“Trixie?” Dan could barely breathe, fearing that he’d made a huge mistake. He couldn’t deny his feelings, but he didn’t want to push Trixie too fast or too hard, either. When she didn’t respond, he became convinced that she must have hung up. She wasn’t ready to hear something so serious from him and he’d blown it big time. She had said that day they’d had lunch, right after he’d returned to New York, that she didn’t want to make a commitment to anything but her career. She’d told him in Charlottesville that she wasn’t waiting for marriage to have a relationship. And her behavior earlier that evening had confirmed that. Maybe she feared his confession meant he was pushing for a commitment from her; for a relationship that would stifle her own ambitions. He knew she wasn’t ready for marriage. Heck, neither was he. But he was certain that he loved her, he probably always had, and he had wanted her to know that.

Dan continued to stare at the phone, wondering what he should do. “Trix?”

“Dan? I’m sorry. I dropped the phone and then I wanted to step away from my desk to, um, continue.”

Dan sighed in relief. “Trix, I thought you’d hung up. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry? Sorry for what? You mean you don’t mean it? That you…? Dan, you don’t have to say that just because…I don’t want you to feel obligated or something. I told you I’m ready and it doesn’t mean you have to…”

“Oh no, Trixie. I meant it. Gosh, you don’t know how much I meant it. I just, you don’t…I realize it might be too soon and you...I’m not trying to force anything. I just want to be, to be honest about how I feel.”

“Maybe it is soon, but, Dan, I… Oh gee, there’s only one way to say this.” There was a long pause. “I’m falling in love with you.”

“Thank you, God.”

“Did you just thank God?” Trixie laughed nervously. “You may be too quick in thanking God. I’m not sure what we’re doing or where we’re going, but I’ve fallen… Dan, I wouldn’t…this evening wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t…it never…if I didn’t love you.”

“I know that, Trix.”

“Oh Dan, I’m in the locker room and people are going to wonder if I stay in here too long. Anyone can come in and this is too personal. I can’t do this on the phone. I want to see you. But I don’t know when I’ll get away from here. Maybe I’ll get some time over the weekend, although it looks like I’ll be missing Brian’s dinner on Saturday. But when I see you, I’m going to tell you in person. And…we’ll…okay?”

“We’ll work it out, Trix. And, Trix, I do love you.”

“I wish Moms hadn’t gone to so much work. She made that terrific dinner last night and homemade pastries this morning? I know she’s busy with school and all.” Brian poured a mug of coffee, and grabbed a large sweet roll before sitting down across from his father at the kitchen table.

Peter had made arrangements to go into the office late so he could go over some papers with Brian and, more importantly, to spend some time alone with his oldest son. Helen had left early that morning to get in some last minute studying in the library before an exam.

“She wanted to do this. She’s been so excited about your visit. She’s been burning up the phone lines for days, letting everyone know we’re serving fatted calf on Saturday. Mart and Diana will be here. Bobby’s planning to come down from Albany. I’m not sure about your sister. She’s in the middle of something but hopes to get here for dinner tomorrow. She promised your mother she’d come by sometime while you’re here, though.”

Brian chuckled. “Fatted calf? I know I don’t get home often, Dad, and I hope that will change. But I’m not quite the prodigal son.”

“Richmond. Your mother’s worried that we’ll see less of you now that you’re farther away.”

“I hope that won’t be the case. I’ll actually have more free time and definitely more flexibility once I get settled. It is further, but I might actually be able to afford to fly home. That would make visits a lot easier.”

Peter sat silently for a few moments. “And it’s final? Joyce isn’t going with you?”

Brian slumped a bit in his chair, incredulous that his father could still make him feel so small. “Joyce and I…she’s going to Nashville. She got a great position there and I… Dad, it was so good between us at first, but we always…medicine always came first. For both of us. We never gave our relationship the attention it needed. And when the outside pressure eased off…I realized , all we had, well…”

“All you had was great sex.”

“Dad!” Brian squirmed uncomfortably. Even at thirty and a doctor, he wasn’t comfortable discussing his sex life with his father.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. But it’s been obvious to me, and even Mart pointed it out.”

“You and Mart were talking about my sex life?”

“Brian. You’re old enough to know that your father understands sex. I also know that it takes much more than that to build a life together.

“Mart and I weren’t exactly talking about…about your sex life. Mart originally predicted that you’d stay with Joyce until you finished med school and go separate ways. When you both stayed on at Hopkins, he said it wouldn’t survive your residency. At first he was hoping you’d get back with Honey, but then…He never said anything specific, but he implied that your relationship with Joyce wasn’t anything more than sex. I think his words were that he saw ‘only insatiable animalistic attraction and no evidence of undeviating respect or pious affection’ I think is what he said.”

They both laughed, although Brian’s was more forced.

“It was more than sex, Dad. We really shared a lot, but it just wasn’t love. I think I always knew that, but was afraid to admit it.”

“I just hope you’ll remember that you’ve had two relationships that failed, and you rushed into both. You’re too old for me to tell you what to do, but I can ask that you be cautious the next time. No matter how certain you are, give it time to grow strong, deep roots before making any type of commitment with the next woman you, ah, meet. No matter how enticing she may be.”

Brian took the last bite of his roll and licked the icing from his fingers, saying nothing. He’d planned to tell his parents all about Debbie while he was home, but, obviously, he couldn’t. They’d never understand how he felt about her. Heck, he didn’t understand it.

“I think I’m going to get another sweet roll.” He stood up. “Can I get you one, Dad?”

A loud banging woke Trixie. She pulled the hard flat pillow over her head and tried to go back to sleep when the banging started again.

“Belden? You in there?”

Trixie tried to read the digital dial of her watch in the pitch dark. 8:45 a.m. She moaned. Less than two hours’ sleep.

“Yeah?”

“Captain wants you.”

“I’ll be right there.” She moaned as she rolled off the bunk. Her back was stiff, her head pounded and she could hear pieces of a heated conversation in the adjacent locker room, so she knew that two hours sleep would have to be enough to get her through the day. The so-called bunk room was actually an old storage room off the men’s locker room where they’d set up two sets of bunk beds. The metal bed frames were fumigated discards from the holding cells and rocked and creaked with each movement. She had no idea where the scratchy wool blankets or the thin, hard mattresses and pillows were from, but she had been assured that they were not second hand from the holding cells. The room had no windows, no ventilation, and the only light was from a fluorescent ceiling fixture. Officers avoided using it unless absolutely necessary, but when Trixie had stretched out after being awake for over twenty-four hours, she didn’t care how musty, dusty and miserable the accommodations. She had been so exhausted that she had fumbled across the room and fallen into the bed in total darkness. She now couldn’t see nor remember where the door was.

She sat up and hit her head on the frame above her. “Ouch! Dammit!” She rubbed her head.

“Belden? You okay?” One of the other detectives called through the door.

“I’ll be right there.” As soon as she spoke, Trixie realized she needed someone to open the door so she’d have some light.

“Hey, Mason! Can you open the door? Mason? Anyone?”

When no one responded, Trixie realized she was going to have to inch through the pitch black and hope she found the door without killing herself. “Sore back, no sleep, no one knows where Daly might be. At least the day can only get better.” Trixie slowly sidled towards where she thought the door might be. Finding the knob, she opened the door and stepped into blinding light. “Woman on the premises.” She did not need to surprise a male co-worker stepping out the shower.

Trixie washed her face, pulled her hair into a ponytail and hurried to her desk where Erica was waiting. Erica greeted Trixie with a grunt and she stood up.

“Any news?”

Erica shook her head. “A Deputy District Attorney is in the Captain’s office and several people from the Commissioner’s office are on their way. The Captain wants the two of us out of here.”

Trixie looked towards the Captain’s office, wishing she could hear what was being said. “Have you called Lauren Goodman? I was going to call the Dalys this morning.”

“We’re meeting Ms. Goodman at her office at 10:30,” Erica grabbed her jacket and slipped her arms into it. “But we need to get out of here, now. The Captain is totally PO’d that Daly got warned and he’s PO’d that we couldn’t get an arrest warrant sooner. You and I got a couple hours sleep when he’s had none, so he’s probably PO’d about that. And based on the sounds that have been coming out of his office, his meeting with the DDA isn’t going well, so he’ll be PO’d about that. I’m sure that he’ll be even jollier once the lackeys from One Police Plaza get here. We’d be smart to heed his warning and to stay out of here as long as possible.”

“So I guess a shower is out of the question?” Trixie threw several files into her satchel and grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair . “And the Dalys?”

“You’re kidding aren’t you?” Erica stopped and turned around. Seeing that Trixie was right at her heels she laughed. “Use your cell phone to call the Dalys.”

“Brian! I didn’t expect to see you until tomorrow!” Jim stepped into the reception area and grabbed Brian’s offered hand with both of his. “How long has it been?”

“Too long. I have some time and I thought I’d take a chance and see if you can break for lunch.”

“Is the school cafeteria okay?”

“You forget we used to work in there.” Brian held up the large paper bag in his other hand. “Wimpy’s looks and smells exactly the same, so I thought I’d check to see if the hamburgers are still as good.”

“Wimpy’s still has the best burgers in town. Other than you mother’s of course.” Jim turned to his secretary. “Miss Short, this is Brian Belden... Doctor Brian Belden. We graduated together from Sleepyside and he’s now a pediatric oncologist.”

Brian reached across the desk and shook hands with the woman. “Are you related to the lady who worked for Mr. Valotto?”

“I was Mr. Valotto’s secretary the entire time he was here and I worked for Mr. Todd before him. I do recall you and your siblings, Dr. Belden.”

“Fortunately, I was never sent to Mr. Valotto for discipline.” Brian offered his most beguiling smile.

“Humph. I think some of your siblings were familiar to him. Especially that sister of yours.” Miss Short turned her attention to her computer keyboard.

Jim directed Brian into his office and shut the door. The two young men could barely control their laughter.

“Is she always so pleasant?” Brian followed Jim over to the small table in the corner and set down the bag from Wimpy’s. “I recall students feared her more than Old Man Valotto, but…geesh!”

“Miss Short is indispensable. I mean that. But she is very set in her ways.” Jim took Brian’s coat and walked over to a small closet. He hung up the jacket and opened the door of a small refrigerator inside. “Diet Coke, Orange Juice or water?”

“Water is fine. I got cheeseburgers with the works and fries. Hope that’s okay.”

Jim handed Brian the bottle of water as he sat down. “So, Richmond?”

“The Medical College of Virginia has an excellent pediatric oncology program and there will be significant expansion over the next few years. I’m getting in at the perfect time. And Richmond is a beautiful city.”

“There was nothing closer to home?”

“Nothing of that caliber. But I’m going to be watching Sloan Kettering. There’ve been rumors that they want to expand their pediatrics research.” Brian shrugged and took a bite of his burger.

“I guess you heard that Aggie and I have set a date.”

Brian swallowed. “No. When?”

“December. We’ll be taking an eight-day cruise and getting married in the Turks and Caicos Islands."

“Wow! Honey and your parents? Will they be there?”

Jim explained how he and Aggie had broken the news to his mother and her reaction. He explained how he and Honey were keeping their mother from becoming too involved by working it that when she got upset with Jim and his elopement, he would mention Honey’s lack of any wedding plans and when she nagged Honey about her spinsterhood, she’d remind their mother that Jim was eloping.

“So when are you and Joyce tying the knot?”

“She’s going to Nashville. She’ll be teaching at Vanderbilt. It’s over between us.”

They ate in silence for several minutes. “I’m involved with someone else,” Brian finally shared. “A nurse at Hopkins named Debbie. Debbie Comer.”

And Brian shared his feelings with his closest friend.

“So, you got hit by the thunder bolt? Not much you can do about that, except go for it.”

Brian smiled in relief. “The thunderbolt? From the Godfather! Yeah, that’s exactly what it is. Exactly.” He sat back in the chair. The one person he hoped would understand actually did. “Thunderbolt.”

Honey glanced at the clock on the wall. Five minutes past five. She almost never left work this early, but it was Friday and she wanted to go home and change before meeting Barry for dinner. She turned off her computer and locked her files. Her desk phone rang just as she was putting on her coat. She hesitated, but, seeing it was on the direct line, she knew it was most likely a personal call, so she grabbed the phone.

“Madeleine Wheeler.”

“Hello, Ms. Wheeler. Are you on your way to Sleepyside?”

“Diana! How are you? No, I wasn’t planning to…”

“You’re not going? It will be the first opportunity for all seven of the Bobwhites to be together in years and years. You have to go.”

“I…I wasn’t planning to, Di. It sounded like it would be family and…” Honey sat in the desk chair.

“No, it’s all the BWG’s. Moms is going all-out and… Oh, Honey, it won’t feel right if you’re not there. “

“It’s so far to drive and…”

“You’re closer than we are and we’re traveling with an infant! If you bring Barry, you can share the driving. And Mart would love to see Barry, you know that.” Mart and Barry had been roommates as undergrads at Ohio State. “And Katie would love to see her godmother.”

“I’m not Katie’s godmother.”

“Maybe not yet, but you will be, come Thanksgiving. The baptism is Thanksgiving weekend. You haven’t forgotten have you? You and Trixie will be godmothers. Brian and Bobby will be…”

“I haven’t forgotten. I tell you what, I’ll talk to Barry and we’ll make a decision tonight. How’s that?”

“I’ll be expecting your call, Ms. Wheeler. Now, how are things with you and Barry? Have you heard about the job in Virginia? Yes, Trixie told me. And have you heard from Trixie? Mart was having a fit last weekend…”

Honey sat back in the chair to enjoy her friend’s chatter, realizing how desperately she needed a weekend with the best friends in the whole world.

Trixie and Erika spent the rest of the day out of the office. Their meeting with Lauren Goodman had succeeded in only upsetting a very nice lady, confirming fears that the father of her child was an evil man; one who most likely had murdered her best friend, duped her into marrying him, and was responsible for the deaths of many other young women. She was only able to confirm that he was a loner with no friends, and was estranged from his parents. Despite her assurances that she would notify them immediately if she heard from him, they requested that a watch be placed on her apartment; for her safety if nothing else. The telephone call to the elder Dalys was even more unproductive. They had not and did not expect to hear from their son.

Trixie and Erica re-interviewed neighbors of Ms. Goodman, as well as neighbors and potential witnesses to each of the crimes. They tried to identify anyone else they thought might know something that would help them find Gene Daly. All of these people had been interviewed before, had seen nothing since, and the detectives had learned nothing new. They had spoken to Chief Robinson in Highland Falls who was having no better success than they. He did share that the call to Sgt. Daly that tipped him off and sent him fleeing was from an elderly neighbor who had called to ask him why so many police officers were rummaging through his apartment.

Erica parked the car in the lot behind the police station and headed straight up to the Detective Squad Room. Trixie took a detour to the basement vending machines to get something to eat and Erica was already sitting in the Captain’s office when she got upstairs, so she quickly joined them.

“Sit down, Belden! Kane was just telling me you didn’t learn anything new.”

Trixie quickly dropped into a chair. “He’s here. In the city. I feel it, Captain.”

“Unfortunately, Belden, we don’t work on feelings. Unless those feelings are telling you exactly where he might be.”

“No sir. But he can lose himself more easily here than in Highland Falls, and I don’t think he’s going to go very far from his daughter. Our best hope is that he tries to see her, so we have a watch on the ex’s house.”

The Captain nodded his approval. “We have an arrest warrant, but the DDA thinks we need stronger evidence to ensure convictions. You two are going to have your hands full.” He looked at his watch. “I’m heading home and I want the two of you do the same.”

“You said...”

“I know what I said, Belden, but this is going to take longer than I want, and I need for the two of you to be at your best. I think a good night’s sleep in a real bed will benefit us all. We’ll be meeting with Sergeant Conners and some representatives from the Commissioner’s staff at 7:00 am tomorrow. And, yes, I met with Conners and some others today, and, while the Commissioner is not happy that we took off unauthorized, we’ll be forgiven if we nab Daly. So we need to find the SOB.

“Now, I’ve got a car waiting to take you home.”

“I told you I don’t need babysitters,” Trixie started to object, but the Captain ignored her.

“You’re too tired to drive or manage the subway system. I’ll have a car at Belden’s at 6:30 sharp tomorrow. It will then go to your home, Kane, and bring the two of you back here! Good night ladies!”

Trixie and Erica left the office to find a uniformed patrolman sitting at Erica’s desk. “I am exhausted. Let’s go.” Erica nodded to the young officer as she grabbed her coat from where she had tossed it, and he led her through the squad room. Trixie hesitated, glancing at her vending machine purchases, and decided that even the canned soup she had at home would be better than stale crackers and diet soda. She followed them out of the office.

The patrolman’s partner was waiting for them in a marked car and the two women climbed into the back. Trixie was just starting to nod off when her cell phone began playing the theme from West Side Story. She immediately grabbed it. “Hello?” She didn’t want the others to know who was calling, knowing the ring tone was fodder enough for teasing.

“Hey Trix. I was just checking to see how you’re doing. I know you’re busy, but I’m leaving the office and I thought I might see if I can bring you something to eat.”

“I got a few hours sleep in the bunk room. I’m heading home, now, to try to catch a couple hours more.”

“Where are you? It sounds like a police radio in the background.”

“I’m rating chauffeur service. Got a lift home with two uniforms.” Trixie glanced at her watch. It wasn’t even 9:00, but felt much later. “I’m filthy, exhausted, and all I’ve eaten all day are two burritos. I don’t know when I’ll be free again. How about grabbing something and meeting me at my place? I can’t promise I’ll be much company, but I could sure use some nourishment other than canned soup, and that’s about all I have at home.”

“You don’t have to say anything more. I’m on my way. And, Trix, I …I know you need your rest. We’ll eat and I’ll be out of there.”

“See you in just a few.” Trixie flipped the phone shut and steeled herself for ribbing from the others in the car. Erica’s head was tilted back on the seat and her eyes were closed. If she weren’t asleep, she was pretending to be. The two officers in the front seat appeared to be oblivious to her call. Trixie placed the phone in her purse, leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

“Detective?” The young officer riding shotgun had opened the car door and was tapping Trixie’s shoulder. “Detective? Is this where you live?”

Trixie woke up with a jerk. “Huh? Where’s Erica?”

“We dropped her off earlier.”

Trixie shook her head, trying to clear her mind. She’d slept right trough Erica’s getting out of the car. “This is it. Thank you.”

“Good night, Detective, we’ll see you around.”

Trixie got out of the car and climbed the few steps to the building’s entrance, still trying to shake the cobwebs from her mind. As she entered the building she watched the marked car pull away and the driver lift his hand to acknowledge the two men sitting in a dark Crown Victoria halfway up the block. “Babysitters! What a waste of taxpayer money,” she mumbled to herself.

She checked her mail and headed up the stairs, still mumbling about the babysitters. She was considering going back down to tell them to leave when she got to her apartment door. Not only did she not need them, she thought, but she did not want them recognizing Dan when he arrived. She knew it was crazy to invite Dan over. She should eat whatever she had in her cupboard and go directly to bed. But she wanted to tell him how she felt, and not on the phone. She was practicing what she would say and how as she unlocked the door to her apartment.

“Adante.” She could almost hear Dan murmuring the words as she stepped in and reached for the switch. The light didn’t come on.

“Darn,” she mumbled as she started across the room to turn on the lamp on her desk.

Just as she stepped inside, she caught sight of a movement to her left. “What the…” Realizing what it was, she turned and jumped away just as she felt a searing pain in her shoulder. She hit the floor and rolled across the room, landing against her desk in front of the window. In one smooth movement, she managed to pull her Glock from its holster, steady the weapon, and take aim at the dark form, silhouetted in the hall light, coming towards her. She pulled the trigger.

Trixie Belden had a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice from the best college program in the country. She had graduated at the top of her class at the New York City Police Academy. She had aced every test and training program the department had offered her. She had trained and practiced using multiple kinds of weapons in every imaginable scenario. She had spent countless hours on the shooting range, ensuring she was one of the best marksmen in the city. She was one of the youngest officers to ever make detective. She had received certificates and citations. She had a lifetime of experience, both formal and informal, preparing her for a career in law enforcement. But nothing had prepared her for this moment.

She had shot a human being.

Patricia's Passages Bob-White Trilogy Index

This is an unauthorized fan site and is not affiliated with Random House in any way. No profit is being made from these pages.