The next day, Connie sauntered into Mike's office, handed him a fresh cup of coffee to replace the one he'd been sipping from all morning, and made herself comfortable on his couch. Her boss quickly finished typing up a motion and looked up.

"Anything new with the Sterling case?"

She nodded. "The detectives went over to Angel's house to talk to her. It took a while, but they finally got the whole story out of her." Connie placed a couple of pages on Mike's desk. He put on his reading glasses and obediently glanced at the document. According to Detective Bernard's report, Angel Sterling had stayed up late when she heard noises coming from the bathroom. When she turned on the lights, she observed two robbers wearing ski masks. One of them dropped the bag they were placing prescription medicine into and began picking up the spilled contents while the other robber took Angel Sterling by the hair and told her if she told anyone about what happened, she'd get a brick to the head. The burglars then left. Angel Sterling recognized the voice as belonging to Jesse Woodson.

Mike took off his glasses and looked at Connie. "That's so random."

"What?"

"Think about it, Connie. Who threatens someone with a brick to the head?" Mike took his basketball in one hand and began tossing it pensively. "I mean, that's so specific. It's not like 'stay quiet or I'll hurt you,' it's more like 'stay quiet or I'll drop a piano on you'."

Connie shrugged. "I guess."

Mike's eyes narrowed. "Hey, did you print out a copy of the Facebook page?"

"Yeah, sure." Connie took the document from the file and handed it over. "Why? What are you thinking, Mike?"

He scanned the document and gave it back to her. "Jesse Woodson created this page, but he only made three comments. In one, he wrote that this was a page to vent about Angel Sterling. In another, he wrote haha to one of Jackson's comments. But look at this one."

"Someone should teach that kid a lesson." Connie read. "Anyone got a brick? LOL."

"We're missing something, here." Mike squeezed his baseball before tossing it up again.

"Okay, hold on a second. We know Jesse Woodson created this page." Connie took a green marker and began making a timeline on Mike's whiteboard. "It says here that he created it the day after the burglary, and he mentioned the brick then, too. Now, he said the point of the page was for the kids to vent, but this thing is public. Anyone can see it - even Angel Sterling."

"So he was using it to intimidate her." Mike shrugged. "We already knew that."

"Yeah, but he was doing this under his own name. Makes you wonder what he wrote to her anonymously, doesn't it?"

"Connie, you're a genius!" Mike took his phone and dialed Detective Lupo's phone number. "Detective. This is Mike Cutter. Get TARU to go over Angel Sterling's computer and see if she got any anonymous messages. Also, pull her phone records and see if she's been getting any weird phone calls she hasn't told us about. Oh, and find out if Jesse Woodson or Madison Jackson have records. Yeah, I know, I know it's a lot, but I really think we can nail this guy. Also, see how much the police know about those burglaries that have been going on around Powell street lately. Yeah, the ones with the medicines. Okay, thank you, Detective. Good bye."

Connie gave her boss a smile. "Guess we're working late tonight, huh?"

He stood up and started putting on his coat. "Yep."

"On a Friday?" She shook her head at him. "Slave driver."

Mike opened the door. "Come on, before I start to regret buying you lunch."

Connie grinned and quickly took hold of her things. "Can we go to that little Mexican place this time?"

Cutter rolled his eyes but nodded anyway. He didn't even know why she bothered asking. They always ended up getting whatever she wanted, anyway.


Connie Rubirosa was starting to get worried. When she was in law school, she knew what she'd signed up for by deciding to be a prosecutor - crappy pay, long hours, and little time for a personal life. Oh, who was she kidding? No time for a personal life. She'd been aware of all that when she applied for her current job, and she'd always thought she could live with it.

Until now.

Things had been getting weird with Mike, lately. The thing with the juror, then the awkwardness of the Woll case and - and the way he'd reacted when Stuber called her a spic, and the way she'd reacted to his reaction... Connie didn't know what freaked her out more: Mike's obvious feelings for her or the fact that she couldn't seem to discern how she felt about the whole debacle.

He was her boss. That was the most important thing to remember, here. He was her boss, and he was so off-limits, it wasn't even funny. It didn't matter that he wasn't an arrogant jerk like Marcus, sleeping with the boss - no matter how handsome and funny he was - would be demeaning, not to mention completely unethical.

But the way he stared at her...

Like now, for instance. They sat on opposite sides of the tiny table, Mike plowing into a plate of tacos al pastor while Connie took tiny bites out of her chilaquiles. Both appeared absorbed in their food, but Connie still sensed Mike's eyes roving over her face every two seconds.

"You want some?" She asked, breaking the silence to offer him a forkful of delicious chicken and chips drenched in cheese and green sauce. Mike hesitated. "Oh, come on. You always have the tacos. Try something new, for once."

He took the fork cautiously. "Is it spicy?"

Connie shook her head as she took a sip of her Diet Coke.

Mike took a deep breath. "Okay, then. Let's see how this goes..."

He placed the bite of food in his mouth. Connie stared, eagerly awaiting a reaction. Finally, he smiled and slid her plate over to his side of the table. "You know, this is a little spicy. Tell you what, why don't you take my tacos and I'll eat this for you." Connie started to protest, but Mike held up a hand. "No, no, no. No need to thank me. My mother raised me to be a gentleman, and I am more than happy to sacrifice myself for a beautiful lady such as yourself."

Connie raised an eyebrow at him. "A real gentleman would sacrifice himself for any lady - not just a beautiful one."

Mike paused a moment to consider this. "True, but you are, in fact, a beautiful lady, so the point is moot."

"Well, this beautiful lady doesn't need you to sacrifice yourself for her, thank you very much." Connie replied as she reached over, shamelessly stole one of Mike's tacos and took a bite.

"Oh, really? In that case, you're not getting any more of my food, ma'am." Mike leaned over and took the half-eaten taco out of Connie's hand, then proceeded to shove it all in his mouth.

Connie finished chewing, took a sip of her drink and childishly stuck her tongue out at him.


What do you guys think? First fanfic, so please be nice!