| Is it Jack's Katie? And just wnat happened last night at David Blake's home? The mystery unfolds . . . Friday 9/14/2001 |
| Ed looked across the desks at his partner. Something was definitely bugging Lennie, had been ever since last night at the crime scene. He got the feeling that it didn�t have anything to do with the phone call yesterday from his daughter. It was something to do with the girl they found in the car, an apparent botched suicide after murdering her lover. At least that�s what it looked like. They were trying to make sense of what happened, going through a pile of paperwork they had taken from the victim�s desk. But Lennie seemed preoccupied. �OK. So according to his business card, Blake is a Consulting Accountant with PHC, the big mega firm. No card on the Michaels girl. What say we head over there, check with his co-workers? Lennie? You listening to me?� �Huh? Sorry, Ed.� Ed glared at him. �What is bugging you? Ever since last night.� Lennie shook his head. �It�s probably nothing. I�m just jumping at shadows.� Ed gave him �the look.� The one that said he believed that like he believed pigs could fly. But before he could press the issue, the phone rang. Lennie picked it up. �Briscoe. Yeah, thanks, we�ll be right over.� He looked at Ed. �The Michaels girl is awake, doctor says we can see her.� He looked almost afraid at the thought of talking to her. Ed nodded. �Good. Her first, then the co-workers.� They arrived at the hospital and were directed to a room on the third floor. A young woman, mid-twenties, laid in the bed. Lennie�s stomach was clenched tight at the sight of her: pale skin, thick, dark hair and eyebrows. Most women would have banished those eyebrows, but she wore them almost like a badge of honor. They reminded him of someone else � Ed took the lead since Lennie was obviously distracted. �Ms. Michaels, I�m Det. Greene and this is Det. Briscoe. We were wondering if you could tell us what happened last night?� She looked at them, confused. �I�m still waiting for someone to tell ME! We got home from work, David fixed us some drinks, and the next thing I know I wake up here and nobody will tell me anything! What�s going on here!� Lennie and Ed looked at each other, surprised. They had certainly not been expecting this. She could be lying, but the surprise seemed genuine. Lennie jumped in. �David � that would be David Blake? Your boyfriend?� That got him a very cold stare. �Yes, David Blake, but no, he�s not my boyfriend. Where is he?� Ed raised an eyebrow. �You really don�t know?� She shook her head, fear beginning to show on her face. �He�s not �?� �I�m sorry to have to tell you, but he�s dead.� �Oh god!� Tears came to her eyes. The detectives looked at each other again, trying to decide if she was faking it. Ed jumped back in. �Uh, Ms. Michaels, if I may ask, if he wasn�t your boyfriend, what was he to you? We found some suitcases in the apartment with women�s clothing � are you staying there?� She glared at them through the tears. �He�s � he was my friend, he helped me get the transfer to the NY office, it was a big promotion for me. Yes I was staying there.� �So you work for PHC too?� She nodded. �Just transferred from the San Francisco office. How did he die?� �Somebody hit him in the head with a big brass lamp in his living room.� �Oh my god! Was it a robbery? Oh god, they could have killed me too! They tried to � wait a minute, the doctor said it was carbon monoxide poisoning. How�d that happen in the living room?� �We found you in the garage, Ms. Michaels. Frankly, it looked like a suicide attempt, but the car ran out of gas.� She stared at him as if he was from another planet. �You think I killed David, then tried to kill myself? You have got to be out of your mind!� �Well, then, do you have any idea why somebody would kill David?� �Uh uh. You think I�m a suspect. I�m not saying anything without a lawyer.� �Now, Ms. Michaels, that�s not necessary. If you know anything, tell us now so we can clear you.� �Oh, no. My mother used to work in the New York DA�s office; she�s told me how you people twist things around.� Lennie�s stomach dropped another dozen floors. This couldn�t be happening. �Ed. Come on. She�s not going to talk now.� He needed to get out of there, NOW. �Ms. Michaels, we�ll be in touch.� He spun around and stalked out of the room, Ed following quickly behind. They came to a lounge/waiting area, and Lennie sank down in one of the chairs. Ed stared at him. �Lennie, what the HELL is wrong?� �I�m still not 100% sure, Ed. But god, so many coincidences. And if there�s one thing this job has taught me is that there are no such things as coincidences.� �Will you TELL me already?� Lennie took a deep breath. �I think she�s Jack�s daughter.� �WHAT?!� �He met her mother in the DA�s office. After the divorce, about 15 years ago, her mother took her to California to start over, married a guy named Michaels. And just look at her. She�s his Katie. I just know it.� Ed hadn�t even realized McCoy had a child. Talk about revised world view. �OK. You�ve got to clear this up � if it�s true, neither one of you can work on this.� Lennie nodded. �I know. I�ve got to go tell him. Can you head back and clue the Lieu in on this?� Ed nodded. �I�ll drop you at Hogan Place.� �Thanks.� Lennie got off the elevator and headed down the hall to Jack�s office, still wondering how he was going to do this. Jack and Serena were going over a case. He tapped on the door. Jack looked up and smiled, surprised to see his lover. �Lennie! What brings you over here?� The smile quickly disappeared as he saw the look on Lennie�s face. �Serena, can you give us a few minutes?� �Sure. I�ll be in my office.� Lennie closed the door behind her. Jack came around the desk. �What�s wrong?� Lennie nodded to the couch. �Sit down, Jack.� Now he was really worried. Lennie sat beside him. �It�s this case Ed called me out on last night, Jack. Guy was killed in his own living room. We found a girl in the garage, apparent suicide, except the car ran out of gas. Looks like she killed her boyfriend, probably accidentally in a fight, then tried to kill herself. She denies it all, says they got home from work, he fixed her a drink, and she woke up in the hospital. Also denies he�s her boyfriend.� Jack was looking at him. �OK. What aren�t you telling me?� Lennie looked into his eyes. �California driver�s license, Katherine Michaels. Told me her mom used to work in the New York DA�s office. She�s got your eyes, Jack.� The entire world froze. He couldn�t think, couldn�t move, couldn�t breathe. Finally, a gasp. �Katie?� �I�m not sure, Jack, but yeah, I think so.� �Oh god!� Lennie�s arm slid around his back; he leaned into it, needing the support. Lennie held him while the shock of the news settled over him. Finally, Jack found his voice. �She�s the prime suspect.� �Yeah. But I have to admit, she sounded pretty convincing when she said she didn�t know what had happened. But for now, she�s all we�ve got. Ed went back to the precinct to tell Van Buren.� �I need to see her, Lennie. I need to know, one way or the other.� �I know. Come on, let�s go to the hospital.� They walked down the hospital corridor toward her room. Just before the door, Lennie caught Jack�s hand. �I�ll wait out here.� He squeezed the fingers as Jack nodded, then let go. It was a typical hospital room, two beds, the curtain between them pushed back for the daytime. Only one bed was occupied. When he saw her there, his stomach did yet another somersault. �Katherine Michaels?� She glared at him. �Yeah. Who wants to know? You another cop?� Something about him looked familiar, though . . . �Uh, no. Actually, I�m with the DA�s office, but that�s not why I�m here.� The DA�s office? Could it be? �McCoy?� That caught him by surprise. �Yes. Jack McCoy. Ms. Michaels, do you know me?� �You used to call me Katie.� His legs gave out beneath him; he had to sit on the side of the bed to keep from falling. �It�s really you, Katie?� He tentatively reached out for her hand. She pulled it back. �It�s Kate now. You lost the right to call me Katie when you disappeared with no trace!� It felt like somebody had run a knife through his heart. �I didn�t want to. Your mom wanted it that way. Wanted to start clean. She didn�t want me around. I�m sorry. I should have fought her.� He was struggling to keep his composure. �I know you have no reason to believe me, but it�s true.� Kate looked at him; she had hated him for so long for this. But recent experience had taught her not to always believe her mother, either. // Damn, I was right. Bitch lied to me about that, too. // She hadn�t been looking forward to calling her mom for help; in fact, she had considered using a public defender before she�d call her mom. Maybe he could help instead; and she realized she was definitely going to need it. Jack watched her, terrified that she would send him away. But finally, she tentatively reached her hand back out toward his. �I believe you. Mom and I aren�t exactly on the best of terms these days anyhow.� Her fingers gently touched his. �Hi, Dad.� He squeezed his eyes shut against the tears. �Hi, sweetheart.� They just looked at each other for a few moments, not sure what to say. Finally, Kate broke the silence. �How did you know I was here?� He looked almost embarrassed. �Det. Briscoe is � a very good friend. When you mentioned about your Mom working in the DA�s office, he put it together and came to get me.� �The old cop? I wondered why he was looking at me so funny. I was beginning to think he was some kind of perv.� Jack couldn�t help laughing. �Lennie? No, nothing to worry about there, Kate. He�s harmless.� She raised an eyebrow, a gesture so like his own. // you don�t suppose �? //� �If you say so.� She got serious. �I�m going to need some help here. I really didn�t want to call mom to find a lawyer.� �Do you need a lawyer?� Suddenly, his professional mode took over. �Of course � they think I did this!� �Did you?� �Is that the DA talking or my father?� Jack stared at her, startled. He realized he�d be walking a thin line here. �Both. But you�re right. I won�t be involved with the case professionally. But I�ve been a DA a lot longer than I�ve been a father, though. Old habits are hard to break.� �OK � then to my father. No, I didn�t do it.� He looked at her, long and hard. �I want to believe you, Kate. I wish I knew you better. But I have to believe you. I�ll call some friends, find you a good defense lawyer.� �I don�t have a lot of money.� �Don�t worry about that.� �And please � don�t call mom.� Jack shrugged. �I wouldn�t know how to reach her in any event.� Just then, there was a knock at the door. Lennie and Ed came in, and the look on Lennie�s face twisted his stomach all over again. Ed walked up to the bed. �Ms. Michaels, we matched your fingerprints to the prints on the murder weapon. I�m afraid I�m going to have to place you under arrest for the murder of David Blake. You have the right to remain silent �� As Ed recited the Miranda warning, he took her arm, pulling her fingers away from Jack�s, and handcuffed it to the bed railing. Lennie came to stand behind Jack, gently pulling him away. �Come on, Jack. You can talk with her more later.� He could see the pain in Jack�s eyes, wanted to get him out of there as quickly as possible. But Jack stopped. �Kate, I�ll get a lawyer.� She nodded, watching as Lennie gently pulled him away. Finally, out in the hall, Lennie pulled him close. Jack held on for dear life. �It�s her, Lennie,� he managed to whisper. Lennie just held him until Ed came out of the room. Jack glared at him. �Was that really necessary, Detective?� Ed looked really unhappy. �Jack, her prints are on the murder weapon. I told Van Buren what Lennie thought about her being your daughter, and she said if anything that meant we had to do this EXACTLY by the book. No special favors.� Jack�s temper was getting the better of him. �The HELL with the book � that�s my daughter in there!� Lennie tried to calm him down. �Jack, let it go. Ed didn�t have a choice � he�s following orders. And they�re right. Try to look at this like a prosecutor �� Jack spun on Lennie. �Damnit, Lennie, I�m NOT the prosecutor in this case. Can�t you get that through your head?� He turned and stalked down the hall toward a lounge area. Lennie sighed and buried his head in his hands, massaging the already tense temples. �He�s not going to be easy to live with the next couple of days, Lennie.� �I know. But I promised I�d be there for him, good and bad. I guess this is the bad.� Ed nodded. �So go take care of him. I�ll wait for you downstairs.� Jack sat in a chair in the waiting area, his thoughts a jumble. He�d finally found his Katie, but it hadn�t been anything like he had hoped. He wanted to believe her, needed her to be telling the truth, but he knew in his heart that he really didn�t know anything about her, about the woman she had become. Was she capable of this? He had no clue. But he had to give her the benefit of the doubt. Until proven otherwise, he had to assume she was innocent, or he�d go crazy. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt two strong hands land on his shoulders, kneading, rubbing the tension away. He took a deep breath and leaned back against Lennie. �You going to be OK, Jack?� Lennie�s voice had gotten very gentle. �I don�t know. Sorry about back there.� �It�s OK. I�ve dealt with enough upset parents over the years.� �I never dreamed I�d be one of them.� �So what are you going to do?� �Get her a lawyer, to start. Probably ask Nora for a couple days off next week to sort this out.� �We�ll get to the bottom of it, Jack. We�ll need her to talk to us, though. Tell us everything.� �I know.� He got quiet for a moment. �Lennie, how do I become a father again after all this time?� Lennie�s hands stilled. �I�ll let you know after I talk to Julia tomorrow.� �Oh, god. I forgot. Lennie �� A gentle squeeze. �It�s OK, Jack. We�ve both got a lot on our minds right now. But now I�ve got to get back to work; Ed�s waiting downstairs for me.� Jack stood, turning to face Lennie. �Tell him I�m sorry I snapped.� �He knows, Jack. So � see you back at home?� �Yeah.� Lennie ran his fingers along Jack�s arm, caught his hand. Jack smiled softly. �Thanks, Lennie.� They leaned in for a quick kiss, then Lennie ducked into an elevator which conveniently opened just then. Not knowing what else to do, Jack grabbed a cab back to the office. Van Buren had already notified Serena and Nora of the possible conflict of interest; at least he didn�t have to explain the case. They agreed that when Kate was let out of the hospital, Serena would handle the arraignment, and Nora would assign the case to another EADA for trial. They all fervently hoped it never got that far. Nora also approved his request for personal time off for a few days. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The intercom buzzed. �Ms. Ross, there�s a Jack McCoy on line 1.� Jamie looked at the phone, surprised. �Thanks, Mary, I�ll take it.� She punched line 1. �Jack?� �Jamie. Thank god you�re there. I need to talk to you � do you have some time this afternoon?� She glanced at the calendar. It had been a slow Friday � she had one appointment that was due in about 10 minutes. �I�ve got somebody coming in now, but nothing after that. Jack, is everything all right?� �Not even close. I�ll explain when I get there.� Jamie couldn�t ever remember hearing Jack sound so shaken. Now she was worried. �Is Lennie ok?� �Yeah. This is nothing to do with him.� Worried and confused. What could possibly get Jack so upset if it wasn�t about Lennie? �OK, I�ll see you about 2 o�clock then?� �Thanks, Jamie.� Finally 2 o�clock came, and Mary showed an obviously distraught Jack into her office. She came around the desk to greet him, gently squeezing his hands. �Jack, what�s wrong?� Rather than the desk, she steered him to a sofa and sat beside him. He shook his head. �What�s that old curse � be careful what you ask for, you might just get it? Jamie, my daughter just dropped back into my life.� �Katie?� �Well, it�s Kate now. Katherine Michaels. Sarah re-married, and he adopted her. She�s almost 24 now. And she�s the prime suspect in a murder.� He explained what they knew so far. �Jamie, I have no reason at all to trust her. If this were any other suspect, I�d be the first to say �arrest her.� I haven�t seen her for almost 17 years now � I really don�t know anything about her. But she�s my daughter. I can�t stay objective � I want to believe her. I HAVE to believe her.� Jamie reached out and took his hand. �Of course you do. You want me to represent her?� Jack managed a small smile. �Who else would I trust?� She squeezed his hand and nodded. �I�ll take care of her, Jack. But you�ve got to understand something. You have to stay out of my way. This is going to be very hard for you, Jack. You�re used to working on the inside, running the show. There are going to be times when I have to tell you to stay out of it. Like today. I want you to come over to the hospital with me, we�ll talk to the doctors, but I�m going to want to talk to my client � alone.� �I know. I�ll try, Jamie. Kick me in the butt if you have to. I also trust you to do that when needed.� She smiled at him. �You know I will.� Her face got serious again. �Jack, are you prepared for the possibility that she�s not telling the truth?� �Intellectually, yes. Emotionally, who could be?� She nodded. �Come on, then. We�ve got lots of work to do.� ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Back at the 27, Van Buren called Lennie into her office. �So � is she his daughter?� Lennie nodded. �Yeah. So I guess we�re off the case.� �You are. But I�ve got an idea. Ana Cordova has been wanting to get some field work. How about you cover the internal backup for a while and let her partner with Ed on this one. That way at least you�ll know what�s going on.� �You�re going to put a rookie on this? Jack will blow a fuse!� �Yes, but Ed will be running things. You�ve trained him well, Lennie. And more important, both you and Jack trust him. It�s either this or assign another pair who aren�t �family.� And while officially I want to keep this by the book, I know better than to try to cut you out entirely. So doing the back office support, you can help with the case without being officially assigned to it.� Lennie sighed. She had a point. And, being Lennie, he started to see the humor in the situation. �You�re really going to partner Cordova with �Eddie?� He said the name with a fair imitation of the young woman�s obvious interest in his partner. Anita couldn�t help laughing at the imitation. �Yeah, well �Eddie� is going to have to deal with it.� �Oh, this should be fun to watch.� ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lennie was surprised to find the door unlocked when he got home. �Jack?� McCoy was sitting on the couch, rubbing his temples. �Hey, Lennie.� He got up and wrapped his arms around his partner, needing the contact. Lennie held him close, then pulled back enough to kiss him, hand gently caressing his face. �You all right?� Jack took a deep breath and shrugged. �Been better.� Lennie pulled him down on the couch and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. He decided it might help if he started. �I�m officially off the case. But Ed�s still running it, so it�s not like we�re out of the loop.� Jack nodded. �Me too. Serena�s going to handle the arraignment, but Nora�s going to assign another EADA to supervise for trial.� �Who�d you get to defend her?� �Jamie Ross.� Lennie sighed with relief. �Good. I keep forgetting she�s defense now. Was afraid you�d call that Melnick woman �� �Uh, no. I wouldn�t do that. To you OR to myself!� They couldn�t help laughing, but it didn�t last long. �So, did you get any more of the story?� �Well, Jamie wanted to talk to her alone first � god, it was so hard sitting out in the lobby. Um, should we be talking about this?� �I guess that depends on whether you think she�s telling the truth. If she is, we�re on the same side, Jack, looking for the truth that will clear her. Besides, do you think we could survive NOT talking about it?� Jack�s eyes locked onto his. �No. I need you, Lennie. I � I don�t think I could get through this without you.� Lennie caressed his face, nodding. �I know. I�m glad I�m officially off the case � I�m here, Jack.� He leaned in for a gentle kiss. They just held each other for a few minutes. Finally, Lennie spoke. �So you believe her?� Jack sighed. �That�s one reason why Jamie wanted to talk to her alone � see if she�d say anything to her lawyer that she wouldn�t say to her father. Jamie believes her � that�s good enough for me.� Lennie smiled. �Me too. So what did she tell you?� �Well, basically what she told you. Two major additions. Blake was gay � she gave us the name of his lover. Also � possible motive � she thinks David was involved in some insider trading scam. She confronted him at the office that afternoon, he said he�d explain when they got home. Obviously she never got the explanation.� �Of course. Ed went over to PHC this afternoon, I�ll find out Monday what they got there. Hopefully something that leads in the same direction.� Lennie�s loyalty meant everything to him in that moment. �Thanks, Lennie.� His hand gently stroked Jack�s back. �No problem. So when is the arraignment?� �Nora said she�d wait until the hospital released her. Doctor says probably Sunday afternoon. Which means she�ll probably spend Sunday night in jail.� Jack�s voice had suddenly gotten really shaky. Lennie hugged him. �I know. Seeing Cathy in there was one of the hardest things I�ve ever done.� Jack sighed. �Oh, Lennie. I don�t want you to have to relive that!� �It�s OK, love. I can handle it. Are you going to be able to get her out?� �Jamie suggested releasing her to my custody since I�m an officer of the court. Nora said they needed at least some bail, so as to not be too obviously �playing favorites.� $200,000.� Lennie whistled. �You�ll need to come up with 10 percent to get a bail bond.� Jack nodded. �I got an equity line on the condo when I remodeled a few years back. It�s paid down, haven�t touched it since. Should be able to cover it.� Lennie looked at him. �You never mentioned that.� �Tell you the truth, I forgot about it until today. Never needed it.� �So she�ll be staying here.� �If that�s ok with you?� �It means you�re going to have to tell her about us.� Jack sighed. Everything was moving so fast. Too much to think about. �Oh, god, Lennie. I feel like my head is going to explode. Yesterday I didn�t even know she was in New York. I still don�t know whether to believe her. One minute I�m thinking like a prosecutor, the next like a father. And the next I�m so overwhelmed I can�t even think at all anymore. I wish I could make it all go away, just for a little while. Damn, I wish I had a bottle of scotch.� Lennie pulled him close. �No, Jack. That�s not the way, you know that.� He leaned against his lover, trembling. �Make it go away, Lennie. Please!� Lennie reached down, gently lifted his face. Lips touched, gentle kisses, again and again. Strong arms holding him, caressing his face, his hair, his back. Kisses covering his face, his neck, his throat. He sighed, giving himself over entirely to his lover. Hands slipping inside his shirt, pushing it aside. His own hands, reaching to pull Lennie�s shirt away, wanting the reassuring feel of flesh against flesh. A kiss, no longer gentle, as arms slid around him beneath his shirt. He pushed back, tongue probing, hunger rising, need awakening. He moved, straddling Lennie, as arms slid down his back to his ass, holding him tight, pulling him close. He could feel Lennie getting hard beneath him. The jeans were in the way, he wanted to feel more of his lover, so he let go for a moment to unzip and unbuckle, shedding them like a snake shedding its skin. Before he could climb back on, Lennie stood and grabbed him, kissing him hard, then grabbing his hand. Back in the bedroom, Lennie�s pants were tossed aside as he pulled Jack down onto the bed. Now down to their underwear, Jack again crawled on top, rubbing his package against Lennie�s as his lover�s hands squeezed his ass. He laid over Lennie�s chest, licking his throat, fingers flicking over tight nipples. They moaned in stereo as their desire grew. Finally, Lennie had had enough. He rolled them over, backed off to pull of the now annoying underwear, and reached for the lube in the nightstand. �Yes!� Jack sighed as Lennie applied the lube, then crawled back on top and gradually lowered himself onto Jack, moaning with the pleasure. Jack held still for a few moments, letting him relax into it, one hand gently stroking Lennie�s cock. �Oh, damn, that feels good,� Lennie moaned. Jack smiled and started thrusting gently, agreeing completely. By unspoken agreement, they kept it going as long as possible, each backing off when he felt he was getting too close. But finally they couldn�t wait any longer; the pace increased, and they both came, crying out with the release. Lennie reluctantly climbed off and flopped down next to Jack, a hand gently weaving through the hair on his chest. Jack caught the hand and brought it to his lips, gently kissing the fingers. �Thank you.� Lennie turned it into a caress. �I�m here, Jack. Good times and bad. We�ll get through this. Together.� Continue on to Daughters Ch 3 Send me some feedback Back to the Story Index Disclaimer: These characters belong to Dick Wolf and NBC. I'm just borrowing them for fun, not profit. |
| Daughters Chapter 2 |