Author's Notes: This is loosely­­­­—very loosely—based on the movie Chicago (not the stage version, which I've never seen), so be picturing the movie actors for those characters.  Okay, you don't have to, but anyway, that's who I'm picturing as I write.  This is my first attempt at fan fiction, so please be nice, but all non-mean comments are much appreciated. 

Disclaimer: Oh, please. 

And now, here goes…

Part One – It Was a Murder, But Not a Crime

The precinct was quiet that night, not that Curtis was complaining.  He and Lennie had spent most of the day waiting to pick up Williams.  That moron, Curtis thought.  I mean, really.  Who calls themselves "Dennis the Menace"? He almost felt sorry for the guy's lawyer.  At least Williams was out of their hands now.  If only they didn't have to do so much paperwork covering the arrest.  He picked up the pen and set to work signing the forms from Rikers…

He felt his head jerk back up, and it took him a few seconds to realize that the phone had rung.  Lennie answered it, rolling his eyes at Curtis.  He listened for a minute, thanked the person on the other end and hung up.

"What is it?" Curtis asked.

"Dead body over on 98th.  Sounds open and shut."

"Good.  It's not a good day for me to be trying to think."

"I noticed." Briscoe answered.

Curtis decided not to respond, and they set off.

The crime scene was nothing they hadn't seen before.  The body was on the bedroom floor.  White male, about thirty, shot three times in the chest.  Easy case, the medical examiner's people had told them.  Man came home and killed a burglar while his wife slept.  Sounded simple enough.  The husband and wife were sitting in the living room.  A bit fidgety, but who wouldn't be? thought Curtis.  Lennie started in questioning the husband.

"So, let's hear it from the top.  What happened here?" he asked the husband—what was his name?—Joe. 

"Well, I came home from work at midnight, just like always.  And I walked into the bedroom and this guy was creeping around like he was looking for something…  I pulled my gun out from my dresser and shot him, but he just kept coming, and I emptied the thing…"

 The guy sounded awfully defensive, Curtis noticed.  He added a question of his own.  "And what was your wife doing during all this?"

"Oh, she's a sound sleeper.  Didn't even wake up until the first shot."

"And you had reason to believe you and your wife were in danger?" Curtis continued.

"Hey, buddy, you came home and saw a strange man looking under your bed, what would you think?"  the man snapped at him.

Lennie sighed.  "We're just asking questions.  Don't take it personally.  Now, if you'll just come down to the precinct with us, we can start working this out."

Joe just nodded, looking like he'd just realized what he'd gotten himself into.  Curtis felt sorry for him.  He knew the feeling.

It was then that the evidence tech called out "Hey, we've got an ID."

"What's the name?" Lennie asked.

"Let's see…Fred Casely."

"Fred Casely?"  Joe asked, more confused than anything else.

"Yeah."

"But…he's not a burglar.  We know him.  He sold us this furniture.  Ten percent off."  He turned to his wife.  "I thought you said he was a burglar."

Curtis couldn't help but jump on this. "So you were awake after all?"

Joe answered for her.  "I come home, she's got the sheet over him, she's telling me it was a burglar, says I should say I did it because I'd be sure to get off…"

Now the wife broke in.  "It's true.  He was trying to burgle me."

Lennie raised an eyebrow.  "That what they're calling it these days?"

Joe spluttered for just a moment.  "What…what are you talking about?  I've been working all these night shifts, and you've been up here screwing around with some damn furniture salesman who hit on you the whole time we were in his store?  Fine, then, I'm through with you, Roxie.  You can go ahead and rot for all I care."

Now it was Roxie's turn to splutter.  "What…how could you?  You disloyal bastard!"

Curtis had to stop himself from laughing.  That was just too much.

"Yeah, I killed him.  And I'd kill him again.  Happy?"

Briscoe cut in.  "Once was enough.  I might as well tell you you're under arrest for the murder of Fred Casely.  You have the right to remain silent."

"Yeah, yeah.  I know my rights."

Lennie continued anyway as they hustled the couple out to the waiting squad car.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

Will Roxie get away with it?  What bad jokes will Briscoe come up with next?  Will Billy Flynn tap dance?  Find out next time….