Fan Fiction

Intro :: Part 1: Revolution :: Part 2: Reward :: Part 3: Rewiring :: Part 4: Remembrance

Image Credits :: Music Credits

April 1995

Gina

She could barely breathe as she stood there, watching Castillo look back at her in silence.

"It's Sonny, isn't it?" she asked softly.

"Get in," he told her holding the door open without answering the question. She knew better than to insist that he tell her.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she slid into the front passenger seat. She thought about the Ortíz case that Sonny had been telling her about. Tonight was the first step Sonny needed to take in order to bring down a powerful new player in the Miami drug world.

He had convinced her the meet was just a prelim...that he would be okay. So, she had given in, promising herself not to give him a hard time and agreeing to wait for him on the St. Vitus. He had promised he would call, so she dozed fitfully by the phone, listening to soft music and trying not to worry.

The stakeout must have lasted into the early hours of the morning. She had not heard from him since a little after 11pm, but that was to be expected. He would have had his hands full trying to convince Ortíz that he was a legitimate drug runner, anxious to make a deal. No one was better at the game than Sonny, but these things took time to finesse.

The rest of the team had been covering surveillance. She had felt comforted by the fact that Sonny had been wearing a wire and Rico and Stan were monitoring the meet in the big green van a block away.

Everything had been in place. Every detail had been considered.

So, what could have gone wrong?

Castillo's car was racing down the narrow streets. She had never known him to drive so recklessly and she felt her heart start to thud dully in her chest.

"Why did you let him go in there alone?" she asked aloud, trying to hold back her anger.

He ignored the question, concentrating instead on the road ahead. Turning a corner sharply, he fought the steering wheel hard as the back end of the car swerved in protest

"He told me they were anxious to have him make the buy," he finally answered. "He thought they were in his pocket and I trusted his intuition on this one. There was no reason not to."

"But Lieutenant..."

"You've been an undercover cop for a long time, Gina. You know the risks that go with the territory. Sonny knew them too."

Her hand gripped the side of the seat.

"Okay then, tell me what happened?"

"Sonny and Ortíz had finished closing the deal. The conversation Stan and Rico heard was guarded, but friendly enough. Then, suddenly everything got quiet. That's when they must have found the wire."

Marty ran his hand over his face. She could tell he was having a tough time finding the words.

"They must have overpowered him and then took off before we realized what was happening. Rico tired to follow after them in the van, but he lost them in traffic. From what we can piece together, they must have driven to the shipyards and then...they shot him and left him there. A dock worker spotted him crawling out onto the road and called 911."

She closed her eyes tightly, trying to block the horrible image from her mind.

"How bad is he?" she asked finally.

Castillo was pulling into a parking lot by the fish market and when he hit the brakes, she put her hand up on the dash to brace herself. They sat in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Then he sighed, and she sensed he was trying to think of a way to prepare her.

"He took three slugs," he said finally. "One in the shoulder, one in the leg, and...one in the stomach. He's lost a lot of blood."

The color drained from her face as she listened.

"An ambulance is on the way and should be here any minute," Castillo continued, looking over at her. "I thought you'd want to go with him."

"Thanks," she murmured as she met his gaze.

Then he took her hand, squeezing it gently and her eyes began to fill with tears.

The passenger door had opened and Rico was standing there, a deep sadness in soft brown eyes.

"Am I too late?" she asked him in a whisper.

"No. But he's asking for you," Rico answered. He looked away. "I'm sorry, Gina. I never saw it coming...I..."

"No, Rico," she said, putting her hand on his arm to stop him. "I know you were there for him. This was a case of bad timing...and bad luck."

She got out of the car and let him lead her toward the knot of uniformed officers she saw up ahead. She quickened her pace, trying to push away the growing panic.

Sonny was lying on his back, his face battered and his eyes open and staring at the sky. Someone had taken off his jacket and had tucked it under his head to protect him from the wet concrete. She could hear his ragged breathing as he struggled for air; his shirt was torn and soaked with blood.

Stan was there, kneeling on the ground holding a bloody towel against Sonny's stomach.

"Give us some room, step back. Let Gina through," he told the group.

"Sonny?" she called to him to let him know she had come. A smile flickered over his face and she knew that he had heard her. Sinking to her knees, she cupped his face in her hands, fighting hard to control her trembling.

I'm going to lose him!

"Hey there, darlin," he barely whispered. "You made it."

She looked down into his eyes and saw him trying hard to focus on her. Bitter tears rolled down her cheeks as she bent over to kiss him.

"It's okay, Gina," he murmured. "We'll get through this, I promise."

He coughed suddenly and grabbed her arm, grimacing in pain.

"Hold on tight!" she whispered.

The towel Stan was holding was soaked with blood and someone handed him another.

"Here, Stan. Let me take that," she said quietly, applying pressure against the wound, even though she knew in her heart the damage was already done.

"He's bad, Lieutenant!" she overheard Rico say under his breath. "We can't wait for this phantom ambulance! Let's get him to the ER ourselves!" Castillo glanced down at Sonny.

"We'd never make it," he said quietly.

"But waiting like this is nuts! I don't even hear the siren yet. We could put him in the black and white and have him there in five minutes!"

Staring over at Rico, Castillo's eyes pierced the darkness, but the hint of sorrow that she saw there betrayed him.

"And if his heart stopped on the way? What then, Detective?"

Rico stared back defiantly. "I'd handle it," he muttered.

Castillo looked up at the highway ramp as if half expecting an ambulance to magically appear. Jimmy Renkin stood close by, readying himself for instructions. Stan knelt down beside Gina, giving her a smile of encouragement.

"We're wasting precious time, Lieutenant!" Rico pleaded. His desperation broke her heart. But before Castillo could answer, the whoop of an emergency vehicle could be heard in the distance. Watching there together, beside Sonny, they collectively held their breath.

"We wait," Castillo answered finally, ignoring Rico's look of disbelief.

Sonny appeared to be slipping away into unconsciousness and Gina rocked him back and forth, desperately trying to lure him back.

"Sonny, listen to me. Sonny, come on, listen now. Let me tell you what Emily did yesterday."

"Emily?" she heard him whisper.

Again, she saw the flicker of a smile as the muscles in his face relaxed.

Daddy's girl!

She smiled sadly, relieved she had thought of a way to keep him with her.

"She took her first steps, yesterday, Sonny. I was going to tell you last night, but we never got a chance to talk."

"That's...great," he answered groggily, as if awakening from a dream.

"You had to see her! She wobbled back and forth on those chubby little legs, but nothing would stop her! She was determined! Before I could catch her, she had made it across the room and all the way out onto the deck."

"Now, we're in for it," he laughed softly.

She laughed with him, but she knew it sounded hollow and forced.

"We'll have to baby proof everything. So...where shall we start, do you think? Gates for the stairs? Locks for the cabinets? Huh? What do you think, Sonny?"

Another spasm of coughing seemed to sap all his strength, but she saw him fighting hard to come back. His painful struggle touched her.

"Sonny," she moaned as she put her cheek against his. "I love you." Her mouth began to tremble, and when she tried to repress a sob, it burst from her with wretched force.

"Don't, Gina. Shh...Shh... I love you, too."

He did what he could to comfort her, kissing her softly on the cheek and stroking her hair with the tips of his fingers. How she wished he could put his arms around her, but even the slightest movement seemed to exhaust him and it wasn't long before she felt his hand drop away and fall back on the ground.

"Damn it! Where is that ambulance?" she heard Rico ask again.

"Sonny... Sonny!" she called to him. She shook him gently and became alarmed when he didn't answer. "Don't do this, Sonny, please. Don't..."

Finally, he stirred and when he opened his eyes, he must have seen her fear.

"I'm sorry, Gina." he whispered to her tenderly.

Their eyes locked and they smiled at one another for just a moment.

"Don't go," she murmured, fiercely blinking away the tears.

She took a hold of his hand, but when she felt how cold he was, she knew his body was giving in to the shock. Then, his hand went limp, his body sagged and his eyes shimmered into stillness.

She lowered her mouth to his, and it was then that she realized that his breathing had stopped.

"No!" she groaned, gripping him tightly.

Rico sank down beside her, an expression of disbelief on his face.

"Sonny!" she heard him call out.

A screech of sirens pierced the air, and with it came a pinprick of hope. She fought hard against the urge to scream. Maybe there was still time.

Loud shouts. An ambulance door slamming. Then came the sound of running feet.

"They're coming, baby!" she whispered. "They're here!"

Castillo's hand had tightened on her shoulder.

"Gina," he said quietly. "They need to work on him."

"Tell him to fight, Marty. He'll listen to you," she begged him. She stood and buried her face against Castillo's chest.

"We have a full cardiac arrest here!" a paramedic shouted. They began to work hard, fighting to save him.

She heard the sigh of air from the ambu bag being hand-pumped in a steady rhythm. Then there was a sudden crack of current from the defibrillator as they shocked his heart once, and then, again.

"No pulse. Resume compressions!" one of them shouted.

The time seemed to crawl by slowly. Finally, unable to stop herself, she lifted her face, and her eyes were drawn down to the battle going on at her feet.

The paramedics were moving in sync, intuitively sensing what needed to be done. They had torn the bloody shirt from his body, and hastily pasted the monitor leads to his chest. Syringe after syringe of emergency drugs were being pushed into his veins as one of the paramedics listened to instructions from a two-way radio he held in his hand.

They seemed so calm, so confident. Still, there was desperation in the air and she knew from the determination on their faces that they were pulling out all the stops for this brave cop who had given so much.

"Clear!" she heard one of them shout again. Sonny's body arched and fell.

Then they paused for just a moment and she watched them stare hopefully at the monitor's screen, as if praying for a returning heartbeat.

"Come on, Sonny," someone called out, breaking the awful silence. The monitor sang back a frightening flatline

"Okay. Let's wrap him up and get him outta here!" the first one shouted.

Again, the teamwork was evident as one of the paramedics continued the compressions on Sonny's chest while another squeezed the ambu bag while helping to hoist the stretcher into the ambulance.

"Let me go with him," Gina pleaded, grabbing the sleeve of the driver.

"I don't think so. It's going to be pretty crazy in there, Gina."

She looked up and recognized Bill Gillie, one of paramedics she knew from her rookie days.

"Please, Bill."

Her voice was becoming shrill with despair.

Bill winced and shook his head regretfully.

"It's okay, Gina. We'll follow along behind." Martin said as he took her by the arm and led her back to his car. Her thoughts were so jumbled she barely felt him guide her into the seat.

"Take care of things Stan," Castillo called out of the window. "I want this scene cordoned off."

Rico had already gunned the engine of his Caddy and had screeched onto the road after the ambulance. Marty backed his car up and quickly followed behind Rico to join in the mad, desperate dash to Biscayne General.

"It's taking so long. Why haven't we heard anything?" Gina moaned, rocking back and forth on the waiting room couch.

Castillo sat close by, ready to be there for her if she needed him. Rico leaned against a wall by the ER entrance, his face a mask of fury.

"Somebody better come out here in a minute or I'm going to start busting some heads," she heard him mutter.

Equipment rushed by them on the way to the patient area and she saw Bill Gille come out heading in their direction. Gina stood up anxiously.

"They're doing everything they can, Gina. They've got a heart beat, but he's far from stable."

She closed her eyes with relief. "It's a start," she whispered.

Bill put his hand on her arm and looked over at Castillo with warning in his eyes.

"One of the ER residents should be out in a little while to talk to you. They know you've been out here waiting, but they need every pair of hands they can get. There were quite a number of accidents brought in tonight. That's why it took us a while to get to the scene. We had already been called to the other side of town and we were the only ambulance available when the call for Sonny came in."

Gina heard Rico curse softly under his breath.

"Okay," she said wearily, leaning heavily against Castillo. "You got him here, he's alive and that's all that matters now."

Bill started to say something else but then seemed to think better of it and instead leaned over to give Gina a hug. "Hang in there, sweetheart. I'll stop back to see how things are going after my next run."

"Okay, Bill. Thanks...thanks for everything."

"You bet," he answered, glancing away guiltily.

It made her nervous to watch Rico pace so she turned around and faced Castillo instead. He sat there quietly, letting her ramble on about anything that came into her mind...anything but the subject of Sonny lying in the next room fighting for his life.

They sat for an hour more when suddenly the swinging door to the trauma room opened. A young doctor in blue scrubs came out pulling off his cap and looking around the room expectantly.

"Mrs. Crockett?" he asked when he finally saw her. "Can we see you inside please?"

Gina felt lightheaded for a moment. "Please...come with me, Lieutenant."

Castillo took her hand and she gripped it tightly. Rico stayed behind in the waiting room and watched them apprehensively as they disappeared behind the swinging doors together.

Two more doctors in the familiar blue scrubs were standing next to each other in a dimly lit hallway adjacent to the main trauma room.

"Mrs. Crockett. Lieutenant," the older one of the two nodded. "I'm Dr. Randall, the ER attending here at Biscayne General."

"Just tell me he's going to be okay! Please! That's all I care about right now!"

Both men were silent for a moment. Then Randall reached over and put his hand on her arm.

The regret in his eyes terrified her.

"We had his heart going for a little while, but then, he arrested again. This time, we couldn't bring him back. I'm sorry. We did everything we could, but the blood loss was massive. He...he never had a chance."

Her eyes grew wide with shock.

"No!" she whispered hoarsely. "I don't believe you."

Marty looked over at her, concern etched deeply on his face.

"Lieutenant. Tell them. You know Sonny! He's strong. He's beaten this before! Tell them! This can't be happening! Please! Tell them Lieutenant!"

She frantically pushed past the three men and stumbled into the trauma room before they had the chance to stop her.

"Mrs. Crockett! Don't go in there yet!" one of the doctors called after her.

What she saw in front of her stopped her cold.

The ER staff was crowded around a stretcher in the middle of the room, removing the monitor leads from Sonny's chest and leaning over him to turn off the respirator. She saw the large pool of blood on the floor by their feet and putting her hand to her mouth, she screamed.

"You can't give up!" she wanted to say.

"Please, try again," she pleaded aloud. "I love him. Please..."

"Gina, he's gone," Marty whispered in her ear as he tried to pull her back.

"No! No, you're wrong. He isn't dead! He can't be. You're wrong."

"I wish I was wrong. More than anything in this world Gina, I wish that I was wrong."

His words slapped her hard and her hands went to her face as if to ward off another blow.

"Sonny!" she moaned, looking over at him for one last time.

Sonny!

Martin circled his arms around her before her body crumpled to the floor.

The air was hot and still and there was a rumble of thunder from somewhere far away. Seagulls were calling to one another down by the docks, and she could hear the constant slapping of the water against the pier. It made her think of the St. Vitus Dance.

"Come here," he'd say to her with a grin, and he'd hold out his hand invitingly to pull her by his side...

Someone was calling her name. Her eyes had been closed, and now she forced herself to open them.

They were all standing there, silently watching, as if they were afraid she would suddenly break apart into tiny little pieces.

Sitting up shakily, one of the nurse's gave her a glass of water and cooled her face with a wet cloth.

"Here, Gina. Take this," the nurse said to her, handing her a small white cup with a purple capsule inside.

"I don't want it," she murmured numbly.

"It's all right, nurse. I'll take it from here," Castillo insisted, dismissing the woman with one of his stares. He put his arm around Gina and her head fell hard against his shoulder.

"Trudy's here. Come on. We'll take you over to her place."

"No. I want to go home."

"Okay. Home." He helped her up. "Can you stand yet?"

"I think so. Yes. Martin, please. Just go and get the car."

Reluctantly, he left her side and told Trudy to meet him by the front of the hospital. Trudy stood forlornly by the ER entrance, watching Gina try to walk towards her on her own.

"Gina," her friend whispered sadly.

"Where's Rico, Trudy?" Gina asked quietly. "He...he shouldn't be alone right now."

"Out in his car. He won't let anyone near him."

Her legs could barely hold her. Leaning heavily on Trudy, she made her way out into the parking lot. Rico was sitting in his Caddy, gripping the steering wheel and staring blankly at the sky.

"You don't need this right now, Gina. Let's go home," Trudy said, her own eyes swimming in tears.

"Not yet."

Pulling away from Trudy, she walked over to her husband's partner and stood by the caddy, waiting quietly for him to notice her.

"Rico..." she whispered.

Rico looked up and when he saw Gina begin to sway, he scrambled out of the driver's seat to grab her.

And when he gathered her up in his arms and crushed her against him, they held on tightly to one another and cried.

Denial crept into her heart as the thought of what happened began to overwhelm her. Maybe this was all just a dream. Maybe she'd wake up and he'd be there, in their bed lying beside her.

"What's wrong?" he'd ask her. And she'd tell him about her terrible nightmare. He'd probably brush the hair from her face and make fun of her a little. Then, they'd laugh together and he would say, "Stop worrying, Gina! I just have a few months to go. I'm almost out."

Almost.

All she could see now was a blur of scenery flash by the widow as Castillo's car sped along the highway. She put her head on Trudy's shoulder.

"Why? Why did he have to go in there alone? Why wouldn't he listen to me? He was always so reckless, so foolish..."

So brave...

Trudy took her hand and when their fingers intertwined, she saw it.

The wedding ring.

The band of gold Sonny had put on her finger that happy day in September.

The day he promised they would be together for always.

She sat up, pushing Trudy away roughly.

"Go away!" a voice inside her screamed. "All of you! Just go away!"

"Gina...honey...don't..." Trudy cried, when she saw the wildness in Gina's eyes.

Gina clenched her hands into tight fists and breathed in deeply.

"Castillo is right," she said finally. "I have to face it, Trudy. He... he's gone. Sonny is gone."

And when she said the words aloud, Gina knew that from that moment on, her life would be upside down forever.

1995

April

Gina

The sky was a crystal blue on the day that she buried him.

Caroline sat across from her in the limo watching her carefully but Gina fought the impulse to meet her gaze, content to suffer in silence. Sinking back down against soft upholstered seats, she wished more than anything in this world that she could simply disappear.

Billy sat next to his mother, staring angrily out of the tinted windows. Gina wanted so badly to reach over and say something to console him but she knew there was nothing she could do that would make things any easier.

They pulled up to the curb in front of the church and waited until the rest of the funeral procession caught up.

"Nothing about his life was ever fair," Caroline said to her finally. "I'm sorry, Gina. I truly am."

"I know, Caroline," she answered back in a choked whisper.

The media was already there, waiting to cover the service but showing respect by keeping their distance from the mourners. Sonny's fellow officers were in uniform standing at attention in the street and saluting in unison as the flag covered casket was carried inside. Then, the sorrowful wail of bagpipes filled the air.

The church itself was filled to capacity. His coworkers and friends were everywhere as well as some distant relations she had never met. His cousin Jack came, and a niece from San Francisco...his old partner from burglary... a guard from the courthouse...his buddies from the marina...

Izzy...

The police commissioner was there. So was the mayor.

How she wished he could see it all.

The service itself was simple, the way Sonny would have wanted.

Poor Rico struggled with the eulogy.

"James Sonny Crockett. My partner. My friend..."

His voice filled the church, but she never really heard the words. She was far away, in another time, another place...waiting for Sonny to come home.

And through it all, Castillo never left her side. He kept a watchful eye on her, guiding her through the ceremonies and shielding her from the public's scrutiny.

"It's almost over," he whispered to her as they filed out of the cemetery together.

She smiled at him sorrowfully. "How I wish that were true, Lieutenant. But unfortunately, the worst is yet to come."

When the formalities were finally over and most of the friends and family had left, she sat in the rocker in the baby's room, the folded flag in her lap. She was planning to give it to Billy the following week when the boy came over to look through some of his father's possessions. Intense sadness swept over her when she thought about the boy's grief and she held the silky fabric to her face and wept.

Several days went by before they started to really worry about her.

"You have to eat, girl. This is no good!"

She looked up at Trudy wearily. "You can leave if you want. I don't need a sitter."

"No, but your baby does," Trudy hated to be cruel, but nothing else seemed to work. Maybe a little shock therapy would snap Gina back.

"I think you'd better go."

"Gina..."

"No. It's okay. I'm not angry. You've been a good friend and I love you for what you have done for me. But right now, I need to be alone. It's time to get used to things the way they are and the way they're going to be."

"I think being alone is the last thing you should be, hon. Please, let me at least come back tonight."

Gina picked Emily up from the playpen and walked to the glass sliding doors that led to the deck. She turned around slowly to look at Trudy.

"Goodbye, Trudy. Go back to your apartment and pick up your life again. I'll be fine."

Gina's face was like marble and her voice chilled Trudy to the bone. If Trudy insisted on staying, she knew she was going to have a fight on her hands. Maybe she needed to call in reinforcements.

"I...I'll go up and pack," she told Gina, as she headed for the bedroom. She knew there was a phone by the bed in the guest room.

Gina nodded without looking at her and went out into the backyard to put Emily into the baby swing.

"Mama," Emily cooed. The baby patted her mother's cheek to try and get her attention but Gina never noticed. Her movements were mechanical, her eyes glazed and unblinking. She pushed the swing seat forward and stood back to wait for its return.

She was still there an hour later when she heard a car door slam. Emily was sound asleep in the swing, her little chin resting on her chest.

"Gina?"

Startled, she looked up to see Rico standing beside her.

"Come inside, Gina. It's getting chilly out here. You need to come inside."

She barely felt his touch as he led her back into the kitchen. She said nothing as he took the baby inside to her crib and came back to sit with her in the dark.

"You have Emily to consider, Gina. Sonny wouldn't have wanted this."

"He left me," she said quietly. "I know that sounds ridiculous, Tubbs, but I can't seem to forgive him for that."

"We all feel betrayed. It's only natural. The first night after he died, I sat alone on the St. Vitus. I was so furious, I punched a hole in the cabin wall."

She looked over at him sadly.

"I'm sorry Rico. I know you're hurting, too."

"Yeah, well, I'm holding on okay, I guess. I...I went back to work yesterday. Castillo had the office changed around and they moved Sonny's desk over by the window. Someone had cleaned it out already."

Her head snapped around and she looked at him angrily.

"They had no right..."

"It's okay. Everything is packed in a box and it's in my car. I'll bring it in for you later."

"Thanks." Gina stood up and walked over to the window and leaned her forehead against the cool glass. "I feel so angry all the time, Rico...like I have this acid eating away at me inside." She looked up at the sky and took a deep breath. "I dream of him every night," she continued. "No blood. No reliving of that horror by the docks...just Sonny and me going on with our lives...walking on a beach...watching a movie together...making love."

Sometimes, I think I see him, or...I hear his voice. Maybe he'll be coming in the front door asking me what's for dinner. Or...he'll be in the big armchair in the living room, watching a football game on TV. The other day, I was sure I heard him playing in the family room with Emily."

A flood of memories overwhelmed her and she paused for a minute to regain control.

"Once, I let the phone ring and ring and suddenly, his greeting floated out from the answering machine. Oh, Rico...it was like someone had just sucked the air right out of the room."

Rico came over to put his arms around her and she leaned against him for support.

"But the worst is at night," she whispered hoarsely. "I...I can't even shut my eyes without feeling his body against mine. I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever really be able to sleep again."

"Let's go sit inside where it's more comfortable," he said, his tone warm and soothing.

They sat on the living room couch together, and Rico pulled her over.

"Close your eyes," he said. "You have to be exhausted, Gina. Rest for a while."

She put her head on his chest and he stroked her hair. She fought it at first, but he began to hum very softly and as she listened, she could feel her body start to relax. For the first time in two weeks, the paralyzing pain started to lift and soon she had drifted into a dreamless state that held her prisoner until the early morning light began to peek into the jalousie windows.

She sat up suddenly. She was alone on the couch.

What time was it?

She smelled coffee brewing and heard the refrigerator door close in the kitchen.

"Sonny?" she called out.

The noise in the kitchen stopped and she held her breath as a fresh wave of pain washed over her.

No, it wasn't Sonny.

Rico's face appeared at the door and he smiled. If he heard what she had said, he never let on.

"So. Good morning. Are you hungry?"

"No."

She tried hard not to show her bitter disappointment.

"Okay. Suit yourself. But Emily's been up since bright and early and I think she's lookin' for her Mama."

"She's up! Why didn't you wake me?"

Rico smiled. "I told you. You needed some rest. And while you were making some "z's", this little lady and I have been havin' a high ole time."

"I can't believe it! I never heard her!" Gina stood at the kitchen door and glanced in curiously.

Emily was in her highchair, holding a bottle in one hand and a spoon in the other. She was covered with something that looked like cereal, and the bowl in front of her lay upside down on the tray.

"Mama!" she squealed when she saw her. Her fat little hand splashed in a puddle of milk and she giggled with delight.

"Rico, what in God's name did you feed her?"

"Ah...Cheerios? You had a whole box in there. I thought all kids loved those."

"Yes, but she's not old enough to feed herself that yet. Looks like she's wearing most of it. Actually, it looks like you might have been christened as well."

It had been a long time since Gina had laughed and all at once, it felt as if a floodgate had been opened. Once she started, she couldn't stop.

"Rico...your hair...and that tie..." She doubled over helplessly.

"'ico, ico..." Emily chirped.

"Okay, you two. Enough making fun of Uncle Rico! I have my pride, you know!" A huge grin had spread over his face. He had been determined to try and bring Gina back and her laughter was a sign she had taken the first step.

1995

April 20th

Gina and Rico

It was Emily's first birthday but Gina didn't feel much like celebrating. She stood by the desk in the family room, watching Rico go out to his car parked in front. He had just handed her Sonny's gold badge in the leather holder and after staring at it for a minute, she opened the desk draw to put it out of the way until another time, when she hoped she'd feel a little stronger.

"Gina. The box of Sonny's things from his desk," Rico said quietly as he came back into the room.

The cardboard box was only halfway filled. There hadn't been much to retrieve. Some mementos, old photos, a coffee mug, an address book...

...a small red plastic helicopter.

Her heart dropped to her feet when she saw it.

During some of his more difficult cases, she could remember seeing Sonny sitting at his desk at the office, his eyes far away as he spun the helicopter's blades with his index finger.

"Helps me concentrate," he would tell her.

And that was all he'd say.

But she knew it meant more to him than that.

He had told her once that on the day they evacuated Saigon, the last sight he had seen of the fallen city was from an army helicopter window as it took off, minutes before the North Vietnamese swarmed over the walls of the American Embassy, rounding up anyone unlucky enough to be left behind.

He had lost so many close buddies during the battles in those steaming Vietnamese jungles, and the war had left him with many scars. She could tell the memories had continued to haunt him...even in his dreams. Some nights, he would wake up and sit on the edge of the bed shuddering in the dark and when she reached over to comfort him, he would tell her gruffly to go back to sleep. It had hurt that he wouldn't let her into his nightmare, but then, he had always insisted on finding his own ways of coping with his demons and leaning on others was not one of his crutches.

Gina looked down at the little copter in her hand and smiled. Sonny would never have admitted it to anyone, but she knew the toy had most likely been his lifeline to sanity. Opening the desk draw once again, she placed the copter next to his shield and bending her head down, she closed her eyes tightly.

"You okay?" Rico asked.

"Yeah. Fine. Just trying to keep my balance, that's all."

She smiled over at him and after a moment, she took a deep breath, continuing to sift through the box's contents. She found a mangled bullet stuffed into a folded envelope and recognized it as the one that had almost killed him that time he had been shot at the Miami commuter station. She remembered putting it into his hand after he had regained consciousness in the hospital.

Yeah. He had been lucky that time.

At the bottom of the box, there was a large manila envelope that contained several postcards and three letters, held together with a rubber band.

"One of the letters was addressed to me, so I opened it and read it," Rico said. "Obviously, he never sent it, but it told me a lot of how he felt about our friendship. After you read it, I would like it back, Gina, please. It means a lot to me."

"Of course, Rico."

The other one is from Marty, sent to Sonny when he was in rehab.

Gina held the envelope in her hand and sighed.

"The third letter is addressed to you." Rico finally added, watching her carefully.

"Are you sure you want me to read yours, Rico?"

Rico smiled at her as he said, "The letter says a lot about the man. I wouldn't have it any other way."

She wasn't sure if reading Sonny's words would be the kind of thing she needed at this moment. But she knew she would have to eventually, and it was better that she have Rico with her when she did.

Sonny's letter to Rico was written on some pages torn out of a spiral notebook. She smiled when she saw them, because she remembered how he always kept his notes and lists to himself on those pads. Many a morning, she would find one in progress next to their bed or on his desk at work.

The letter was dated June 7, 1991

Rico,

I've been in the Keys for the last six months, just drifting along in this boat I managed to buy off some old coot. It's a far cry from the St. Vitus, that's for sure. You'd probably get seasick just looking at it, Rico!

I pull into port from time to time for supplies and to shoot pool with some of the locals. They think I'm this weird hermit who lives on a boat instead of in a cave. Guess my long hair and scraggly beard helps keep that rumor alive.

Had a run in with the law last month. Got drunk, beat up a guy, got beat up myself, and landed in the hospital. Bad scene. Left me with 14 stitches in the back of my head and a broken wrist.

This counselor came to talk to me. Told me I had to get a handle on my drinking or I wouldn't last out the year. I probably should have told him that the way things were going, it really didn't matter. Would have saved him the bother of a lecture.

That's when I took a good look at myself and began to realize where I'd been and where I was going. The sight wasn't pretty. In fact, it was downright pathetic!

You have always been a good friend to me, Rico. When we first met, I thought I would throw you off the pier a few times. But after a while, something clicked and after that, I couldn't have imagined working without you.

You watched my butt for five years. You defended me when I needed a friend. You made me laugh. You took care of me when I was losing it. You understood when I shut you out. When I ranted, you would let me stew, but you were always there after I cooled off.

When Catie died, you did everything you could to protect me. When I lost my marbles and almost killed you, you came around eventually and supported me, even when the big guns wanted to put me away. Things have not been the same since we split, Rico. I feel like a piece of me was torn away.

Anyway, with all we've been through together, and all the good you have done for me in the past, I figured I owed you an explanation of why I am going to do this, if nothing else.

This is "so long" amigo. I've decided that this world will be a better place without me. God knows I've been living on borrowed time for the last 20 years. By the time you get this letter, the dirty deed will already have been done so don't waste time trying to talk me out of it.

There is one thing that's bothering me though. I hate the thought of closing the book without trying to make things right with the people that mean the most to me. I never told Gina how I really felt. I guess I treated her pretty badly. I should have stopped feeling sorry for myself and swallowed my pride. Now it's too late to let her know that she has always been very special in my life.

Ah, who am I kidding, Rico? She's much better off without me and all my lousy baggage! But please tell her...tell her that I loved her. She'd never believe me, but you might persuade her it was true.

I wrote to Billy. I didn't tell him what was going to happen, but just that I loved him and that I was proud of him. Try to help him to understand his old man and don't let him forget me, Rico. Please, promise me that.

Finally, I wrote to Marty. He needed to hear that he was the reason I stayed with the force as long as I did. His honesty and integrity gave me hope for the system. Too bad the corruption was bigger than the both of us.

He also has to know that he couldn't have prevented any of this, so you tell him all this for me, buddy, okay?

I'm rambling, I know. I got to put this in the mailbox down by the drug store before I lose my nerve.

Love ya, man.

And just remember the good days...as a favor to me.

Sonny

She closed the letter and stared out the window. After a minute, she wiped the tears from her cheek with trembling fingers.

"He never sent it."

"No. My guess is he decided it would be selfish to dump all that heavy stuff on me. It was his baggage, as he put it, and he would deal with it alone. I think he probably kept the letter nearby to remind himself how close he came to doing something stupid. Kind of a reality-check whenever he felt desperate."

She nodded. "Sonny told me that one day, he sailed off with a case of Jack Daniels and almost drowned himself in booze. There is no doubt in my mind that he had all intentions of killing himself that day. Thank God the lieutenant had a friend watching out for him. When he found him, the Coast Guard had to rush him by helicopter to the nearest emergency room. After that was when Marty put him in the Veterans hospital to dry out."

"I know," Rico said. "Marty kept in touch with me while I was in New York during those days. I wanted to come down, but the lieutenant was adamant that I leave Sonny alone for a while. The waiting was tough. I wanted to pick up that phone and yell at him to snap out of it, damn it! But I trusted Marty. He knew what to do. If I had gotten involved, I might have made things worse."

"Oh, I don't know, Rico," Gina said smiling. "Losing you was hard on him. Too many losses in too short a time. He never had the chance to get over Caitlin. And then the job let him down, his friends drifted away. No, I think it was always part of Castillo's plan to get you two back together again. He knew you were the closest person to family that Crockett had left."

The other two letters lay on the couch next to her and she hesitated. She left the one he wrote for her. She didn't think she was quite ready for that.

Marty's letter to Sonny was written in his fine, elegant handwriting. The message was crisp and to the point as always.

This one was dated October 31, 1991

Dear Sonny,

I have watched you the last two years sinking deeper and deeper into a hopeless depression. Bill Casey had been down in the Keys, keeping me informed and when you reached the end of your rope, he notified me and went out after you, prepared to pull you back.

I know I was tough on you that day in the hospital but the words I spoke had to be said, or you would have continued to try and destroy yourself. I am your friend, and I could never have let that happen.

By now your rehab counselor has told you that you will be discharged in a week. The last thing I want to see happen is for you to go back to your life of solitude. You need people around you, Sonny.

I want you to consider coming back to Miami, and work for me again. I need your talent. You can live with me for a while until you get back on your feet if you want. Unless you decide to use the boat like you did before. It could be arranged.

I'll be waiting for you in the hospital lobby on your day of discharge.

Don't disappoint me.

Marty

"He saved his life, Gina," Rico said softly as he watched her fold the letter in half.

"Yes, and brought him back to me."

She put the letter in the desk and poured herself a glass of wine.

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes," she told him.

"Are you sure you don�t want to read the other one now, while I'm here?"

She hesitated.

"Later. After I've put Emily to bed."

They ate quietly in the kitchen together, Emily playing happily on the floor beside them.

There were so many questions she still needed to ask, but she wasn't sure she could handle the answers.

"I'm going back to New York in a few months, Gina," Rico told her.

It was the one thing she dreaded the most to hear.

"I had a feeling you would."

"Val needs me. And I need to forget for a while. Staying here makes that impossible.'

"I know."

"It doesn't mean I won't be keeping tabs on things here, though. I'll always be just a phone call away. I'll make sure to get down a couple of times a year. And don't forget, you've never been to New York either. Great place, the Big Apple.

"I'd like that, Rico...someday, maybe. When are you leaving?"

"Not just yet. I still have a few things around here I need to take care of."

Her stomach knotted in fear. "Pedrosa?" she whispered.

"Yeah. That bastard is going to be mine."

She tried not to look at his eyes.

"Rico. I don't want to lose you, too. Let Castillo handle it."

"Not a chance in hell," he answered.

She knew it was useless to argue.

He picked up her hand. "Gina, you shouldn't be alone until we find him you know. Not you or Emily."

She looked up at him, knowing immediately what he meant.

"He's after us?"

"Sonny told me Pedrosa is looking for revenge and you and Emily are on his list."

It was not much of a surprise, but she still felt dizzy from the shock of his words.

"Poor Sonny. It must have made him crazy to know he couldn't do anything about it."

"He managed to survive long enough to tell us, and I think that reassured him a little."

They were quiet with their thoughts until the phone rang, startling them both.

"Let me get it," he said. "I'm expecting a call anyway."

Gina nodded and got up to take Emily out into the backyard. After Rico's words, she looked around the yard nervously as if checking for lurking monsters behind every bush. Her home had always been her fortress, and now, she felt as if she and her child were under siege. For just a second, she considered turning around and going back to the safety of the four walls, but her anger made her dig in her heels and hold her head up high.

"I will not let you do this to me, Pedrosa. You took away Sonny, but you don't know anything about me. You, my friend, have underestimated my strength."

"Now that Trudy is home again and you're more or less on your own, Castillo has reconsidered and wants you to go to a safe house, Gina." Rico said, coming up behind her suddenly.

Closing her eyes, she hugged the baby against her.

"Haven't I been punished enough?" she moaned.

Tears began to flow freely now and Emily began to squirm in her arms, alarmed that her mother was crying. "No...no I'm not going anywhere," Gina insisted angrily.

"Gina, don't argue, now. This is for the best."

"No, Rico."

"Alright then, what about Emily?"

"I...my aunt will take her. She has a house in Naples."

"And you don't think Pedrosa can find that out?"

"Well, then, she stays here with me. Trudy could come back and Stan could stay over. I trust them with my life."

Rico shook his head.

"Listen, Rico. I have no intentions of letting Pedrosa intimidate me. I'm going to stay here in my home, and I'm going to help you to trap him. More than anyone on this earth, I want to be there when he falls."

"You have to listen to me, Gina. I promised Sonny I'd protect you. And Castillo won't take no for an answer."

"He'll listen and he'll understand. If I stay here with Emily, it will lure Pedrosa out of hiding. And if the bastard's foolish enough to fall for a trap like this, then he's not as smart as you think. In fact, I would say that right about now his judgment is probably pretty clouded by revenge."

He smiled and looked away. "You are a stubborn woman, Gina, and a little foolish. Pedrosa will not give up until he gets what he wants. I know the type."

"Then, I guess we have work to do," she answered confidently. "Call Castillo back and give him my answer."

She turned away abruptly to go back into the house.

Around eight o'clock, they had taken out the cake that Rico had brought, singing Happy Birthday and laughing when Emily crushed her small piece with her clenched fist.

"Okay, that's enough of that!" Gina scolded when she saw the chocolate going into Emily's hair. "Time for bed, love."

"No!" Emily protested, her sticky hands waving in the air.

Rico tried not to laugh.

"Emily! You are a mess," Gina giggled, desperately dodging to keep the chocolate away from her own clothes and hair.

"No bed, no bed!" Emily screamed again.

Gina kissed her on the cheek. "Be good, little one," she crooned to her daughter soothingly. "Mama loves you."

"Night, Emily," Rico smiled as the little girl waved tearfully to him over her mother's shoulder.

Two mugs of steaming coffee sat untouched on the table in front of the couch. They sat close together, each silently offering one another the warmth of friendship and support. Gina had taken off her shoes and was leaning against Rico, turning the long white envelope over in her hands.

"You don't have to do this, Gina," he said gently. "Maybe it's best to leave it a while."

"No. I need you here with me and you won't be around much longer. It would torture me, having it just sit over there in the desk."

He nodded as she slipped her fingernail under the flap and slit it open.

This letter was dated October 11, 1991.

Dear Gina,

I don't know where to begin.

I guess by now, you think I've disappeared off the face of the earth, and who knows, maybe that's the way I should leave it.

I never did say goodbye to you the way I should have. You were always so good to me and I never even told you what a difference that made. And I know I've made things worse by not even contacting you for so long.

No excuse, I know. The more time went by, the harder it became for me to pick up the phone. I was so afraid I'd hear you had married or that you wanted nothing to do with me ever again. Guess you didn't know what a coward I'd always been where you are concerned.

But, I can't stop thinking that I need to make things right between us. I know I've always been selfish, only thinking of my own needs and I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. But hear me out. That's all I ask. Then I'll leave you alone if that's what you want.

I thought a lot about you while I floated out on the open seas, believe it or not. During those long months, I finally said goodbye to Cait...and the baby.

I had these photographs taped up on the wall over my bunk. One was of you and me, taken at a police department picnic about six years ago. We had our arms around each other, and I was kissing you. Some wise guy must have snapped the picture without either of us knowing. I had grabbed it when he was showing the stack to the rest of the office a week later and I put it away in my wallet.

So, while I was lying there on this God forsaken bunk, I found myself staring at that picture night after night. You became so real to me...you were even in my dreams. I could feel you against me again, smell the scent of your shampoo, and hear you laugh when my scratchy beard nuzzled against your face.

The regret I felt was unbearable.

I knew I had botched things up good! Turned my back on the best thing I'd ever had! In fact, at that point it had occurred to me that most of the things I'd worked so hard for had turned to shit.

Not the prettiest way of putting it, but damn accurate, that's for sure.

So, feeling real sorry for myself, I almost checked out for good, but then, that's another story I don't need to go into right now.

Anyway, what's important now is that I went through a tough time, I got some help and things are beginning to make sense again.

Marty invited me back to Florida and to OCB. At first, I said no way.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Miami was where I belonged.

He told me Rico was coming back too and that Trudy and Stan were still with the unit. Then, I asked about you and when he hesitated, my heart sank.

"Don't hurt her, Sonny," he said to me. "It's not fair to put her through that again."

Imagine that! Iceman Castillo, worrying about Gina Calabrese's love life! I was pissed when he said it, but I understood. He cared about me, but he was protecting you from my callousness.

The comment made me think long and hard about the future. I decided that if I wanted happiness, I would have to earn it. And if I wanted you, I would have to prove to you that I loved you and that I had changed. Saying it wouldn't be enough. I would have to show you!

So here I go. First I'm saying it. I love you, Gina.

Then, I'm asking you to give me another chance, please.

Things will be different this time. I promise.

I should be in the Miami area after the holidays, around the second week in January. Hope to see you then. In the mean time, take care.

Love,

Sonny

"Oh, Rico," she moaned miserably. "If he had sent this when he first wrote it, I might have been a little more receptive when he got home instead of making him crawl the way I did. God knows he'd been kicked enough already."

She held the letter to her chest and sobbed, burying her face against Rico's chest.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Gina," Rico murmured soothingly into her ear. "Sonny wasn't the easiest guy in the world to love."

After a while, her body stopped shuddering, and all that remained after the torrent of tears was the soft sound of an occasional hiccough.

"I made a mess of your shirt," she said looking up, her voice thick and heavy.

"That's okay. I'll just leave it here for you to wash."

Gina laughed a little.

"That's the least I can do, I guess," she said. She sat up and blew her nose. "I...I'm okay now."

He looked at her closely. "You sure?"

She blew her nose again and smiled weakly.

"Yeah. Thanks, Rico. You're...you're a good friend."

"Anytime. I'll always be just a phone call away. No matter where I am, I'll always be there for you. Okay?"

"I know, Rico, she said smiling up at him. Thanks. And thanks for staying over tonight."

He laughed. "It's not like Castillo gave me much choice. He ordered round the clock protection and I just happened to be the one lucky enough to pull the assignment for first watch. Wait until tomorrow when the surveillance crew gets here. You'll have alarms set up in every conceivable place. I'm afraid your privacy is going to be a thing of the past!"

"Great," she sighed. "The price I pay for putting up a fight, I guess."

There's a darkness deep in my soul
I still got a purpose to serve
So let your light shine, into my home
God don't let me lose my nerve
Lose my nerve...

PUT YOUR LIGHTS ON
by E. Schrody
From the album SUPERNATURAL
Performed by Santana

1995

July 28

Five pm

Pedrosa

Right after it had happened, he could not stop himself from watching the news broadcasts, but the initial reports were brief and to the point. Since Sonny Crockett had been an undercover cop and his division could not be brought into the limelight, there was nothing much that could be made public but a touching tribute to a fallen hero.

Pedrosa continued to study the newspaper over the next several days, but the only mention he saw of the killing was a small paragraph discussing an ongoing investigation and then, on the day of the funeral itself, a bio of Crockett with statements from friends and coworkers summarized on the obituary page.

"Miami mourns one of it's most highly decorated detectives from the Metro Dade's Vice division, James Sonny Crockett, killed in the line of duty on April 1^st. He leaves behind a wife and child as well as a son from a previous marriage..."

"Yes. A wife and a child," Pedrosa whispered, a sly smile sliding over his face.

He turned to Ortíz.

"Another son! Now that's interesting. Perhaps we need to pay him a visit as well. No sense in leaving an heir who might appear when you least expect it, bent on avenging his father's death.�

He sensed Ortíz's disapproval and his eyebrows arched questioningly.

"You have something you need to say?" Pedrosa asked.

"They are out there waiting for you to try something like that, Carlos. Your obsession is beginning to worry me."

"She almost brought me to my knees!" He slammed his fist on the table for emphasis. "It cannot go unanswered."

"And Castillo?"

"Crockett might have lived long enough to warn him what I'm planning, but I doubt it. I don't see them taking extra precautions. The woman is still living in the house. There are no guards."

"And that doesn't seem suspicious to you? A cop is murdered by a man with your reputation and his wife is left unprotected?"

"It tells me that they still have no idea I am the one responsible for Crockett's death. They think you killed Crockett when you realized he was trying to set you up. You found the wire, and you reacted out of fear of discovery. It is perfect. They are looking for you, not me."

"Maybe," Ortíz said quietly. "Castillo might think back to the many threatening phone calls Crockett was receiving."

"Yes, perhaps that was not wise, tipping my hand like that." Pedrosa stared out the window and thought about the problem for a while. "Crockett's been dead three months. The investigation can't go on forever! I say we act now."

Ortíz breathed in deeply. "There's an old saying I heard once that goes something like like this: 'A man who seeks revenge should dig two graves. One for his adversary...and one for himself.' Listen to those words and take them as a warning. I say we let this go, Senor Pedrosa! Please! You have done enough damage."

"You are forgetting yourself, Roberto."

Pedrosa's voice had turned to ice but Roberto held his ground.

"You are a man whom I respect and admire more than my own father. A man of great courage. A man who knows what he needs to do to get what he wants. I am waiting for this man to wake up and remember why he came to America. And also, to remember that here, in America, he can not resort to the ways of his homeland in order to cripple his enemy."

The impassioned speech impressed Pedrosa. The young man had a lot of promise. Perhaps his talents were better suited for a political appointment.

"I must prove that I am in control, Roberto. My strength is the fear I put into the hearts of men. All the years that I killed for the cartel, I was respected. People would run to touch my sleeve and do whatever was needed to stay in my good graces. The power I had was like a drug-better than cocaine, my friend, I assure you."

"Addictive as well, no doubt."

Pedrosa did not get angry at his protege's insolent remarks.

"Someday you will understand. But until then, you will listen and learn."

Ortíz continued to scowl.

"I did not tell you this, Roberto, but I placed Angela Ramos with an employment agency in Miami. They owed me a favor. There is a family three doors down from the Crockett's house looking for a cleaning girl. The agency sent Angela there last week."

"I don't like it, Carlos. The woman cop arrested her once. If she sees her, she may recognize her."

"So far, they have not met up with each other. Angela's hair color has been changed. And the thick glasses she bought hide her face well. Besides, it has been several years since the cop has seen her up close. I have no doubt that Angela blends into the background with her act of innocence. She has many talents, as I am sure you can confirm."

Ortíz smiled at Pedrosa's words a little, trying hard to fight the red flush that he felt creeping up his neck.

"Stay away from the whores, Roberto," Pedrosa told him in a serious tone. "They will weaken your mind...and poison your soul."

Ortíz was silent.

"Angela will be calling me in a little while. If the report is good, we will go in tomorrow night." Pedrosa announced. "Enough time has gone by. I am sure surprise will be on our side. After this is all over, we will take a trip...the Caribbean, I think. And after a few months when things have cooled down, we will return, ready to set up for business.

The neighborhood where Crockett had lived was made up of modest ranches with two car garages and a swing set in every yard. Angela's call came that afternoon and the information she gave Pedrosa was what he had wanted to hear.

She told him that a female cop had been staying with Crockett's wife during the first weeks of April after the killing and then, for a while Crockett's partner, Ricardo Tubbs had taken over. Today, Tubbs returned to his own place and the woman and her child are going to be on their own.

"Angela says there are sensor lights, an alarm an system and Castillo or Tubbs drops in on her twice a day," Ortíz said worriedly. "How do you propose to get around that?"

"A burglar alarm has never stopped me in the past. And if they thought she was in danger she would still have someone in the house with her 24 hours a day. They don't even have a patrol car outside her door."

"This smells like a trap. It is too easy."

"This kind of talk is disappointing! Perhaps I was wrong to place my faith in you!"

"No, don't worry. I will stand beside you."

"Good. Then tomorrow night is the night. We will leave at nine o'clock."

"What about Cortez?"

"He will drive and drop us off on a nearby street. I don't want the police to see anyone suspicious parked near the house. We'll stay in the dark and observe carefully and when the time is right, I will slip past the sensor lights and dismantle the alarm system. You will stay outside and keep an eye on things while I go into the house."

"And when you get in, you will kill her and go?"

Pedrosa paused. "Let me see what kind of resistance I encounter. After all, she is a beautiful woman."

"What about the child?"

"She is Crockett's child," he answered coldly.

Ortíz chewed the inside of his lip.

"So...I will get ready."

"Yes. Go now and we will talk in the morning. I have many contacts to make in order to prepare for the ocean journey. Goodnight, Roberto."

"Goodnight, Señor Pedrosa," he answered with a heavy heart.

July 28

Six-thirty pm

Ortíz

He knew Pedrosa had been watching for his reaction to the plan. Roberto could feel a coldness grip him tightly around the throat.

Carlos Pedrosa seemed possessed and Roberto was beginning to fear he had become handcuffed to a madman. It was not the first time he wondered if it would be possible to hold on to his dream; the dream of living in prosperity in his newly adopted country.

At first, it had been essential that he show his bravery and loyalty to his patron, Pedrosa, for his very survival depended on the man's trust and good will. But as time went on and he saw Pedrosa wasting precious energy on dreaming up ways to destroy this cop, his thinking began to change.

He tried to remain hopeful that tomorrow night would turn out as well as Pedrosa was predicting, but he did not feel confident that Castillo would be so careless as to leave Crockett's wife exposed to obvious danger.

He went to Philippe Cortez and woke him from a deep sleep.

"I need you to get the van ready for tomorrow night, my friend. You will be driving."

"Wha...what is the plan?"

Ortíz shook his head without looking at Cortez.

"There is no plan. Just get it ready for a quick get away and don't ask any more questions."

He watched the big man heave himself out of the bed and slowly lumber out of the room. Cortez was from the old school in that he obeyed authority and accepted his fate, no matter what. Ortíz, on the other hand, was from a younger generation, more educated and wise to the politics that governed the cartel.

He picked up his cell phone and rapidly punched in some numbers.

"Angela," he said softly into the mouthpiece. "I have news, and it is not good..."

There was a pause.

"He's going to kill the woman tomorrow night. Make preparations to leave after your shift before there is an investigation. I don't want them ringing doorbells and asking you questions. Bring the car and be waiting for me by the pond in the park around midnight."

Ortíz clicked off the phone and put down the antennae, lost in thought.

So now he had an alternate plan. Angela would be there to bail him out in case the attack went bad.

He shrugged away a momentary stab of guilt. Even though Pedrosa was the man who had taught him everything he knew, loyalty didn't really fit into the equation at a time like this. After all, Ortíz was a survivor and too talented to be dragged down by a man who had lost his way and no longer respected the established rules of power. Ortíz knew he had to learn to accept the inevitable since survival of the fittest was a law that remained constant in the harsh reality of his adopted profession.

July 29th

Ten pm

Rico

Gina had been putting up with surveillance houseguests for three months and tonight she had decided she had had enough.

Rico still wanted to spend the night but she had smiled and told him no.

"You worry too much," she told him. "And besides. You need some sleep."

Yeah, but Pedrosa is out there somewhere, just waiting for us to let down our guard.

Despite his warning, she was adamant that he should go back to his own place and reluctantly, he agreed. But after two hours of pacing through his tiny apartment, he retuned, content to sit across the street in a clump of bushes and watch the house through a pair of binoculars. Not the best of vantage points, but for now, it would have to do.

Castillo was convinced that Pedrosa would wait this out, hoping they would never suspect he was after Sonny's family. Rather than put Gina and Emily in a safe house, he agreed with Gina that it would be better to feign ignorance and lure him out of hiding. But he also had insisted on the panic alarm, having a special button installed in every room of the house, just in case Pedrosa managed to find a way to slip past the surveillance. The team took turns staying over to act as "body guards" under the guise of visiting their friend and former colleague.

Gina told Rico she still had her service revolver in the house and she was prepared to use it if she had to. "I'm a cop and even though I've been off the force a year, my skills are intact. I'll be careful, Rico."

Brave words.

Rico thought back to the night Sonny begged him to make sure Pedrosa did not succeed with his plan. He had promised his friend he would protect them. This time, he was not letting Sonny down.

He trained the binoculars on the living room windows hoping Gina's neighbors wouldn't think he was a peeping Tom. He could just make out her prone figure, resting on the couch. It looked as if she had fallen asleep in front of the TV...again.

He wondered if he should get up and walk around the perimeter of the property to check things out. Just to be sure.

He looked at his watch.

Eleven pm.

He got up out of his hiding place carefully and started across the street, turning his head from side to side as he checked out the area for suspicious cars or pedestrians. The street was deserted.

The house itself was set back a good bit from the curb and surrounded by a large lawn. He smiled as he remembered Crockett complaining about the amount of mowing he had to do on his days off. The image of Sonny's grin filled him with pain, but he pushed the thought away determined for now to keep focused. Thinking about the loss of his friend served no purpose than to paralyze him with guilt.

The surveillance crew had tried to think of everything. There were alarms and light sensors everywhere. For the life of him, he couldn't imagine Pedrosa having easy access, and yet, he wouldn't put it past him to find a way. Better to be over-vigilant.

Coming up to the front door, he carefully avoided the sensors. No point in frightening Gina awake. He then walked around to the side of the house, happy to see that the windows were all securely shut, thanks to the convenience of central air conditioning.

Finally, he reached the back of the house and hesitated by the southeast corner before proceeding into the yard. Everything seemed clear. The porch light was on, reflecting in the water of Emily's little wading pool. The swing set cast long ghostly shadows on the grass; a tool shed huddled in the corner of the yard by a wooden fence. Rico stared at the structure and then he froze.

The door to the shed was opened slightly. If it was big enough to house the power mower, it would certainly be adequate to conceal a human being. He reached across his chest to release the snap on his holster. Crouching low, he crept toward the cover of some trees, his eyes never leaving the structure for a minute.

A slight breeze rippled through the leaves and caught the light plywood door, causing it to sway open slightly. Rico drew his weapon and waited to see if someone would emerge. Again, the wind brushed against his face and the door banged shut with a sharp crack.

"Damn!" he whispered softly, exhaling slowly once he had convinced himself no one was there. "My nerves are shot." He holstered his gun and straightened up, rubbing the tense muscles in his lower back.

Gina was right. He needed some sleep.

It was at the moment when he was about to turn and go back when he heard the dry grass rustle behind him but before he could react, the sky suddenly came crashing down on top of him. Stunned, he landed on his knees, trying frantically to regain his balance.

He gasped when the blade went in, slipping easily between his ribs as it ripped through skin and muscle. His hands flew to his side and he groaned.

Then, another brutal blow came, this time to the side of his face and Rico fell on to his stomach, aware for only a moment of the scent of moist earth as it rushed up to meet him.

July 30th

12:30 am

Gina

When she had finished watching the Tonight Show, she switched the television off, reluctant to get herself involved in another senseless program. Hugging the pillow against her, she tried to relax.

She knew she should get off the couch and go into the bedroom, but she couldn't face another night alone in the cold, empty bed. The living room light was still on, bathing the room in warm shades of yellow and orange. It was comforting, somehow. She pulled the afghan over her legs and decided she'd spend the night right where she was.

Closing her eyes, she prayed for drowsiness to overtake her.

"Deep breath, Gina," she told herself, drawing in the air slowly. "You have to get some sleep. Please, God, help me to sleep and not dream for a change. I am so tired!"

Three times she began to drift off, only to be awakened by the gentle rattling of the sliding glass doors that led out to the deck.

"Boy, that wind is picking up tonight," she thought. "Wonder if there's a storm headed this way."

They had just experienced a bad thunderstorm the other night that had blown down her next-door neighbor's tree, missing her car by inches. Refusing to be caught unprepared this time, she aimed the controller back at the TV set and turned it on to the weather channel to see what might lie ahead. Twenty minutes later, she reassured herself that things look peaceful on the Eastern seaboard and turned the set back off.

Now, the house seemed extra quiet. The central air had turned on with a click and she felt the flutter of a cold breeze flowing from the vent above her head. She pulled the afghan up around her and closed her eyes wearily.

"Ico...Ico..." she heard Emily cooing.

She smiled. Ever since Rico and Marty became permanent fixtures around the house, the little girl had accepted them as part of the family. Most likely she was calling for one of them in her sleep.

"Maybe I should cover her," she thought, wishing she could talk herself out of coming out from under the soft mohair blanket.

"Hi, Ico. Hi! Hi! Ico, Ico."

This time, the child sounded fully awake. "Oh, no! Now I'll never get to sleep," she muttered as she swung her legs around to the floor and stood up slowly. "That's what I get for letting her nap so long this afternoon.

It occurred to her that perhaps she could sooth the little girl back to sleep with a bottle and she headed toward the kitchen, hoping she had enough milk left. She peaked into the refrigerator nervously and smiled. Looks like Rico took care of that for her.

He had restocked everything and then some. She lifted off the cellophane that covered a chunk of rich cheddar cheese and picked off a piece, sending out a silent thank you to him for his thoughtfulness.

Placing the baby bottle into the boiling water, it only took a few minutes to take the chill out of the milk. She screwed the nipple onto the bottle and shut off the kitchen light before heading back toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms in the back. She could hear Emily singing to herself and stopped for a minute, trying to decide if it might be a better idea to let her lull herself back to sleep without letting her see her mother.

"Hi, Ico," she heard her daughter say.

"Hello," came a whisper. "Shh now."

Gina's eyes opened wide and her heart began to thud.

Someone was in the room with Emily!

She flattened herself against the wall and stood there, waiting breathlessly.

"Mama?" Emily laughed. "Ico, Mama?"

Gina's mind was swirling in a million directions.

Maybe it was Rico and he had felt the need to sneak in and check up on her and Emily.

But she immediately dismissed that idea, knowing full well he would never frighten her half to death without announcing his presence.

Okay, then who the hell was in there with Emily?

Gina put her knuckle in her mouth and bit down hard to stop herself from crying out. The closest panic button was in Emily's room. After that, there was one in her own bedroom, but she would have to run past her daughter's room to reach it. She didn't dare run back to the kitchen and leave her baby alone and in possible danger.

For almost a full five minutes, she stood frozen to the spot, praying she had been imagining a stranger whispering in the dark. Finally unable to hold herself back any longer, she tiptoed to the doorway, her heart beating loudly in her throat.

The sight that greeted her confirmed her worst fears.

Standing in front of her daughter's crib was a figure dressed in dark clothing. It looked like a man from where she stood, tall and powerfully built. He was holding Emily in his arms.

"Hi, mama," her little girl said when she saw her mother standing there.

Gina blinked once; then her knees began to give way when the man turned and the light from the hallway illuminated his face.

"Hello, mama," Pedrosa mimicked, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "I've come to pay you a visit at last."

"No, please Carlos," she begged quietly. "Please put her down. Don't hurt her! I'll do anything you want. I promise! Please just promise me you won't hurt my little girl!"

She saw the knife and started to sob.

"Come here, Gina," he said calmly.

Terrified, she held back.

"It's okay. Come here and I will put her back in the crib."

Reluctantly, she entered the room, her eyes glued onto her daughter's face.

God, no! God, no! God, no!

"Ah, you've brought her a bottle. Give it to her, mama," he said jeeringly.

Emily reached for it eagerly and she plugged it into her mouth. Pedrosa placed the child back into the crib and Emily lay back down, mercifully oblivious to the terrible danger.

Pedrosa grabbed Gina's wrist and held onto it tightly, bringing the tip of the knife to the soft underside of her chin.

"Be very quiet, my dear," he said. "The walls might have ears and I don't want us to be disturbed."

He pressed the knife's cold blade against her neck and she tried her best not to cry out.

"Turn around."

"No," she cried, trying to pull back.

"Do as you are told! Remember your daughter!"

Reluctantly, she obeyed. Emily was too close and there was no telling what he might do if she did not cooperate

He took out a roll of silver duct tape and cut off a jagged piece.

"Hold still."

Breathing rapidly, she stood stiffly as he held the back of her neck and smoothed the tape securely over her mouth. She let out a muffled cry.

"Shh!" he reprimanded.

Gina swallowed hard.

"Let's go," he hissed.

He gave her a sharp push toward the door. Despite the danger to herself, she felt a small shudder of relief now that they were no longer near the baby.

A thousand scenarios began to swirl around in her mind as they walked down the darkened hallway. Maybe she could reach the panic button if he turned his head for just a moment...maybe Rico would decide to come back and check on her...maybe she could get him far enough away from Emily and scream so that someone would hear...maybe she could pull away and make it to her gun in the draw....

But her hopes dwindled the closer they got to her bedroom. Gripping her arm tightly with one hand, he pushed open the door and shoved her forward. She stumbled into the room and leaning against the bedroom wall, she glanced hopefully at the panic button a few feet away.

Pedrosa followed her gaze, laughing softly. "It won't help you, Gina," he whispered in her ear. I've already taken care of your primitive alarm systems."

She turned her head to look back at him. Light filtered through the window from the streetlight, making Pedrosa's eyes gleam with menace. His intentions were obvious.

He was going to rape her...and then...kill her.

"Take off your clothes," he said. "Do it now, or I'll do it for you." He placed the tip of the knife at the top of her blouse and flicked off a button easily.

She glanced over at the bed and her throat closed with despair. With Emily in the next room, she had up no choice but to participate willingly.

She began to undress slowly.

A half smile played at the corner of his mouth, his dark eyes almost swallowing her whole. "Very nice," he said seductively.

Her hands shaking with fear, she continued to struggle with the small pearl-like buttons. "Enough!" he snarled impatiently before she could get to the last one. He yanked her over, refusing to wait any longer. Rough hands reached around her back and grabbing a fistful of silk, he began to rip the blouse from her shoulders. Gina fell back, but he held her fast and digging his fingers into her arms, he pulled her up and buried his face against her throat. It disgusted her to feel the wetness of his lips against her skin.

"No! Don't." she cried.

But with the duct tape sealing her mouth, all she could hear was a garbled whisper. No one else would be able to hear her either. And no one would ever know what was happening...until it was too late.

A sob welled up inside of her.

Emily was singing to herself in the next room and as bitter tears began to sting her eyes, a terrible realization hit her. Her cooperation meant nothing to Pedrosa. He would kill her when he was finished.and after that, he would take great pleasure in killing Emily too. If she didn't fight back now, this man, who had already caused her so much pain, was going to win again.

Hot anger swelled within her. She had to move! Fight! She could not let this happen!

And at that moment, she thought of Sonny.

She remembered that terrible night by the docks and how he had struggled to hold on until she reached his side. She could still feel him lying in her arms trying to comfort her.telling her that everything would be all right. He must have sensed there was no hope for him, and yet he hid it from her, determined to go down fighting to the bitter end. When she remembered the look he had given her just before he died, her eyes flashed with sudden fury. The love that he had showed for her that night began to flow through her and give her strength.

Her mind raced back to the many self-defense classes she had taken over the years, and she focused on the techniques she had learned when faced with a frontal attack.

Turning sharply to the right and bringing her knee up hard into his groin, she watched with satisfaction as he doubled over, letting out a low groan. Angrily, she pulled the tape from her mouth and without taking another moment to think, she rolled across the bed and reached for the night table where her revolver was hidden in one of the locked draws.

Oh God, locked!

Now that Emily was beginning to walk and explore, she had had no choice but to take precautions. But now...how would she ever get it open in time?

The key was on a chain around her neck and pulling it out of her blouse, she fumbled frantically to insert it into the lock. The key slipped right in but the victory was short-lived.

Before she could manage to open the draw she heard Pedrosa's low growl and turned her head in time to see the terrifying sight of his angry face, coming at her like a roaring freight train. Standing up quickly, she wrenched the draw open and pulled out the revolver just as he got to her side.

She tried to aim, tried to get her finger onto the trigger. But he grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands up over her head, twisting hard until the gun fell harmlessly to the floor. She turned her body hoping to throw him off balance, but he came up behind her, wrapping his arm around her neck. Then came a hard kidney punch. Her breath was knocked out of her.

She tried to respond as she had been trained and put aside her terror. Driving her elbow back sharply, she bent forward but was unable to break his paralyzing strangle hold. She stomped down hard, hoping to connect with his instep, but her foot slid off harmlessly when he lifted her up off the floor. She reacted by forcing her head up, striking a shattering blow to his chin. He grunted angrily and responded with another kidney punch. Stunned for the moment, the fight went out of her and she slumped forward like a rag doll in his arms. Grabbing a fist full of her hair, he flung her on the bed, and pinned her down with his knee.

His lip was cut, blood dripped from his nose...and he was furious. He backhanded her hard across the face and then started tearing at her blouse again. Even though it felt as if her head would explode, her instinct for survival took over, giving her a final surge of strength to reach up with her hands and plunge her fingers like daggers into his eyes.

"You...bitch!" he growled. Momentarily blinded, he turned his head away, his own hands flying to his face.

Gina heaved her body up and knocked him off her, rolling frantically to the floor. She began to crawl as fast as she could toward the door and almost made it when she felt his hand grab her around the ankle and drag her across the rough carpet.

She tried to scream, but her voice was gone.

Again he flung her on the bed and this time, he lay on top of her pressing all his weight against her chest and forcing the air out of her lungs. Then his rough hands circled her throat and tightened as he began to squeeze away her life.

The room began to swim before her eyes and she saw bright stars as the blood vessels in her head and face started to fill to bursting.

July 30th

One AM

Castillo

He drove by the house just as he did every night, only this time he had made up his mind to stick around.

He knew that Gina had asked Rico to go home, so this was going to be her first night alone. It was important to her and he respected that. But she wouldn't have to know that he was there. He would stand watch over the house blending in with the terrain just like he did those nights in the jungle when the enemy was everywhere, silently slipping through the trees.

He checked his watch and saw it was already one AM. Rico had been gone for a few hours, so she was probably asleep by now. Marty parked around the corner and got out, looking up and down the street carefully. He was dressed in black from head to toe. If a neighbor noticed him lurking in the bushes, they would most likely think he was a cat burglar casing the block for a house to hit.

He slipped into the yard behind Gina's house. A tall wooden fence separated the two yards and pushing himself up lightly on the balls of his feet, he sprung over it with ease, landing with a gentle plop on the other side.

Gina's yard was dark and Marty frowned when he noticed that the back floodlight had been shut off. He moved along the border of the yard, hugging the fence, his senses keen and alert. He moved to an area that should have triggered the sensor light they had installed and when nothing happened he realized that someone had taken the trouble to dismantle it.

Removing he gun from his holster, he crouched by the cover of the thick bushes and looked over at the house, waiting for his eyes to become accustomed to the darkness. Lights were off in the kitchen, but he could see a hall light burning dimly in the interior of the house and another tiny beacon that seemed to be coming from a source beyond. Perhaps the bathroom.

Martin peered over at the deck and the muscles in his jaw tightened. Leaning against the back wall close to the sliding glass doors, was a man, smoking a cigarette and looking up at the sky. Fascinated, Martin watched as the red glow from the end of the cigarette lit up the man's face and all at once he recognized the handsome Hispanic who's picture adorned the OCB's most wanted bulletin board.

Roberto Ortíz!

So. If Roberto Ortíz was here, Carlos Pedrosa was probably nearby. Maybe even in the house.

With Gina...and Emily!

Sure. That was it. Ortíz was standing guard. He was to make sure no one came along and interrupted the little party going on inside.

Marty prayed to God he was not too late.

Again, he moved stealthily, shrouded from sight by his dark clothing and the poor visibility. He came around the other side of the deck and then maneuvered himself so that he was positioned behind the unsuspecting Roberto. Without a sound, he attacked, gripping a vulnerable spot on the young man's neck and stunning him effectively. Within seconds, Ortíz was out cold and lying in a heap at Castillo's feet.

Turning him over, he slapped cuffs on the man's wrists, moving quickly to the side and glancing into the family room through the glass sliding doors. He circled to the right carefully; looking all around to make sure no one has seen him. The house remained still.

Sliding the glass doors open on their track, he slipped into the room. Tiptoeing on cat like feet, he went through the kitchen and headed toward the hallway that led back to the bedrooms.

For the first time in Martin Castillo's life, he felt a sickening dread in the pit of his stomach. All the times he had faced danger and death, he had been ready. He could think of nothing that had ever make him flinch or be afraid.

But this time, he had to force himself to move forward. What was he going to find when he opened the door to Gina's bedroom?

And what about Emily?

He had been appointed a position of honor as her guardian. And, he had made Sonny a promise.

He opened the door and braced himself for what he was about to see.

The lamps were turned off in the room but the light from the hallway allowed him to see the brutality of the scene vividly. Sheets and pillows were strewn on the floor and a chair was overturned. A large figure was sprawled on the bed and as Martin looked closely, he was sure he saw someone else buried underneath.

"Gina!" he called out. He rushed in without thinking and stopped when he saw Pedrosa look up at him.

"Put down the gun, Castillo."

Not sure whether Gina was still alive, he reached over slowly to place the gun down on the bureau.

Carlos Pedrosa rolled off to the side and leveled his own gun in Castillo's face. Martin glanced at the still figure on the bed and saw Gina's eyes staring sightlessly up at him.

"She's dead, Castillo. You're too late," Pedrosa said triumphantly.

Marty heard himself moan from deep inside.

"Turn around and walk over to the hallway," Pedrosa insisted calmly. Castillo saw Pedrosa withdraw a long metal silencer from his pocket and attach it carefully to the end of his weapon. He wanted to fight, but his eyes were drawn to the figure lying dead on the bed and he felt as if he couldn't breath. He turned apathetically and moved slowly toward the bedroom door.

The sound of shattering glass disturbed the awful silence. "Hold it right there," came a voice from the window behind them.

Turning together, Martin and Pedrosa saw the image at the same time. A bloodied face with eyes of fury stared back at them from the dark. Ricardo Tubbs raised his gun and fired at Pedrosa, twice.

The big man gasped and leaned against the bureau, sending delicate bottles of perfume and makeup flying in all directions. Then looking over at Castillo, his mouth set in a grim line he fell forward onto the floor like a giant tree, creating vibrations that rattled the remaining panes of glass in the bedroom windows.

Martin and Rico looked at each other for a split second and then, Martin ran to the bed.

Gina seemed so still...so lifeless. He picked her up in his arms and placed his mouth over hers, desperately attempting to breath life back into her body.

"Gina!" he called to her through clenched teeth. He shook her by the shoulders and then pinched her nose with his fingers, bending down to breath into her mouth again.

Then she coughed suddenly and her eyes flew open. Her hands went to her throat and she began to struggle for air. Her skin color was so dusky that for a moment, Marty feared that perhaps her windpipe had been crushed, but gradually, the pinkness in her cheeks returned and she fell back in his arms, gasping exhaustedly.

Bewildered, she looked up at him and gave him a weak smile.

"Lieutenant!" she whispered hoarsely.

Martin held her against him and leaned down to kiss her forehead gratefully. "Thank God," he murmured, rocking her back and forth. "Thank God!"

With heavy eyes, she looked up at him curiously and reached up to touch his cheek.

"I'm alright." Her voice was raspy whisper. "Thank you, Martin."

Castillo looked over at Rico and saw the red stain spreading on the side of his shirt. The detective swayed a little and then sat down hard on the bed.

"You okay?" Marty asked, frowning with concern.

Rico must have been running on sheer adrenaline because he hardly seemed to notice any pain.

"Yeah. I'll live I guess."

"Emily..." Gina mumbled suddenly, her eyes widening with fear.

"I'll get her, Gina." Holding his hand against his side, Tubbs stumbled to the door and out into the hall.

"Oh, no, please no!" she begged, gripping Castillo's arm and trying to sit up.

"She's okay!" they heard him shout as he returned with the little girl in his arms.

With a sob of relief, Gina fell back against Martin's chest.

"Thank you!" she cried softly.

"Ico, Ico!" she heard her daughter say.

August 1995

Ortíz

Angela came out of the ladies room and headed back to their table. He never got tired of watching her come toward him, her revealing outfits leaving nothing to the imagination.

"I ordered for you," he said standing up for her gallantly. He saw her pout and reaching over to pull out her chair, he shushed gently into her ear.

"Don't make a scene. He'll be here any minute and we don't have much time."

"Fine. I'm not hungry anyway."

"Spoiled brat!" he thought.

She might be a dynamo in bed, but he was rapidly becoming sick of her childishness, wishing more and more he had never involved her in his plan in the first place.

But then, if he hadn't asked for her to wait for him that night, he might be languishing in an American prison right now. Or worse, he could be sitting in a hot, stuffy cell on death row, waiting for the long, last walk to the execution chamber.

After Castillo knocked him out, he had laid on the hard deck for a while and when he finally came to, he was startled to find out that his hands were handcuffed behind him. Hearing shouts from inside the house he flattened himself against the back wall until he heard the sudden crack of gunshots.

It was time to take off.

Besides, what good would he be to Pedrosa handcuffed and helpless?

He had made it to the park where Angela was waiting with the car and they had driven off onto the highway, reaching a coastal city to the North by sunup the next day. He had a brother living there who helped him get the cuffs off and his family put them up until he was able to make contact with his partner Julian back in Miami.

"Don't come back yet," Julian warned him. Pedrosa is dead and the cops are all over us. They have your picture plastered on every wall in the city. I think you'd better consider a long sea voyage. Maybe even go back to Colombia, Roberto. This city is much to hot for you now. Castillo will never let this rest."

Bitterness overwhelmed him.

Pedrosa was responsible for this by refusing to heed his warning. Everyone knew that Castillo would hunt Crockett's killers with a vengeance. Ortíz was the one who tried to get Pedrosa to give up his crusade and now, Ortíz was the one being punished.

"Tell Castaneda I want to speak to him," Roberto insisted.

Julian did not think it wise, but he contacted the old man and was surprised when Hector seemed delighted to arrange for a meeting. They had agreed to get together in a little tortilla restaurant close to Little Havana.

Roberto sat there now and was looking over at the side door of the private dining room when he heard Castaneda shout a greeting as he made his usual grand entrance.

Roberto winced.

"Please, señor. I am trying to keep my presence here in Miami a secret. Do not broadcast my identity to the main dining room."

Hector shrugged. "What are you worrying about. I own this place. Everyone here is family. You are family. In this establishment, you are safer than anywhere in this city."

Roberto looked back at the door warily.

"If you say so, Hector. So, please, sit down."

Nodding at Angela, Hector took a seat next to Roberto and with a dramatic flourish, flicked a napkin across his lap.

"Shame about Carlos," he began, glancing up at Roberto with a sly smile.

"Yes. It was."

"So. We were able to get his yacht away in time and into a safe harbor. The police have no idea where to look. I changed the name of the vessel and made a few minor structural improvements. It will blend in with the other luxury yachts at the marina, I am sure."

"What about the money?" Roberto asked, wondering if the old man was going to be honest.

"The best I can say about that is that Carlos invested wisely. Some of it is in bank accounts in the Caymans. Some, he kept in a special safe behind the cabinets on his yacht. I have that put away for safekeeping. Believe me, I'm no fool. A good deal of it belongs to the cartel."

"Yes, but they authorized him to use it if it was going to make them money."

"True. So, why would that matter to you?"

"Because I want to be the one who will take over that task Hector."

Castaneda laughed.

"You? Are you crazy? You're a hunted man! No one will come near you!"

"You did."

A waitress came into the room and Hector looked up with a smile. "Tequila, por favor, Anita," he told her. "And bring the bottle in here, if you don't mind."

She smiled without reacting and left to do as she was told.

"Ah, yes. It is wonderful owning your own restaurant. You never have to worry about the rules of the house!" He roared with laughter.

"So, will you help me?" Roberto asked, trying to ignore the gnawing sensation of anxiety in his belly.

"Maybe. What do you have to offer me?"

"A share in the profits? A chance to spread your wings and shed the image of being a pimp for children."

Castaneda scowled. "Watch what you say!" he said angrily. "I put food on the table for those boys. I am the only parent some of them have ever known."

"Continue to convince yourself you are protecting them. That is your business and I never had a problem with it. But right now, I need your protection as well. I came to this country to make money, and I have no intention of going back to Colombia empty handed."

"So, you think I'm the one to help you? Even after I failed to help Carlos trap Crockett?"

"That was a fool's errand. I think Pedrosa lost his mind with hatred and forgot about the reasons he came to Miami in the first place. I trust you Hector. And if you are smart, you will recognize a man who has a future and join with me. You will not be sorry, I promise you."

Anita brought in the Tequila and a glass of wine for Angela.

"Thank you, my dear," Hector told the waitress. "We'll order later. We have business to discuss."

'But I want to eat!' Angela began to whine.

Hector glanced over at Roberto with warning in his eyes and Roberto looked back at him with a knowing smile, as if to say to him, "She's only temporary, I assure you."

"Enjoy your wine, my dear. Anita will bring bread in a minute," Hector said soothingly, sounding as if he were addressing a little girl.

It was true what they said. Hector certainly knew how to handle the very young.

He poured the tequila into a shot glass and drained it, quickly pouring himself another.

"Ah. That is good," he sighed. "So. I think I like the idea that you and I will be going into partnership, Roberto. Carlos was a shrewd businessman and I know he thought the world of you." He held out his hand and Roberto clasped it eagerly.

"So we have a deal, Señor Castaneda?" he asked, doing his best to keep the excitement out of his voice.

"Si. You and I! Pirates in arms! Who would have ever thought?" He roared with laughter again and clapped Roberto on the back. "Drink up my boy. And after we eat, I will put you in the back of one of my delivery vans and bring you to my house in Little Havana. Then, after you have settled in and made yourself at home, we can discuss our next move."

"Delivery van?" Roberto asked uneasily.

"Yes. You know. So the police won't see you when you come out? Surely, you don't think you can travel through the streets of Miami without being recognized, Roberto?"

"Oh, yes. That's true. I guess that is wise."

Hector grinned and poured himself another shot of Tequila. "Of course it is. You are dealing with a man who knows his way around this city. I know how to protect you just like I know how to protect myself. Now, have a drink with me and forget about business for a while. The night is young!"

So Hector poured the tequila into another shot glass, placing it in front of Roberto. They picked up their glasses and clicked them together in a toast.

"To our partnership," Roberto offered, puffing his chest out grandly.

"Yes, to a long and profitable partnership," Castaneda agreed, trying hard not to laugh as he drained his glass greedily.

April 1998

Gina

She lay on the blanket, watching the little girl walk to the water's edge and scold the seagulls as they swooped down around her.

"Go away, go away. Bad birds. Go away!!"

"They want your cracker, Emily," she said, laughing. "Just throw it down and I'll give you another one later."

"Make them go away, Mommy. I don't like the birds!"

Martin got up from the blanket and scooped the child up in his arms.

"I want to go in the water. Take me, Uncle Martin!"

"Oh, now you like the waves, eh? No more running away? Aren't we brave, all of a sudden."

"Please take me. I won't cry, I promise."

"Okay, then! Here we go!" Gina almost laughed at the sight of the Lieutenant running into the surf with her daughter clutching his hand and squealing with delight.

He was so good with her. And her spirited child loved him too.

The last three years had been tough, trying to put her life back together after losing Sonny. Making decisions had been the toughest part. Martin had always been there, silent and strong, ready to lend a hand at a moment's notice

What would she have done without his love and support?

She had feelings for the man but she wanted to be sure they were more than the lonely yearnings of a frightened widow. She still cried for Sonny, but acceptance had finally crept into her heart and made her want to find peace in her life again.

She knew Castillo was in love with her. From the moment he told her she had nothing to fear, she had noticed a change in him. The sternness in his gaze was gone and in its place was affection and warmth.

She noticed him staring at her one night as she served him a meal, and when their eyes met, she stood transfixed, unable to break away. She remembered how her heart beat wildly in her chest, and how badly her hands shook. The feeling stayed with her all through the night, and the next morning, she had trouble putting his face out of her mind.

She wanted to be fair. Sonny had been the love of her life and he could never be replaced. Still, she was entitled to find happiness once again and she was amazed at how the thought of being with Martin filled her with sudden desire.

But would Martin accept her indecision? He was a proud man, yet more understanding and gentle than she could have ever imagined. She sensed that he was waiting patiently for her to let him know how she felt, but before she could make a commitment, she knew she must bury the past, once and for all.

Sonny had always considered Castillo his mentor. He had tremendous respect for the man, appearing almost awestruck with admiration for Castillo's integrity and strength of character. Sonny had asked Martin to take care of his wife and child if something happened to him. She couldn't help but imagine him smiling if he knew they might come together as a family.

She heard her daughter's excited giggles and looked up to see her perched on top of Martin's shoulders, a round pink shell clutched tightly in her hand.

"Look, Mommy. Look what Uncle Martin found!" she chirped excitedly.

"Give me a towel," Martin was saying. "She's shivering like a little jelly fish."

Gina smiled at the image and stood up to hand him one of the thick beach towels folded at her feet. She watched as he wrapped the little girl in the brightly colored terry cloth and then held her tightly in his arms. When she heard him murmur to her tenderly in Spanish, she felt a sudden urge to cry.

He really loved this little girl. Loved her with the intensity of a father.

Without thinking, she reached over to touch his cheek, and saw him look over at her in surprise.

"Thank you, Martin," she whispered. "Thank you for everything."

Disappointment clouded his eyes for a moment, replaced by his patient smile of understanding.

"No need, Gina," he answered, putting his hand over hers and bringing her palm to his lips. "I'll always be here."

"I know. We are very lucky."

"I am the lucky one, Gina. Both of you have captured my heart and now, I will never be the same."

The words were beautiful, like a simple Haiku poem, or even a prayer. Tragedy had brought them to this crossroad. Now, it would be up to her to decide which path was best for them to take.

July 1998

Martin

He felt her eyes watching him as he stood out in the garden showing Emily the stars in the summer sky. Gina hadn't said much at dinner, and he wondered what was on her mind.

The child was curious, asking him to tell her the names of the constellations and what it was that made stars shine so bright.

"You see the group of stars over there?" he asked her.

Emily followed his finger with her eyes.

"They form a shape just like that big spoon your mother used when she served the soup at dinner tonight." He traced the shape in the air with his finger. "It's called the Big Dipper. See? The spoon is dipping into the pot."

She laughed excitedly. "I see it," she said.

He went on to tell her about shooting stars and other interesting facts when he realized she was no longer listening. Instead, she continued to stare at the constellation as if she were memorizing every detail. Silently, they gazed at the sky together.

"Mommy says that my Daddy is up there, looking down and watching out for us. But I don't see him, Uncle Martin. Can you see him?"

"No, Chiquita. I can't. But your Mama's right. He's there."

"How do you know?"

Taking in a deep breath, he looked away for a moment.

"I know. Your Daddy loves you and your Mama very, very much, and even though he can't be here to talk to you, he will always be nearby, making sure you are safe and happy."

"I have my Daddy's picture in my room. I can see his eyes watching me. And he's smiling at me too."

He squatted down in front of her so that they could speak face to face. "That means he is happy you think of him. That's very important, Chiquita. That you ask lots of questions about him and remember him every day."

"I will, Uncle Martin."

"Good. Now, it is time for bed," he told the child. "I'll read you a story if you hurry and go and brush your teeth first."

She let him take her by the hand and lead her upstairs without a single word of protest.

"The story about the clouds that look like mashed potatoes, Uncle Martin. I like how you read that one the best."

"You do, do you? Okay. Up you go."

He lifted her up onto the bed and sat next to her, opening the book and holding it between them.

"I'll help turn the pages," she said solemnly. "Mommy says that helps me get ready for reading."

"Good idea. Mommy is pretty smart about those things."

"The bestest, smartest mommy in the whole world!" She lifted her arms up to the ceiling and tilted her head back dramatically.

Smiling at her exuberance, Martin took his reading glasses out of his shirt pocket and perched them carefully on his nose.

"The bestest," he agreed. "So, shall we begin?"

It was a special time for both of them. Emily adored Castillo and for some time now, he had accepted her as his own. He felt the warmth emanating from the child's body and held on to their moment together as if it were a precious jewel.

It had been a long day for her and the little girl's eyelids were soon heavy with sleep. Marty had barely finished the story when he saw her head nodding and he eased her down gently for the night. His eyes softened with affection as he studied her; the perfect porcelain features, the long golden hair. He kissed her forehead and left the room to join her mother in the kitchen.

"She's had it," he said, standing next to Gina by the sink. "I think she'll sleep well tonight."

"Salt air will do that. I'm glad we took her to the water. It did us all some good."

"You must be tired, too," he said softly.

He stood behind her and slipped his arms around her waist.

"What's wrong," he asked her when she didn't answer right away.

"You're right. I am tired tonight."

She let him hug her and then she broke away.

"It's late. I'm going to bed," she said without looking back at him.

His eyes followed her as she went down the hallway and after a while, he went from room to room, flicking off the lights as he went. For just a moment, he stood alone in the darkness turning back to look at the kitchen he had just left and found himself yearning for the comforting warmth he had always found there.

The shower was running by the time he reached their room and getting into bed, he propped the pillows behind his head, waiting patiently for her to come to him.

The white cotton nightgown she was wearing clung to her body in a way that made him ache with sudden longing. She stood by the bureau, staring into the mirror and brushing her long black hair with a silver brush. She brushed and brushed until it gleamed and then she tied it back off her shoulders with a piece of purple ribbon. And when she caught sight of him in the mirror watching her, she smiled.

His heart skipped a beat and he sighed with relief.

She turned and moved gracefully across the room and as soon as she got to the side of the bed, he lifted the sheet with a welcoming smile. There was no hesitation. Gina climbed in quickly and promptly nestled against him.

"What's troubling you?" he asked, turning on his side to face her. Her eyes were red and he could tell she had been crying.

"I've just been trying to figure things out, I guess. Trying to make sense out of all that's happened in my life. It's time I made some decisions but there...there are some things I need to know first."

He didn't like how the conversation was starting, but he knew he had no choice but to encourage her. Leaning over, he turned off the lamp by the bed.

"You can ask me anything. You know that," he said.

"Yes, I do know that." She smiled up at him. "Funny. When we worked together, I used to always think you were so private, so closed off to the world. Over the past year, I've learned to see you differently."

A year! Had it been that long?

The days had all seemed to run together, like the scenery that flies by the window of a speeding passenger train.

Right after Sonny died, all Castillo's time and attention had been devoted entirely to finding Pedrosa before he could kill again. There were no tips and the trail had gotten cold very quickly.

In the meantime, Marty and Rico had done all they could to protect Gina and Emily. Over her protests, they had an alarm company install a panic button in every room of the house and light sensors were fitted on the garage and on a pole in the backyard. Her street was patrolled regularly by unmarked cars and Rico and Marty themselves paid her frequent visits to make sure she was okay.

But Sonny had been right. Pedrosa was smart and he had almost succeeded in acting out his vengeance. It had been so close! One minute of delay and the monster would have won the battle again. Martin shuddered to think how close he had been to losing them.

After Pedrosa was killed, and things had calmed down, he had tried to return to his work but he saw the changes in the squad and realized that Sonny's death had taken a toll on them all.

The unit's spirit was gone.

Rico told him he was going back to New York to be with Val and that he wasn't even sure if he was going to remain in law enforcement. Castillo was saddened by the news, but he understood.

Stan told Martin he was thinking about transferring out of Vice. He claimed the idea had been on his mind for a while. "It's time I got out, Lieutenant," he told him. "This work is tearing me apart. I can't stand to lose anyone else I care about."

Trudy had been accepted into law school and was about to graduate in May. Most likely, a job would be waiting for her with one of the major law firms up in Tallahassee.

For a while, even Castillo began to look within himself and ask if it was time for him to move on. But the more he searched for the answer, the more he realized he was where he belonged. The people of Miami needed cops like him and he would not desert them. He made the decision to recruit new men and women and then do his best to mold together another top-notch crime fighting unit that would make him proud again.

Gina had made the decision not to return to work. Instead, she would stay at home and raise her little girl. Now that Castillo was no longer her boss, the stiffness that had always existed between them gradually began to disappear.

Everyday, he began stopping over after work. And after a while, Gina began inviting him to stay for dinner. Not surprisingly, as the invitations became more frequent, he realized he was beginning to look forward to his weekends off more than ever before.

And as he got to know her better, he found they had a lot of stories to share. Sometimes their conversations went well into the night.

She had left Cuba when she was too young to remember, and since he had left when he was a teenager, he was able to tell her many tales about their mutual homeland. She enjoyed telling him about her childhood in Miami and how the aunts and uncles who brought her up did everything they could to provide her with a loving home. As she told him about her happy memories, her musical voice filled him with peace.

Of course, there were other things that attracted him such as her beautiful face, and that rich, black hair, not to mention her lovely figure. In the middle of a conversation, he would find himself losing his train of thought as he stared mesmerized by her sparkling eyes.

Marty began to think about her constantly.

Since he had lost May Ling, his personal life had been cold and barren, almost like living in a vacuum. After years of denying he had a romantic bone in his body, Martin Castillo fought hard against the notion that he might be falling in love.

But the signs were all there, and the rational side of him could not ignore them. Gina had awakened emotions in him that he thought he had buried long ago. To his surprise, he discovered he had a huge capacity for loving and the revelation was overwhelmingly intoxicating.

He chuckled to himself as he remembered the unfamiliar helplessness her presence invoked in him, one day in particular standing out in his mind.

A severe tropical storm had ravaged the Miami suburbs, and many neighborhoods, including Gina's, had been without power for more than twenty-four hours. Emily had been running a high fever and Gina was frantic.

"I need someone to help me take her to the hospital," she said, clutching the cell phone he had given her. "I hate to ask this, you were just over here, checking my circuit breakers and everything. But I don't know who else to turn to, Marty."

"Get her ready and be waiting by the door. I'll be right there."

He remembered smiling to himself after he hung up his phone. What she had said was true. He had been over to check on the two of them at least five times that day. If only she knew how glad he was that she had given him another excuse to go back and check on her again.

By the time he had gotten the car around the debris that still clogged the side streets and finally arrived on her doorstep, Emily's fever had broken. They both decided that taking her to the hospital would be overkill.

"I'll stay anyway," he said.

Gina looked over at him, and she cocked her head with amusement.

"Oh?"

"Well, that is if you want me to. The power hasn't come back up yet, and I'll be right here in case her fever climbs again."

"Marty, Marty. No need to explain. I'm only teasing you. You're more than welcome to stay. In fact, I'm very grateful that you're willing."

They shared a bottle of wine, and half a box of broken crackers.

Then they lit candles and watched the flames flicker on the window as they talked and told things about each other that they had never shared before.

After a while, Gina checked on Emily and found her sleeping soundly, her forehead cool and dry. She told him she was sure the danger had passed.

And then, the lights came back on.

"I should go," he said, trying to hide his disappointment.

"No, don't," she said simply. "Stay here with us."

They had been standing close together in the hall by the child's room and he had put his arms around her without even thinking. When she seemed to melt against him, he kissed her on the lips, gently at first, and then, when she responded, he became lost in a helpless burst of passion. At first, she kissed him back, clinging to him desperately but suddenly, she pushed him away, gasping, and he had taken a step back, certain that now he had ruined everything.

The words she spoke to him that night surprised him.

"I was hoping you would do that," she had said, studying him carefully in the shadows. Actually, I was expecting it to happen long before tonight."

"Have I been that transparent?"

"Recently, yes. But then, I've been feeling it too. Please. Don't say that you're sorry, Martin."

"No. That's not it. I was just wondering if I might have overstepped my bounds. There's our age difference...and my duty towards you and Emily..."

She shook her head with a light-hearted laugh. "Leave it to you to find a way to distrust your heart. The age difference is not all that great, and it doesn't matter to me at all. As for your duty, showing affection is hardly going to get in the way of how you take care of us. If fact, if anything, it will enhance it.

"I care for you a great deal, Gina. And Emily is everything to me."

"I care for you, too, very much."

The word love never entered into the conversation, but then, that night was way too soon for that kind of commitment.

"So?" she gave him a mysterious smile. "What are we going to do about it?"

"Ah...well..."

His indecisiveness had embarrassed him, but Gina took matters into her own hands, leaning back herself to push the door to her bedroom open.

"Show me, Martin, she had challenged him. "Show me how much you care."

Then he took her in his arms and carried her to the bed, placing her down gently on top of the coverlet. He had wanted her so much, but something still held him back. Something that still nagged mercilessly at his conscience.

Sensing his reluctance, she took his hand, placing his fingertips on the top of her breast. "It's alright," she said gently. "Go ahead...touch me... and then tell me this isn't right."

It was as if he had been waiting for her all his life.

He remembered the feelings of love that had cascaded over him at that moment, wiping away all the long years of loneliness that he had endured. She was the one who had initiated this and now, here she was, right in front of him, offering herself willingly. No, eagerly.

He reached down and undressed her slowly, first taking off her blouse and bra and then, slipping her shorts and panties down over her legs. Then, he took off his own clothes before easing down on the bed beside her.

Their lovemaking was frantic at first, then sweet and slow as if they were trying to savor every moment. He would always remember how soft her skin felt that night and how the taste of the salt from her sweat lingered on his tongue for hours. The scent of lavender she always wore still followed him into his dreams never failing to make him restless and aching with desire.

...They had slept together that night after the storm, wrapped in each other's arms until the first rays of sunlight burst into the room, startling them back to reality.

He stayed that next day and then again, the night. He knew he should probably go back to his own home, but he couldn't bear the thought of leaving her. Three days later, she told him that she felt the same, and a week after that, he moved in to stay.

It had all seemed so natural and so right.

Their friends seemed genuinely delighted for them. G