on him as the many years of study he’d endured. With all the knowledge and training he’d garnered here, he hadn’t learned about relationships and love. Or had he?

Clutching the cardboard box that held his personal belongings close to his chest, he headed down the walkway and across Broadway towards the parking garage. He knew the odds were against it, but he hoped that their budding romance would survive long-distance relationship.

Trixie was reading through the summary of hits in the Washington, D.C. area while she waited for the search of data from the Tidewater/Hampton Roads area to be completed. Thanks to the multiple jurisdictions that shared information in that region, it was taking almost as long as it had taken to scan the DC files. Fortunately, the final Washington area list wasn’t as long as she’d anticipated. She had known that Washington had a relatively high crime rate, but was surprised at the number of crimes in the database for places like Portsmouth, Poquoson, and Pungo. Glancing at the computer screen, she wondered where the heck Pungo was.

Her concentration was broken when the Captain tapped on the top of her monitor.

“No luck,” he offered. “The DDA refused to go to the judge for an arrest warrant. He thinks we have a strong circumstantial case, but not strong enough to press charges. Apparently showing that all of these attacks occurred when this Daly just happened to be in the city isn’t enough justification. Daly’s having a large collection of potential murder weapons isn’t enough. He said if we can establish some kind pattern we might, and he emphasized might, convince a judge.” He walked around the desk to see what was on Trixie’s monitor. “What have you found?”

“It’s scanning Hampton Roads right now, but here’s the list of unsolved murders in D.C. that are similar to ours.” Trixie pointed down to the printout on her desk. “I didn’t get a single hit with a survivor.

“Any that need further investigation?”

“They’re highlighted.”

The Captain picked up the papers and flipped through, noting that there were several citations highlighted in fluorescent yellow. “This is good, Belden. It just might get us something, but, dammit, it’s taking too long. Keep at it.”

He tossed the papers back onto the desk and walked away. Trixie picked them up and silently prayed for a quicker way to find what she needed, whatever that was.

Dan stood at the prosecutors table, shaking hands with the senior prosecutor who had just won a conviction from the bane of the District Attorney’s office, Judge Dalzmer. “I wish I’d been so lucky last week,” he offered.

“There’s not a one of us who hasn’t experienced one of his tirades, Dan. And I would never have gotten this conviction if you hadn’t been so quick on the uptake. It’s not often someone sitting second chair makes a save like that.” The older man glanced at his watch. “How about a congratulatory drink at O’Dell’s?”

Stuffing papers into his satchel, Dan shook his head. “I need to go by the office and then I have plans.”

“Plans with your little blonde detective?”

Dan scowled, wondering how Trixie would like be called a little blonde detective. Respecting the seniority of the other attorney, he forced a laugh. “She may be small in stature, but I can’t exactly call her mine.”

“I worked with her once when she was still in uniform. She’s quite the dynamo. You’re lucky to have found her.” The other prosecutor didn’t mention that his repeated attempts to take Trixie to dinner and, he had hoped, more, had been rebuked.

Dan picked up his satchel and turned to leave. “I don’t know who found whom, but I’m sure glad we did.”

“Kane! Why aren’t you in here?” the Captain yelled from his office.

Erica got up from her desk, mumbling about using the intercom and assuming her call to Highland Falls would have to wait.

“Kane!”

“I’m coming!” Erica yelled back as she headed across the squad room “Yes?” She asked when she got to the doorway.

“We’re headed to Highland Falls. They got a break. Found someone who positively identified Daly with the Highland Falls girl the night she was attacked, and some former cadet who filed a complaint about him some time ago but was coerced into dropping it. They’ve got a judge who was convinced to issue a search warrant for his apartment. I want to be there when they nail the SOB.”

“Belden,” he called to Trixie as he grabbed his jacket and walked into the squad room.

Trixie jumped out of her chair. “Yessir?”

“I want you to stay here and finish this work.”

“But I can...I have some…”

“Dammit, Belden. You have plenty of work here and it’s important! And I want you to be extra cautious. I think this SOB has targeted you as his next victim. If he knows we’re this close, and then we don’t arrest him, I’m afraid he’ll be coming after you.”

“Next? I don’t understand. The profile… I don’t fit…”

“You fit the profile.” Erica tapped the folder she was holding. “Profile, Belden. You prepared it. Young, attractive, petite, blonde.” The Captain stepped forward.

“But I’m older than the profile and I’m not…”

“You could pass for fifteen, Belden! And, yes, you are attractive!” Erica interrupted. “I know you deny it, but you are.”

“Young, attractive and you ticked him off,” the Captain added. “Royally.”

“Then we can try to lure…”

The Captain shrugged. “We’ll discuss this later. I have no plans to use one of my detectives as bait. I want you to stay here and work on those spreadsheets or whatever they are while we head upstate. No need to stay up all night. Just have a summary report on my desk first thing tomorrow. I doubt Kane and I’ll be back before then. Ready, Kane?” he asked as wiggled into his jacket.

Trixie watched as Erica followed the Captain out the door. “Right, Captain, no need to stay up all night,” she mumbled when they were out of sight. “And no need to be in Highland Falls when they make an arrest; an arrest of the perp I identified.”

She dropped the papers she was holding onto the desk and flopped heavily into her chair, wanting to do anything but read computer printouts and make email and telephone inquiries for the next several hours.

Jim stood at the main entrance to Sleepyside Senior High School, watching the last bus pull away and acknowledging the greetings from students leaving on foot, without being totally conscious of what they were saying. Mentally, he was still traipsing through the Ten Acres property, envisioning the buildings that would be constructed there someday.

Walking back into the building, he reminded himself that he would be the school’s Assistant Principal for several more years. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy being at the high school or that his work wasn’t rewarding; there were plenty of troubled and not-so troubled students at Sleepyside High who deserved his attention. He had plenty of opportunities where he was. It just wasn’t the school of his dreams. He nodded to Miss Short before going into his office to call his father. He had to raise money, construct multiple buildings, get licensure, hire and train staff, and much more, but he was finally taking tangible steps towards his dream.

He hit the appropriate button to speed-dial Manor House and leaned back in his chair.

“Miss Trask? What a surprise! I thought you were in Colorado.” Jim wasn’t expecting his parent’s property manager to answer the phone. “I have more trouble keeping track of you than I do my parents. Speaking of whom, is my father there? I’d like to speak to him if I may.”

“You aren’t going to tell me how you’re doing?” Marjory Trask scolded. Having originally been hired as his sister’s governess, she had stayed on with the Wheeler family long after Honey had outgrown the need for one. The Wheelers traveled extensively and, in their absence, she had managed their main household and served as guardian for Jim and Honey through their teens. More recently, she managed all three of the Wheeler residences, but she still cared greatly for her former charges and tried to keep abreast of their activities.

“I’m fine. Aggie’s fine. I assume by now that you’ve heard about our wedding plans?”

“I have and they sound wonderfully romantic. Don’t worry about disappointing you mother. She was upset initially, but she’s beginning to understand that Aggie’s and your wishes are what’s important. Of course, you know to be prepared for quite the celebration when you return home. She’s getting excited about that!”

“We’d prefer something quiet, but we’ll be fine with whatever she plans. I’m just grateful she wants to do something for us after we nixed her wedding plans.”

“Why wouldn’t she? She’s so proud of you and she’d do anything for her only son and future daughter-in-law.”

The Wheelers made it clear that they had long ago forgotten how Jim had become their son, and he was appreciative of that unconditional acceptance and love. He had been adopted by the Wheelers when he was fifteen and, though he sometimes had conflicts of loyalty between his natural parents and adoptive ones, he knew he’d been blessed.

“Let me get your father for you. He’s been waiting to hear about your meeting with the engineers at Ten Acres.”

“And you?” Jim knew that Miss Trask was just as anxious to hear what the engineers had suggested, but was too polite to ask.

“I don’t think you’d sound so chipper if they hadn’t told you it was a go.”

“It is. They are confident we have more than enough room on the site. They are going to prepare a concept plan--they called it a sketch plan. They said it will be ready in just a few weeks.”

“I’m so happy to hear that. Let me put your father on so you can tell him.”

Jim scooted his chair up to his desk and then pushed it away with his knee, waiting anxiously to share his news with his father. He was starting to scoot forward again when his father came on the line.

“How did it go, son? I’m surprised you waited this long to call.”

“I wanted to make sure you’d stopped vibrating from your flight. How was London?”

“Even colder and damper than it’s been here. It was so cold that your mother had planned to stay over, but decided to come back with me. So tell me what Ron said about the school site.”

Jim thanked his father for recommending the firm, shared that the two engineers had been encouraging in their initial assessment of the Ten Acres property, and said they promised a report on the structural safety of the garage and stables, as well as a sketch plan for the site, before Christmas.

“Sounds like they’re excited about this project.”

“Ron said he’s looking forward to it. He really likes the idea for the school and loves the Ten Acres site. Once we agree on a basic lay-out of the campus, I’ll meet with their architect.”

“Which means we need to get moving on creating a charter and board for the foundation. I’ve consulted with my attorney and he should have some papers prepared for you about the same time. Why don’t you and I plan to meet with him the day after Thanksgiving? You don’t have to be at school that day, do you? We’ll need to have some preliminary plans and an architect’s renderings before we recruit members for the board, but there’s a lot we need to do first.” Matt Wheeler had already established a trust that would support a non-profit foundation, but it would need other benefactors to fund the kind of facility Jim had envisioned. Jim had asked his father to lead that effort.

“Just tell me where to be and when, Dad. I have the dream, but you’re making it happen.”

Matt Wheeler laughed. His father had been a college professor at a prestigious ivy league college, and while that had ensured he had a first class education, his inheritance was meager. He had married into a wealthy family, but most of his vast wealth had been self-made. He was proud of his accomplishments and the good things he’d been able to do with that wealth, yet nothing gave him the feeling of accomplishment he had when planning for the Ten Acres School with his son.

“Not really. I’m proud of you, son, and happy to help.” The words comforted Matt as much, if not more, than they did Jim.

Trixie glanced at her watch. She estimated it would be at least another two hours before she might have something to share with the Captain, and even longer before she might hear from Erica, if Erica would think to call and give her an update. She rolled her shoulders, took a large swig from the bottle of warm soda on her desk, and turned back to the computer printout. She knew she would save at least one tree by reading the info on the computer monitor, but she much preferred seeing everything at the same time.

She grabbed a pen and wrote a note to herself. She had a clear pattern established. There were several murders and assaults on young blonde women in each community where Sergeant Eugene “Clean Gene” Daly had lived over the past twenty years. The first one almost always occurred within three to four months after he’d relocated. She found eerie similarities over and over and over again. And they’d never been linked. At least not that she could find. She couldn’t wait to call Poughkeepsie, Norfolk, Takoma Park, Lawton, OK and…Trixie chuckled to herself. Yes, she needed to call Pungo.

“Smart,” she mumbled. “Never caught, never even suspected? But not smart enough.” She started to pump her fist into the air when the phone rang.

“Belden. Put him through, Rudy.” She was so anxious to share her excitement with Dan, she didn’t wait for Rudy to tell her who was on the line.

“Still want to do dinner, counselor?”

Brian pulled into the lot of the Glen Road Inn and grabbed his cell phone. He knew that once he got to Crabapple Farm he’d never be able to get away from his parents long enough to call Debbie. During his long drive, he’d had plenty of time to think and he now had a few things to say that he didn’t want them to hear.

“Hi, Debbie.” He spoke as soon as the phone connected, not waiting for Debbie to answer.

“Brian? Are you okay?” Debbie’s voice trembled a bit. She had been fighting tears off and on since Brian had left her apartment that morning, and hearing his voice started them flowing again.

“I don’t know. I mean…” He quickly apologized, not wanting to upset her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t’ mean to alarm you. I’m in Sleepyside.”

Debbie cleared her throat. “You must have made good time.”

“Traffic was fairly light for a change. Dammit, Debbie. I miss you already. I couldn’t think of anything else driving up here. I want to tell you… I don’t want to leave you. I think…I mean…At least, I…” Brian finally blurted out the words. “I’m falling in love with you. I can’t believe how I feel. When I say that I ache for you, it’s so much more. It’s....”

“Oh, Brian. Oh my gosh, I do, too. I mean, I feel the same. But it’ll work out Brian. It has to. I believe that. It’ll work if it’s meant to be.”

Brian hoped she was right. “I’ll shorten my stay. I’ll only stay a few days in Sleepyside. Then I’ll stay with you until I have to be in Richmond. We’ll spend every possible minute together. If that’s okay, I mean.”

“Don’t disappoint your mother, Brian. She’s been looking forward to your visit.” Debbie wanted to spend the time with him, but she knew how long it had been since he’d been in Sleepyside.

“But…I want to stay with you and…”

“Gee, Brian, you really are a horndog, aren’t you?”

“It’s more than sex, Debbie. So much more.”

Debbie laughed. “Oh, it’s sex, Brian. It might be more, but sex is always a big part of it. Just think how great the sex will be if we’re apart for a few days. I’ll be here, Brian. I’ll be here tomorrow, and the next day, and when you come through on your way to Richmond. You will give you mother and the rest of your family your undivided attention for the next week and I might, MIGHT, let you stay over one night. But you need to enjoy some time with your family.”

“You’re right of course, but I’ll call tomorrow and each day until I see you again.” Brian flipped the phone closed before she had a chance to react. “Dammit, I do.” Brian yelled as loudly as he could. “I do love you!” He put the car in gear and pulled out of the parking lot. His parents were waiting.

Trixie had shared her good news with Dan on the phone, but had needed to stay at work long enough to finish the report of her findings for Captain Reilly. She asked that Dan meet her at her apartment for pizza. The past two hours had seemed an eternity to her, trying to concentrate on what she was typing while being constantly distracted by thoughts of spending the evening with Dan. She had decided the prior weekend that she and Dan were ready to take the next big step in their relationship, but she feared that she might wait forever for him to take any initiative after her admission that he would be her “first”.

Remembering what Erica had said, and the Chief confirmed, about her being attractive, she smiled. While she usually focused on the flaws in her appearance, she knew that she didn’t make dogs howl and cower either. Dan had told her she was beautiful, but he had also called her “Freckles” when they were younger. She thought that he saw more than her appearance, attractive or not, but she feared he might not see her as sexy, even though he made her feel sexy. Of course, a man who looked like Dan could make any woman feel sexy. Trixie debated with herself silently the entire subway ride home, but, when she saw the incredibly handsome man waiting for her on the station platform, she chuckled, realizing that she could and would be a seductress. She laughed at the thought of her seducing anyone, but she could at least try.

“Are you sure you don’t want to go out? You definitely have the right to celebrate.” Dan greeted Trixie as she stepped onto the subway platform.

“This is better. The past few days have been exhausting and…” She stood on tiptoe and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

Dan pulled her close and kissed her soundly on the lips.

Trixie laughed. “That just did wonders.”

“I can perform miracles, if you want.” Dan pulled her even tighter and kissed her again. “Congratulations, Detective. Do you know how sexy you look, right now?” He kissed her again.

“Sexy?” Trixie almost laughed. Instead, she leaned into him, savoring the kiss for as long as possible, then stepped away. “I’m starved.”

Dan pulled her back. “I am too, and for more than food.” He leaned in for a another kiss.

“Dan!” Trixie giggled. “People are staring and I need to shower, eat, and then…”

“Then?” Dan molded his body into hers. “Dessert?”

Trixie pulled away, realizing she wouldn’t have to work as hard as she had thought. She hesitated before tilting her head slightly and giving him what she hoped was a smoldering look. “We’ll see counselor.”

“Ah, where’s the pizza joint?” Dan stammered a bit.

“We can call.” Trixie flipped open her cell phone, fearing she was being too obvious. “What do you want on it?”

Dan draped an arm around her shoulders as they headed up the stairs. “Everything.”

The walk to Trixie’s apartment passed quickly. They still had some time before the pizza should arrive, so Trixie asked Dan to open a bottle of wine while she took a quick shower. Dan removed his overcoat and jacket, loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top buttons of his dress shirt while trying to decide what wine went best with pizza. He considered pizza a beer food, but he knew Trixie preferred wine. Finally deciding on a bottle of Merlot, he was looking for a corkscrew in her tiny kitchen when the buzzer from the street entrance sounded. He stepped up to the intercom.

“Yes?”

There was no reply.

“Yes?”

“Sorry. Wrong apartment.”

Dan turned to go back into the kitchen when the buzzer sounded again.

“Yes?”

“Pie in the Sky delivery. Large Deluxe for apartment 3B?”

“Sure. Come on up.”

Dan grabbed his wallet, opened the door, and waited for the delivery boy to come up the stairs.

After he paid the teen, the young man turned and looked behind him. He stepped over and looked into the stairwell. “That’s strange.”

“What?”

“There was another guy delivering pizza. He seemed confused; not sure how to buzz up, so he followed me in. He was following me up the stairs. Guess his delivery was on the 2^nd floor or somethin’.”

“What’d he look like?” Dan stepped into the hall. Seeing it was empty, he walked over to the stairwell.

“Dunno. Regular guy.” The boy shrugged. “Carrying a pizza bag like mine. First time I ever saw him. There are only a couple of shops that deliver on this street. We all know each other, but I’ve never seen him before. ”

“Anything wrong?” Trixie stepped out into the hallway. “Mmmm…pizza smells delish. Hey Micky. How’s it going?”

Dan turned around. Trixie was wearing a faded Cornell t-shirt, sweatpants, and was barefoot. Her damp hair curled around her face.

The Adam’s apple in the teen’s throat bobbed as he caught sight of Trixie. “Officer Belden. Ah, um, um, hi. Umm, we were just, um, I need to get back to the shop.” He grinned at Dan, then turned to leave.

“Say hello to your grandfather,” Trixie called out as he headed down the stairs.

Dan thought about going to check on the other delivery person, but, catching a faint whiff peaches and anxious to run his fingers through those damp curls, he followed Trixie into the apartment.

“Look’s like Micky has a bit of a crush on you,” he commented as he shut and bolted the door.

Trixie laughed as she took the box from him. “More likely, he’s headed back to tell his grandfather that la bella polizia della donna has a lover. That’s what Micky’s grandfather calls me. I love the way he says, bella polizia.” She set the box on the coffee table. “La bella polizia della donna’s lover. What’s Italian for lover?”

“Amante.” Dan said matter-of-factly.

“How do you know that? You say it so…Amante. Sounds…”

Trixie stopped suddenly. “Oh my. I didn’t mean…”

Dan pulled her to him and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I know what you meant. That Micky and his grandfather and whoever else they tell will think we’re lovers. That Micky will have them thinking we’re enjoying hot pizza and hot sex?” He stepped back away and brushed his hair from his forehead. “I need some wine. Where do you hide your corkscrew?”

Trixie grabbed one from the counter top and handed it to Dan. She then pulled paper plates and napkins from the cupboard and carried them over to the coffee table. He opened the bottle of wine and poured two glasses.

“I’m not sure I like the idea of people talking about our doing something before we…I mean…” Dan followed her with the wine goblets and sat down. “That we’re not…” He set one glass on the table, sat down on the sofa, and took a large gulp of wine.

Trixie sat on the sofa and turned cross-legged to face Dan. “Would that be the hot pizza or the hot sex?”

Dan sat up straight. “Trixie?”

“Of course you mean the hot sex, I mean our having a physical relationship or…” Trixie lifted a slice of pizza from the box and plopped in on a plate. She handed it to Dan and then took a slice for herself.

Dan took a bite of pizza. He wasn’t sure if or how he should respond. He tugged at his collar and realized that he’d already unbuttoned two buttons.

“Maybe I should change the subject?” Trixie smiled. “You’re not interested in sex?”

“Ohmigod, Trix.” Dan tossed the paper plate onto the open pizza box. “Trix, I…” He watched as Trixie slowly set her plate onto the table and leaned in towards him.

“La bella polizia della donna amante. Rolls off the tongue, don’t you think?”

“You’re killing me Trix.”

Trixie laughed. It was deep and throaty and unlike anything he had ever heard from her. “Killing?”

“Oh, Trix.” Dan gasped. ”You come out here, looking, smelling, the way you do. And then you…I’m only human...”

Trixie slid across the sofa and onto his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. “I’m human, too, Dan. And I don’t think it will kill either of us. La bella polizia della donna amante. I like the sound of that. Amante. Yes, I’m sure.”

Dan ran his hands up her back, noticing she wasn’t wearing a bra. “You may get more than you’ve bargained for.”

“I’ll take the risk,” she murmured as she leaned in. She slowly licked his lips before parting them with her tongue. “Yes.”

Dan slid his hands inside her shirt, then slowly ran his hands up and around to the front. She moaned and tilted her head back. Yes. She wanted this. She wanted him. Yes. He’d made it clear that this was what he wanted. Yes. He’d said he would wait until she was ready. Yes. He’d told himself it might be a long time before she was ready. Yes. The decision had been hers to come to him this way, and to come to him tonight.

“Yes.” He began to lift up her shirt. “Amante.”

Trixie reached to unbutton his shirt. Her hands were trembling and she laughed nervously.

Dan forced himself to pull away and place his hands over hers. “Are you sure? Trix, are you sure?”

“Yes. Yes. I’m sure.” She wrapped her hands around his neck. “Take me to…”

Dan struggled to stand, still holding on to Trixie, when he realized that music was playing somewhere. He hesitated, recognizing the theme from Cagney and Lacey. “Trix…music…Cagney and Lacey.” He choked on the words.

Trixie almost fell backwards. “Oh, shoot. That’s Erica. I have to take it.” She untangled herself and walked over to her desk, fumbled in her purse and pulled out a cell phone. “Dammit.”

“What?” She yelled sharply into the phone. “Oh, Captain. I’m sorry. I thought you were Erica. Oh, her phone. Yes. I’m home. But...Yes. You mean?”

Dan watched as she stood straighter and her tone changed. He walked over to her, knowing their evening together had ended.

“Of course. It may take a while. I need to …okay. I can take a cab…okay. Give me twenty, no, fifteen minutes since I need to dress. I’ll be downstairs in fifteen. Yessir. I know, sir.” Trixie clicked off her phone and turned around. She was grinning broadly.

“We got him. We got him, Dan.” She jumped into his arms. “They searched his apartment and found…ohmigod, Dan. Oh, Dan! It’s my first…” She kissed him soundly. “I need to get dressed. The Captain and Erica are on their way back. A squad car will be here in minutes and I…”

Trixie suddenly remembered that they had been interrupted. “Oh. Dan. I’m so sorry.”

They both laughed nervously.

“It’s probably for the best, Trix.” Dan only half believed what he was saying. “Your first time, it should be…I want it to be special. ”

“Oh, Dan, whispering Italian isn’t special?”

“That’s all the Italian I know, Trix. It wouldn’t go far. You need more than…”

“I guess it won’t be tonight.” She placed her hand against his jaw. “But when…”

Dan stepped back, making what seemed to be the most difficult step of his life. “Get dressed. You’ve got work to do.”

Dan was gone when Trixie came out of the bathroom, but she saw that there was a something written on one of the paper napkins they had tossed into the pizza box. Realizing she was still hungry, Trixie grabbed the napkin and a now cold slice of pizza, and hurried out the door.

Trixie was in the squad car sent to pick her up before it had completely stopped at the curb, still holding the pizza slice and note from Dan. She had pulled her hair tightly back from her face and carefully chosen a no-nonsense pants suit for when she confronted Gene Daly. The only hint of her excitement was the shine in her eyes and the tight grip she had on the napkin in her hand. She glanced at it and reread the note that Dan had left her.

“Next time, bella donna polizia.”

Trixie almost choked.

“You okay, Detective?” The driver looked over at her. ”I’m fine. Just eating too fast.”

Trixie looked back at the napkin.

Next time.

It was after midnight when Erica and the Captain came walking across the squad room. Trixie jumped from her chair ready to hear what they’d found in Albany, but the Captain shook his head and pointed to his office. Trixie followed them in and shut the door behind her.

“Sit down, Belden.”

“Can I get you something, Captain? Erica? I just made a pot of coffee.”

Erica shook her head.

“I’ve had too much caffeine.” The Captain hung his jacket on a hook and sat in his desk chair. “You were right, Belden. The MP is our perp here, upstate, and who knows how many other places or how many victims there are.” Captain Reilly shook his head in disgust. “He had a collection of trophies in that apartment. Most of it wouldn’t cause anyone to suspect. Who’s going to question a cop who collects antique night sticks? Who’s going to question locked file cabinets in his office? But those files are full of photos and news articles and… You wouldn’t believe what we found mixed in with paid bills, and innocent papers. The Highland Falls PD is working with the JAG to get into his office, but we have enough…They’ve already sworn out a warrant for the two crimes in Highland Falls. I’ve been on the phone to the DA and we should have one here by morning.”

“He’s not in custody? I thought you said…”

“He’s not in custody.”

“You said we got our man.”

“I don’t know what I said, I’m so exhausted. He’s on to us. Got a call at work this afternoon and left—it was just about the time we arrived at the PD in Highland Falls so someone was watching. No one has seen him since. Dammit. We were that close!” Captain Reilly held his thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “Dammit!”

Trixie slumped down in her seat. “Maybe I can…”

“The entire force will be looking for him, so I want the two of you to double check every possible friend, relative, enemy, anyone that he might contact or who might have some idea where he is. That’s personal visits whenever possible, otherwise phone calls. You,” he pointed to Trixie.” You will not be going off on your own. You will take your partner or another detective!”

“What? I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Trixie, among the things we found in that apartment were photographs of YOU. As we suspected, he’s been following you!” Erica spoke for the first time since walking in the squad room.

Trixie sat back up. “Of me?”

“He’s been following you, Trixie. Taking photos with a telescopic lens. He’s got you going into your apartment and…let’s just say some personal photos.”

“No one is babysitting you, but you need to be extra cautious. Meanwhile, you have plenty to do to put together our case against him, when he is caught.” The Captain began to list tasks for Trixie and Erica. Once he dismissed them and they stood to leave, he asked Trixie to stay.

“We’re all tired. I know you are too, Belden, so you should bunk here tonight.”

Trixie started to speak and he held his hand up. “You will be working ‘round the clock until I tell you that you are off. I’ll worry about overtime later. Just don’t forget. This Daly is smart.”

“But we’re smarter, Captain.”

The Captain laughed heartily. “You’re right about that, Belden.”

Trixie turned to leave. Hearing her cell phone ringing, she trotted over to her desk to answer it.

“Belden.” She was a bit out of breath.

“Trix. Should I not have called? You sound like you…”

Trixie sat down in her chair and bent over so that Erica might not hear. “I was walking towards my desk, so I jogged the rest of the way.”

“I, ah, I can’t sleep and I thought I’d check with you. About tonight, Trix.”

“I’m sorry we got interrupted.” Trixie spoke unemotionally, not wanting eavesdroppers. “I did grab a slice of pizza and a napkin on my way out.”

“Yeah. The napkin. The note. I, ah Trix, I meant, I called, I needed to call because there was something else I should have written on the napkin. Well, not written, but said. This isn’t, I mean, I should have said it earlier. Maybe I shouldn’t say it this way, but I don’t want to wait. I mean… I can’t sleep until I…”

“What is it Dan?” Trixie tried to keep her voice low, but she feared what Dan might be trying to say. Maybe she had been too bold. She did come on strong. She noticed Erica looking at her so she leaned down further. “Dan?”

“I love you. I love you, Trixie. I’ve never said that to anyone before but I need to say it now. Before we…before you. Trix, I love you.”

Trixie dropped the phone on the floor.

Patricia's Passages Bob-White Trilogy Index

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