Hope I can keep this one interesting. This is my first fanfic not based entirely on romance and/or an episode. Wish me luck!!

Chapter 1: Two Suits

1PP Present Time

Alex looked up from her desk to see Captain Ross round the corner into the squad room followed by two suits

Alex looked up from her desk to see Captain Ross round the corner into the squad room followed by two suits. Bobby glanced up at Alex and followed her gaze in time to see Ross enter his office and close the door behind said suits. He looked back at Alex. They gave each other a puzzled look and returned to their work.

"Found it!" Alex said in a triumphant voice. Bobby looked up at her expectantly.

"The '72 Chevy belonged to one Wesl….."

"Detective Goren! A word."

Bobby and Alex, as well as six other detectives within earshot of the Captain's request, were startled at the sudden interruption. Bobby looked at Alex for a moment before pushing back his chair and heading into Ross's office. Instinctively, Alex began to scratch at her thumbnail as she watched Bobby lumber into the Captain's office.

"Detective Goren, this is Special Agent Foster and Special Agent McGinty with the Federal Bureau of Investigation." Bobby shook the outstretched hand of the older Agent in front of hum and nodded to the younger man across the room. He quickly assessed the two men in front of him. Foster was obviously the lead. He was older than the other agent by a good ten years. He stood erect with his chin slightly angled upward. His hair was graying at the temples and his skin was leathered by the sun. The other man, McGinty, was leaning against the filing cabinet, arms crossed, with an aloof expression. His tan suit and white shirt made his skin look yellowed like an old dried coffee stain. He was sloppy and Bobby didn't like him.

"They're here to talk to you about a case they're working on involving a series of murders in upstate New York."

"Why me?" His question was directed toward Agent Foster.

"In the last 8 weeks, four men have been murdered in various, personal ways. One was stabbed in the chest. One wound………." Agent Foster laid an 8x10 crime scene photo of the man on Ross's desk. "One fatal wound. The second victim was poisoned. The killer added belladonna to his martini." He laid a second 8x10 on the desk. "The third was given Ketamine in his drink to sedate him and then smothered with a pillow." Again, an 8x10. "The fourth victim was also given the date rape drug and then strangled with his own tie." Agent Foster laid the fourth and final 8x10 on Ross's desk. "Notice anything about the four victims, Detective?"

Bobby was already hovering over the photos, touching each picture, etching the similarities and differences of each in his brain. In response to the Agent's question, his hands began to flutter. "They're all in their mid to late forties, short, dark hair. You're right, the murders appear to be personal. The victims are not married, at least none are wearing a ring. Unless these victims are homosexual, you are likely looking for a woman. The victims' clothes are well tailored to fit their larger frames. Because they are all wearing their clothes, I am going to assume they were killed before they had sex with the perp." He looked up at Agent Foster who had been watching him with great interest. "There is obviously a pattern here. Again, why are you asking me?" The Agent pulled out one more 8X10 and laid it on the desk. Bobby's blood went cold at what he saw. His first instinct was to physically move back from the photo.

"I take it you recognize this woman?"

"Eames," he said as much to himself as to his audience.

"I'm sorry?" Agent Foster asked as he leaned in closer to hear what Bobby had to say.

Bobby pulled his eyes from the photo and seemed to look through the Agent standing in front of him. He jerked toward Captain Ross. "Eames, I need Eames. She should be in here too."

"Detective," Ross began. But, Bobby cut him off. Shaking his head, he made it clear that this meeting would not continue without his partner. Ross cut his eyes to Foster and moved toward the door. "Detective Eames!" Alex had been staring at the Captain's door wondering what could be happening on the other side. Ross stepped through the door and gestured for her to join them. "It seems you're invited too."

Alex rose from her chair and moved quickly to Ross's office. The look on Bobby's face was the first thing she saw. His defenses were on red alert. Her brow furrowed and she quickly took stock of the men in the office with her. The younger man rose to his full height suddenly interested in his surroundings when Alex entered the office. Agent Foster stepped back to give Alex access to Ross's desk and to the 8x10 photos there aligned. Her eyes darkened at the sight of the woman in the picture, but always the professional, she moved that photo aside and studied the crime scene photos of the four victims. Alex looked at Bobby and then turned her attention to Agent Foster. "Tell me you've locked her up and thrown away the key.

"No, we haven't. That's why we're here. We were hoping your partner here could give us some insight into how she thinks; how she works. We understand you two have a long history." His eyes had moved from Alex to Bobby.

"You've seen how she works. It's all right there in those photos. Are you here to protect my partner or to use my partner for bait?" Alex forced the Agent to look at her with an answer. She stood square, arms crossed.

"Both, Detective."

TBC