A New Day Dawns

By Kelly J. Batten

Jimmy Pritchard was lying in his bed. He was slowly waking up when a beautiful young woman with auburn red hair and a milky white complexion came in to get under the covers with him. She snuggled up against him and whispered in his ear, "Good Morning My Love."

Jimmy turned to her and smiled and said, "Good Morning my Rosie."

She smiled back and said, "It's almost afternoon but I wanted to let you sleep. You had a much later shift than usual."

Jimmy nodded and said, "I did. I had to make two arrests last night and so the paperwork had to be done for processing before I came home. I would have called but I knew you'd be asleep."

She was still smiling and said, "I don't care what our parents said, marrying you was the happiest day of my life."

Jimmy pulled her on top of him and said, "Good 'cuz it was the happiest day of my life too." They passionately kissed.

She then pulled away and said, "Jimmy we've got that spare room that we've just been using for storage. I'd like to use it for something else."

Jimmy ran his hand through her long hair and said, "Sure, what have you got in mind?"

"How would you feel about a baby's room?"

Jimmy's eyes got wide and said, "Are you? Are we?"

Rosie started to laugh and said, "Yes, I am and yes we are! We're going to have a baby in about seven months."

Jimmy started laughing and said, "This is fantastic news. Maybe our parents will finally get over our getting married. I can't believe it, we're going to be parents. Do you think it's a boy or a girl?"

"Uh yeah…" She then started laughing and he laughed with her.

He rolled her over to kiss her when he heard an older gruff voice say, "What are you doing kid?"

He stopped kissing Rosie and he looked over to the doorway and he realized he was back in his old apartment, the final apartment before he died and was replicated in Mary Goodwin's basement and there was his older self standing in the door way.

He then looked at Rosie and she shrugged and said, "You know, I just realized something Jimmy. You don't look like my Jimmy."

She started to get up and Jimmy grabbed her and said, "Rosie don't go, it's me. Let me have this time with you again. We were so happy in this time and this place."

She looked at him sadly and said, "Jimmy time moves forward and so do you. You have to move forward."

"How can I? Mary left…Alexa is dead…Duval wants me to stay away…Gracie and Helen both now think I'm dead as does the rest of the FBI. I found some old friends in a retirement community but I can't tell them who I actually am. They only know me as Jimmy Pritchard's bastard son. The only thing I have to look forward to are my card games and even that's starting to bore me. So tell me Rosie, why should I move forward? What is there for me?"

Rosie got out of bed and stood next to Jimmy's older self and he said, "Listen, we didn't ask for this but, you know it's a gift. You and Duval got closer than you had ever been in your life. Don't throw it away. Duval always goes for the safe route. You know that. Go back to him and to the rest of them."

"Jimmy do you remember what I said to you when you died and we met at the swimming hole?"

"Yes, I do."

"So what are waiting for?"

The older Jimmy spoke again and said, "Look Kid, Mary will be back. You know she loves you. So do Helen, Gracie and Duval. You know Duval needs you too. Rosie told you that…now wake up and get out of the tank. Get out of the tank Jimmy! Start living again!"

Jimmy heard an alarm go off to indicate that the regeneration process was complete. He slowly opened his eyes in the tank and then brought his head above the water.

He got out and headed to the shower and then dried off and got dressed as usual.

He looked around Mary's house and it was so empty. It had been for the past four months. Mary had abruptly left one year ago. She left the house for him and Alexa to use.

Alexa had managed to undo the damage she had caused. With the help of all of the computer geeks who work for Lookinglass, they were able to get Arthur back online with the instructions Otto left Mary and Lookinglass managed to start recouping their losses after Otto had unceremoniously taken the entire system offline.

It had nearly cost Jimmy his life. Jimmy got a reprieve after Arthur was programmed to come back online for Alexa's tank in the nick of time.

All seemed well. He and Alexa were getting along fine. Once the dust had settled, Alexa had explained to him that her husband George who was about to turn 85 had committed suicide, in fact he even attended George's funeral with her. She explained to their children and grandchildren that she was George's caretaker at the end and that Jimmy was her brother. She told them her name was Alexandra and everyone called her Alex. While they thought it was an interesting coincidence no one gave it a second thought. They were just heartbroken that their father and grandfather had committed suicide. Alexa was also heartbroken. She cried almost uncontrollably at the funeral. Her children told her not to grieve so as they knew their father and grandfather had suffered and was now in a better place. They were perplexed that he would commit suicide in such a violent manner. She wanted so much to hold them and tell them who she was.

However, she could not explain to them that he committed suicide because of her and her grandiose plans. She had lost her husband and she lost her family as well. She knew they could never know who she really was.

She explained the entire story to Jimmy. She had been promised that George could be regenerated. He had been suffering greatly from Parkinson's disease. She could not see the forest from the trees and that she could not imagine that anyone could get hurt.

When she found out that Gracie had been kidnapped and George found out, he told her she had to end this. She had refused as the second chance somehow justified it. He left her a note explaining that he would not be a party to anything like that nor would he allow himself to benefit from the experimentation on a young girl. He had doused himself with gasoline and lit himself on fire. She felt so much guilt over it. Her selfishness caused the man she had loved her entire life to commit suicide and it almost cost the lives of Jimmy and Gracie in the process as well.

While Jimmy was infuriated at Alexa's part in the kidnapping of his granddaughter, he realized she was desperate to have another chance at life with her husband so she was easy to manipulate by Connor Graff. In the end, she did her best to set things right and she helped him and Duval in rescuing Gracie which included taking a bullet. She delayed her regeneration to heal herself so that Jimmy could live.

They became friends to a certain degree. Jimmy knew in his heart that he could never fully trust her for what she did. They did have much in common though. Alexa was only seven years older than him so she could relate to pretty much anything he brought up in the past 75 years of his life.

However, there was Albert Lin. He was Otto's first try at regeneration and he was a failure and he had discarded him as he did Alexa, his second try….only to be finished by Graff who had much more sinister ideas for Otto's work. In the final analysis, Albert became violent and killed innocent people.

Alexa started to realize that she too was exhibiting violent tendencies. She lost her temper over simple things. One night for no explicable reason she came into Jimmy's room and attacked him with a knife. Jimmy knew she would have killed him if she could have. Jimmy was able to overpower her and get her to calm down.

She realized what was happening. She told Jimmy this had to end before she harmed someone. Jimmy had relayed this information to Mary and she began to weep. She told Jimmy the reason she had been away for so long was because she was trying to find a cure for it. She had hoped she could find someone to help before either of them displayed violent tendencies.

She wanted to talk with Alexa and Jimmy told her that she could not. Alexa bought a gun and she committed suicide with it in the same place George had committed suicide. He had tried to talk her out of doing it as she had children and grandchildren in another state. She refused as they still believed that she was dead and it was better this way. She wanted to be with George.

Jimmy drove her to the site where George had committed suicide and at her request stayed in the bushes and watched her do it. He then made an anonymous phone call to the police and drove off. Forty-eight hours later he went to the morgue and identified Alexa's body and told them he was her roommate and she had no other family. They released to him Alexa's remains without question and he had her sent to be cremated. Again at Alexa's request, he scattered her ashes in Lake Washington where she and George had both committed suicide.

Jimmy grieved as did Mary. Mary promised that she would find someone to help him. While Jimmy had not had any symptoms he feared that he would lose himself as Albert and Alexa did.

As the past four months had been lonely, he decided to reconnect with people. He found himself going to the retirement communities and hanging out with older people. There were two of his retired friends from the force living in one and they were thoroughly amused to find out that Jimmy Pritchard had an illegitimate son who enjoyed talking about the force and playing poker and drinking. How Jimmy wanted to tell them who he really was but he knew that was a form of suicide right there. No, he'd have to be content to choose his words and memories carefully as they were not Jimmy Jr's memories but officially dead Jimmy Sr's memories.

Then there was Mary. She had told him that she loved him in twin speak. He wanted to say it back. He wasn't sure if he should. There was much to consider…he at that time was on the brink of death for one thing. In some respects life was easier when he looked 75. He paid his favorite call girl Bettina to come and entertain him once a week and there was no obligation and no responsibility.

Mary was also 45 years his junior. She always seemed older to him though. He recalled how his Rosie said in marriage counseling years ago that Jimmy acted like a twenty year old in a fifty year old body. He couldn't help but wonder if that was the key. He and Mary had met somewhere in the middle of maturity and immaturity. Duval had certainly noticed that there was something there and he actually appeared to approve. Jimmy missed his family more than he ever imagined he would.

His dream this morning convinced him of that. He missed them so much at times, it was almost too much to bear. It was especially rough when the holidays came. He knew what they were doing and he couldn't take part in any of it. His older self in the dream and Rosie were right.

He made up his mind. He was going to re-establish contact with his family. If he was destined to go the way of Albert and Alexa he wanted to at least have this time however brief it might be with his family.

He walked to the computer and said, "Arthur, can you access FBI records for Duval Pritchard here in Seattle?"

"Of course Jimmy, what specifically are you looking for?"

"I need his statement to them after we rescued Gracie."

"Accessing…here it is, it was digitally video recorded if you would like to see him or I can just show you the transcript."

"Show me the recording of it."

"Here you go Jimmy."

At that moment, Jimmy saw his son's face on the screen. The son who he knew he had let down so many times over the years and a relationship that never quite got right. Even when he came back from the dead, Duval still had his issues with him until the very end when he said good-bye to him. Jimmy told him they kicked some ass together. Duval responded by saying "I love you too." It was the best moment of Jimmy's life and the saddest moment as well.

Arthur started playing it.

An unknown male voice said, "Can you state your name for the record."

"Duval Pritchard."

"Agent Pritchard, can you start from the beginning of this? You had some pretty serious charges here. You forged a search warrant, you beat up a suspect in his office, you claimed that your brother was your father and justified all of this by saying your daughter was kidnapped which she was but, at that time everyone just thought she had run away. Your direct supervisor has dropped all of the charges in light of what we found at the warehouse but can you fill in some of the other blanks for us?"

"What do you want to know?"

"Agent Pritchard, you have people here who are worried about your mental capacity to continue with the FBI. Can you explain all of that stuff with your father and your brother?"

"I'd be glad to. First of all, I want to apologize. I acted totally on emotion. Had I stepped back and simply shown Adair my phone with Gracie's distress call where she was screaming and then her text giving the name of Graff, I think things would have gone a little smoother. I was thinking at that moment like a father and not an FBI agent like I should have."

"OK that's understandable, however, I'm still supposed to assess your mental well-being. You made comments about your father and pointed to your brother and said he was your father. Can you explain that?"

Duval gave an embarrassed laugh and kind of smiled and said, "I lost my father about six months ago and shortly after that, my half-brother who I didn't know existed came into my life and became my confidential informant. He had the same name and a lot of the same temperament as my dad. When I said my father I meant to say my brother. With Gracie being kidnapped, and nobody believing me, I jumbled a few facts together. The reality of what I said didn't hit me until I was in the squad car. I was really upset. As you know I lost my wife over a year ago and then ten months later I lose my dad and now I was about to lose my daughter."

"Well nobody can say that you haven't had a lot of grief. You're leaving out the fact that you have now lost that brother."

Duval nodded affirmatively and said, "Yes, I have lost that brother. He jumped on the plane as it taxied for take-off and he ended up with the same fate as Otto and Graff."

"I'm sorry."

"Thank you."

"Well, Agent Pritchard, I think this clears everything up. If you feel like you're good for returning to duty, then I see no reason not to clear you. I hope your daughter is all right."

Duval looked a little uneasy at that. "Gracie is fine physically but I think she's got a long road ahead before she can trust someone again. She's also very upset at losing her Uncle Jimmy. She was just getting used to having an uncle after she had lost a mother and a grandfather."

"Well, she's got a pretty devoted dad so I think she'll be all right in time."

"Thanks…I hope so."

The interview ceased and Jimmy knew what he had to do.

"Arthur, I know Mary had you invent a past for me, putting my year of birth at 1983. She also was able to give me quite a paper history as well. Can we invent me going into the Witness Protection Program?"

"It will take a few firewalls to break through to make it happen Jimmy but I believe I can do it. "

"Make it happen then. It's time Jimmy Pritchard went back to his family and this time I want them all to know the truth."

"Will do Jimmy."

"Can you tell me if Adair is still Duval's boss?"

"Searching…no Agent Adair transferred to the Atlanta office. His new direct supervisor is Agent McCaffrey."

Jimmy raised his eyebrows and said, "What's Agent McCaffrey's first name?"

"Her full name is Paula Michelle McCaffrey. Jimmy do you want me to do a search on her?"

"Yeah, what do you have?"

"Here is her current picture with the FBI." Jimmy saw the woman's face come up on the screen and he looked at it with recognition.

"What do you know about her?"

"She started with the FBI in 1998 in the Portland Oregon office. She initially started working forgeries and check kiting. She eventually worked her way into violent crimes and became well known for working cases that involved bank robberies and homicides. It also indicates that she's done a little bit of undercover work when the case required it. She was a team leader for the past three years and when this position opened she applied for it and got it. Is there anything else you need to know about her?"

"No, it's fine…ah…I'll go in and meet her once we have my story set up."

One week later, Jimmy had his credentials in his hand and he made his way to the FBI offices where Duval worked. He had Arthur find out where Duval was and luckily Duval was conveniently out of town. Evidently, Duval decided a family vacation with Gracie and Helen was in order and they had been at Yellowstone Park leaving Jimmy a big window of time to get back in with Duval's boss.

He walked into the offices and walked to his boss's office and he saw Paula McCaffrey sitting there looking intently at her computer screen.

She looked up at him and smiled. She had short dark hair and dark eyes. His stomach got very nervous at that moment.

She stood up and said, "Hello, can I help you?"

Jimmy was dumbfounded but for only a moment and said, "Yes, are you Duval Pritchard's supervisor?"

She looked at him quizzically and said, "Yes, I am, I just started two weeks ago. He's currently out of the office and hasn't met me yet. Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes, can I sit down?"

She nodded her approval and said, "Of course, my name is Paula McCaffrey. I take it from your reaction to me that you knew my predecessor Mr.….?"

"Pritchard….Jimmy Pritchard." They both sat down and Jimmy said, "Yes, where is Agent Adair? I always liked her."

She got a momentary look of surprise on her face and then one of confusion. "She wanted to be closer to family and a position opened in another office. Mr. Pritchard, I read Duval's report and it indicated that you were dead."

"You read the report?"

"I try to make a point of getting to know as much about the people under me as possible. I read a good many reports from all of the agent's cases that they worked on. The deputy director told me that you were instrumental in helping on a good number of cases Duval worked."

"I see, well, I wasn't actually dead."

"Obviously Mr. Pritchard…so what exactly happened?"

"I went into Witness Protection." She looked confused and clearly wanted more information.

"May I ask why you felt that you needed to do that?"

"My niece was kidnapped by Connor Graff because she had a certain genetic component that they were trying to isolate and reproduce. The guy was the next best thing to a mad scientist… I also carry that component to more of an extent than Gracie does. Duval thought it best if I disappear for a while for my own protection. I have since concluded that I think I'm reasonably safe and I miss my brother Duval, my niece Gracie and my sister Helen. They've had a lot to deal with over the last two years. Duval's wife Madeline died in a terrible car accident and then Jimmy Pritchard senior was murdered by Duval's former partner and former boss, although initially it was made to look like a suicide. Gracie was then kidnapped and I just want to be part of the family again."

She smiled and said, "I understand that. Family is important. It's why I'm here in Seattle so I totally get where you're coming from. I take it you want to go back to being Duval's informant?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'll have to speak with Duval about it. As I said he hasn't seen me yet but I can't imagine it would be a problem."

"Oh you don't know my brother. He has a way of making problems which is why I came to you first. Here's everything you need for confirmation about the Witness Protection Program…it's all in there." He handed her the file.

She looked through it and said, "It all looks good. You have my blessing. I still need Duval's input though."

"Thank you so much and I'm sure once Duval knows I'm back, he'll want my help again." Jimmy spoke those words more convincingly then he actually felt them.

He reached over the desk to shake her hand and when she took it she said, "This is going to sound a little strange but…have we met before? There's something about your eyes."

Jimmy shook his head and said, "No, I don't think so. I guess I just have one of those faces."

Before either of them could say anything else, all of a sudden a voice said, "Hey Duval, I thought you weren't coming back to the office until next week."

Jimmy heard Duval say, "I'm technically not here, I just wanted to drop some stuff off and meet this P. McCaffrey person who's our new boss."

Jimmy got a look of anxiety on his face which he hoped that Paula would not see and she did not because he saw a look of bigger anxiety on her face as she stood up looking like a condemned woman. Jimmy had to ask himself what he was missing here.

Duval poked his head in to the office, took one look at Paula and dropped his box that he was carrying. Jimmy saw the reflection on the glass and the utter look of shock on Duval's face at seeing this woman was something he never anticipated. Duval didn't even realize that Jimmy was there as he saw Duval's and Paula's eyes locked.

Paula broke the ice first and said, "Hello Duval, it's been a long time."

Duval replied, "Not long enough evidently…not since Quantico."

He then became cognizant that there was another person in the room and Jimmy turned around and said, "Hi Brother, I'm back."

Duval's eyes got big and he said, "What are you doing here?"

"Duval I know I went into Witness Protection but I can't live without my family any longer and I want to come back to the FBI. Agent McCaffrey here has given me her permission to help you."

Duval looked extremely uneasy and said, "OK we'll have to talk about this later. Can I have some time here with my new boss?"

Jimmy looked from one person to the other and realized their eyes were still locked on each other. There was clearly something going on here and he realized he needed to let this happen so he said, "Sure, Duval, I'll catch you outside since you just came in to say hi."

He left and shut the door. Duval picked up his box and sat down across from Paula. He said, "When I saw my new boss was a P. McCaffrey, I was thinking a Paul or a Peter or a Philip or if it was a woman I thought maybe Patricia."

Paula took a deep breath as though to get her bearings. She got a look of empathy on her face.

"I'm sorry Duval. I didn't want you to know until I knew if I actually had the job and then when I found out, you were on a very long vacation with your daughter and your sister."

Duval looked very steely eyed at her.

"Why did you take this job?"

"I took this job because I've worked very hard over the years to achieve a position like this. Also, my daughter is going to school up here. I don't have any more relatives in Portland and I know that my daughter wants to stay in Seattle."

There was a bit of a silence and then Duval had to say it.

"Why did you leave me so abruptly in Quantico?"

"You have a right to know and I'll explain it. Can we meet for coffee after work? I'll be done at 5:00."

"OK there's a Starbuck's downstairs, I'll be there. Just like I was all those years ago when you didn't show up. All I got was note delivered to me by my roommate."

"I know Duval. I hurt you. There hasn't been a day that goes by that I don't think about you and wish I could have handled that differently but I'll meet you today, I promise."

Duval walked outside and was met by Jimmy. "Dammit Dad, what are you doing back here? I thought I made it clear that you needed to stay away."

They began to walk.

"First of all, Duval you need to stop calling me Dad in public and call me Jimmy. You almost got hauled off to a mental hospital the last time you couldn't keep that straight. It's Jimmy."

"Fine Jimmy, what are you doing here?"

"I told you. I want to come back. I want time with you and Gracie and Helen. If I'm destined to die like Albert Lin then I want to at least have whatever time is available with my family."

Duval looked away. He clearly wanted it too but was thinking of the danger. "Jimmy what if you turn violent around us?"

"I haven't had any violent outbursts and if I do, then I'm counting on you to shoot me and put me out of my misery."

Duval looked stunned and said, "How can you ask me to do that?"

"I don't want it…but it's a possibility. I'm hoping that since Otto said I was perfect that maybe it won't happen but in light of what happened to Albert and Alexa…." His voice trailed off. Duval saw that he was clearly hiding how concerned he was about this.

"I got your letter about Alexa and how she started exhibiting Albert's behavior…and her subsequent suicide. I'm sorry. Is Mary back yet?"

"No not yet but she said she's got a lead on someone who she thinks may be able to help me."

"Well that's something."

Jimmy decided that he needed to change the subject.

"So what's up with you and Paula McCaffrey?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Come on, Kiddo. I know you do. You mentioned Quantico. You two must have been in the same class of recruits."

"I don't want to talk about it, and you don't want me to call you Dad, please don't call me Kiddo!" They started to walk.

"Did you two have a fling…Duval?"

"I don't want to talk about it….Jimmy!"

They continued to walk and Jimmy said, "Is she the one who got away?"

"I don't want to talk about it…besides I'm meeting her for coffee at 5:00 which is just twenty minutes away. Please go away for now Dad."

"OK something clearly happened. Nobody meets for coffee that fast if there isn't something to go over."

Duval stopped walking and said, "Dad, will you please respect my privacy and go away for the time being."

"As you wish Son. However, I want you to promise me that in the next twenty-four hours you will tell Gracie and Helen that I'm alive and that I want to see them."

Duval paused for a moment as if he didn't know what to say. Jimmy said, "What are you not telling me Son?"

"Dad, Gracie isn't the person you remember. She's very shy and withdrawn now. She's been in therapy for a year and she's just starting to come out of her shell. I don't want her to get attached to you again only to lose you again."

"Duval, before I died, Gracie and I were very close as a grandfather and granddaughter. We were starting to get close again as an uncle and niece."

"She's lost you twice as has Helen. If you think Helen wasn't affected by losing her brother think again, they were both devastated…and I have never felt so guilty about lying in my life."

"Then they should be thrilled to get me back and don't feel guilty. You punish yourself way too much."

"What if they lose you a third time?"

"Duval life is a risk. Let me tell you something. If I could have your mother back, even if it was only for a fleeting amount of time, I'd take it."

"Dad, please don't talk about Mom. Your marriage wasn't exactly conventional."

"Hey, I told you there were things about your mother and me that you don't know about. Now maybe some time we should talk about it….assuming you actually want to listen."

Duval said, "Maybe some time but, right now, I have to meet someone at Starbuck's so if you'll excuse me."

"All right Duval, I'll leave for the time being but, I still expect you to tell Gracie and Helen about me."

"OK, I will…I promise."

Jimmy walked away but he couldn't shake what was going on with Duval and Paula. He knew it was wrong but he had to do it. He got a comfortable distance from that Starbuck's and he said into his phone, "Arthur, patch me into Duval's phone so I can hear what's being said."

"Jimmy, you know that's unethical unless it's a matter of public safety."

"I know Arthur, but I haven't always been ethical and I need to look out for my son here."

"Very well, you are patched in now."

Duval went to Starbuck's and saw that Paula was already there sitting at a table outside. Jimmy could hear Duval plain as day. He said, "You're early."

"I kept you waiting the last time I was supposed to meet you and, I didn't want to disappoint you again."

Duval clearly feeling bitter said, "Well that is big hearted of you."

There was a silence and Paula said, "I got you coffee, the way I remember you liking it."

"Thanks. So why are you here…In Seattle?"

"Duval, I didn't apply for this job with the idea that I would be your boss. I didn't know you'd be working directly under me until I actually accepted it. As I said, my daughter is attending school here at the UW and she wants to settle in Seattle. I don't have anything in Portland any longer. What relatives that I had, are now deceased. I was a team leader and I was told in my last review that if an opportunity opened for a command position, then I was a shoe in for it. This position opened, my daughter is attending grad school here and it just all fell into place."

"Should I transfer?"

"Absolutely not! We were a good team at the academy regardless of everything else. Why can't we work together here?"

There was a silence and then Duval said, "I see you got married. You have a different name then when I first knew you…although I don't see a ring."

He saw Paula look guilty and then she said, "Duval, the reason I didn't meet you at the hotel is because the name you knew me under at the academy was my married name."

Duval's eyes got very big and he shook his head in disbelief. "You were married the entire time?"

"Yes, please let me explain."

"What was I, a sweet distraction? Someone to help you get through the self-defense class? Someone to just use until I wasn't useful any longer?"

Paula looked like she was going to cry but was holding it in very well.

"No, I loved you very much Duval. Everything I said in that letter to you I meant but….I was married and I had a small child. My daughter was only four. She's now going to the UW. I had always wanted to go to the FBI Academy but my husband didn't want that. He wanted me to work in some other capacity with law enforcement. He said that because I was married and had a child that we should come first and not be put in possible danger…not to mention the long hours an agent has to put in. He had helped me through grad school and thought I owed him that much."

She paused briefly and then said, "Scott told me that if I went to the academy then our marriage was finished and I could look forward to a divorce when I got home. I thought well that's it. I decided that I would do what was right for me. So, I took off my ring and I began to pack my suitcase and, I got ready for Quantico. I wasn't sure how this would ultimately impact my child but I knew I had to do this for myself. I had worked too hard to turn down the offer from the FBI."

Duval looked stunned by this revelation. He said, "So what happened between us was your understanding that you were getting a divorce."

"Yes, I thought if Scott couldn't support me then it was for the best and I was going to move forward. I went to the academy. I met you and what started as what I thought was a harmless flirtation turned into something more. I didn't want to talk about my marriage or about being a mother as people tend to treat you different when they hear that and I certainly didn't plan to fall in love…which I did."

Duval hesitated then said, "So what happened? I pledged my love to you and gave you that antique heart pendant. I still recall putting it around your neck and kissing your neck and you turned and kissed me back. You told me that you loved me too…so I ask you again what changed?"

Paula took a deep breath and said, "As you recall I didn't go to graduation. It was because, when I was supposed to meet you…I came back to the dorm and I saw Scott waiting outside. He had flowers for me and an apology. He had the last twenty weeks to think about things and he realized that he couldn't deprive me of my dream. He was a teacher and if I had told him he couldn't be a teacher he wouldn't take it well.

So he struck a deal with me. He applied for a teaching position in Vancouver WA just right over the river and he got it. He also told me to change my name back to my maiden name and not wear my wedding ring when I was working so my family could be anonymous. He begged me not to break up the family and that our daughter was asking for me every day. I realized I couldn't leave my family….no matter how much it broke my heart and your heart as well."

"When were you going to tell me that you were married and had a child?"

"I was going to tell you when we met at the hotel. I had fully planned to tell you before we made love. I wanted you to know what you were going to get yourself into before we consummated anything but then Scott showed up and I just couldn't walk away."

Duval could not believe what he was hearing. "I'm glad you told me this. I've spent all of these years wondering if the reason you left me was because I lied to you about who I was."

Paula shook her head and said, "No, it wasn't that. Look I totally understood why you didn't want that attention. King County has had some big cases go national and your father was at the center of a few of the investigations. You simply wanted to be anonymous going through training."

"So where's your husband now?"

"He died twenty-one months ago from liver cancer."

"I'm sorry Paula. My wife died two years ago in a car accident."

"I'm sorry for you too Duval."

"Are you sure you don't want me to transfer to another department?"

"No, I want you to stay. I've looked at your record and as your direct superior, I'd be crazy to want you out of my division besides, I think your talents would be wasted somewhere else."

"Thank you for your honesty. As you can see I also moved on."

"Yes, I'm glad you did and I hope we can be friends. I don't have any illusions about anything else. I'm your boss so we should keep our relationship professional."

Duval nodded and said, "I agree. Thank you for telling me the truth."

Jimmy had listened to all of it from a distance and all he could say was "This is an interesting turn of events."

"Duval on a work related subject, your brother really wants to come back and be your CI. I told him it was all right if you were in agreement."

"So what did you think of my brother?"

"I like him. For someone who's not even forty, he seems like an old soul."

"You have no idea."

"Well, I look forward to getting to know him better. Are you OK with him coming back? I looked at all of the files that he helped you with. He was very valuable and I think we'd be making a mistake to not let him help us."

"I know. It's fine. I'll work with him again."

All of a sudden, from Jimmy's vantage point, he noticed a man in black lurking in the background about fifty yards from where Duval and Paula were sitting. He was clearly checking Duval out from behind.

At that moment, Paula started to notice the man as well and said, "Duval, I don't mean to alarm you but it's come to my attention that there's a man who appears to be checking you out at about eight o'clock. Turn very slowly if you want to see him."

"How long has he been there?"

"For as long as we've been talking. At first I didn't think anything of it as it looked like he was waiting for someone but, it's been clear as our conversation has gone on that he's looking at you as if he wants confirmation that it's you but, he seems to lack the stones to let you see his face which tells me you probably know the man."

"OK are you packing?"

"Absolutely…what about you?"

"I always have it on me when I go into work for any reason."

"That's good to know." She took another drink of coffee. She smiled and said, "Let's not tip him off that we're aware of him."

Meanwhile, Jimmy who was still hearing the conversation, was slowly making his way to the man. Before he could get to the man, he pulled out his gun and started to open fire on Duval and Paula.

Paula's eyes got wide and she yelled, "Everyone down!" Paula and Duval grabbed each other and hit the ground and landed behind the cement wall with plants in them that they had been sitting right behind. They both pulled out their guns and they began to fire back.

Duval hit him squarely in the chest just as Jimmy grabbed the man from behind and knocked the gun out of his hand and they fell to the ground.

Duval and Paula waited briefly to make sure nobody else was shooting and amid all of the screams, Paula yelled, "Everyone calm down. I'm with the FBI, you're safe now!" She held up her ID for everyone to see.

Duval got up and ran to the gunman. He was on his phone asking for an ambulance. When he got there and saw Jimmy with him he said, "What are you doing here?"

"I had a feeling you might need me."

Duval rolled his eyes and then realized the man whom he had shot and Jimmy had wrestled to the ground was his former boss, Agent Beck whom he had busted with his ex-partner for being on the take.

"Beck, how did you get out?"

Beck could barely speak but said, "Someone who hates you Pritchard's more than me. I couldn't wait for the revenge so I decided to go on my own." He looked down at his wound and realized it was mortal and said, "But you Pritchard's are finished." He then died.

Duval and Jimmy looked at each other dumbfounded as neither knew what to say. Paula then approached and said, "That man looks familiar."

"It was my old boss Paula…Agent Beck."

"I read the file, he was in prison as is Strayburn and Kerling. Did he say anything?"

Jimmy broke the silence and said, "Yeah, he said, someone wants revenge on the Pritchard's."

Later, after all of the statements had been made, Duval said to Jimmy, "Why were you still there?"

"I was worried about you so I observed you and Paula having coffee."

"You're now spying on me?"

"It seemed you needed help."

"Hello, I had the gun and I took him out!"

"Come on Duval, I still helped and you're glad I did." Duval once again rolled his eyes.

Paula then approached and said, "Well Duval, you still know how to show a lady a good time." Duval was not amused. "OK I guess it's too early for a joke like that." She then turned to Jimmy and said, "Jimmy, thank you for your assistance. I think because you grabbed him, you made him unable to take another shot. You helped save a lot of people besides your brother today."

Jimmy then said, "Was anyone else hit?"

"No, we were very lucky. I just made a statement to the press. I wanted to assure the public that this was not any kind of terrorist attack or any anarchists that want to riot. Duval, can you come into my office?"

"Sure, I'll be right there." He then turned to Jimmy and said, "Go home, I think we can handle it from here."

"OK Duval but…remember what I said. I want Helen and Gracie to know."

"All right, I'll make it happen…I promise."

He walked into Paula's office. Paula said, "Close the door."

"You think this is a good idea?"

"Duval, I imagine we'll have many private conversations as I will with other agents."

"Good point." He closed the door and said, "What do you need from me?"

There was a brief silence and she said, "Do you want to come back to work on Monday? Given what happened today, I totally understand if you need a few more days."

"Paula that's kind of you but, I think I'll be fine."

"Protocol dictates that there has to be an investigation and you have to go to counseling. I think the investigation is pretty self-explanatory but you will need to see a counselor. Your former boss tried to kill you and with his last breath told you someone was coming to exact revenge on you Pritchard's."

"I know Paula. I'll go to the session for forms sake but I want to investigate this."

"Of course. Until Monday then….Oh and Duval…"

"Yeah?"

"I think today proved that Jimmy is good to have around. I look forward to working with both of you."

Duval nodded and then got up but then stopped and turned and said, "I just realized that I didn't thank you for watching my back."

She smiled and said, "I always will have your back now that we work together. I had it at Quantico after all."

He smiled and said, "Yes, we did have each other's backs. I'll always have yours as well."

"So does this mean we're becoming friends?"

"I'm not sure." He smiled again and walked out. After he walked out, Paula reached inside her blouse and looked at an antique heart pendant with sadness.

Duval made his way back to his car. He got in but before he started up the engine, he instinctively reached down for his wallet. He opened it and pulled out a piece of paper folded several times from an obscure part of the wallet. It was old and looked as though it had been read and folded and unfolded and read many times.

He unfolded it and he could hear Paula's voice as clearly as he read it:

Dear Duval,

I am so sorry but I can't meet you. I can't meet you tonight or any other night. I let this relationship go too far. I am so sorry. Please believe me when I tell you that I love you. I love you more than I ever imagined but it will never work.

I know you hate me right now but if I explain things further you will only hate me more. Please try to forgive me in time and if you can't forgive me then at least remember our time fondly. I will cherish it. I could never have gotten through self-defense if you hadn't worked with me. I will always be grateful to you and I will remember you…forever.

I will wear the pendant you gave me always….I promise. Please don't try to find me…you will only find more disappointment.

Love,

Paula

Duval folded the note up and put it back in his wallet. He shook his head in resignation and turned on the engine and drove home.

Back at Mary's house, Jimmy pulled in and was surprised to see some lights on. He parked the car and figured Mary must be home. He was surprised that he had not heard anything but he walked in and to his surprise saw a woman with blonde hair in the kitchen. The resemblance was uncanny and he initially thought it was his daughter Helen.

"Helen?"

The woman looked his direction and he saw that she was young in her early twenties to be exact but she could have been Helen's daughter. On second thought he was thinking she could have been his mother's sister.

She smiled at him and said, "No, my name is Liza….Liza Elliott." She reached out her hand to shake his and then said, "You must be James Pritchard."

Jimmy raised his eyebrows and said, "Yes, I must be. How did you get in?"

A familiar voice said, "By me of course. Liza is the person who I believe can help you." Jimmy turned to look and there was Mary Goodwin standing before him looking just as beautiful and stunning as ever.

"James, I'm sorry I didn't let you know we were coming. I heard about what happened at the FBI today. Is Duval all right? When they said the name of the shooter, I knew it had to be Duval he was trying to get."

"He was but Duval is fine. Everyone is fine. I have a feeling there's a case there…but why don't we talk about the matter at hand right now."

"Yes, we should. I've spent the past two weeks debriefing Liza. She knows everything James. She believes as do I that she can help you."

He turned to look at Liza and he found it hard to believe that someone so young could help him but he realized it was his chauvinistic upbringing that was hindering his judgement here. He had spent a good many years in law enforcement and saw women, young and old make great strides and show the world that they were just as capable as men on many levels so it should not shock him that someone so young could be capable of helping him.

Liza then said, "Perhaps we should tell James how this all came into being."

Jimmy said, "Sure but before we go any further Liza, the only person who calls me James is Mary…Please call me Jimmy."

"OK Jimmy…I am the reason you exist." She smiled as she knew she had his attention.

Mary then spoke, "James, I have spent the last several months starting from when I got that message from Otto from beyond the grave stating that everyone whether it was a person or a fish or some other animal that Graff experimented with, turned violent and had to be put down and I've been looking for someone who could help. I realized very quickly that I needed to look at Otto's data. I know Otto was smart but I found it hard to believe that Otto could come up with regeneration on his own. Therefore, I began to look at all of his research and I found where it all started." She then pointed to Liza.

Liza smiled and said, "Jimmy, I am what many people refer to as a prodigy or a genius…take your pick. I got to go to college when everyone else was going to high school and I finished my undergraduate work at nineteen and began the Master's Program. I got interested in genetics and the idea of regeneration due to the fact that I lost two grandparents before I ever got the opportunity to meet them and I lost my father prematurely as well.

For my Master's thesis, I wrote a paper called The Frankenstein Code which got published. It was an obscure publication and I really never thought much would come of it. However, I then met Mary. I've been sworn to absolute secrecy and I certainly agree with it. After Graff and Otto tried to turn my working theory into something bad that could hurt other people I was sorry I ever wrote the paper.

I had no idea that someone would take the idea and literally start bringing people back to life…or worse, start kidnapping living people and experimenting on them. My thesis was simply one of regenerating dead cells into healthy cells. I wasn't trying to say we should bring people back to life. I was proposing the idea of regenerating dead brain cells of say a person who was suffering from Alzheimer's to make them healthy again and hence killing the disease which was where the re-coding process came into play. I also thought it could work possibly in the fight against cancer…or even heart disease….I was only working on the idea of prolonging life in general and maybe raising the life expectancy….I swear I never imagined the idea of bringing someone who had been clinically dead for several hours back to life."

"Just out of curiosity why did you call your paper The Frankenstein Code then?"

Liza seemed embarrassed but said, "It was a just an attention getter. I wanted it published and I wanted it to catch people's eyes. However, if you read the first line of the paper, I clearly say that I'm not advocating going to the cemetery and bringing dead loved ones back."

Jimmy was intrigued. "OK but, if Otto and Graff got the idea initially from your paper, why did Graff not approach you to work with him I wonder."

"Actually, I think maybe he did through a third party."

"How so?"

"About eighteen months ago, I was called by someone who said he represented a party who wanted to hire me to perform experiments based on my research. I asked him who this party was and what kind of experiments they were we talking about. He refused to tell me only saying that I would be well compensated. I got suspicious. It sounded very shady. I told him that if he couldn't tell me anything about this party and what type of tests I would be doing then I wanted no part of it. He tried calling me a few more times to sweeten the offer but I finally said that if he didn't stop harassing me, I would report this to the FBI. I also explained that I had a direct connection to the FBI so he'd better take me seriously and if I disappeared, the FBI would notice very quickly and my disappearance would be a top priority. Let's just say I'm well connected to someone at the Bureau."

"Graff was smart. He wanted to stay under the radar as much as possible. That explains why you were never grabbed."

Mary then said, "And why he wanted Otto so badly."

"Exactly, when Mary told me about you and Alexa and Albert, my jaw dropped. When she told me what happened to both Albert and Alexa I knew I had to come and help in whatever way I could. I don't condone Otto and Graff playing God with my thesis and it sickened me when Mary told me what they did to your granddaughter Gracie…but, since you're here, I owe it to you to try to help you live out as normal and happy a life as you can and free from the fear of losing your mind in the process."

Mary then said, "Thank you Liza, here are your keys to the cottage outside and we can start working tomorrow."

"Thanks Mary and don't worry Jimmy. If your fate is to become like Albert and Alexa, I'll determine it and then I'll work to find you a cure for it….no matter how long it takes." Jimmy nodded in gratitude and Liza left.

Jimmy looked at Mary and said, "Alone at last Mary."

Mary looked as though she didn't know what to say other than, "I'm sorry."

Jimmy shook his head and said, "Don't be, you had a lot to deal with."

"Yes, with what Liza told us, I fear that Graff's work may not have died with him. Graff had his hand in a lot of people's back pockets…I keep wondering who that person was who contacted Liza and how he was involved in any of it…what if there is someone else out who is just as obsessed with eternal life on earth as Connor Graff was?"

"It's something we'll have to be on the lookout for. Right now my priority is who has declared open season on the Pritchard's.

"Now that I'm back James, I'll help you as much as possible in that regard. If anything were to happen to you or anyone you love…." Her voice trailed off and she looked away as though she might start to cry.

Jimmy walked to her and instinctively put his arms around her and she put her arms around him in return. "Let's talk about something more pleasant." He smiled at her and ran his hand through her hair. This was more intimacy than they had ever shared and yet it felt very natural.

She smiled but looked guilty and said, "It's not nice to tell someone you love them, leave them a note of uncertainty and then walk away for a year."

"Mary, you needed a time out. Look, you had to grow up fast. You and Otto lost your parents when you were ten and Otto retreated into his own little world. You became his surrogate mother practically. He had an abnormal attachment to you to the point that he didn't feel any empathy for anyone but you. I'm grateful for that as I have no doubt that was what made him bring Arthur back so that I could live. You then had to deal with the fact that he aligned himself with Graff who was using his work for his own perverted uses. You had all of that on top of running a corporate conglomerate. For only being 31, you've had a lot of experiences that most people don't have when they are twice your age."

She pulled away from him and said, "It's still no excuse James. I shouldn't have left like I did. I've had a lot of time to think about things. Otto needed help and he never got it. We went to live with my aunt and uncle when our parents died in that car accident. Otto shut down after that accident because he blamed himself for distracting our father. He should have been put in therapy. My aunt and uncle wanted that. They even wanted to send him to Western State for a while because he had gotten so withdrawn. I begged them not to do it though, because Otto always talked to me. I was a child. They should have overridden me. If they had, Otto just might not have done any of those things."

"On the other hand Mary, if he hadn't done those things, you and I would both be dead right now and my son Duval would still be hating me from this side of the grave…that is if he wasn't in his own grave. Strayburn was ready to kill him when he put it all together and he would have done that eventually even without my help."

"But what about all of the other people who ended up dead…because of all of this and Gracie getting kidnapped and experimented on?"

"Look Mary, we can't change anything that's happened. All we can do is go forward. I missed you tremendously. I hope you don't leave again."

"I have no plans to leave. What are your plans?"

"I want my family back. I want them to know."

"Do you think it's wise?"

"I can't live this lie anymore. I saw Duval today and his new Chief Paula McCaffrey who said I can come back. Gracie and Helen have a right to know that their grandfather and father is alive."

Mary reacted with recognition at Paula's name but said nothing other than, "Perhaps you should let them get used to you being back before you drop the bombshell on them."

Jimmy smiled and said, "I intend to." There was a silence and then Jimmy said, "Look, you told me that you loved me and I think it's only fair to say that I love you too. I wanted to tell you that but when I thought it was my last day of life, I thought it would make it easier for you to move on if I didn't say it back."

Mary walked over and they put their arms around each other. Jimmy leaned down and kissed her. It turned passionate. Mary then pulled away. Jimmy smiled and said, "I understand, it's probably for the best. We don't know what could happen if I get excited at this point. I'm glad you brought Liza here. I hope she can help."

Mary nodded and said, "Thanks for understanding…James I was going to put this off but I don't think I should."

"What is it?"

"I want to play for you Otto's final message to me. He recorded it at Connor's lab before all hell broke loose when you, Duval and Alexa arrived."

"All right, let's hear it."

"Arthur, play Otto's final message to me."

Otto's face came on the screen. He looked around very nervously to make sure nobody was within earshot and he began to talk. "Mary, by the time you see this, I will most likely be dead. I'm at Connor Graff's lab. Mary, Connor is evil. I'm sorry you and I ever got involved with him. I saw him order the death of Albert Lin and then his two henchman walked into his cell and shot him dead. If he's willing to that to Albert when he's no longer needed what will he do to Gracie Pritchard and to me?"

He put his hand up to his forehead showing sheer terror and frustration but it was evident that he was willing himself to keep talking.

"I've hacked all of his data about Albert and Alexa, yes, and you should know by now, Alexa who has been your assistant is like Pritchard. I have timed it so that Alexa's tank will unlock and Pritchard's DNA can be uploaded. This takes time which is why I'm making this recording now. It's all there and it should be automatic. Pritchard should be fine by the time you see this recording.

The other recording that I sent to you initially about the subjects turning violent is true but upon looking at other data it might not manifest in the same way for Pritchard, which is why I decided to make you this second message. One other thing you need to know. Connor has other operations. I've located three others, one in Kosovo, one in Oman and one in Senegal. Now why he put them in that part of the world is a mystery to me but I'm sure you'll figure it out.

This is bigger than I ever imagined. It's not just Connor. There are others involved. I don't know who they are and to what end I have no idea but Mary, please stop whatever this is. For your sake, I hope you can find a cure for Pritchard. I tried to deprive you of being happy but I was wrong. Please forgive me. I'm going to stop Connor. I'm not sure how but I will.

One more thing. I'm begging you, stop all of the research on the cure of cancer that I developed for you. This is unnatural. I don't regret saving you but after seeing what this did to Albert Lin, we have no way of knowing what would happen if this got out into the general population. I love you Mary. I have to go now. Please don't hate me. I never intended to become a monster and I certainly didn't want to create any. I only wanted you to be well. The file for bringing Lookinglass back up and Pritchard's DNA for Alexa's tank are attached to this. Goodbye."

The screen went black.

Jimmy was stunned by this revelation. He turned to Mary and said, "Maybe I made a mistake today."

"Why do you say that?"

"Before Duval told everyone I was dead, he said that if they found out about me, they'd put me in a government lab and never let me out. What if all of this leads to that?"

Mary grabbed Jimmy and said with more conviction that he had ever heard in her voice, "No James that will never happen. I will find a place for both of us to hide sufficiently before it ever gets to that point. Right now though, the most important thing is for Liza to make sure you're not like Albert and Alexa and to find a cure if you are." They hugged each other again as tightly as they could or at least as tightly as Jimmy could without hurting her.

Jimmy then said, "You're absolutely sure that Liza is someone to be trusted."

"Of course. The reason I believe this is because what she said about the FBI is true. Her mother is in fact, Duval's new boss Paula McCaffrey."

Jimmy was stunned by this revelation. All he could say was "Really?"

"Yes, I did a complete background check on both Liza and Paula and looking at Paula's record with the FBI, I believe she could be trusted if we had to tell her the truth. I don't want to do that yet but based on what I found out I think she would be fine. However, I was surprised to find out that she did an internship with the King County Sherriff's Department back in 1993. Did you know her well?"

Jimmy raised his eyebrows and said, "As well as any intern."

"Did she suspect anything about you when you met with her today?

"Only that she thought I looked familiar but I deflected it...after all I'm Sherriff Pritchard's son."

"Do you also believe like me that she's the kind of person who could keep all of this under wraps if we had to tell her?"

There was a silence and then Jimmy said, "Paula always struck me as being very professional and took the job of law enforcement seriously. For her to now be in a position of command, one doesn't get there unless one knows how to keep their mouth shut when the situation warrants it…and I can tell you based on what I observed today, I think she is someone we could trust."

"Are you back in as Duval's confidential informant?"

"Yes, I believe I am."

"Does this mean that you'll definitely let me and Arthur help you solve crimes?" She smiled

He smiled back and said, "I wouldn't want it any other way."

"All right then, I guess it's settled. I need to get some sleep. I've got a company to start running again tomorrow and we need to figure all of this out. I also need to draft a statement to the board on why we won't be going forward with the cancer cure trials that I initially wanted and I need to make it convincing without raising suspicion."

"Well, you're Mary Goodwin. I'm sure whatever you tell them, they'll be in full agreement."

They then both walked away to their respective quarters. They were both very sad at being together again but not able to be truly together.

Jimmy had a strange gnawing feeling though. He took out a photograph from 1945 and saw his mother as a young woman. While the photo was in black and white, he could visualize her honey blonde hair and blue eyes. He shook his head but said nothing to himself. He didn't dare say what he was thinking.

Duval pulled into his driveway and walked in the house. Gracie and Helen were there making tacos. "Hi Dad." Gracie looked happy. She had been so despondent after she woke up from being kidnapped. He remembered it well.

FLASHBACK

Gracie opened her eyes and saw Duval. "Dad what happened? Why was Otto Goodwin doing those experiments on me?"

Duval took a deep breath and said, "Gracie, your grandfather wasn't like other people. He had a rare genetic code that used in a certain way could possibly extend someone's life. You have the same code. That's why they wanted you."

Gracie had tears in her eyes and said, "So Garrett didn't really care about me, he was just a hired guy to get close to me until Graff wanted me."

"I'm afraid so Honey…I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I know what it is to be disappointed by someone who you believe cares about you."

"Where is he now? Did you arrest him?"

Duval hesitated and said, "No, I didn't arrest him…I killed him."

Gracie's eyes got big and Duval then said, "Honey it was in self-defense. He shot at both me and your Uncle Jimmy."

"Is Uncle Jimmy OK?"

Duval took a deep breath and said, "No, he isn't. I'm sorry Gracie but Uncle Jimmy died in the plane like Otto and Graff."

Gracie began to cry very hard. Duval could do nothing but hold her. At that point Helen came in and said, "What is it?"

Before Duval could say anything, Gracie blurted out through her tears "Uncle Jimmy's dead."

Duval looked over at Helen and she looked as though someone had just punched her in the stomach. The tears began to stream down her face. She said, "Well, it was nice to have two brothers while it lasted." She sat down and wept as much as Gracie.

Back in the present, Duval surveyed the situation at the table. Helen said, "Hey Duval, come on over and have some tacos."

"Yeah Dad, we're celebrating tonight. At first I wasn't sure if we should with you getting shot at by your old boss but after you told me on the phone that you were OK, I figured we still had to eat and I know you're going to be happy about this." She ran up to him and hugged him.

He said, "What's going on?"

Helen smiled and then said, "Well, Duval as you know I finished my degree six months ago and I had my internship at the King County Coroner's office. They have now offered me a full time position as a coroner's assistant with the eventual move to a full Medical Examiner once I finish the rest of my credentials. It took me twenty years to finish that degree but I finally did it! I only wish Dad could have lived to see this….Mom too for that matter."

Duval smiled and hugged Helen and said, "Congratulations Helen! I always knew that once you finally decided to finish it you could do it. I agree, let's celebrate this."

"Thanks Duval."

He sat and they both looked at him and realized something was up and Gracie said, "What's going on Dad…other than the fact you got shot at today."

"Nothing."

Helen replied, "Oh that means something's going on. Come on Duval. You were shot at today. Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm not the one who got shot."

Gracie said, "We saw a woman giving a statement. Is she your new boss?"

"Yes, she is."

Gracie said, "What's she like?"

"Well, she's very competent and observant and I'm sure she'll be fine."

Helen said, "That's a pretty safe and non-committal description. What's really wrong with her?"

Duval had a momentary flashback to once kissing her with great passion and then said, "Nothing is wrong with her, she'll be fine but, I need to tell you both something."

"What?" They both had replied in unison.

"Gracie, how was your counseling session today?"

"You're dodging the issue Dad…but since you asked, and to quote you, it was fine…in fact, I decided not to go any longer."

Duval looked shocked and said, "Gracie, are you sure about this?"

"Dad, I know you mean well but I don't think I need it any longer. Look I'd like to believe that I've learned a few things. The first thing is that if your dad tells you not to go out with someone, it might be wise to consider that maybe he has good reasons for it…and you should think them through before you decide to quit high school to run off with him."

"And the other thing?"

Gracie smiled and said, "I'm going to start attending the University of Washington. I got my letter of acceptance." She pulled it out and showed him.

He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead and said, "I'm very proud of you. Your mother would have been proud too."

"Wow, Dad that's the first time I've heard you refer to her in quite some time."

"Well, we shouldn't be afraid to talk about her. Your grandmother used to say that nobody is ever truly gone if they are remembered fondly….but are you sure you're ready? You completed your senior year as home study."

"I know Dad but, part of the reason was that after I was kidnapped and experimented on, I really didn't feel like I had much in common with my friends any longer. This is a new start. My therapist thought I was ready for this step."

"Gracie, you've been in therapy for a year. Is there anything else you want to tell me or Helen about what you discussed in therapy?"

"Like what?"

"Like maybe why you started dating a guy like Garrett in the first place."

Gracie looked a little uneasy and then said, "Look Dad, I think the attraction to Garrett was simply that he was different and initially he listened to me when I talked about Mom. I realized too late that it was an act just to get me to trust him."

"Gracie, if you wanted to talk to someone about your mother why didn't you just talk to me?"

"You were just so sad. Look how long it took you to remove your wedding ring? You finally stopped wearing it three months ago." He looked down at his hand.

"Well, is there anything you want to talk about her now?"

Gracie shook her head and said, "No, I think I discussed it pretty well with my therapist. I'd really prefer to just move on…I think Mom would want that."

"OK as long as you feel all right about it." Gracie nodded in agreement.

Helen then spoke and said, "OK Duval, Gracie has told you her news and I've told you mine. Now what do you have to tell us?"

"Not so fast Helen…I thought I'd be seeing you here with Wally. He got paroled two months ago and I know you started seeing him…so what's going on?"

Helen looked embarrassed and then said, "Well, if you must know, Dad was right about him in high school."

Duval raised his eyebrows and said, "What happened Helen?"

"Dad was right he was Wally the Weasel but at least this time I got to find out on my own instead of having Dad scare him off….and no Duval I don't want to go into the details, let's just say we parted company and it's for the best….So what is it you have to tell us?"

He looked at both of them and said, "What I am about to tell you, is going to be a shock but a pleasant shock." The both looked about as puzzled as two people could be.

"What would you both say if I told you that Jimmy wasn't dead?"

Their eyes got wide and Helen said, "Duval what are you talking about?"

"Did you ever think it odd that you never saw Jimmy's body?"

"You thought that in light of everything that happened you'd just take care of getting him cremated. What's going on Duval?"

"Jimmy carries the same genetic component that Gracie and Dad have. I thought it would be best if he went into witness protection."

Gracie then spoke, "Dad, where has Uncle Jimmy been this whole time?"

"He's been here in Seattle where he always was."

"Does Uncle Jimmy want to see us?"

"More than ever….he's tired of hiding and since it's been a year he doesn't feel that it's a risk at this point. I disagreed but he's insistent on coming back to our family and to the FBI. He got clearance today from my new boss Paula McCaffrey."

Helen said, "When can we see him?"

"I'll call him tomorrow and see if we can set up something. Does that sound OK to the two of you?"

They both smiled and gave an enthusiastic, "Yes!"

Paula McCaffrey sat in her house. She picked up her cell phone and dialed a number. On the other end a voice answered, "Hello?"

"Hi Sweetie, it's Mom."

On the other end, Liza Elliott smiled and said, "Hi Mom, I saw the news today. Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It's not a normal day but I've had worse days at the Bureau."

"Yeah, I know. It's why I didn't call you earlier. You would have just told me I was overreacting."

"You know me well Liza. Enough said on the subject. Are you settling in OK at your internship?"

"Yes, I am. Mary Goodwin has let me use her guest cottage for as long as I'm working here."

"So what is it that you're doing for Lookinglass that requires you to live there?"

"I can't tell you Mom. As someone who works for the FBI, you should understand the concept of need to know only."

"I do but Lookinglass is just a computer network and your specialty is not computers so I'm a little perplexed."

"Mom, I'm sorry but I can't tell you anything else…if I did, I'd have to kill you."

"Very funny. All right then just assure me that you're not doing anything illegal."

"No Mom it's nothing illegal. It'll be fine."

"OK, but remember we're in the same city so please try to fit in lunch with your mother between classes and your internship."

There was a silence and then Paula said, "Liza, it's just lunch. Please don't shut me out. I took this position so we'd be in the same city."

"Mom, you took the position because it was a hell of a promotion."

"I wouldn't have applied for it if you weren't going to be here….Look Liza, I know you see me as the understudy parent. I put my career in front of the family too many times. I admit it, but I'm here now. I'm just asking for lunch."

"OK Mom….Mom do you think Dad would have been proud of me?"

"Liza you know he was. He held on at the end for you to get there so he could die with you at his side."

Liza smiled and said, "I know Mom. He was the best dad ever."

"Yes he was. I'll talk to you later."

Paula disconnected the phone and said to herself, "Yes, he was the best dad but he wasn't always the best husband."

Talk of Liza's father brought back more memories. Memories first started by the face of James Pritchard Jr in her office today. She had not heard the name Jimmy Pritchard in years and it was like it was just yesterday.

FLASHBACK

Paula was not quite 21 when she was standing at the water cooler filling up her water bottle in the King County Sherriff's office. All of a sudden, someone backed into her and knocked her bottle out of her hand, fortunately she had just capped the bottle. She picked it up and when she looked up she saw a man with dark greying hair in his early 50's she guessed.

He put his hand on her shoulder and said, "I'm so sorry. That'll teach me to walk backwards in the office…Are you one of the interns?"

"Yes, I'm Paula McCaffrey. I'm working in dispatching right now."

"I'm Sherriff Jimmy Pritchard but you can call me Sherriff Jimmy. I totally believe in our intern program. If there's anything I can do for you…let me know."

"Thanks Sherriff Jimmy." She turned to walk away but heard Sherriff Jimmy's colleague in the office say, "Hey Jimmy, she's cute and adorable don't you think?"

Jimmy replied, "Yes she is…cute and adorable…like my daughter Helen. I prefer someone a little closer to my age if I'm going to cheat on Rosie…"

"Oh really what about…."

"And I learned my lesson now didn't I? Come on Joey let's talk work, you're my oldest friend on the force so what have you got here for me?"

Paula got out of earshot and went back to her station.

Back in the present, Paula had been brushing her teeth. She shook her head at the irony of everything that had transpired today.

John Strayburn, walked into a dark alley where he saw a figure barely noticeable. The man spoke in a British accent.

"Hello Mr. Strayburn. I'm glad to see that our little escape plan worked."

"Who are you and what do you want?"

"Oh I want so many things. First and foremost, I want you tell me what happened to you on that bridge when you tried to kill Duval Pritchard."

"Why?"

"Because I want to know and it's to your advantage to tell me."

Strayburn then heard the click of a gun by his ear. "Hey, there's no need to get violent here. I'll be happy to tell you what I know."

"Good, tell me."

"My partner and I were taking Pritchard to be thrown off the bridge like we did to his father and then someone else showed up."

"Tell me about him."

"He was young. He looked like he was in his early to mid-thirties and he clearly worked out a lot because he was very strong and very agile. He knocked me out quite easily. When I woke up I was in hand-cuffs and when I asked Duval where the other guy was, he said, What other guy? I think you're delusional from the head butt I gave you….I tried to tell the arresting officers that there was another guy there but nobody believed me."

"Is that all you remember?"

"Yes."

"Are you interested in revenge?"

"Yes…Pritchard and his friend ruined my life."

"Good…work with that revenge…it will come in handy."

"What do you want?"

"Revenge and much more." The man came out of the shadows. Strayburn got a good look at him. He looked to be in his mid-thirties but there was something about him that scared him beyond belief. He had a terrible scar on the right side of his face and he had piercing blue eyes that had evil in them. Strayburn got a worried feeling.

Stayburn then said, "Do you have a name Sir?"

"Yes, I do…but you can call me….Sir."

TO BE CONTINUED….