Approximately The Same Time Mackey is Being Awakened

  Chastain Residence

  Morris is awakened by frantic knocking on the front door of his otherwise quiet home. With a groan, the junior deputy stretches to his full length on the bed, one toned leg sliding from underneath the covers. He runs one hand through his hair and the other across his face.

  "Dammit!," Morris whispers into the dark. "All I wanted was a couple hours of sleep. Is that too much to ask anymore? If that's who I think it is...? Oh man."

  Rolling onto his right side, Morris forces his eyes to adjust to the almost non-existent lighting in the room. After a brief moment, he gradually climbs to his feet. He slides both feet into his slippers as he trudges unhappily across the bedroom.

  The knocking continues intermittently. Sometimes soft; sometimes panicked in nature. Worry begins to build within Deputy Chastain's chest at the sound of scratching claws on the wooden door. Morris is exactly zero percent surprised when he opens the door to find Madison Mackey standing on the other side.

  The junior deputy looks Madison over from head to toe, noting her very thin--and sexy-- nightgown under her brown leather jacket. Morris quickly glances over Madison's left shoulder, also taking note of the sleek electric bike she rode in on. Wow. Whatever is going on must be pretty urgent. He can think of no other reason why Madison Mackey would risk making such a journey to his home--with a dog in her arms and wearing so very little.

  "Madison, what's wrong? Where's James?" Morris asks, his brow creasing.

  A shiver courses Madison's body and she shakes her head. Morris observes her with slitted eyes.

  "I...I don't know. I haven't seen him in a few hours. Someone came to my house. A couple of men. Maybe even three. They took Jamie. They took my baby, Morris."

  Chastain's mouth drops open in surprise. He steps forward, pushing the screen door open even further. Wrapping his left arm around Madison's hunched shoulders, Morris whispers reassuringly--going into full cop mode.

  "Come inside for a minute, Maddie. You'll catch your death out here in those thin clothes. I'll find you something warm to wear. Come on. You too, Titus. Come on. Inside. You can tell me everything once we've made sure you're okay."

  "Alright," Madison agrees, her body now shaking violently--most of it from shock finally settling in.

  -

  -

  Vantage Building

  Rachel aids James out of the large metal storage room and into the hallway. The detective is still very unsteady on his feet, and he leans on her heavily for support. Since originally discovering James in a heap on the floor, Rachel has helped him back into his clothes--leaving out the more unpleasant details of his appearance as much as possible. However, Rachel is certain the detective is starting to put two and two together. His expression is more solemn than before and his eyes barely meet hers. Rachel utters a random thought into thin air, simply to break up the uncomfortable silence.

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  "It sucks that she took your cellphone," Rachel says, pushing the button for the elevator. "I guess...That means she has the video I gave you too, huh?."

  "I guess so," Mackey says without much enthusiasm.

  "Hey!" Rachel says, turning to James and staring into his eyes. "I'm...I'm sorry, James. I should've told you want I suspected the first night you came to the bar. Ned...He's been talking about a job. And suddenly, he had all kinds of money. I don't know if he's actually involved. But, it sure seems like he might be. Where in the hell does Ned Andrews get a hundred grand? Ha. Gosh...I just. For once, I wanted to believe Ned could change. That he and I could go away and make a fresh start. He wasn't always an asshole. He was a good guy once. I loved him. I wanted to believe this was a new phase for us. But then, news broke of that Melbourne woman...And Evelyn. After Ned raped me in our apartment...I knew there was no going back to the beginning. I was gonna move in with my brother. Goodness sakes, I even stole Ned's van. But I got cold feet. I'm scared, James. I know you are too. We're both in a position we never thought we'd be in. Not in a thousand years. But, I want you to know...I believe in you, Detective Mackey. I believe in you because you actually cared about my sister. Karine wasn't just some dead prostitute to you. She was a human being. My family told me about what you did for them. How you helped arrange the funeral. I saw the flowers you sent. They were beautiful. And...I never got a chance to thank you. So, thank you."

  Rachel pauses her talking long enough to angle her head and make eye contact with James. Her eyes absently slip to his tightly pursed lips. She quickly reins in her emotions before continuing what she was saying.

  "We're gonna find whoever planned all of this. And that crazy bitch who did this to you. Mark my words, Detective. They won't get away with it. Not on my watch. And certainly not on yours. You're the guy who caught Aquarius. And I'm the angry bitch whose gonna help you find these creeps."

  James blinks very slowly, a thin smile building on his face.

  "Thank you, Rachel," James says in a choked voice. "But...Don't call yourself a bitch!"

  The elevator arrives on the top floor at that exact moment. Rachel glances at the doors before readjusting James' arm on her shoulders. She offers him a warm smile.

  "Okay. Let's go."

  -

  -

  Once outside the building, Rachel encourages Detective Mackey to lean against the van while she opens the side door. The front and back of the Astrovan is stuffed with her personal effects. Once James is tucked snuggly inside, Rachel goes to the driver's side of the van and climbs in. She talks to him over her right shoulder.

  "You okay, James? Ned had the seats in the back taken out. It's the best I can do. I'm sorry. I know it's not real comfortable back there."

  "It's fine, Rachel," James manages to say, while holding his aching head. "I appreciate all of your help. You're putting yourself at huge personal risk just by aiding me. Especially, if the department is just itching to bring me back in. Not to mention, if Ned really is involved in what happened to Evelyn and Officer Melbourne. You're risking it all, Rachel. And for, what? I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't come along."

  "Sure you do, Detective," Rachel says, watching James through the rearview mirror. "You don't strike me as a quitter. You survived two knocks on the head and some seriously heavy street drugs. You'd have figured something out."

  "I told you, Rachel. I'm not a detective anymore. I've been relieved of duty."

  "Hopefully, not for long," Rachel says, her jaw clenching. "I'd tell you to buckle up, James. But you'll just have to hold on tight. It's a rather long bumpy drive to my buddy's place."

  Rachel throws the van in gear and hurtles out of the construction zone.