The Young Residence - Two Hours Later

James Young was nearly beside himself. His mother had arrived at the 214th about ten minutes after Antonacci had finished his little speech. He was damn glad to get out of there. When Antonacci had said that he had sounded like his father, it was almost as if he could feel his father's presence all around him. And while it was somewhat comforting at first, it got eerie after a bit. Now, sitting at his mother's kitchen table and sipping the coffee she had brewed, he wondered whether or not it had just been his imagination.

"And then he laughed and said, 'You'll see.' He didn't say another word. Just 'You'll see.' God, I freakin' hate it when people do that."

Kathy Young just smiled. "Jack is a good man. I can't imagine it'd be anything terrible in store for you."

James just quirked one side of his mouth in skepticism. His mother immediately saw this.

"What?"

James shook his head, "Nothing."

"No. What?"

James took a deep breath. "Tonight he basically said that when he was looking for Pop's killer, he worked too hard on it and gave himself a burn out. And that he realized it was a case that should've been left alone. When you said he was a good man just now, it kinda made me wonder why you think that."

"Because your father was a man who's trust was hard to gain. There were times that I don't think he even trusted me completely. But Jack was someone that Vince always relied on, and knew that he would never betray him-"

"Looks to me like Pop was wrong," James interrupted.

Kathy tilted her head in annoyance. "Now hold on a second. You have a lot of the same qualities as your father. I can see that distrusting streak right now as a matter of fact." She paused. James looked up over the rim of his mug.

"After tonight, can you really blame me?"

"Not completely, no. But if your father trusted him, and I trust him, then why can't you? He told me about the little scenario between you and Sgt. Tanner."

At that, James went on the defensive. "That guy was a total prick to me. I thought I was talking to someone with the mentality of a freaking fly."

Kathy nodded. "They've all got a lot on their minds. But the point is that Antonacci came to help you when he could have stayed at home and let you spend the night in jail. He got Tanner off your back."

James had no answer for this.

Kathy got up and went for another slug of the mud. "Have you emailed your professors yet?"

James shook his head. "No. I guess I'd better do that. Somehow I think they're not going to be entirely convinced of the entire situation. Except maybe Lowenthal. You should have seen the look on his face with the correlation I made in his class today. Mikey about shit himself."

Kathy tossed an annoyed glance at him. "Language, pal. And are you being a smart alec in school?"

James spread his hands in defense. "Hey, it was a legitimate argument. I had the Yanks tied in with the American economy."

Kathy giggled. "You have a one track mind sometimes. Yank fan to the end. Just like your father."

James' smile vanished and Kathy picked up on it.

"What?"

"I dunno. Sometimes it just feels like I'm trying to live up to his expectations, even though I never knew what they really were. And sometimes, I actually feel like he's standing right behind me, and I don't know what to do whenevr I feel like that. Usually I just freeze."

Kathy sighed. "He'd be proud if he could see you now. He never made it to college. He joined the force before he could get around to it. But he always said that he wanted you to get into college."

James rubbed his eyes. "Well, guess I'd better get cracking on those emails."

He got up and walked out of the kitchen, still nursing his coffee. He trudged up the stairs to his room and sat down at his desk. Flipping open his laptop, he signed on to AIM out of habit. As he brought up Outlook Express, a message window popped up.

RaisinBran653: up kinda late aren't we?

Young smiled wanly and started typing.

GoodCopBadCop: yeah, kinda. i guess i pretty much got my just desserts for today in econ.

RaisinBran653:

wha???

GoodCopBadCop:

i saw the guy who's been killing the cops tonight

RaisinBran653:

oh come on

Young sighed. He knew Mikey wasn't likely to believe this.

dude, i saw him kill another one in an alley

There was about thirty seconds pause on the screen.

RaisinBran653: are you being serious or are you just pulling another prank?

GoodCopBadCop:

thats why im up so late man. i gotta email my teachers and tell em i wont be in class 2morrow. theyre bringing me back in. for more questioning i think

did the guy see you?

i dont think so. but i hid when i saw him knife the cop.

RaisinBran653:

jesus

GoodCopBadCop:

yeah

RaisinBran653: so, what r u gonna do now?

GoodCopBadCop:

email my teachers and go to bed

you know what i mean

if i knew i would tell u, but i dont

RaisinBran653:

call me if you need a hand with anything man. ill take notes for you in econ.

thanks mike. hopefully ill still see u sat. nite. l8er

RaisinBran653: night james