"I'll get the boys from Londale, Combes and Pinky out scouting too. Should I rally Mayor Topsail before he goes to bed?"
"Why? Horatio can't do anything. Let the old fart get a good night's sleep. We can manage and I'll deal with him tomorrow once we have a few facts. Have Combes...drive over here and comb the property for any clues. Likely none but can't hurt."
"Right! Where are you going?" Herb got nosey, "Alexis being a booger again?"
"Always! But not tonight...least not yet. Got me a date can't be late." He already was. It was nearing 7:00 PM, Caprice Comstock had gotten off work at 6:00. It was likely she had waited and given up, heading home. A ten-minute drive to the diner his suspicion was confirmed. Lights out, nobody home.
Pulling into the parking lot Dolan Roster sighed at his misfortune. He knew how to find Caprice's trailer but wondered if he should bother. Thoughts on his late wife made him reflect to his daughter's childhood. Fond memories at first until he used to recall yelling at Alexis every time, she walked in on he and her mother having sex, ofttimes not knowing she was there until it was said and cuddling. Even growing up the kid's curiosity was a bad influence, now a young adult of 19 there just seemed like there was no hope. Her sex drive was off the charts and concerning. Lingering there with his headlights facing the diner something caught his eye. "How did I overlook that?"
A subtle exit from his car Dolan Roster takes a short walk up to the trunk that Nick had purchased from Dolan's Father at the antique store. Standing over it he notes a new lock on it. "How did you end up here?" A hesitant temptation to take the trunk he had second thoughts. If it had a new lock that meant whatever the contents in it were already removed. Grumbling under his breath Sheriff Roster left well enough alone. "Wonder why Dad didn't let me know he sold that thing?" Mainly because he hadn't noticed it missing yet. Alexis having kept Nick's money which bought that trunk another. Questions might be asked come morning. Now? "Let's go chase some tattooed tail." He was not referring to Esteban Amador. That was on his fellow law enforcers agenda.
********
Stopping at his loaned beach house to change clothes and shower Nick Sanchez tended to his knee, cleaning a small wound and bandaging it. He had endured far worse in his lifetime so a small knot on his knee meant nothing. Try getting bitten twice in one day by a pair of black mambas in the jungles of South America. If not for his buddy Marcus Jericho, he would have died. Marcus always came prepared for any occasion. Anti-Venom a necessity when in Venezuela, or as he used to call it Venomzuela, he himself facing similar from a Bushmaster and nearly dying, luckily, they were near a Medic at the time, Nick carrying Marcus to safety. Both knew the serpentine world well. Fearless even now it was just bad luck, bad timing. A strange bond grew to deep respect those days. You save me I save you!
Getting dressed in a hurry, not wanting Midnight to face things alone should her family not show immediately he snatched his keys from his dresser. Pausing to peer at the skull he found in the trunk Nick pondered yet again if he should get Dolan Roster to run tests on it to determine its age and learn how it got inside that locked trunk. With the trunk being in the antique store as long as it had, obvious superstition as to what might be inside its likely negligence on their part, it had gone unknown. Even possessing the skull in his borrowed beach house was likely cursing Nick. Still, if it was home to a wounded butterfly, it could not be all bad. Right? Shaking off his thoughts he knew it could keep.
Cell in hand Nick started his 4Runner then looked up Cordoba General on his GPS. Directions ready he at least knew how to get to the town of Cordoba some 28 miles up the coast. It was just finding the hospital once he hit town. A lengthy drive there gave Nick time to think about what he pushed Midnight into today. He could tell she was ready to be a woman by her dramatic enjoyment once she got started. Not one complaint out of her. It was certainly a sign of respect toward Nick to let him advise her so. He knew the very first time he set eyes on the awkward young beauty that she had what it took. Still, just accepting her without testing her loyalty and limits would have been a waste of time. Nick Sanchez knew exactly what he wanted. Now...after telling her "You are MINE!", if only to calm her down and give her hope, he realized he would need to follow through with that declaration.
"Day at a time Soldier. Let her be with family for now. Stand guard and observe." He almost felt like he should stop and buy flowers but that would seem...unlike him. Nope! Not going there! "Christ! You would think she was my prom date." Nick had never once gone to prom back in high school. Neither had Midnight! Maybe it was destiny!
Reaching the Cordoba city limits he found a population of 82,000 plus, a bigger town than he predicted, but if it had a hospital with a burn unit that usually meant larger town to afford it. While still not a huge town it did offer more than those villages closer to the coastline. Seeking a spot in a three-story parking garage Nick noted Deputy Darcy Grainger's squad car in a handicap zone. What was the world coming to when an officer of the law had a fake handicap sticker dangling from her mirror? Frowning, Nick parked next to her in another wheelchair painted keep out spot. If she could do it so could Nick. Nick however was smart enough to take another page from his diary and leave a note on his dash that said, "I'm with, " a drawn arrow pointing at Darcy's car. Good enough for him. If he got towed, he'd just get it out of impound. It was not as smart as he thought.
While preparing to leave his 4Runner he heard a honk behind him and checked through the doors mirror. A van was behind his bumper and being annoying, the driver a male with a deadly gaze. Opening the door Nick leered back with an equally aggressive glare.
"It takes a white man to steal a handicap parking spot. Make the crippled walk further than they need to." He shook his head then moved on up to the second floor. Nick felt badly for his mistake and decided he too should head upstairs. Ending up on top he was passed by the van going back down, the problem was, there were plenty of spots on the third tier. Nick just knew he had been suckered. Snarling Sanchez just parked, locked up and headed down the walkway rather than use an elevator. Reaching his former handicap oasis sure enough there was the van. The driver helping out an elderly woman and carefully placing her in a readied wheelchair. Passing by them Nick heard the driver say, "Just like a white man to be bluffed in cards." Nick simply let it go, he didn't need any troubles on a night such as this.
Venturing across the street and into the E.R. entrance he enquired about Irene Amador at the nurse's station. The night nurse checking him out with a beguiling smile led her to ask, "Are you family?"
"Man, who saved her from a burning home."
"Ohh? You're the Last Action Hero, Darcy mentioned. She was right you are a stud." The short haired brunette with an Olivia Wilde beauty smirked, "She's in Intensive Care. Her family is with her now. Let me ask if it's okay to allow you in."
Pushing the elderly woman inside, the Van driver shook his head at Nick halting the Nurse before abandoning her station. "Where do I find Irene Sage?" He spoke up. The man looked a lot like actor Esai Morales with a bit more in the weight department.
"Irene Amador, you mean?" The nurse paused.
"Fuck that last name. She is a Sage." He snapped. "Where is my sister? Her mother wishes to be there for her."
"Ummm?" The nurse looked to Nick wondering if she should ask the brother if he could go back with them but changed her mind. "Wait here a moment." She advised Nick. Motioning Irene's kin to follow her back through a set of double doors the nurse led them to a waiting room for family members. With Deputy Darcy Grainger still hanging with Midnight to keep her composure the nurse pulled Darcy out long enough to let the family reunite. "John McClane is out in the lobby. Should I let him in?"
Darcy smirked, "Die Hard reference. I might have to pop popcorn and invite you over this weekend for a marathon."
"Invite...Yipee ki yay!"
"I think he's out of our league." Darcy frowned and pointed toward Midnight stuck in a corner wearing only a thin brown blanket. The poor girl feared talking to her uncle, he and her Grandmother Dorothy just entering to greet her. Dorothy Sage was not the most responsive woman in the world at age 84 and half blind. "Yeah, let's hold up on that Nadine...I'm sticking around here, my gut says Mordecai is going to make a scene. Tell Mister Sanchez to hold out until Matilda gets here, she can play mediator."
"I'll keep him entertained."
"No dancing on the job." She winked. "Save that for my coffee table."
"I am off Saturday."
"I'll get back to you. We have an investigation to see through first. I'll call you by Friday." With a hug to Darcy's arm Nadine Sorenson headed back to her station to let Nick know the Deputy's recommendation. Understanding, Nick chose to find a seat in the lobby and wait.
Back in the ICU waiting room Mordecai Sage noted his niece wearing a blanket. While he should have worried for her sanity and own health under the dire circumstances, he simply glared at her with intimidation. Finally, Dorothy realized her granddaughter was present and mumbled, "Is that you Midnight?" Oh, those tears returned! Abandoning her seat, the girl knelt next to her grandmother and took her hand, the blanket slipping slightly from her shoulder to expose bare flesh, obviously no shirt or bra.
"Yes Granny. I'm here. I've missed you."
"Oh, my dear child, give me a hug." Without worry over her cloak Midnight just stood and leaned in to hold her grandmother, the blanket slipping from her left side. Seeing skin from head-to-toe Mordecai blew a gasket. So much for a loving reunion!
"Where are your clothes?" Mordecai snarled, "You disrespect our family streaking as you are."
"MORDECAI!" Dorothy raised her voice silencing him for a moment, "NOT NOW!" He bit his tongue, but his face was full of rage. "Cover yourself granddaughter. Tell us what happened."
