Ulterior Motives

[LongWalkHome]

A pre-cast mystery, see the link for the OOC for the writers names and backgrounds if you are curious, otherwise please enjoy reading as the mystery unravels.

OOC: Ulterior Motives

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Danbury, New England. A quaint and sophisticated town existing in the southern hills of a mountain range known well for it’s excellent skiing and snow capped romances. The town is normally a sleepy community in the middle of the summer, the local university only half filled with students, the hospitals in a temporary lull as the population has dwindled from the off peak season.

But something has happened that in itself would not be unusual, but the growing horror of the details around it and those being implicated have made it the “buzz” of the town. A murder of a local and quite beautiful college girl, her body twisted in final death from the torture she received, her lips not telling who her wide open eyes last saw as her breath was choked from her, or why.

Alice Brenbarrard, A local woman of 20 years has been found, her nude body adrift off the shore of Quentin Beach, and the pressure is on. On two officers to find the truth and deliver the criminals to justice, before word leaks out beyond the quiet community and destroys its ideal lifestyle, stopping the flow of would be lovers and tourists that flock to the town each fall.

But like many things too good to be true, so is the story behind this one, all is not as it seems in Danbury, and each person has their own hidden past….Time and details will tell who is the guiltiest as well as who will take the fall, and fate will play it’s own cruel hand in the game as well.

 

[LongWalkHome]

Frank Lassiter

"Damn, DAMN, DAMN!!!" I cursed and ponded on the steering wheel of the undercover squad car, punching the accelerator and powering around the final corner as the red light on my dash flitted inside the dark interior and out the windshield.

"JESUS H. CHRIST, I was so goddamn near, too!" My anger was directed at the fact I had been torn away from a tryst I had been looking forward to all week, in fact just as we were about to get REAL freindly the pager had gone off and ruined it all.

The dark red four door slid to a halt and I stepped from it, looking over the silver illuminated beach deserted except for the group of black and whites congregated on one corner.Slipping my jacket on and the badge that announced my rank I strutted towards the beachside and bellowed at the figure heading towards me.

"Hey Sarge, Hot Date?" A shavetailed new recruit greeted me and then taking a look at my clouded face backpedalled. "The victims body is over here"

My love life was a constant discussion among the squads, one I carefully and ruthlessly guarded and had kept quiet, despite the best detectives attempts...

"My love life is my concern, Rookie. Yours is as always in your own left hand, now lets get down there and get this over with!"

The walk down to the beach was a quiet one, the yellow tape announcing the cordoned off area was off limits to civilians, and I stepped over it easily then moved to the jacket covered body.

"Who the HELL put this over her?" I growled, pulling the regulation series blue jacket off the motionless corpse and tossing it aside.

Pale blue eyes stared up at me from a pain filled and ashen colored face her mouth open in an eternal scream and I noted the remaining details with professional detachment.

"Looks like she fought til the end, no signs of forced sex from this angle, though the coroner will tell us all the details."

I stepped back and wished I hadn't quit smoking, wished I still had a pack of Old Golds to take a drag from as I reached instead for my phone and dialed my partners phone number.

"Cover her back up" I instructed and walked away, listening to the tone ringing and then hearing a voice answer.

"Sam? Get yourself down to Quentin Beach, there's been a murder. Yeah, a woman and pretty gruesome to stare at so make sure you leave your stomach behind, ok? Yeah, I'm here now and will hold the scene until you make your appearance. And Sam? It's our ex-Mayor's little darling"

Breaking the connection I stalked towrds the cigarette smoking bunch of blues and growled at them, my eyes and face flashing in disgust.

"Friggin Hell! You're all smokin and walkin over half of the crime scene when you should be out lookin for tracks down here. Who found her and where are they at as well?"

 

[Lady_Kit]

Samantha Anderson

Bloody Hell!

The receiver smashed back to the cradle with a crack that echoed above the soft music playing in the background.

What am I cursed? Where is it written that I never get any time for R & R? Time for just a quick tumble in the hay? Huh? What did I do to deserve the sex life of a nun?

My questions were directed at the large gray ball of fur that rested in the center of the king size four-posted bed. The fur ball, otherwise known as MacTavish opened one gold eye and yawned. Since he’d been neutered, the large feline had been singularly unsympathetic to my lack of a love life.

Yeah, I know, buddy, you’re not getting any either. Trouble is, I still care.

While I ranted at the uncaring cat, I contemplated the call I’d just received. A body found at the beach, a young woman, and the complication of the ex-mayor.

Wonderful, this is just the way I wanted to spend my evening.

I pulled jeans, a white button-down shirt and black blazer from the closet; grabbed my favorite stacked heeled boots, the ones that gave me an additional three inches of height and would still provide some protection from the debris on the beach. Thinking of the amount of trash I’d seen along there in my rookie days with the force I didn’t envy the forensics people their job. The white lace lingerie I had put on earlier in the evening was more for show than go, but it would serve. At least with a dead body I shouldn’t have to worry about any running; though I was sure that by the end of the night I’d wish for more support than the lace cups would provide for my 36D breasts.

Getting dressed took only moments, the addition of light makeup even less. I pulled my long blonde hair into a loose bun at the nape of my neck; added my service piece to a cross draw holster, clipped my badge to my belt and picked up my shoulder bag and keys on the way out the door.

Ten minutes later I pulled my car into the Quentin Beach parking area. The squads sitting in the lot made a flashing circle of light in the rural darkness; the blue bulbs making everyone at the scene look like candidates for the part of the dead body. I stopped by the nearest group and shut off the car. The flash of lights got their attention and all were eyes turned in my direction as I climbed from the car.

One fresh faced youth jumped to hold my door while I climbed out, then pushed it closed behind me as I walked away. He then went too far with his help and spoke up to offer a friendly warning.

“Evening…uhh, Miss, I mean Sergeant, um you might not want to see whats down by the water. Its pretty bad. Its not something a lady should look at…not a gentle bread lady, I mean.”

The silence was profound. Conversations around me had suddenly halted. I could hear the crickets along the road and the crunch of gravel when I stopped and turned.

We've never met, so let me introduce myself so we start off clear. I am Sergeant Anderson, not Miss or Ms or Ma’m. I am only Sergeant Anderson. Got that?

“Ye..yes, Sergeant Anderson.”

Furthermore, you have no idea how “bad” things can be. Becuase I've lived and stayed sane long enough to become Sargent Anderson, I know about bad things. In some places, I'm considered a bad thing.

Now, get out of my way before I shoot your balls off and add them to my collection.

I turned back to the beach, my temper getting closer to the boiling point with each passing moment. I was in no mood for any of this, I was cranky about being called out to this stinking beach on my first night off in weeks and I was more than a little pissed off about the fact that once again the PD was keeping me from getting laid. Maybe it would all go well and I'd get out of here in time to at least try to take the edge off when I got home. Any hope for a quick resolution were gone in a flash as I arrived at the draped body on the shore. The draped Body?! Draped with a department jacket that was corrupting any evidence we might hope to find?

Who the hell covered the body? Lassiter? Damn-it Frank what Bone-Head covered the Body?!

 

[LongWalkHome]

Frank Lassiter

Business, she was ALL business as I heard her repeat the words I had mouthed earlier and moved towards her from the edge of the woods. Ignoring how good she looked and how the anger highlighted her eyes and cheeks I kept my own face a blank and sober mask.

"The scene was already tainted when I arrived Sergeant Anderson, and I had the body recovered after I looked and it and removed it the first time" I answered her raging and stepped towards her. Never avoid the blame with this one, you always stepped forward and admitted what you did or face double her wrath when she found out you were the one AND lied.

But then I never backed up from anyone and wasn't about to start, not in front of a bunch of rookies and one seasoned vet.

"What I suggest is you take your own look at the victim and the crime scene then we compare notes."

I moved towards the woods where I had came from, not needing to wait and see the Sergeants reaction, she was a seasoned professional and wouldn't dress down an equal ranking officer in public.

But once in private? Well, I wasn't afraid of that either, in fact looked forward to it...

"I don't think she was killed here" I added over my shoulder for everyone’s benefit. "And whoever placed her here did so knowing that the tracks they made would be destroyed by our own"

But what I found in the woods was even more interesting and I intended to keep that evidence to a select few, based on a need to know procedure.

 

[kamalw1]

James Logan, Bank President

I got up at 6:00 a.m. as usual. I had to get up and get ready for the day ahead of me. Although I didn't have to open the bank, that was the manager's job, I liked to be there early to make sure everything was running smoothly. After all, I didn't get this rich by being lazy.

I walked downstairs from my bedroom and into the kitchen. As usual, the cook had my morning breakfast ready, with the paper sitting next to it. As I started eating the waffles, I noticed the front page story, "Young College Coed Found Brutally Murdered." I opened the paper and strted reading the article. I shook my head, saying to myself, "It's a shme what this world has come to." I then went to the business section to look at the stock quotes and read about the latest business deals.

When I was done with the breakfast, I went back up to my room to gt ready for work. I went to the bathroom for a quick shower and when I came out, my clothes were laid out, ironed and ready. I put on my suit and walked downstairs. Grabbing my briefcase and car keys from the table next to the door, I walked out the house. The sun was shining bright as I stepped outside and paused to look out over my land. My manor was located on top of a hill in northern Danbury. I walked over to the garage and opened it. I saw my collection of cars, including the Mercedes that I got chauffered around in when going to important parties.This morning I had decided to drive the Jaguar. There was just something about sports cars that got me going.

I got in and started the car, listening to the engine come to life. I pulled out of the garage, the door closing automatically behind me. I drove the car around the lane leading to my house and out the front gates. The drive into the main part of town was a pleasant one. The main news on the radio was the murder that occured last night. I listened to some of the reports to see if hey had any new details about it. After about 20 minutes, I arrived at the bank. I pulled into te parking space designated for me and got out, the car alarm chirping upon activation. I walked into the bank, ready for the day ahead of me.

 

[CheerWarren]

Brooke Harris: Owner of Brooke's Diner

I sat up in my comfortable king size bed, the light shining down right against my nude body. I threw the blanket covering my lower half and climbed out of bed. I stood there, feet against the comfortable carpet and stretched, arms over head, extending my body as far up as possible. I went to the window and opened the rest of the window shade, filling my bedroom with light. I thought to myself that it must be some sight for anybody walking by or anything, seeing me standing completely nude here. I laugh to myself as I go take my shower.

After being fully dressed, wearing one of the outfits that I wore at my diner: black miniskirt, heeled black boots, and a red tank top that says "Brooke's Diner" on the chest. Most employees wore jeans and stuff with a blue t-shirt saying "Brooke's Diner". I on the other hand, as the owner, wore the red to show it. Red was the sign at my diner of someone in charge. I finally went into the kitchen of my average home, made myself some quick breakfast, and sat there eating it in silence, thinking about the night before. Damn, that was different.

Suddenly, the phone rang, making me drop my toast on the floor. I groaned in disgust as I went and grabbed the portable phone.

"Hello?" I said.

"Yes, it's Kim, Brooke. Have you heard the news yet?"

"No I haven't. Just got up myself, long night last night and all."

"Yeah, well the news is that there was a dead body found of some college girl on the shore."

I look at the phone a bit curiously.

"Kim, who was it?"

"I don't know Brooke. The newspaper just said there was a dead college girl. The paper also said that the cops haven't released the name of the girl yet, so I don't know."

"Thanks Kim, I'll see you at work later."

"Same to you Brooke."

The other end hung up, followed quickly by myself. I looked out the window, having a good view of the shore from where I was. I looked down the shore from the window, seeing lights in the distance where I guessed the body was found.

 

[threefingers]

.

 

[Lady_Kit]

Samantha Anderson

5am, an ungodly hour to be up; even more so when I hadn't been to bed yet. It wasn’t the first all-nighter I’d pulled on the force but past experience didn’t make the lack of sleep any easier. I was so tired that the cushioned headrest of the car seat felt as comfortable as a feather pillow. Could I manage a quick nap before driving home to get read for my shift at the PD.? No, probably not. My gritty eyes watched the crowd of squad cars that were pulling away from the scene. Lucky bastards, at least most of them were going off-shift. While I had just about enough time to shower, dress and be in the Chiefs office when he was ready for his briefing on the nights events. A meeting with the Chief first thing in the monrning, what a thrill. I grimaced and felt a twinge from the ulcer that I was sure I was developing. Just one more perk in the life of a detecitive.

When the last black and white was gone, I looked at the sedan that belonged to my partner. He was sitting behind the wheel and staring in my direction. We hadn’t had a chance to compare notes last night. After our brief meeting over the corpse, I’d only seen him from a distance. His remark about the location of the crime had piqued my interest, as he’d known it would, and I’d focused on the position of the body and the immediate vicinity. After I arrived the M.E. and the forensics team had begun their work. I watched, and took notes on what they found, I was grateful they’d waited for me to get some impressions of the scene while it was still fresh. Since I'd proven that I was tough enough to keep my stomach while they went over a scene I'd always had a good rapport with the guys with the body bags. Frank had worked with the Uniforms; his search taking him along the shore and into the woods. He was great with the average flatfoot, knew just how to get them to do things his way, and his manner still left them feeling like he was just one of the guys. We often divided our tasks this way, both of us taking up the rhythm of a familiar work pattern that had proved successful in past investigations.

Frank was a good partner, better than most I’d had over the years. He never took any crap from me. Never treated me like anything less than a qualified & competent cop. We were pretty equal in most respects, at least all of those that mattered. The only thing that ever caused a twinge of anxiety about the man that watched my back was his skill as an actor. You never really knew what was going on behind those blue eyes. I just did my best to stay on his good side; it didn’t pay to make the man your enemy.

Except for a heated exchange about the disturbance of the body, I hadn’t spoken to Frank at all since I got his call hours ago. Finally, it was time to compare notes. He must have had the same thought; his car was moving in my direction as I put mine into drive. We stopped, cars parallel, window-to-window, engines still running.

Coffee at my place, Frank?

“You gonna make me some breakfast, too?”

I laughed at the joke. Frank knew that I never cooked. Hell, after 5 years in my house, I still wasn’t sure what all the gadgets in the “gourmet kitchen” did, and I didn’t care. I had other skills in the kitchen, so most men never seemed to mind that I wasn’t on friendly terms with Betty Crocker or the local butcher.

Sure! I think there’s still some Pop Tarts in the cupboard. I may even have some Fruit Loops left if you want them.

Frank frowned at my offer. My love of junk food was legendary, and not always appreciated by my partner. He did appreciate other things about me, though. When I pulled onto the paved road his car was right behind me. It took only moments to arrive back at my place and Frank pulled to a stop in his regular spot.

He followed me through the front door, closing it with a click of finality that echoed through the quiet house. The hallway that served as a foyer was small; the stairs to the second floor started to the left, the living room door was on my right and the kitchen straight ahead. I dropped my purse & keys on a small table and looked up into the mirror that hung above it. My glance was just in time to see the menacing approach of my partner.

The breath was knocked from my body when he flung me against the door; his eyes bored into mine as he raised his hands to my throat. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t react. With a snarl that was half rage, half frustration he brought his lips to mine. My groan of welcome was lost in the press of our bodies; my arms wrapped around him and I returned his kiss with all the longing that I’d kept at bay since our plans for last night were interrupted by the body on the beach.

 

[LongWalkHome]

Frank Lassiter

Smoke, Fire and Lightning. All three came to me within seconds of following my partner into her neat and tiny kitchen.

Smoke as I gave into the urges I kept under wraps, the urges to take her I felt every time I looked at her, in uniform or out.

Fire as I wrapped my hands around her throat, my fingers sliding thru her hair to press against the back of her skull as my thumbs held the underside of her chin.


Lightning as our lips met and I growled like the animal I was, tasting her sweet breath and wanting so much more, my tongue surging out and pressing against and thru her lips.


It was always like this with Sam, the incredible buildup between us and the huge rush I felt when with her, the urges I felt dominating everything else including reason.

I locked a hand in her shirt and thanked the foresight of some unknown tailor, the snap buttons giving way but not ruining another uniform as I yanked at it, baring her skin and showing the dark skin highlighted by the lacey bra she still wore.

"I'm glad to see you kept that on for me" I teased, knowing she didn't have time to dress as she normally would before I called, knowing the state we BOTH were in when the first call had come in and I responded.

"Now take it off!" It was an urgent demand, there was no time to be soft and "nice" for me now, I simply needed her that badly.

I stepped back and tore at my own clothes, the shirt flying across her table and to the floor as I kicked off the issue shoes and shoved my pants down.

Sam had bent forward removing her own lace underwear and her now freed breasts were taking my breath away, full, hard and firm the nipples begging me to do just what I did as I kicked off the last of my clothes and moved to suckle them, rolling each between my teeth and then standing tall and erect.

Bare skin against skin I felt the hard nubs and the heated flesh behind, her abdomen as firm as mine, yet silky as I rubbed the purple and bulging head of my cock against her clit, demanding entrance to what we both wanted.

A hand on her firm ass, the muscle twitching and rippling in response as I slid a finger between and pushed a much thicker and elongated member against her front...And a hiss of air as she bit my ear and spread her lean thighs, allowing me entrance to what I HAD to have...and took with a coarse lunge upward. Warm, wet velvet wrapped around my length, burning, searing and giving me a taste of the pleasure I wanted, and with a second thrust moved deeper into, hearing her own breath gasp as I drove hard against her, pressing her backside to the wall and rattling the neat shelves beside us, threatening to drive the tiny glass shakers off the precarious perches they held and not caring. A third lunge and I felt her rise to her tiptoes, the angle making her tighter around me as I kissed her full mouthed and we began to move with each other, the smell of our lovemaking conquering the smelss of coffee and candles so normally prevalent in the room.

 

[poohlive]

Jerry sat there for three hours. Three long hours drinking cup after cup of piping hot coffee. It burned his tongue, and he liked it when it burned his tongue. It thrilled him when he took that sip, letting the scolding coffee fry the roof of his mouth.
It made him feel alive.
God! He closed his eyes. Hearing another siren race across the street outside bothered him. They knew, they all knew. Just a matter of time before things would fall in place.
Why him? Why him?
Fucking son of a bitch.
He finished his cup, and asked for another. Beneath the counter his feet moved up and down rapidly, some sort of bothersome movement to keep his muscles moving, his mind floiwng. Anything to stop his body from just dying on him.
Anything.
"This is good coffee," He said, taking another big sip, and revelling as it burned his upper lip, "Excellent."
He would leave soon. Just as soon as you please, but he had to wait a little bit longer. Stay here, be seen, watch as others came in for breakfast or a quick cup of coffee before they left for their morning day.
No sugar, no cream. Black and hot, hot enough to burn the roof of his mouth right off if he just started swigging it.
He stayed there, waiting to do nothing, and cringing each time he heard a siren.
Jerry took another sip.

 

[kamalw1]

I sat in my office, looking over my itinerary for the day. I had two meetings in the afternoon, but my morning was going to be fairly quiet. As I started on the paperwork that I had to do, my secretary came in with a manila envelope. I knew what was inside before I even looked in it. I tore open the flap and pulled out the contents that were always the same. I sighed, thinking about how tedious this was getting to be. I pulled open my desk drawer and pulled out an envelope. I addressed it to the proper person and place and filled it with the necessary papers. I then went outside and personally placed it in the mailbox outside the bank. Deciding to take a break, I walked up the block to the diner for a cup of coffee and some pie.

I walked in and went to the counter. Seeing Brooke, the owner, I decided to strike up a conversation, asking about the murder on the news.

 

[CheerWarren]

Brooke Harris *Owner of Brooke's Diner*

I made my way to work. Driving down roads and avenues, I quickly came to my business. "Brooke's Diner" named after myself of course, was the place to be. We had the best food in town and on a saturday night, the place was packed to the brink with people (mostly teenagers and college students). I grinned as I pulled into the parking spot specifiacally ment for me.

I walked in, the breakfast already being run. A few people said high to me as I made my way past them and into the back. I quickly walked through the kitchen, past all the equipment, and came to the 2 offices. One was for the accounting and all that. The other was mine. I made my way in, shut the door, put my purse down, and stretched out in my leather chair. This diner had been a huge success in this town. Besides all the sking related places (hotels, lodges, sporting good shops) that usually did really well during the winter season, this diner was probably the most successful at the moment.

After resting a few minutes, I got up and headed out to work. Even though I owned the place and I was the boss, I still worked like everyone else. Plus, I liked to talk to the customers. I made my way around, taking orders, chatting a bit, and everything for awhile.

James Logan made his way into my diner, maybe about 10 am or so. He grinned at me, took a seat at the counter, and I walked over. We exachanged greetings and pleasentrys. The thing about James Logan was that he looked and talked like the kind of guy who could talk a little girl out of her lollipop and wouldn't feel any problem with it. We knew each other, mainly from his occasioinal lunch in my diner, and so far, we had been alright as friends.

He started to bring up the murder, which I frowned on. I had noticed that a few customers and even my employees had talked about it a bit. I just mainly nodded my head as he commented on the stupidty of the police and he guessed a bit at who the college girl was. He asked me if I knew, and I shook my head no. After talking a bit, I had to excuse myself to go back to some customers.

 

[LongWalkHome]

Frank

10 O'Clock and I strolled into the diner, my face looking like it needed a shave but the rest of me attesting to the recent shower and change of clothes, business written on my face and on my mind.

"Coffee Brooke, please?" I asked as I pulled the mornings six page paper from the counter and flipped it over, scowling at the headline and lies in the article. "Jesus H Christ!"

Remembering I was in a public place too late I spun amd looked over to the booths, apologizng to the current resident and one of our towns leading citizens.

"Sorry Mr. Logan, But I wish they'd get the facts before just printing the rumors"

The maneuver had turned me and I was now able to see the other occupant of the thinned morning crowd, a man who looked to be on the rougher side of life, who ducked at meeting my eyes and instead sipped on his cup of coffee. Making a mental note to ask Brooke later in private of his identity I swung back around and lifted the paper again, sighing as the article took on the tone of a tabloid and yet said absolutely nothing.

"Maybe a couple of those oversize donuts and a box to go as well? I have a meeting later and hope they'll sweeten up the cheif"

Brooke came with the cup and poured the coffee and I thanked her gently, organizing my day and what I would offer to the Cheif as a plan of attack for finding the young woman's killer, and a profile of the killer.

"What's new in town Brooke?" I tossed out lightly, knowing the Cafe often was a hub of information and the owner was at it's center, doling it out as honestly and righteously as she knew fit.

"Found a girlfriend for me yet?"

Coffee, a small plate of donuts and the paper in hand I rose and moved towards the table where the lone stranger sat, sliding in opposite him and offering the plate.

"The coffee's good but better in my opinion with these" I offered putting my cup and the paper down as I spoke.

"My names Lassiter, Sergeant Frank Lassiter and yours? I've seen you around somewhere before haven't I"
My hand extended I waited for him to lower his cup and reply.

 

[CheerWarren]

Brooke Harris *Owner of Brooke's Diner*

As I attended too business as usually, in walked one of the very few people I didn't want to see today, Sergeant Frank Lassiter. He took a seat and asked for some coffee. I quickly went to go get it, but I stopped when I heard Frank scream out "Jeses H Christ". I looked and saw him reading the paper, seeing the article for the first time. I quickly made my way back to see if he was ok, but he just asked from some donuts. I went and got as he wanted and placed them infront of him.

"What's new in town Brooke?"

I grinned at the Seargeant and laughed. "Nothing much really, besides the murder and all. But, then again I have no clue who it was that was murdered. Mind giving me an inside scoop? Maybe I could help then."

Frank grinned and said "Found a girlfriend for me yet?"

I got down a bit, a bit close to him. I knew he could smell my perfume and I wanted him too. I said "Why do you need a girlfriend? I mean, you've got that lovely partner of yours...and you know I'm always willing to help out...for a price of course."

Frank grinned at me again, but he grabbed his stuff and went over to the table where this man was sitting. He looked familar, like he has been in here a few times before. Frank started to talk to him, as I went back to work.

 

[poohlive]

"Frank? Is it?" He reached out to shake the man's hand, a big smile coming on his face. One of those, I'm talking to a cop, so I better pretend everything is fucking fine and dandy smiles. It seemed to relax him, a bit.
"My name's Jerry. Jerry Butler. Yeah, I think we've crossed paths before. I tend bar at O'Malley's, little pub not too far from here."
A sharp pain hit the back of his eyes, a stinging that he didn't even flinch from. It wavered over him, like the ocean swells trying to climb ashore, but never making it.
He blocked it as best he could, with his happy fucking smile.
"What brings you in here today, besides the fabulous dining," He thanked the man for a doughnut.

 

[LongWalkHome]

Frank Lassiter

"Brooke's shining face and a murder, Jerry" I replied, my intent to see if I could get a reaction from him as we talked. "One I think you can help me with and maybe give me some answers on"

I let the sentence dangle for long minutes as I watched him, making a great deal out of taking a donut and sampling it, then wiping my fingers with a napkin. Raising my eyes I met Jerry's again and studied him, looking for the slightest quiver in his face or eyes.

"In your position at O'Malley's pub you must hear a lot and I can use another set of ears. I can be quite easy to get along with when I feel a person is trying to help me, say perhaps someone who has been on the wrong side of the law before?"

Donut finished and my third cup drained I rose, glancing quickly at my wristwatch as I excused myself, reaching into my pocket and offering my card.

"If you hear anything that you might even think would help me find the killer I can be reached at this number 24/7, and if you don't trust the phones I'm here at Brookes the same general time each morning"

His composure was impressive and I nodded, our eyes locked as I picked up my bag and flipped the paper over for him to see the picture on the front page.

"I'm a good guy to have on your side, Jerry, and the worst guy you want to cross"

Waving at Brooke I headed for the door, admiring her even as I pushed it open and she leaned over the counter and winked at me.

"How about I buy you dinner this evening babe, if you can tear yourself away from here long enough tonight?"

Grinning and not waiting for an answer I crossed the walk and jumped into my car, the bag of peace offerings firmly in my hand, with my foot to the floor and the siren on I could be there JUST in time.

 

[CheerWarren]

Brooke *Owner of Brooke's Diner*

I watched as Frank and the other man talked. I made a special effort that as I attended customers, I would walk close to them as they talked. I caught bits of there talk, including that the man's name was Jerry Butler. Hmmmm, never seen him before. I guess I would have to find out about him when I got the chance.

After a few minutes of talking, Frank stood up and started to walk away. He waved at me as he got close to the door. I leaned on the counter, giving him a great view of my cleavage (on purpose might I add).

"How about I buy you dinner this evening babe, if you can tear yourself away from here long enough tonight?" I was about to answer, but he left before I could. I guess he assumed it would be a yes. I couldn't wait for our little date.

I kept busy at work, that Jerry Butler guy ended up leaving after awhile. He gave me the creeps. The day just seemed to stretch on and on.

 

[LongWalkHome]

Frank Lassiter

I had made the meeting and was pleasantly surprised at the breifness of it, the Chief listening and asking few questions, then nodding to both of us with a standard warning.

"Be careful whose toes you step on out there, but if you have to do it...step hard."

His way of reassuring us he was behind us all the way and could throw enough weight around to guarntee we could do our jobs without too much hassle.

"We going to meet for dinner this afternoon, partner?" I asked as we tromped down the treadworn steps and back out to the parking lot.

"Sorry Lover" Samantha growled at me, making excuses. "I've got a couple of leads to follow up myself and then my evening classes...maybe tomorrow?"

"Still aspiring to be the all saving D.A., huh?" I quipped and ducked as the last of the donuts flew over my head. "Tomorrow it is then"

I watched the figure of Samantha slide into her own car, her face already intent on her own agenda for the day and knew someday....someday we'd be facing each other on different sides of the fence, but for now I was quite content in how it was and to put off that day until it came.

Punching the autodial on the cell phone I listened to the ringer, then the soft cooing voice of the Bank's receptionist.

"Lilly hun? Can you get me an appointment with your boss? And if that fails a few hours alone with you?"

A throaty chuckle and Lilly replied, well used to my teasing and knowing how to handle it...

"Sorry to dissapoint you lover, but I can squeeze you right before dinner....with my boss"

Chuckling I broke the connection and flipped open the notepad I carried with me, checking the list of names and who was next on my list...

"Mayor B" My scribbling showed and I sighed, knowing the minute I broke the news to him about his "beloved daughter" it would turn into a press free for all and he wouldn't fail to use it to his full advantage...

Autodial again and the pleasant voice came to me at the first ring..."Brooke's Diner"

"How about we make that date an early one?" I grinned into the small phone "I have two appointments before dinner and then the afternoon and evening free..."

"But you said an early one?" Came Brookes husky reply and I grinned even wider.

"Sure, why wait until evening to start what I know I'm looking forward to...and then we can take our time and enjoy each other for the rest of the day..."

Smiling at her husky but fluttered reply I agreed with the time and place to meet her and disconnected, thinking to myself the day was going to be a good one afterall...

 

[kamalw1]

I returned from the diner and went to my office. I was doing the necessary paper work and making phone calls. People didn't realize how monotonous the job of bank president could be. After a while, my phone beeped and Lilly informed me that Detective Lassiter was going to come in and see me before dinner. I thanked her for the info and made my usual sexual comment. Lilly giggled before going back to her work. I thought about some of the times Lilly and I shared. She was a good secretary and I made sure she was well taken care of for it. We had come to the understanding that our no-strings-attached relationship was better for the both of us. I shook my head, bringing me back to reality, and continued my work.