ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT IN CHICAGO          ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT
IN CHICAGO   

          By Jana Georg 
  

Benton Fraser sat up frightened and glanced at the alarm-clock which
ticked 
lonely on the box next to the 
bed. It was long after midnight. Diefenbaker heaved his head interested.
He 
heard the knocking, too. 
There was a second knocking, this time more energetically. Ben stood up
and 
put something on before he opened the door. It was a surprise as he
opened. 
Inspector Thatcher stood in front of his apartment. He 
looked at her nonplused. 
"May I come in?" 
He stepped aside. "Sure." 
She went into the room and shook her head. "You live in a very strange 
region. Iīm lucky to arrive unhurt." She took off her gloves and looked 
around. 
"Iīm sorry I woke you." she apologized as she glanced at the rumpled bed. 
"Well itīs all right, it doesnīt matter" he answered. 
She looked at him. "May I take a seat?" 
"Please" he assigned her a chair in the kitchen. Now he realised that he 
should switch on the light. 
Meanwhile she sat down, he decided to close the windows. It was very cold 
in the appartment. 
"I think you are very surprised about my appearance in the middle of the 
night." she said. 
Fraser nodded. "Proberly speaking - yes." 
"The point is" she began. "I donīt know what to do. Since a few weeks 
someone molestes me. I get 
anonymous calls permanent. And tonight, after leaving the consulate, 
someone observed me; a black car followed me." 
"Have you got an idea who it could be?" 
"No idea." 
"What do you want to do now?" 
"I donīt know. Iīm frightened. I thought you could help me - perhaps." she

looked at him. 
"Iīm sure there are possibilities." he thought a moment. "We could let
your 
phone tap and retrace the calls. 
But early tomorrow morning." 
"And what should I do now? I am frightend. I cannot go back home!" she 
added sassy. 
He thought a moment. 
"Perhaps you should stay the night here." he suggested. 
"What?" 
"Perhaps you should stay the night here." 
"I understood the meaning of your words, Constable, but hereīs no place
for 
a nightly visitor." 
He thought again. 
"I suggest you take the bed and I pass the night next to Diefenbaker." 
"But these are too many circumstances!" she replied. 
"Itīs okay." 

"Donīt look at me so reproachfully. Itīs only one night. Sheīs in trouble 
and we help her." Fraser said to 
his wolf who looked at him unappreciative. For him there was no reason to 
quit the bed. 
"Diefenbaker, I entreat you." Ben put oneīs foot down. "Itīs only one
night." 
Diefenbaker made way for his master discovered. Ben relaxed on the floor. 
He couldnīt understand why 
Diefenbaker acted like this. It seemed that the citylife had a bad 
influence on the wolf. He never staged 
like this before. 

"Ben?" the voice of Thatcher sounded through the darkness. 
"Yes?" 
"What do you think - why is someone doing this?" 
"I donīt know." 
She turned round and saw Ben who was lying next to his wolf. What she saw 
let her feel sorry for him one moment. He looked into her direction, too. 
"Iīm sure, we are going to remedy this." he said. Their looks met. 
"Yes, yes, of course" she answered irritated and looked into another 
direction. She turned around her head. This couldnīt be true! Since the 
incident on the train some time ago they surpressed their feelings for
each 
other and snealed like cats round each other. And now they lay here, close

together, in the same room and nobody was ready to say something. Ben 
observed his superior officer stealthy. She turned round again and rolled 
up. He remembered the kiss on the train. After the incident they were 
unable to talk about their 
feelings. And they didnīt do it ītil now. He felt distinctly that there
was 
more than a friendly bond between them. He sighed. The most he wanted now 
was standing up and embarrassing her. 
"Ben?" 
She sat up in darkness, the coverlet wrapped up to her chin. 
"Yes?" 
She wanted to answer something, but she surpressed the words she wanted to

say actually. "Thank you 
kindly!" 
"Donīt mention it." 

Ben woke up. He needed a moment to remind the things that happened last 
night. Margaret requested him 
for help. She was molested by an anonymous caller who observed and
followed 
her. She was frightened and stayed the night here and he let her the bed. 
He looked around. The window was opened. It seemed that Dief 
skedadded some time ago. Ben shook his head. Why couldnīt he take the door

like anyone else? Probably he misunderstood the whole situation. She slept

still and Ben decided to give her up to her dreams for a while. 
So he had enough time to dress. He sighed. Why didnīt he repair the door
of 
the closet? When it was opened 
it made a lot of noise. He decided this time not to dress in the closet.
He 
wouldnīt wake her. 
Margaret woke up. She opened her eyes carefully. At the other corner of
the 
room Ben was slipping into his uniform. She closed her eyes fast, but then

she observed him through ajared eyelids. 

The mountie stood in front of Vecchioīs desk. "Who was this? Whoīs the 
owner of this beautiful car?" asked Ray interested. 
"Itīs the car of Inspector Thatcher. She was so kind and gave me a lift." 
"But she doesnīt live in your neighborhood!" 
Vecchio sippet at the cup of coffee he carried the whole morning. 
"She stood the night with me." 
"Pardon?" He spittet out the coffee. 
"She stood the night with you?" 
"Thatīs the truth." 
"Is there something between you and her?" 
"No." 
"Pardon?" 
"No." 
"Benny, I donīt believe it." 
"But thatīs the truth, Ray. She was frightened and didnīt want to go home.

And thatīs why she slept in my 
bed tonight." 
"I understand..." Vecchio said ironically. "And what more?" 
"Nothing." 
"Come on, Benny. You donīt wanna tell me that nothing happened!" 
"Itīs the truth." 
Vecchio shook his head. "I canīt believe it!" 
Ben laid down his hat and described the circumstances to his best friend. 
After a short moment Vecchio nodded. "No problem. We are going to tap her 
phone. The one in the 
consulate and the other one at home. But she has to renunciate of her
handy 
for a few days." 
"Do you think thatīs enough?" 
"We canīt do more at the moment." 
"But she was followed by someone yesterday afternoon." 
"But we canīt give a police-protection around the clock. We need more 
evidences." 
"Understand. Thank you kindly although." 

Ben knocked on the door of her office. 
"Come in!" 
He stepped into the room. She left her place behind the desk and made a
few 
steps forward. She looked at 
him, so many questions in her eyes. 
"Donīt panic. We let tap your phone here and at home. But I have to ask
you 
for the handy." 
She nodded and gave the small phone to him. 
"I want to thank you for doing this for me." 
"Donīt mention it." 
She looked at him. 
"I have to do some things at home. Would you please so kind and escort
me?" 
"Of course." 

They left the consulate. Benton asked himself if he was doing the right.
He 
did, of course. If the police 
was not able to handle, he had to do. She parked the car in front of the 
house. 
"Do you want to come with me or wait in the car?" 
"Oh, Iīll wait in the car." 
"Okay. Iīll be back in a few minutes. It wonīt take much time." 
She left the car and closed the door. Meanwhile she disappeared in the 
building, Fraser observed the street interested, but he couldnīt discover 
something strange or unusual. The time passed by and Thatcher was in 
the building for more than a half hour now. Benton thought of following
her 
to see if everything was right, 
but just this moment she came out of the house. She went to the car and 
took place. She trembled all over 
her body. 
"Look at this!" 
She gave a letter to him. He opened and read it. It was written by a 
typewriter and really not friendly. When 
he had ended, he looked at her. Now he was understanding her frightening. 
Her face was as white as chalk. 
"He wants to kill me." she said despaired. 
"I canīt explain why, but it seems that you are right." 
"Thank you kindly."she said ironically. 
"Donīt mention it." 
"What should I do now?" 
"You should go to the police." 
"I beg your pardon?" 
"You should go to the police. We have enough evidences now for giving you 
police protection." 
"If you say it." 
The car left the parking lot. 

Benton ran into the police office. Meg was following him. He arrived in 
front of Vecchioīs desk and gave 
him the letter. 
"Is that enough?" 
"Thatīs enough." Vecchio took the letter and disappeared in the office of 
Lt. Welsh. The door closed behind him and Meg and Ben couldnīt understand 
the discussion between Ray and his superior officer. 
After some time Vecchio left the office of Welsh. He looked at Thatcher. 
"Donīt worry. Youīll get police protection. We tap your phone, too." 
"Thank you, Detective." 
"Donīt mention it. I love to help Canadians." 
"Thank you kindly, Ray." 
"Youīre welcome, Benny." Vecchio smiled insidious. 
Thatcher glanced at her watch. "We have to go now, thereīs no one else in 
the consulate at the moment." 
Vecchio took his jacket. "This is my case. Iīll escort you." he announced 
enthusiastically. 

The day went by slowly. The dusk began. Thatcher looked out of the window 
confused. She glanced at 
Vecchio and Fraser. 
"I canīt believe it. Somewhere out there... there is someone who..." she 
made a pause. "There is someone 
who wants to kill me. And I donīt even know why!" 
She shook her head. "Why had I come to Chicago? So many madmen as here in 
Chicago youīll never find 
in whole Canada!" 
Vecchio stood up. "I wouldnīt say so, Inspector. But I give you the
promise 
that nothing will happen to you. Well, thatīs why we have the police." 
He tried to smile, but it was hard to do. He wasnīt really sure of his 
words. There was the possibility that the one who wrote this letter was
mad 
and incalculable. He took a seat again. A few moments there was only 
silence. Suddenly Vecchioīs phone rang. All three persons were jerked 
frightened. Ray needed a moment to realise that his handy was ringing. He 
took it and went some steps away from Fraser and Thatcher. 
"Excuse me." 
He pressed the speaking-key. 
"Raymundo Vecchio? Francesca, what means this? You know you should not 
call me!" he looked at Ben and Meg and smiled apologizing. 
"The evening meal is all the same to me, I have to work overtime." 
He listened to the voice of his sister who was a pain in his neck. 
"This should be all the same to you. What does this mean? Okay, okay, 
Fraser has to work overtime, too." 
He rolled his eyes and glanced at the ceiling. 
"No, Francesca, we donīt need your help. And you neednīt come to bring
some 
sandwiches. Yeah, Iīm sorry, too." He looked at the phone nonplused. 
"She broke up the discussion. Typical." 
"Francesca is his sister." Ben informed his superior officer. 
Thatcher nodded."Ah..." 

"Pretend that it is a normal day and we arenīt here." ordered Vecchio her.

"I follow you in my car." he said. 
Ben glanced at him. "Ray?" 
"What?" 
"Would you please so kind and do me a favour?" 
Vecchio thought a moment about, then he was understanding. 
"No, Benny, donīt say that I have to visit Diefenbaker!" 
"That would be very kind of you, Ray." 
"No. Why me?" 
"Ray?" 
"Okay, Iīll do it. Weīll meet in a half hour at Inspector Thatcher." 
"Thank you kindly, Ray." 

The Buick Riviera hold on in front of Fraserīs apartment. Vecchio left the

car and spent lots of time with closing the doors. He never could know, 
Fraser lived in a strange quarter in which you better never let your 
car unclosed. As he went into the apartment, he called for Diefenbaker.
The 
wolf came happy and tail 
moving. 
"Youīre a good wolf. Your master has no time for you at the moment, you 
must be satisfied with my 
presence.." Ray seized into his pocket. 
"I bring you something to eat." He laid some donuts in front of the wolfīs

snout. Diefenbaker looked at Ray. 
He didnīt want donuts right at the moment. Then he decided to eat what he 
got. While he was eating, 
Vecchio observed him. 
"Donīt gulp, thatīs not healthy!" suggested Ray. 
Diefenbaker stopped for a moment, looked at him and ate again. 

Thatcher opened the door of her apartment and wanted to step in. Fraser 
hold her back. 
"Maybe itīs better to let me go at first." 
"Sure." 
He stepped into the flat and searched for the light switch. Finally he 
found it. He went forward. Thatcher followed him anxious. 
"Hereīs no one." 
"Good." 
"I believe he doesnīt dare to come here." 
"Why do you know that he is male?" 
"I suppose it." 
Fraser closed the door. Thatcher laid down her jacket. 
"You are allowed to put off your jacket too." 
"Thank you kindly" he answered a bit confused and put off jacket and hat. 
"That seems to become a nice evening." she said sarcastically. 
"I can go into another room if I disturb you here..." 
Fraser wanted to leave the room but Thatcher touched his sleeve. 
"No, thatīs all right. Iīm cheerful ībout your company." 
Their looks met each otherīs again. 
"Okay." he said quiet. 
Suddenly it knocked. 
Meggie looked at him frightened. He lifted the forefinger to his lips. 
"Pssst!" 
She nodded. There was a second knocking. 
"Come on, open the door. Itīs me!" the voice of Vecchio came from the
other 
side of the door. Thatcher 
sighed. Fraser opened the door. Vecchio stepped in. Diefenbaker followed 
him. Ray smiled apologizing. 
"Iīm sorry, but he wanted to come with me." He looked to Thatcher and 
Fraser. "I couldnīt dissuade him 
to follow me." 
"Itīs okay." Thatcher tried to smile. 
"Heīs house-trained, donīt worry." said Fraser. 
Diefenbaker confirmed this with a bark. It was sure for him not to piddle 
in the flat. What might this 
woman think ībout him? He was a civilized wolf! 

The hours passed by and nothing happened. Thatcher, Fraser and Vecchio sat

in the kitchen. They were 
bored. Dief slept well under the table. Thatcher looked at her watch. It 
was long after midnight. 
"If you agree, I would go to bed." 
"Do it." 
"Okay, good night. Weīll share the couch." 
"Thank you. Do you need something?" 
"Yes, a six-pack, a good match in TV and a pizza!" 
"I beg your pardon?" 
"It was just a joke, I was joking." 
"Oh, I must be used with his humour." 
She disappeared in the bedroom. Ray sat down in the livingroom. He took of

his shoes and searched for 
a blanket. He found one, laid down on the couch and coverd it over
himself. 
"I believe you agree with me when I sleep the first two hours." 
"Yes, itīs all okay." 
"Great." 
"Good night, Ray." 
"Good night, Benny." he closed his eyes. 
"Benny?" 
"Yeah?" 
"Thereīs really nothing between you and the dragon lady?" 
"No." 
"I canīt believe it." 
"Ray, sheīs my superior officer." 
"She is a woman." 
"Yes, she is." 
"Have you seen how she looked at you?" 
"No. How did she look at me?" 
"Forget it!" Ray shook his head und closed his eyes again. 
"Canadians" he murmured as he fell asleep. 

Fraser was woken up by loud voices. He stood up frightened. He knew the 
voices. That were the voices 
of Ray and Thatcher. 
"I am sorry for my little bathroom. If I had known that you were coming, 
Iīd let convent it." 
"Okay." Ray ran out of the bathroom. 
"I donīt shave!" 
He discovered Fraser. "Good morning, Benny." 
"Good morning, Ray. What was this for a noise?" 
"Your superior officer is incalculable." 
Fraser thought the best way was to say nothing, meanwhile Ray took his tie

and his jacket. 

Fraser and Thatcher followed Vecchio into his office. Nearly a half meter 
away Diefenbaker was walking. When Vecchio came into his office, he went a

step back because his sister was sitting on his chair. 
"Francesca, what are you doing here?" 
"You did not came home this night. I was worried and wanted to know what 
has happened." 
"I told you that I worked overtime." 
"But not the whole night! Why didnīt you call?" 
"Franny, I donīt want to discuss with you right now!" 
"My brother is a sap!" Franny informed Fraser. 
Now she noticed Thatcher and sized her up. "Whoīs this?" 
"Oh" Fraser began. "This is Inspector Thatcher, my superior officer. 
Inspector Thatcher, this is 
Francesca Vecchio, the sister of Detective Vecchio." 
"Hi." Francesca looked at her angry. 
"I think we have to go back to the consulate now." She nodded. 
"See you, Ray." Fraser pushed her out of the room. Francesca looked behind

both. 
"Is there something between both?" 
"No." 
"You canīt tell me that!" 
"Itīs the truth." 
"Sure. Have you seen how he looked at her?" 
Ray decided that it was the better way to ignore his sister. There was a 
notepad lying on his desk. Elaine 
laid it there. There was only one call they had followed back. To someone 
who was named  John Dean. 
Ray wanted to ask Elaine for help as she arrived and gave a paper to him. 
"John Dean, Canadian dangerous criminal, heīs in jail īcause he killed a 
few people. Well, better, he was 
there. A few weeks ago he was released." 
"Thank you, Elaine." 
Ray took the phone and called the number of the Canadian Consulate. 
"Miss Thatcher, what do you associate with the name `John Deanī?" 
"A Canadian dangerous criminal, a murderer. I arrested him six years ago.
" 
"Has he ever manaced you?" 
"He said, he would kill me when heīll be released, but he has to stay in 
jail for ten years." 
"Sorry, but youīre mistaken. He was released a few weeks ago. So now we 
know whoīs the stranger." 

Meg looked at her mail. A green cover had taken her attention. The address

was written by a typewriter. 
She trembled as she opened it. 
"Ben?" She gave the letter to him. After reading he lifted his hand as a 
precaution. 
"Donīt panic, the police is doing everything possible to get him. Itīll be

over soon. Donīt be worried. 
Theyīll get him." 
Thatcher tried to smile. "Iīd like to believe in your words." 
"Donīt worry." 
"The life of a mountie has itīs own price." 
"Yeah, but I would never swap, for nothing!" 
"I understand you. Sometimes I miss the life at the R.C.M.P.." She smiled.

"I can not imagine to do a job behind a desk some time." 
"I know, you belong to the mounted police. You canīt keep horsemen in a 
cage." He glanced at her. 
"Youīre right." 
"I know." 
She looked at her watch. "Come on, Ben, weīll dine out." 
"I donīt know if this is a good idea. I think we should take Detective 
Vecchio with us. Itīs not allowed for 
me to carry a weapon." 
"Okay, if you think so. Your friend can be a pain in the neck sometimes, 
but heīs also a policeman." 

Thatcher, Fraser and Vecchio set on the little Italian restaurant und 
choose a lonesome table in a corner. 
"Youīll see, here you can get the best pizza in whole Chicago! Except the 
one of my mother." explained Vecchio to Thatcher. 
"We hope that youīre right." 
"Naturally." 
"How do you think." 
"Do you want to express that Iīm lying sometimes?" 
"No, I donīt say so!" 
"Ray, please..." 
"Itīs okay, Benny." 
Thatcher shooked her head. "Iīve got one question: Are all policemen from 
Italian origin stubborn?" 
"You think that Iīm stubborn? What do you want? Iīm no Canadian and I
donīt 
love it to open doors for 
other people." 

The waiter brought the food. Vecchio stopped a bit of pizza into his
mouth. 
"How long will it take?" 
"What?" he hiccuped with a full mouth. 
"How long will it take?" 
"What? īTil Iīve eaten my pizza?" 
"No, ītil youīll arrest him." 
"Oh, I would say that it doesnīt take much more time. Itīs only a little 
step and weīll get him." 
"What a consolation." 
"What should we do? First we have to hunt him up." 

After the meal Thatcher and Fraser left the restaurant in front of
Vecchio. 
"I donīt endure this much longer! How can you work with him?" 
"Heīs okay." 
"Really ?" 
"Yes, heīs a bit..." Fraser searched for the right words. 
"...impulsive." 
"You say so." 
"Should I drive?" 
"If you want to." she gave the keys to him. He made a step forward, opened

the car and kept the door 
open for her. 
"Thank you." 
"Donīt mention it." 

It knocked on the door. Ben opened. It was Vecchio. He shooked his head
and 
looked from Thatcher to 
Fraser. 
"He doesnīt live there anymore. The apartment was quit." 
"No, that means..." 
"Donīt be frightened, Meg..." 
"Youīre still police-protected." 
"Thank you, Detective." 
Vecchio closed the door. "Donīt be worried, weīll make it." 
"Come in and feel free." 
"It seems to be routine." 
"Sure. Believe me, Iīm as happy as you when this is over and 
heīs back in jail where he belongs to." 
"And you were really working at the mounted police?" 
"Yes, of course." 
"Wow." Vecchio nodded ackknowledging. 

Thatcher ran through the room nervously. 
"Please be quiet." 
"Youīre very funny, Vecchio. Thereīs no one who wants to kill you." 
"But the right is on your side." 
She glanced at the two men. "Is that possible on an emergency?" 
"Sure." Fraser nodded. He was worried about her. He wanted to embrace her,

to give her the feeling of 
security, but he wasnīt able to do this. That was impossible. She was his 
superior officer. 

"Itīs close to midnight. I think, Iīll try to sleep." 
"Good night." 
"Good night." 
"Good night." 
Ray looked at his friend, meanwhile she disappeared in her bedroom. 
"You can sleep at first." 
"Very friendly of you, Ray." 
"Donīt mention it." 
"He looked under the kitchentable. Diefenbaker was lying there. He slept. 
"Diefi feels at home here, really." 
"Do you think so?" 
Fraser slipped out of his uniform jacket and laid it on a chair. 
"Yes, and a bit of female influence would be very good for him, maybe he 
would put away these bad 
attitudes then, donīt you think?" 
Fraser covered himself by the blanket. 
"I donīt know, Ray. But Iīm going to think ībout it. Good night, Ray." 
"Good night, Benny." 
"And donīt forget to wake me up in two hours." 
"Okay." 

Ray woke up. Burst asunder glass and the frightened scream of Thatcher
made 
him catching his weapon 
and running into her bedroom.  Fraser and Dief were earlier of course and 
they had been able to overcome 
the man. Ray looked at the stranger. He was maybe 5 feet tall and it
seemed 
that he was aged somewhere between 35 and 45. He looked really worse and 
unfriendly. 
Ray applied the cuffs and spoke the text:" Youīve the right to be silent. 
Everything you say can and will be 
used against you." he wangled him out of the room and glanced through the 
room. The window was broken 
and the floor was full of broken pieces. A lamp had fallen down and
broken, 
the bed was rumpled and a 
chair had fallen down. 
Thatcher closed her peignor in a hurry . She passed one hand over her
hair. 
"Thank you kindly." 
"Youīre welcome." answered John Dean. He smiled awful. 
Thatcher ignored him."Good work." 
"Come on." Vecchio wangled him out of the door. "You can tell your story
on 
the police office." 
Meggie stooped to take the broken pieces. Ben helped her and collected the

rest of the lamp from the floor. 
"Itīs very kind of you to help me." 
"Donīt mention it." 
He looked at her and noticed the first time her confused outward 
appearance. She wore a night-dress and a peignor. His good attitude
ordered 
him to look in another direction, but he couldnīt resist her look. A few 
confused locks had fallen resistantly into her face. Her appearance was 
equivalent to the one she had when 
she worked in the consulate. 
"Auw!" he looked on his left hand. He had injured his hand on a broken 
piece of the glass. The blood ran 
down his hand. 
Meggie looked up frightened. "Wait a moment." 
She left the room and returned a few minutes later with a handkerchief, 
disinfectant and plaster. 
"Sit down." 
She pushed him to the bed and cleaned the wound carefully. 
"I hope the pain is not too strong, but I couldnīt establish that the
wound 
is deep." 
"It isnīt. Thank you." 
He looked at her. Their looks met and Meggie went back a step. She was 
confused. She put the desinfectant 
on the little table next to her bed. Their looks met again. She turned off

embarrassed. 
"Meggie?" 
"What?" 
"The nightmare is over." 
"I know." 
She felt a bit chilly. It was going to be cold in the room because of the 
broken window. 
"I should call the glazier tomorrow morning and sleep on the couch this 
night." 
"Yes, you should do so." 
She took the rest of the lamp. "I think I canīt use it anymore." 
"No." 
She stooped again. 
"Wait, Iīll help you." 
"Thank you, Ben." 
He began to stoop too, but he had another thought by doing it and pulled 
her in his direction foundly. 
Nearly their faces met. No one fought against this emotion. Fraser moved 
forward to kiss her. Their lips 
met and he embraced her closer... 
  
  
  

     THE END