Chapter 4

Rita paced her apartment waiting for David. This was the third time he'd broken a date. The first two months were good, she liked him, but recently he'd been messing with her. She called his number, but it was busy. 'That means he must be there', she thought. She smiled, I'll go and surprise him. Rita grabbed her purse and walked out the door. She arrived at his apartment and quickly walked up toward his room. She found the door ajar. She was going to call for him but didn't, instead, she pulled her gun and carefully made her way into the apartment. Nothing so far. She heard noises emanating from the bedroom. Rita walked up toward the door. She went in and stopped in shock. David was in bed with another woman. Rita yelled, "what the hell is going on?"

David Lewis looked up at her. He grinned and sat up, lighting a cigarette, he replied coldly "What does it look like Rita? Oh, I'm sorry. Rita this is Kim, Kim this is Rita, my girlfriend. Would you like to join us?" He blew smoke at Rita. He knew she hated it.

Rita didn't know what to do. Her eyes filled with tears. "Why? I loved you? Why?"

He stood up, "I got bored with you, but it was worth it at first. You're a great lay Rita, which is the only reason I stayed with you so long. I was faithful for oh two weeks. Personal best!" He leered.

Rita's temper exploded. She punched him with all her might. He rubbed is chin and his eyes turned cold. "You little bitch!" He pushed her and she flew backward. He moved toward her, but stopped short as he saw her gun trained on him.

Rita's eyes blazed. "Don't touch me! Get back! I don't want to ever see you again!" Rita began to back away never taking her eyes off him. She was about to go thorough the door but stopped as he called to her.

"Oh, Rita! I'm sure I'll be seeing you around the station!" He began to laugh and Rita could hear Kim giggling in the background. She ran down the stairs crying.

Chris Lorenzo walked briskly into the office of Cathy Cabrese. He had something very important to discuss with her. "Cathy are you here?" He walked in further and found her sitting at her desk, talking on the phone. She hushed Chris with an impatient wave of her hand. Finally she finished and asked dryly. "What is it Chris? I'm a bit busy."

Chris went around her desk and grabbed her hands and led her to the couch. "It can wait. I need to ask you something, it's important!" Cathy studied Chris, he seemed childishly excited.

"I really like you Cathy! I think we get along great." He paused for a second, his grin getting larger. "I want you to move in with me! What do you say?"

Cathy smiled sardonically and rose. She walked over to her desk and leaned against it.

"I don't think that's possible Chris," she said without emotion.

"Why not?" Chris asked in a slightly desperate voice.

She replied not blinking. "I'm married Chris. I have a husband!"

Chris turned cold, he gasped. It can't be! Chris shook his head in confusion. "I don't understand!"

"I'm married! What word didn't you understand?!" She yelled.

Chris moved toward her. "But I love you and you love me. You said so!"

"Oh that," she grinned, "well it was brought about by the passion of the moment. YOU're amazing in bed Chris, one of the best I ever had!" Chris didn't know what to think. This can't be happing.

"But you love me!" he repeated.

Her eyes became cold and she said without feeling. "Did you really think I'd move into that stupid loft of your's. Do you honestly think I'd leave my husband for a COP! My husband makes more money in an hour then you'll ever make in your miserable little life. We have an agreement. We both get to play. But I've grown bored of you Chris. I need a new toy! NOW get out." She went behind her desk.

Chris stood stunned. He felt like his heart had been ripped out. Just a cop! He turned and walked out. He wouldn't give her the satisfaction of knowing how badly she'd hurt him.

Chris and Rita were forced to deal with their heartbreak alone. They didn't trust anybody enough to confide in them. They both had friends, but neither had a best friend, a true one.

Rita had been crying for days. She felt like a fool! She couldn't believe she slept with him. She gave up everything for him and now she'd have to see him everyday at work. Never, never again, I'll never date anybody I work with she promised herself.

Chris Lorenzo hit his heavy bag with all his strength. He'd asked her to share his life with him and what happened. He got slapped in the face. He wasn't good enough for her. Next time, next time, I'll make sure she's the right one before I give up my heart, or maybe I never will.

Rita and Chris both knew they had to go to work. They couldn't hide at home forever.

Chris drove up to the station. He got out of his car and listlessly made his way inside.

Several seconds later Rita also drove up. She took a depth breath and walked into the station.

Sitting at his desk, in the Vice and Narcotics squad room, Captain Scotty Adano studied the two personnel files before him. He didn't need to read them. He knew both officers well. They'd be perfect for this case. Both were great undercover and were smart, tough, yeah perfect. They were good in other ways too. He cringed as he remembered what the chief said. "They've only been in the department, what? Not even four years. If they buy it we won't lose two experienced officers." The chief was wrong about these two, very wrong. Scotty rose from his desk and lumbered into the squad room. He left messages for the two officers to come to his office when they showed up. He wondered if they were here.

Chris Lorenzo walked into the large squad room. Suddenly he heard a voice call. "Hey kid you okay?" He looked up and saw Scotty and smiled.

"Hey, Scotty! Yes sir I'm fine."

Scotty studied him. "I'm glad to hear it kid." He walked off.

Chris remembered he'd left something in his car. He went back to retrieve it.

Rita Lace walked quickly into the Vice squad room. She hoped she wouldn't see David on the way. She wasn't sure what she'd do to him if she saw him again. She placed her purse on her desk. Someone called to her. "Rita are you okay, doll?" Rita turned and saw Scotty watching her. She smiled at him.

"I'm fine Sir. Thanks for asking Scotty."

"Don't mention it doll!" Scotty walked off.

Rita remembered that she hadn't signed in. She shook her head in exasperation and began to walk out. The doors flew open and she stopped in mid-stride.

Chris walked back into the squad room. He couldn't believe how scattered he was feeling today. She really did a number on me. He looked up and froze.

"Chris!" Rita uttered.

"Rita!" Chris stammered.

As if in a dream they moved toward each other. Their eyes never wavering. They stopped a few inches apart. Neither was sure what to say.

"It's nice to see you. How are you? You first, no you first." They spoke at the same time. They stopped and smiled.

"I'm okay. How about you?" Chris began. Rita could tell he was upset.

"Uh, the-the same," she said.

"I've missed you!" Chris sensed she was upset too.

"Yeah?" Rita's heart melted. "I missed you too. I guess we keep on missing each other."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Hey you two!" They turned and saw Scotty. "I need to talk to you both." They nodded and followed him into his office. He offered them seats.

He began, "we have a problem kids. There's a leak in the department. Somebody is leaking information. We need two officers to go undercover and try to find out who the leak is and I picked you two for this. You'll be partnered together. What do you think? I must warn you that this is dangerous assignment but," Scotty smiled, "you two seem able to take care of yourselves and each other. I think you'll make a great team. So?" Scotty waited.

Chris and Rita looked at each other. This was like a dream come true. They'd be working together as partners. They both smiled as they replied together. "YES We'll do it!"

A slight smile appeared on Scotty's face as he looked over at Chris and Rita. "I thought you might. Well, we have some work to do now."

Rita sat forward and asked, "what do you know exactly?"

Scotty sat back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "Well, not much. Several undercover stings have gone bad in recent months. The way it happened seems to indicate that there is a major leak in our department, or in the DA's office or both!" Scotty gave some examples.

"Yeah I see what you mean." Chris nodded then asked, "so how are you going to use us? What's our cover going to be?"

"I'm going to let it be known on the street that two new players have come to town. We're working with DEA and FBI on this, to a degree, they're the ones who came up with your covers. Chris your name is Mark Denison, you're a known drug dealer, and Rita your name will be Katelin McCall, also a dealer, and Mark Denison's partner and lover. You'll be making contact with Pedro Sanchez," Scotty smiled, "I think that name is familiar to you both."

Chris and Rita nodded. They'd heard of Sanchez in the academy and as rookie cops. Sanchez was a very powerful drug dealer. PBPD had been after his Palm Beach organization for several years, but their attempts to apprehend him always failed.

Scotty went on, "we're pretty sure that the moles work for Sanchez. You'll set up a deal with Sanchez to supply him with drugs, but you'll also let it be known that there is an undercover cop in his organization." Chris and Rita stared at him, not totally understanding what he was planning.

"See DEA has a source in Sanchez's organization," Scotty explained, "but they're worried about compromising him right now and he doesn't know who the moles are. Tell Sanchez that you'll divulge the name of the DEA source if you get the name of the mole. Make it part of the deal. Explain that the mole almost got you busted and you want payback. Understand? Hopefully Sanchez will think his moles are really double agents." Chris and Rita looked at each other and nodded.

Rita remarked, "I think it might just work!"

Chris agreed, "teah maybe, maybe. We get two birds with one stone! Not bad."

"Well I'm glad you approve. You'll be going under in about two days, so until then, lay low. Don't talk to anybody except me. That includes your friends and partners. Is that clear?"

"Yes sir." They said together. Scotty dismissed them with a wave of his hand and they walked out.

Chris said to Rita, as they were leaving. "So, how would you like to go get something to eat? We need to learn as much about each other as we can. After all, we're partners now!"

"Yeah," Rita agreed, "I guess you're right. Okay let's go."

Chris and Rita walked out, but neither noticed the older officer who watched them intently. His badge indicated his rank as Captain. He continued to study them, but finally turned and walked into the Vice squad room. He moved toward Scotty's office.

"So," the officer began, "that was them!"

Scotty nodded, "yeah, Rita Lance and Chris Lorenzo."

The other captain didn't look impressed, he sniffed, "They're young. How long have they been out of the academy, again?"

"Almost four years. Ben! They're good! Really good! There's something special about them! You must have heard about the shootout, they work great together." Scotty got thoughtful and said softly. "They have a connection and I've only seen it once before. I don't know how to explain it." Scotty paused for a second and said. "I trust them! They're going to find the leak!"

Captain Ben Hutchinson, of Robbery Division, replied dryly. "We'll see!"