A slow grin pulled up the corners of Grant's mouth. "The man told me he wanted to die. He had some crazy idea that when he died, he would see his daughter again."

  Blair remembered Hannah's own ideas about different lives, now realized where she'd gotten those notions. Even as it all went through his mind, he could hear the two men on screen plotting out the murder, discussing the best way to set Jim up to take the fall, laughing over the idea of Jim going to prison for the rest of his life. The more he watched, the more it became evident to Blair that Merrick had no idea he was being filmed. That Grant had used him just like he had used everyone else in his life.

  "How did you get Jim's gun?" Blair asked as the tape continued to play. "How'd you even know he kept one in his desk?"

  "Getting it was easy," Grant said as though he were tolerantly lecturing a child. "It was simple to find someone willing to earn a few dollars by stealing your partner's gun for me." He laughed, obviously proud of himself. "He waltzed right into the bullpen and no one paid him a bit of attention. It was priceless! As for how I knew it was there...well, you have George Mitchell to thank for that."

  "Mitchell?"

  "His recent attack on you brought your past experience with Golden back into the spotlight. One reporter in particular wrote an entire article on your first experience with the drug. She highlighted your theft of Ellison's gun from his desk drawer." He smiled widely. "I actually worried that Ellison might have put the gun elsewhere for fear of a repeat performance. But such was not the case."

  Blair's jaw clenched tight. Jim had been more careful with that weapon for months after he'd taken it and shot up the police garage-keeping the drawer locked constantly. But as time passed, the worry had lessened and so had the precautions.

  "So you see, it was as if it were meant to be," Grant concluded softly.

  "Why did you tape this?" Blair asked as the TV screen went to snow again, the tape finished. "What do you want?"

  Standing and crossing to the VCR, Grant popped out the tape before turning to face Blair. "I will send this to Captain Banks, evidence that will clear Ellison of Merrick's murder, if you leave with me."

  "If I what?!" Blair shot to his feet, his hand immediately going to his head as the sudden movement brought on a dizzy spell. He clutched at the couch and breathed through the vertigo, his gaze never leaving Grant. "You don't really think I'd go anywhere with you voluntarily, do you?" he said when he could speak again without swaying where he stood. "Because if you do, you're even crazier than I thought you were."

  A momentary shadow fell across Grant's face, then it was gone. He managed a smile. "All I'm asking is that you come with me." He gestured in Blair's direction. "Look at you. You're still wobbly on your feet from the Golden overdose. Don't you get tired of all this, Blair? Don't you wish it would all end? Let me show you a life free of all this pain and fear."

  Blair huffed out a bitter laugh. "Thanks all the same, but I'd really rather die."

  "You stay here with Detective Ellison, and that's probably exactly what will happen." Grant crossed to Blair, stopping before him.

  Blair stood his ground, staring up at Grant, trying to hide the terror he felt at having this man so close to him. "How could you kill a man just to get to me?"

  Grant smiled warmly. "I told you -- he wanted to die. He'd tried and failed to commit suicide twice. I simply stepped in and gave him an alternative to suicide."

  "But you lied to him. He thought you were going to frame Jim for his murder, send him away for that crime. That's the only reason he agreed to it."

  "Merrick had his agenda. I had mine," Grant said, his eyes sparkling with determination. "Come on, Blair! Think about it. You've almost been killed how many times? If I hadn't stepped in, given Douglas Merrick a new angle to consider, he would have had you killed. And before him was George Mitchell."

  "And before him was you."

  Grant averted his eyes for a moment, nodding his head. When he turned his attention back to Blair, regret shadowed his green eyes. "Yes, I know. And you will never know how sorry I am about that. I was wrong. I know that now and I want to prove it to you." Moving even closer, he put a hand on Blair's shoulder. "I can give you so much more than Ellison can. I can give you peace and safety. Just let me show you. One week, Blair, that's all I'm asking - one week to show you what I can offer."

  Blair backed away from Grant, freeing himself from the man's loathsome touch. He studied the doctor, eyes narrowed slightly. "And if I don't go with you? If I don't give you that week? What then? You plan to keep coming back? You plan to kill me?"

  "No, Blair. I won't keep coming back and I won't try to kill you. I'll leave you alone." He held up the tape still clutched in his hand. "But I'll take this with me when I leave. I'll disappear--you know how well I can disappear--and Ellison will be tried for murder." Grant fingered the videocassette, smiled. "Tried and found guilty, Blair," he added with confidence. "I made sure the evidence was airtight."

  Blair stared at the tape in Grant's hand, at the one piece of evidence that would clear his partner.

  "Do you know what they do to cops in prison?" Grant pressed. "Especially one with the reputation that your partner has?" The doctor snorted disdainfully. "I doubt he'd last a month."

  Blair swallowed deeply. Despair pressed in on him, tightening his gut, stealing his breath. His gaze shifted up to Grant-the man was waiting for his decision. "So all I have to do is go with you for one week," he confirmed, "let you show me what a good friend you can be and you'll give me the tape?"

  "I'll give it to you right now," Grant informed him happily. "We'll leave it here. You can even call your captain and ask him to pick it up! Come with me and Ellison not only goes free but I know once you see what I can offer, you'll stay with me. All I want is a chance to be your friend."

  Blair looked at the tape again. Irrefutable evidence that Jim was innocent. And Grant was willing to give it to him. One week. All I have to do is give up one week of my life and Jim will go free. "Okay," he said at last. "I'll give you a chance."

  Grant smiled widely, his green eyes sparking with excitement. "You won't regret this."

  Blair huffed in disgust. "I already do," he muttered.

  "I promised that you could call your captain," Grant said, ignoring Blair's mumbled remark. He walked to the phone and picked up the cordless receiver. Pushing it into Blair's hand, he said, "You may tell him about the tape and where to find it, but you may not mention my name or tell him that I'm here. Do you understand?" And even though Grant was trying to pass himself off as a friend, there was no mistaking the warning tone beneath the words.

  Blair nodded as he pushed the speed dial to the station. No matter how calm or rational Grant appeared, beneath the façade there still lurked a sick and dangerous man, and Blair wasn't about to provoke him. At least not yet...not until the tape was in Simon's hands and he was sure Jim would be cleared.

  The phone was answered on the second ring. "Banks."

  "Um, hey, Simon, it's Blair." He licked his lips, trying to think of something to say, something that would not give Grant away.

  "Sandburg," the captain bit out. "What's going on? Did something new come up with Jim's case?"

  "You could say that, yeah." Blair glanced at Grant, his mind still racing. Finally, he settled on the most obvious choice of explanations. The truth. "Simon, I've come into possession of a tape that will completely exonerate Jim."

  "You what? How the hell did you get that? What's on it? Who--"

  "Simon," Blair cut in, stopping the captain's flow of questions. "I'm calling you because I need you to come to the loft and pick up the tape. Once you watch it I know you'll be able to get Jim out of jail." He paused briefly, his hand tightening on the receiver. "Can you do that, Simon? Can you come and get the tape?"

  "Yes, of course, but...." Simon's voice trailed off. "Sandburg, is everything okay there?"

  "Sure. Why wouldn't it be?" He tried to sound upbeat, optimistic. Tried to hide the fact that he was about to leave with a man who had tried on more than one occasion to kill him.

  "Oh, I don't know," Simon bit out sarcastically. "Your best friend is in jail for murder, you've got the evidence to clear him, and instead of speeding across town and breaking my door down, you're calling me and calmly asking me to come and retrieve it." There was a slight pause, then, "Does something seem terribly wrong with this picture?"

  Blair sighed. "Simon, I know it seems weird, but I have something I need to do. I--" he glanced up to see Grant watching him carefully."--I can't bring the tape to you right now."

  There was another long pause, then Simon's still concerned voice came across the line, "Blair, what's going on?"

  "Nothing." He hated lying to the captain but he had no choice. Grant had been clear in his demands. "Simon, I, um, I need to go away for a while."

  "Go away!" Simon yelled into the phone. "What are you talking about? You can't do that! Where are you going? Does Jim know about this?"

  Blair closed his eyes against the captain's tirade, then opened them again to find Grant still watching him, triumph and fondness in the cunning eyes. "Jim doesn't know," he admitted softly. "But I'm telling you because I don't want him to worry too much. Just...just tell him I'll be home in a week."

  Grant crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head as if to tell Blair that he wouldn't be back, that he'd find his new life so wonderful that he would forsake this one for it. Blair looked past Grant, at the view of the cityscape outside the loft's balcony. I will see this view again. I will come home, he vowed silently.

  "Dammit, Blair, you can't just disappear for a week," Simon was saying. "Jim is going to go nuts!"

  "Simon, I have to hang up now. Just come and get this tape so Jim can be released from jail."

  "Blair, wait," Simon blurted out. "You can't just leave. Tell me something that I can pass on to Jim."

  And Blair knew what Simon was hoping for-some secret message he could tell the captain, something that he could then pass on to Jim, something that would alert the sentinel to his whereabouts. But Blair had no code, no way out. He had only the tape. Once it was viewed, Jim and Simon would know who Blair had gone away with...but they still wouldn't have any way of finding him.

  It's just a week. They won't need to find me because I'll be home in a week.

  "Tell Jim not to worry," Blair said softly, his gaze once more finding Grant. "Tell him...tell him I'm going to be spending some time with...with a friend..."

  The End

 

 

  Beth Manz, Progression Series 18 Guilty Until Proven Innocent

 

 

  Thank you for reading books on GrayCity.Net
Share this book with friends