Chapter 22

Patrick lay propped on his side when the others arrived, Rhonda snuggled against his chest. None of the others gave them a second glance. Cora was lying on the couch with Dade sitting by her head. Lengthy, long-distant communications were exhausting. He was pleasantly surprised the two women managed as long as they did. He felt pride as well, but then again, this group constantly made him feel proud and humble, just by being among them as their friend.

Lass you need to at least roll over and join the happy group.

She snuggled closer to him. But I’m so damn comfortable, Pat, and relaxed, it’s been a long time. Despite her words to him, she wiggled around and slowly moved to her other side. Cora grinned over at her from her place on the couch. “Hey,” she whispered.

Everyone waved or smiled at her. Tara got up and went to pour her a cup of tea. She came over and set it on the table by the bed, then went back and sat down.

Kasey came out of the kitchen and bounced to the bed. She sat on the edge and leaned down to give Rhonda a kiss on the cheek. She smiled at Patrick and whispered, “Chris saw some things in Walt’s mind. He wants to discuss them with you privately, first.” Patrick inclined his head in a casual motion.

Rhonda giggled. “My arms are like lead, Kase, give me a hand up?”

Kasey stood up and reached down and pulled her hand gently. “Dade had to carry Cora to the van.” She grinned. “But it’s great you got to see everything.”

Dexter walked over and set a gym bag beside the bed. He grinned down at Patrick. “A few trinkets from home.”

Patrick extended a hand requesting help to his feet. “Appreciate it.” He smirked once he was upright. “I’ve been feelin’ naked without them.”

“Thought as much.” Dex inclined his head towards the kitchen. “Chris and I have been waiting for you to be up again.”

“Right behind you.” He glanced back down to Rhonda sitting on the bed. “Drink your tea.”

As they walked by Tara she stood up and glared at Dexter. “Are you crazy?”

Dexter paused and looked down at her. “What?”

“You stood there with that man pointing a gun at your chest and didn’t even flinch.”

He grinned down at her. Shaking his head, he reached down and lifted the edge of his shirt up exposing the vest he wore. “I’m not an amateur, Tara, but thanks for the concern.”

She frowned. “Oh.” Then she sat back down.

He pulled his shirt back into place and walked into the kitchen chuckling quietly to himself.

Chris nodded at Patrick and knew better than to make small talk. “I didn’t get much Pat, but something we can at least try to follow.”

Patrick eased down into the chair. “Anything is better than what we’ve had so far.”

“Well I know it’s a hotel, but I didn’t get a glimpse of the name on the sign.” He paused for a moment. “Is Rhonda able to draw again?”

Patrick nodded. “Almost as well as she could before.” His eyes widened. “Ah, I see where you’re going.” Lass, we need your hand at sketching.

Give me two minutes to go get my stuff.

He winked at Chris. “She’ll be here in a few.”

“I envy that, Patrick.” Chris grinned at him. “Although Kasey knows everything before I do half the time, so maybe I don’t.” The three men laughed.

Rhonda walked in with a sketchpad and a few pencils. “Just give me a broad outline before I start, Chris, so I can be sure to leave enough space.”

He pulled out the chair for her to sit down. “It’s a hotel, kind of run down, one of those strip layouts.”

She nodded.

“I saw more of the surroundings then I did anything else, a large factory looming behind it with smoke stacks.” She opened the book and picked up the pencil. “The sign was on an angle, so I couldn’t make out the words on it but it was a long diamond shape.”

Patrick and Dexter sat back, not speaking for the next half hour, as Rhonda sketched, erased, and changed things while Chris described what he saw. A few of the others would come in and take a look, or get something from a cupboard or the fridge, but no one spoke to disturb the conversation.

“That’s it.” Chris sat back and looked at the sketch he held. “Exactly.” He smiled at her, then handed the pad to Patrick.

Patrick glanced at it then to Rhonda. “You’re amazing.” He whispered then looked back down at the pad he held. It set off something in him. He’d seen it with his own eyes somewhere. The where was lost to him. “I’ve been here.” He focused on the picture again. “I just can’t place it.” He frowned and looked at the factory. He knew it was red brick, but where?

The doorbell ringing made Dexter jump to his feet and Patrick’s head jerk toward the living room. “Stay.” Was all Dexter said, as he bolted out of the kitchen.

Chris rose and stood between the table and doorway, after the night they’d had he wasn’t in the mood for surprises.

“What?” The sound of Dexter’s loud voice made him turn and quickly and pull Patrick to his feet. Without seeing if he had his balance he let go and went through the door.

Patrick and Rhonda rushed as fast as he could move into the other room. The Captain stood in front of the closed front door. Dexter stood in front of him with hands on his hips and head hung down. Patrick didn’t need to hear the man to know he was cursing under his breath.

“Detective…” The Captain began slowly.

He didn’t need to be a mind reader or have any magical ability at all to know he wasn’t going to like this. “Walt?” The Captain grimaced. “When?”

“Just now.”

“Shit.” Patrick spat and turned to look at the worried faces of everyone else in the room. He turned his head back to the Captain. “He’s seen them all.” The Captain nodded.

Steven stood up pulling Rachel with him. “He’s gone?” He looked over at Dexter still standing there looking pissed right off then back to the Captain. “How? We gave him to you in hand cuffs.”

The Captain sighed and looked around the room. “We’re not sure, the one officer stopped to check on someone who had gone in the ditch and left one of our new rookies in the car…”

“You sent him off with a fledgling?” Patrick’s voice was much louder than they’d heard since his shooting. Rhonda turned and placed her hand on his chest lightly. He glanced down at her worried look. “I’m not going to forget to breathe, I’m just…astonished.”

Dexter rubbed a hand across his forehead and looked back at the Captain. “He got a clear look at all the women, Chris, Doc, Dade and me. Names were mentioned…” He shook his head and threw up his hands. “We may as well have handed him an engraved invitation.”

The Captain undid his jacket and stood there looking at them sheepishly. He glanced at Patrick again. “I don’t have a choice.”

Patrick clenched his jaw. “Where?”

The Captain looked around the living room.

Patrick snorted. “You want to confine sixteen people to this house?” He heard the gasps and knew not one person was happy with that. “How the bloody hell do you expect us to function trapped in one house for an unknown amount of time?”

The Captain raised his hands. “I can’t chance moving anyone, especially at night.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I can get you some food and cots or anything else you need…”

“What about our jobs and other obligations?” Chris stood with Kasey in his arms.

Captain Bentley blew out a long breath. “I don’t have enough men to let you all wander around. I can’t cover all of you unless you stay here.”

Leena stood up. “Four of us here all work at the same place, Captain Bentley, are we to just call and have them close an entire factory because of this?” She looked over at the others. “Because without us, that’s what will happen.”

“A pay loss is better than a life, Mrs. Grey.” He glanced at her belly then back to her face. “From the accounts of Mr. Tringali, Walt Lewis will be a little more than upset with all of you ladies.”

Owen wrapped his arms around her and rested his hands protectively over her belly. “He’s right, baby.” He whispered to her softly. She turned and buried her head against his shoulder.

Steven looked down at his wife and the way she held her hands over her stomach. “I’d rather face a bit of time stuck in each other’s faces than to lose anyone here.” Rachel looked up at him and the light in her dark eyes told him she agreed with him completely.

“Absolutely.” Gwen stood up beside Justin.

“He’s right.” Kasey whispered then looked at Jean.

She reluctantly nodded but stood up. “I’ll have to make several phone calls, but I’ll stay.”

Kevin seemed relieved to hear that. He leaned back against the wall looked over at Patrick. “I’ll stay.”

Cora leaned against Dade and looked at the Captain. “No one here will be eating garbage from a can or box Captain, I’ll make a list of supplies and food we’ll need.” The Captain just nodded.

A few hours later the entire group was completely exhausted, again. The men had done all they could to make the house seem large enough. Patrick insisted on moving up into Rhonda’s room with her, giving Gwen and Justin the bed downstairs.

Dexter took the couch and Kevin a cot in the living room.

Tara and Jean agreed to share the smaller room upstairs, that way Tara was close if Patrick needed her.

Steven and Chris floated things from here to there and rearranged the basement, which Dade never completely finished, into an area large enough to hold four inflatable beds.

Standing back Steven shook his head. There was no sense of privacy whatsoever. He grimaced at Owen and shook his head. “One day and they’re going to be inconsolable.”

Owen stuffed his hands in his pockets and nodded. “Yup.”

Kasey came down the stairs and flew past both of them. Trailing along behind her was orange plastic. She grinned over at them.

“I can’t reach.” She held the tarp up towards the ceiling.

Steven went over to grab the one end. “Where did you find these?”

She grinned. “Dade went into the garage and found them. He said we could have some sort of dividers down here, at least.” She handed the stapler to Owen. “I think it’s a brilliant idea.”

Owen winked at Steven. “Two days.” Steven rolled his eyes but nodded.