A/N: This is my first CI fic. Actually my first fic. Ever. So for that reason, reviews and suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.

Disclaimer: Oh I don't own it. Any of it. Not even the dvd's. It's pathetic really... but oh if I did... the show would probably be on HBO for obvious reasons.


"What do we have?" Detective Robert Goren asked as he eased his large frame over the yellow tape that sectioned off the hotel suite from the rest of the lavishly decorated building.

"Looks like a murder-suicide. We've got a woman, name is Julia Taventry. Thirty eight, from Chicago. She was shot once in the back of the head," the young officer said as he queasily indicated to the completely nude body lying crumpled in the corner. "And a Gregory Ulmstead, forty. Also from Chicago- looks like he shot himself once in the head. We also found gunpowder residue on his hand, and a note in the corner apologizing for what he did to the girl. Pretty simple- open and shut," he added, looking thoroughly pleased with himself.

"Hmmmm…." Bobby hummed distractedly as he circled the body of the man lying on the floor next to the bed, delicately making his way through the crime scene to the bedside table to examine the note.

"So what do we think happened here?" Detective Alexandra Eames asked as she crossed the room to speak with Bobby.

The young police officer cut in again, easing his way between the two detectives and spending more time gazing at Alex than Bobby felt appropriate.

He's standing too close to her. And he's just … well he's too close. I'll bet he can smell her shampoo from where he's standing, that's not fair! She's got to be uncomfortable with this, why wouldn't she? Any self respecting woman wouldn't let him intrude on her like that, and Eames certainly isn't just any woman... And he's standing so close to her! And-

Bobby was jostled from his thoughts by the voice of this intrusion on his territory.

What! My territory? Where did that come from? I would never think of Al- Eames as anything but her own person .I sound like some egotistical jealous…. Jealous what? Jealous boyfriend? No! Come on, get it together Goren!

"It's a murder-suicide! He shot her from-"

"No… no that can't be right," Bobby countered as he eased back into the investigation, drawing Eames' attention from the officer and to himself. "Look at this. The suicide note. Th- the handwriting is slanted to the left. Mr. Ulmstead must have been left handed. But he shot himself in the right side of the head with his right hand? That doesn't make any sense. If he were going to use a gun to take his own life, surely he would use his good hand to take the shot. And look at the woman," Bobby said as he gestured toward the woman lying in the corner. "Clear sexual trauma… that- that was definitely more than just rough sex. Bruises all over her face, torso, and arms. And the man, here. His wrists… the marks on them. He was tied up, restrained. Probably to the furnace over here, it's bolted to the floor. And… from that position, he's got a... uhhh... good view of the bed here. This was a setup. There had to be someone else involved."

The young, wide eyed officer didn't seem to realize what Bobby had said; he was far too busy gawking at Bobby's petite partner, standing dutifully next to her large counterpart and listening carefully to his analysis of the situation.

"So like I said, it was a simple murder-suicide. I'm Jim Tibbons by the way. Maybe if you're free-"

"I think we've got this under control… uhh John, was it? Maybe you could give your fellow officers a hand outside and keep the crowd away?" Bobby suggested as he ushered the drooling youth-in-uniform out the door and into the hallway, promptly closing the door behind him.

"Well that was interesting to say the least. What do you have against the kid poor kid?" Alex asked as she rolled her eyes and Bobby returned to his place beside the body of the man.

"Nothing in particular, just didn't want him venturing where he shouldn't go…. You know, in the crime scene."

Or around you. He added silently. Man, I have got to get some rest. These thoughts just can't continue. I've got a job to do and Eames is my partner. He told himself firmly. My partner. My partner. My… oh what gives? I need to get out more.


"So what did we find out from the witnesses?" Bobby asked as Eames started up the SUV and pulled out onto the street and toward PP1.

"Not as much as we'd like. The man in the room next door said that he heard indistinguishable screaming from both a man and a woman last night at around ten. I asked him why he didn't report this to hotel security or call the police, and he proceeded to make a truly endearing reference to some sort of screaming that happened consistently on previous nights this week. And neither the man nor woman was in pain to say the least."

Bobby chuckled quietly to himself as Alex continued- he could never get over her dry sense of humor.

"I got similar stories from the doorman and the receptionist at the front counter. Apparently, this couple was pretty flamboyant with their… excitement for each other. It seems that they weren't at all worried about making people feel uncomfortable with their enthusiasm."

Both Bobby and Alex took time to process this information, as well as the aspects of the crime scene. They both knew that they would work best if both Bobby and Alex had the chance to explore the elements of the case themselves before exchanging ideas and working off of each other. They spent the rest of the ride to PP1 in amicable silence, and Bobby only thought about Alex a few times.

Okay, maybe more than a few times.