Sorry it took so long for the update... Life got in the way a little and I was having a blocked moment! Hope you all enjoy...
Sharon woke up to her alarm and sighed deeply. She was not looking forward to today. She didn't want things to be weird between her and Andy. She got out of bed and went to start some coffee. By the time she was finished in the shower and getting dressed the condo was filled with the beautiful aroma of freshly brewed coffee. When she received a text from Andy saying he was pulling up outside, she knocked on Rusty's door and told him she was leaving. His response was a hum and she smiled as she walked away. After fixing coffee for herself and Andy, she made her way downstairs. Andy was just getting out of his car when Sharon exited the lobby.
"Here, let me help you with that," Andy said, reaching for the two coffee cups.
"Thank you," she replied with a smile.
He opened her door as she climbed into the car and then handed her one of the coffees, before quickly moving to his side and getting in.
"Good morning - and thank you for the coffee," he said once he was settled.
"Morning, not a problem," she replied, looking straight ahead.
Andy pulled away, his focus on the road. The drive was silent and he kept glancing at Sharon out of the corner of his eye. She kept her attention towards the window.
"Listen, Sharon..." Andy started.
"Andy, please, can we discuss it later?" she interrupted him.
"Sure," he released on a sigh.
The rest of the car ride to the restaurant was silent. As Andy pulled in they noticed a small crowd forming around Sharon's car.
"What the..." Andy mumbled as he stopped the car.
Sharon was out of the vehicle before he could stop completely. She held up her badge as she worked her way through the small crowd to her car.
"Excuse me," she said as she glided through the crowd.
Sharon gasped as her eyes landed on her car. She ran her hand over the driver's door and knelt down beside her rear tyre. Andy was clearing the crowd away before he made his way over to Sharon. He placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Sharon. Are you ok?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she replied, standing and stepping away from him.
"Are you sure? I mean look at..." Andy started, trying to make eye contact with her.
"I said I'm fine, Lieutenant!" Sharon snapped before he could finish his sentence.
Andy saw the tears in her eyes and decided not to push. He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep himself from reaching for her.
"I'll call it in," Andy said, pulling out his phone.
"No! I mean, it's no big deal." She looked quickly away from him. "I'm just going to have it towed and fixed. Can you give me a ride to work please?" she asked, looking back up at him.
Andy's heart broke as he looked into her shining emerald eyes.
"Yeah, of course," he said.
While Sharon called for a tow, Andy contacted Provenza to inform him of the situation. While Andy and Sharon were busy on their phones, they failed to notice Sarah parked across the street, admiring her handywork. She slowly drove off with a smile on her face - heading home so that she could call Andy to talk about her dead boyfriend.
"Sharon, I'm sorry about your car," Andy offered. They were back in his vehicle, headed to PAB.
"It's fine, it's not the first time my car has been vandalized." Sharon shook her head, gazing out of the window.
"You gotta let us look into this," he replied softly.
"It's fine. Really, Andy - don't worry about it." Her voice hitched a little and she closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she shoved her emotion away. "Let's focus on the case. Please."
"Alright, but if anything else happens..."
Arriving on the Major Crimes floor, Sharon greeted everyone and headed straight to her office. Provenza exchanged glances with his partner and Andy just shook his head.
"Alright," The older lieutenant spoke. "Flynn - call your girlfriend and get her down here. Tao - check with SIS and see if they have an update for us. Sykes - why don't you and Julio do a follow up on our guy's financials and check out his place again?"
They all headed off and Flynn grumbled at his desk while he made the call to Sarah for her to come in. Sharon stayed in her office until there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," she said immediately.
"Captain, Flynn is bringing Ms. Jenkins up in the elevator as we speak," Provenza informed her.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Is Mike back yet with that SIS report?" she asked.
"He should be headed back up now. Did you want an update before you talk to Ms. Jenkins?"
"It can wait - let's get this over with," she decided as she stood from behind her desk.
Provenza made his way into Electronics while Sharon stood outside the interview room. She pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. Just the thought of this woman gave her a headache. She stepped inside and Andy held her chair for her, before he retook his seat.
"Ms. Jenkins - what was your relationship with Mr. Smith?" Sharon asked, diving right in.
"I told you. He was my boyfriend," Sarah replied with an attitude.
"Are you sure about that?" Sharon pushed.
"We were in love! What kind of a dumb question is that?" Sarah snapped.
"I ask, Ms. Jenkins, because according to this police report, Mr. Smith seems to have ended the relationship." Sharon glanced at Andy as he opened the file.
"That was just a misunderstanding," the woman responded defensively.
"This says that Donald took a restraining order out on you," Andy cut in.
Sarah's face dropped immediately.
"What are you trying to say?" she asked, staring at Andy in shock.
"Can you tell us why you stopped by Mr. Smith's house yesterday morning?" Sharon asked.
"Look, lady. I didn't kill Don. I loved him and we were getting back together. I would never hurt him. And besides, it was probably that jackass friend of his - Grant." Sarah banged her hand against the table and narrowed her eyes at Sharon.
Sharon overlooked her attitude for the moment and clasped her hands in front of her on the table.
"Who is Grant?" the Captain enquired.
Sarah told Sharon and Andy everything she knew about Grant, and how he and Donald had won a big pot in Vegas a week back. Andy took notes of everything and Sharon excused herself when they were finished with Ms. Jenkins. After the older woman left the room, Sarah turned to Andy.
"Would you like to join me for a drink later?" Sarah asked with a smile on her face.
"I'm sorry, I don't drink," Andy stated.
"Ok, how about a bite to eat then?" Sarah pushed.
"Look, I'm sorry, but I can't be involved with a witness..." Andy hesitated. He supposed that was what she was, at least for now. "...of an ongoing investigation. Plus, I'm seeing someone, so..." Andy paused. He wasn't completely lying about that part - at least in his mind. They weren't exactly official, but he hoped that would change.
"Oh. Well. I have to go," Sarah said, rushing past Andy and out of the interrogation room. As she left, heading to the elevator, she glared in Sharon's direction.
Andy rolled his eyes and walked with his notes to join the others in the murder room. Tao was back and standing beside Sharon, showing her some papers. Provenza approached Andy with a smile on his face, and Andy sighed internally.
"So, Flynn, you gonna go out with our little psycho Sarah?" Provenza asked through a chuckle.
"If you like her so much, you go out with her!" Andy bit back.
"I'm not the one she's smitten with!" Provenza huffed.
"Look," Andy started, before Sharon cut in.
"Gentlemen, please, we don't have time for this." Sharon glared at them.
"Sorry, Captain. Please continue," Provenza said.
"Lieutenant Tao, please," Sharon said, motioning towards the board and leaning against Andy desk.
"First, SIS got a print match at the house by a male named Grant Stevens. He has a record for possession, and a few shoplifting charges. They also got an unknown print and male DNA sample from the kitchen sink," Tao explained as he clipped a picture of Grant to the board.
"So we have two suspects to track down," Andy said, coming to sit at his desk next to Sharon.
"It seems that way - and from what Ms. Jenkins said in the interview, maybe they were there for the money," Sharon pondered, folding her arms and placing her hand on her chin.
"Like I always say, follow the money..." Provenza said leaning back in his chair.
Mike laughed quietly while Andy rolled his eyes. Sharon stood from Andy's desk.
"Alright, Lieutenant, please call Amy and see if she and Julio have made it to the house yet. I want you and Andy to meet them over there and see if you can't find that money. Mike, if you could go over the footage with Buzz and see if there is anything we missed - oh, and get us an address for Mr. Stevens here. I'll go call DDA Hobbs and see if she can't get us some warrants." She headed to her office.
Her team nodded, heading off to complete their tasks.
TBC
Special thanks to Cassidy for being my beta, also to 3 very lovely ladies who have supported me throughout this journey on twitter you guys rock... all mistakes are mine.. chapter 5 will be up soon, hope you all enjoy...