What the hell? Both Detective Sparks and Officer Bailey ran for cover when Stella Simpson pulled the gun neither of them knew she was carrying while Don sat at his desk looking lost as if he had no idea what was going on around him. He was only aware that in the last few minutes, things seemed to be going downhill fast. A day that had started out like any other had suddenly turned to shit seemingly in the blink of an eye, and for the first time, instead of making things better the way it always did, his stepmotherÕs presence seemed to be having the opposite effect. It was true that outside of his sexual fetishes, he hadnÕt grown much and had always been dependent on the older, more mature woman to handle such things. All of this was going through his mind as things began to unravel around him, and he couldnÕt seem to get a grip on reality even as things were happening right in front of him. The loud recoil of the second gunshot seemed to drag him out of his stupor, and he

Celia sat stupefied, ignoring the snickers and murmurs from those around her. He would pick the day when the station was fuller than usual to drop his little bombshell. She dared not look around to see who all was close enough to hear what heÕd said, and besides, her cheeks were flaming red. Not a good look for a detective. She barely tasted the rest of her food as she shoveled it into her mouth for something to do with her hands. At least his theatrics had taken her mind off of the sickening confessions of Don Simpson. She had a few jurisdictions to call and knew she was going to be here all day. She passed the task of calling around to a few of the others and went back to the interrogation room. By the time she left there that night, she had a crick in her neck, and her mind was numb. Thankfully Stella had clammed up and refused to talk, which worked in CeliaÕs favor since she wanted to be the one to question the other woman. Because of what had happened with Val