Part Eight
 

Nick tried not to appear anxious as he sat outside the large conference room
that had just heard his appeal.  Captain Reese had been more than eloquent in
his presentation of all his work.  The facts were really more than enough to
speak for themselves, but Commissioner Vetter's pressure was overpowering.
Repeatedly Commissioner Vetter turned each one his heroic acts into deeds
bordering on insubordination and disrespect for the way in which the law
operated.  More than once he mentioned that the appeal hearing was consuming
too much time on what should be an obvious conclusion for permanent dismissal.
The secretary, who sat across from him now, had even mentioned how angry the
commissioner had been when she had called to inform him of the moved up date.
She said that she could not repeat the words he uttered when he realized that
this hearing would conflict with his golfing engagement with the mayor.  Nick
looked up as the sound of her typing stopped.  He had found the steady rhythm
of the clicking of the keys had been a distraction that he was unaware of,
until it had ended.  His worried glance caught hers, and she sympathetically
smiled.

"Can I get something for you?  Some coffee?"

"No thank you.  I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

"If you are a distraction, then you are a pleasant distraction."  She smiled
again hoping to cut some of his tension.  "I guess you're too nervous to think
about food right now.  Try not to worry.  I've seen a lot of these appeals,
and they usually work out.  But I do have to admit that the commissioner
himself does not usually show up for them."

Nick fortified himself with a deep breath, and let it out slowly.  Vetter's
roaring voice could now be heard through the closed door.  The frosted glass
that surrounded the door on the sides began to shake with each of his angry
words.  Both Nick and the secretary stared at it wondering how much more the
glass could take before it shattered.  This was not going to be one of those
hearings where it 'worked out.' This would be the end of his career as a
detective for the Metro police.  Sadly, he shook his head as the secretary
turned her astonished expression away from the door and back to him.
Apologetically, she forced out a smile.

"I'm sorry Mr. Knight.  I don't know what to say.  I've never heard anything
like this before."

Just as he was about to respond, the door to the waiting room opened and
Carrie Billingsly, in all her sensuality, stepped in.  Seeing Nick patiently
waiting on the chair, she moved over to him, and he stood up for her.  As soon
as she stepped near him, she heard the thundering voice of Richard Vetter and
immediately understood the severity of the situation.  Calmly, she moved her
exquisitely sculpted body close enough to Nick to run her hand affectionately
down the side of his face.  "Oh my poor baby.  I think I am a tad on the late
side, but do not despair.  I have yet to have my say."

Turning from Nick, she moved towards the vibrating glass and door, but the
secretary jumped up to stop her.

"Excuse me, but you cannot go in there.  This is a closed session."

Carrie smiled at the pathetic attempt to deny her access.  "I can go anywhere
I please, and I would strongly advise you to not get in my way."

Pushing past the secretary, she burst into the room, and all the voices came
to an abrupt stop.  The only sounds that could be heard were the soft words of
apology from the secretary and then the commissioner's statement for the
secretary to close the door as she left.  With the door securely closed, the
secretary turned in stunned silence for a moment then looked at Nick.

"That was Mrs. Billingsly.  Do you know her?"

Uncomfortably, he confessed.  "I met her about a month ago at a party, but I
did not expect her to be here."

"You have very powerful enemies Mr. Knight, but you also have some powerful
allies it seems."

Both sat down again and did not breathe another word.  The stillness was
deafening.  The tension unbearable.  Several minutes passed until the door
re-opened, and he was summoned to enter.  As he passed the secretary on his
way in, she held up her crossed fingers to him and he smiled before
disappearing through the door.  The second he walked in, he was ushered to the
seat he had earlier occupied.  As he sat, he scanned all the solemn faces of
all the participants.  Finally, the head of the board spoke up.

"Mr. Knight, after thoroughly reviewing your records, we have come to the
conclusion that you shall be reinstated to your former position of detective
under the supervision of Captain Joe Reese.  There is a condition however.
You are to remain at your desk for a period of no less than one year.  Are you
in agreement with these terms?"

Relief and joy flooded him as he looked over to Reese's smiling eyes.
Finally, he had been absolved.  He could go back to doing what he loved to do
most.  If he still could fly, he would be soaring by now.  While still shaking
from the emotional rush, he moved to his feet.  "Thank you for your time and
consideration.  I graciously accept the terms to my reinstatement."

Then in an effort to break Nick of his relieved mood, Vetter slammed his fist
hard onto the table then stood up to face him.  "Just so there should be no
misconceptions Knight.  I did everything in my power to keep you off this
force.  If you should forget to dot one 'i' or to cross one 't' then I will
make sure that you curse the day that this board gave you back your position."
Turning to Reese next, his round face pink with anger, he continued.  "Captain
Reese, since you fought so hard to have him back, I will hold you responsible
for him.  The next time he goes down, you're going down with him."

Then turning to his next source of irritation, he flashed his dark angry eyes
at Carrie, but then turned to leave without saying anything.  However, Carrie
could not resist the opportunity to have the last word so she called after
him.  "I'll be sure to tell cousin Jules you sent your regards when he comes
by tonight for dinner."

And as she knew it would, her words further inflamed him, and he stormed from
the room.  With a short amused laugh, she stood up, winked at Nick, and then
moved to him and Reese.  "Captain Reese, it's a pleasure to meet you again.
It was so nice chatting with you at Natalie and Mark's wedding.  Would you
mind if I kidnap your detective for a celebratory lunch?  I'm sure he could
wait until tomorrow to start work."

Reese smiled from ear to ear as he patted Nick on the back.  "Glad to have you
back Nick.  Go and enjoy that lunch out, and consider that an order.  I'll see
you tomorrow night."

"Thank you Cap. Thank you for all your support."

"I think you should be thanking Mrs. Billingsly here.  It was looking pretty
bad before she showed up.  I'm afraid that the commissioner is a lifetime
enemy of your's.  But, look Nick, you're back now and that's all that counts."

As Nick began to think about how much he wished that Nat was here to share in
this triumph, Carrie slid her arm through his then smiled at Reese.

"I promise to bring him back safely Captain."

Reese watched as Nick left with the affluent beauty, and he still glowed with
the feeling of success of having Nick back on his team.  Then one at a time
each of the board members shook his hand before leaving him to stand-alone in
the room.  Reese gathered up his files on Nick and sighed happily as he looked
around the now still room.  He murmured to himself, "Yep, sure is a good day
so far.  Carrie Billingsly remembered me from the wedding, now that's not bad
at all.  Guess that's why she made it a point to come help Nick out today."
He smiled.  "Like I always say, never hurts to have high powered friends in
the right places."

                                   --------

It might have been two in the morning and not the preferred shift for most,
but Nick embraced the night.  The pulse of the night pounded with every beat
of his mortal heart.  Even though he had been stuck behind a desk for the past
eleven months, the precinct was where he found friendship, happiness, and
peace.  It was also where he could catch the occasional glance of Nat as she
brought forensic reports to Captain Reese and to the other detectives.

He rarely spoke more than two words with her, except for that one night.
Several weeks ago, Captain Reese had him running files down to the Morgue, and
he had run into both Nat and Mark as they were leaving.  Natalie had been
bubbling with the news of Mark's promotion, which was largely due to the
foundation's gift, but Mark had acted very coldly towards him.  Then when Nat
had left them to return to the lab to retrieve some files for the Captain, it
became even more uncomfortable for him.  He had felt as if Mark were
dissecting him with his eyes.  The only words that the two of them exchanged
were when Mark had trouble getting a cough under control.  He had asked Mark
if he was all right, and his simple response was that, he happened to be
experiencing a bad case of allergies.  Neither spoke again until Nat rejoined
them and pleaded with the detective for him to join them in a dinner that
would honor Mark.  And as he courteously refused to interfere on their special
day, Mark had stood stone still boring his stare into him.  It was only when
Nat turned to Mark to help her insist, that he forced a smile.  And only after
he promised to try to attend did Nat finally relent and allowed Mark to help
her on with her coat.  That was when he noticed Nat's gold heart necklace, and
he suspiciously inquired about the whereabouts of the cross he had brought to
her on their wedding day.  The gift had slipped her mind, and had it not been
for Nick's reminder at that moment she would have forgotten the entire
incident.  Turning to Mark, she explained that Nick had brought her something
new to wear at the wedding, but that she had somehow misplaced it that day.
Mistrustful of Nick's choice for a gift, Mark only uttered that it was a
thoughtful gesture and that they were sorry for its loss.  So, Nick was taken
back when his offer to replace the cross was met by both of them
simultaneously screeching, "NO!"  It was then that he realized that Nat must
had been exhibiting more vampire symptoms.

It had been a while since he had last seen Nat, and next month he would be
getting back into fieldwork.  Now his mortal life would become predictable,
well almost predictable.  There were still the unexpected visits from Vachon
and his understandable frustration over not being able to locate Urs. No one
from the community knew of her whereabouts, and he could not do anything
humanly possible to help her.  Whoever had her body was even more secretive of
vampires than their own kind.  In some way, the one who had stolen her had
more to lose by exposing the existence of vampires than they did.  But what
would they want from her?  It was a mystery that he knew would one day provide
an answer.

While lost in thought at his desk, an officer dropped his mail loudly before
him, breaking him of his daydream.  As he reached for his mail, his hand went
automatically to the one black envelope that stood out from all the others.
He flipped it over to the front and noticed that it had been designed to look
like a tuxedo.  The seal on the flap had been fashioned into resembling a
black bow tie, and the envelope filled the room with the scent of a very
expensive perfume.  Curiously, he opened it first, and saw that it was from
Carrie and Kenneth Billingsly.  It was an invitation to their fifth wedding
anniversary celebration, to be held at the prestigious Westin Harbour Castle.
He closed the silk lined note, and placed it down on his desk.  He had already
turned down over a dozen formal occasions to be in their company, and he had
no intention of starting up with her now.  Carrie Billingsly was a pushy and
manipulative woman.  Of course, she was beautiful and sexy too, but she was
also married.  Though, it was impossible to recognize that fact, by the way in
which she flirted with him when he was nearby.  He would find some excuse for
not going, just as he always did.  Eventually, she would have to give up on
him.

With the decision made, he began to complete some overdue paperwork, just as
Reese stepped out of his office waving his invitation and headed for him.

"Nick, I just got a personal call from Mrs. Billingsly, she wanted to make
sure we got our invitations.  And she asked me to be certain that you would
come too.  It's at the Westin Harbour Nick, and she said she would not be
taking any no for an answer.  Lot of important folks are going to be there,
and I know I don't have to tell you the importance of having friends in high
places."

"Cap, I never asked for her help, and I really rather work than go to one of
her society parties."

"With the right friends, you don't have to ask.  Look Nick, It's not my
business how you got back here, as long as you're here.  And if you want to
keep being a homicide detective, you better book off for this party.  I'll
book you off at the same time that I get myself.  You are going Nick."

Nick sighed as his Captain turned back towards his office, but then he
remembered something and looked back.  "And Nick, better pack an overnight
bag.  All the guests are going to be the Billingsly's guests at the Hotel."

Closing his eyes tightly, Nick shook his head.  The Westin Harbour did have a
good reputation, and a great view of the waterfront.  There could be worse
ways to pass the time.  It did not look like Captain Reese was about to let
him get out of this one.  Rubbing elbows with the rich and famous was
important to him, and Carrie Billingsly always knew how to get her way.
 

End Part Eight

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