Previously, on Tomorrow Waits For No One: When Frank arrived home, he found it in shambles and was attacked from behind. He was knocked out. The stranger found what he sought in Frank's desk drawer and left. Frank laid on the floor, lifeless.
Rhonda complained to Philip about her perceived bad treatment at the hospital. Philip didn't let on that he knew Nurse Renwick or that it's her cousin who will be marrying his sister.
Frank came to and realized the man who attacked him stole the wallet he took from Marcus the night of the accident. He assumed this is the same man who attacked Marcus in the hospital. Frank demanded police protection but Det. Washington refused. Thinking that Frank knows more than he's letting on, the detective assigned a plain clothes officer to monitor him. Frank made plans to visit Marcus's old address in Twin Creeks.
Gail stopped by Philip's office and hid when she overheard Philip and Rhonda arguing. After Rhonda left, Gail told Philip that she's planning Ann's bridal shower and asked for his help. They arranged to meet for drinks two days later.
.Sept. 6
Frank's Apartment
Officer Hardwick, sitting in an unmarked car across the street from Frank's apartment building, observes Frank carrying an overnight bag to his car. As Frank pulls onto the street and drives off, Officer Hardwick follows, calling Cole to inform him.
"Detective? Hardwick here. Cain's on the move and I'm in pursuit."
"Good. Keep tailing him and don't let him get away," instructs Cole.
Bayshore Freeway, Northbound
Officer Hardwick follows Frank as he gets onto freeway. 30 minutes later, Frank takes the San Francisco International Airport exit.
Hardwick calls Cole to update him. "It appears that Cain may be taking a flight somewhere. Yep, he's heading into the long-term parking lot."
"Thanks for the report, Hardwick," Cole tells him. "Do what you can to find out where he's going. But don't let him know that the SMPD is following him, okay?"
"I'm on it, sir!"
SFO International
Officer Hardwick parks in the lot, far enough away so as not to arouse suspicion but close enough to keep Frank in view. They each ride the same shuttle into the terminal. Clandestinely, the officer follows Frank inside. He trails Frank to the ticket counter and watches him receive a boarding pass.
As Frank makes his way to the security checkpoint, Officer Hardwick realizes that he will not be able to gain access to the secured area without a boarding pass or a warrant.
"Dammit!" Hardwick thinks to himself.
Santa Lorena County Building: DA's Office
"It's now or never," Gail thinks to herself. She casually stands up from underneath Donna's desk, giving Philip's aide a start. "Oh, so sorry," apologizes Gail. Just dropped an earring. Found it though, ha ha," she nervously laughs. "I'll, uh...I'll be going back into Philip's office now."
"And, who are you?" Donna asks suspiciously.
"Oh, um, I'm Gail Renwick. Philip and I are discussing his sister's upcoming wedding. She's marrying my cousin. I'll, uh, I'll just see myself back in to continue our meeting."
The woman narrows her eyes as Gail let's herself into Philip's office.
"Gail!" Philip reacts, taken aback.
"I, uh, I'm sorry to barge in, Philip," Gail apologizes. "I told your assistant it would be okay. Please don't be mad at her."
"Well, no. No, I won't," he promises. "What are you here for, might I ask?" He gestures to Gail to have a seat.
"Oh, well, I...I was here to talk to you about the wedding," she fudges as she sits down. "I assume you know that Ann asked me to be her maid of honor."
"Yes, she mentioned that to me," Philip notes as he takes a seat behind his desk.
"It sure was a surprise to me," admits Gail. "I mean, I've known Ann all my life, what with my father and yours running Benton Industries. But I never thought that Ann liked me all that much. Certainly not enough to hold such an important position in her wedding."
"It doesn't surprise me much," Philip confesses. "Annie's never had very many close female friends."
"Well, I'm flattered that she chose me, nonetheless. So, one of my duties as maid of honor is to plan the bridal shower. I was thinking of throwing a little surprise get-together."
"Gail, that would be very nice," he smiles. "I'm sure Ann will appreciate that. She'll really owe you, coordinating the reception and now this."
Emboldened by Philip's reaction, Gail relaxes and pushes the envelope. "I'm glad you think so. I, uh, was wondering if you could help me put together a list of women to invite."
"Uh, well..." Philip begins. "I don't know how much assistance I'll be. Annie and I run in very different circles, you know."
"Well, whatever information you can give me will be helpful. Names, associations, that sort of thing," she suggests. "Maybe...maybe, you and I could...meet for drinks after work and I could pick your brain?"
"Hmm. I guess there's no harm in that," he agrees. "I'm booked tonight and all day tomorrow until late in the evening. How about we meet at 5 p.m. the day after? Let's say, the Valley Towers Hotel bar?"
"That will be wonderful," Gail beams as she stands up to leave. "Until then!"
SFO International
Thinking quickly, Officer Hardwick arranges to ‘accidentally' bump into Frank. Body-checking him, Hardwick knocks his luggage and the boarding pass out of Frank's hand onto the floor.
"Oh, gee. Sorry about that. Man. I'm really sorry," Hardwick apologizes effusively. "I can be such a clod. Here, lemme get that," he says, offering to pick up the ticket.
Frank allows him to retrieve the ticket while he picks up his bag.
"Twin Creeks, huh?" Hardwick mentions casually, eyeing the pass. "That anywhere near Louisville?"
"No, it's in Virginia," Frank replies, curtly.
"Oh, that Twin Creeks," mocks the officer. "Listen, I'm really sorry to bowl you over. I really am a klutz."
"No argument there," an irritated Frank agrees. "Look, I gotta get going."
"Yeah. Don't want you to be late now," Hardwick smugly adds. "Have a good flight."
Frank approaches the security checkpoint while Officer Hardwick dials his cell phone.
"Boss, I'm at SFO now. Cain's on his way to Twin Creeks, Virginia."
SMPD: Detectives Squad Room
"Why in the world..." Cole begins. "Well, good work, Hardwick. You can return to regular duty now."
Cole decides to follow Frank and books a red-eye flight to Twin Creeks as well.
Sept. 7
Twin Creeks, VA: 195 Colonial Dr.
Once in town, Frank rents a car and locates the address that was listed on Marcus's driver's license. He arrives, only to discover the charred ruins of an old house.
Frank parks his rental car and surveys the remains. "195 Colonial Drive," he verifies, peering at the number painted on the curb and looking to the street sign on the corner. "What the hell?" murmurs Frank.
Twin Creeks: Clairemont County Building
Frank decides to research public records to get more information on Marcus. He's shocked when he's shown a death certificate for Marcus Aurelius Lazano.
"He died in a fire at his house?" he whispers as he spies the date of death. "That was just a couple of weeks ago!"
Having just arrived in town, Cole decides to check in with the local police. He drives to the Twin Creeks Police Department, which shares the same building as the County Recorder's Office. As Cole parks in the garage of the complex, Frank returns the records about Marcus's death.
Frank literally bumps into Det. Washington as he leaves the archives room.
"Frank Cain. What are you doing in Twin Creeks?" Cole questions, trying not to sound too concerned.
But Frank turns the question around on him. "I just might ask you the same thing, detective. Following me?"
Not wanting Frank to know that's exactly what he's doing, Cole makes up a story. "I have...an aunt. Aunt Sarah. I'm visiting her here in Twin Creeks...where she lives."
"What a coincidence. Well, I'm, uh, I'm doing some, um, research. I'm...um, I'm interested in purchasing property in Twin Creeks," Frank quickly covers.
Neither believes the other's story.
"I'll be on my way," Frank states. "Detective."
As Frank turns to leave, Cole receives a call from Det. Riley on his cell phone. "Well, good day then," Cole says as Frank exits the building. He answers his phone. "Washington."
"Cole? This is Ginny. Information has surfaced that could mean John Doe's life is in danger."
"What have you got?"
"Well, CSI discovered a coded journal at the crime scene at Cain's apartment," Ginny informs him. "Forensics is still working on cracking the code completely but what we have so far leads us to believe that the man who tried to kill John Doe may not be working alone."
"I'll fly back to San Marcello as soon as I finish poking around here," Cole decides. "I'll be back late tonight."
"Okay," she replies. "I'll email you a copy of the report."
Twin Creeks: Twin Creeks Informant
After his encounter with Cole, Frank heads to the local newspaper to visit their morgue. He discovers archives that paint a picture of Marcus as a very nasty man. According to news reports going back ten years, Marcus began a life of crime as a teenager.
At age 15, he was accused of murdering his mother but lack of evidence kept him from being prosecuted.
After dropping out of high school two years later, Marcus moved on to other crimes, including petty theft and computer hacking. He was once again accused of murder, this time of his father's business associate. During the trial, lack of hard evidence led the jury to acquit him of that crime as well as the murder of his mother.
Articles about Marcus's recent death insinuated that he had been involved in a large jewel heist at the Van der Griff Museum immediately before he died and that the jewels, worth millions, remain missing.
"Either you're a ghost, Marcus Aurelius Lazano, or you pulled quite a scam," Frank mutters to himself.
He decides to head home armed with this new information, certain that he will be able to use it to his advantage.
Cole Washington's Apartment
Cole arrives home just before midnight. As he enters his front door, an excited German Shepherd-looking dog attacks him, nearly knocking him to the ground.
"Hey! Down, Winchester! Down, boy!" Cole sits down on the floor and snuggles with the dog enthusiastically lapping at his face. "How's my good boy, huh? Looks like the sitter's been taking real good care of you."
Cole stands up, throws his overnight bag onto the couch as he passes, and walks into the kitchen. "How about a treat, big boy?" He walks to a jar of doggie treats and retrieves a small handful.
He picks up the note the dog sitter left for him on the kitchen counter. "Looks like she just left too. High five!" Winchester reaches up with his paw and slaps Cole's hand. "Good boy!" Cole crows as he hands him a treat. "Circus dog!" Winchester stands on his hind feet and dances around in a circle. Cole hands him another treat. "Man, you are the best, Winchester. But now I gotta go to work."
Winchester whimpers.
Cole walks to the desk in his living room, boots up the computer, and takes a seat. Winchester whines at his feet. "I know boy. But a detective's work is never done." Winchester walks to his bed under the window, turns around in place three times, and lies down.
Within moments, Cole is online and retrieves the forensics report on the break-in at Frank's apartment. From what's been decoded so far, the journal found at Frank's apartment suggests that a contingent of mobsters from Twin Creeks have come to San Marcello on some sort of mission.
As he reads further, an ominous chill runs down Cole's back. He picks up the phone and dials the officer guarding Marcus in the ICU but gets no answer. "C'mon."
Alarmed, Cole runs toward the door while dialing his cell phone. "I'm sorry, boy," he tells Winchester as he follows him to the door. "But I have to run out again. Be a good dog and stay."
In the carport, Cole turns his attention to the phone as he enters his car. "I need backup at University Hospital, in the ICU. The officer on duty is not responding."
He races to the hospital, hoping that he's not too late.
Sept. 8
University Hospital: ICU
Cole arrives at the same time as his reinforcements, not long after midnight. Bursting through the entry to the ICU with guns raised, they discover the officer slumped over near the door.
"This man needs medical attention," barks Cole. An officer tends to the injured guard. Cole quickly scans the room but Marcus is missing!
"I want this hospital searched," Cole orders. "Secure the entire facility. Nobody gets in or out!"
The other officers disperse. Just then, Cole notices tiny droplets of blood leading from the ICU into the hallway.
University Hospital: Hallway
He follows the trail to an elevator, where it stops. He pushes the button and waits for the elevator doors to open.
Inside the elevator, he finds a bloody fingerprint on the button for the top floor—the hospital's new wing, still under construction. He presses the button and draws his revolver before entering the site.
University Hospital: Construction Zone
As the elevator doors part, Cole steps cautiously into the darkened new construction area, his gun leading the way. He hears footsteps echoing from the other end of the cavernous expansion.
"This is Det. Washington with the San Marcello Police!" he calls out. "Identify yourself!"
Hearing no response, he attempts to call for backup, but there is no reception on his cell phone.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the floor, Marcus desperately tries to hide from his assailant. Weak and feverish, he laboriously crawls into a ventilation shaft.
Cole makes his way toward the area he heard footsteps, and notices more blood as he approaches the air duct.
"Gian?" he calls to Marcus as he peers into the shaft.
"Detective," answers Marcus, wearily.
Just then, Cole is stabbed from behind! "Gian, get...out of here," he yells, falling to the floor and losing consciousness..
.On the next installment of Tomorrow Waits For No One:
Gail to Philip: "I hope I’m not prying but I, well, I was about to knock on your office door yesterday and I, ahem, well...I overheard you and Ms. Lynn arguing."
Cole to Marcus: "I have to be honest with you Gian. This is no ordinary case for me. I care about you. A lot more than I should."Frank to Marcus: "Hiya. I’m, um, the guy who, uh, ran you over."
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