Lindsay entered Claire's office and found her friend eating lunch at her desk. "I thought you and Jill were going out."
"We were. She called a little bit ago mumbling about Denise and Cindy and the Mayor." Claire complained as she took a bite of her lunch.
Lindsay grimaced, "that isn't a threesome I'd like to think about."
Claire quickly covered her mouth with a napkin before she could expel any of her sandwich with her laugh. "No. Not the top of my list either." Lindsay raised her eyebrows at that response but before she could counter with a clever retort Claire continued. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit."
Lindsay sank onto the couch, "just waiting to talk to Tom."
"Is this about the Reynolds case?"
"Yeah. I told you I had a weird encounter last night." After she got a nod she continued her explanation. "An Inspector Mills from Northern approached me last night, while I was waiting for Cindy. He said that the whole thing sounded like an accident."
"That's strange. He offered no evidence or connection to the case."
"No. And he works arson and Reynolds was an arsonist."
"That's to big to be a coincidence."
"I know. I called Nevada and got the story on Reynolds and Tom is looking into Mills. I'm just waiting to talk to him so we can figure out our next move."
"But you think Mills is dirty?"
"I really can't say at this point." Lindsay answered as she glance to the floor.
"Okay. Just let me know if you need anything from me."
"For now just leave him as a John Doe, like I asked earlier."
"Will do. Now, what else was bothering you this morning?"
Lindsay looked up and crossed her arms in her usual 'I'm perfectly fine' pose. "Nothing."
"Right. You had dinner with Cindy so I'm assuming there are problems in paradise."
"Why? Did she say something?" Lindsay asked worriedly.
"No. I haven't talked to her today." Claire grinned, knowing she was on the right track.
Lindsay let out a frustrated sigh, "it was just this morning she was working all hunched over her laptop. And I commented that my attic would make a nice office."
Claire shook her head. "That girl is too smart to fall for one of your hints. You need to just come out and ask her."
"I do not hint." Lindsay said defensively, although her tone changed quickly, "do I?"
"If I have picked up on them then she has too. But she isn't going to risk scaring you off by being the one to ask."
"Was I this bad with Tom?" she begged.
Claire thought for moment. "I don't think so. But it was different wasn't it. I mean, you knew what to expect and Tom took the lead."
"Yeah, I guess." Lindsay replied softly and looked back to the floor.
"Plus, this is just different." When Lindsay looked at her with a shy smile Claire knew that she didn't need to explain further. Then the moment of calm understanding was interrupted by Lindsay's phone.
"Speaking of Tom." Claire said
"Yeah, he must be ready," Lindsay responded as she stood. "Thanks."
"It's what I do." Claire smiled. "Be careful, we already have one body at the bottom of an elevator."
"We don't..." instead of protesting Lindsay decided to take the good advice. "I'll be careful."
As Lindsay made her way upstairs she mulled over her conversation with Claire. She both loved and hated having a friend who could so easily read her. It was impossible for her to ever hide her problems but at the same time she got advice without actually having to voice her feelings, so in the end she wouldn't trade Claire for anything in the world. Plus, her friend was always brutally honest and usually right, so you couldn't give that up. By the time she made it to Tom's office she had come to a decision.
"So what did you find on Mills." She asked as she entered the office.
Tom looked up, "he seems clean. I couldn't find any glaring evidence of him being dirty. Of course I couldn't actually go into his bank records without setting off alarms, but he doesn't seem to live like someone on the take. He has one of the highest closure rates in his department and his personnel jacket is clean."
"So what was last night about." Frustration had her sinking into a chair.
"The only thing that stuck out to me were four fires that were all deemed accidental. Two residential buildings and two industrial, all owned by the same company."
"That fits with what I found on Reynolds. I called Nevada and found out that he was a professional torch, although most of the jobs he was suspected of they couldn't pin on him."
"So what did he do time for." Tom asked confused.
"He burned down his ex-wife's house." Lindsay informed him.
Tom chuckled. "Stupid. He's a pro but let's his jealousy trip him up."
Lindsay nodded. "Unfortunately they couldn't tie him to any of the professional jobs, so he only got two years."
"So maybe he came here for a new start. Burned the buildings in the Northern district." Tom reasoned.
"Makes sense," Lindsay agreed. "But if Mills was trying to catch him why be all weird at the bar?"
"That is what you have to figure out." He advised her. "Any ideas how?"
"I figure I can start by giving him what he wants. Claire still has him listed as a Doe and she listed the fall as accidental. And that is what we released to the media."
"Cindy?" Tom asked with a grin.
"Among others." Lindsay retorted.
"Next step?"
Lindsay glanced at her watch. "I'll set up a meet with Mills."
"Keep me posted." Tom ordered as she left his office.
**
On the way out of Tom's office Lindsay called and set up a quick meeting with Mills. She stopped at her desk to pick up her jacket and service weapon and was about to leave when she spotted Jill approaching.
"Do you have a minute?" Jill asked.
"I really don't. Can it wait until after dinner.?" She responded as she put on her jacket and holstered her gun.
Jill frowned. "I guess. But it will have to be morning, I have plans tonight."
"Is this about the disturbing threesome you were complaining to Claire about?"
Jill grimaced, "thanks for that image. And yes actually."
"Okay. I really have to go meet someone, but we will talk first thing." Lindsay assured her friend as she left for her meeting.
Lindsay walked into the restaurant and found Mills sitting at the far end of the bar. She walked down and sat next to him. "Thanks for the tip. You were right, yesterday's victim just had an unfortunate fall."
"Good. You think that'll make tomorrow's paper." Mills asked
"It should, that's the official story. But John Does, usually don't make the front page." Lindsay watched as Mills downed his drink and motioned for another. "You have a problem?"
"Reporters."
"Oh yeah, I get that," Lindsay replied as she tried to hide a grin. "So you want to tell me why you were interested in my case?"
Mills turned on his stool to face her fully, ignoring her question he continued, "you've dealt with the reporter at the Register before?"
"Any one in particular?" Lindsay asked, although she had a sinking feeling of who he was talking about.
"Nosy redhead that works the crime desk."
"She's covered a few of my cases." She was now wishing she had taken the time to talk to Jill.
"Make sure she has the story on your John Doe."
Lindsay tried to appear calm as she looked at him. "Why?"
"She's been sticking her nose in some of my investigations and she has an overactive imagination," he answered as he finished another drink. He stood up and threw some money onto the bar, "wouldn't want her to end up like her predecessor."
Lindsay's last image of Cindy's predecessor flashed into her mind. Theresa Woo was a crime reporter who got too close to her last story and was thrown off of a roof to keep her quiet. Lindsay watched as Mills left the restaurant and then promptly pulled her phone out of her pocket, "What the hell are you up too?"
"I'm having dinner at Claire's. Why?"
Lindsay released a breath, "nothing. Sorry, you know how I like to overreact."
"Sure, but...Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything is fine."
"Okay, you want me to stop by after dinner?"
"Not tonight, I'm beat. But I'll need to see you in the morning."
"Sounds important. I'll swing by the Hall on my way to work."
"Good night." Lindsay said abruptly.
"I love you." Cindy said as Lindsay hung up the phone.
A/N: We are actually going to start getting into something soon.