The knock seemed faint, but as she awoke from her slumber, she realized Julio must be at the door again. She heard it open, only then realizing Andy must have gotten up to answer the door.
"Morning, Lieutenant, Captain," he nodded, surveying the room before he broke into a big grin. "Ma'am, I thought you were sleeping on the couch?"
Sharon sprang out of bed, the full reality of the scene finally hitting her. As she sprang out of bed, though, she quickly realized why she was in the bed; she was limping.
"Ouch," she said, hissing at her side and leg.
"What's going on?" Julio asked, a look of confusion clearly on his face.
Andy started to chuckle, "Oh, believe me, it's not what you think at all. That one," he hooked his hand over to Sharon, who was hobbling toward them, "fell off the couch last night."
"I didn't fall off the couch!" Sharon exclaimed.
"Really?" Andy turned to her, arms crossed. "What would you call it? If you didn't fall, why are you limping and holding your side. You got hurt. Let's explain that to Pope that you, a police captain, hurt yourself falling off a couch during an undercover assignment." He and Julio began to chuckle, as Sharon moved hair away from her face and threw a look their way.
"I was…I was hot," she sighed. That only got the men laughing even more, before she caved. "Fine! I was hot all wrapped up in the blanket with my pajamas. I got tangled in the blanket, and as I was trying to untangle myself in the dark on that small couch," she gestured to the offending item, "'I rolled off. I hit my side on the coffee table there, and my foot just got tangled in the blanket and twisted wrong. I'll be fine," she nodded to them. The men were almost doubled over laughing.
"So," Andy shrugged as he gestured toward the king size bed, "I was the nice guy and offered her half the bed. I also offered to pad the floor beside her with pillows in case she fell again."
Sharon was about to speak, but instead spun around and walked to the bathroom where she promptly closed the door. The men finally got control of their laughter after she was out of the room.
"Lieutenant, I actually did bring breakfast along with this file," he opened one of the platter lids. There is some information in there on two of the vendors. Chief wants you to hit them hard again today; it is the belief they might be involved in this ring on some level. She hopes to have more information for you by lunch," Julio explained.
Andy just nodded, flipping through the paperwork, "Okay, thanks. We'll take a look at this while we eat. I think the morning stuff starts at 10:00."
Julio nodded, "It does, Sir, and might I suggest that you come in pants," he nodded to Andy, chuckling at his boxes and t-shirt. Andy rolled his eyes and smacked the folder against Julio's chest.
"Go. I'm sure Sharon will be happy to leave a nice mess for the room service guy to clean up, and if you keep making cracks about me, I'll be glad to assist with that too. If you know what is good for you, you'll not share any of this," he circled his hand around the room. "It's like Vegas-what you see here, stays here."
"Sure thing, Lieutenant," Julio winked. "Call if you need anything else this morning. Otherwise, I'll see you with your lunch order."
"It had better have a vegetarian option," Andy nodded to him, and Julio just smiled.
Julio left, and Andy started to set up breakfast. Sharon emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, still in her stupid pajamas, but he could tell she had washed her face and brushed out her hair. She was still limping.
"Are you okay?" he turned to her. "You're still limping and holding your side from your "not fall" or what you call, a tangle with the sheets. Maybe I'll describe it to everyone as a tangle IN the sheets. That should get everyone's minds going," he flashed a smile.
"Oh, shut up," she snapped at him. "Just what I need, rumors of a tangle in the sheets," she sighed, as she flopped down in the chair. "I'm fine, just a little stiff from my back on that couch for a few hours and then my stupid foot. My side just aches a bit from hitting the table."
"Did you twist your ankle or something?" he sat down, motioning for her to put her foot in his lap. She shook her head and wouldn't lift her foot. He rolled his eyes and reached down to grab it anyway. He examined it, poking at a particularly sore spot, which he could tell when Sharon winced. "Well, it doesn't seem to be too bad, but I can tell it's bothering you."
"It will be fine," she waved him off as she moved her foot and then shifted to sit at the table. "What did Julio bring to eat?" she asked, changing the topic.
"Looks like a little of everything-eggs, French toast, English muffins-it's like the United Nations on a plate," he joked, meeting with an eye roll from Sharon at his attempt at a joke.
"Hmm, well, take whatever you like. I'll eat any of this," she nodded.
"You sure?" he asked.
"Please," she waved. Andy grabbed a bowl of oatmeal, the eggs, and one of the two bowls of fruit. The team seemed to know both at least well enough to know Andy and Sharon preferred healthier things like fruit.
"Thanks," he nodded to her. "You didn't want any of this?" he nodded to his plate.
"This is fine," Sharon waved to him. "I can't remember the last time I had French toast."
The two ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, both noting that coffee and tea had been put on their cart as well. Once they finished, Sharon spoke, "I think I'm going to hop in the shower. I'm feeling a bit gross," she made a face. "Do you need to use the bathroom first?"
"Ahh, yeah," he nodded. "I'll be quick, and then maybe when we are ready for the day, we can sit down and look at this file Julio brought with him."
"Fine," Sharon nodded, watching Andy disappear into the bathroom. She hobbled to her bag and dug out a dress for the day. It was a little more casual than she would wear to work. Pope had said business clothing, but she had gotten a vibe from the evening before and felt this would fit well with the ladies today. It was a royal blue, knee-length dress with cap sleeves and a scalloped neckline. It didn't have pockets, which annoyed her, and it was a little feminine for her work style, but it would be perfect today.
"All set," Andy nodded as he left the bathroom. "Take your time."
The first thing Sharon did when she closed the door was strip off the flannel. She was dying in it; it was way too hot, but there was no way she could admit that. Sharon took her time, emerging almost a half hour later, fully dressed, hair dried and styled, makeup applied.
"You know-I don't bite," he told her. "You don't have to lock yourself up in that bathroom to finish getting ready for the day. I do understand makeup and hair."
"Well, I'm just used to being alone," she nodded to him.
"And, whose fault is that?" he snapped at her. Silence descended them again, before Andy pushed the pile of paperwork toward her. "Take a look at this," he nodded. "Two of the vendors are looking suspicious."
Sharon dropped the defensive stance and sat down. She then noted that Andy had also gotten dressed for the day while she'd been in the bathroom. He was in slacks and a black polo shirt, a bit dressed down from his normal work attire, but she agreed with his choice for the day; the look would not only work, it looked good.
"Okay," she nodded, "I agree. That's why we are both on the case. He bothered me last night," she pointed at one of the men in the photo array Brenda had sent them.
"Funny, because that guy," he pointed at the other man, "bothered me. He kept staring at you. Every chance I got to glance his way, he was staring."
Sharon nodded, "Well, we should trust our instincts and focus on both men. They could both be involved as far as we know."
"I think I should take a crack at this one," she pointed to the one Andy said had been staring at her all evening. "I think maybe if he was staring at me, then I should try to get to him alone. Maybe he'll lead us to this whole ring of thieves."
Andy nodded, "Okay, as much as I don't like the idea of putting any officer on a potential suspect alone, you are probably right. Maybe you can suggest meeting him in the bar later. He'd probably talk more one on one. I'm sure we can put eyes and ears in the bar area, and I'll stay away. He knows I'm here with you, so he might not say anything if I'm around."
Sharon nodded in agreement, "Okay, what about this one," she pointed to the other man. "I got a bad vibe about him."
"Let's start with him vendor stand first thing this morning to get a better read on him. I didn't speak to him much. That one guy kept chatting it up with me when we were with that vendor, so let me get a feel for him, and then we can decide how to proceed. How does that sound?"
"Sounds like a plan for the morning," she nodded.v