Page 63 of Rules of Engagement

"Is he dead?" she asked.

"No."

"Would anyone care if he were?" she asked.

"He might have more information; so yes, but the police have already been informed so we're waiting to find out what happens next."

"Huh." She glanced at Solomon, then back at me. "I'll give you two some space," she said as she moved to the door. "Come on, Antonio."

Delgado looked at me. "It's fine," I assured him. "But don't go too far, please, and also could you get Fletcher and Flaherty back in here as soon as they're finished? You can't be on duty twenty-four hours a day."

"And they can?"

"They already got some rest. Plus, I think we might need backup."

"What happened at Fort Charles?" he asked.

"I don't know where to begin but I'll tell you soon," I replied, glancing again at Solomon. I wanted to hold his hand and tell him everything that I discovered and urge him to wake up soon. Mostly, I wanted to be alone with him, so I could say all the things I wanted to say without someone listening in. I wanted to tell him how angry I was that I didn't know any of this might happen. And that he'd hidden this part of his life so well from me, but that I loved him anyway.

"I'll stretch my legs," said Delgado. He left the room with Serena, hand-in-hand.

I grabbed the chair and pulled it over to Solomon's bedside. As I sat down, I picked up his hand, holding it between my own. "We're getting closer," I told him. "Almost, anyway. I..." My phone rang and I grabbed it, knowing I couldn't ignore it.

"Amazing thing happened," said Garrett. "One of your guys just called in a sighting and we picked up the shooter." In the background, someone shouted and I heard the wail of a siren. Garrett continued, "What are the chances one of your guys happened to be parked outside Mikey Gibbs' house when they just happened to see him?"

"No idea! They must be working another case," I said. "Did you catch him?"

"Sure did. We got him as soon as he came out of his house. He didn't even put up a fight."

"Really?"

"But he was surrounded by twenty of Montgomery's finest so he'd be pretty stupid if he had tried anything. We're transporting him to MPD now. He's getting his own convoy."

"Lucky man," I said dryly.

"And speaking of lucky, given the amazing coincidences that brought about his capture, I figured I would invite you down to the station to watch the interview. You do want in, right?"

I sat up straighter and gripped Solomon's hand a little harder. "Of course, I want in," I said.

"Get down here as fast as you can."

"Are you sure about that?"

"As sure as I am that you've had your guys scouring the city for this guy, and as sure as I am that you'll find some way to get the information from the interview. Figured I'd save you the hassle and just let you watch and listen."

"I would never..." I started, then stopped. Garrett didn't seem worried about anything he'd already guessed and trying to deny it was wasting my breath. "I'll be right there," I said as I hung up.

I returned my phone hand to cover Solomon's again. "We've got another puzzle piece," I told Solomon. I checked his machines, watching the lines on the heart monitor and the pressure on the ventilator. "This will be over soon, I promise. I have to go now but I'll be back soon." I stood, and leaned over him, kissing his cheek. "Hang in there," I told him. "We have a lot of talking to do."

I emptied my bundle of fresh clothes into the bag I left in the room, hung my damp shirt across the back of the chair, and stepped out, almost colliding with Anastasia and Damien. "You're back," grinned Anastasia, hugging me warmly. She looked at my coat quizzically. "You're not staying then?"

"I can't. I have to go down to the police station."

"What happened?" asked Damien.

"They just took the shooter into custody," I told them.

"That's great," said Anastasia, looked excitedly between us. "Did he say why he did it?"

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