Fast Fingers...

[Isolde]

Desiree shook her head,"Uh uh, the question is what can you tell me about what happened in the Captain's office. We arent hooked up with other partners so I am assuming he doesnt suspect or that he does and just isnt going to do anything."

"Not that I dont trust you to be able to handle Captain Harrison," She rolled her eyes a bit,"But he did seem pretty stuck on that one point."

"Besides, I'm starving and it's your turn to treat," She said with a smile at him. The truth was she had also ment to ask him about his mysterious date later on but she just didnt know if she should or even how to bring it up.

So far he had trusted her and she felt uneasy that he wasnt doing so now. That old stab of jealousy was trying to work it's way in as well but she was doing her best to push it back. Damn! This man made her nuts!

 

[LittleRedDevil]

Mac had decided to take the day off from work, thinking to much about her "date" later tonight. Did they really know who killed her father? A tear came to her eye. What had she become? A cat burgular eaten away everyday by her need for revenge. She was sick to death of the life she lead. Mac was sorely tempted to just disappear. Lord knew she had enough money to do it, and she still had the diamonds hidden away.

She sat in the middle of her bed, watching the clock slowly tick its minutes away, waiting for midnight to role around, waiting to find out if her search was over.

 

[Angelus]

Marcus called the waitress over and ordered his favorite meal and then ordered something for Desiree before turning to her and saying, "I lied my ass off partner. I told Captain Harrison that we were very good friends, nothing more nothing less but I am going to have to do something about Barton as he is beginning to drive me nuts."

He was about to say something else but before he could the waitress brought their food over and placed it on the table. She was just about to leave but before she could Marcus said, "Um, do you know where Mac is. I have something that I have to say to her."
The waitress looked at him, puzzled and then said, "Mac is having a day off and before you ask the answer is no, she will not come in just for you."

Marcus just sat there, not knowing what to say as the waitress left to go to the counter. He then turned to Desiree and was about to say something but when he saw the look of her face he knew that he was in trouble. He looked at her and gave her a goofy smile which didn't work and was about to say something but before he could she put up her hand and said, "Marcus, I have to ask you something."
"Just ask, you know that I will try to answer anything that you ask me."

 

[Isolde]

I took a deep breath. This was going to sound all wrong and I knew it but I just had to know.

"Marcus," I said, trying to think out every word,"I know I am going to sound awefully jealous and like I dont trust you. But where are you going that you have to go alone."

"Dont get me wrong. I dont think you have to be with me 24 hours a day but, you have to admit that it is really strange that-just when we were getting to be good partners-you suddenly go back to the way you were before. Going off and leaving me in the dark."

I hoped I didnt seem like a jealous and suspicious woman but I was kind of hurt that he would all of a sudden act like this and it didnt help that he had just asked about the waitress.

 

[Isolde]

I took a deep breath. This was going to sound all wrong and I knew it but I just had to know.

"Marcus," I said, trying to think out every word,"I know I am going to sound awefully jealous and like I dont trust you. But where are you going that you have to go alone."

"Dont get me wrong. I dont think you have to be with me 24 hours a day but, you have to admit that it is really strange that-just when we were getting to be good partners-you suddenly go back to the way you were before. Going off and leaving me in the dark."

I hoped I didnt seem like a jealous and suspicious woman but I was kind of hurt that he would all of a sudden act like this and it didnt help that he had just asked about the waitress.

And, to tell the truth, I was worried he would go and get himself into a spot again and I wouldnt be there to help him this time around.

 

[Angelus]

Marcus put his fork down and looked at Desiree, shock obvious on his face. He sat back and tried to think of something to say, something that would not hurt her but then he looked at her and instantly calmed down as he saw that she was worried about him. He leaned forward and said,
"Desiree, partner. I haven't gone back to my old ways, it is just that I am going somewhere to meet someone who has information about our lady but if someone else is there then he is going to run and I won't find out a thing. If I could have you there then I would have you there in a heart beat and you know that but I want to protect you and you have my promise that I will come and see you before the sun rises in the morning."

He then took her hand in his and looked into her eyes, "You are my partner, in everything and I will come back to you."

 

[Isolde]

Desiree bit her lip and nodded. She didnt like it but she was willing to accept it. Gently extracting her hand from his, she reached into her purse and removed a key she had just had made.

Sliding it across the table, she said,"I am going to hold you to your word, Partner. Thats an extra key to my apartment. I expect you to let me know you are okay whether I am sleeping or not."

She didnt think she would be though. She would probably be up pacing the floor until she knew he was safe.

 

[Angelus]

"Thanks beautiful. I will come and see you the moment that my work is done. I have to go back to my place and get changed, is it alright if I leave you here. I hate to say it but I really have to go," he said as he got to his feet.

He then looked down at her and saw the expression on her face and found that it ripped into his heart. He then knelt down and looked into her face, "I will return."

He then kissed her full and deep on the lips, getting a deep moan from her. After he finished the kiss he took a deep breath and stood up. He then took out his wallet and paid for the meal before turning and walking out of the cafe, heading towards his car.

Once he got into his car and started the engine he regretted not telling Desiree where he was going as he knew that she was going to worry about him until he did get back. He looked at the cafe and saw her looking out of the window at him before he pulled out of the carpark and drove down the street, towards his apartment building.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree couldnt help but worry about what Marcus was getting himself into. Especially if it concerned The Devil. She also couldnt help the feeling that she should be at his side right now, ready to help him if anything went wrong.

"Marcus, if you get yourself killed-I swear I will never speak to you agian," She muttered under her breath. She knew it was a ridiculous statement but still it made her feel better to just say it.

She was in her small kitchen washing dishes after NOT eating her dinner. She had not eaten her lunch either but she didnt feel hungry at all. Putting up the last dish, she went into the living room and tried to watch TV but she just couldnt concentrate on what was going on. With a sigh, she hit the power button on the remote and the screen went blank.

"I am never going to last at this rate," She thought to herself,"Time to pull out all the stops."

Getting up off the couch, she went first into the bathroom and started the routine which was alway good for relaxing her. Starting the water running, she poured in some bubble bath and let the tub fill while she went to search out her fridge.

Finding that she had some wine coolers in the back, she grabbed two. It wasnt a bottle of wine but it would do. Back in the bathroom, she turned off the running water, stripped slowly and then eased herself into the soapy warmth. A sigh escaped her lips and she smiled. She was still worried about Marcus but at this was better than pacing the floor.

Picking up one of the coolers, she sat back against the tub and closed her eyes. "Please, let him be alright," She said to whoever might be listening up there. She wasnt really religious but now seemed like a good time to start.

 

[Angelus]

Marcus looked around the streets but saw nothing. He walked slowly towards the alley way, not sure of what was going to happen but he wanted to see who The Devil was. There was only one thing that was more important and that was Desiree who was probably worried sick about him.

As he walked into the alley he heard a noise in front of him and said, "Who's that, who's there?"
A voice then seemed to come out of nowhere, "Are you alone Detective Thompson."
"Yes, I'm alone. Now where is The Devil?"

Marcus then heard a laugh and a click seconds before a bullet slammed into his chest, knocking him to the ground. As soon as he fell to the ground he heard footsteps coming his way. He lifted his head and looked up just to look at a revolver before another bullet slammed into his chest.

As he tried to breath that was when he felt the sharp pain in his shoulder as the bullet slammed into it seconds before he felt one graze his head and he fell into unconsciousness.

He woke up and pulled out his radio, turned it on and said, "This is Detective Marcus Thompson, send a paramedic to the alley way at the corner of 54th and Main. Officer down."

He then fell back into unconsciousness.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree was getting nice and drowsy. It was about time to get out of the tub and into some comfortable clothes. Standing out of the water, she wrapped a towel around her and went into the bedroom. Just as she was about to slip on a pajama top and shorts, the phone rang.

She smiled. That had to be Marcus calling to say he was on his way to her apartment and she had been worring for nothing.

When she picked up the phone, though it wasnt Marcus. It was the front desk at the station. Marcus was down with at least three bullets in him. He had managed to call for help and the ambulance was on it's way to the hospital.

She only heard half of it but her mind grasped the general details. The phone slipped from her fingers and dropped to the ground, the voice on the other end still talking. She heard her name called over and over again but it was as if she was hearing background noise and whatever they were saying did not concern her.

There was only one thought-Marcus was in the hosital and was seriously injured. Oh, God! She knew she should have been there. Should have insisted on going no matter what. But she didnt...she had just let him go into danger without back up-this was all her fault.

As if in a dream, she dressed in jeans and t shirt. Not even bothering with anything fancier. Grabbing her badge and purse, she flew from the apartment and into her car.

"God, please do not let him die. Please do not let him die," She kept saying over and over again as she sped into traffic.

 

[Angelus]

When Marcus opened his eyes again the one thing that he felt was pain. He looked up and saw a familiar face, one he had not hoped to see as it was the same doctor who had fixed him up just over a week ago. The doctor looked down at him and said, "I am not going to beat around the bush detective. You are very lucky to be alive. One bullet grazed you across the skull but if it was shot at a different angle then it would have smashed straight through and into your skull. One of the bullets ripped straight through your shoulder so we are going to have to do surgery to fix it but two bullets are in your chest."
"But I wore a bullet proof vest, how could they-"
"I don't know detective but one has grazed against your ribs and is right near you heart which I will have to get out or you will die and the other one has pierced one of your lungs, it hasn't gone in but I have to get that one too. So we are going to take you to the operating theatre. I think that you will be in there for a while, how long I am afraid that I can not answer."

Without another word Marcus was wheeled out of the emergency room and to the operating theatre but on the way he saw Desiree as she rushed into the hallway, shock on her face.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree skidded to a stop as Marcus was disappearing through the swinging doors. She tried to go to him but an intern held her back. "He is going into surgury now," The intern said and then explained to her what the doctor had found.

Desiree's world had just fallen apart. No one could tell her if he would come out of the surgery okay or not or even how long the surgery would take. She sank into a chair and barely acknowleded that someone had shoved a cup of coffee into her hand.

She sat there for about two hours when she heard a voice behind her that made her spill the, now cold, coffee onto the floor.

"Ashford!," Captain Harrison said and she jumped to her feet,"Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on around here and why one of my officers is lying in surgery on the brink of life and death?"

Jezbel shook her head,"Thompson had a lead, Sir. Something about someone knowing about The Devil. Knowing her identity."

"And he went out to meet whoever had the lead," The captain's voice was rough as he surveyed her outfit,"I know for a fact that the front desk got ahold of you at your apartment so, even after the incident at the auction, you decided NOT to go and back up your partner?!"

Desiree's face flushed red,"No..I mean...yes, Sir. I knew he was going and I did not go and back him up. Thompson is lying there because I failed in my duty. I should have been there to back him up and I wasnt."

The Captian glared at her,"That is not like you at all, Ashford. I have known you since you came on the force and you are one of my best cops. I never thought you would let down your partner like this. Why? Why werent you there?"

"I thought Mar...Thompson could handle it. It was only a meeting a contact..." She began but was interrupted by the Captain.

"That is no excuse! We have partners on the force for a very good reason and that," Pointing to the swinging doors that Marcus had gone into,"Is the reason why!"

Desiree nodded. "Yes, Sir, I know and I am so sorry that I was not there..."

"Sorry doesnt get my man back on his feet, Detective," Captain Harrison said,"Ever since that night you and Thompson have been acting mighty unprofessional and this is the result. You NEVER...NEVER...leave your partner alone when pursuing a lead-NEVER. I should take both your badges and suspend both of you for this."

Desiree's head snapped up and she looked Captain Harrison in the eye. Her world was falling apart. The man she loved may not make it and she knew she had failed in her duty as an officer and partner. "God, I'm so sorry, Dad," She thought.

Opening her purse, she extracted her badge and gun and handed them over to Captain Harrison. "You dont have to, Captian, I hereby put in my resignation. You're right, I havent been acting professional and I have no intention of putting Thompson or any other person you would partner me with in danger ever again. As of now, I am a civilian."

Turning on her heel, she walked away from the Captain, her job and the man she loved.

 

[Angelus]

When Marcus opened his eyes he saw that the sun was already up. He looked around the room, trying to see if Desiree was there but the first person that he saw was Captain Harrison who had just walked into the room.

"Hey Captain, I know that it is all my fault and I should have had my partner with me."

"You are damn right about that dectective- Marcus. Shit, I thought that you were smarter than this. I have told you plenty of times not to go anywhere you might feel that your life will be at risk without your partner."

"My partner, where is she. I have to tell her that everything is okay."

Captain Harrison pulled a chair up to the bed and sat down on it, "She resigned Marcus. She said that she could never put you or any other partner in jeopardy ever again. She told me that she acted unprofessionally and then gave me this to give to you."

Captain Harrison then handed Marcus a note which he opened with his one good hand and began to read.

Marcus, if you are reading this then you lived and I thank god for that. As you already know I have resigned. It was a decison that I came to when I saw you being wheeled into the operating theatre. It seemed to rip me apart when I saw that and I knew that I should have been there to back you, the man that I love up but I didn't because I listened to you and not to my instincts. I can not do that again so I am leaving the police force and as a result you. I hope that you don't hate me for this but after what I did I can not face you without blaming myself. I hope that you will learn to forgive me. Desiree.

As soon as he had finished the note he screwed it up but never let it go. He turned to Captain Harrison and said, "I'm sorry Captain but I do need my rest. Would you forgive me if I ask you to leave so that I can get some sleep?"

"Of course not Marcus. I will be back later on in the day so that you can tell me what happened," Captain Harrison said as he got to his feet and headed towards the door.

"Of course Captain, I will tell you what I can recall."

Captain Harrison then walked out of the room, leaving Marcus there who now had tears rolling down his face.

 

[Isolde]

"Yes, Dad, I'm okay. No, Dad, I dont want you to come out here. Yes, I will think about coming out to stay awhile with you and mom. I love you too, Dad, take care."

Desiree hung up the phone and put her head in her hands. Her dad had been calling every day since she had told him that she had quit the force. She didnt tell him all of what had happened and he hadnt pressed her. He knew she would tell him when she was ready.

Standing up she went into the bathroom for her morning toiletries. Picking up her brush, she got a good look at herself in the bathroom mirror and put it down again. Even her own dad wouldnt recognize her right now.

Her face was pale and gaunt from lack of sleep and food. Her eyes were red rimmed and hollow from all of the crying she had done since that night when Marcus had gotten shot. Her hands shook and she didnt remember the last time she had smiled. Running, the brush quickly through her hair, she left the bathroom and sank down on the edge of the bed.

Looking over to her left was the box that was, as yet, unpacked and held the stuff from her desk. The desk that had set right across from.....

She stood suddenly and almost sank to her knees with fatigue. She had to do something to keep him off of her mind. She had been keeping tabs on whether he had made it through the news broadcasts on television and she had shed tears of joy when the news came that he was going to be okay. She wanted to rush right to the hospital and be there when he woke up but she had stopped herself. There was no way that she would be able to keep her decision to stay away from the force if she saw him...touched him...

"Get over it," She yelled at herself and stomped back into the bathroom. Taking a bottle of pills from the medicine cabinet, she opened it and poured one out into her hand. She hesitated. She had gone to a doctor about not being able to sleep shortly after it had happened and he had given her a prescription for sleeping pills. She hated taking them but...God, she needed some sleep right now.

Placing the pill in her mouth, she took a cup of water and downed it. Then, going to her bed, she lay down on top of the covers and stared up at the ceiling, waiting for the pill to take effect.

 

[Angelus]

Marcus lay on his bed and looked up at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep, every time he closed his eyes he could see Desiree's face. He then turned his head and looked at the phone that was beside his bed and picked up the receiver. He reached over and winced in pain when he dialled the number to Desiree's phone then listened to it ring and ring and ring.

He thought that she wasn't going to answer as he knew that she didn't want to speak to him but when the phone was picked up he quickly said, "Desiree, don't hang up. Can you please come down to the hospital so that we can talk?"

 

[Isolde]

Desiree pulled her car into the parking lot of the hospital and inspected her appearance in the rear view mirror. She had done the best she could to disguise her guant appearance with make up and she had worn sweats to hide the fact that she had lost so much weight but she still looked horrible.

She sighed and sat back in her seat. She didnt even know why she was doing this. Well, there was no going back now. He at least deserved to be able to talk with her one last time before....

Opening the car door, she got out and made her way to the hospital entrance. She didnt have to ask which room was his, she had been calling about him every day since he had been put into a room.

Getting out of the elevator on his floor, she walked slowly to his room. Her steps dragged more and more as she approached it and she almost turned around and left.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and peered in. The scene before her ripped at her heart. There lay Marcus bandaged up and his arm in a sling. He seemed to be sleeping and she turned to leave when she heard his voice calling out to her.

 

[Angelus]

"Desiree, stop there. Please, come back as I need to talk to you."

When Desiree turned and walked back into the room Marcus was shocked at how bad she looked. She had tried to hide it with make up but he could instantly tell that she had not eaten anything for a while.

"Look, sit down. You are not going to leave this room until you listen to what I have to say. You are an idiot, yes, you are an idiot. You blame yourself for what happened to me and you think that it is because we are or is it were lovers. But look at me, who told you that I was going to go to that meeting alone, it was me and I was the one that told you not to come. You can not and will not blame yourself for what happened to me, it was my fault and if you have resigned over this then you are a bigger fool then I even imagined. Okay, you can run away but you can never run away from yourself. You know that you will be making a huge mistake by running away from your problems. I would stop you but then you would just hate and blame me for doing so so I won't. But if you want to go then I can not stop you as I don't blame you and I love you. Now that you have listened to what I have said you can either stay and talk to me or you can run."

After he had talked for that long Marcus began coughing which caused him to wince in pain.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree sat on the edge of her chair and let Marcus' tirade fall on her. She was about to reply when he started into a coughing fit and she...almost...got up and ran to his side, his name on her lips. Stopping herself, she sat back down and looked at him. God, this was going to be hard.

"You're wrong, you know," She said in a low voice,"I had a responsibility to make sure I was there. But, for the second time, I didnt back you up and, for the second time, you ended up in this damn hospital."

"I have resigned and cleared out my desk. It's done and cannot be undone. The reason is not important-that I am no longer a cop is. I refuse to fail you again, Marcus. Next time you may not live through it. I would much rather have you alive and without me than dead and standing by your casket."

"It was not an easy decision. Dont ever think it was, but I knew that I could never live with myself if you were killed because I....," Tears welled up in her eyes even though she had promised herself she would not do this.

Standing upbruptly, she walked to the window.
"Damn it, Marcus!," She said, emotions she thought were hidden welling up and overflowing,"You promised me you would come back unharmed. You promised...."

The tears flowed freely now and she could feel her shoulders shaking as she let go of all the pent up emotions inside of her.

 

[Angelus]

Marcus watched Desiree as she stood by the window, obviously crying and wanted to get out of the bed, to be by her side but said, "I know that I promised you that I would be unharmed but I did not know that it would be a trap."

He then sat up and with a sterner voice said, "You will fail me if you give up. Who will be there to watch me, you are my partner and one of the best cops on the force. I will give you something, if you do not come back then I won't because I don't want any other partner. You are my partner and I don't want another. Please, come back- I need you to be there. But first I want you to come here, please- I need you to be on this bed with me."

 

[Isolde]

Desiree wiped the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand and turned to look at Marcus. She was about to refuse and tell him that he would be better without her but his look made her lose whatever she was about to say.

Shrugging in resignation, she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at him.

"What is done is done," She said to him,"I dont think the Captain would give me my badge back even if I asked him for it. He agreed with me that night and my resignation is already filed."

"But you dont have to put yours in. You are the one they need to catch The Devil and you know you will never be happy until you do that. You did fine before I became your partner and you will do fine now that I am no longer there."

 

[Angelus]

"Then I can't do it. You have learnt more about The Devil than I have. But if you feel that you must go then I can do nothing to stop you as I feel that you have made up your mind."

Marcus looked at Desiree and saw that she was not at her best, she looked like hell and he knew it was all because of her own stupidity. He then had an idea and cleared his throat.

"I will say something to you now and you have to listen. As soon as I am out of here I will offer my resignation to Captain Harrison. I will do one thing though before I do resign, I will ask the captain to reinstate you as you are a better cop than I. Then you will no longer have to worry about me because I will not be around to get hurt because it has been my own stupid fault that I was injured and I will not have you throw away your career for it. Mine is already damaged and this will just be the final nail in the coffin."

 

[Isolde]

Desiree's eyes flew open at his statement and she impulsivly grabbed his arm.
"NO! Marcus you cant! I wont accept it. I wont let you ditch your career to save mine. I could never be happy knowing that you had made that sacrifice. Damn it, Marcus, dont do this to me!"

Looking up at his face, she had to fight not to just fall into his arms and let him hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay. She knew it would be like this if she came...yet she had come anyway. Well, Marcus was right, she could not run away from this anymore.

"Marcus," She said, her voice a bit steadier and her hand still on his arm as she gazed into his eyes,"Please dont resign. I would be very unhappy if you did. If there is a way we can come to a compromise I will listen to anything you have to say. Just, dont do it! Please. You said you still loved me. Well then listen to me. The only reason I resigned was because I love you enough not to want to watch you die. I also know I would never be happy with another partner and I couldnt bear the thought of being reassigned."

"Please," Her voice was pleading now,"Marcus, promise you wont resign."

 

[Angelus]

"Are you sure that you want me to. I have been no good with promises lately. But I promise you that I won't resign and I want to say that I don't want another partner, I want you as my partner- there is no other person that I want as my back up."

Desiree looked at Marcus and was about to move up when the door opened and Captain Harrison walked in. He looked at Marcus and Desiree and said, "And just what the hell is going on here."

"Captain, please. I have to ask you for a big favor here. I was wondering if you would reconsider my partner's resignation. It was my fault that I was wounded and not her's so please don't blame her. If anyone is to blame then it is me because I told her that I would not need back up and she agreed with me."

 

[Isolde]

Desiree quickly removed her hand from Marcus' arm and set it in her lap. She was about to protest what he has said when Captian Harrison held up his hand indicating he wanted silence from both of them.

"As far as I'm concerned," He said looking from one to the other,"You're both at fault. You,"Pointing to Marcus,"Shouldnt have gone off without backup." "And you," Pointing to Desiree,"Shouldnt have let him. I dont care what excuse he gave you."

The Captain sat down in the chair that Desiree had vacated just a few minutes ago and leaned back.

"Now, first things first. I never excepted Ashford's resignation. She put it in but I never filed it. She's been on leave this whole time as far as anyone else is concerned. I never intended on losing one of my best cops and the only partner that Thompson has been willing to work with." Desiree's mouth dropped and she couldnt think of a thing to say.

Looking at her, Captain Harrison said,"I've had partners who ended up just like Thompson. I've gone through the blaming yourself routine. Dont get me wrong-what happened was stupid on both of your parts. I'm just saying your reaction to the stress of the situation is understandable."

"I was going to figure out an appropriate disciplinary step but," Looking at her appearance and nodding,"I think YOU have done that for me."

Then to Marcus,"And I dont even have to point out that I think you might have learned your lesson. MIGHT. You have a pretty hard head Thompson but we will discuss that in length when I have some time with you alone."

"Now, here is how things are going to go from now on. Ashford-your badge and gun will be returned to you and you will be off of leave when I see that you look like a cop agian and not a damn skeleton. I figure that should take..ohhh...about as long as it takes Thompson to get well."

"You are both to concentrate on getting better. When you come into work I want to see cops-not," Gesturing to both of them,"What I see before me now. This is the perfect opportunity for you to prove you two can take care of each other. As of right now you are both responsible for the other's getting back into shape to go to work. And when you come back you WILL show me that you can work together. If not you will be assigned different partners. Do I make myself clear?"

Desiree and Marcus both nodded. "Fine, now get out Ashford so I can get a report from Thompson."

Desiree stood and, without looking at Marcus, left the room and sat down on a chair outside. She leaned forward and put her head in her hands. Her mind was in a whirl and she couldnt quite grasp what had happened. She was still a cop and still Marcus' partner. She didnt know whether to be ecstatic or fearful that something like this would happen again.

She didnt know how long she had sat there. She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew Captain Harrison was standing over her and calling her name.

"He's asked for you to go talk to him. I suggest you do just that," He said as he stared down at her,"I also suggest you get something to eat and some rest. You look like hell."

Then he was gone. Slowly, Desiree stood up and pushed open the door to Marcus' room. He was still there, sitting on the edge of the bed. She walked over and stood there beside him.

"So," She said in a low voice,"I guess I owe you an apology for desserting you when you needed me. Where do we go from here?"

[Edited by Isolde on 01-14-2001 at 09:57 AM]