A/N: Another story from the "Cold Red" timeline. Troubles with exes - so far. We'll see where it goes. Please read and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own or operate "The Closer."

Chapter 1: All my Exes Live... in L.A.

If you could actually hear birdsong in downtown Los Angeles, this would be the day to hear it, Sharon Raydor thought, looking out of her sixth-floor window. The sky was blue and the temperature was mild. It was, in short, a perfect spring day and Sharon wished she were anywhere but stuck in an office. Especially while Andy Flynn was sitting in the stands of Dodger Stadium, watching a game, scarfing peanuts, drinking Diet Coke and yelling at the umpires. She wasn't such a huge baseball fan, but she would have enjoyed grubbing in the yard, getting a head start on planting her summer zinnias. But Andy had asked for the afternoon off two weeks ago. She knew he would come home tanned dark and griping about the pitching staff, but happy. She sighed. On top of all that, her car was in the shop and one of her sergeants was taking her home. Andy offered to take the bus to the game so she could have his car, but Sharon said she could catch a ride.

Oh well, there was work to be done, certainly. Sharon sat down and started logging information into personnel files. Perhaps half an hour later, her sergeant, Holly Campbell, tapped on her door and peeked inside. "Captain? I hate to bother you, but I got a really strange phone call just now."

"Really? What kind of call?"

The sergeant shook her head. "I don't know how to describe it, except as 'weird.' It was a man. He said he wanted to report an officer-related assault and insisted on speaking directly with you. In person."

"Are you serious?" Sharon rolled her eyes. Just what she needed: a run-in with another of the endless variety of weirdos in Los Angeles. She took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Tell him I'll be glad to see him this afternoon," she sighed.

"He wants you to meet him. Here." Holly handed her captain an address.

Sharon peered at it and looked it up. "The Four Seasons hotel. Is this guy nuts? Wait a minute. I answered my own question. Of course, he is. Did he say who the officer in question is?"

"Nope. Just that he wanted to report an assault and he knew you're the head of Internal Affairs. I don't guess you could just blow him off and not go, could you?"

She shook her head wearily. "No. I'll have to at least meet him and give him a hearing. Why do these nutjobs always call the police? Why can't they call, I don't know, the mayor's office for a change? Just for a little variety?"

Holly grinned at her captain. "Dunno, Cap. But I'll take you over there. I need a few minutes out of this rat hole, anyway."

"O.K. Thanks," Sharon answered, and picked up her purse and a legal pad. It wasn't the first time she had to meet some idiot who wanted to make a report.

As they got in the car, Holly took her phone out of her pocket. "Oh, great," she said, and rapidly sent a text.

"Problems?" Sharon asked.

"Just my idiot boyfriend. Guess that's kind of redundant, huh?" she answered.

Sharon chuckled. "Once in a while."

"So where's the lieutenant?" Holly asked, speaking of Andy.

"At a Dodgers game, having a wonderful time."

Her sergeant snickered. "Maybe not. They were getting their butts kicked. Last score I saw was 6-0, Giants."

Sharon sighed. "Looks like another long season for Andy," she said.

"Seems like it," Holly replied.

At the hotel, Sharon said, "Just go on back downtown. I'll catch a cab back, or call you."

"You sure, Captain? I can wait."

"I've got my weapon. I'm fine," Sharon assured her sergeant. She didn't know who this idiot was who wanted to see her, but she wasn't taking up her sergeant's afternoon with it.

"All right, Captain. I'll see you later, then."

"See you," she answered, and got out of the car. A room number came with the address and she walked through the opulent lobby to the elevators. She located the room and knocked on the door. "Captain Raydor, LAPD," she called.

The door opened, but she saw no one, and assumed the occupant was behind the door. Paranoid. Crap. She stepped inside, her hand on the gun in her purse. Suddenly, the door closed behind her and hands grabbed her shoulders. She was turned around and a man's mouth descended on hers. She struggled furiously to free herself and finally shoved Andy away from her. He was grinning like a lunatic.

"Surprised?"

"You idiot! What did you do that for? I thought you were at the ballgame!" She drew her hand from her purse, gripping her pistol. "I could have shot you!"

"I planned for that. You notice I kept your right side pinned," he chuckled. "And that ballgame was a disaster from the first inning, and I thought you should have a good afternoon, too, so here we are."

Now the adrenaline was draining out of her system, she noticed all her husband wore was a towel around his waist. Still... "Why didn't you just call me, and why one of the most expensive places in town? We have a house, you know."

Andy rolled his eyes. "And they say men are the ones who can't be romantic." He went to Sharon and carefully disarmed her, placing the weapon back in her purse, which he left on a side table. Then, he came back to her and said, "We haven't been anywhere since right after Christmas. What do they call this – a 'staycation?' So, I decided you needed a break, went by home and picked up some things for you. And Holly's a champ."

"You and my sergeant cooked this up between you?" Sharon wasn't really surprised. Since they had been together, Andy had managed to endear himself to her squad, and Holly was his biggest fan.

"Yep. She texted me when she had you in the car, so I knew about when you'd be here." He laughed. "It's not often I get one on you, Sharon, babe, but this time, I got you good."

She smiled ruefully. "O.K., O.K. I concede. You got me. Now what?"

"We have a good time." Andy's dark eyes told her exactly what that included – not that she hadn't already figured it out.

"I see." She still couldn't believe Andy had done this. He could be so unpredictable. "You're crazy, you know it?"

"I know it," he said, grinning. "And you're definitely overdressed." His hands moved to her blazer and he flicked the buttons open and slid it off her shoulders.

"Andy, I really need to get back to work."

He shook his head. "No, you don't. Holly said it was dead around there. I know just exactly what you need, and it isn't work." He twined one hand in her hair and slowly, slowly, moved his mouth down to hers. He traced just the tip of his tongue around the outline of her lips, and pressed his other hand against the small of her back, then slid it up to the neck of her blouse, and deepened the kiss as he unzipped it. Sharon's arms came around him and she stroked the skin on his back and stepped out of her shoes.

"I never can decide whether I like buttons or zippers more," Andy's voice teased her ear. "Zippers are quicker, for sure," he breathed.

"Pig."

"Wicked, wicked witch," Andy responded, turning the words into an erotic caress that sent a stab of heat through Sharon. He pulled her blouse over her head and kissed the hollow of her throat. He looked appreciatively at her bra – a simple cream cotton one trimmed in lace. He didn't care. Lace, cotton, silk – it was all good. "Going casual?" he said with a smile.

"It was clean," she answered, "and I didn't feel like looking for another one."

Andy pulled her hips to meet his body and ran his hands over her rear. "Do the panties match?"

Sharon rolled her eyes. "You should know they don't. You ripped the matching ones. And you haven't replaced them yet."

His grin was evil. "Sorry about that, but it's not a big deal. Not like you'll be wearing them long." Andy unbuttoned the waist of her skirt and unzipped it, sliding it off her hips. He kissed her deeply and brought his hands back up to unhook her bra. It fell to the floor and Andy was kissing her again and pressing his body to hers.

Sharon's head always started to swim when he did that. The feel of his chest hair against her bare skin was too delicious. But he didn't allow her to enjoy it long. He picked her up and carried her to the enormous bed and dropped her into the middle of it. She handed him her glasses. "Put these on the nightstand, will you?" she said.

"Sure," he answered and did as she asked.

"Now, drop that towel, Lieutenant," Sharon commanded.

Andy chuckled. "Yes, Captain," he replied and untucked it, allowing it to fall to the floor. He crawled across the bed and took her in his arms, once again pressing his body to hers. She was all softness and satin skin against him, and as he kissed her temples, her ears, her face, her chin and finally, her mouth, he wondered once more how he had managed to attract a woman of Sharon's caliber. Then he stopped thinking altogether, as Sharon slid down his chest and teased his nipples with her teeth and tongue. He exhaled roughly. "You know what that does to me."

"Oh, I know," she purred. Sharon could feel Andy's hands on her back, sending frissons of fire through her blood. He was so warm and so strong against her body. Sharon wasn't sure if Andy realized how that strength sustained her through every day. She kissed her way back up to his neck and found that little spot just underneath his ear and teased it with her tongue.

"Mmmm," he growled. "That's crazy-makin', babe."

"Yes," she hissed into his ear. "It is." She reached between them to caress his erection. "I want you crazy."

"Good start," was his only answer as he closed his eyes at the feel of Sharon's hands.

Whether it was the love they shared, Andy's lovemaking skills, or a combination of the two, Sharon realized she had never truly enjoyed and anticipated sex with any other man like she did with Andy. No man had ever made her go hot and cold just by walking into the room. But Andy could. Just the feel of his hand on her back as they took the elevator to their offices was enough to make her want to start tearing their clothes off. She gasped as Andy's hands found her breasts and made their way down her body.

"You're so beautiful, Sharon," he rasped, then had her on her back and was inside her body.

While a little sudden, she still wanted him and she arched her body to meet his. Andy's climax came quickly, but with deft fingers, he made sure Sharon found her release as well.

"Sorry I couldn't last any longer," he said, gathering her into his arms.

She chuckled. "It's all right, sweetheart. You know I'll take you any way I can have you."

Andy snickered. "I'll definitely remember that." He ran his hands through her hair, completely tousling it. "Well, you sure can't go back to work with your hair looking like that, so I guess you'll have to spend the afternoon right here with me. In bed."

"I've spent afternoons in worse ways," she replied.

Sharon woke up to the most wonderful feeling of Andy nuzzling her neck and into her hair. "You always smell wonderful," he murmured.

"Glad to hear it," she joked. "I'd hate to smell bad."

"Well, you have to be careful, since you hang out with a pig all the time," he returned.

Sharon chuckled, a sound that always made Andy's blood warm up. "Daily bathing is certainly necessary," she said.

"Yeah, you're right." He motioned to a covered cart. "I did get some snacks, if you're hungry."

"What are we, movie stars that we can hole up at the Four Seasons and order room service?"

Andy moved his mouth to her ear and very gently, nibbled her earlobe. "Movie stars for a day. We can go back to the real world tomorrow, right?"

"I guess so," she answered.

"Besides, you needed the break. You've been working a lot of long hours lately."

"You think so?"

"I know so," he replied. "You've fallen asleep on the sofa after work I don't know how many times in the past month. With your glasses on. So you needed at least an afternoon off."

Sharon snuggled close to her husband and stroked his face. "You take such good care of me, Andy."

"It's about time I took good care of at least one woman in my life."

"You get an A-plus from me," she said. She looked over to the side. Andy had thoughtfully left a T-shirt and yoga pants for her on the chair. She smiled at him and got up and put on the clothes. She went to the tray and looked at the offerings. "This looks delicious. I'm starving!" She fixed a plate that included fruit, hummus dip, crackers and chicken salad, which Andy had ordered just for her. "Thank you, sweetheart," she said.

"You're welcome." He sat up and grabbed his shorts from the chair on his side and then found his jeans and put them on. He assembled his own plate and motioned to Sharon. "Want to go outside on the balcony? It faces the garden, so it should be pretty quiet."

She smiled. "Sounds like a plan."

As they enjoyed their snacks on their terrace, Sharon looked around and took a deep breath. She felt the anxiety of the week melting away. She could hear the birds in the garden, and that, with a light breeze, made it a perfect afternoon. "This is just wonderful."

Andy smiled at his wife. "You need to take a day off once in a while, babe. At least so you can go dig in the yard."

She laughed. "I do need to get my hands in some dirt. I saw some beautiful caladium at the garden store and they would be so nice in that shady spot on the north wall."

"Caladium?" Andy's face was quizzical.

"An ornamental plant," and she explained how they looked.

"It's your yard, babe," was his only answer.

"What time is checkout?" Sharon asked Andy the next morning.

"Noon. Why?"

"Just curious. This was a great idea," she said, giving him a kiss as she sat on the bed next to him.

"I kind of thought it was, too. Sometimes, I hit a home run," he said, a little smugly.

Sharon just chuckled and leaned back against the headboard. They dozed until several sharp knocks sounded on the door.

"What the…?" Sharon said.

A voice came through the door. "Lieutenant Flynn? Hollywood Division. We need to ask you some questions."

Andy looked over at Sharon. "What the hell is this about?" He started pulling on his jeans and Sharon raced to dress. "Just a second," he answered.

When he opened the door, two officers and a detective waited. "Come in," he said.

"Lieutenant Flynn, I'm Detective Owens, Hollywood Division," the man introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you. What's going on?"

"Where were you last night about 10 p.m.?"

"Here. In this room. Why?"

"Can anyone confirm that?"

"I can," Sharon said. "Captain Sharon Raydor, Internal Affairs, LAPD. How did you find us here?"

"Lieutenant Flynn called his partner, Lieutenant Provenza, to let him know his whereabouts, in case someone needed to contact him," Detective Owens answered.

"O.K. Detective. So what's all this about?"

The man flipped his notebook open. "Your wife said you made harassing hang-up calls and drove by her house several times before throwing a rock through her window."

Andy's jaw dropped and he was speechless for a moment. "My wife?" he spluttered. "My wife? My wife is right here, Detective. Captain Raydor and I were married last year and before that, I was single. Since 1997, when my second divorce was final."

"Can you confirm that, also?" Detective Owens said.

Sharon rose and came to stand beside Andy. "Yes, we can confirm it. Call the chief of your own IA department. He's well aware of the situation, since he agreed that his department would conduct any investigations against Lieutenant Flynn, should it be necessary. Or, you can call Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson, Lieutenant Flynn's supervisor, who attended our wedding. Or Chief William Pope, for that matter." Her voice had slipped into the "Raydor monotone," designed to intimidate, and Andy grinned. It was working.

"I see," Detective Owens said.

Before he could say anything else, Sharon said, "And who is the complainant?"

"A Misty Flynn?" the detective answered.

Andy's eyes widened. "Misty? She was my second wife, but like I said, the divorce was final in '97. Why the hell would she be filing a complaint on me? I haven't even spoken to her since the last time we were in court! I don't even know where she lives." He paused. "Wait a minute. Was she, by any chance, a little intoxicated when she gave you the report?"

"I really couldn't say, Lieutenant," Owens replied.

"Which means she probably was. Look, I have no idea why Misty decided I did whatever it is she said happened, but it was probably one of her dope-dealing boyfriends. I guarantee you I was here all night long."

"All right, Lieutenant. I'm sorry we disturbed you. If I need to contact you, how can I get in touch?"

Andy fished one of his cards from his wallet and handed it to the detective. "Right here."

The detective nodded as he took the card. "We'll be going. Again, so sorry to disturb you and your wife."

Andy nodded and the men left. He turned to Sharon. "I swear to God I don't know what that was about," he said.

"Sounds like she's gone off her rocker," she answered.

"Wouldn't be the first time." He looked at his wife. "Well, I think that pretty much blew the mood. Ready to go home?"

Sharon nodded. She reached up to kiss Andy and stroked his face. "It was still a wonderful idea and I enjoyed it."

He turned to hold her in his arms. "So did I, babe."

As they drove home, Andy puzzled over the situation. "I can't even start to imagine why Misty would do this. I mean, she's a mental case and always has been, but this is a little extreme, even for her."

"Has she been in contact with you, that you know of?" Sharon asked.

"No way. I told Owens the truth when I said the last time I heard from her was in the courtroom. Well, I take that back. She sent me a couple of nasty letters a few months after the divorce, accusing me of keeping some piece of crap jewelry of hers, but it was just to harass me. Other than that, nothing." He glanced at Sharon and could see the wheels turning as she analyzed the known facts. She was scary when she started to put puzzle pieces together. It was a trait she shared with Brenda, but he would never say anything because the very idea would have horrified either woman.

Sharon tapped her nails on the armrest. "Well, something undeniably prompted this, and I think she threw up your name for a reason. If all this did happen to her, she knows you didn't do it. Why would you?"

"Maybe I was just convenient."

"Possibly, but I wonder if she put your name out there so someone would take her seriously."

Andy nodded slowly. "You're thinking that maybe some idiot has been harassing her, she's called the police, but they just thought she was nuts, so she mentioned me, knowing they'd have to do something?"

"It's something to consider," Sharon answered.

He snorted with amusement. "I never would have thought she was that smart. Somebody must have suggested it to her."

"Surely, she's not that dumb, Andy. I mean, really."

"You never met her," he replied. When they got to the house, Rosie's car was in the driveway. Andy chuckled. "She must be out of groceries," he said.

Sharon grinned. "Maybe so."

Rosie had been in her room and came to meet them. "Hi Mom. Hi Dad," she said, giving them each a hug.

"Hi sweetheart. What brings you over here?" Sharon asked.

Rosie rolled her eyes. "Let's sit down."

This was ominous, Sharon thought, but they all went into the den and sat.

"Bob called me today," Rosie said without preamble. Bob was her biological father.

"Oh, really?" Sharon said. "What did he want?"

The younger woman shook her head. "Said he wanted to talk to me and Matt."

Sharon looked at Andy, then back at Rosie. "About what?"

Rosie shrugged. "My guess is he's probably been dumped by yet another one of his bimbette girlfriends and is looking to see what you're up to, through us. He said he wanted to catch up with us."

Sharon harrumphed. "Pardon me for being suspicious of his fatherly intentions."

Her daughter grinned. "Me too. He never contacts us unless he wants something. And he never contacts you because he knows you won't talk to him."

"Indeed, I won't. I have nothing to say to that man."

"I don't have much good to say about him, that's for sure," Rosie agreed. "He wanted to meet us at Vittone's tonight. Isn't that where you two used to go when you were dating?"

Sharon nodded. "Yeah. I haven't been back since the divorce. It's a great place, but there are just too many bad memories." She smiled at Andy as he patted her hand reassuringly. "How did he know Matt was out for spring break, anyway?" she asked.

Rosie shrugged. "Probably Matt's Facebook page. I've been after him to tighten up his privacy settings, but he hasn't done it."

"What did you tell him?"

"That I'd let him know. Matt said he's willing to go, but Mom, I don't really want to see Bob. He's always out for something. There's something really hinky about him."

Sharon rolled her eyes at Rosie's use of cop slang and Andy chuckled. "She's your daughter, Captain," he said, then to Rosie, "Need some muscle along? I'd be glad to sit close by and you could call in the cavalry if you need to."

Rosie's anxious expression changed to one of relief. "Oh, would you? That would be so great!"

Andy grinned widely. "What am I here for if not to look out for my girl? Girls," he amended, winking at Sharon, who nudged him with her elbow. "What time?"

"Seven," Rosie answered.

"I'll be there a little early then," Andy said.

Rosie got up and went to hug Andy. "I love you, Dad," she said.

"Love you too, sweetheart," he answered, returning the hug.

As she went to the door, Rosie turned and looked at her mother. "Mom, you got it right this time," she said.

Sharon just smiled. "I know I did. I'll see you later."

"O.K." Rosie blew them a kiss and left.

Sharon leaned against Andy and sighed hugely. "Would you care to offer a few appropriate words from your extensive and profane Jersey vocabulary?"

He laughed and put his arm around Sharon's shoulders. "I could, but why waste good obscenities on a jerk like that?"

"I just wish I knew what he was up to. Every time he calls the kids to 'spend time' with them, he wants something."

"Yeah. I wish I knew what was circling around in Misty's pea brain, too. Maybe we should introduce them. Then they could spend all their time bitching about us!"

Sharon snickered. "Sounds like they deserve each other."

Andy's cell rang and he answered it. "Flynn."

"Lieutenant Flynn?" came Brenda's voice. "Can you tell me why I got a call from Chief Pope about you throwing a rock through some woman's window?"

Andy sighed. "Chief, I don't have a clue what's going on. I already spoke with Detective Owens from Hollywood Division. It was my second ex, and she's probably fighting with one of her loser boyfriends."

"How did you get involved?"

"I didn't, Chief!" Andy exclaimed. "She said it was me, but Sharon and I were together after I left the ball game."

"Hmmm," Brenda mused. "Well, I guess I'll just have to call Chief Pope and make sure he understands the situation. But you're sure you were nowhere near her house last night?"

"I don't even know where she lives, swear to God," he answered.

"All right. Well, I've followed up, which is what I told Will I'd do, but don't you contact her or anything."

Andy's laugh was rueful. "Chief, I don't want to talk to her ever again!"

"O.K. I'll see you Monday then."

"See you, Chief." He clicked off the call. "Dammit," he said.

"How did Brenda find out?"

"Someone went to the Vatican."

Sharon shook her head. "Oh, to get my hands on that individual." She made a twisting motion with her hands.

"What would you do, shoot him with a beanbag gun?" Andy teased.

"And then beat him to death with the butt of the darn thing!" she snapped.

Andy got to the restaurant ahead of Rosie and Matt. Bob was already there; he recognized him from a couple of photos in the family scrapbooks. Andy sat where he could see and hear, but not where he would be noticeable. He ordered a salad and risotto and waited for the kids. When they came in, Rosie looked around for him and spotting him, exhaled in relief.

Bob stood as Matt and Rosie approached the table and shook hands with Matt. Something in Rosie's face made him stop before hugging her, though. Andy looked the man over. Tall, rangy, sandy-haired. Matt and Rosie looked like Sharon and her people. Not much of the Raydor blood in them, as far as he could tell.

"How are you guys doing? It's great to see you!" Bob said. They all sat and an uncomfortable silence fell. Bob cleared his throat. "So, tell me. What have you all been doing with yourselves?"

"We're both still in school. Rosie's in her last year at USC, in criminal justice and I've got two more quarters to get my master's in accounting," Matt answered.

"That's good. People are always looking for a good accountant. So, Rose, what are you planning to do with a criminal justice degree? Go to law school?"

"Maybe. I've also been thinking about applying to the academy when I graduate."

"Following in your mom's footsteps, huh? How is she, anyway?"

"Fine," Rosie answered. "She's great."

Bob heard something close to laughter in Rosie's tone and looked sharply at her. There was obviously something she wasn't telling him. "What's she been up to, lately?"

"This and that," Matt answered. "Mostly work. She's been pretty busy the past few weeks."

"Lots of cops beating up innocent people?" Bob clearly thought this was hilarious. Rosie and Matt were not amused, though, and Andy rolled his eyes at that statement. What a prick.

"The LAPD is a big force. There's always something to check out," Matt replied.

"I'm sure there is. So, anything interesting going on? I get the impression something's up."

"Like what?" Rosie asked.

"I dunno. With your mom. She seeing someone or something like that?" Bob's tone wasn't as friendly as it had been.

Matt shook his head. "Why in the world do you care?"

"She's your mom. Of course I care about her."

"What about you? Anyone special in your life?" Rosie said.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Not anymore, no. Just broke up with someone."

"I'm sorry," she answered, trying to sound sincere.

"Yeah. Well, I heard about that lawsuit against that crazy woman who's a chief in the department. Your mom having to deal with any of that?"

"Some," Matt said cautiously. Bob was an investment banker and had close ties to a lot of attorneys, so it wasn't too surprising that he knew about the lawsuit. "But she doesn't talk much about it."

"I'm not surprised. That would be against the rules, and one thing about Sharon Raydor: she always follows the rules."

That statement got such a grin from Andy, that Rosie was obliged to duck her head over her salad so she couldn't see his face.

"Yeah, Mom stays pretty close to the rulebook," Matt answered.

"So what kind of work did she have done on the house last year? I saw some contractors there when I was on my way to see a client in the neighborhood."

Rosie shrugged. "Just remodeled the master bath, that's all."

"From a group called Mobility Now contractors? I looked them up. They specialize in fitting out homes for people with mobility issues."

"So? Mom wanted one of those walk-in bathtubs. She saw some at a home show and liked them." Matt fielded that comment.

"That's not the Sharon I know. She wouldn't just up and make that kind of change without a reason. You guys are dancing all around something and I want to know what it is."

Andy looked over at Rosie, but she hadn't motioned him to their table, yet.

"Mom was in a wreck in February of last year. Drunk driver rear-ended her into an oncoming car. She was in the hospital six weeks and in rehab for nearly five weeks. But she's back at work and doing well," Rosie answered.

"My God! Why didn't you call me?" Andy thought Bob's reaction was genuine, but you never knew.

"Honestly, would you have come?" Matt asked. "You'd have said all the appropriate things on the phone and we never would have seen you. C'mon. Be real. When Mom was in the hospital after Rosie was born and she was so sick, you disappeared. Aunt Laura told me so. Mom never did tell me. But we know, anyway."

"That's been years ago. I think I've grown up a little since then, Matthew," Bob replied.

"Yeah, well, sorry we didn't call, then."

Bob shot Matt a dirty look, then asked, "Did you guys get the help you needed?"

"Yes we did. The people in Mom's division were great. So were the Major Crimes folks," Rosie answered.

"Major Crimes? What's Major Crimes got to do with it? They don't think Sharon's accident was deliberate, do they?"

Here it comes, Andy thought.

Rosie and Matt grinned at each other. "No, but Mom was dating a lieutenant from that division. So they helped, too," she said.

"Is she still dating this guy?" Bob asked.

"Well, I don't know if you'd call it dating…" Rosie's voice trailed off.

Bob rolled his eyes. "Either they're still seeing each other or they're not."

Matt nodded. "I guess you'd call, well, married, still seeing each other, wouldn't you?" Andy had to chuckle inwardly. Both kids were cool as cucumbers.

"Married? Your mom has remarried? Without telling me?" Now Bob was extremely irritated.

"Why should she tell you? You're not paying her alimony, and the child support ended when we turned 19. She didn't have to tell you a thing," Rosie said, her tone firm.

Bob couldn't argue with that logic, so he said, "Well, I would still have liked to know. When did she get married?"

"First week of September," Matt said.

"Who did she marry?"

"Lieutenant Andy Flynn." That was Rosie.

"Flynn. Flynn? Didn't he like, get attacked or something a while back? Seems like I saw it on TV or something."

"As a matter of fact, he did," Matt answered. "It was pretty bad, Mom said."

"Over thirty stitches. Closer to fifty, I think. But he's really great. They're crazy about each other." Rosie knew she was twisting the knife, but she didn't really care. "They went to Lake Tahoe on their honeymoon and Andy booked the bridal suite at Harrah's. You should see the pictures."

Andy had never realized how devious Rosie could be, but it figured. She was just like her mom in that respect. He knew that Bob hadn't taken Sharon on much of a honeymoon, and so did Rosie.

"Well, isn't that nice?" Bob replied. He looked like he had swallowed a handful of nails. "And where was the wedding?"

"In the LAPD chapel. It's a pretty place. And Mom just looked gorgeous! You could tell she was so happy," Rosie chirped.

Andy wanted to lie down in the booth and howl with laughter. Rosie had the opportunity to skewer Bob and she was running with it. He could tell Matt wasn't going to stop her, either.

"I'm so glad she's happy," Bob answered, in a tone suggesting he was anything but. He pushed his food around on his plate. "I had hoped she might be interested in talking to me."

"About what?" Matt said, all innocence. Andy leaned forward. He wanted to hear this.

"Oh, nothing in particular. Maybe dinner."

Rosie and Matt nodded at one another. "You were right," Matt said.

"What was she right about?"

"That you recently got dumped and were sniffing around to see if Mom was still available," he answered.

"That's not true. It's just been a while since I've seen her. I wanted to catch up, talk. That's all. We do have you guys in common, you know."

"Yeah," Rosie said drily, as she finished her meal. "Well, it's been nice seeing you, but I think it's time to go."

She and Matt stood and said their good-byes. Andy paid his check and left quietly through the other exit, leaving a thoroughly irritated Bob Raydor sitting alone.

Rosie and Matt met Andy at home and they made Sharon alternately chuckle and cringe as they recounted the conversation with her ex-husband.

"I'm glad I didn't have to sit through that," she said.

"Me too, Mom," Rosie agreed. "You'd have slapped him."

Sharon looked at Andy. "I still have that beanbag gun in my car," she said.

He laughed. "And I'll swear myself blind you never touched it," he snickered.

"I wouldn't shoot him between the eyes, though. I can think of a much more appropriate target," she replied.

Andy and Matt grimaced. "Ouch, Mom. Now I know where Rosie gets that mean streak."

"Close that smart mouth, young man," Sharon retorted, but her eyes were twinkling.

Andy's cell rang and he answered it. It was Brenda.

"Lieutenant, please tell me you've been somewhere someone has had their eyes on you all evening, and that you were nowhere near your ex's house tonight."

"Absolutely, Chief. Rosie and Matt were with me. And I told you: I have no idea where Misty even lives these days!"

"Well, she's here in the murder room, raising Cain and saying you've been harassing her on the phone. You'd better come in. Bring Rosie and Matt with you – and Sharon too, I guess. My Lord, what a godawful mess this is."

"O.K. Chief. We'll be there as soon as we can." He clicked off the call and looked at Sharon. "Load up, guys. We're taking a family trip to the police station."

Sharon stood and grabbed her purse. "Maybe I'll use my beanbag gun on that other idiot ex," she grumbled as they left for the department.