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By the time Terry and Richie make it to Bud's apartment, the stretcher's being loaded into the ambulance. The EMT says they'll know more when they get him to the ER but it's not good news that Bud's out.

"Oh, some Mexican hottie was up there -- she didn't seem to speak English too well. We couldn't get much outta her," the EMT says.

Richie and Terry look at each other. Terry nods tersely to the EMT. "Where's she at?" he asks.

"She left already. Not sure where she went. Think she was just passing by." The EMT grins now. "She got an eyeful, too. He musta slipped coming out of the bathroom. Probably trying to answer a phone call. She had the presence of mind to toss a towel over the offending parts."

Terry winces. Richie shakes his head and hides a grin. He's seen worse. Now he gazes up at Bud's apartment door. To Terry, he says, "We should go make sure the place is locked up. Maybe bring him some clothes for when he's discharged."

The EMT says, "Bring his insurance card with you, too. You know how hospitals are." And with that, he hops in the ambulance and it roars off, siren blaring.

Terry and Richie enter Bud's apartment cautiously, looking around for signs of Franki, knowing she had to be the EMT's Hispanic witness. The one who spoke little English and just happened to be walking past. Yeah, right.

"Why wouldn't she stick around?" Terry muses as he looks around.

"Maybe she smacked him around and didn't want to get arrested." Richie says this with a straight face.

Terry rolls his eyes. "Find his wallet, funny boy, and I'll hunt down his keys."

As Terry's intently searching the living room for any sign of Bud's keys, a glint of hard, shiny white under the coffee table catches his attention. He stoops down and realizes there are actually several pieces down there. Once he has them all, he puts them on the coffee table, arranging them into proper order. He's still kneeling there when Richie comes in, gripping Bud's keys and wallet in one hand and cradling a trembling Spooky in the other.

"Got 'em." He stops and stares down at Terry. "What you got there?"

"The name Mercedes Guttierez mean anything to you?"

"Not a thing."

"Maybe you should get one of your buddies to run her. Might help us figure out why her credit card's in Bud White's apartment, all broken up like someone didn't like it very much."

"Why would Bud have someone's credit card in his ..." Richie stops in mid-sentence. "Okay, I don't wanna know. Besides, that can wait. Let's get this down to the hospital and check on Bud."

Just then Terry looks up and catches a load of Spooky. "Who's your friend, Richie? She looks like a big rat."

Spooky growls at Terry. Richie chuckles. "No wonder women don't like you, man. You gotta turn on the charm if you want to make any inroads. Even with girl dogs. Now be nice. Say something sweet to her."

"You must be joking." Terry gets to his feet and regards Spooky. "Does it seem odd to you that Bud White has a girlie dog? I mean, a German Shephard would be one thing but ... this dog?"

"Again, I don't want to know," Richie says. "But we're going to have to make some arrangements for the dog while he's in the hospital. Any ideas?"

"Yeah. You found her, she's your problem." Terry turns to go.

"I can't have dogs in my apartment so that's not gonna work," Richie says.

Terry sighs and pulls out his cell. "Fine. I'll call Kathy. She's a soft touch when it comes to dogs. Plus, she's someone I'd trust with Bud's dog. More than you, anyway."

"Hey, I'm a guy who can be trusted."

"Since when?"

"Since always!" Richie pulls open the door and motions Terry through. "C'mon. We'll take her with us. Tell Kathy to come pick her up at the hospital. And be sure and be a bit nicer to her than you were to this beautiful dog. Remember you're asking a favor. Turn on some charm, Thorne."

By the time they make it to the ER, Bud is in the CAT scan. They fill out the hospital's paperwork and then sit waiting on the doctor to tell them what's going on. Kathy swings by about an hour later and Richie walks out to his car to get Spooky, who's recovered some of her feisty personality. Maybe an hour after Kathy drives away with her new charge, the ER doctor meets with Richie and Terry to give them the report -- Bud's alert so the fall didn't cause a brain injury. But he'll have to have surgery to repair his broken arm. They get a chance to see him just before he's wheeled into surgery.

"Hang in there, man," Richie says, shaking Bud's uninjured hand.

"Speaking of which, hear you were really hanging out, mate. Next time, wear some pants," Terry says, giving Bud a tight grin.

"At least I have something people can see when it does hang out," Bud snaps out, grimacing in pain.

As his gurney disappears into the surgery area, Richie and Terry look at each other. "Guess this means one of us has to stick around to see how he does," Richie says.

"Why should only one of us have such fun?" Terry says.

They don't leave until late that night, after Bud's through surgery and in his hospital room. He's heavily sedated after the surgery. The nurse tells them he'll probably sleep through the night. They leave their numbers if there's an emergency and finally they head back to Richie's place. They barely wave at each other as Terry walks to his own car in the lot and takes off.

As Richie climbs his stairs, he can't help but wonder about Franki, the dog, and Bud White.

In his car, Terry Thorne is giving some similar thought to the oddness of it all -- and hoping it's nothing sinister.

[Terry gets home later and listens to his answerphone with an amused look. Dialling Richie's hand phone...]

...I hear Cabo's good at this time of year...wouldn't mind a bit of sun and senorita myself... Just one question...if you're asking me to treat you to a winter break, that has to mean you're pulling a sickie from the departmenr...you sure you want the fallout that might be coming? Maybe I should run this one solo? And if you want to know what's in it for me... my New Year's resolution was to play the fairy godmother to beat up cops with principles...or maybe I'm just bored?

I hope you like the view, mate...we need to look like what we are...two guys on the make...



...trouble is, from where I'm standing the scenery's a bit of a distraction...



We ought to maintain our cover..how about asking the ladies if they'd like to join us for a drink...?

You know what, mate? I never thought I'd say this of you and a bevy of beauties - but you're just not trying. Looks like your heart's not in it today. Relax...take it easy...Oh and don't look now but over there on the table to your left is someone who might just be of interest to you. I said don't look... That's what you get for being a good boy... Everything comes to him who waits. So just sit back and enjoy the show. And still do what you came for.



That's what I call an outcome...

[Terry turns his attention back to the girl who has taken up residence on his knee but, despite appearing flirt with her, he is actually keeping his eyes on the scene around them. Not Richie - but on those who just might be watching Roberts...]


I think my friend and I might have to disappear for a few hours . This trip's a bit of business with the pleasure, sweetheart. But, we'll be back later. I'll keep my knee warm for you, right? How about dinner tonight? Just do me a favour first. Make like we're leaving together? I don't want the business rivals to think I'm on to anything. Know how it is?

[the girl looks a little confused but shrugs. He's not all over her and wants dinner. Guys like this are not thick on the ground in this resort...so she agrees. Terry catches Richie's attention and nods his head slightly before walking out with his arm round the girl's waist...]