ACT 4
James stood at the rear entrance to the squad room, looking the place over. He spotted
a red-haired woman sitting at a desk and walked over. "Excuse me," he said.
She looked up. "Yes?"
"I'm James Harris. I was told you've been looking for me?"
"Oh, yes." She stood. "Finally, we catch up with each other." She opened her
briefcase and reached in. "I'm Rebecca Masterson, and this is for you." She handed him
a sealed manila envelope.
He looked at it questioningly. "What is it?"
"I'm just to say have a Merry Christmas and that's all. The rest is explained in
there." And with that she walked off.
James examined the envelope for a moment, then opened it as he walked to his desk.
He pulled out several papers stapled in the top corner. August was coming through and
approached him. "So, who was she?"
James stared at the papers. His face showed a look of disbelief, anger, and
disappointment. "I don't believe this," he said, and sighed. "I don't frikkin' believe
this."
"What is it?"
"Divorce papers," he said.
"Oh, man. Hey, I'm sorry."
"Yeah. Yeah, me, too." He shoved the papers back into the envelope and walked
off.
Chase came in from the back hallway. "Well, I got a lawyer, but the bad news--"
"You're not going to believe who that redhead was, Mac," August said, watching
James leave. "A divorce lawyer."
"A divorce lawyer? For James?"
August nodded. "His wife's divorcing him."
"Oh, man. Think one of us should talk to him?"
"No. I think it'd be better to let him have some time to himself for awhile. What
did you say about a lawyer?"
"I got one, but he's tied up and won't be here until seven-thirty."
"Seven-thirty? Ah, jeez. If this kid would just talk we could have this thing over
and done before six."
With an explosion of yelling, the kids came charging through again, filling the
room. Chase was caught in the middle of the stampede, trying his best to keep from being
trampled as they swarmed all around him. And then they were gone, still screaming as
loud as ever as they ran down the hall toward the elevator.
Jensen walked up as the kids' screams faded away, an amused smile on his face.
"According to Child Protective Services, that chemical leak isn't supposed to be cleared
for another three hours."
Chase sat down at his desk. "Isn't there anybody watching them?"
"There's a guy from CPS around here somewhere. They've probably got him tied up in
a closet so they could have the run of the place. How's the case coming along?"
"Well, James found the stolen jewelry at our suspect's house, but the kid still
isn't talking. He wants a lawyer, so we're just waiting for one. He's tied up right now,
but he's supposed to be here by seven-thirty."
"Chase, I know you and August probably had plans tonight, and if this was any other
case, believe me, I would've let you and August take your time on it as you always do.
But since the mayor and the CEO are close friends, I have to keep you two here until it's
wrapped. And that means I have to stay here."
"I know, Captain. Did you have any plans tonight?"
"My neighbor throws a big party every year; has since they moved in twelve years
ago. But it doesn't look like I'm going to make it this year. Oh, where's James? I've got
a question about something in his last case report."
The tone of Chase's voice changed as he said, "He's kind of preoccupied right
now. He just got divorce papers from his wife."
"I thought his wife was flying down from Seattle to see him tonight?"
"So did he. He was hoping they could work out their marriage, but I guess she
decided what they should do. I don't know where he is. He walked out of here pretty upset."
Jensen nodded understandingly. "Poor guy. Well, when you see him, let him know I
need to talk to him."
"Right, Captain."
As Chase went back to his papers, he caught a glimpse of a man making his way
into the room, wearing a large coat and wearing a look on his face that was a cross
between anxious and suspicious. He kept an eye on the man as he walked about, glancing
around as if looking for someone. Chase looked at August, but his partner was
distracted, talking on the phone with a smile. Probably Kendra.
The man walked back toward the main entrance, still glancing everywhere. Chase
put his papers aside and was just about to ask the guy if he needed help when one side
of his coat brushed back, revealing a large pistol tucked into the waistband of his
jeans. "Gun!" Chase yelled.
Realizing he'd been had, the guy reached for his weapon. Chase drew his pistol
from his shoulder-holster. August dropped the phone as he jumped up, reaching for his.
Other officers were turning as well, drawing their guns, while unarmed personnel ducked
for cover. The gunman fell to one knee and fired the first shot.
Papers and folders exploded from desks as the shootout began. Chase was crouched
behind the side of his desk, the front not providing any cover, for it was wide open
underneath. His legs would be the perfect target. He aimed around his desk and returned
fire.
The gunman scrambled to pull himself back into the main entrance hall and took up
cover alongside a row of file cabinets. As the gunfire continued, one uniformed officer
took a bullet to the shoulder and hit the floor. "Officer down!" a cop hollered.
Chase tried to angle for a better position, but ducked back as a bullet struck the
front of his desk. "Damn it," he said. "I just got this desk last week!"
Suddenly, the firing stopped, and the room fell silent. Everyone peered down into
the hall and were shocked by what they saw. The gunman was out cold on the floor. Jensen
stood over him, holding a large book in his hands. Chase and August stood. "Captain,"
Chase said as they walked up. "Impressive."
Jensen smiled. "Thank you," he said, and walked back into his office as if nothing
had happened.
Several uniformed officers approached. "Get him out of here," August said,
holstering his gun.
They lifted the unconscious man and carried him away. Chase put his gun away. "I
hate the holidays."
August laughed. "Tell me something I don't know."
It was a little after six o'clock when Chase came up onto the roof of the station, a
cup in each hand. He wore a heavy parka. The sky was dark, the stars shining brightly,
a breeze blowing across the city. He spotted James standing alongside the back of the
building and walked over. "James."
Caught by surprise, James turned to see who it was, turning back just as quickly,
wiping at his face to get rid of the tears. "Chase. What're you doing up here?"
"Thought you could use this." He handed James a cup of hot chocolate and stood
beside him.
"Thanks." James took the cup and held it in both hands, warming himself. He wore
his leather bomber jacket. "How'd you know I was up here?"
"Well, your shift's not over, so I knew you didn't go home, and this is the
quietest spot you can find in this place. Plus, I came here a few times myself after
Nicole died." James nodded, remembering the events Chase had told me not long after he
had transferred to the department. "August told me you got divorce papers."
James was quiet for a moment, then said, "Yeah. Guess it couldn't last forever."
"Did you sign them yet?"
He shook his head. "No. Not yet. I was afraid it would come to this. I was hoping
each day since I moved here that it wouldn't, but I guess you can't alter destiny, hu?"
"How long have you been married?"
"Eighteen years. I met her after I quit the C.I.A. We were crazy about each other.
I joined the police academy and she started working toward her doctorate in emergency
medicine. We got married and were on the way to having a great life together. But things
got rocky about a year ago.
"We had this really nasty murderer on our hands up in Seattle. Killed six people
in two weeks. We came close to getting him, but he got away. Then things got personal.
He started toying with me, leaving things at my house: jokes, threats, fake confessions.
One night Katherine and I were asleep. Middle of the night, probably about two in the
morning or so. The guy broke in and attacked us. He roughed us up pretty good. I tried
to get to my gun, but he must've hit me with a lamp or flashlight or something. I woke
up about an hour, hour-and-a-half later. Katherine was on the bed, unconscious. It was
only later at the hospital that I found out that . . . that she'd been raped."
Chase listened silently, hearing the anger and sadness in his voice.
"She had a concussion, two broken ribs, black eyes . . . It was the single, most
frightening experience of my life. Seeing her in the hospital, all these tubes and
things going into her, the doctors telling me how serious her condition was, it . . .
it was just so hard to take. I mean, you spend your whole life seeing things happen to
other people and go, 'Oh, it won't happen to me.' And then, there you are, watching it
happen to you.
"Anyway, after that, things started to go downhill. She was never happy with me
being a cop, but had learned to except it, so long as I left my work at work every day
when I came home. But when it came home with me that night . . . She didn't want to have
to fear that again. And I didn't want her to, either. After she recovered, we spent the
next year trying to work things out. Divorce came up a couple of times, but I shot it
down. I didn't want it. We had put so much time and effort and love into our relationship
that I didn't want to see it end that way.
"I thought a change in scenery might be called for, so I suggested coming down
here. I said I'd come down first and get things set up. Find a place to stay, get
squared away with work. Then she would come down. After I came down in August, she said
she had changed her mind and wouldn't agree to come down unless I quit being a cop. She
pulled the old 'if-you-really-love-me-you'll-do-it' thing. I tried to explain to her
that I do what I do because I love her so much. That the love and feelings I have for
her are so strong that they drive me to do the best at my job to help make the city safe
for her, and everyone else. You know?"
Chase nodded, thinking back to a time when a person he had loved very much had
asked him to do the same thing. It seemed so long ago.
"When she said she was finally going to come down, in time for Christmas no less,
you can imagine how excited I was. She said we'd sit down and have a long talk and we
would finally work things out. But then I get these"--he gestured at an electrical box
beside him, on top of which his sidearm was holding the divorce papers down--"and it's
like, 'Sorry, James, your marriage is over. That's the end of the road.'" He looked
down at the gravel-lined roof.
Chase looked at him, seeing the hurt in his face. He knew what he was going
through, himself having been forced to choose between his job and the girl he loved.
"So, I guess that's it," James said, looking up again. "It's the end of the road."
Chase put a hand on his shoulder. "It'll be okay. You'll pull through." James just
nodded, said nothing. After a long moment of silence, Chase said, "I'm going back inside.
It's too cold up here for me. You coming?"
"No. I think I'm gonna stay up here a bit longer. I just need a little more time
to myself. I'll be back down later."
"Okay." Chase started back to the roof access, the gravel crunching under his shoes.
James looked back. "Chase."
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
Chase smiled, nodded his head. As he left, James turned back and looked out at the
night. He took a sip of hot chocolate, waiting. When he heard the roof access door close,
the tears returned.
"The lawyer's here," August told Chase as he came back into the room.
"Let's go."
They walked down the rear hall. "How's James?" August asked.
Chase shook his head. "Looks like it's pretty hard for him."
When they got to the interrogation room, Chris was talking quietly with his lawyer,
Zach Parsons. "Mr. Parsons," Chase said. "Good to see you again."
"Hello again, Chase. I've been talking with my client, and he's ready to talk."
"Well, we're ready to listen." Chase and August sat down.
"Okay," Chris started. "This is what happened. Nicolas came to Vincent. He said he
had a job lined up that would get them both some easy cash. Vincent wasn't sure they
could pull it off with the two of them, so he called me. I didn't want to do it. I swear
to that. But he assured me nothing would happen, and that I would only be standing guard
while they hit the jewelry displays. But the robbery wasn't planned."
"Wasn't planned?" Chase asked.
Chris nodded. "Nicholas was hired to do the robbery."
"What do you mean hired? By who?" August asked.
Chris looked at Zach, who urged him on with a nod of the head. Chris hesitated.
"Someone named Mueller hired Nicholas."
Chase and August looked at each other. "Are you sure?"
Chris nodded his head. "Positive. I don't know why, but he hired them. I heard
Nicolas tell Vincent that. I swear, I didn't hurt any of those employees. Like I said,
I didn't want to even be there. But Vincent promised me some money and that I wouldn't
have to fire a single bullet."
Chase looked at August. "So, Jonathan Mueller hires a guy to pull off a robbery
inside his own department store? For what purpose?"
"Let's take a closer look at Mr. Mueller," August said. "See if we can turn up
anything."
It was eight-thirty when Jonathan Mueller came into the police station and walked up
to Chase's desk. "This had better be important, seeing as how I was dragged down here
from my daughter's Christmas party."
Chase stood. "Oh, it's important enough, Mr. Mueller. We've recovered your stolen
jewelry, and we finally got the third robber to talk. You're under arrest."
Before the German could protest, August was slapping a pair of handcuffs around
his wrists. He started to laugh. "What are you arresting me for?"
"We checked you out, Mr. Mueller," Chase said. "You were about to be fired as CEO
of the store. You figured if someone tried to rob the store, you could stop the robbers,
be the hero, and keep your job. So, you hired Nicolas Greene to do the robbery. Only
thing is, you didn't tell Nicolas that you'd be opening fire on them, did you? They had
no idea they were walking into a trap. They thought they were just coming there to rob
the place and leave without a shot fired."
Mueller said nothing, just looked at Chase, then smiled. "Very impressive,
detective. Very impressive."
"Book him," Chase said to one of the officers, and Mueller was lead out of the
room.
"Merry Christmas, guys," Jensen said. He shut the door to his office and finished
slipping into his jacket.
"Merry Christmas, Captain," Chase and August said. Chase walked to the row of
file cabinets and sorted away some folders as Jensen left. August went about shutting
down his computer.
"Chase."
He pushed the file drawer shut and turned to see Judith walking up. She held a
present wrapped in colorful wrapping paper. "Judith."
She handed him the present. "Merry Christmas, Chase."
"You were my secret Santa?"
"Yeah. Well, actually, Debra over in motorpool was, but I convinced her to let us
switch."
"How'd you do that?"
"You have no idea how much a little card with 'Chase McDonald' written on it costs
these days." They both laughed. "Go ahead. Open it."
Chase set the box on top of his computer monitor and pulled the paper away. Inside
the tissue paper was a large book called Steel Art, a photographical collection of medal
sculptures. "Wow. Judith, this is great."
"You like it?"
"Oh, I love it. This is great. Thank you. Now time for your's." He reached over
the desk and took the little green box from a drawer. "Sorry. Didn't have time to wrap
it."
She lifted the lid and saw the two earrings nestled inside. "Oh . . . oh my God,
Chase. They're beautiful. But you shouldn't have gotten me jewelry."
Chase just waved it off. "Ah. No problem. You're worth it."
"Thank you." She gave him a hug. "I gotta go. The people in my building are having
a party. We're still on for our first session, right?"
"I'll be there," he said.
"Okay. See you then."
August came back into the room laughing. "Oh, man," he was saying. "You should've
seen the look on Cragmeyer's face when he unwrapped his present."
Chase started laughing. "Who was your secret Santa?"
"I don't know. They haven't come forward yet."
"August," a detective said. "This is for you." He handed him a present with red
wrapping paper and a big green ribbon on top.
"Guess this is it."
August set it down on his desk and began unwrapping it. Taking the lid off and
opening the tissue paper, he found a nicely folded sweater inside. "Who's it from?"
August opened the card and read, " 'August. Sorry I couldn't be there to give
it to you in person. Hope you like it. Annie.' Ah, how sweet. Who was your's?"
"Judith."
"Judith? What a coincidence, hu?"
"Actually, she switched cards with Debra over at the motorpool. Speaking of cars."
August held his hands up. "Don't worry. It's all finished. Looks brand new. It's
waiting for you outside." They started getting ready to leave. "You wanna get together
when Kendra and me tomorrow for Christmas dinner?"
"Yeah, sure. That'll be nice. Oh, I almost forgot." He took a CD from his desk
drawer. "This is for you." August just smiled as he took the gift. "Kendra picked it
up and left it up front for me."
"Man. Thanks, partner. I've been wanting this album for months but just never got
around to grabbing it."
"Well, now you got it."
They slipped on their coats and headed down the hall. "Seen James since earlier?"
"Nope. I'm guessing he went home."
As they turned the corner toward the elevator, a uniformed cop was coming down the
hall, holding a present the size of a large paperback. "Chase, this is for you."
"Wow," August said. "Two secret Santas?"
The cop laughed. "No. It was left at the front desk for you earlier today, but it
got lost in all the chaos."
"Oh," Chase said, as if confused. He took the present. "Thanks, Doug."
"No problem. Merry Christmas."
Chase looked at it as they stepped into the elevator. August pressed the button,
and the doors slid shut. "Who's it from?"
He shook his head. "I don't know. There's no tag or anything."
"Why don't you open it?"
"Nah. I'll wait until I get home. Might be something personal."
When they came out of the station, Chase was almost in shock as he looked at his
Porsche. It was in pristine condition, new tires and all. Even the windshield looked
brand new. "Wow," he said, walking around it. "This looks great. I can't thank you
enough, August. I hope it wasn't too much trouble."
"Of course it wasn't," August lied.
"This is great. Thanks, partner." Chase put his things inside and climbed in.
"So, you're coming over tomorrow?"
"I'll be there. What time?"
"Afternoon should be fine. Kendra's got this big turkey we're gonna cook, and
she's making cornbread, potatoes, everything; the works."
"Sounds good. I'll see you then. Later." He fired up the car as August walked
toward his parking spot.
The day was officially over.
The door opened, and James came into his modest-size apartment, shutting the door
behind him. He flipped the light switch. A week earlier, he had decorated the windows
with a few small strings of Christmas lights, for nothing more than to just give him a
sense of the holiday. He set the divorce papers on the kitchen counter and dropped his
keys on the table beside the door, then walked to his stereo system, set up on a large
black entertainment rack.
In the four months he had been living in Los Angeles, he had only managed to
unpack less than half of his CD collection. He scrolled through the line of cases until
he found the one he wanted. A Bing Crosby Christmas CD, a gift Katherine had bought him
for Christmas three years earlier. He put the disc in, shut the lid, and pressed the
play button. "White Christmas" began to play, sung by that timeless, magical voice of
one of cinema's greatest acting legends.
He took his bomber jacket off and tossed it onto the couch as he walked back to
the kitchen. He took a bottle of soda from the refrigerator, filled a glass he grabbed
from the counter, and took a drink. He leaned his head back, closing his eyes, relaxing.
He stared at the ceiling for a moment, then took another drink, emptying the glass. He
refilled it and left the bottle on the counter as he took the papers over to the couch.
He sat down and put the papers on the coffee table, took a drink. He stared at the
papers, as if thinking. But he'd done enough thinking. He realized there was nothing more
he could do. With a sigh, he set the glass down and picked up a pen, signing his name on
the dotted line. He held the pen for a moment longer, as if reconsidering, but it was too
late. It was done. He dropped the pen onto the table and took another drink.
As Captain Jensen pulled into his driveway, the family next door was coming down the
sidewalk. The husband and wife were dressed in heavy jackets, their arms around each
other, their two kids playing around them and giggling loudly as they walked. "Made
it after all, hu, Captain?" the husband said as Jensen climbed out of his car.
The captain smiled. "Just when I thought I wouldn't." He shut the door and
walked down the sidewalk with them. "How's your brother doing, Marcie?"
The wife nodded. "He's doing good. Doctors expect a full recovery."
"That's good. I hate to see tragedy happen to people at Christmastime."
The house next door was alive with activity. Dozens of strands of Christmas
lights decorated the house, outling the edges of the roof, walls, and windows. Lighted,
animated deer dotted the front lawn, and a cardboard Santa was hanging by one hand
from the chimney. Through the windows they could see people inside.
As they stepped through the front door, Jensen saw that he had made it to the
party just as things were getting going. All of the other neighbors were there with
their families, and everyone cheered, "Captain!" when he came into the room.
Jensen smiled. "Yes, I made it, I made it." They all applauded.
"Special gift for you, Captain," Fred, the man from across the street, said, and
gave Jensen a glass of eggnog.
"Thanks, Fred." He took a drink and joined the others in their caroling.
Instrumental Christmas music played from the CD player in the living room as August,
wearing the sweater he had received from Annie, jabbed at the crackling fire with the
fire-poker. He hung it back on the stand and closed the metal guard curtain as Kendra
came in from the kitchen with two cups of hot chocolate. "Here you go." She handed him
one.
August pretended to smell it and took a sip. "Ah. Perfecto, my dear," he said
with the corniest French accent he could muster.
She laughed. "Are you ready?"
"Let's begin, shall we?" he said, and took another sip.
He sat with her on the floor in front of the Christmas tree. Underneath were a
half-dozen presents of various sizes. August picked up the first one and handed it to
her. She pulled away the bow, tore off the wrapping paper, and held a small, rectangular
box in her hands. She gave him an inquisitive look as she removed the lid . . .
And found inside a shiny gold necklace. She gasped, lifting it from the velvet
lining. "August, it's beautiful."
"Just like my baby. Here." He set his glass down and leaned forward. She held her
hair up as he put the jewelry around her neck and hooked it together in the back. He
looked into her eyes. "Merry Christmas, Kendra," he said, then kissed her.
The television was tuned to A Christmas Story, Ralphie and his family opening up gifts
on Christmas morning. Chase came back from the kitchen with a glass and bottle of
champagne. He sat on the couch and filled the glass, set the bottle on the coffee table,
and took a drink. He looked at the present sitting beside the bottle, wondering who it
could have been from. He took another quick drank and set the glass down, and picked up
the present.
He turned it over and found the seam of the wrapping paper, and tore it with his
fingers. He removed the paper and found a plain brown box underneath. He set it on the
table and removed the lid. Inside was a few layers of tissue paper. He parted it, and
the item inside made him almost gasp. He lifted it, looking at the present in disbelief.
The slightest trace of a smile formed from his lips.
The present was a solid wood picture frame, and set inside was a photo that had
been taken a few years back in Santa Monica. He was standing against the rail on a pier,
his arms around Jodi's waist, and both were smiling. The lighting had been perfect that
day. It was a beautiful picture.
Underneath where the frame had been he found a card and opened it.
Chase,
Hope you like it. I sent it to Christine, and she
took it to the station to leave for you. I just wanted
to let you know I haven't forgotten you, nor will I ever.
Merry Christmas, and I hope you have a great New Year.
Say hi to August and Kendra for me.
Love,
Jodi
He looked like he was about to cry. He read the note a second time, smiling. He walked
to the fireplace and set the picture beside a clock on the mantle. He adjusted it a bit,
standing back to make sure it looked right. Then he went to the couch and picked up his
glass, and took it with him as he walked across the room and opened the sliding door.
He stepped out onto the balcony and leaned against the rail, looking out at the beach
and the ocean beyond. The night was dark, silent, but he could hear the waves crashing
onto the beach.
Suddenly, something fluttered in front of his face. He swapped at it with his hand,
but then more was falling. Then he realized it. It was snowing! He couldn't believe it.
He leaned over the rail and looked up. It hadn't snowed in Los Angeles county for nearly
thirty years, and even then it was less than half-an-inch.
He stood there for a long time as the snow fell lightly, smiling. It had turned out
to be a great Christmas after all.
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