From the Edge
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"I didn't realize until much later that the old Chinese and the Ancient were the same person. I only saw him that one time. I thought he was Ping Hai. I didn't meet the Ancient until almost three years later after you came to Chinatown and rescued Lo Si from the burning meat market," Peter said as he finished his narrative.
"Peter, why would you feel shame for what happened to you? There was no reason for it."
"Pop, don't you see. I allowed it to happen."
"I do not understand."
"I should have recognized who Doctor Randell was." Peter interjected. "I should have realized what he was doing to me sooner."
"Peter, you were injured. You were in no position to know."
"Maybe, but I should have at least tried to tell Paul."
"What happened?" Kwai Chang Caine questioned. "Why did Doctor Randell drug you?"
"Paul told me later what happened." Peter stated then finished his story.
****
Paul Blaisdell arrived at the precinct that same day when Peter was finally on his way to recovering from what the doctor had tried to do to him.
"Frank, has Doctor Randell talked yet?"
"Eppy's in with him now."
Both men headed to the viewing room to watch behind the one way mirror the questioning of their suspect.
"Come on Doc, you've got to have a reason," Detective Epstein stated. "Hey, two nurses confirmed you changed the dosage on Peter Caine's medication, the last amount indicated was nearly a fatal dose. You've got to have a motive."
Doctor Randell stared straight ahead, not caring what was happening. "It was worth it. My son can sleep in peace."
"I don't understand," Eppy said. "You did this so your son could sleep in peace? What's that got to do with it? You try to kill my partner because your son couldn't sleep? What kind of crappy excuse is that?"
'He shot my son, don't you see. It was fitting that he should be the one to pay."
"Your son, who's your son?"
"It doesn't matter. Tommy's at peace now." The Doctor cradled his hands as if he was holding a small child.
Behind the mirror, Frank and Paul shook their heads. They remembered the case. There had been a kidnapping of a Doctor's son. The boy's name was Thomas Randell. He was only five years old. Peter Caine had been assigned to the case and had promised that the boy would be found and unharmed. When they discovered their whereabouts, the kidnapper had tried to escape and there was a shoot out with the police. Thomas had gotten caught in the crossfire while trying to run from the kidnapper. Tommy had been hit, his little body had jerked in the air and landed hard. He died at the scene. Autopsy revealed that the bullet came from the kidnapper's gun, but the Doctor blamed the police and Peter Caine for the death of his son.
Upon hearing the Doctor's reasons, both Frank and Paul agreed that the best place to hold the Doctor would be in solitary confinement until it could be arranged to have him transferred to a state mental institution for observation.
***
"It took me four months to fully recover from what Doctor Randell had done to me," Peter stated. "I was so ashamed for saying the things I had said to Mom."
"Peter, your Mother is a very forgiving woman. She understood that was not you who spoke to her."
"But can you ever forgive me for not telling you about what happened sooner? Because of him, I was also misled into believing that you abandoned me, that you betrayed me. I said some of the most awful things and I believed them, long after it was over."
"There is nothing to forgive, my son. You did nothing wrong. It was the morphine that caused you to see the things that you thought you saw. You now know the truth. But there is one question I do have."
"What's that, Pop?"
"Which would you prefer, the dark side or the light?"
Peter gave his father a puzzled look then laughed as he saw where his father was pointing toward, the basket of goodies; and especially the chocolate Tao symbol that Peter had specially made for the occasion. He realized then and there, that his father was reminding him that there was a reason to celebrate. Paul and Annie risked everything to save his life, to bring him back from the edge. He had lived through an ordeal that was not of his own making. To dwell on it was a waste of chi. They were there, together. And nothing was going to take them away from that moment.
"I guess we have one more reason to celebrate," Peter said. "Let's go help Mom with Easter Dinner."
"I agree, my son."
"I wish Paul was here."
"I am certain he is thinking of us on this day.
***
Paul Blaisdell sat at a small café table in Paris. An elderly gentleman sat with him.
"I'm glad you could join me."
"Please, tell me more about my son and grandson. Is it really true that they both live?"
The End
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2001.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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