A Trail of Bread Crumbs

By Lorna M. Boilard

Part 1

It was after 8 and the blue sedan had hit every red light since it had left the 101st precinct. The driver was more then an hour late for dinner at her lover's apartment. She was furious at herself for forgetting the time but she had been doing that a lot in the past week. She tried to stop the memory of what had happened a week ago but nothing could stop it. Miss Donovan 'The Bitch' coming to the precinct and telling her that Kermit and her would no longer be needed to take care of Abby. In two weeks the baby would be given to her new parents and it would be best for Baby Doe to get used to not seeing them. She would soon forget them and accept the Carters have her new parents. She had tried to adopt the baby girl she had found in the alley Christmas Eve but Miss Donovan would have none of it. An unmarried police officer with an ex-killer as a lover, adopt this baby or any baby, never was her answer. Ex-killer, she knew what Miss Donovan really though about Kermit. Every time Miss Donovan had seen Kermit she couldn't take her eyes off him and it wasn't fear that was in them.

The light had turned green but Karen had been unaware of it and she also was unaware of the car on her left full of thugs. But their leader was very aware of her and had big plans for Captain Karen Simms of the 101st Precinct. The car shot head of her and blocked her path. Then all four of the gang members jumped out and surrounded her car. Karen started to slam her car into reverse then she heard two shots and her car listed to one side as the tires where blown out. Then a third shot hit the rocker panel beneath her door. She knew the next would kill her if she tried to move the car again. The one thing that she had done right was locking her car's doors but that wouldn't hold them for long. Karen reached for her car phone to call for help when the window beside her broke from the blow of a rifle mutt. Luckily her face was turned away when the window was smashed but she could feel the glass in her hair and on her clothes. The leader grabbed the phone from her hand and tore it out of the dashboard then unlocked her door. Once the door was open he reached in and grabbed her by the hair to control her. Now that she was under his control he reached down and unbuckled her seat belt then dragged her out of the car.

"Well if it isn't Captain Simms." He sneered as he still held her by the hair. Then he grabbed her gun out of its holster. "Let's see how you like being frisked?"

Using her hair as leverage he forced her to turn around and face her car. She had not said a word since the attack had started. They would not make her beg no matter what. Once she was facing the car she assumed the position no use putting up a fight yet. She would wait for the right moment. Karen bit her lip and kept her eyes straight ahead as all four of them took turns at frisking her, making sure they did a good job of it. Why didn't she leave on time she would be safe in Kermit's apartment with his hands on her not theirs? No time for that kind of thinking she had to keep her wits if she was ever going to see Kermit again. When they were done frisking her the leader turned her around again to face him. Several cars had gone by but her attackers had had the foresight to but her police light on the top of their car. No one would ever give them a second look. No matter how wrong this looked. Most people were too busy to get involved.

"Duke we'd better be careful," said a thin nervous youth that kept looking around for trouble. " You know who her boyfriend is. I've heard he was a CIA hit man before becoming a cop."

"Wart don't believe all the rumors. I've seen the guy. He's a computer nerd that tells stories. I bet he can't even use a gun let alone kill anyone." Rebuked his boss.

"You really believe that Duke?" said Karen seeing an opening. She decided to use a little exaggeration to make them nervous. "You're wrong. He was a CIA assassin and he can still use a gun better then anyone I've ever seen."

"Shut up, bitch!" yelled Duke as he backhanded her across the face. That split her lip but she ignored the pain and the taste of blood in her month. "We'll see which one of his guns you were talking about when we get you back to our pad. The boys and I will show you how young studs use their guns and then you can tell us who's better, Captain."

Duke grabbed her by the hair again and started to drag her toward the back seat of his car. "Wart, take the Captain's car and get rid of it and if you do it fast enough she might still have enough energy left for you."

That was the last order that Duke gave before the bullet hit his shoulder. That released Karen who hit the ground to get out of Kermit's way. Before the others had time to react three more shots rang out. And the others joined their leader on the ground, wounded like him. Karen had seen Kermit's green corvair go by as Duke was dragging her to his car. Thank God he had recognized her. She didn't want to think about what would have happen if he hadn't.

"Karen!" Kermit cried once her attackers were on the ground. Then ran to her side. She got to her feet without his help. This was no time for the helpless female routine. She was Captain Karen Simms and no matter what had almost happened to her she was going to act like that.

"Have you called for back up?" she asked without emotions.

"Yes. They on their way." he said trying to control his need to protect and comfort her. The way she was acting told him that would have to wait for later. "Captain are you all right?"

"Outside of a splitting headache and a spit lip I'm fine, Detective." she informed him. The one thing she wanted more than anything was to be in his arms at this moment but she would not show that weakness to her attackers. In her heart she knew that his arms would be there when this was over and he would stay near her until then.

By the time they had cuffed and confiscated all the gangs' weapons back up had arrived. Strenlich and Kelly were first on the scene. They were just leaving the precinct when Kermit's call had come in. Strenlich took over the situation after he got the story from his Captain and Kermit. The gang members were stabilized and taken to the hostipal. None were in serious conduction. Caine had definitely rubbed off on Kermit. The old Kermit would have blown all four of them away for attacking any woman let alone his woman without a second thought.

"Chief I'm taking the Captain to the hostipal." Said Kermit while Karen was talking to Kelly.

"Sure. We got everything under control here. Get her out of here and some place that she considers safe. Like her place not yours." said the Chief as he reminded Kermit of the fact she had been kidnapped out of his apartment once.

Kermit just smiled at him and walked over to their Captain to escort her to the emergency room to get checked out. She hadn't let the paramedics check her over and he was worried that she might be in more pain then she would admit. But he didn't expect the fight he was about to get.

"No, Kermit I'm not going to the hospital! All I need is a couple of aspirins and a good night's sleep." she rebuked him. She couldn't go to that hostipal and not see Abby. She couldn't face that on top of everything else. "If you want to take me home, fine, but not hostipal."

"At least let me take you to The Ancient." he implored her.

"All right! Just to make you happy. Any way he probably has something better than aspirin." she agreed.