Louie Provenza leaned back on his chair, his feet up on his desk, his crossword puzzles easily within reach but lay unnoticed beside his coffee mug. He was totally oblivious to the rowdy atmosphere surrounding him. Arrested juvenile delinquents for questioning about the murder of politician's son were arguing and fighting while waiting for their turn in the interview room. He was completely baffled how his friend Andy ended up with Captain Raydor in a murder scene in the next city. It's too much of a coincidence.
Julio eyed the older officer who looked so dazed since he came in this morning. He wanted to yell at him to get a grip of himself because they have to wrap up the case in no time. They were given 72 hours to wrap the case and the Captain was coming in any minute and the office was still in complete chaos.
"Julio, I got this. You can take the last two over there," said Amy Sykes, indicating to the two guys leaning against wall looking completely stone, as she led the noisiest guy inside interview room 2.
"Let me take that. You look like you could use a break. Tao briefed me about this morning's murder."
"Oh, Lt. Flynn! You're back. I thought you were sick with the stomach flu yesterday," said Julio as he pulled one of the guys from its haphazard sitting position by the wall.
"That was yesterday. Now I'm as good as new," smiled Flynn, taking the other guy for questioning.
"By the way, what's eating the old man?" asked Flynn, referring to Lt. Provenza who remained frozen on his desk in a far-away look.
"I don't know. He's been like that since we've been called to the murder scene this early morning," explained Julio.
As Andy was about to close the door of the Interview Room 1 when Captain Raydor's clinking high heels burst into the office. Everyone stopped what they were doing as she came in wearing her beautifully tailored crème and black Escada suit. She looked lovely albeit the anxious expression on her face.
"Lt. Flynn, my office," she said in a serious tone as she hurried inside her room.
As Andy hastily followed her into the office, Lt. Provenza seemed to have gone out of his state of shock. Everyone had their eyes on him as he spoke.
"Tao, tell me, what is the probability that Flynn and the Captain would end up in Fresno on the same day? Just a rhetorical question, don't give me exact figures," said Provenza.
"For the sake of the argument, maybe a thousand to one… They're both living in LA, and Fresno is just a few hours away," said Julio.
"How much of a coincidence do you think it would be that they would end up on the exact same theater in Fresno on the exact same day…"
"What are you getting at, Lieutenant?" asked Amy.
"Nothing. I'm only wondering about the likelihood that Flynn and the Captain would end up on the same theater, watching the same show, on the exact same day in Fresno, and by chance having seats right next to each other," continued Provenza.
"It's possible if they happen to like the same show and there's a special screening on that particular theater in Fresno," replied Amy.
"Come on, Sykes. Don't be too naïve. They have nothing in common but their jobs," said Provenza.
Michael Tao remained the quiet observer as he listened to the three people argue.
"I'm telling you, something is going on," asserted Provenza.
"Last month...around Memorial Day. Remember Flynn was away for the weekend. My daughter who lives in San Diego sent me an sms: 'Dad, Uncle Andy is here at the Seaport Village with his daughter, and grandkids, and his got his girlfriend with him.'
"I didn't know Lt. Flynn has a girlfriend," interjected Julio.
"He doesn't! Well, as far as I know he doesn't…Anyhow, so I replied back to my daughter. 'That's tacky of Flynn to bring a bimbo as young as his daughter to his family getaway.'
"You know what she texted back? 'No dad, it's not some bimbo half his age. She's a smart-looking woman with long chestnut brown hair. Sophisticated… pretty but tough looking…Looks like she's got a noose around Uncle Andy's neck."
As Lt. Provenza read his daughter's old sms message he was staring into the office of Captain Raydor. Slowly everyone's gaze turned to the Captain's sophisticated but no-nonsense stance as she was standing in her office seriously talking to Lt. Flynn and everyone gasped.
Sharon immediately pulled the blinds close when she saw everyone staring at them.
"Why's everyone looking at me like that?" she spoke out loud inadvertently, interrupting Andy's speech.
"It's called paranoia. The same way you think the man from the elevator has something to do with Fresno. I don't think they're related, Sharon. Come one let's go get a sketch artist so that he can reconstruct the face of your assailant. " said Andy.
He was gently massaging Sharon's back as she sat on her chair, her elbows on the desk as she buried her face in her hands, sighing in both pleasure from his hands and her exasperation with the circumstances.
"I don't know… I guess, it's just too much work and the pressure of our clandestine…friendship…" she smiled as she said friendship and glanced sideways to catch a glimpse of Andy's face who's smiling broadly with a little chuckle.
"Yeah… friendship…" he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
He couldn't remember any friend he wanted so much to kiss and bring in his bed. They knew full well it wasn't only friendship but neither one wanted to say it out loud.
"After we get the sketch, then we can put the composite in the computer of facial recognition and hopefully we get a name and start from there," said Andy, getting serious once again.
He just knows how to make her feel better no matter how exhausting things are. Just his mere presence brightens her day and lightens her mood.
She smiled flirtatiously. "And do we have that kind of equipment here in Major Crimes? Where do you propose we get this equipment?"
"I know our department has no budget for that equipment but I know who has one…Our dear friend from the FBI might be kind enough to let us use theirs. Good thing he's already enamored to my former chief and in no way would be taking what I intend to be mine…"
His lips slowly descended on hers and before Sharon could protest she found herself drowning in his wet and hungry lingering kiss. She didn't know how long they were kissing but the loud knock on her office door sent them both back to reality.