Martini Dreams: The Instructor and Student

by tarskeewee08

Evangeline walked through the lobby of the Mandalay Bay hotel looking for the conference room. She was supposed to be the keynote speaker for The National Association of Law Enforcement council. Looking at her watch she saw she was already ten minutes late. The lobby of the hotel was a buzz with officers in plain clothes greeting fellow officers and agents jovial over the seminar and festivities.

"Ms. Williamson?"
Evangeline turned at the call of her name to see a very attractive blonde woman in a navy suit that mirrored her own walking toward her.

She smiled "Yes…"
"I need to take you to the conference room we are ready for you." The woman said nicely passing her name tag to her.
Evangeline was surprised that she recognized her. Accepting the name tag she blushed at her tardiness "I'm sorry my plane was delayed."
"No problem my name is Marsha Clancy and I will be making sure your stay here in Las Vegas is comfortable. Have you already checked in?"

"Actually no my bags are up front with the concierge"
Marsha turned and signaled for one of her assistants and advised her to arrange Evangeline's check-in and report back with her room key. The young brunette smiled nodding and rushing off.

Evangeline smiled. "Thanks"
Following her to the conference room she cleared her mind for the presentation ahead of her. She wanted to deliver and be taken seriously, dealing in a male driven career whenever she was called upon to lead most were drawn to her looks not her brains. Looking at Marsha walking ahead of her confidently she was sure she faced the same prejudice from her colleagues.

"I think we should go find a seat" Antonio said at the bar swallowing his whiskey
John rolled his eyes "I'm sick of these seminars"
Antonio laughed "This one is on profiling I think it will be good"

John swallowed his bitter drink and slammed the glass down "Some beady eyed older balding white man talking nasally about why serial killers do what they do bores me."
Antonio hits his friend back "Bo said we were to attend the sessions lets do it bro. Come on" he said getting up and walking away.

John shook his head. He wasn't in the mood for another session what he needed to do was get back to Llanview and deal with that mountain of paperwork he left behind. Work was all he had lately, his love life non existent he directed all his energy on the next case and next perp. This trip to Las Vegas in his opinion was a waste of time.

Sighing he pushed away from the bar and dropped money on top to cover his and Antonio tab. Walking out with his hands in his pockets he saw many people rushing to the conference room and he cut his eyes heading inside.

The entire conference area was dark with the only light in the room focused on the front stage. He looked around and saw most tables occupied. Finding an empty seat to the far left of the room he maneuvered his way over wondering where Antonio sat. An attractive blonde walked up to the podium and John perked up as she approached.

"Good Evening…Welcome to "Profilers, A study in the criminal mind 101."

Everyone in the room clapped and John watched her intently. The attractive blonde scooped her loose strands behind her ear and smiled into the audience. "Today we have a special treat for you. We were able to secure as a keynote speaker that not only understands the topic but has published several articles in Police Journals used by law enforcement officers through out the country. She is the lead profiler with the Federal Bureau of Investigation heading the department of Serial and Violent Crimes division. What we all know as SVC."

People clapped and so did the attractive blonde. John strained from his seat to see this speaker but she remained in the shadows hidden from his view. "Ms. Evangeline Williamson has been a profiler with the Bureau for 5 years. Since accepting her role she has been credited with solving the Mercer Murders, Tad Charles serial killing in Portland, Wisteria Lane Murders and famously the cracking the Zodiac killings. She joins us today to talk of her successes and why profiling is not just for the profilers but part of your jobs as well. Please give a warm welcome to Ms. Evangeline Williamson."

John stood with the other 200 people in the room as she walked onto the stage. He hadn't seen her in almost seven years and was surprised to here her title. She wore a navy suit and he watched her walk across the stage admiring her long athletic legs in her navy 3 inch pumps. Her thick shiny mane jet black, swayed silkily around her shoulders giving her a more delicate appearance than any Fed he had ever seen. He couldn't believe it was shy timid Evangeline from years ago.

She thanked the presenter and turned her attention to the crowd. John sat mesmerized by her pearly white smile and found himself smiling at the beauty in front of him.

Listening to her present on the high profile cases she resolved and the methods she employed to get into a killers mind. John watched her move around the stage using the laser pointer on the large screen to highlight her points in the darkened conference room. Her hand on her hips and suit jacket falling lazily open he had a full view of the curves that were framed so temptingly by the fabric of her suit. She made a couple of light jokes on some of the circumstances she found herself in pulling the audience under her spell and eliciting laughter and claps.

John watched her intently and when she concluded he was hooked. He had to greet her she probably didn't remember him but he sure as hell remembered her. The session over everyone started rising and exiting the conference room. John tried to make his way to the front stage to talk to Evangeline but was stopped by Antonio.

"Hey bro…didn't think you joined us." He said smirking

John barely spoke still trying to get to the front of the stage. Antonio frowned watching John making his way to the front of the room.

As he approached Evangeline talking to three female officers stepped from the podium and looked at him curiously. Their eyes locked and she flashed him a professional smile then returned her attention back to the officers in front of her. John waited for them to finish then approached.

"Ms Williamson"
"Yes…" she said smiling sweetly
"My name is John McBain Lt. of the Llanview Police Department of Pennsylvania"
"Nice to meet you Lt."
"I have to say I'm really impressed by your presentation. I've had some serial killings in my town that mirrored some of the profiles you highlighted."

Evangeline narrowed her eyes. "Llanview Pennsylvania…that's right you had the Lipstick killings."

John nodded "Yes, that one was recently resolved by my department. You know of the case?"
"We track them all at the bureau I studied Richard Deckard and his obsession with killing young women and applying makeup afterwards. You resolved it through his wife correct?"

John stared into her almond colored eyes extremely impressed that she was so well versed on the subject and surprised at how much she'd changed from when she entered the academy.

Evangeline notice his stare. His blue eyes piercing into hers and she felt dejavu "Have we met before Lt.?" she said confused.

"You can say that I was with the Bureau for almost 10 years before I left."
She looked him up and down and tried to recall when she crossed paths with him and before she gained clarity on it a young woman tapped her arm.

"Excuse me Ms. Williamson but your room is ready" she said passing her an envelope with her key. Evangeline smiled and thanked her.

"Well it was nice meeting you Lt." she said turning to leave.
John watched her walk over to the blonde and speak before they both walked out. She was a young cadet when he was in her orbit, her brilliance and determination left a lasting impression on him but he was married to Caitlyn at the time. She had blossomed into a beautiful woman. He found it interesting that she had chosen to become a profiler.

"She's hot" Antonio said coming up the side of him.
"Very…"
Antonio watched how John stared at her as she left out of side door. "Do you know her? From your days at the FBI?"

John looked at his friend and shrugged "Not really...she was in a class I taught. Surprised at how far she's come, I mean a lead profiler for the Bureau is impressive."

Turning they walked out and he shook the urge to reach out to the raven haired beauty. He would freshen up and hit the lobby to try his luck his at the crap table. Antonio said he wanted to get into the Poker room which translated to him being boggled down in gambling the rest of the night. Didn't matter to John he'd been to Vegas hundreds of times and wasn't interested in hitting any other casinos.

Later that night

Evangeline decided to have drinks downstairs in the Red Room, a chic bar that had a jazz pianist. The entire place was illuminated by red lights and there was an extravagant red fountain spilling over in the center. Looking out the large glass windows she watched as quite a few people were coming in and out the hotel inebriated and heading to the slot machines and other games of chance. She had one more session to narrate and several focus groups tomorrow and wanted to be at her best. Sitting and accepting her martini she opened the small folder she'd brought down to read on a case that was troubling the police in Seattle.

John walked into the bar deciding that he'd grab a drink a hit the casino later he heard the pianist playing a soft melody and thought maybe he'd just try the crap table and drink for free. That was until he saw her. Evangeline sat at the far end of the bar her head bowed with her hair hanging in her face. He couldn't believe she would be in Vegas and on her free time working instead of enjoying the amenities of one of the plushest hotels on the strip. Smiling he walked over.

"Martini dreams…" he said smiling at her.
She looked up confused "Excuse me?"
"Looking at you sitting here nursing that drink I'm reminded of a song I heard long ago."
"Really? A song?" she said amused slinging her hair over her shoulder.

"A man spoke of the allure of a temptress sipping on a martini in his dream. Apparently she stole his soul and enslaved him, using him for her own purposes each time he dreamed."

Evangeline looked at her drink and smiled "Interesting story"

"Mind if I join you?" John asked smiling.

She stared at him for a moment surprised that he wanted to and then shrugged.
John took that as a yes and sat down. The bartender came over and he ordered a whiskey.

Evangeline ordered another martini dry with three olives. She looked at John amused that he was once again in her space smiling at her. "John right?"

"That's right. John McBain and we do know each other."
"Oh?" she said raising a perfectly arched eyebrow.
John shook his head laughing "I see I didn't leave much of an impression."

She narrowed her eyes on him. "Wait….back at Quantico you were one of the instructors on drug enforcement right?"
"Give the lady a gold star"

Evangeline laughed "I am so sorry Mr. McBain I should have remembered you were pretty tough on me as I recall."

"Call me John and I wouldn't say tough…"

Evangeline accepted her martini and smiled "Oh you were tough alright and challenged me on my analysis of the 1980 Cuban boat lift into Miami. As I recall you wanted to tie in the increase of drug traffic to Castro sending his prisoners over to United States for asylum."

"That's right" he nodded
"Yet your theory didn't account for the existing trade by the Columbians that cornered that market in Miami. The Cubans had no power and were just foot soldiers"

"Foot soldiers is how drugs spread fast and efficiently through those communities" John said frowning at her.

Evangeline shook her head. "See that's the problem. You and others keep trying to treat the symptom instead of curing the disease. It was the Columbian Cartels shipments and the Nicaraguan allegiance that caused your drug problem. But to address that would make to much sense. Instead you formulate plans to attack and incarcerate the drug dealers while the flood of poison continues to pour into our streets"

John drank his whiskey and laugh "I see much hasn't changed. You presented that argument then refusing to see the assignment for what it was. It wasn't to address the Drug trafficking as a whole. It was a case study into the rise in crime for a particular community."

Evangeline swiveled in on her barstool and faced him he looked over at her and admired her beauty up close "That's why I chose profiling. Because I don't think parallel I see the entire picture."

John raised his glass to her "Here's to seeing the big picture!"
She raised her martini glass and tapped his. "Here, here" she said smiling.

Drinking his whiskey he smirked "I have to say I am really in awe of you. I knew you were bright but after hearing you speak today I see just how bright. Great Job."

Evangeline smiled at him. "Well thanks I think instructors like you who pushed us cadets to see the fallacies in our ways of thinking gives us direction into our strengths and weaknesses." She sipped her martini and they sat listening the pianist. She looked over into his face and he smiled.

"How about we get a table?"
"Sure" she said taking her drink and following him to table near the pianist.

Looking around the bar he saw the couples swaying and engaging in light conversation. The red hue to the place and the seductive music playing made the whiskey stir in his blood and his desires focus directly on her.

"You're very pretty, I have to say that you are by far the prettiest profiler I've ever met."

Evangeline heard the seduction in his voice and saw the heat in his stare. She became extremely flattered. "Thank you...I think?"

He frowned "You don't like compliments?"
She laughed "Well I'd have to see the other profilers you've seen to determine if it was a compliment."

He laughed again as she smiled into his face. They talked about his time in the F.B.I. and the strain of the Haver case years ago had on his life. He told her of his obsession with Steve Haver and how it brought about the destruction of his marriage. She asked questions about the murders under Steve Haver and his disappearance shortly after his apprehension. John flinched at the mention of that and noticed how she studied his reaction. Steve Haver overpowered his men and killed three of them. It hurt his career and drove him to madness with hunting him. Finally leaving the Bureau he headed to Llanview for obscurity

"Why are you so curious about that case? Steve Haver is now reported to be dead" John asked drinking his beer. He wasn't sure but DNA evidence found on a charred body in Michigan 2 years ago was linked to Haver. After killing 13 residents in the small town of Muncie he reportedly set himself on fire. John still found that hard to believe.

"I'm a profiler John, dead or alive that case is useful to me."
"Understood"

He drank more and so did she they talked about mutual friends at the Bureau and she explain why she never found the time to date. John watched the graceful way she moved and how her light laughter carried through the air wrapping him up in her spell. She was the most intriguing woman he'd met since Caitlyn and his draw to her was powerful.

"I find you extremely sexy." He said brazenly unable to resist his urge to be nearer to her.
Evangeline smirked "Really?"
"You must get that often…"
"Sexy? Not really but I am aware that men find a woman in power erotic and I think that is your martini dream Lt." she purred.

John laughed. "Must be difficult for you at times, going from city to city trying to assist stubborn small town cops to take your advice and hear your opinion."

She nodded "It is…"
"Yet you not only proceed but you've climbed the ranks to the number one spot. That's impressive."
"Again with the flattery…come on to seduce a woman that you claim to be a bright as me I suggest you try another method" she giggled.

He lowered his glass and looked at her. She sat before him in a peach short sleeved blouse with the top two buttons undone. Her pecan brown skin radiating underneath, her hair scooped on side behind her ear revealing a diamond stud sparkling from her lobe. Looking into her face scrubbed free of makeup she still wore copper lip gloss that shimmered every time her lips moved. She wasn't shy at all, but she wasn't responding the way he liked to his advances. At this point most women did.

"Ever do anything spontaneous"
She looked up from her martini and stared into his eyes. "Like sleeping with a Lt. that I barely knew from 7 years ago?"

John almost choked on his whiskey as she threw her head back into a soft laugh. She was amused and her amusement softened her even more in his eyes. Looking at him she shrugged. "That is where this is headed right? I mean the invitation to join me at the bar, small talk about the FBI comments on me being sexy, you're trying to seduce me."

"Would that be a bad thing?"

Raising her glass and taking another drink she swallowed her favorite liquid and smiled. "Not interested Lt., It's a policy of mine not to sleep with colleagues. Its self defeating."

John looked at her with a playful hurt expression. "We aren't colleagues."
"Of course we are….you work in law enforcement and I may find myself one day assisting you in some way. Imagine how awkward it would be if we had one meaningless dalliance."

"What if I told you that I never use profilers? I find them a waste of department's budget. I solve my crimes the old fashion way. What then?" he said leaning in across the table

She moved her finger beckoning him to come closer. Moving his chair next to hers he waited as she leaned into his ear and whispered seductively "I would say never, say never Lt. you may miss out on one helluva an opportunity."

John pulled back and looked into her face. She stared into his and smiled daring him to move on her. His confidence wavering under her penetrating stare she finally broke away.

"Thank you for an interesting evening John, I hope to see you again" she said rising.
John rose and smiled "Thank you Evangeline"

She looked into his blue eyes and smiled. He was definitely tempting. Walking away from the table slinging her hair from her shoulders she felt his eyes on her. Looking back he raised his glass to her and winked. If the timing and circumstances were different she definitely would have taken him up on the offer.

The conference went on pretty uneventful. John and Evangeline's paths didn't cross again. Evangeline attended several small focus groups giving them more insight on criminology and way to be affective profilers themselves. She all but forgot her sexy instructor from many years ago.

John received word that a case fell into his jurisdiction that needed his immediate attention and decided to fly back a day early. He didn't forget the chocolate beauty he sparred with. She was too intriguing to forget, and since he wouldn't have the pleasure of knowing her he decided to file his memory well he kept a running catalogue of missed opportunity. Leaving Sin City he headed back to what he was good at being a cop and nothing more.