gave it a try.

He'd always been the vocal one of the team.

"Captain, our caseload is bursting at the seams."

Martinez slapped a wide palm against his equally wide chest.

"Hear that?"

After a beat, Jeffers shook his head.

"No? Then let me tell you what it is. That's the sound of my heart

not breaking."

Martinez dropped his hand heavily to his desk.

"Nobody told you this life was going to be easy."

Jeffers rose to his feet.

His grin was slow and easy.

"I dunno. In the movies they always solve things in two hours."

Martinez shook his head.

He'd give up half his pension to make that a reality.

It'd be nice to have a stack of solved cases instead of unsolved

ones.

"Then go to the movies."

He jerked a thumb at the door.

"On your way out, leave your badge at the desk."

Jeffers laughed shortly.

It was Martinez's way of telling him to quit dreaming and get to

work.

"You drive a hard bargain, Captain."

Graham allowed himself a small smile for his partner's benefit.

"That's what makes him captain."

His eyes shifted toward his superior.

He appreciated the fact that Martinez cut him slack now and again.

Though they were as far from alike as two men could be, they respected

each other.

It was as good as it got.

Redhawk knew how to get far on very little.

"This reliable witness, does she have a name?"

Martinez pushed forward his report and placed the information on the

corner of his desk for the detective's benefit.

"They usually do. She called in about an hour ago."

He tapped a piece of paper.

The name.

and address were written on it.

"We've already got men on the scene of the crime."

Graham covered the paper with his hand, his eyes still on the

captain.

-"' Where's the witness now?"

"In her shop."

Martinez leaned backin his chair, and it squeaked in protest.

"She called from there. Dispatch told her to stay put, that someone

would be by to take her statement."

His eyes met Graham's.

"You'd be that someone.

You can borrow a uniform from the site of the investigation if you

want.

Graham shook his head.

There was no reason to take extra men on a routine questioning.

"No, Jeffers'll do."

"Thanks," his partner said dryly.

Graham squinted at the paper.

The address was clear enough, but the witness's name was a mass of

scribbles.

"I can't make out the name."

He looked up at Martinez.

"Hell, Captain, you guys should brush up on your penmanship."

"Just as soon as you brush up on your manners."

Martinez leaned forward and took the paper back.

He paused a moment, remembering more than reading.

"Catherine. No, Caitlin. Caitlin Cassidy."

He handed the paper back to Redhawk.

If he hadn't known any better, he would have said that the detective

had paled.

His jaw was definitely clenched.

"Know her?"

"Yeah."

There wasn't one shred of emotion in his voice as Graham shoved the

paper into the pocket of his jeans.

"I know her."

"You're a hell of a lot braver than I am, Cait," Kerry Sawyer told her best friend as she ran long, spidery fingers up and down her arms nervously.

Ever since Caitlin had told her about the early-morning shooting that had taken place only blocks from the shop, she'd felt a numbing chill in the air.

It was something she'd thought was in her past.

"If I had seen somebody shooting somebody else, I would've gotten out of there as quick as I could and forgotten I ever saw anything." Non-involvement had been the rule of thumb that had guided her childhood.

Caitlin stared at the petite blonde.

They had shared a dorin room together.

More than that, they had shared hopes and dreams.

It had been Kerry who had first seen this shop up for sale and had

urged her to make the commitment.

After eight years, Caitlin thought she knew Kerry inside and out.

She couldn't believe that Kerry was actually suggesting that she turn