Chapter 2
It was pouring rain outside as Irene walked out of the office. But she did not seem to mind because the first day of the trial ended in favor of the DA's. She was especially happy for both Mike and Jack's compliments after the trial was over especially about the details she presented. She took out her umbrella and was walking a few steps in the rain until a car stopped by along the curve. Irene wondered who it could be. When the window pulled down, Irene saw it was Cyrus Lupo.
"Hello there Irene," Cyrus greeted.
"Hello Cyrus. We meet again," she said wondering if he just happened to be driving by and saw her.
"Yes we have been running into each other quite a bit," Cyrus smiled. "I heard that case went well."
"Yes it did," Irene answered.
"That's great. Do you need a ride home?" Cyrus asked. "It would be much easier than getting your feet wet."
"Well if it's not the out of your way," Irene said hesitantly.
"Where do you live?"
"On 21 and State Street."
"Perfect. It's on the way to my apartment. Come on in," he invited. Irene then went into the car and closed the door beside her. Cyrus then drove off. A moment of silence fell in the car. Irene kind of felt strange sitting in Cyrus's car. She wondered if it was normal for him to give rides to female co-workers. Was he just doing it to be friendly or did he have other intentions? "So what's going to happen tomorrow?" Cyrus asked interrupting her thoughts.
"Well the defense is going to pull up some witnesses. Mike and I have researched their ties to the suspect and will be asking them base on that."
"I see," Cyrus said clearly interested. "And will the defense be pulling the suspect tomorrow?"
"Yes and we've devised some questions to confront the suspect such as his relations to the victims and his past history. Hopefully hell, confess to something."
"Unless the defense decides to object."
"But we will have reasons for it to be overruled."
"Or you could recall the suspect during the rebuttal," Cyrus suggested.
"Yes we could," Irene said looking at him wondering how he knows this stuff.
"I am actually taking some night law classes," Cyrus smiled as if reading her mind.
"Oh so you're after Mike's job?" Irene joked.
"Actually no. I'm more interested in family law."
"Why family law?" Irene asked curiously.
"Because I believe in strong family values and structure in stabilizing our society," Cyrus answered.
"Do you hope to have a family of your own?" Irene asked.
"Of course with a big backyard and a white picket fence and a dog." Irene laughed. "What so funny?"
"Not many men dream of that. It's mostly women."
"Then I am one of the few men. Do you hope to have that too in your future?"
"Well my parents did try to influence me to find someone to support me and get married and give them some grand kids. But I had to delay their wishes because I was very focused on law school and obtaining my career despite many matchmakers. I wanted to pursue my career and see what opportunities were out there for me. I don't want to settle down just yet. If I do get married, I want to adopt children."
"Why adopt?" Cyrus asked curiously.
"Because I feel the human population is already increasing rapidly and I think it's more meaningful to give a better opportunity to an orphaned child who is already living and deserving of that greater life."
"Wow that's amazing," he said in awe staring at her. He just sat there touched by her words and goals. Fortunately it was still a red light otherwise the car behind them would horn angrily.
"Thank you," Irene said feeling her face turning red. She soon wondered why she was telling Cyrus all of this. They soon reached her apartment much to Irene's relief.
"Well thanks for the ride," she said getting out of the car. "See you again soon."
"Yeah see you soon," he said watching her hurry towards her apartment and trying to avoid getting wet.
A few days later, after both sides presented their cases, the jury soon reached a decision.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the Judge asked.
"We have your honor," Juror #1 answered.
"On the count of murder in the first degree, how do you find?"
"We find the defendant guilty."
Irene just sat there in both excitement and shock. She could not believe her very first actual case was a success.
"Good job," Mike smiled looking at her.
"Thanks you too," she smiled back. She then watched looked over to the defendant who was clearly distraught though he tried to hold his disappointment inside as he was taken away by the court sergeant to incarceration.
Later Irene was checking email where she saw Mike popping his head in.
"Hey I am going out to drinks with Lupo and Bernard if you want to join us," he said.
Irene thought she felt her heart skipped a beat when she heard Cyrus's name.
"Um no thank you. I am not much of a drinker," she said looking up from her laptop.
"Oh ok," Mike said a bit surprised. "Well I'll see you tomorrow." He then closed the door and walked out of the office. He soon met up with Lupo and Bernard at the bar. "Hello gentlemen."
"Hi Mike," Bernard greeted. "Glad you could join us."
"Where's Irene?" Cyrus asked wanting to know why Mike came alone.
"She said she was not much of a drinker," Mike responded.
"Oh," was all Cyrus could say.
"You seem disappointed detective that Ms. Frey did not show up," Mike observed.
"Well I was hoping she'd come to celebrate her first court victory," Cyrus said. "with us."
"Oh really?" Both Mike and Kevin said in curious and amused unison.
"She's worked really hard on this case and she completely deserves this recognition," Cyrus reasoned but both Kevin and Mike knew the real reason why he wanted her to be there.
"I am sure she celebrates in her own way," Mike said. Later after drinks, Cyrus dropped Kevin off at his home. He was on his way back to his place when he saw a flower shop along the street. He decided to pull over and parked his car. Cyrus got out and entered the florist shop. He examined the several varieties of flowers and flower arrangements.
"Can I help you?" the store clerk asked.
"Yes I would like that bouquet," Cyrus said pointing to the arrangement of red and pink roses. The store clerk nodded and took the bouquet and wrapped it around with colored tissue paper. "And you do personal delivery?"
"Yes we do," the florist answered as matter of fact.
"Could you send these to this address?"
"Certainly. I'll make sure your flowers will be sent out today."
Irene was eating take out and watching TV when she heard the doorbell ring. She got up and answered the door and was surprised to see a delivery person with flowers.
"Special delivery for Irene Frey," the delivery person announced.
"Oh thank you," she exclaimed admiring the flowers as they were handed to her. Irene then signed the delivery confirmation before heading back inside. Irene found a vase to put the flowers in. She decided to place the vase on the coffee table. Since there was no card, Irene began to wonder who went them.
'Could he be a certain detective?'
The next day Irene decided to take jog through Central Park since it was Saturday. After running for 20 minutes, she decided to take a break and sit down on a bench. Soon she saw a big white dog barking and running towards her. At first, she was afraid the dog would bite her. Instead, the dog turned out be extremely playful and he pounced on her and licked her hands.
"Oh hello there. Where did you come from?" she said amused petting the dog on the head because she loved animals.
"So we meet again," said a voice. Irene's eyes widened as she looked up to see Cyrus standing there and was holding the leash of the white dog.
"Yes we always seem to be running into each other," she observed with a smile.
"We have," Cyrus smiled. "I see you are going on a jog."
"Yes I am."
"We missed you last night at the bar," Cyrus commented.
"Well I am not much of a drinker," Irene answered. "But I had a nice relaxing yet interesting night at home."
"Oh did you?"
"Yes. I received the most beautiful bouquet of red and pink roses," she said looking at Cyrus wondering if he had anything to do with it.
"Oh who were they from?" Cyrus asked acting as if he didn't know.
"I don't know because it had no card."
"Then you must have a secret admirer."
"Yeah it sure is a mystery alright. I was thinking of going to the crime lab and looking for matching finger prints and find out who it is since I have that access and I can trace it back to a particular flower shop and find out the purchaser from last night."
"Oh yeah," Cyrus said trying to hide his nervousness. He wasn't sure if he should reveal himself.
"Although I have narrowed down the list since not many people know my address. I think I have a good idea who he is." Cyrus sat down next to her.
"Who is it?" He asked curiously.
"I think it's one of the law clerks in the office. He's been giving me t he looks and always gets nervous when he talks to me."
"Oh," Cyrus said trying to hide his disappointment.
"I think I'll try to talk to him more often at work," Irene said waiting to see Cyrus's reaction.
"Yeah you should," he said looking down at Toby and petting his head. Irene wondered why he wouldn't reveal himself.
"Or it is possible that the sender is not him," Irene offered. Cyrus immediately looked up at her.
"Yeah it could be someone you least expect," he suggested.
'Or someone I most expect,' Irene thought. She then got up. "Well I better head home. A friend from Albany is visiting me. Bye Cyrus."
"Bye," he said watching her run off. "What is it about her, Toby that attracts me to her?"
Toby just barked in response. Cyrus just laughed and rubbed his forehead.
Irene was organizing some files in her office when Denise walked in with another bouquet of roses.
"Someone sent you these," Denise said handing her the flowers.
"Oh how lovely," Irene said taking and smelling the roses.
"I'll get you a vase," Denise said exiting Irene's office. Irene soon saw a card. It read 'I am no law clerk but I work the New York streets to make sure our citizens are safe. I hope to bring more justice in the world.' There was no name on the card.
"So who sent them to you?" Denise asked walking in and setting the vase on Irene's desk.
"I don't know. It seems I have a secret admirer," Irene answered putting the flowers in the vase.
"The sender must be someone you know really well," Denise commented.
"And someone who knows me really well."