Note: first off, I really have to apologise for not updating Are Birds Free before now. I have done a bit more to it and really will get back to it when I have the time to devote the attention it requires. But heaven help me I should be compiling a presentation tonight and instead I found this premise stuck in my head since last nights episode and begging to come out. Kinda rushed and quickly proof-read so I apologise for any mistakes. Not sure where the hell I'm going with it, we'll see. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy!
Like A Thief In The Night
Chapter 1
James grumbled under his breath as he strode down the dimly lit corridor. It was nearly 9 at night, his shift had technically already finished, yet here he was called out to a break-in at some fancy ass research facility. A seemingly deserted research facility he noted by the lack of… anyone. Even they had somewhere better to be. To make matters worse, the doc who was supposed to meet him hadn't answered her office phone when he arrived and so the security guy had just pointed him in some vague direction and here he was, traipsing unfamiliar halls. Though at least now he'd had a legitimate excuse to call off the latest blind-date Miles had forced upon him.
He was just about to round yet another corner, when a blur of movement jumped out of the shadows and he felt a mild stinging sensation in his knee.
"What the hell???" He jumped back and looked down at the foam Nerf dart now laying at his feet, then back up to meet the shocked face of the blonde before him.
"You're not my nephew." She stated blankly, her confusion now evident.
"Ya think??? Gee, what gave it away?" He retorted with exasperation and angrily bent down to swipe the offending weapon, not missing the slight smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"I'm so sorry, Mr…."
"Ford, Detective Ford." He flashed his badge at her.
"You're here for the break-in. Dr Burke." She stuck her hand out, which he reluctantly shook.
"On the contrary, Lee Harvey, can't think of no better way to get my kicks on a Friday night than getting my kneecaps shot at in dark corridors."
"Thought you said you were a detective," she noted wryly with an arched brow before turning to open the nearest door. He watched, arms crossed, as she stuck her head in, toy gun cocked. Apparently not finding what she was looking for, she retreated and repeated the process at the next door down.
"Yo, crazy commando lady! What'cha doin'? You do realise I was kiddin' when I said I had nothin' better to do?"
"Looking for my nephew. Then I'll show you the lab," she looked back and flashed him a grin, which he returned despite himself, shaking his head. "Promise."
"You sure he really exists? This place seems pretty deserted and doesn't strike me as a kid's playground." It was her turn to look exasperated. She closed the door and folded her arms defiantly as she leaned against it.
"Of course he exists. Three-year old, blonde hair and brown eyes – about this height. You sure you didn't see him? Could have sworn he ran this way." She pushed back off the door and carried on down the corridor. He glared at her back and had no choice but to follow.
"OK, so let's say he's not a figment of your imagination, instead you're just a terrible aunt. Who in their right mind would have a toddler in a place like this?" She stopped abruptly and he ran into her, grabbing her shoulders to steady himself. "Hey!"
"Hey yourself." She rounded on him in anger, poking a finger into his chest and causing him to step back slightly. "I'm not a bad aunt. You have no idea. He's perfectly safe – it's not like I let him loose on a Bunsen burner or anything. I didn't plan on my lab getting trashed this afternoon, nor did I plan on having to wait four hours for some dude of a cop to show up when he feels like it." Eyes flashing with fury, it was at this point that he allowed himself to see past his own infuriation at the situation and notice how stunning she was. He summoned an easy grin complete with dimples, and was about to open his mouth to speak when she held her palm up to silence him.
"Don't even," she practically growled and spun on her heel to stalk down the hallway. "Julian! Game's over buddy!" He sighed in resignation. Scratch that… just infuriating.
Before he knew it, they rounded a final corner and they were back where he started. There sitting chatting happily with the security guy was obviously the nephew in question, a similar nerf gun slung on his back.
"Hey scamp, whatcha doing out here bugging Brian." Her voice immediately softened; all traces of her previous anger gone. She reached the desk and the boy lifted his arms up to be picked up, the picture of innocence. "I'm pretty sure running off is breaking the rules. I'm sorry Brian."
"It's no problem Dr Burke. He's been showing me his sharp shooting skills."
"Well I'm sure Detective Ford here would wish you'd teach me." She grinned as she tickled the now squirming toddler in her arms.
"When we going home?" he asked, fighting off a yawn.
"Soon, baby, I promise. I'm sorry we've been stuck in here tonight." She kissed him lightly on the forehead and set him back down on the desk and James almost felt guilty at her words. Almost because, well, he got here as soon as he got the call and glancing at his watch it was now well after 9. It's his Friday night too that's being wasted!
"Brian, would you mind terribly keeping an eye on him a little longer. The sooner I get this over with, the sooner we get outta your hair. You got those CCTV discs?"
"Sure thing Dr B, he's no trouble." He handed her a dvd case with what James assumed to be security footage and turned back to the boy. "What say you and me watch a bit of the Lakers game while your aunt finishes up?" She thanked him once more and ruffled the youngster's hair as she backed away.
"Remember he's Miami Heat through and through. My sister will make me fire you if you corrupt him." She joked and James noted the guard smiled back, obviously not in the least concerned for his job. He found himself wondering if she really could fire the guy and took the opportunity as she walked back over to admire her long legs, barely contained by the smart, no nonsense skirt and heels. On looking back up the smirk was back and he could tell he was busted. It turned into a saccharine smile as she reached where he stood.
"Sorry about the wait, detective. Shall we?" and headed back down the corridor. Was he going to spend the whole night trailing her around?
"Sorry my ass," he muttered as he rushed to catch up with her retreating form, grabbing his notebook out his pocket.
"So, you own this place?"
"Hmm," she nodded affirmatively, "Along with my partner, Dr Young. Fertility research, mostly government funded – a few charities." Her heels clicked along at a steady pace as she navigated the dark halls with ease. James struggled to write and keep up.
"Staff?"
"Oh, about 75 all in. 20 scientists across 4 projects, technicians, handful of students, clerical staff, security and a couple of lab managers."
"Maintenance and cleaning?"
"It's contracted out, I'll get their details from my office for you."
"What's the security level? Looks like the building's fairly new." He noted as he took in the furnishings.
"We're quite a young organisation, just moved here about a year ago. There's 8 security guys." They came to a set of double doors and she swiped the card hanging round her neck. "Most areas are swipe access only. Anyway 8 guys on shift, Larry's in charge. There's 2 during the day, 1 at night. Brian pulled all of today's footage for you," she handed him the dvd and stopped at a door, letting them into a nice corner office. She switched on the light and he winced slightly at the sudden brightness. Reaching for a pen, she flicked open a laptop and leaned over it as she tapped some keys. He couldn't help the eyeful of cleavage he saw as her shirt gaped slightly and as he was pretty sure she was oblivious this time, he let himself enjoy the show for a few seconds before clearing his throat to fill the silence.
"I'm uh, sorry I said you were a bad aunt… and that I doubted his existence." She looked up from the screen and affixed him with an unnervingly cool gaze for a long beat.
"It's fine. Don't sweat it." She murmured before resuming her search. She quickly found what she was looking for and scribbled down some info on a pad. Tearing the sheet off, she handed it to him.
"The maintenance company." Definitely a doctor, he thought as he squinted at the feminine scrawl. She shut the laptop once more and swiftly led them back out the room.
"So how did someone so young and so pretty get their own medical research company?" He drawled as they rounded yet another corner and into a corridor with predominantly glass walls. She swiped at another door, then swiftly punched some numbers into a keypad.
"By being good at my job," she stated, without the slightest hint of arrogance as the door swished open. He joined her at the threshold and surveyed the mess before them. Broken glass covered most surfaces, paper strewn out of open drawers and various instruments he couldn't even begin to name littered the floor.
"You noticed this when? Nobody saw or heard anything? With all this going on?" The last he asked incredulously.
"3pm. My staff work damn hard and so Fridays are half days. There was nobody else still in this part of the building by that time."
"But you were still here?"
"I'm the boss, we don't get half days." She stated wryly. Workaholic he mentally noted, in addition to his written notes.
"Can you tell if anything is missing?"
"I'm not sure, I haven't been in. As soon as I saw this I locked it back up and called you guys. Thought it best to preserve the scene. I'm pretty sure that laptop wasn't on before though," she pointed to a machine in the far corner under a window.
"Preserve the scene," he scoffed lightly. "Lady, this isn't an episode of CSI. This kinda thing isn't usually on my radar. I'm a vice man, organised crime. This looks like some disgruntled geek has had a temper tantrum."
"Then why are you here?" she retorted angrily
"Cos I'm the only one stupid enough to answer the call on a Friday night!"
"Then I guess you're not familiar with intellectual property law and just how much my research would be worth to some people."
"I guess I ain't!" He sighed in frustration.
"Well," she answered with a sereneness once more that annoyed the hell out of him, "maybe you should be, Mr vice-man." Arms folded, she dared him to challenge her.
"Are you married?"
"Excuse me?" He congratulated himself with a smug grin as her cool façade slipped for a millisecond. "And how is that relevant to the case?"
"Just wonderin'," he shrugged, if anyone would be crazy enough to put up with you, he silently added in his head. "Don't want to eliminate any avenue of enquiry just yet."
"Divorced." Figures.
"So this is your own personal lab?"
"Yes, only those who have to have access know the code. I change it every other week." OK, he thought, paranoid as well as a shrew. He thought back to how she was with the boy and security guard. Maybe shrew was a bit harsh, or this level of crazy was reserved just for him. This was definitely shaping up to be the one of the weirdest routine call-outs he'd been on. He looked up from his notebook to catch a sad and worried expression on her face as she surveyed the disaster zone and his heart softened slightly. Damn if she wasn't beautiful.
"I'll get you a list of those who has access." She stated softly "I can't believe any of them would do this." She sounded as if someone had broken her favourite toy, not merely trashed a lab. "This is my little sanctuary from the world, y'know?" She looked over to him and he swore her azure eyes seemed watery for a beat. He felt like he could see right into her soul. It didn't last and the mask of indifference soon reappeared, leaving him to wonder if he had imagined her pain. He sighed deeply, cursing the words that were about to come out his mouth.
"Look, I'll get the forensic guys to come out first thing tomorrow take a look. Will you be around?"
"I guess if I have to be." She smiled slightly. They stepped back and she punched in a number to close the door once more. Returning to her office, she retrieved her coat and briefcase, along with a kid's rucksack and jacket. He leaned against the doorframe and silently watched her get ready to leave.
"I'm sorry you had to come all this way out on a Friday night," she apologised as they walked back towards the front desk. "What time does your shift finish?"
"You askin' me out on a date, Blondie?" he shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and drawled with a slow grin. She snorted inelegantly and covered her mouth with her hand and he'd be lying if he said it didn't sting a little.
"Hardly. I've already got one blonde haired charmer to keep me busy tonight," she alluded to the little boy now fast asleep in a chair as the middle-aged Brian puttered about watering plants. She nodded her thanks as she gently roused him enough to get the jacket on and lift him into her arms. The boy muttered something intelligible as he put his arms round her neck and burrowed his face into her shoulder. She smiled and James couldn't help but smile too at the sight.
"Well in that case, I got off over two hours ago." She looked back in surprise at this.
"Oh! In that case I really am sorry." She reached for her case once more and struggled to balance everything in her arms. He held the front door open and she flashed him a grateful smile before pausing to wish Brian goodnight. He saluted the guy and followed her out into the night. The smile turned into yet another smirk as she stopped and turned back towards him.
"In that case you really are stupid for answering the call."
"Wow. Wounded, right here." He pointed to his chest. She shook her head and went to turn away. "Wait!" He whispered loudly, not wanting to wake the kid. She stopped and looked back, brow arched in question.
"Just realised I've got one really important question still to ask ya. Ya got a first name Dr Blondie?"
"You really aren't much of a detective, are you James?" She rolled her eyes exaggeratedly.
"Huh? How the hell did you…"
"You showed me your badge, remember? It's Juliet."
"Juliet." He repeated, letting it roll off his tongue. It suited her. "So Juliet, your work really worth a lot of money?"
She shrugged and her nephew mumbled once more. "Millions. Night detective." With a toss of her hair she slipped off in the direction of her car. He watched, speechless as she strapped the boy in and jumped in, her taillights quickly disappearing into the night.
Shit, he thought. Just what the hell had he gotten himself into?