Part 1

It wasn't the best area of the city. The street was narrow, the light of the street lights was darker than in other places and because of that they couldn't see more than the first level of the houses around them. On the other hand, the houses were full of graffiti, dirty and not in a good conditions, nothing somebody wanted to look at. Neither were the shops, most of them closed for good. Windows were broken, cardboard was in some windows, nothing looked like a great shopping experience. It was an area that had been famous for factories in the late sixties and early seventies. Since that time nobody had cared about the buildings.

The area didn't appeal to people but in the middle of all these ugly things was something that appealed to many people: a young, beautiful, female, sparkling short skirt and top, black high heels, long hair. A showgirl. Like you found so many in Las Vegas, always happy, always smiling, always dancing. The only two differences between this showgirl and all the others were she was here and not on the Strip or on Freemont Street downtown. and she was a dead showgirl.

Sara wasn't sure how the show girl ended up here, they were miles away from the Strip and Freemont Street. She hadn't seen any kind of entertainment club within one or two miles, there was no reason why a showgirl was here. But Sara knew too, this wasn't her primary crime scene. The throat of the woman was slashed and there wasn't much blood around the scene. Barely the amount of an ordinary cut you got when you didn't pay attention chopping your vegetables. Meant when she wanted to look for a primary crime scene she could look somewhere along the Strip, Freemont Street or any other place in this city. Until she knew the name of the dead woman, she had no place to focus on. And even with her name there was no guarantee that the woman wasn't on a way to a friend, lover, family. Not much to work with right now.

"What does a showgirl do in this area of the town?"

"Why and who brought her here?" Sara asked and turned around. Behind her was lieutenant Clark, the newest member of the LVPD and her boyfriend and lover of four months.

"Did you find anything so far that gives us anything about the vehicle she was transported in?"

"No, so far nothing. Greg has some tire marks, maybe they'll help. But there's nothing around the body that gives us any clue about her killer. Let's hope Doc Robbins is a bigger help."

"You go back in?"

"Yes I'll leave Greg all alone here."

"He'll be fine I'll take care of him."

"Thanks."

He moved a little bit closer to her. "What are you doing for breakfast?"

"I've a date with a hot and sexy lieutenant."

"Really?"

"Yes, I look forward for that."

"What time?"

"Why?"

"I'd like to be there."

"Sorry, I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about a hot blonde."

"Ouch. If you're taken for breakfast what's about after breakfast?"

"Sorry, also taken for that."

"No free space in your bed?"

"Well, I'm not sure, it depends how my date goes on. Sometimes we end up in bed, sometimes it's the couch. Can't tell you yet."

"You're a cruel woman."

"I know."

"Does your date include dinner?"

"I'm afraid it does. Sorry Ryan, we're having a whole girls day."

"That's alright, you haven't really had time with Sofia for a long time. I told you at the beginning, I don't want you to lose your close contact to her. Better to tell me a few times you've no time than losing her as your best friend."

"What a pity we're on duty I'd love to kiss you for that." Sara whispered with a smile.

"Keep that in mind for tomorrow morning when we've a date."

"We'll have a date? I'll write that down. In case I'm engaged with somebody else I'll give you a call."

"You're better free, Miss Sidle."

"We'll see, Mister Clark." She formed her lips to a kiss and left him alone. As important as he was to her, she was very much in love and as soon as she was close to him she wanted nothing more than jumping in his arms and feel him, the day with Sofia was planed and wouldn't be cancelled.

"I'm starving!" Sofia hugged Sara, got a bagel, ate a huge piece, swallowed it before she had the time to chew it and hugged Sara again. "Missed you."

"What did Marco say?"

"He wanted to join us, said he wouldn't mind having both of us in his bed."

"In his dreams."

"What did Ryan say?"

"After I told him the sexy lieutenant I want to meet isn't him and that I also don't have any time for him later?"

"Ouch, he hates me?"

"He said you and me haven't spent much time together in the last few days and he'd never try to get between us because he wants me to be as close to you as I was before he and me came together."

"Why did I gave him up?"

"Because he wasn't interested in you."

"Yes, that was the reason why. Not need to say that so cruel, my dear."

Sara offered Sofia another bagel and wondered at the same time why she had prepared the table when they were standing around.

"We could sit."

"Good idea." Sofia got the coffee, two cups, the bagels, carried everything to the couch and pulled Sara after her when the brunette was only staring. Sofia had destroyed her lovely table without paying attention.

"I prepared the table…"

"I know, it looked wonderful, but I want…" Sofia pressed Sara on the couch and sat on her lap. "…to be close to you. As I told you, I missed you, Sara."

"I can see that."

"You mind? Is only Ryan allowed to hug you?"

"Stupid question." Sara pulled Sofia in her arms. "You're not stupid, don't ask stupid questions, lieutenant."

"Sorry."

"I think it's time we plan another holiday, only you and me. That will give us some time together. A few days, what do you think?"

"Sounds perfect. Where would you like to go to?"

"New York?" They had thought about New York before. Sara hadn't been to New York in ages and wanted to see the changes the city had made. The last time she had been there, the World Trade Center was still standing and nobody believed it could ever be gone.

"The big apple? Sure. I'll email the couple from Manhattan who were in my apartment a few months ago. They told me I can have their apartment whenever I want. We should ask for three or four days off and I'll get the apartment for us. I want to be a part of this, New York, New York. I want to wake up in a city that doesn't sleep…"

"Sssshhh, I've got glass windows in my apartment." Sara put her index finger on Sofia's lips and grinned.

"Bitch."

"Love you too."

"I know." Sofia snuggled in Sara's arms. "We need a regular day together, even when we see each other each night in the department, I miss the time with you."

"We can make the Tuesday to our day, girls day. Breakfast and dinner one week your place, one week my place and no men allowed. And every second day we'll have breakfast together."

"Sounds good to me. Maybe we can get our men to agree on a breakfast once a week all together. I enjoyed our dinner together and I think Ryan and Marco were fine with each other."

"Ryan did. I think he'll agree."

"And I'll make Marco agree." Sofia smirked.

"Are you manipulating your boyfriend?"

"Let's say I show or tell him what he wants because there are so many times he doesn't know what's good for him. Men sometimes need this kind of special help."

"You're playing him."

"I influence him." Sofia grinned. Sometimes it was better when she showed Marco what he wanted. Otherwise he would forget her demands. It was nothing more than a friendly reminder, not a bad intention.