So forensic science I know inside out and have deliberately taken a little dramatic licence with, but with US law enforcement I'm clueless so have no idea how a break-in investigation should be run. Thanks so much for all the wonderful reviews, they definitely brighten up my day and keep me plugging away. Anyway on with the show.

Chapter 2

"So this is it? This is my tax-dollars at work?"

"It was the best I could get. This is LA. There was a double homicide called in earlier this morning and resources are kinda stretched. I hate to break it to ya doc, but the State don't consider this a priority right now."

"One guy with a camera and some white powder? Seriously?" Hands on her hips, Juliet looked on in distain as one solitary man in a white scene-suit flicked powder onto a workbench in her lab.

"Yeah, but Mike here's the best. If there's anythin' to be found, he'll get it, no problem. Especially since you did such a good job preservin' the scene." Juliet looked over in irritation at the smug cop from the previous night. He was ridiculously good-looking, and knew it – which annoyed the hell out of her. He steadfastly ignored her glare and as she watched him write something in his notebook, she couldn't decide if he was incompetent or just thought this was all beneath him.

"Then why isn't he working that homicide?" He looked up in surprise at her challenge. He silently held her gaze for a second before breaking out that damn grin of his and it took all her willpower not to back down and look away. He wasn't getting off that easy. She noticed he shook his head slightly when the realisation dawned she was being serious and expected an answer, the grin losing some of its wattage.

"Cos, sweetheart, today's yer lucky day. Old Mike was off shift, but I personally called in a favour to get him come take a look. He'll dust for prints, swab for DNA, take photos and anything else he might come across. The whole she-bang. The laptop, unfortunately he'll have to package up and take back to the lab. Hope you have a spare."

"Well, I certainly feel bathed in good fortune right now. You think up nicknames for every member of the public when you're working a case, detective?"

"Just the pretty ones." She rolled her eyes at this and prayed the colour of her cheeks wouldn't betray her. With a shake of the head she turned away from the lab and back down the hallway.

"Coffee?" she half-heartedly tossed back over her shoulder.

"Thought ya'd never ask."

#####

"Can you think of anyone else who'd want to steal yer work? Or even just cause this level of disruption?" They had gone over her statement and the list of personnel who had access to her lab and had arranged that he would be back first thing on Monday to question them pending any lab results from that morning.

"Other than my ex-husband?" she couldn't help the slight sarcastic edge to her voice and he looked up from his notes sharply.

"He in the same business then? Why would you say that?"

"Cos he's an asshole." He went back to scribbling, and she grew slightly panicked as she craned her neck to see what he was writing. She had just been venting her frustration, but he seemed to be taking her remark seriously.

"What's his name?"

"Edmund Burke – look I wasn't really being serious, not even he would stoop that low and he's all the way over in Miami for Christ's sake!"

"You gonna trust me to do my job? If he ain't involved, he ain't involved. You have to tell me everything. Look, I know you think I'm just some dumb hick, but I know what I'm doing here." His face contorted into a slight scowl and she pushed back from her seat, rising to put some distance between them.

"I don't…" she trailed off unable to lie that she hadn't been thinking just that. "OK. But please don't contact him unless you absolutely have to. I'd rather he didn't know about this."

"So where's the rugrat today?" He changed gears, dropping the investigation for the moment as she cleared up their empty cups and rinsed them in the sink of the small break room they had occupied. She looked back at him quizzically, trying to determine if he was genuinely interested, but he was looking back down, shuffling his papers into order. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, it would be impolite not to answer, despite her wanting nothing than to get rid of him so she could get out of there and enjoy what was left of her Saturday. Although the scene examiner was still doing his thing and she doubted he'd leave until it was finished. She'd let the silence drag on too long though and he noticed, looking up with eyebrows raised in question.

"He's with his mom." She stated simply, grabbing a towel and dried the cups as a distraction.

"The deluded Miami Heat fan?" She grinned at this despite herself and he caught it. "Ah, that smile tells me she ain't the only one, huh? That where you're from?" She nodded and resignedly sat back down at the table. He wasn't going to give up with the small talk.

"Yeah, born and raised. We moved out here so I could start up this place. Year, year and a half ago." She toyed with a pen and hoped if she kept it vague he'd notice her reluctance to talk about herself and give up. If he did however, he ignored it and ploughed straight on regardless.

"Wow, that's really somethin' that she packed up and moved cross-country with you, family in tow. How did her husband take it?"

"She doesn't have one. It's just us. She's been ill for a long while and whilst she's fine now, Julian takes up all her time, so she insisted she had nothing keeping her in Miami. I'm pretty sure she just couldn't bear to lose the free babysitter." Why on earth was she talking about this to a practical stranger? A stranger that had done nothing but irritate her since last night. She looked up and into his eyes and her breath caught slightly at the warmth in them as he held her gaze. Her mind went blank and she would have struggled if someone asked what they were talking about.

"Yeah I'm sure that must be the only reason." He smirked and the moment was broken. He was back to being the infuriating cop she couldn't wait to get rid of.

"So what about you? That doesn't sound like a local accent you've got." She asked, steering the conversation away from herself.

"Nope. Alabama ma'am," He stated; a perfect imitation of the Southern gent she highly doubted he was. "Had to come where the crime was."

"How long have you worked for the LAPD then?"

"You tryin' to suss out if I'm up to the job, Blondie?" He winked at her and before she could think up a retort continued, "Over 10 years now, don't worry. Nearly 6 as a detective in Vice." Leaning forward to prop her chin in the palm of her hand, she regarded him thoughtfully. As the silence stretched on, he sat back in his seat, fidgeting slightly and she savoured the small victory.

"Why Vice?" She eventually ventured to ask. "Isn't it Homicide where all the glory is? You could be out there now with this morning's case, rather than stuck here with me fretting over some computer files."

"Nah, I like catching crooks and conmen. I'm all about the thrill of the chase with these guys - cat and mouse. From time to time we get pulled into serious organised crime as well. Plus the hours tend to be a bit more sociable." He grinned but it seemed more forced than before and she sensed that maybe her questioning had hit a nerve.

"And anyway, it's not everyday I get to be of assistance to a medical miracle worker. That kid, Julian, am I right in thinkin' he's the one your sister was told she could never have, but you made it happen?" She laughed slightly despite herself at his assessment.

"Something like that. You've been doing your homework? I'm impressed. Why all the questions then if you knew the answers?" He leaned back, pleased with himself and nonchalantly crossed his arms. He shrugged before answering.

"The wonders of Google. Gotta know what I'm up against, don't I?"

Before either could say anything more, however, a knock resounded on the door Mike (or so she assumed was Mike, she couldn't see his face before) stuck his head in.

"That's me done Jim." James nodded and rose to collect his paperwork. "Dr Burke, that's you free to clean up and use your lab once more, I have everything that I need."

"Thank you." Juliet rose too and walked both men out to the door. "I really appreciate you both coming out on a Saturday for this."

"Don't mention it ma'am, we're just doing our job. Rest assured I'm making it a priority to catch whoever did this. I'll be back on Monday morning for those statements." He stuck out his hand and Juliet shook it somewhat bemusedly. In the whole… 16 or so hours she'd known this guy, this was by far the most professional he'd been. Then he squeezed her hand just a little too hard, the smirk quirked at the corner of his mouth and she realised it was all for show in front of his colleague. She rolled her eyes in response and quickly snatched her hand back.

"Gentlemen." She nodded politely to an oblivious Mike and shot James an icy glare. He struggled to bite back a laugh.

"Dr Burke." They turned and headed out into the sunshine. Once they were out of sight, she wilted and slumped back slightly against the concierge desk. It had certainly been an exhausting morning.