CHICAGO - BECCA'S APARTMENT - EARLY EVENING

Becca is sitting in her apartment, a martini in her hand and a troubled look on her face. At the sound of a knock on the door, she sets down her drink and goes to open it.

"Jim! Come in!" She ushers him into the room.

"Thanks for seeing me tonight. I have some exciting news and I didn't want to share it on the phone. Richard called me this afternoon. We have a witness."

"Who?" Becca asks in disbelief.

"A young girl whose name is being withheld at the moment for her protection but she lives in the apartment building! She saw 'Smith' and then Charnquist coming down the fire escape that night!"

"That's wonderful news!" In her excitement, Becca gives him a big hug, much to his surprise.

"Whoa! Don't get too excited," he says with a smile, moving to extract himself. "Its just a beginning – the evidence is still circumstantial. But it corroborates Richard's story. And it proves Charnquist had opportunity. But we still need a motive. A solid one. Have you found anything?"

"No,” she answers, obviously thinking of something else.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just found out my father OK’d a deal I specifically rejected. Something about their financial statements just didn’t seem right. As soon as I left the company, Harry got it approved. I don’t like it,” she adds, shaking her head.

"You left the company during the trial, didn’t you? Could there be a connection? Smith said it was a kidnapping attempt. Could that have been why?"

“I doubt it. I was in charge of ‘Acquisitions and Mergers’. I investigated dozens of companies and rejected most of them. Why would Crystal Clear be different?”

“Crystal Clear Water!?” Jim looks up, startled. “Richard was almost killed by Charnquist at one of their warehouses in Wilmington, Delaware. This could be it! This could be the connection!”

“What do you want me to do? Becca asked excitedly. “I searched the computer files today, but there was nothing suspicious." She picks up her drink, deep in thought. "I could try to get higher security clearance."

"No. I don't want you calling attention to yourself. It could be dangerous if someone were to notice you were accessing those records. Stick to the paper files. And be careful. Don't trust anyone. I don't want anything to happen to you."

 
KIMBLE'S APARTMENT - LATE AT NIGHT

Kimble hears a sports car pull up outside. Through the open window, he hears Kim's voice and looks outside. Kim is in the passenger seat of the car and a young black with a shaved head is behind the wheel. They kiss. As she moves to gets out of the car, J.C. thrusts a small packet into her hand. Kim looks visibly upset and shoves it back at him. They argue, until Kim climbs out of the car and slams the door. J.C. makes a rude gesture. The car backs out of the parking spot and tires squeal as it speeds off. Kim looks up at her apartment to see if her mother is watching and notices Kimble as he moves away from the window. She comes inside and looks with a worried glance at his door before moving to her own. She is searching for the keys in her purse when she hears his door open.

"Good evening," she says politely, but curtly.

"Evening," Kimble says. He pauses then plunges haltingly ahead. "I thought you should know...the police were asking questions the other day...about your boyfriend..."

"You won't tell my mother about...what you saw just now?" Kim asks, concerned. When Kimble doesn't answer, she says, "My Mom doesn't understand our relationship, you know, because J.C. is black. But he really loves me and he's a nice person."

"If he was trying to give you drugs, he doesn't love you."

Kim says angrily, "I should have known you'd take my mother's side. She's been on my case ever since Dad died." She starts to turn away but Kimble grabs her by the arm.

"Look, Kim. I understand what you've been going through, but you have to believe your mother wants what's best for you. And your father would have wanted that, too."

That stops Kim in her tracks, and when she looks up at Kimble her eyes are wet.

Kimble reaches into his shirt collar and pulls out the St. Christopher medal. Holding it out, he says, "My father gave me this right before he died. Whenever I look at it I remember all the things he taught me...and I hope, wherever he is, I can still give him a reason to be proud of me."

Starting to cry, Kim admits, "My Dad wouldn't be proud of me at all." She bows her head and quickly retreats into her own apartment. Kimble moves to follow her, but turns resignedly back to his own apartment. He halts and turns as Kim bursts back into the hall. Her eyes are round with fear.

"Mr. Peterson, something's wrong with my Mom. She came home this afternoon after her treatment and said she wanted to rest on the sofa. Now I can't get her to wake up!"

Kimble hastens inside and leans over Mrs. Yuen on the sofa, feeling for a pulse. "What treatment?" he asks Kim anxiously.

"She has acupuncture once a month--to help balance her chi."

"Rapid breathing," Kimble says, checking Kati's vital signs. "Hasn't your mother been feeling well?"

"Not lately. She's always thirsty and today she threw up after lunch. She said it was nausea from the rice cakes."

"Sweets," Kimble murmurs to himself. He smells Kati's breath. "Ketoacidosis. Your mother's in a diabetic coma, Kim. She needs insulin. Call 911 and ask them to send an ambulance right away."

"Oh my God," Kim says, picking up the phone with a trembling hand.

15 MINUTES LATER

Kimble waits in the hall while the EMTs come up the stairs and put Kati on a stretcher. Kim stays by her mother's side. "What will you do to her?" she asks them worriedly.

"If it is diabetes, she'll be rehydrated and put on insulin," one of the medical personnel tells her.

Kimble watches as they go down the stairs. J.C. comes in the door and accosts Kim, grabbing her arm. "Where the hell have you been? You were supposed to meet me at McDonald's!"

Kim shakes loose from his grip. "I don't have time for that now. I have to be with my mother."

J.C. moves to grab her, but Kimble steps in front of him.

"Let her go. And don't come back or I'll call the police."

J.C. stares at him menacingly for several seconds, but finally looks away. "Have it your way," he mutters and brushes past Kimble and out into the street without looking back as the ambulance pulls away.

NEXT