Karen Rose - Count to Ten

Westphalen's eyes had narrowed in thought. "It's a significant trauma."

"One a person might bury for nearly ten years?" Mia asked.

"Possibly. A compulsive personality might chew it to death or deny it entirely."

Spinnelli frowned. "I'm still missing something. Why is ten the magic number?"

"That looks like the easiest question to answer." Mia slid two faxed pages to the middle of the table, side by side. "Shane's birth certificate from Michigan and his death certificate from Illinois. I overlooked the death date in the computer the first time I searched because the numbers are nearly identical to his birth date. One digit off."

"Shane Kates died on his tenth birthday," Westphalen murmured.

"In a fire," Reed confirmed.

Mia sighed. "Count to ten and go to hell."

"So what next?" Spinnelli asked.

"Track down the Youngs and their sons," Reed said.

"He's done things in order as much as he can. It makes sense the Youngs are next."

Spinnelli nodded. "First thing in the morning I want you in… what's the town, Mia?"

"The Youngs lived in Lido, Illinois."

"Get down to Lido and find them. Murphy and Aidan, you're on call. Dismissed."

Saturday, December 2, 7:25 P.M.

Mia was searching the Internet for the Youngs when Reed leaned his hip against her desk, closer than was wise. She'd keep it professional. "The meeting went well."

"Yes, it did. It's coming together. We should have him soon."

"You go on home to Beth. I need to work a little longer."

"You didn't go apartment hunting today." His voice was a smooth murmur.

She gritted her teeth against the shiver that prickled her skin. "No, but my bag's in my trunk. I'll stay with Dana. Percy has food till tomorrow. I'll come and get him then."

"Use Lauren's place one more night, Mia. I won't bother you, I promise."

From the corner of her eye she saw Murphy alone at his desk, watching in that quiet, shrewd way of his, then she looked up at Reed. She kept thinking shed be prepared, but every time she looked at his face it still hurt. She kept thinking she could look at his chest without wondering if he still wore his ring on the chain. Without some small part of her hoping he'd take it off. That she'd be enough to make him want to.

Which was as pathetic as it was stupid. "Reed, stop. It's not fair."

His shoulders sagged. "Call me when you get to Dana's, so I know you're okay."

She waited until he was on his own side of the desk before speaking again. "When you get home, make sure you talk to Beth."

He frowned. "Why?"

Mia hesitated. "Just tell her you love her, okay?"

Uncertainly he nodded. "I will." He gathered his things and left.

"You're sure you don't want me to mess up his face?" Murphy asked.

"No." She turned back to her computer. "I'm going to find the Youngs, then call their local PD and warn them. For now that's all I can do."

"You know, Mia, that little kid today. Jeremy. You were good with him."

So was Reed, she thought. We made a good team . "Thanks. He's a nice boy."

"I bet he's feeling scared right now. I bet you could find out where they took him."

She thought of Jeremy, scared and alone. "I found out in case I got done early."

Murphy came over and turned off her computer. "There, you're done early. I'll look for the Youngs. You see Jeremy, then go to Dana's. I'll call you if I find something."

"Thanks, Murphy." Her throat closed up at the sympathy in his eyes. "I have to go."

By the time she made it down the stairs she was back in control. Which was a good thing, because a woman with a blonde braid waited outside the main door. "Do you want anything else, Carmichael?" she asked acidly. "Like maybe my kidney?"

"I know where Getts lives."

Mia stopped. "Where?" And how long have you known ?

Carmichael handed her a piece of paper on which she'd written the address. "I didn't mean for your address to go in the paper. I'm sorry."

Mia almost believed her, the girl was that good. She took the paper anyway. "Stay out of my way, Carmichael. And you'd better hope you never need a cop."

Carmichael's eyes narrowed. "I'm serious. I didn't know. Mitchell, you're as close to a meal ticket as I could hope for. I would no more try to get you killed than fired."

Now Mia's eyes narrowed. "What? What do you mean, fired?"

"I was there the night of the Adler fire. I saw Solliday come out of your place. It would make good gossip, but if you're fired my meal ticket's gone. I really didn't put your address in that story. My editor did. He thought it would spice it up. I am sorry."

Mia was too tired to care anymore. "Fine." When she got to her car, she called Spinnelli, gave him the information. "Have Brooks and Howard make the collar."

"You don't want him?"

A week ago, it was all that mattered. Now… "I think I need a vacation."

"You've got the time. When this is over, take some. Go to the beach. Get a tan."

She laughed even though she didn't want to. "You're obviously thinking of somebody else's skin. Call me if they get Getts, okay?" She had important things to do.

Twenty minutes later she was knocking on the door of the emergency foster home in which DCFS had placed Jeremy. He was sitting on the sofa, watching TV.

"He hasn't moved all day," the foster mother said. "Poor thing."

Mia sat down next to him. "Hey. kid."

He looked up at her. "Did you get him?"

"Not yet."

"Then why are you here?"

He sounded just like Roger Burnette. "I came to see you. You okay?"

He nodded his red head, his freckled face sober. Then he shook his head. "No."

"I guess that was a stupid question. So, I'll try again. What's this show?"

"The history of jet aviation."

She put her arm around his shoulders. "Okay." After a few minutes of rigidity, Jeremy put his head on her shoulder. And stayed that way until the show was over.

Saturday, December 2, 9:20 p.m.

Mia pulled into Dana's driveway, later than she'd wanted. She'd stayed longer with Jeremy than she'd planned. But after the week she'd had, it felt good to sit with a small boy who'd needed her to be there as much as she'd needed it herself.

She had her hand on the front doorknob when Dana and Ethan moved into view through the window. Dana was laughing and Ethan had his hand on her stomach. Then he leaned down and talked to Dana's middle and just like that, Mia understood.

To her consternation, there was no wave of joy. Just a huge empty sadness. And shame. Her best friend was pregnant and had been too concerned about her emotional state to bubble her happiness. How selfish can I be ? Tonight, pretty damn selfish. Like a coward, she backed away and almost made it to her car when the front door opened.

"Mia?" Dana stood on the front porch shivering. "Come in, for heaven's sake."

Mia shook her head. Pursed her lips. Drew a breath and forced a smile. "I just realized I'm late. I promised…" But no lie leapt to her tongue and Dana's face fell.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you."

"I know." She swallowed hard. "I'll come by tomorrow and get all the details."

Miserably, Dana nodded. "Where are you staying tonight?"

"With Lauren." When hell froze over . "Hey, do you have room for another kid?"

"Actually, we do. DCFS gave the kid that was coming back to his mom."

"I have a kid that needs a good place. His mom was murdered last night."

Dana's eyes filled. "Hormones," she muttered. "What's his name?"

"Jeremy Lukowitch. He's a nice kid." Who deserved better than what he got. But then don't we all ? "I have to go. Get some rest." She grinned awkwardly. "Boil water."

He'd had to park on a side street far away not to be seen as he waited. But it was worth it. Through his binoculars he saw Mitchell talking to the redhead, then she got in her car and drove away. He followed her.