Newport's Crime.
Note: I don't know how many of you actually visit the profiles from the writers you like, but for those who do, you must've noticed my story idea a while back that included the characters of my two favorite shows, The O.C and CSI. I've finally been able to put that idea into an actual story. I'm super busy with school right now and -as usual- have a couple of other stories I'm writing for, but I really wanted to get this one out in the world. I hope you'll like this idea and this story, so please let me know what you think of it! Enjoy, xx.
Summary: Catherine and Vartann are sent to Newport Beach, Orange County, where they are going undercover to solve a case that includes both murder and financial crimes. They end up living next to the daughter of their prime suspect, Kirsten Cohen. Catherine finds herself interested in Kirsten's husband Sandy, while Vartann can't help but notice the pretty Kirsten. The sparks that are forming between Catherine and Vartann aren't helping either. Will Catherine and Vartann be able to solve their case without jeopardizing themselves and the people they start to like?
Spoilers: Set somewhere in CSI's season 10, before Catherine and Vartann's relationship, and in The O.C's first season.
Prologue.
Lou Vartann was surprised when he noticed his partner, Catherine Willows, was sleeping in the seat next to him. He had to admit that she looked pretty cute while she was asleep, but then again, he'd always found Catherine a very attractive woman. The strawberry blonde had been the favorite female subject of Lou and his male co-workers. It felt somewhat strange to be on his way to the coast of California with a woman he barely knew. He wasn't complaining though; Catherine was very good company, and very nice to look at as well.
What scared Lou though was the fact that both of them weren't aware of what they were supposed to expect. They had been called in to Conrad Ecklie's office two weeks ago, who'd told them about a case in Las Vegas that had to do with one of the few casinos in Las Vegas that wasn't related to Catherine's deceased father, Sam Braun. A man had been killed, and the dayshift of the Las Vegas Police Department had found out that the dead mad had won ten million dollars in the casino the night of his death. Another man had lost that amount of money. The dead man's money had been gone though, and since that night, the FBI had been certain about one thing; the opponent of the dead man had taken the ten million dollars. That man lived in Newport Beach, but instead of arresting him, the FBI had decided to keep an eye on the man for a little longer, since they suspected that he'd done more things than killing a man. The FBI had decided to put a detective and a investigator on the case, and Ecklie had told them that they had been the lucky two that were chosen to head to Newport Beach, and keep an eye on the man the FBI was looking after. That man was named Caleb Nichol.
Lou and Catherine were supposed to live in a house in Newport Beach. They weren't named Lou Vartann and Catherine Willows though. In Newport, they were Lou and Catherine Anderson, a married, forty-something couple that had just sold their own company. They'd made a huge amount of money out of it, and had decided to move to the relaxing coast of California.
That was the story they had to tell the people they would meet. While mingling with the people in Newport, their main goal was to keep an eye on Caleb Nichol and find out if there were any other illegal things in which Caleb Nichol was involved.
Lou was intrigued by the case he had to solve, and, most of all, he was intrigued by the fact that he had Catherine by his side. Her head was currently resting on his shoulder, something that would usually annoy him, but didn't bother him now that it was Catherine. Catherine was an interesting woman, with who he had been working for several years now. He'd never had the chance to talk with her outside of work though, something he regretted. Lou was curious to see what would happen between the two of them now that they would be together twenty four hours a day.
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt Catherine move. Lou turned his head into Catherine's direction, and was surprised when his eyes met the beautiful blue eyes of Catherine Willows.
Catherine Willows didn't feel ashamed very often. But she did feel somewhat embarrassed when she found out she'd been sleeping on Lou Vartann's shoulder. Detective Vartann was a very handsome man. With a very gorgeous face. And to know that she might have been drooling on his shoulder made her feel quite embarrassed. She lifted her head immediately, and murmured: "I'm sorry I fell asleep on your shoulder."
Lou smiled, and Catherine just hoped he wouldn't notice her embarrassment. He answered: "Don't worry, it didn't bother me. You woke up at a good time though; were almost there."
Catherine nodded while she pulled her hair together in a messy ponytail. She casted a short glance at Lou's clothes. She hadn't seen him in anything other than a suit until now, and Catherine had to admit that a pair of jeans and a t-shirt suited him very well. A small smile appeared on her face when she realized that she would be together with Lou in one house for at least two weeks. She secretly looked forward to it; knowing that she would be able to look at Lou every day was a pretty nice bonus on her job. Lou ended their silence when he said: "So, what do you expect of Newport Beach?"
His eyes met with Catherine's and Catherine smiled at him when she said: "I'm not sure what I expect. Sun, sea, beach… Snobby rich people."
Lou chuckled at Catherine's last comment before she continued. "I honestly don't know. I guess I'll let Newport surprise me. You?"
Lou shrugged and said: "The same, I guess. I've never been to this side of California before."
Catherine smiled. "Me neither."
Their conversation was interrupted when their flight attendant announced that they were about to land at LAX. Catherine and Lou fastened their seatbelts, both anxious to find out how life in Newport Beach would be.