Somewhere in Castleton

  Rachel idles at a stoplight, watching an unruly couple in a dusty white sedan argue explosively in the next lane. She is behind the wheel of Ned's Astrovan. Nervousness causes Rachel to glance in her rearview mirror every few seconds. What if Ned does arrive home, finds his precious van gone, and calls the cops? What will she do then? Maybe taking the vehicle to Lenny's place is a bad idea? The last thing she wants to do is involve Lenny and his wholesome family in her crappy life. She needs another plan.

  Rachel's mind shifts gears as the light changes to green. Time for Plan B.

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  Castleton

  Vantage Building

  Rachel stealthily steps into the abandoned storage room. She looks around, using a small flashlight on her keyring to see better. It'll be daylight in a couple of hours. Whatever she's gonna do, she better do fast.

  Sweeping her flashlight along the far wall, Rachel gasps when she finally finds what--or rather who--she came for. Detective Mackey lies on his back in the corner. He is still very much incapacitated from the double doses of drug cocktail which Angela, also known as Gabrielle, injected into him.

  "Oh my goodness. Detective Mackey? Oh no."

  Rachel rushes to James' side and tries to shake him awake. Her violent shaking is only minimally successful. Eventually, Rachel graduates to light slaps on the dozing detective's cheeks. Her new approach is a bit more successful. James gradually opens his eyes. The detective is extremely groggy, his voice thick and his eyes unable to keep focus for more than a few seconds at a time. He tenderly cradles Rachel's face as she kneels beside him.

  "Madison? Maddie, what are you doing here?" James mutters, his eyelids fluttering rapidly. "Doesn't matter. I'm really happy to see you. I hope you're not too mad at me. I know, I'm late. I should've called. How's Jamie?"

  James unsteadily props himself up on one palm. He leans forward as if to kiss Rachel, but she places a hand between their lips. James looks at her with a stunned expression, blinking several times. Rachel simply shakes her head.

  "Is there something wrong, Maddie? Is something wrong with James Junior?"

  "James...Detective Mackey? I'm not Madison. It's me. It's Rachel. Remember me? Rachel Corbin? James, you have to snap out of it. I think you've been drugged. I remembered you saying you were coming out here to do some investigating. So...I...There's an extra set of tire tracks beside your car. Do you remember who was here with you? Who did this to you, James? Do you remember what they gave you? Detective Mackey? Please, I need you to wake up."

  Mackey struggles to focus on Rachel's face, forcefully widening his eyes and rolling them around in his skull. He glances briefly up at the ceiling. The action sends a jolt of sharp pain through his body. He touches one hand to the back of his head.

  "I don't...Man, my head hurts like a son of a bitch!"

  "Yeah. It looks like someone really did a number on you, Detective. The back of your head is bleeding, and there's dried blood all over your neck and shirt. You need a hospital."

  "No!" James practically screams, in a moment of sudden clarity. "I don't think that's a good idea."

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  "Why not? You're hurt, James. You need a doctor," Rachel insists, gently touching the injury at the back of James' head. "You might have a concussion. Concussions are nothing to play with. I'm gonna call you an ambulance."

  James firmly grips Rachel's free hand. He squeezes her hand, continuing to stare into her grayish-brown eyes.

  "I'm...You can't call anyone, Rachel. I think...I don't think that's a good idea. If someone is after me...They need to believe they've succeeded. At least, for the time being. Until I can remember what the hell happened to me. And they can't know you're helping me. I don't want to put you in any more danger. The last thing I remember, is sitting down in that chair. The chair over there. I was watching that video you slipped me at the Rage. I stood up and someone hit me over the head. A woman, I think. I remember hearing a woman's voice...And I think I remember pieces of a conversation. Whoever she is...She wants to hurt Madison. Of that...I'm positive."

  At the mention of a woman being present, Rachel takes note of Mackey's open fly and ruffled clothes. She twists her mouth into a concerned grimace. If Ned's recent behavior is any indication, this particular troupe of criminals are also extreme sexual deviants. Detective Mackey was definitely drugged. The question is why? Blackmail? Extortion? Something a lot worse?

  "Um, James. Are you sure it was Madison this woman wanted to harm?" Rachel ventures to ask.

  "Yes. I remember part of the conversation. But, it's sort of fuzzy. Like a bad dream. She said something about Jamie too. And...'My James.' That's what I remember. She said...'My James.' She wants to hurt my family. I don't know what the hell for. I need you to get word to my wife, Rachel. I need you to find Madison. Tell her to take the baby and go over to Dave's place. Dave is a close friend. Be discreet. Tell her I'm okay and to not tell anyone why she's there. I need more time to figure some things out. Can you do that for me, Rachel?"

  "I don't want to do it, James. I want to get you to a hospital. I think a lot more is going on here than you realize. Or remember. You'll be protected there. No one's gonna do anything in front of so many witnesses. And cops. There'll be plenty of cops there."

  "Cops. Ha. Yeah," James says with a tired sigh. "Latest poll says...They probably won't be of much help to me right now. I've been relieved of duty, remember? I'm officially a suspect in Evelyn's murder."

  James cradles his aching head with one hand and shuts his eyes. Little by little, his strength seems to be returning. Good.

  "I got a frenzied call from Dave before I came out here," James continues. "He said, they found a bullet with Evelyn's DNA all over it. Ballistics report came back with a positive hit on my sidearm. Ain't that some crap. Someone is going all in. As far as incriminating me is concerned. The Chief is considering having the judge revoke my bail. He considers me a flight risk. I could be expected to surrender myself as early as Monday morning. That's why I came out here. I didn't know how to tell Madison. Oh goodness."

  The detective's vision blurs, and his head spins from the pain of his multiple injuries. He sways from side to side as he is hit with a sudden wave of intense nausea. Rachel pulls the unsteady detective to her chest, cradling his head with her right arm. She rocks him back and forth, tears traversing her cheeks.

  "It's okay, James."

  "No, it's not. I'm so sorry. I have no right mixing you up in all of this," James replies, his eyes closing. "Even talking to you is violating the conditions of my bail. But, I needed to find out who killed Evelyn and Officer Melbourne. Who's trying to set me up. What are you even doing here, Rachel?"

  Rachel continues to rock James in her arms. She strokes his hair with her left hand. Such a kind and tender man. Nothing like Ned at all.

  "I did some thinking, Detective Mackey. About what you said to me the other day. When you came by the club. I've left Ned. Pretty much everything I own is stuffed into his little Astrovan. It's actually my van. He stole my three thousand dollars to buy it. I wasn't sure if you'd be here. I was gonna sit and think a while. Try to figure out if this was what I really wanted to do. I'm glad I did come out here."

  James politely draws away from Rachel and reclines backward on both palms. He stares up at the ceiling, attempting to clear his blurred vision. Rachel draws closer, peering down at his face.

  "If you won't go to the hospital...I think I know somewhere you can go. Somewhere, you'll be reasonably safe. I have an old friend who was studying to be a doctor. He got injured in a workplace accident a couple of years ago. Well, he kind of does 'procedures' on the side. A tooth extraction here, a Botox injection there. Under the table. Of course. I'm sure he can fix you up too. It'll be better than nothing. At least...Until you can figure out which way is up from here."

  James places a hand tenderly on Rachel's right cheek. She grimaces as he leans close. She assumes the unknown drugs are still having an effect on the drowsy detective--and that he intends to try to kiss her again. James does indeed kiss her--on the cheek. Rachel sighs with relief, her heart beating crazily in her chest. If he weren't married? Maybe.

  James gazes into Rachel's eyes, a weary smile touching his lips.

  "I'll need a little help getting to your van, Rachel. My legs feel like jello, right now."