Head Note: Okay this was going to be a one-shot but my ideas are like the numbers: they never stop coming. So here is another multi-chapter story that I am writing

Chapter One

Cal Beecher drove back from Riker's after his talk with Elias, thinking about what Elias had told him. You know something you don't even know you know, he had said, Choose your next move wisely or it will be chosen for you. The words and warnings ran through his mind non-stop as he tried to sort through what he had learned. Quinn had lied to him. He had realized that when Elias had told him that Szymanski had refused his attempts to bribe him. He knew that if Elias hadn't given him the money then HR must have grabbed it. And the fact that Quinn had lied to him told him that he was in HR. But how high was he?

It was a shock, admitting to himself that his father's best friend, the man he had trusted since he was eight, was in an organization of corrupt cops and politicians. The man had practically raised him as a son after his father had died in the line of duty when he was ten. And now to know that he was dirty was almost more than he could take.

He had to tell someone about his suspicion. But he didn't know who to trust now that Quinn had broken that trust. When it came to corrupt cops and politicians, you didn't want to tell the wrong person.

After a few minutes he realized that there was one person he knew he could trust. Joss Carter. He knew for a fact that she would rather die than become a dirty cop. Her avoidance of him hurt, but it was proof that she wouldn't even associate with someone who even looked like a dirty cop.

He had to tell her. Because if he was right and Quinn was in HR, then he was a threat to him. He would probably kill him if he heard that he was asking questions. He didn't even try to call her since he was pretty sure she would ignore it. But he had to find some way to tell her.

XxXxXx

A few hours later, Beecher walked to Carter's office. After making sure he was alone, he hid a tape recording in her drawer. He hoped that she would find it instead of some dirty cop.

XxXxXx

A few hours later he was sitting in his car again. He had a bad feeling about this bust but he shook it off. He had, after all, done this a million times. His C.I. got out of the car to meet with possible drug dealers when his phone rang. He was pleasantly surprised to see Joss's name come up on the caller ID and answered it. Her voice was noticeably softer and he could hear a smile in her voice. He wondered if she had found the recording and that was why she was talking to him again. she didn't say anything about the recording, but he was happy to hear her offer to buy drinks. Well, he thought as he hung up, if she doesn't know yet, I will tell her there.

All of a sudden the drug dealers took off and Beecher kicked the door open and followed them into the building. He followed the hall and turned the corner to see his C.I. hiding under the stairwell. Seeing him hiding under the stairwell lit off a signal in his head that something was very wrong. What happened next was even stranger. His C.I. looked up and told someone to wait for him to leave. He didn't have to wait long to figure out what was going on as gunfire erupted in the stairway. Oh crap, he thought as he took cover underneath the stairwell. He noticed his C.I. lying on the ground, with two bullet-holes in his back. It seemed there really was no honor among thieves. It's HR, he realized. They were killing him and making it look like a drug killing. He called for back-up but he knew that the chances that anyone would get there in time were slim.

He shot at the two "drug dealers" trying to get a clear shot, but it was clear that they had the advantage. He cried out as white-hot pain struck his shoulder. He fell on his back and barely had time to recover when a second bullet hit his chest. He heard the "drug dealers" walk down the stairs to get a look at him. He forced his head to look at them and recognized one of them as a detective in Joss's precinct. With a jolt of horror, Beecher realized that with dirty cops everywhere it was more than likely that they would find the recording before Joss did. If they did, his suspicions would die with him and no one would be able to question Quinn. But even if she did find it first, HR might find out and have her killed too.

He heard the sirens as he began to lose consciousness but from what he could tell they were still a mile away. It was too late for him. Joss, he thought, if you find that recording, be careful. With that last thought lingering in his mind, he drifted off to an endless sleep.

XxXxXx

It had been a week since Cal had been killed and Carter was still found it difficult to come to grips with what had happened. Finch and John had offered their sympathy and condolences of course, but she just wanted to be alone. She couldn't help but blame herself for Cal's death. If she had just listened to his side of the story; if she hadn't blamed him for Szymanski's murder, he might still be alive. She opened her drawer and suddenly noticed something she hadn't before: A tape recording. How had she missed that? Then she remember that she had hurried to grab her gun the night Cal had been killed. She hadn't had time to notice anything. She put it in her pocket and resolved to listen to it that night.

The recording had a little static in it but there was no mistaking Cal's voice.

"Hey Joss," his voice said, "If you're listening to this I'm probably dead. Either that or things are better between us. Listen I need to tell you something."

He stopped for a moment trying to gather his thoughts. "There's so much to explain. I guess I should start at the beginning. My C.I., the one that got Szymanski killed, he's the mayor's guy, Quinn. So I talked to him and he told me the information came from Elias's guys. So, I talked to Elias. He told me that he had tried to bribe Szymanski but that he had refused the money. What I'm saying is that I think Quinn is dirty."

He took a deep breath before continuing.

"Which is why I'm recording this. Because if I'm right and he is in HR, I wanted to be able to tell someone. But I only knew of one person I could trust. And that's you Joss. So, if I end up dead, you'll know I was right. If that happens I want you to pass this information on to someone you can trust. I want you to be careful. HR is everywhere and they are very serious about protecting their organization. I love you, Joss. And I hope things get better between us but if not, I still want you to know that I trust you. And that if you need help with anything else, I'll be there." Then the recording clicked to the end.