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Chapter 1

Replacement

In late May, Captain Deakins sent up a request for a temporary replacement. He realized that it could wait another month, but he had a feeling that whomever they sent, it would taken Goren longer to adjust. He looked through his window, at Eames and Goren, shaking his head. He didn't think they were a match at first, but each had adjusted their pace, to match their partner's. Each brought their strength and skills to the table and honed them to fit the needs of the case. He only hoped that who ever her replacement is, that Alex could quickly school them, to keep them in step with Goren, so that he, or she would not be left in his dust and become frustrated. He tapped on his window and signaled Alex to come in.

Alex's glow was apparent. He noted though, that she didn't let it slow her down, or use it to dump her duties. He smiled when she entered and waved her to a chair. Closing the door, he took a seat behind his desk.

He handed her a file. "Upstairs sent this down. She looks like a good possibility."

Alex opened the file on Detective G. Lynn Bishop. She quickly glanced through the sparse number of papers. Alex tapped her chin as she read. "She's a good shot." Deakins chuckled. "She has a few accommodations, although fairly new to the force, she is a hard worker. Her review indicates she is analytical." Alex glanced up at Deakins. "Would it work with two intellectuals?"

Deakins tilted his head. "You tell me."

Alex cleared her throat. Knowing it was coming was one thing, having it actually here, was another. She glanced through the window at Bobby. She hated the idea of being behind the desk the last few months of her pregnancy, but, that wasn't her decision. About then, the baby kicked, bringing her mind back to the room and the discussion.

She looked at the file again. She grinned. "Bobby will work with anyone. The main thing is, can that anyone keep up with him? My opinion, is to let Bobby review the file, and bring her in for him to meet and begin working with as soon as possible." She bit her lip.

Her facial expression was not lost on Deakins. He waited a moment. "I suggest she work the next case with Bobby. You can give them technical support."

Alex laughed. "You mean run interference."

Deakins smiled. "Run some of your past cases by her. Let her study how you two work together. Maybe that will give her a good start on the workings of the Goren mind."

Alex nodded. Taking Det. G. Lynn Bishop's file with her, she set it down on top of the file that Bobby was studying.

He furrowed his brow. His concentration lost, he looked up at Alex. "What's this?" He flipped the file open. He raised a brow while reading Det. Bishop's stats. "She's a better shot than you."

Alex threw a wadded up ball of paper at him.