Shadows... of a Mothers love.

By Jaye Reid.

Commenced: 28/02/2000

Completed: 07/03/2000

Completed: 07/06/2000 (first rework completed)

08/08/2000 (final rework)

Category: Angst, Drama, Violence.

Rated: PG-13

Summary: Not every question has an answer. And not every answer is the one you are seeking.

Disclaimer: Southern Star and the Nine Network own all the characters portrayed within this story. I have borrowed them for a short time, and hopefully they are returned in a better state than when I started.

Feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Authors Notes: I really don't have too many notes with this one. Sincere thanks to Sonia and Erin. You guys know why. Along with Jules and Saz for their continued friendship. Ta for the sub-editing too Sonni.

This was the one folks! It's been one year since I posted my very first ratfic. Since I received this story back, I thought it would be perfect to post it today. It's been an interesting journey.

Dedication: To Christianna who had to endure several periods of virtual abandonment whilst I wrote this.

~*~*~*~

"Janevski, get that phone will you!" instructed Helen as the junior officer tried to rush out the door after the boat crew.

"Don't be too long, or we'll leave ya behind," called Gavin to her cheekily as he wandered through the front doorway.

"Urghhh..." Donna made a dive at the phone, knocking the receiver off in the process. "Sydney Water Police, Constable Janevski speaking."

"Hello? Tayler?" the caller asked.

"Ah no, sorry. Constable Johnson is no longer attached to the water police, try Pol-air," she replied, almost ready to hang up the phone.

"No... no," replied the caller, "I didn't actually *want* Constable Johnson. I actually wanted Jack. Det. Jack Christey, if he is in?"

"Yes, I think so. I'll just put you through."

Donna hit transfer and then Jack's extension. She listened to it ring for a few seconds, before hearing Jack's familiar voice on the other end.

"Christey."

"Call."

"Hey hang on... hang on," complained Jack, "who is it?"

"Ah... I dunno. I don't think they said."

"Well can you find out?" he asked curtly.

"I'm *meant* to be out on the Nemesis. They asked for you by name so I thought..."

"Yeah yeah, okay, put 'em through. But *next* time constable..."

"Yep, ta... bye."

Jack heard the click of Donna hanging up her phone.

And then silence.

"Hello?" said the anxious caller.

"Yes, Detective Sargent Jack Christey."

"Jack... it's Felix... Felix Friedman, Rachel's father."

"Yeah Felix. Hello. How have you been?" Jack asked, and then realised what a stupid question it was. Why did people ask stupid questions?

"It's David," said Felix getting straight to the point, "he's disappeared from school. His father rang, thinking he may have come here."

"And he hasn't?" asked Jack.

"No. Jonathon has taken him out of his school and has sent him to a boarding school. He has no friends there and he misses his mother terribly..."

Jack knew the feeling well. "So... they think he's runaway?"

"Yes. He took some of his things. Jonathon has already contacted the police. But I though you might be able to... for Rachel I mean... you two were close."

Both men knew exactly where they stood in Rachel's life.

"Okay," said Jack, " I'll come 'round shortly. We'll find him."

"Thank you Jack. I knew I could rely on you and her friends. I am so worried. He's still just a boy."

"I'm on my way," Jack replied before hanging up the phone.

He glanced over at Rachel's desk. Now cluttered with Alex's things. Was this ever going to get easier he asked himself?

Jack headed downstairs and found Helen back at the front desk.

"Hel... I have to go out. Mick and Alex are due back shortly. Ah... tell Hawker I..." He stopped to think of a plausible excuse, but Helen was shaking her head.

"I'm not covering for you just because you want to go wander off for awhile," she chastised.

"Nah... David's runaway."

"David? *Rachel's* David?"

"Yeah, Felix just phoned. I'm going around to see him. Jonathon has reported it. Apparently he's sent him to some boarding school that he hates.

"Poor kid," replied Helen. "I might make some enquires, see who is on it and what they've found."

"Ta Helen, oh and Jeff..."

"Don't worry about Jeff," she interrupted, "just go!"

~*~

"Hey! Wait up for me you guys," called Donna as she ran down the walkway to where the Nemesis was moored.

"Ya gonna have ta learn to keep up with us," called Gavin, "or don't expect to get out from behind that front desk very often."

"Yes, yes. What are we doing today?" she quizzed as she jumped aboard the Nemesis.

"Checking boat registrations," replied Gavin.

"Boat rego's?"

"Yeah, boat rego's," Gavin replied smirking towards Matt. "Someone's gotta do it."

"Gees, do we get to issue parking tickets too?" she added sarcastically.

"Now don't be like that," added Matthew, "Gavin's right, someone has to do it. Look if they don't bother keeping their rego's current, then it's more likely the boat wont be up to safety standards."

"Then we have more than unregistered boats to contend with," added Gavin.

Donna nodded in defeat as the boat pulled away from the wharf.

~*~

As Jack drove he wondered what Rachel would have done in this situation? Other than inwardly panic like she did last time her son went missing.

He drove past where Rachel used to live before heading to the Friedman home. There was no sign of David.

Felix's welcome was warm, but he looked pale and worried. He had lost his daughter and now his only remaining link to her was missing.

"Is there anywhere you can think of that he might have gone?" asked Jack, following Felix into the dining room. Photos of David and Rachel filled the whole mantelpiece. Jack looked at them and smiled.

"There were friends, but I never knew where they lived. Jonathon would have more of an idea about them."

"Any special places then?" continued Jack.

"There were a couple of parks over around Mosman," said Felix, "we used to go on picnics... with Rachel."

"Well, if you can tell me where they are I will swing by for a look and get the Mosman guys to keep an eye out."

"I will write them down," said Felix walking out of the room.

"And his fathers address too if you could," called Jack.

He glanced at the pictures while he waited for Felix to come back. And picked up one of a much younger Rachel in uniform. Her graduation photo he guessed. Jack smiled to himself, Rachel in uniform. He wondered what sort of cop she was back then? Ah, she would have been a pain in the arse he decided. No one told Rachel Goldstein what to do. Not unless they were suicidal or had a whole afternoon free to argue the point with her.

Nothing would have changed.

Felix came back into the room with a slip of paper.

"Did I ever tell you," said Felix as he handed it to him, "those few months before she... my Rachel was *so* happy. It had been a very long time since she had been that happy."

Felix put his hand on Jack's shoulder, "Thank you for making my Rachel happy."

Jack was at a loss for words and merely smiled as he placed the frame back on the mantle.

He followed Felix back to the front door.

"She made me very happy too," Jack offered as Felix let him out.

It was the older man's turn to smile.

Jack found himself back out in the afternoon sun, feeling numb.

"Where are you David?" he muttered to himself.

~*~

"Helen any messages?" quizzed Mick strolling into the office with Alex in tow.

"Yeah, the full autopsy report on Mr. Carl Wilson is back. I've put it on your desk."

"Where's Jack?" asked Alex.

"Ah, he had to go out," replied Helen.

"Out? Out where?" asked Jeff appearing from no where.

"Ah, he's just following up a couple of things," replied Helen casually.

"Senior Sergeant?" said Jeff in a warning tone. He knew when she was covering for one of the officers. And she had a soft spot for damn Christey, god knows why, he thought.

"David's gone missing," she replied. She knew she couldn't cover for Jack when Hawker started talking in rank.

"Rachel's David?" quizzed Mick.

"Yes, Felix Friedman rang. Jacks gone around to see him."

""Well, why didn't you say so? " replied Jeff. "Who's on it?"

"Bondi police, he went missing from his school over there."

"So, this isn't actually a water police matter?" queried Alex leaning on the front counter. "And hey I might be slow, but who is David?"

"David," stated Mick, "is the son of Detective Senior Constable Rachel Goldstein."

"Which does make it a water police matter as far as I'm concerned," interrupted Jeff. "So, what are you two detectives working on at the moment?"

"The body dragged out of the Harbour, Carl Wilson."

"Can you handle it without Jack for the time being?" asked Jeff.

"Yes," replied Mick.

Alex had opened her mouth to say no, but the determination is Mick's tone stopped her from verbalising her thoughts.

"I'll give Jack a call," said Jeff. And he headed up the stairs to his office.

~*~

"And your boat licence as well thanks," said Gavin to yet another boat owner at the Drummoyne marina. Gavin took the card, glancing at the ID, and then back to the man standing infront of him. "Do you realise this expired last week?"

"Oh yeah, is that the old one is it? Sorry mate, new one must be at home still."

Gavin looked around and saw Matthew with the radio further down the pier. He noted down the details from the licence and handed it back. "Just make sure you carry your new one with you in future," he instructed before moving on to the next boat.

~*~

Jack drove through the suburbs, heading towards the areas that Felix had written down. Glancing at the slip of paper to reassure himself of the location, he turned down Morella road. But he was reasonably sure that it would be all too easy if he found David there.

The areas were virtually deserted, as he knew they would be, and after walking around, got back to the car and headed off again.

~*~

"Hey Matthew, give us the radio will ya," said Gavin.

Matthew unclipped the portable from his belt and handed it to Gavin.

"I've just got this gut feeling," said Gavin as he punched the phone number for the water police headquarters.

"Yeah Helen, it's Gavin. We're down at the Drummoyne marina. I was wondering if you could run the following details through COPS for me?'

"Hang on a tick," replied Helen, walking around the desk to get to the computer. "Okay, fire away."

"It's Leon Young and the registration is Foxtrot, Juliet, Hotel 5 4 3 6 7" said Gavin.

"Okay, yep, FJH54367, boat rego. Expired on the 27th, that was ah... last Tuesday."

"And there's no renewal then?" quizzed Gavin.

"Ah no," said Helen. "Why would there be?"

"He just told me he left his renewal at home, that's all," replied Gavin annoyed that he had believed him so easily.

"Really," replied Helen. "You moonlighting down there in your other job are you?"

"Sorry?" asked Gavin.

"Your other job, psychic. By my records here, Leon Young died just over six months ago."

~*~

In contrast to the quiet reserves, the video arcade that Felix had also written down, was a hive of activity. At two in the afternoon, Jack wondered why the hell all these kids weren't at school? Truancy must be rife. But again he found no trace of David, in what was apparently one of their favourite haunts on access weekends.

As Jack headed back to the car through the noisy machines, his mobile rang. Surprised he even heard it, he fished it out of his pocket, its bright candy yellow cover making a statement this week. It had been joked about after the whole phone-swapping debacle. But as if another link to his departed lover, he had gone and bought a rainbow of bright covers for his phone.

"Christey."

"Jack, it's Jeff, where the hell are you?"

"Ah Jeff, well I'm just..."

"I know *what* you're doing, just *where* are you doing it? Any sign of the boy?"

"No, nothing," Jack responded, surprised that Jeff knew what was going on.

"Well, he's got to be out there somewhere," stated Jeff.

"Well I've tried the couple of places Felix suggested," continued Jack as he unlocked his car, "but nothin'."

"Helen has spoken to the Bondi patrol, they have checked with his friends. There's been no sign of him."

"Well you might want to contact the guys over in Mosman, tell them to keep a look out around the Clifton Gardens Reserve area and around to Bradley's Head. If you're okay with me doin' this Jeff, I might go and have a chat with David's father," said Jack. He was now sitting in his car, surveying the faces on the street. But none of them belonged to the one he wanted to see.

"Just don't go too heavy with him," cautioned Jeff, "the last thing we want is to get him offside. Mick and Alex are holding the fort. Just let us know if you need any help."

"Yep, thanks on this one Jeff."

"Jack... we look after our own."

~*~

Felix had given Jack the Goldstein's address, in one of the most affluent areas in Sydney. Jack parked the car outside the expansive home. Walking up to the front door he buzzed the intercom and waited.

"Yes?" came a female voice.

"It's Detective Sgt. Jack Christey, I wanted to speak to Jonathon Goldstein."

There was silence.

Jack went to push the button again, but he heard the lock click and the door open slightly.

"Jonathon is away at the moment," she said hesitantly. "Is it David? Have you found him?"

"No, ah... may I come in?" Jack asked.

"Do you have any identification? You know, these days, can't be too..."

"Yeah sure," replied Jack getting his ID from his pocket.

"You are?" asked Jack as he opened the wallet.

"Deborah, Deborah Goldstein," she replied, looking from the ID and back to Jack. "Water Police? You worked with David's mother? Jack Christey," she pondered, "you..."

"Yes, Rachel... I was her partner."

"You were with her that night weren't you? I'm sorry, leaving you standing out there, come inside."

Jack followed Deborah Goldstein down the wide hallway. He studied the second Mrs. Goldstein, wondering what she had that Rachel didn't - to have been her replacement.

"I'm expecting Jonathon home this evening," she offered. "The school called me this morning when they found he had gone. I contacted Jonathon in New Zealand and he has obviously made some calls."

"You didn't go with Jonathon?" queried Jack.

"No detective, it was business. Being involved in those matters is not part of my job."

Jack gave her a puzzled expression and then understood why Rachel had chosen to give up this lifestyle. He doubted that entertaining and being charming were part of her personality. She would have gone crazy.

"Can I get you anything Detective?" Deborah asked politely.

"No, no thank you. I'm assuming then you haven't heard from David?" asked Jack.

"No, not since he left the school. He phoned earlier yesterday to speak to his father. But Jonathon has been away since last week."

"So why is he at boarding school?" asked Jack. "Wasn't he already going to a good school?"

"To be honest?" she started, "not that he would *ever* admit it, I think David reminds Jonathon of Rachel too much. He feels guilty now that she is gone. You see they fought each other over David for so long. She challenged him, when seldom few others were game. But she was game, more than game. Now that she has gone, the battle is over. There is no one to challenge him. Deep down I think he misses her."

Jack was surprised at these admissions from her, and the expression on his face must have mirrored his thoughts.

"I'm under no delusions Detective," she continued, "if Rachel had been willing to give up her job, then I wouldn't be standing here now. He loved her once, and I think if he had realised she would seriously leave him, he would have done everything to convince her to stay. She wasn't afraid of him. And I think he respected that part of her. And David, well he is so much like his mother. He has her fighting spirit, and he's a constant reminder to Jonathon that there are parts of his life that didn't go as planned."

Jack didn't know much about Jonathon. It was a part of Rachel's life that she hadn't discussed with him. They never had the chance. Helen had told him snippets about the legal fights Rachel had, but from what Mrs. Goldstein number two had just shared, there was a lot that Helen *didn't* say.

"So, is there *anywhere* at all you can think of he might have gone?" asked Jack.

"Well no, not really. Unless..."

"Unless where?" Jack persisted.

"Well have you tried the cemetery? David was always at his father to take him. I think Jonathon took him once, but has always found excuses not to go again."

"Okay, thank you Mrs... Goldstein." Jack's mind cringed at that surname belonging to any woman that *wasn't* Rachel.

"That's fine. Please, just let us know if you find him," she replied.

~*~

Gavin was still complaining to Matthew and Donna as he walked back into the Station.

"No luck?" asked Helen," with our living dead?"

"Nah, I can't believe it," said Gavin to Helen.

Matt and Donna rolled their eyes at each other and chose that moment to disappear elsewhere. They had been listening to Gavin say the same thing over and over the whole afternoon.

"We went back and he was gone. So was the boat. And no-one seemed to see him leave and we didn't spot him out in the Harbour either."

"Hey Gavin, I hear you have special talents these days? You wanta tell me my future?" called Mick with a laugh coming down the stairs.

"Yeah, yeah," replied Gavin with a smirk, pulling a face at the detective, "cracks like that and you won't have one!"

Mick grinned back, "Well have you got a minute. The guy maybe able to help us with a case we are working on."

"How can a dead guy help you?" asked Gavin.

"Well, the guy *you* spoke to obviously wasn't the dead one," continued Mick, "so I want to know where he got the id from?"

"But that's just it," said Gavin, "the id matched the guy. Like it looked exactly like him."

"So what are you saying? The guy has a twin?" asked Mick.

"Hell Mick, I dunno," replied Gavin following Mick up the stairs "Are they sure the guy actually died? I mean was there a positive id? How did he die?"

Mick stopped and looked back down at Helen.

"Yes, yes. I'll see what I can find out," said Helen.

"Thanks Helen," replied Mick, and they headed back up to the detective's office.

~*~

As Jack drove away from the house, he couldn't believe he hadn't thought to check the cemetery. The poor kid. If he had wanted to visit and found no one would take him, it made sense if he ran away to do it himself. Somewhere to go to and talk to his mother. Jack and been known to do the same thing. Grab a bottle of good red; wander over there himself to have a chat.

Tell Rachel about work, how much he missed her.

How much he loved her.

Jack phoned the office to let them know what he was doing. Helen agreed that it was a very likely place to find him. She was keeping close contact with the Bondi police. They were treating it as just another spoilt rich kid running away from the local Jewish private school. When they queried Helen's interest in the matter, she soon informed them of who David's mother had been. They seemed to find a renewed interest and were keeping her updated.

Unfortunately the updates were that there had been no sign of David.

~*~

"Excuse me Detectives, Gavin," said Helen entering the Detectives office. "The dead man you were chatting to this morning..."

"Yeah?" said Gavin as he turned around in his chair.

"Well the yacht has just been reported as anchored in the middle of no where out towards Middle Head. Matt and Donna are already heading down to the Nemesis."

Gavin jumped up and started for the door.

"Sorry guys, work to do," he called.

"Think we might just tag along too," said Alex. "You comin' Mick?"

"Yep."

~*~

Upon arrival at the cemetery Jack made is way along the path he knew well. He played various discussions in his mind, trying to figure out exactly what he would say to David. But his thought processes were wasted as he found Rachel's gravesite deserted. As he was about to leave he noticed a handful of flowers lying beside the headstone on the opposite side. The flowers grew wild in small pockets in the older part of the cemetery. They were severely wilted from lying in the sun most of the day he summized, but Jack knew that no one else would have left them.

David had been there.

But where was he now?

He called Helen again, letting her know that they had missed him. She said she would organise someone to keep an eye open in that area incase David went back. Jack decided to call back past Felix's house before heading to the station. Felix too was surprised that they hadn't thought of the cemetery themselves.

But David still hadn't contacted his grandfather.

~*~

"Yeah that's her alright," stated Gavin as the yacht came into sight. "Matt get us beside will ya."

Matthew manoeuvred the Nemesis along side the yacht. Gavin and the detectives jumped aboard it. Donna stood watch as the officers cautiously moved around the boat, guns drawn, not sure of what or whom they might encounter.

"Hello?" called Mick as he nodded to Alex indicting that he was going to check below deck.

"Anyone here?" called Alex.

The detectives both headed below deck looking around in the cramped surroundings.

"Nothing," said Mick.

"Well no-one," corrected Alex. "We'll go over the whole boat, see if we can come up with anything."

"Hey," called Gavin, sticking his head into the open hatch. "I think there's something you guys better have a look at."

Alex and Mick clambered back on deck and balanced their way along to the front of the boat where Gavin was now standing.

"Blood," stated Alex as she leaned down for a closer look at the substance on the decking.

"Yep, and over here," he said moving round further, "there's more."

"Okay, better get the divers out here," said Mick. "Think we might be looking for a body. There are drag marks along here."

"They're gonna get a kick out of this one," said Gavin sarcastically, "Can ya die twice?"

~*~*~*~

"So, let me get this straight," said Lance to Mick. "We're looking for a guy who has been dead for six months, but Gavin was talking to him this morning?"

"Yep, that's right," replied Mick.

Lance looked over to Gavin. "You need to get some new friends mate."

"This is bizarre," stated Emma levering the oxygen tank on to her back. "Are you sure Syksie hasn't just been watching too many horror flicks?"

Alex chuckled. "Yeah you'd have to wonder wouldn't you? We're checking into the first death."

"What? As opposed to us finding him dead *again*?" queried Lance.

"Ah yeah... something like that. If we..."

Her mobile interrupted Alex.

"Hello?"

"Yeah Helen."

"Oh really, okay."

"Yes, we'll head back, thanks."

Alex shoved her phone back into her pocket. "Bingo! Leon Young supposedly died in a fire. Burnt beyond recognition and only identified by his dental records."

"But if his dental records were verified..." started Mick.

"Nup," she grinned. "He was a dentist. How hard would it be to have dummy records on file if you planned on disappearing?"

Mick could see where her theory was heading.

"Syksie, can you take us back?" Mick called.

Gavin looked towards Lance and the other divers.

"Yeah go on," Lance called, "not as if we need you guys to hold our hands out here."

~*~*~*~

"So, the dental records matched," said Alex, "and there was nothing else to identify him?"

"No, apparently not," replied Helen.

"So he could have easily exchanged someone else's records for his, then disappeared."

"So, we're not just looking at a bloke doing a runner, we're also looking at a murder. The body had to come from somewhere," said Mick.

"And Carl Wilson, the guy you dragged out of the harbour the other day, he was a dentist too. They worked at the same place?" asked Jeff.

"Well for the same group. They have three dental surgeries around Sydney."

"So do you think they might be running a scam?" asked Helen.

"Looks like it," replied Alex. "I think it's worth speaking to the others. There is definitely *something* going on."

"Helen, can you check whether any other patients have died under mysterious circumstances and whether dental records have been required for identification?" asked Jeff.

All eyes turned to Helen.

"What do I look like here?" she protested.

"The intelligence officer," grinned Mick.

Helen smiled back and looked at her watch. "Well, there isn't much you can do now. I'll do some hunting and if I find anything I'll put it on your desk for the morning Mick."

Mick also glanced at his watch. "Yeah, okay. Ah... have you heard anything from Jack?"

"He's heading back in via Rachel's fathers. Looks like David *may* have been at the cemetery *sometime* during the day, but there's no sign of him now," Helen replied.

Mick nodded, finding David wasn't going to be an easy task. He sighed, "Okay well time to knock off."

"Yeah," replied Alex pushed herself off the edge of Helen's desk and heading back to the detective's office after Mick.

~*~*~*~

"So when do you want to talk to these people?" asked Mick as he threw a couple of manilla folders stacked on his desk into a filing tray.

"Well I might give it a go now," she replied, as she opened a file on her desk and picked up the phone. She punched in the number and waited.

"Ah yes, I was wondering if I could make an appointment to see someone tomorrow morning? Early if possible. Oh... breakfast meeting," repeated Alex as she swung around in her chair and glanced over at Mick who was listening intently. "And that's at? Oh no, I was just trying to work out what time someone would be in... you know."

Mick didn't attempt to hide the grin on his face. This woman was good!

"Yeah... yep... and they're due in at 10?" she again repeated as she wrote down the details. "Okay, well look I'll call back in the morning then. No really, it can wait. Thank you... bye."

"What's for breakfast then?" grinned Mick. "Ya better remember to brush your teeth in the morning."

"Dunno... I'll let you know tomorrow," she replied standing and pushing her chair under the desk. "What's say we hit the bar?"

"Suits me," Mick replied.

~*~*~*~

"So what exactly is this *thing* with Jack and the Goldstein kid?" asked Alex as she took a mouthful of her drink.

Mick gave her a sideways glance as he leaned on the bar.

"Well come on," continued Alex, "no one around here will tell me anything. Obviously there was a sizeable history between them."

"I wouldn't say sizeable," replied Mick. "They didn't really get the chance. But they loved each other. Who knows what would have happened."

"He was there when she died, I know that much. Where were you?" she continued.

Mick straightened up, "Look, I think you know all you need to know. Rachel was pretty damn special to everyone and were gonna do what we can to find her son. Just as we would have if she was still here. I've gotta get goin'. I'll see ya tomorrow."

"Yeah okay, see ya," said Alex as she watched Mick walk out of the bar. She looked across at Gavin who was sitting across the corner.

"What'd I say?" she asked in a frustrated tone.

Gavin slid off his seat at the bar and walked around to Alex.

"He was on call that night, but his phone got switched off. No one could get in touch with him for the operation. He should have been there as back up. But he wasn't. Rachel died... you try living with that."

And with that, Gavin also headed out the door, leaving Alex to contemplate his words.

~*~*~*~

Jack glanced around at the near empty offices as he strolled upstairs. Seeing Helen in her office he walked in and virtually collapsed in the spare chair opposite her.

"Where is everyone?" he asked.

Helen looked at him despondently, "Jack, it's late, shift's over, they've gone home."

He looked at his watch, not realising it was so late in the day. "Why haven't you gone home too?" Jack asked wearily, a wave of tiredness hit him.

Helen just looked down her nose at him.

"Yeah, sorry, I know why. Stupid question," he said.

"I actually thought he might come here," said Helen. "So I've just been hanging around in case there is some word."

"Jack."

Jack turned around. Jeff Hawker was standing in the doorway.

"Jeff, you're still here too?"

"Yeah. Anything? Helen told me he *had* been at the cemetery."

"No, nothing. Have you guys heard? Has *anyone* seen him?" asked Jack.

"Doesn't seem like it," replied Helen.

"How does a kid get around from one side of the city to another like this?" asked Jack, more to himself than either of his colleagues.

"Apparently," informed Helen, "he had about $50 on him - pocketmoney."

"$50, that's *some* pocketmoney," scoffed Jack.

"Yes, well it would be like Jonathon Goldstein to fork out the cash instead of giving the kid what he really needs," stated Jeff.

Jack was surprised at Jeff's comment. The softer, compassionate side of Jeff was one rarely seen by the officers he worked with. Although Jack though Jeff had mellowed a bit since the night Rachel died. So had Helen for that matter.

One of the uniformed officers working the front desk appeared behind Jeff. "Excuse me Chief Inspector, phone for you. Line three."

"Helen?"

"Sure, take it here," she replied moving the phone for him.

He picked up the receiver, "Chief Inspector Hawker."

"Yes, Mr. Goldstein. What can I do for you?"

Jack and Helen looked at each other and then back to Jeff.

"No, we haven't found him."

"No we are not trying to *take over*. We are merely assisting the Bondi police with their enquires."

Jeff started shaking his head; Helen and Jack listened intently to the one side of the conversation.

"Well when the son of one of my officers goes missing I feel it *IS* my business!" stated Jeff, starting to raise his voice.

"Yes. Yes... I *know* she is, but that doesn't change anything in my book. I ... what? Detective Christey?"

Jeff looked at Jack and listened to Jonathon.

"No, he was NOT 'off the leash' as you put it. He was under my *full* authority. Your wife was apparently quite happy to talk to him."

Jack nodded in agreeance. "More than happy," he mouthed. Jeff nodded while he continued to listen to Jonathon rave on.

"LOOK HERE!" yelled Jeff. "Mr. Goldstein, I suggest that you perhaps evaluate *why* your son chose to run away rather than giving us, a difficult time. Now, if you don't mind, I have work to do!"

Jeff slammed the receiver down on the phone without waiting for a response from Jonathon.

"Glad to see you're not getting off side with him," Jack offered dryly.

"Ah yeah well... you'd think he'd appreciate as much help as he can to find David."

"You know what he's like Jeff, he's always been a bastard," added Helen dryly.

"Who knows what she ever saw in him," replied Jack.

"Yes her taste in men often left a lot to be desired," said Helen giving Jack a half grin, easing the tension in the room.

Jack smiled back, "Yeah."

"Well I don't know if there is much we can do until we get a positive sighting of him. Time to go home perhaps. Hopefully he's holed up somewhere safe for the night," said Jeff.

"What if he shows up here?" asked Helen.

"I'll stay for awhile," offered Jack. "He might turn up at your place Helen. You should go home."

"I agree," said Jeff, "go home Helen. Don't stay too late Jack. The uniforms can call if he shows up."

Helen and Jeff headed out the front door and Jack trudged back to the detective's office.

There were two notes waiting for him on his desk. One from Alex with a basic run-down on the case they were working on. Alex was informing Jack that she planned to follow up a couple of business rivals in the morning - if he had no other thoughts on the matter.

Other thoughts he scoffed.

He hadn't thought about anything other than Rachel and David all day.

The other note was a brief one from Mick asking Jack to phone him.

Jack picked up the phone, punched the numbers and listened to it ring.

"Reilly."

"Mick... You left a message? Nice to see you have your phone switched on."

"Cheap shot Jack," Mick retaliated.

"Ah yeah mate... sorry." Jack took a breath, this was bringing it all back. He was going to have to let it go. "You wanted something?"

"Yeah, I wanted to know if there was anything I could do?" Mick asked.

"Do?"

"Yeah do. I got back this morning and Helen told me. Alex, well she just doesn't understand, I mean she can't can she? But I understand, I want to do something... for Rachel."

"Look, thanks mate," said Jack leaning back in his chair. "But I really don't know what else we *can* do. I've checked the few places Felix could think of. The local boys in those areas are keeping a lookout. I'm gonna stay here at the office for a bit, just in case... you know."

"Yeah, okay Jack. Well give me a call if ya need me."

"Sure Mick."

~*~

"Jack? Hey Jack," said Alex giving him a nudge.

He looked up and around, feeling disorientated. Alex? What was she doing in his...?

"Alex, what time is it?" he questioned in his fatigued state.

"Have you been here all night?" she quizzed.

Not getting an answer from her about the hour, he tried to focus on the face of his watch.

"Ah, 7.30, yeah I guess I have been," he replied, rubbing his neck that felt sore and stiff. "Musta fallen asleep at my desk."

"Yeah, obviously. Any luck in finding the kid?" she asked.

He noticed her off-handed tone, but he knew she couldn't help that. She didn't know David, she didn't know Rachel.

"No, no luck at all," he replied, standing and stretching.

"Well I'm off to crash a breakfast meeting," she said, "Wish me luck."

"Yeah, kick some arse," Jack replied and followed her out of the office. "I think I might stretch my legs."

Helen was hurrying in the front door as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Jack, you're here already?" she started and then noticed his clothes, "Ah hell Jack, you haven't been home," she added sympathetically.

"Ah no. Doesn't appear that I have," he offered.

"Well I'm outa here," said Alex, and she headed out the door.

"Jack go home, I'll give you a call if I hear anything," said Helen.

"Nah, think I will just grab a shower here," he replied, "back soon."

Helen watched him sleepily stray off in the direction of the showers.

Jeff had also arrived, Helen informing him of Jack's sleeping arrangements from the previous night.

Jeff refrained from commenting on Jack's casual dress code for the day when he returned. The trademark Armani replaced by a pair of 501's and a dark grey polo shirt that had been stashed away in his locker.

Helen knew that Jack wouldn't have eaten anything since he hadn't left the Station. She smiled; she wasn't the intelligence officer for nothing.

"Jack, could you do me a favour?" she asked hopefully.

Jack smiled and leaned on the doorframe. "Sure Helen. What's the problem?"

She grabbed some money from her desk. "Something was wrong with my toaster this morning, and I was out of milk. Do you think you could duck out and grab me something? I've got to start on this," she said patting her hand on the stack of reports on her desk, "and you look like you could do with some air."

After already saying yes, he felt he could very well back out, even though he wasn't keen on going too far.

"Nah, save ya money," said Jack shaking his hand at the money she held out. "I'll get it. Might grab something for myself too."

He glanced back at her smiling face as he headed out and he realised he'd been suckered.

~*~*~*~

"I'm looking for Dr Clifford," said Alex at the reception desk of the hotel.

"I'm sorry he's in a meeting in there. They don't wish to be disturbed," the clerk stated as she moved over to stand in the closed doorway.

"Ah that's fine," said Alex with a smile as she flashed her police ID. "I won't keep him for too long."

The clerk stepped aside and Alex strode purposefully toward the group.

"Morning gentlemen," said Alex as she pulled out a chair and sat down. "I guess this one is now vacant since Dr. Young and now Dr Wilson are gone."

"Excuse me! This is a private meeting," stated one as he looked over towards the clerk standing in the doorway. "How did you get in?"

"Ah this gets me most places," Alex replied smugly taking her ID out again. "Detective St. Clare, Sydney Water Police."

"Detective," said one of the others, "how can we help you?"

"And you are?" she quizzed.

"Maxwell Clifford"

"Ah yes, Dr. Clifford, I was hoping you could help me. I'm investigating the suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of Drs. Young and Wilson. I believe they were your partners?"

"Yes they were, but I can't see how *we* could help you. Leon's death was tragic, but it was six months ago and purely accidental I believe. And as for Carl..."

"Yes well, there has been some new information on Dr. Young's death and the case has been re-opened. I'm just wondering if perhaps anyone here may have remembered something else? Since his untimely death I mean?"

There was silence at the table.

"I think you have your answer Detective," Dr Clifford replied.

Alex looked around at their blank faces. "You have nothing at all to say?" she asked again.

"You have beautiful teeth," said Dr. Clifford. "Anytime you want them polished, I would be happy to do it for you."

"Ah thanks and ahhh... if anyone remembers anything her is my number," said Alex dropping her card on the table and grabbing a piece of toast as she stood. "Thank you for your time."

~*~*~*~

"What now then?" asked Mick leaning back in his chair.

"Well I say they would have to be worried," replied Alex.

"Worried?" asked Helen walking into the Detectives office, "I'd be down right panicking if I was them."

"What ya got for us Helen?" asked Mick.

"Requests for dental records from the Coroners office," she replied smugly. "Seems that they must have been on first name basis."

"Yes!" said Alex brightly. "Anyone in particular?"

"They are from all three surgeries but it appears they were all patients of Dr. Maxwell Clifford's."

"Spoke to him at the meeting this morning," said Alex looking at Mick. A grin spreading across her face. "He seemed rather sure of himself."

"Well I've got 4 requests in the last 2 months. Nice little sideline if he is getting paid for the x-rays."

"With the rates they charge you wouldn't think they would need a sideline," replied Alex.

"So what do you think then Helen? Is he involved in the actual body disposal or do you think he's just supplying the x-rays?" asked Mick.

"And how do Drs. Young and Wilson fit in to all of this?" added Alex.

"Hey you're the Detectives," stated Helen.

"Speaking of which, is Jack around?" asked Mick.

"No. I sent him out for awhile. Should be back soon, but count him out again today I think," she replied heading towards the door.

"Still nothing?" asked Alex.

"No."

"Come on then," said Mick, "I think we should have another chat with Dr. Clifford."

"Yeah why not," sighed Alex.

~*~

"Hey Jack," said Alex as they passed on the pathway outside the office. "How ya doing?"

"Yep fine," he replied. "Any leads on the case?"

"We're just going out to have a chat with one of the dentists now. There is definitely something going on," offered Mick.

"Yeah look, sorry to leave you guys with this but..."

"Nah, it's fine, really," said Alex putting her hand on Jack's arm and giving him a concerned look. "We're coping alright with this. Don't worry about it okay?"

Jack gave her a smile and nodded. "I'll let you get on with it then."

"Yep, keep us informed too mate," said Mick as he and Alex headed to the car park.

~*~*~*~

Jack was feeling decidedly better as he walked back into the office.

He could see Helen talking on the phone at the front counter and he held up the brown paper bags in her direction with a smile.

Helen looked at him, her face drained of colour. His smile disappeared and panic swept through his body, his stomach churned.

Jack's heart and mind were screaming at him, not David?

Not David too?

Helen put the phone down with a thud. Jack just looked at her, afraid to ask.

"David's turned up," Helen stated.

"Is he... is he okay?" he heard someone ask, and then he realised the words had come from his own mouth.

"Physically yes, but... I said we'd go get him," she replied.

"Okay I'm going. Where is..."

"You're not going without me," interrupted Helen reaching for her hat. "Janevski!"

"Yes Sarge?" said Donna looking up from the photocopier.

"Tell Jeff we're going out to Long Bay," she instructed as she round the counter and hurried towards Jack.

"Yes Sarge."

"Long Bay?" repeated Jack looking to Helen.

She put a hand on Jack's shoulder.

"Yeah, he's just tried to get in to see Denton."

~*~

"We'd like to see Dr Clifford," said Mick purposefully to the dental surgery receptionist.

"I'm sorry, Dr Clifford is unavailable today," she replied as she opened the diary on the desk and started turning pages over. "We could possibly fit you in next Tuesday morning. Say 10.30am?"

"Ah no," said Alex, taking out her ID, "Detective St Clare and this is Detective Reilly. Sydney water police and we would like to have a word or two with him."

"Oh. Well... he's not *actually* in this morning," she replied. "He phoned earlier and asked me to reschedule his appointments for today."

"Did he say why?" queried Alex, glancing at Mick.

"Ah no... He's the boss. Would you question *your* boss if they rang and said they weren't coming in?"

"Yeah alright," said Mick, "thanks."

Alex and Mick walked back to the car.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Alex asked.

"Yes B1 I think I *am* thinking what you're thinking," he grinned.

"Say what?"

"Don't you watch TV?" asked Mick with a laugh.

"Obviously not what *you* watch!" she replied.

"Well... I think he's done a runner," stated Mick.

"Well I dunno, maybe not a runner. Walk away from all of this?" she replied as she waved her hand back towards the building. "But I reckon he might have gone to have a chat with someone about their little project unravelling."

"So where to from here? His place?" asked Mick.

"Yeah, might as well," replied Alex as they got back into the car. She unhooked the radio microphone. "VKG Sydney Water Police?"

"Copy Water police 200"

"Ah Donna, no joy here. We're heading around to his residence. See if he's there."

"See if *who* is where?" came the reply.

Alex rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Dr. Clifford. Helen there?"

"Negative Water Police 200. Sergeant Blakemore and Detective Sergeant Christey have gone out."

"Okay, VKG, Water Police 200 clear."

"VKG clear."

"Okay let's go," Alex said turning to Mick.

~*~

They drove in silence most of the way to Malabar. The suburb held the dubious honour of housing the Long Bay Correctional Centre within its boundaries.

"Why?" asked Jack finally breaking the silence, "I mean Denton would be the last person I'd want to see again."

Helen had been asking herself the same question since taking the phone call. But now Jacks comment, held the answer.

"Yes, but we have seen him. We watched him interviewed, and then there was the trial. David's had nothing. His father would have shielded him from it all," she commented. "I guess the poor kid is looking for answers."

"Hmph... but are there any?" Jack replied.

The remainder of the journey was continued in silence. He turned off the main road and detoured around the smaller side streets to the main car park of the prison.

Jack was at a loss for words and was happy when Helen took the lead and spoke to the relevant people who eventually lead them into an office where David was sitting, looking downtrodden and dejected.

He looked up at them as the door was closed. Recognising Helen through his tear filled eyes, jumped up and threw himself at his mother's friend. Tears spilling down his cheeks.

"I just want to know why? I want Mum. I want her back. I want to know why he did it? It's not fair. I loved her. I want her back." Words streamed from him as his whole body shook.

Helen wrapped her arms around the sobbing boy, tears now staining her face. Glancing at Jack she noticed that he has faring no better.

David's pain brought the whole night to the front of Jack's memory. He had tried to push it to the back to the darkness, where things he didn't want to think about were kept. But watching David and hearing him verbalise his torment brought it screaming back to the light.

Jack gave Helen a sideways nod, to suggest they leave. One of Jack's better ideas for the day she thought.

She walked David out of the room, holding him tightly as his feet stumbled along. Jack followed, scooping David's bag up from the floor.

~*~*~*~

"Well looks like somebody's home," said Mick pointing to the car in the driveway as they walked into the yard.

They rang the doorbell and knocked, but there was no response.

"Round the back?" nodded Alex.

"Yeah okay."

Mick continued to knock at the front door as Alex made her way around the side of the house.

She was soon back.

"Hey Mick," she whispered loudly waving at him to follow her.

"What is it?" he asked when he caught up to her.

"Think you better look in here," she said pointing at the window.

Mick peered inside and could see Maxwell Clifford lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

There was a bullet wound in his temple.

"Well saves you making an appointment," stated Mick.

~*~*~*~

"I reckon you must have just missed whoever did this," said Chopper as he examined the body. "He's barely cold."

"Looks like he was doing a runner," said Mick to Alex. "There's a suitcase half packed on a bedroom."

"Yeah, okay. So who was he running from?" asked Alex. "I don't think it was from us."

"Nah... someone had him worried," replied Mick. "He was taken out. There's no sign of a struggle either. Nothing upturned or broken. He knew 'em. There's no attempt to make it look like a break and enter either."

"So they are calculating and they don't particularly care about hiding it," she replied.

""Whatever this is it's bloody bigger than we first thought," said Mick.

Two men in suits entered the room behind the uniformed police.

"You're not wrong there," said one.

"Look this is a..." started Alex.

"Crime scene?" said the other as they showed their badges. "And you are?"

"Ah... Detective Michael Reilly and this is Detective Alex St. Clare, Sydney Water Police," said Mick. "So what's your interest here?"

"Water Police?" laughed the other one, "I don't remember seeing the floaties outside."

"And we've had an interest for sometime. We've been watching Maxwell Clifford for awhile. You might say that something was a bit *fishy*."

"Humph! Well you weren't watching him too closely today then were you?" replied Alex.

"We know where to look though. Leon Young was very helpful."

"Young!" exclaimed Alex. "We've had our divers dredging the bloody harbour searching for his body!"

"Nah we have him high and dry. Anyway, we'll take over now. Thanks for that sweetheart."

"Take over? Take over!" complained Alex. "What do we look like? Do you know how much time we have spent on this? Not to mention the expense with our divers out there? Do we look like we've got nothing better to do than waste our time? You never thought to pass this information on!"

"Alex, Alex... come on," said Mick trying to calm her down. "Look if you want to call around to the office, we can give you all the paperwork we have collected on this too."

"That would be really nice of you," smiled one of them at Alex and Mick, obviously pleased that he had managed to annoy Alex.

Alex stomped her way out of the house after Mick.

"What was all that? Bloody boys club or something? You just let him walk all over you. And you! "*Come and get all the paperwork*" she mimicked.

"What you want the paperwork?" asked Mick.

"Well no. But hey, how much of *our* time have they wasted?" said Alex. She wrenched at the car door. It wouldn't open. She glared at Mick in frustration. He grinned at her and pressed the remote button, popping the locks.

"Well they wasted our time, perhaps we should waste theirs," replied Mick with a snicker.

"What do you mean?" queried Alex as they sat in the car.

"Well, I'm sure we can find all sorts of *useful* information to give them when they call around," he smiled. "That'll teach them."

"Yeah bloody Neanderthal," she replied looking back at the house. "I'll give him sweetheart. He makes Jack Christey look like a SNAG."

Mick laughed. "Hey Jack's okay. Just gotta get used to his *style*."

"Style?" she laughed back.

~*~*~*~*~

Out in the car park Helen sat David in the front seat, the door wide open.

"You just sit there for a bit," said Helen patting him on the head. His hair was uncombed and tangled. He pulled his feet up onto the seat and wrapped his arms around his bent legs, before resting his head on his knees. Tears now flowing silently.

Jack and Helen felt at a loss to what to do or say. Their combined years of service with the NSW police had seen them confronted with so many grieving family members. But none of their experience or training seemed to prepare them for the devastating grief that had been building up inside this boy since his mother's life was taken.

But how could it when they were grieving along with him?

"They're not going to let me see him are they?" said David through his tears.

"No, they're not," replied Jack solemnly.

David looked up at him.

"You told me Mum wanted you to tell me what happened. But you didn't. Why won't you tell me?" he sobbed.

Jack looked at Helen, hoping for some sign from her. But her face was blank; she too was searching for the right words where perhaps there were none.

David grabbed his bag from the ground and opened it, pulling a school folder from inside.

The wind caught a piece of paper. He cried out as he attempted to catch it, but it was gone.

Jack lobbed after it as it danced with the wind across the carpark.

Finally catching it he looked down at the newspaper article that has been torn roughly from a page.

"No Clues In Detective's Murder"

the headlines screamed out at him. He walked slowly back to the car, scanning the article along the way.

He handed it back to David, who placed it inside a plastic sheet protector in the folder, along with several other news clippings.

"I took them from the papers after Dad had thrown them out," said David quietly.

"The papers don't always report the facts correctly," offered Jack, knowing the details that had been given. Some in graphic detail, especially during the trial.

"They said," David continued, "that she 'died from the result of a stab wound to the stomach and massive blood loss'" he quoted parrot fashion. "So was *that* true?"

Jack put his hand to his forehead running it down his face, trying to decide whether to answer him. But David was on a mission for answers. And answers were what he needed to hear.

"Yes," he replied.

"Jack, I don't think," started Helen, "his father should..."

"I promised his Mother... I promised Rachel," interrupted Jack. "I promised her that night, I would tell David. She wanted me to tell him. I owe her that much." He looked at David. "I owe you that much. Ask whatever you have to and I'll try and answer as honestly as I can."

"Let's just go somewhere else then," suggested Helen, realising that there were obviously things Jack needed to say and David needed to hear. And the car park of the Long Bay prison was not the best surroundings for them to be aired.

Jack leaned in the open doorway. "David, how about the Clifton Gardens? What do you say? We go there?"

David nodded.

"Come on, hop in the back," said Helen opening the rear passenger door for him.

David got out of the car and brushed the dust from the front seat that his shoes had put there.

"He's a neat freak," offered David matter of factly as he walked around Helen to get into the back seat of the car.

Helen tried to control the smile that was spreading across her face. She didn't need to ask where that comment came from.

~*~

Jack turned the radio on as they drove towards Mosman. Something to break the silence rather than for entertainment.

Helen radioed to the headquarters that they were taking a slight detour on the way back, and to expect them when they saw them. Donna knew better than to question.

~*~

This looks like a nice place," said Jack as they got out of the vehicle at the reserve.

"How did you know about it?" asked David, "did you come here with Mum too?"

"No, no mate. Your grandfather told me you used to come here," replied Jack. "He's been really worried about you."

David turned his face to the wind.

"We used to come here a lot," he said as he made his way over to a thick grassy patch and sat down. "It was mostly just me and Mum, sometimes my Grandfather would come too. And umm... what was his name? John? Yeah that was it... he came with us a few times, but after he died, we didn't come here as much. Mum didn't seem to want to."

Jack looked at Helen with a puzzled expression.

"Harrison," said Helen, knowing what he was asking without him having to verbalise it.

On hearing the name, Jack remembered all the stories, rumours and innuendoes that did the rounds of the Sydney police stations back then. When a cop killed another cop it was big news. But when the cop had been going to *marry* the cop she killed, it was big gossip. Not that he ever liked gossip, but he would needed to have been deaf not to have heard all the stories.

"Yeah, that was him," offered David. "I liked him, but he wasn't very nice apparently."

"No, not everyone in this world is nice," replied Jack as he scrambled down to the ground beside David, glad he was in his jeans.

"I think I might just go for a little walk," Helen offered. She didn't want to intrude on the space around them. There were demons that they needed to battle and battling them together seemed like a good option.

"You said she made you promise to tell me," started David.

"Yeah she did," he replied. "She kept saying 'tell David' until I promised that I would. I am guessing she meant about what happened, because I didn't need to tell you that she loved you. I think you already knew that."

"Yeah I know she loved me," he replied. "You were with her that day, when she called in at school? I was being stupid, I should have let her hug me, but I was being stupid because all the others were there. I wish I had let her hug me. I wish I could just hug her now, and I wouldn't care how many people saw us."

"It didn't matter to her," answered Jack. "She said you were the love of her life. All you had to do was smile at her mate - and she had everything she wanted."

"Why did he do it?" David asked. Jack knew this question was inevitable, and wasn't sure what his response should be.

"I dunno David. I guess he was just stupid and he..."

"No, I mean, what did Mum ever do to him? Did she do something? Why didn't he just let her go?"

"Oh, I see," said Jack aware David was looking more for the mechanics of the situation. "Well, we'd been working on a big case, and this guy when he saw Rachel... saw your Mum, well he figured she would recognise him. Because she had seen him before. So he panicked and figured he had to stop her from telling anyone he was involved."

"Why didn't she shoot him then? She had shot people before. Why not him?"

"Well I think he surprised her. He was hiding in the shadows and she didn't see him until it was too late. She was going for her gun, but she just didn't get the chance."

There was a brief silence. Jack looked out over the water. It was such a nice peaceful place. Too nice to be discussing such a horrible crime there.

"She was a good cop wasn't she?" stated David.

"One of the very best," Jack replied.

"Do *you* miss her?" he questioned.

"Very much David, very much."

"So do I. But no one will talk to me about her. Dad won't. I've got no one to talk to about her. No one wants to listen to me. I'm afraid that if I don't talk about her, people will forget that she was alive. They will forget what she looked like, and how she laughed and told jokes. I don't want to forget her, but I'm scared I will."

"Listen mate, when you love someone like you love your Mum, she's always going to be alive, in here," he said hitting across his heart with his fist. "You won't lose that David. You just have to keep telling yourself that you won't. Some days, I get home at night and realise that I haven't thought about her once during the day." Jack paused and looked out over the water before continuing. "I feel guilty, but then I remember this is where she is for me too, and I feel better. Like she is still with me," replied Jack, choking back his own tears.

"You loved her too didn't you," said David.

"Yeah mate, I did. Your Mum, she was a wonderful person. And I loved her."

Helen strolled back towards them.

"Back to the office?" she quizzed. "Everyone will be wondering what has happened to us."

"Sounds like a good idea. David?" asked Jack.

"No. I want to go to power station," said David getting to his feet.

Helen gave him a pained look.

"Please? I want to go there," David continued. "Just once. Then I never want to go back there again. But I want to go there now."

"I don't know David," said Helen. "I mean are you sure?"

"I don't want to go inside," he replied. "I don't want to go to where it... where it *happened*. I just want to go there. To see it. No one else will ever take me."

"Yeah come on, back to the car then," said Jack. "We don't want..."

Jack's mobile phone rang and interrupted his sentence. He answered it as they walked back to the car.

"Christey."

"Yeah Jeff," he said, glancing at Helen.

"Oh yeah... held up in *serious* traffic. Must be road works somewhere along here," he said, winking at David. "We'll be back there as soon as we can."

Jack listened to Jeff for a few more seconds and then closed the phone and returned it to his pocket.

"Did he buy it?" asked Helen.

"What do you think?" replied Jack.

"Aww he's okay," added David. "I like him."

Helen raised an eyebrow in David's direction. A new member of the Jeff Hawker fan club it appeared.

~*~

Pulling up at the disused power station brought back memories for Jack and Helen that they would have preferred to forget.

"Do you want to get out?" asked Jack.

"No, I just want to sit here for a bit. I don't want to get out," he replied as he looked up at the derelict building. "It was night wasn't it? There wouldn't have been much light in there."

"No there wasn't," replied Jack.

"I think that is why your Mum didn't see him at first."

"Why I didn't."

"He was hiding in the shadows."

"We can go," David stated abruptly. "I've seen it now. I don't have to pretend or try to imagine what it looks like anymore, I know."

~*~

"That's Dad's," said David pointing to the white Mercedes that looked so out of place in the water police car park as they walked towards the building. "He's gonna send me back to that school."

"Why don't you try talking to him?" offered Jack.

"You haven't met my father have you? Talking isn't one of his favourite past times," he replied.

Helen and Jack led David into the Station.

"Sarge," said Donna, "Chief Inspector Hawker wants to see both of you in his office."

"Thank you Janevski," replied Helen. "Let's face the music shall we?" she half whispered to Jack.

"Yeah."

"Come on David, I think your father will be waiting to see you," said Helen brightly.

~*~

Jonathon Goldstein was sitting in Jeff Hawker's office and Jeff looked less than enthused at having to make small talk with the man.

They stood as Helen, Jack and David entered the room.

"David I have been waiting here for hours," started Jonathon. "Where have you been? What is the meaning of running away like this? I am *very* disappointed in you David. Do you think I have nothing better to do with my time than come down here to collect you? I send you to the best school in Sydney and how do you repay me? You runaway like some ungrateful spoilt brat."

Jack was growing angrier with every syllable the man uttered. There was no 'I'm so glad you're safe' or 'I was so worried about you'. No. Jonathon Goldstein was *disappointed* with his son and Jack's blood was reaching boiling point.

"What do I have to do?" continued Jonathon. "Keep you under lock and key?"

"Can I have a *word* with you Mr. Goldstein?" interrupted Jack.

Jonathon glared at him. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Oh, but I have *plenty* to say to you. Jeff, give us a minute will you. We're going to have a little chat," he stated as he looked over at his worried superior.

"Come on David," said Helen putting her arm around the boy's shoulders. "You must be starving. Let's go see what we can find to eat."

Jack followed Helen and Jeff to the door. "Jack..." said Jeff quietly in a warning tone.

"Yeah, yeah... don't worry," he replied, and he closed the door behind them before turning back to Jonathon.

"I really can't see you would have anything to say that I particularly want to hear. I suppose you are going to try and intimidate me like you would one of your suspects?" stated Jonathon.

"No, probably not something you want to hear," said Jack, "but you're gonna listen anyway. Don't you think you should ease up on David? If you don't, you know you're gonna lose him too."

Both men just stared at each other.

"He's not a little kid. How about asking him what he wants for a change?" added Jack.

"Who the *HELL* do you think you are!" shouted Jonathon. "What gives *YOU* the right to think you can tell *ME* how to raise my son!"

"Me? I'm someone who *cares* about what happens to David. Because you see I *loved* his mother," Jack softened his tone, "and I know you did once too."

"How *DARE* you talk to me like this! You don't know anything about me, how I feel or what I think," Jonathon argued.

No, I don't know a lot," replied Jack calmly. He wasn't about to let Jonathon get the better of him. "But there are a lot of people around here who seem to think you're a *right* bastard. I mightn't know you, but I knew Rachel. And I knew enough about *her* to know that she wouldn't have married you *and* had David, if you two didn't love each other at one time or another. Don't you get it? David is the only link to her *any* of us have. I don't want to see him destroyed because of your anger or guilt or whatever it is driving you these days."

"And what drives *you* these days Detective Christey?" asked Jonathon.

"I dunno," replied Jack as he sat on the edge of Jeff's desk. "I guess it's the old cliché of putting one foot in front of the other. Rachel was one of the best cops I have ever worked with. I guess for me, it's doing my job. Doing it properly... the way she did. That gets me though to the next day."

"It's all she ever wanted to do," said Jonathon sitting down in the chair. "And she was good at her job."

"Yeah, she was."

There was silence.

Helen was back at the door with David.

"Ah, we don't really have much in the way of food in the fridge here," she said patting her hand on David shoulder.

"Perhaps we should go home David," said Jonathon standing.

"Your ah... bag, it's just here," said Jack picking it up from the floor.

David walked over but instead of taking the bag Jack held out, he put his arms around the burly detective. He dropped the bag and hugged David tightly.

"It was good seeing you again David," said Jack as the boy stepped back. Jack ruffled his hair and David gave him a smile.

"Thanks for today," said David as he picked his bag up from the floor.

"Anytime mate, you know where to find me," Jack replied.

Jack and Helen watched them walk out of the room and head down the hallway.

"Hey David, remember what I said. In here," Jack called out, hitting his chest over his heart with his fist.

David imitated Jack, hitting his own chest and smiled as he disappeared down the stairs.

Helen smiled. "He's a good kid."

"Yeah, he is," Jack replied, glancing over at the photo of Sophie on his filing cabinet. "I think I have a phone call to make."

"You just do that," she replied, patting his arm before leaving the detective's office as Jack picked up the phone.

The End.

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