Serial Killer Strikes Again

[Tseranc]

Bruce Woods, at seeing what he would call the ‘milk incident’ for the rest of his days, sat there; a conflicted man. His bitter nature screamed at him to poke fun of the girl until she cried. Milk in a bar?! It’s now like she was too young to drink…you can’t carry a firearm around here in a professional capacity without being at least 21…so what was it.

But the last human shred of him was interested. Here was a cold talking, no shit taking self proclaimed, with every confident step she took, ‘tough chic’. And she was drinking milk. In a bar. Practically sacrilegious.

Woods took the whiskey, downed it to calm himself, and finally let out his disbelief.

“Ok, in my 21 years of legally drinking in bars, I must say, I have never seen that before. Are you always so full of surprises O’Connell?”

He had to know why. It was eating him up. Water, iced tea, sodas. Anything else in the world he had seen people order in a bar, usually because they were the DD. He never even knew of a bar that served milk, but his new task force member cheerfully drank hers right there before him.

 

[Wyld52771]

Detective Michael Hallenbeck

"Good evening, Miss Tanne," Michael said. "Yes, I DO tend to try relax on occasion, when I have the time." He looked at her, his expression very serious, "I won't be talking about the case...just so you know. If you ask about it, my official reply will be 'no comment' to any question. You'll have to wait for the press conference." Knowing how tenacious she was, he tensed up for a flood of questions about the murder cases, but surprisingly, they never came. "I WILL accept that drink, though...I've had a rough day."

As he took a swig of his beer, he found himself looking at her...she really WAS a very beautiful lady, and he had to admit he was attracted to her. On the few run-ins he'd had with her in the past, she'd seemed intelligent, very motivated, and had a very amusing sense of humor. It had been a long time since he'd felt this strong of an attraction to a lady...and if he hadn't known she was looking for an angle to catch him off-guard, he could almost relax and enjoy sitting next to such a pretty lady. She could work the charade that she wanted to be social all she wanted, but in the end, he knew that eventually things would cycle back to her looking for information.

Still, it couldn't hurt to chat a bit, as long as the topic stayed away from the case. "So, what brings YOU here tonite, Miss Tanne?"

 

[Katamari Roller]

Woods took the whiskey, downed it to calm himself, and finally let out his disbelief.

“Ok, in my 21 years of legally drinking in bars, I must say, I have never seen that before. Are you always so full of surprises O’Connell?”


Lisa glanced at Woods, before grabbing the milk glass and passing her index finger around the glass' mouth. No sound. She'd never been good at that, no matter how many famous people did it on TV.

"Well, it is a long story. Shortened, Matthew has been like a father to me. He had two daughters, and one of them left for New York to work in Microsoft, or something. The youngest one..."

Lisa remembered Jenny perfectly, back when she was only fourteen years old, before the accident. Her throat twisted in a knot. This was something too intimate to tell to an outsider, specially one like Woods. She rubbed her eyes, and swallowed, undoing the knot. Her hand remained in front of her eyes, covering them from Woods' sight.

"Well, he's been like a father to me. He and my dad were very good friends, and when my dad died, he took care of me. He is a parent figure to me, and that's it. I can drink as much alcohol as I want, as long as I drink a glass of milk first."

Lisa let her arm fall heavily on the bar, and looked at Matthew's back, as he served a guy over on the other end of the bar. Secretly, Lisa thought of him as she thought of her father. Both were good men, who had given the better part of their lives in the name of justice and protection, to help others. But Jenny's death had marked both their families. Now, the bond between them was stronger. And... Lisa couldn't be happier about it.

She smiled, and rubbed her eyes again trying to stop from crying. Damnit, you're still a sensitive bitch.

"Anyway, that's about it. I guess he likes to think that I balance something unhealthy with something healthy. And, you know, I am well-built. I don't think any of you serious, ironed men ever think about it, do you?"

 

[Alerdene]

She wrinkled her nose at the press conference remark but didn't comment on it. She could see him tensing almost as if he expected her to pounce on him. Which, looking him over, wasn't a bad idea. Grinning to herself, she slid onto the seat next to him as she noticed the female officer from the station glancing their way. If looks could kill, she figured she'd be on the floor from the daggers coming from the other woman's eyes. Shrugging it off, her attention focused wholly on the man in front of her.

So, what brings YOU here tonite, Miss Tanne?

Shrugging slightly, she held up her glass.

I was trying to buy someone dinner, but I was rejected. I needed a drink to regain my confidence.

Her lips curved into their normal mischievous grin letting him know she was just teasing him. Glancing around again, she sighed softly as she spoke,

However, I don't usually frequent this area... from the looks I'm getting, I think perhaps I should keep it that way.

Taking another drink of her beer, she watched him as he seemed to relax just a bit. Trying to remember the last time she'd actually sat and had a drink and a nice conversation with an attractive man... she couldn't. Perhaps it wouldn't be so hard to forget about the case for just one night. Trying to remember everything she knew about the man... she seemed to recall something about his wife passing away awhile back. Making a note not to bring up any subject that might involve that, she bit her lip as she leaned back, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

So I saw you've got the Feds on your ass already. Must suck to have to let them in on everything...

Her hands went up in mock surrender as she saw the look in his eyes become guarded again.

No, no. No talk about it, just that I meant I certainly wouldn't like it... someone nosing in on my territory so to speak. That's all I meant. Cross my heart.

Smiling at him sincerely, she chuckled as he visibly relaxed again.

So what's a busy guy like you do to relax anyway. Golf? Bowling? I heard the department's got quite a team this year. Kicked our team's ass anyway.

She finished her beer, nodding for another as she watched him, liking the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled.

 

[Tseranc]

"Anyway, that's about it. I guess he likes to think that I balance something unhealthy with something healthy. And, you know, I am well-built. I don't think any of you serious, ironed men ever think about it, do you?"


He laughed in a genuinely amused tone at her story, and the drink had already started working wonders in on his head.

“O’Connell , your story, I can see has a good deal more to it, but I won’t press for any more details. I won’t even tell a soul how deep it seems those details run. But now that you had your milk, I’m buying you a drink! I don’t trust anyone on my teams that don’t have at least one vice. Squeaky clean people are hiding something.”

He put some bills down on the table, and motioned for Matthew to bring two more whiskeys when he worked his way down to this end again.

“Now as to your last comment miss, I take great offense. I’ve not become a true pain in everyone’s ass of pointing out details by overlooking the obvious. ‘Well built’ is not how I’d choose to describe you…but I had most certainly noticed.”

He winked at her as he handed her one of the glasses of whiskey Matthew had just poured, raised it in a casual salute to her, and took a swig. Sad, at 42 he found himself hitting on a current co-worker half his age. He didn’t care, but knew he should somehow feel bad about.

 

[Wyld52771]

Detective Michael Hallenbeck

He smiled at the question. "Is this all off-the-record?" he asked jokingly, and she smiled winningly, and nodded.

"Well," he said, "truthfully, I don't get a whole lot of free time. The job keeps me pretty busy."

He took another swig of his beer, and continued, "The times I do get a little spare time...well, I'm kind of a homebody. I rent movies, watch TV, cooking...sometimes I do a bit of photography. Landscape and wildlife stuff, mostly. I wouldn't say I'm all that good at it, but it IS relaxing to get out amongst nature." He looked at Ivy, and chuckled ruefully, "You should find THIS amusing, beings as you're a writer...I actually, I used to write short stories, back in the old days when I was still just a beat cop. Mostly sci-fi/fantasy stuff, and I was never published or anything, but I did enjoy it. Of course, it's been years since I've done that."

It was amazing how easy it was to open up to her...he had to keep reminding himself to be careful what he said. It was too easy to just get lost in her eyes while talking to her. He hadn't felt this comfortable with a woman since...well, since Amanda. It made him realize how much he'd missed just talking to ANYONE, much less an attractive woman. His eyes played over his face, and looking at her full red lips made his mind wander in an unexpected direction...he found himself wondering what it'd be like to kiss her. "Down, boy," he thought to himself, "thoughts like that will only cause you trouble."

An amused smile crossed her lips, and he realized he'd been staring. He looked away quickly, trying to hide the fact that he was blushing a bit. "Geez," he thought to himself, " I don't even know how to act around women anymore. Good job, stupid. Way to make a good impression." That thought gave him pause....why was that so important to him all of the sudden?

He drained the last of his beer, and motioned the bartender over, ordering them both another. Clearing his throat, still recovering from his embarressment, he asked, "Umm...So, how about you, Miss Tanne? What do you do to relax when you aren't trying to chase down a story?"

 

[RedHairedandFriendly]

Samantha awoke with the static sound ringing in her ears. She looked at the time and realized that her movie had ended long ago and she’d fallen asleep on the couch. Stretching her legs and arms she pressed the remote and turned the television off and killed the surround sound. The partially empty bag of popcorn found its way into the trash and she grabbed herself a long drink of milk from the jug and chuckled when she put it back in the fridge. That had been the first thing she did the morning after she kicked her husband out. She’d woken up, opened the fridge, and drank straight from the carton... why? “Because she could,” she’d told herself.

She closed the door to the fridge and headed to the bathroom to get ready for bed. Once her teeth were brushed, her hair combed out, and her needs met, she headed to her bedroom. Her fingers pulled at the shorts and she slipped free of them, the T-shirt hit the floor, and she moved to pick them up. She stopped and smiled, leaving them on the floor. He’d had made her pick them up. He always wanted the house clean and perfect. She didn’t. Now she didn’t have to. She slipped into bed and set her alarm.

Then she rolled over and found herself suddenly unable to sleep. She lay there, her mind wandering aimlessly until it came to the man who’d helped her with the flat. Samantha wondered what he was doing. “Probably sleeping,” she chuckled. It wasn’t long before she was able to fall asleep, her fingers moved over her as she dreamt of another’s hands caressing her skin.

Her moan startled her and she awoke. “Good Lord,” she muttered and pulled her hand away from her sex. She blushed though no one knew what her dreams had almost made her do. Soon she was sleeping again, this time her mind was thick with nothing but a quiet slumber.

 

[jushorny]

Marc Jordan

I reluctantly set the phone down, wishing I had the natural ability to continue telephone conversations longer. There was something about talking over the phone that just seemed to shut my communication abilities down. Set me down with anyone, anywhere in person and I can talk forever, especially if I find someone interesting, but, put me on the phone and it appears as if I had just learned the language.

I grabbed my beer, emptying it, as I laid on the sofa thinking about the librarian I had just met. I wished it had not been the winter, wished I had been able to see better what those legs supported. Librarian, don’t think I’ve ever been attracted to a Librarian before, much less date one I thought to myself, not that I was even close to dating her. No, I certainly would not classify myself as a Librarian type of man. Now that I think about it I wouldn’t classify a Librarian as the type of person to drive a Chevy Trailblazer, Toyota Camry maybe. Maybe it was the fact that she was a Librarian but didn’t really seem like the stereotypical one that got me so interested.

I got my ass off the sofa and grabbed another beer as I rummaged through the refrigerator looking for something to quell my hunger. Left over pizza didn’t seem to hit the right taste buds so I opted for a bag of pretzels, reclined back on the sofa and turned the on the basketball game. The Bulls, losing again, quickly lost my interest. I turned on the local news and watched team coverage of the recent murders. I was becoming fascinated in the aspect of what could be going on in our little community. It seems, according to the news reports, I wasn’t the only one wondering. I was surprised to hear the FBI was also involved.

Having heard enough grim news for the night I began flipping through the stations, trying to find something that would grab my interest. Having flipped through enough, I decided to give up and head off to bed. I laid in bed, peering out the window seeing the moon shining through and stars in the sky as I imagined myself laying on a blanket in a field with Samantha. I felt my hand traveling over my chest just as hers might do. My fingers paused to run over my lips, wishing they were her lips. I could feel myself become more aroused as my fingers slid down, stopping at the center of my chest before going lower. Stopping when I realized just what I was rubbing, I told myself I really needed to get out and find some company. This was so unlike me to be having these fantasies over a lady I had just met, a Librarian no less. I took of drink from the water glass on the bedside table, rolled my body over onto my stomach and tried once again to fall asleep.

 

[Alerdene]

She made a face at him at his last statement, shaking her head at him.

Please... it's Ivy. We're not at work after all. Course... even at work, you can call me Ivy if you want.

Grinning, she tried not to wonder what he'd been thinking of a moment ago when he was staring at her. Was he tolerating her company and hoping one of his officers would come rescue him. Or was the smile that reached his eyes genuine... he was a cop after all, he most likely had a good poker face. Shaking off that thought, she really had to be a tiny bit more trusting if she was going to relax.

Let's see, what do I do. Well I certainly don't bowl on the paper's team, that's for sure.

She smiled as he laughed at her. Taking a drink of the fresh beer, she shrugged slightly.

Believe it or not, I write as well. Can't seem to stay away from it. Job, hobby, whatever. I always thought I'd write a book, a big sweeping epic fantasy novel... but somehow I always get lost about a third of the way through... and it just goes to join my pile of other rejects in the closet.

Setting her beer down, she leaned forward a bit, looking up at him through her lashes, her enthusiasm not feigned in the least.

You'll have to let me read one of your stories sometime! I love sci-fi. My friends in school always thought I was weird.

Moving past that quickly in case he was as shy about his writing as she was, she continued,

Photography sounds fun. I've always loved looking at beautiful pictures, but I can barely take a snapshot without getting a finger in the way. I swear it's true! But cooking. Now cooking is something I do as well. I live alone and I get tired of eating out all the time, and frozen dinners just don't cut it usually, so I am the master of cooking for one.

Realizing she was giving him far too much personal information, information that he most likely didn't want to know, she stopped suddenly, taking a drink to cover her embarrassment. Thinking to herself... What's wrong with you girl... rambling on like a sixteen year old on a first date. SHUT UP!

Toying with a pretzel from a bowl in front of her, she glanced around once, and then back at him, an eyebrow arching.

I'm sorry Detective... you came in with others didn't you... am I keeping you from something?

 

[Wyld52771]

Detective Michael Hallenbeck

He looked around, seeing Woods and O'Connell deep on conversation together, and Smith talking to an attractive blonde at the far end of the bar. "Well, it seems they're all occupied right now anyway...so I guess you're not keeping me from anything at all."

"As far as cooking goes, I can relate to cooking for one and eating alone. The odd hours I work, I've had to become a bit proficient in the kitchen, or I guess I would have wasted away. I kind of HAD to learn to cook after Amanda..."

He trailed off, and looked down at his beer, a sad expression crossing his face for a moment, before shaking his head to rid himself of depressing thoughts before they started. Drinking and depression just didn't mix well with him.

Shifting the subject a bit, he said, "Anyway, I must admit to being a bit surprised that YOU'RE eating alone at ANY time. I would have figured an attractive lady such as yourself would have all sort of guys chasing after you for a dinner date..." He smirked and then added jokingly, "Instead of being forced to try to pick up us police detectives at random to fill your nightly dining schedule. Imagine my surprise..."

She chuckled, and he joined in laughing, and took another swig of his beer, draining it. He was beginning to feel a slight buzz after only three beers. "Man, it's BEEN awhile. Guess I'm turning into a lightweight in my old age. Just don't have any tolerance anymore," he thought to himself amusedly. "One more and I better stop before I make a fool of myself."

He called Matthew back over. "Hey, Matty. Could I get a another beer for the lady and myself?" He pointed at O'Connell and Woods, and then at Smith. "And go ahead and get them each a round of whatever they're drinking too," he said, laying down a twenty. Matthew nodded, handing Michael the two beers, and then bringing the others to his co-workers.

He turned back to Ivy, smiling at her, as he handed her the beer. "She really IS beautiful," he though to himself, confused at feeling a longing that he'd thought had died with Amanda. It wasn't exactly a longing for sex...although he did feel quite a bit of sexual attraction towards her. No, what he'd missed most was simply this....female companionship. Friendly banter and flirtation. He'd been grieving for so long now, that the feeling was almost like waking up from a long nap and finding everything around had totally changed unexpectedly, but pleasantly as well.

He knew he'd probably have to go home fairly soon...after all, work would be there in the morning, and the case awaited...but for now, he was very much enjoying her company, and was very hesitant to want to have this night end.

 

[Katamari Roller]

Lisa blushed, and then smirked at Woods' flirtation. Was this how Woods liked to act when off-duty? Because on the job, he seemed to be a jerk.

"Now, now, sir. Flirting with a co-worker, AND trying to get her drunk? What would our respective bosses think?" Then, Lisa took a long swig off her whiskey, the alcohol running through her veins, warming her up. She grinned sheepishly at Woods. She had to admit he was sort of... attractive.

However, the weather in Plainsfield was not that cold. At least, not inside the bar. Apparently, it was getting pretty hot here... and Lisa wanted to get her jacket off... but wouldn't that seem like she was flirting back? A worthy counter-attack, she knew. "Well-built" was pretty much what she considered about herself, in the physical fitness department. But... with her body in a purely aesthetical perspective, she knew damn well taking off her jacket WOULD be flirting.

It's for the better not to take it off... yet. However, she was a bit too hot. She let her jacket slide down until her shoulders, back, and down to her elbows were bare. Under her jacket, she wore a more or less tight-fitting blouse.

"So, uhmmm... have you decided where you will spend your nights in Plainsfield? Unless you intend to sleep with the paperwork, of course..."

Damn, those words were not thought out... now he might think I AM flirting... Damn this low tolerance... Lisa could feel her face warm up a bit more. By now, she was sure she had a respectably pink blush. She finished her whiskey, only to have a beer appear magically beside the empty glass. Damn leprechauns, playing tricks on me... She giggled, unconsciously, before noticing Woods' eyes.

"Oh, uhmm, sorry. I am not a heavy drinker, you see..."

 

[Babette_____]

It was a few hours later that Angelica finally got around to sleeping. She'd spent most of the early hours of the morning fighting with her parents about how to properly remove the blood from her vehicle as well as her carpeting. She'd struggled with that in the beginning of her “healing.” However, she was very quick and very good at it now. She'd long ago taken the carpeting out of the back of the van, so cleaning the floor board with a mixture of water and bleach did wonders for the vehicle though left her head spinning, which added to the voices in her head.

Once inside the house she dealt with whatever blood may have slipped down the cart as she'd wheeled it along a specific route in her home. That usually didn't take long, the route consisting of only hard wood floors after leaving her bedroom. The cart was cleaned and soon the downstairs and upper hall reeked of bleach. Lastly came her pink room. There were plenty of times she said she'd tear up the carpet, but her mother wouldn't allow her; her father would have punished her. So she spent almost an hour in this room alone. The rug that hid the small rings for the ankle cuffs had long since been removed once she'd attached Marty to them.

After soaking the area where he'd hung; where the blood pooled onto the plush carpeting, with cold water. She used her father's shop-vac and sucked up the diluted mixture. The she scrubbed it with soap and more cold water. By the time she was done there was just a faint stain on the soft, pink carpet and that was quickly concealed by the fluffly rug. The shop-vac and then Angelica were the last things to clean up.

By then she was exhausted and went to her parents' room. Her tired body crawled into their bed. And she felt her father embrace her. She snuggled into the pillow that was constantly sprayed in Old Spice and soon she was fast asleep. As she slept she knew her mother would find her with her father and she'd have to punish her dad for hurting her mom, and she'd have to punish mom for letting daddy hurt her. For now though she was there in her daddy's loving hands.

 

[poohlive]

The motel had three stories all together told. It wasn't much to look at, the walls were cracked and the wood was beginning to warp, but it still held a certain piece of charm. Perhaps that was because the motel itself had been built in a much simpler time. It had a 50's futuristic feel to it, like those movies where people tried to predict the future.

Only now, it was the future, and they had somehow gotten it all wrong. No flying cars, no jet packs, no aliens coming down to incite trade agreements. That theory had died a noble death of a long time ago, leaving only tracks and dinosaur bones deep in the ground.

This motel was one of those dinosaur bones. It had those sharp angles and smooth curves of futuristic, and even though it was falling down around them, one needed to only look at it and smile for nostalgia if nothing else.

The third floor was where Trevor made sure to keep most of the bad asses. These were people who fostered the criminal element in town. Drug dealers, theives, whores, lowlives. Anyone and everyone that would be best if they were kept out of public's eye got a third story room. They didn't seem to mind. It is weird how easily that fits together. Society shuns the lowlife's away into a corner and out of sight, and that is exactly where most low life's prefer to be.

Trevor went up to the third floor now, standing next to one of the corner room and knocking softly against the door. Loud music stopped abruptly at his knock. He got an angry bark of, "WHO IS IT!?!" muffled from inside the room.

"Me, Trevor."

"Ahh, shit," This was softer, but Trevor just made it out as he put his ear to the door. Things were shifted around inside, what sounded like boxes or bags thrown into the corner. Someone started arguing in that hushed half-whisper voice that you spoke when you knew someone else was listening. Trevor didn't catch most of it, but he thought he knew the jist of what was going on.

A tall skinny kid poked his head through the door, eyeing Trevor up and down once, and then looking to see if anyone was with him, before opening it some more.

The smell of pot and shit whiffed out at Trevor as the door opened up. He took a step back, his eyes already stinging in pain.

"What the fuck, dude?"

"I need payment," He said, trying not to open his mouth. The smell somehow worsened if he opened his mouth.

Inside the door, a man and woman half naked were watching from the other side of the bed. The man was large, deep brown eyes and a mop of curly red hair. He was staring at the girl's naked breasts. She was short and slender, and did not seem to care that anyone stared at her. The look in her eyes was distant and far away. From one of her arms came a trail of dark blood. She didn't seem to care about that either.

"Fuck, just a minute," The man danced around some of the shit littering the room. Half emptied boxes, fast food bags with greased bottoms, and duffel bags littered the floor. He tossed a few aside before grabbing from one half full. A baggie of pot, nearly full. He tossed it to Trevor, who just as fast slipped it into his pocket.

"Is that all?"

Trevor took a step back from the door, "Just keep the music down, ok?"

The kid laughed, and nodded, before slamming the door in Trevor's face. Trevor gave a sigh of relief as that stench disappatted into the night air. He walked back down to his desk in the lobby with a spring in his step.

 

[Alerdene]

She glanced away, feigning interest in the news playing on the small tv above the bar as a wistful look overcame his face for a moment at the mention of Amanda. She didn't know him nearly well enough to even attempt that subject. When he made a crack about picking up Detectives for dinner, she looked back at him, her eyes twinkling.

It's the cuffs Detective... that's all.

He joined her in laughter as he was laying out money for another round. She made a point not to watch where the other drinks were taken, not wanting to ruin the evening with her mind switching gears to the case and who was working it. For once, she was having a nice time, and she had no intentions of messing it up.

That thought mulled around her head for a moment as her eyes widened slightly in surprise. She was having a nice time. Flirting and drinking and not thinking about anything other then that fact. She could almost imagine them on a real date. What was wrong with her. Smiling suddenly, she wondered if she should ask him to dinner again. Not for now, it was getting late and he looked tired, but for another night. Would he laugh at her? Agree and then make excuses later? No... it was probably a bad idea.

Picking up the beer, she took a sip just as her phone began to vibrate against her hip. Reaching down, she pushed a button and shook her head at him as he watched her and seemed about to say something.

It's nothing. And even if it is, I don't care.

Remembering his earlier joking, she grinned at him and continued,

And as far as having dinner dates chasing me... it's the catching they have a problem with.

Her face looking rather serious for the first time that evening, she took a deep breath, her finger running lightly around the top edge of her glass, and smiled almost shyly. The words leaving her mouth before she could stop them and when she heard what she said, she nearly groaned at herself.

So Detective, maybe we can have that dinner sometime? My treat... I owe you one after all.

She pointed to the beer he'd bought and continued before she lost her nerve.

All off the record, I promise. Just a nice dinner. Everybody's gotta eat right? And it's no fun doing it alone all the time.

 

[Tseranc]

Taking a swig he remembered her address to him, “Oh, don’t call me Sir…Bruce will do.” He winked at her, and never denied the allegation of flirting.

As she was explaining how wrong he was to be getting a co-worker drunk, Hallenbeck had another round delivered to them. Gonna have to thank him in the morning…hate to do it, but I’ll have to.

He took pause at her questioning his sleeping arrangements, and his sudden excitement of the possibilities gave way to the sudden realization that he hadn’t made arrangements. His thoughts were interrupted by her apology for lacking greater alcohol fortitude, a fact he was actually thankful of, but still was unsure how to address his predicament. Surely most decent hotels would be booked up by now.

H tapped his glass into that of his companions, and silently raised a toast to the back of Hallenbeck’s head, as he took a swig.

“Actually Lisa, I had completely forgotten to make arrangements on where to stay…I guess I kinda got lost in the work first thing this morning. Sounds like the bed of paperwork will have to do!” He laughed knowing full well that some cheaper hotel would be available. One he’d bitch about in the morning as he resumed his cold bastard persona. But for now he could enjoy the possibilities of the young woman before him. How her reddish orange hair contrasted her eyes. How tall and perfectly proportioned she was. Hell, the fact she’d sit here 5 minutes and hadn’t slapped him.

Might as well go for broke….

“You’ll have to give me a recommendation later on which motel to call.”

He paused long enough to take another drink, but not long enough to let her actually respond.

“But later, it’s waited this long. So anyway, what is great sights in your fair town should I see? I have to confess to being a bit of a tourist.”

Tourist…good one. I think that’s actually a new line old man…

 

[Wyld52771]

She was asking him out...on a date! Not to get an angle on the case, but because she actually seemed ATTRACTED to him! He found himself a bit shocked, to tell the truth, but her forwardness gave him a bit of courage as well. He looked around, still seeing Smith, O'Connell, and Woods were still all quite preoccupied, and figured he wouldn't be missed if he left. He didn't want to part company with Ivy just yet.

"Well, truth be told, I haven't had dinner yet tonight, actually. I was planning on picking something up on the fly on the way home, but given a choice, I'd rather not eat alone." He smiled at her shyly, and then continued, "I know it's short notice...and it's a bit late, but I know of a diner nearby that caters to nightowls. The food there isn't fancy or anything, but it IS good. We could go get a bite to eat there if you like...unless you have other plans for the night." He looked at her inquiringly, awaiting her answer.

 

[Katamari Roller]

Lisa smiled silently when Bruce laughed. It was... special, in some way. The way he laughed made her feel... soft. Mason's had never felt so homely as it felt now. Bruce's laugh somehow reminded her of something, or someone else, but she couldn't really explain...

“You’ll have to give me a recommendation later on which motel to call.”

He paused long enough to take another drink, but not long enough to let her actually respond.

“But later, it’s waited this long. So anyway, what is great sights in your fair town should I see? I have to confess to being a bit of a tourist.”


"Weeell..." Lisa put a finger on her cheek, adopting a reflexive posture. Plainsfield wasn't a hot spot for tourism. "I'm afraid you won't find too much in the way of culture. There is a cathedral in the center, and a museum near the University. There are some interesting artifacts at the museum, supposedly belonging to the Indian tribes that lived here..."

Lisa had a swig off her beer, and let the bubbles dissolve on her tongue as she thought carefully about this. He definitely was flirting with her. She hadn't had much experience herself, only one boyfriend who turned out to be a real jerk, and...

Lisa flushed visibly. Unwelcome memories came to her, but she was determined to fight them with everything she had. And, maybe... maybe even get something positive out of them. She took a, later noticed, exceedingly long swig off her beer. She almost slammed it down. She stared at Woods, with a certain determination in her eyes... and yet, some doubt still crept in her mind.

"However, if you are looking for sights, I know a few. Working on a day-shift and on a night-shift has its advantages. Specially at night, they can be quite breath-taking..."

 

[Alerdene]

She just barely managed to look as if she'd expected him to agree, holding the surprised happiness inside as she nodded her agreement.

No plans. Hmmmm, yet another fast food cardboard burger alone or... I think I'll take door number two.

Finishing off her beer, she stood and hoped she wasn't swaying. The shots and the beer had gone straight to her head on her empty stomach. Following him outside, she shook her head, declining his offer of a ride.

I don't want you to have to bring me back in case of an emergency or something.

She neglected to say who she thought might have an emergency however. She walked along the edge of the curb as he watched her, his eyes taking in her every move. He finally nodded but she heard him mutter something about taking her in if she so much as swerved even once.

Laughing, she watched what car he got into so she'd know who to follow and then pointed to her black car. He waited for her to get in and get started before heading off down the street. Following him and taking extra care to be sure she used blinkers and stayed back far enough, she grinned as he pulled into a lighted parking lot and got out, waiting for her to join him before heading towards the door.

She let him lead the way to a booth towards the back and slid in opposite him, setting a small handbag down next to her on the seat. Ordering a Cherry Coke from the waitress, ignoring the strange look she got as the woman got a good look at her. Pulling a leg up underneath her, she glanced around at the retro decor and grinned.

I like it. I don't know how I've missed it before. So what do you recommend? Are their burgers nice and greasy and still mooing?

 

[Tseranc]

"However, if you are looking for sights, I know a few. Working on a day-shift and on a night-shift has its advantages. Specially at night, they can be quite breath-taking..."


He smiled as he took another dose of beer, grinning as he set the glass down. “Well sounds like there are some charms left to the town…you’ll have to show me some of these breath taking sights.”

This was a completely horrible idea, and he knew it. If they hooked up, it might complicate the case, make hell for him when he got back to the Chicago office, and all kinds of other unforeseen issues. He knew, but didn’t care. He had a hot, young, and seemingly rather innocent catch here, and he was really starting to wonder just where she hung her handcuffs at night (an old cop joke…but one that never really gets old).

He saw Hallenbeck walk out the door with a rather dangerous looking woman (in all the right ways)…and he prayed the detective had better sense then he himself did.

“Any of these wonders still open tonight?” he asked Lisa, who seemed to be suffering a bit more from her last swing.

 

[Katamari Roller]

He smiled as he took another dose of beer, grinning as he set the glass down. “Well sounds like there are some charms left to the town…you’ll have to show me some of these breath taking sights.”

Well, I would point you out the nearest mirror, but... Oh, dear God. I can't believe how cheesy that was... Lisa decided she had had enough drinks for the night. Her head felt like enveloped in a warm pillow, and while it was a delicious sensation, she knew it wouldn't be so delicious next morning. Way to start the first working day on the case, getting a nasty hangover...

She noticed Bruce looking somewhere, but when she turned to look, the world seemed to blur just enough to stop her from recognising the backs of whoever was getting out of Mason's.


“Any of these wonders still open tonight?”

"W-welllll... The musseum and the catthhhhedral..." Lisa stopped talking, just to set her bearings straight. She closed her eyes, and sighed deeply. "Those will be closed. But... I know a place with a great sight... I've only been there once, but... it should be interesting. I'll be right back, and we can go, Ok?"

Lisa stood up, and staggered towards the bathroom. Thankfully, there weren't so many people around now. She washed her face with cold, stinging water, clearing her mind a bit. You are going to go out with a fed... is that good, or bad? For a second there, she had managed to forget Bruce was a fed, but thinking coldly about it, as coldly as drinks allowed, it might be a bad idea. However, she didn't quite grasp where it was wrong.

Lisa walked back to Bruce, and re-adjusted her jacket. Going out with him might not be bad, but going out "slightly" drunk and with a firearm on her would get her suspended for sure. She left a twenty on the counter, and beckoned for Bruce to follow her out. The night air will clear my head nicely, I guess...

 

[Tseranc]

"W-welllll... The musseum and the catthhhhedral..." Lisa stopped talking, just to set her bearings straight. She closed her eyes, and sighed deeply. "Those will be closed. But... I know a place with a great sight... I've only been there once, but... it should be interesting. I'll be right back, and we can go, Ok?"


He finished his beer, draining the glass as she walked away, stumbling a bit. He lit up a cigarette watching he, and as he put the lighter away, he remembered his own firearm; holstered under his left arm. She’d have one too. Both of them were breaking all kinds of rules….but then half the bar was likely just as guilty.

She took a bit of time freshening up and trying to get a few stages closer to sober, in such time he finished his cancer stick (as his last ex wife had called them), and was trying to figure out how they were to get where they were going. No way in hell he was letting her drive anywhere, and it’s not like he knew where she wanted to take him.

He decided that both would leave their weapons in his locking glove box, a perk of bringing the company vehicle into town, and he’d drive. A slight buzz, but one glass of whiskey, and a beer were not enough to put a full blown alcoholic out of commission, if one could call that a benefit.

He followed her out the door, and they walked back to their cars in the station parking lot. They walked close, and he knew it was more so he could set her upright and straight again, then she really sought being close to him.

“You’re in not condition to drive Lisa, you tell me where we need to go, and I’ll do the driving.”

He locked his weapon up, and took hers as she handed it too him, knowing the rules and following his example. An awkward moment, as it reminded them both that they were breaking a few more rules, even as they fixed their error on this one.

Seated, and properly buckled in, he started the car, “Ok little lady, where to?”

 

[Katamari Roller]

Lisa walked to Bruce's car, steadying herself as much as she could, bumping on him every now and then, until she decided she was better off leaning on him. He took her weight patiently. She was not that heavy, but try walking with a drunk girl on you.

“You’re in not condition to drive Lisa, you tell me where we need to go, and I’ll do the driving.”

"That's a good 'dea, me thinks..." She separated from him to get into the passenger side of the car. The smell inside the vehicle was strong, probably a relatively new car, or just washed. Lisa climbed in, and dropped herself on the seat. It was surprisingly comfortable, although being high on alcohol might have had something to do with that. She set herself snugly on the seat, and gave her side-arm to Bruce when he gestured for it.

A vague sense of worrying touched her, but she paid no attention to it. Bruce was a federal agent, after all. And, besides, was it forbidden to be with a colleague around, a night in town? Still, there was some guilt about it...

“Ok little lady, where to?”





An hour later, after some turns to the left, some turns to the right, and some back-tracking, the car entered a parking lot beside a building in cronstruction, now abandoned when the shadowy dealings behind it were revealed. The building, of which only the basements had been settled, was going to get turned into the first appartment block in that zone.

But that's not what attracted Lisa to it. She watched silently as Bruce entered the parking lot. "Please, park looking in that direction." She pointed out.

When the car stopped, the car's occupants could look upon Savon Lake, a lake just on the suburbs of the city. The zone was very quiet at night, since it was mostly in construction. The workers lived in the city, so nobody stayed here out of sheer necessity.

Savon Lake was a more or less unique, beautiful sight. On the right side of the lake was the town, and its lights reflected on the water. With double the lights on sight, it looked like a half-moon of bright colours. The true moon shone in the sky, and reflected in the water as well, its light offering a white sheet to the dark mass, now turned blueish.

Lisa sighed. It was such a romantic sight... It was a pity the only man he'd ever been with before this night had turned out to be a real prick. An egocentrical bastard who hurt her in many ways. But, that memory was far away, buried. She pulled her jacket tighter around her, enjoying its warmth.

Lisa grinned, and glanced at Bruce. The lights of the town reflected on her eyes, a dreamy expression on her face. "What do you think?"

 

[Tseranc]

He had some reservations while driving. Did she know where she was going? Did she mean to be in this part of town? When asked to pull into the parking lot he thought she was full out crazy – and in this town, at this time, that not a good thing. Plenty of other secluded parking lots in town if that’s all she was looking for…if that’s what got her off.

But then he saw the lake, and indeed it was a lovely sight. He wasn’t the sentimental sort, but even he had to admit it was a pleasure to see. Then he thought of what it must have taken to find a sight like this in town….first off it took a deep person to even look; well deeper then he was. So why was she showing him? Granted he hadn’t had the chance to prove what an ass he was yet…she came in late. Combine that with the drinks…but still that should only get him to a ‘maybe ok guy ‘ level. Not the showing all the private treasures you’ve personally found in the city level.

He kicked himself for over analyzing…he never could just shut off his mind and enjoy something, but he vowed to try.


"What do you think?"

He saw the detached look of a romantic in her eyes, and his gut tightened. He had no wish to hurt her…he thought it was a couple cops having drinks, maybe get smashed, hook up, have an awkward breakfast in the morning…and press on. But it was now clear nothing so casual was on the table.

“It’s amazing. I’d never have guessed such a sight could be found within the city.”

He looked out at the lake again…it did seem to inspire one to want to be romantic…even if that was not your nature….anymore.

Fuck it.

He unbuckled his seat belt, and leaned over and kissed her; hoping something good came of it, but silently expecting to get the crap slapped outta him.

 

[Katamari Roller]

"Mmmmhhhhpphh?" Lisa tried to say something when Bruce kissed her, but... Oh, God... what... is this? Suddenly, she noticed her heart was beating faster. How long had it been like that?

Her eyes caught Bruce's gaze. She closed them, and kissed him back. Why? She barely knew the answer herself. But, something in her seemed joyful at this. And it was a pretty important something. She opened her eyes again to see the light on the lake in his eyes. It was mysterious, and inciting... even her brain seemed to beat in her head as she kissed him back. She found his tongue, and timidly brushed it with her own.

She moved back, breaking the kiss. She drew breath, and sighed. Looking at him now, he didn't look that old, or so much a jerk. Who knew. Maybe he was a much better person than he seemed at first. First impressions can be tricky.

Lisa smiled silently at Bruce. And then, unbuckled her own seatbelt. A wave of romanticism seemed to wash over her. As she dropped herself against him, and kissed him, she knew this night would be far better than the first one was...

 

[Tseranc]

It was all the encouragement he needed, and his body had long ago decided on needing her. It had been over a month since his last drunken rumble, and far, far longer since a good one.

He pushed his seat back as far as it could, dropped the back of it down and started fumbling with her shirt, moving to get it off her while still enjoying the crazed making out that had so suddenly started.

Seemed like they both had needed to get out more often, and he was ok with that for right now. For once he wasn’t analyzing, just reacting. Just enjoying the youthful woman on top of him. Hell, she was so young, he might have a heart attack trying to keep up; but that’d be a nice way to go out!

Only 42, and he worried a lot more about his age then let on. Even at times like this.

Discarding her shirt, he then moved to unbuckling her belt, it was crowded in the car, but not so much as they didn’t have room. Feds typically drove around large sedans…this one was even the stereotypical black. His hands worked furiously at the belt then pants. He just had to see what this hot girl looked like naked….