Between Limestone Ruins

Chapter Forty

The entire team, comprised of Walker, Hannah, Johnathan, Jenn, Nora, Sam, and Doc, had been pulled off their case as a result of a conflict of interest: Hannah was now a victim. The only victim to escape Robert Hall. None of them could legally handle evidence pertaining to the case and so they had all been given an undetermined amount of time off.

The gang was not doing well with having nothing to do.

That was how Jenn, Nora, Sam and Doc, who had never once had a day off all at once, found themselves chatting with an equally bored Johnathan, in Ottawa in the middle of a Tuesday, only six days after the serial killer Robert Hall né Benjamin Simmons had been found dead in his basement.

The team was waiting for Walker and Hannah, Nora having finally convinced Walker to agree to allow Hannah out of her house arrest and slash or palliative care (her words) for lunch with everyone.

Collectively they all knew very little of how their prior case was being handled and frankly no one found themselves caring. Hall was dead. And they were all alive. The sooner everything became some semblance of normal, the better.

Johnathan had been following the processing of Ethan Dowling's indictments, both at the request of Walker and because he wasn't letting this guy walk free ever again. Walker wanted to be briefed today, but not in front of Hannah, as if he was ever letting her out of his sight. Johnathan had agreed on the phone simply to give his friend some peace of mind and convince him he needed to go outside, and let Hannah outside. Johnathan knew his partner and friend and because he knew Alec Walker he knew Walker was losing his mind. 

Johnathan knew his friend had never felt so out of control as when he was searching for Hannah. Somehow the shrink had cartwheeled into their lives, broken down the guy's wall of baggage, and thrown his emotions on the floor for everyone to see. And as a result, Walker had flipped on his axis and was clinging to the woman with an iron grip.

Hannah Morris was going to wreck him. And Johnathan was delighted.

"How long till she kicks him to the street for babying her?" Jenn asked around a mouthful of strawberry milkshake.

"Chances are he doesn't show up today because he's dead," Nora answered.

"My guess is he was kicked to the curb three days ago and has been stalking her since, so he will show up today but will be sitting at the booth in the corner," Johnathan suggested.

"I think we should give Agent Walker the benefit of the doubt," Doc said from behind a huge steaming cup of coffee. "Maybe he will adapt very quickly to a loving, monogamous relationship."

The sound of Johnathan choking on his soda mixed with Nora's snort answered. Milkshake spurting out of Jenn's nose sent all three into hysterics.

"Uhh, guys?" Sammie's low rumbling voice cut through the laughter. "Doc appears to be the most correct."

Across the diner Hannah was stepping under Walker's outstretched arm holding the door open. She was rolling her eyes and absolutely beaming.

"All I am saying is that it's a small SUV, we don't have to park light years away from the door!"

"You'll thank me when there isn't a ding on your passenger door later," Walker retorted, following her across the room to their friends.

"There wouldn't have been a ding to begin with!" She tossed her hands up in frustration and slid into the booth beside Nora. "Remember that time, six days ago, when I broke my ribs? Broken ribs enjoy close parking spots."

"I offered to carry you darling, you cannot play that card," Walker countered sarcastically as he joined the large booth across from her.

Hannah huffed at him and turned her attention to everyone staring at them. "Hi guys," she said apologetically. Nora reached one arm around her shoulders and pulled her in for a side hug. It looked awkward, but it was just what Hannah needed.