The Hunt

Racing across the hospital's hot, sticky pavement, Tommy hops in his friend's car and speeds away. "I have twenty minutes to pick up Jimmy and zip over to the warehouse," he thinks, peeling out of the parking lot.

All the fun times he and his family shared replay in his mind as he continues through town. He first recalls their beautiful days at the park. All the swinging, sliding, throwing the ball around. The way he and Jen use to lounge on the blanket while the boys played in the sandbox nearby. I miss those lazy summer days. He sighs. He then remembers their first and only camping trip.

He and Jen are cuddling by the fire, trying to recover from their passionate lovemaking just moments before.

"I'm so glad we took this trip, Tommy." Jen says, dreamily gazing into his almond eyes.

"I am too." He kisses her forehead. She snuggles in closer. "Keep moving like that, and we'll go another round."

A playful smile creeps across her face. "You promise?" She nibbles on his ear as her hand explores his sleek, muscular body. "What did I find here?" His manhood rises to attention. "Oh my, what did I do?" She giggles, batting her eyes.

"You've woken the beast in me. That's what you've done, " he says, rolling her on her back.

The boy's screams echo across the hollow. Tommy dashes over to see what's going on. He opens the tent door to finds a baby skunk in the center. His tail is up, and his back end is pointed towards the boys.

"Skunk daddy, Skunk Joel cries, motioning towards the furry beast.

"Don't scare him; otherwise, he might spray."

"No spray, daddy, please, no spray." The frightened toddler cries.

"Are the boys alright?" Jen asks, running up to the tent.

"They have a visitor."

"A visitor? She peeks inside to find her babies crying in the corner. A small furry creature in front of them.

She glances at Tommy then the boys and asks, "What are we going to do?"

"We need to lure the skunk out of the tent without upsetting him."

"How are we going to do that?"

Tommy scratches his head. "I haven't figured that out yet.

"Maybe we can lure him away with some food."

"Stay here and keep the boys calm," he says, dashing towards the truck.

He returns a few minutes later with a package of bacon.

"Not our bacon," Jen protests.

"Do you have any other ideas?"

She glances at her crying toddlers. "No."

"OK, then." Stepping inside the tent, he holds the meat in front of him. "Here's some nice juicy bacon, just for you." He jiggles the slab to get the animal's attention. "Do you want this, Mr. Skunk?"

Joel dries his eyes, sniffles, and says, "Be careful, Daddy."

"I plan to."

The animal wiggles his nose. "Smells good, doesn't it?" The creature walks towards him. "That's it, follow the bacon." He backs up. The skunk continues towards him. "Just a little further." Tripping over a rock, Tommy tumbles to the ground, knocking a stack of pots over.

The frightened skunk lifts his tail and sprays.

"It took nearly a month to get the smell out." He chuckles, remembering all the tomato juice baths they took. He then recalls the way everyone avoided them wherever they went. "I didn't think we'd ever get that smell out." He laughs.

Tommy recalls how he and Jen reminisced about the good old days in her hospital room. He then remembers what the doctor had said. Tommy pictures the devastation on Jen's face. His heart breaks all over again. "Why Lord, why are you doing this to her, why? She hasn't done anything to deserve it. She hasn't. She's a great mom, a loving wife, a very caring person. She even helps with different charities when she can. Please, Lord, please let her live. I beg you. Please let her live." He blubbers. Images of her beautiful face flash through his mind. "If you have to take someone, take me. Please, Lord, take me in her place. I don't deserve to live, I don't, but she does. Please, Lord, please take me, please take me instead." He bawls.

***

The hustle and bustle of the squad room continue throughout the day. There are times when the noise is loud enough to shatter eardrums. Of course, the small, cramped quarters made the commotion seem worse than what it is.

I need to push for a bigger squad room, the sergeant thinks, looking down at the report again. There has to be something in here that'll help us. There has to be. Rachel is reviewing the facts for what seems like the hundredth time when Jerry steps up to her desk.

"Sergeant, Tommy isn't home. His babysitter said he might be visiting his wife at the hospital. So, I checked, and the nurses said he was there but left about an hour ago. I have patrol at his place and the hospital in case he decides to show."

I wonder if her being sick has anything to do with Tommy's robbery spree. "Let me get a hold of my friends at the hospital, see what I can find out about her condition. Keep me posted on the stakeout."

"Copy that, sergeant. Oh, and sergeant, the babysitter, Linda, claims she's the one who drove Tommy's car the night in question. Said she had to get her husband out of jail."

"Did you confirm her story?"

"He was booked for a DWI around two and released at five."

"So, Tommy comes in later looking to rob the place. He finds the dead bodies and runs."

"That's possible, Jerry. Is there a connection between him and the Harris'?"

"I can't find anything."

"Maybe it was a random robbery like you originally thought, sergeant," Kirk says as he continues towards them.

"Yeah, maybe." She notices the report in his hands. "Do you have something, Kirk?"

"The uniform shop said the material from our crime scene came from a batch of uniforms sent to Dave's Satellite Service, the same place Tommy works, or at least he did until they suspended him."

"That might be another reason why he's doing these robberies. You have an APB out on him and his car, right?"

"Yes, sergeant."

"I want you to start checking with his friends and family, ask them where he might go."

They start to leave when The captain walks over to their desk. "Guys, Tommy's car was spotted at his friend Jimmy's house over on Church Street."

"We're on it, captain."

***

Tommy wipes the tears from his face as he pulls up to his friend's house. I have to keep it together for Jen, he sniffles, drying his face again. Tommy notices the grimace on his face as he limps towards his car. I didn't realize his injuries were this bad. His friend is one who seldom complains.

"I can't do it tonight, Tommy. I just can't." He grimaces. "I'm in too much pain. Maybe I could help you another time?"

"Another night is fine. Go, get some rest. I'll check back with you later."

"I'm sorry I let you down."

"No worries. You get to feeling better, alright."

"Thanks, pal."

Tommy thinks about his friends' situation as he pulls away from the curb. He knows how desperately Jimmy needs the money but wonders if he can handle the work. Maybe he'd be better off running surveillance, he thinks, pulling into the warehouse parking lot.

His boss walks up to him as he steps through the door. "Tommy, old buddy, I'm so glad you're here." Seeing him raise his arm, Tommy ducks.

"Please don't slap my back tonight, sir." Tommy lifts his shirt and then continues.

"I had a run-in with a dog."

"I thought you said he got your leg."

"The second one got my back, sir."

"Two mutts in one day, you've got to stop hanging around them ferocious beasts." Antonio laughs.

"You're telling me, sir."

Antonio looks around. "Where's your friend?"

"He couldn't make it. His back is hurting him so badly that he can barely walk."

"He's back?"

"It's been giving him grief since he fell off the ladder."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"I was wondering if maybe he could do the surveillance, and Vinnie can go to the houses." Noticing the skeptical look on his boss's face, he continues. "I wouldn't ask, but Jimmy needs money. Said he's going to be on the streets if he doesn't pay his rent soon."

"I'll see what I can do. OK, guys, let's get ready and remember when I say time, we head to the car."