The next morning I was out buying paints when my husband's ex-secretary walked towards me. She was five feet away when Henry stopped her. She gave him an envelope. He looked inside and it was a picture of me in L.A. He didn't believe it so he took it to a friend. He scanned the picture and said that it was A.I. generated. Henry went ballistic. He told her to apologize or he will use her for target practice from here till judgement day. He terrorized her to tell him how she did it. Apparently she heard the conversation between two people and decided this was the opportunity she was looking for. She was hoping to create some sort of rift. He wanted to rip her to shreds but decided to sue. And in the end he sent her police station stating that she has been citing false allegations against a former officer of the law. DD wasn't happy to see her either. I was curious why these people are so focused on Henry specifically. So I asked one of the nerds to find out. He pretended to be a delivery boy and found out that Henry's youngest brother is the intended target of the army. They are hoping he could give them insights to find and murder him. I asked for the collected information and approached him. I told him that the sanctuary killer is a collective of soldiers looking for federal witnesses who testified against the military. I showed him why the military was so interested in him. I showed him that his baby brother is the intended target. They are pestering him in hopes that he could help them kill him. He was confused till I called J. Henry and his brother got to have a little heart to heart. Obviously I told him to take my word for it. He should investigate. He said he will but he also promised to keep his mouth shut till he gets answers. Henry disappeared for the rest of the day and he came back in the evening. His demeanor changed completely. He was grateful for my honesty. I decided to tell him everything. I told him that I was in L.A. on commission by the US Marshal's office. I don't remember anything because I was given a drug to make me forget but I do know that I have to find these people and stop them before they kill more innocent people. Henry said that he will assist me. I told him that he has to protect DD because if these people can't get his brother then they will go after anyone to make a point. Henry said that if I find the guy in question he wants a few minutes with him. I said that he is being reasonable so I said yes. He asked me what I was doing and I said that I am working on tracking a particular creep. He likes to hurt old people. Particularly he likes to physically assault them. So I am trying to figure out his type. So I can put an end to his misery once and for all. Henry gave me a nod and walked off to his station.
I was tracking the Bete noire when Cheryl came asking me if I could come to her school to speak about my career. I thought that I was pathetic but she didn't think so. DD concurred. Henry was grinning ear to ear and so were the resting of the staff. I am not good with speeches so I asked to bow out but unfortunately the school had already accepted me as a speaker. I was requested to go the next morning. I had to run to my closet looking for something presentable. Cheryl asked me what I was going for. I said it had to look casual but nothing that is sexy or something worn in parties. So I found a suit that I liked very much. It was midnight blue. I remember wearing it for a court case regarding a child napper. I mentioned it and a few muttered their opinion. DD thought it would be best if I just wore a casual t-shirt and jeans. But Cheryl concurred that I needed to look serious because I am going to be standing in front of a bunch of teenagers with raging hormones.
The next day at school I waited my turn at the back. I caved in and wore a t-shirt and jeans. The teacher sat next to me and he introduced himself as Carlyle. Apparently he and I were in high school together. I was a popular girl in school while he was a nerd. I didn't remember him at all. He wasn't offended since he was mostly in the background. When it was my turn Cheryl happily hopped to the front and gave a subtle introduction. "Guys let me introduce you to a bad ass that has gone through the motions and turned everything lemon into lemonade. Meet my new mom Pamela Dalton." I walked to the front and the class applauded. I started talking about my childhood with an abusive dad. Then my career as a photographer. Then my divorce to a police officer then marriage to DD. Then his disappearance and death of my kids propelled me to pursue a career as a homicide detective. My depression and now I am helping abuse victims. The kids had a few questions. Some were wondering how it was working in a male dominated place. I chuckled, "I have earned their respect so it wasn't as bad as it was when women first started working as cops. A few would throw a couple of jokes but we managed boundaries so we compliment each other." The girls also wanted to know what types of cases I handled. I grinned, "Serial killers, rapists, arsonists and pedophiles." One girl asked me what was the toughest case I took on. I replied that my toughest case was when I was a rookie. It involved a missing Hispanic girl. Most people would look the other way and focus on the one with blonde hair and blue eyes. I was asked to look the other way. I decided to find her. I almost got killed. The parents were sure it was the boyfriend who was a prospect in a biker gang. The best friend said that it was possible that the teacher was taking an interest. No one had a definitive answer. Finding her was like wading through molten hot lava. After days of absolutely nothing. The tip line was blank and to make matters worse there was no eyewitness. I received a few threats to forget that she was missing. Then a body popped up and everyone was sure it was her. Till forensics found evidence that it wasn't. Then I had to figure out where she was taken. The best friend says she was taken outside school but the security camera says otherwise. The mother says she was taken when she went grocery shopping. Her father was absent and the teacher refused to comment. The bell rang and the class was over so I walked out too. Cheryl thanked me and I gave her a supportive hug. Henry came and I left to take care of my baby.
Henry said that the bad guys are asking him what his brother's preference was. I told him to say that you have no clue and to tell his other brothers to shut up. He said that he has already passed the message and they are waiting for a response to take down the killer so Charlie can come home. His wife and kids are anxious to see him. I told him that he had better not tell them or they might be a target. These people are notorious for kidnapping family members to torture and murder. Henry said that he has already made arrangements. He said that he still has the flashdrive the bad guys gave him. I asked if I could see it. I could find someone who can help decrypt it. He fished it out of his pocket. I said that I will get to the bottom of it. Henry asked me what his brother is involved in. I said that he witnessed the murder of his own brothers in arms. He faked his death to come to the state to testify. Some military officials were gaining money with the death of soldiers. Fifty thousand for lower rank. A hundred to three hundred thousand for middle rank. Quarter or half a million for seasoned soldiers. Henry's grip on the steering wheel was frightening. Henry asked me how deep this rabbit hole goes. I told him that I am still looking into it. Mostly it has been outsourced to private military contractors. But a few days ago a few men in actual military uniforms were discovered in the mix. Henry wanted names and I said that we are complying a list. He will get the names when I have the full deck of cards. Because I want to attack them all at once so there will be no one left to harass us. Henry agreed with me.
I came home and saw that my baby was napping and so I went to sleep too. DD had made it clear that there would be no nannies. The staff wanted a reason so I showed them my previous experience with one. DD flinched as he still hasn't removed the scar she had given him. Cheryl was scared I told her not to worry. I will love and appreciate her as much as my son. DD said that he is going to a plastic surgeon to remove the scar on his back. The appointment was set for the day after tomorrow. Cheryl wanted to see the scar. Henry was pissed that someone like that had been roaming the city unchallenged. I sat down to check my email and found a message asking me to let the police handle this perp. I swore like a sailor and asked DD to keep an eye on the baby as I go get some fresh air. I took a few steps and Max said he will bring the car around to take me wherever I needed. Henry followed me too. He sat in the driver's seat as my security protested the guy was told to protect DD until he and I came home. The trip to the station was quiet. Henry asked me if I made any progress regarding the little brother situation. I said that these perps are being tailed to collect information in others involved. So far the thirteen are prominent ones that are digging like crazy looking for his brother. The closest crook that wants his brother dead is in New Jersey. He is someone who transports machinery, weapons, meds and whatever else the military needs. He was the one who pointed out the soldiers in his brother's squadron. Henry's brother testified that he was involved but somehow the creep slipped through the cracks now he wants to murder Charlie in the most painful method imaginable. There are computer nerds who have been hired to search every camera in the continental US to find him but so far no luck. I grinned, "They won't find him because if he goes out he wears a few fake things. Like a new nose, different eyes and a new style so no computer can identify him in a thousand years." Henry grinned as we approached the precinct.