It wasn't unusual for Ingrid to be out of the office; she spent most of her time with Fillmore on assignment, only coming in to control once or twice a week. When Ace had first arrived he had been surprised at the difference between Ingrid and Fillmore. Fillmore was constantly on the beat while Ingrid took things as they came. To begin with Ace had wondered how these two could work tougher as a team, but all too soon that had come clear with the help of a tape delivered to his home one night. There had been a note attached that had said to watch this in secret and when finished return to Joseph Anza. The video had been interviews and what looked like CCTV clips all made in to a movie about the two officers Ace had been paired with. It had basically told him all about his new partners and how to handle them.
Ace sank his chin into his fists as he watched Fillmore scrolling down the red list for the fifth consecutive hour.
"I wonder what's happening at the party?" he said "do you think there will be any problems?"
"I doubt it" Fillmore said "I think they've got it pretty much under wraps, and besides with Anza guarding the mayor I can pretty much promise that the party will go off with out a hitch"
"Yea" ace said after finishing the last of his burger "as long as Anza doesn't pull any tricks or pranks tonight, but I bet you wish you where over there instead of stuck in the office"
Fillmore just smiled at Ace. Fillmore had begun to like the newbie, Ace reminded him very much of himself back in middle school. Only caring about results rather than his friends and family; But after a year or so of working with him and Ingrid, Fillmore knew that Ace would be different. After all he and Ingrid weren't the best because they sat around all day.
After another 3 hours of working another officer arrived to take over for them. It was now midnight, and all Fillmore was planning was heading to the airport to pick up Ingrid then heading home and cuddling up with her in bed. Mean while Ace's plans where a bit different.
Ace pulled into the car park of his block of flats, and parked his truck. There where no lights on in any of the flats and the guard was doing his rounds. Ace stopped to talk to the guard before heading up to his flat. Once in Ace dumped all of his things on the sofa, and headed to his shower. Ace allowed the warm water to hit his tried body, the warm water washed away the stress of the days work and clamed Ace down. After he had washed and dried himself as well as getting changed in to his night cloths, Ace decided to settle down to watch telly for some time, when he heard a bang.
Ace jumped up and started to look round his flat, he didn't find any one but Ace was sure he hadn't had a bunch of flowers on his kitchen work top when he went to work that morning. Picking up the flowers Ace dumped them in the garbage shoot and decided to head to bed. Once everything was turned off and Ace was in bed he picked up the book that lay beside his bed. The title said '101 ways to win a woman's heart'.
The next afternoon Ace woke to the sound of his CD player going. Stammering out of bed Ace walked in to the front room to turn it off. When he arrived in the front room Ace could tell someone else had been in his flat. There was an empty coffee mug on the coffee table and a half eaten sandwich, not to mention the CD player was on. Ace was about to start tiding up when there was a knock at his door. Ace coarsely headed over to his front door. When he looked though the peep hole he was relived to see Ingrid and Cornelius on the other side, quick as he could Ace opened the door and pulled them in, before closing the door and double locking it.
"Hey what's going on Ace" Ingrid asked as Ace turned to face them. There was something different about him and Ingrid couldn't quite put her finger on it. Then it hit her, Ace was afraid of what she couldn't tell but he was quite clearly afraid of something, But what?