Chapter 7

Possession

DI Chandlers team stare dumbstruck between their DI and the long legged blonde that followed him into the Investigation room.

The men had been interrupted mid lunch break, if you could call it a break, they had turned their chairs to face each other, sat on desks and drank coffee while talking through the case over and over. The conversation was getting heated when the pair had walked in wordlessly.

Chandler's expression was unreadable, he looked ashen and deadly serious, it was an expression they hadn't seen on him for a while, one of something very unpleasant being right under his nose.

Standing now at the head of the room Chandler spoke "Commander Anderson would like you to meet Dr Harlow" he said indicating to her briefly with a quick gesture. "he feels that we are in need a forensic psychologist to help us with the Monroe case" .

A dissatisfied grumble travels through the group of men. "I have assured Commander Anderson that our team needs no assistance and that integrating a new team member would cause unnecessary delays to this investigation. However we agreed that we are a team so we will make this decision together... any questions?"

DI Chandler first looks to Miles and McCormack, feeling sure that the two traditional men would have strong objections which the others would quickly mirror. They didn't let him down.

"A psychologist, why does he think we need another bloody Psychologist? We've had a profile from that old quack Derek Patterson already, and that was worse than useless""said McCormack.

Miles spoke directly to Dr Harlow, "Yeah, no offence love but we haven't got time to be going over every bit of paperwork with you for you to give us some poxy theory we knew ourselves on day one, the bastard has killed six women in 5 months we know he's a psychopath!"

Chandler had placed himself slightly in front of Lily, she caught the slight twitch of self satisfaction that flickered over the corner of his mouth, not quite a smirk but the ghost of one.

Chandler had set her up for this, telling them it was Commander Anderson's idea, that they 'needed' her, all worded to play on their ego, an ego that was already diminished by their lack of progress in the case. Her standing there looking like a primary school teacher wasn't helping matters. These men were not ready to take her seriously.

Lily decided to play Chandler at his own game.

Stepping forward Lily addressed the group. "Men" she said, grabbing the back of a chair and smiling openly. "May I sit down" she added taking an empty seat in front of them.

Chandler was no psychologist but he knew enough about power postures to know that making herself lower than him and most of the others who were stood or sat at desks wasn't a wise move if she wanted to give herself any air of authority. This was going better than he had planned.

"Please, let me explain how I like to work so that you can make an informed decision, I think I probably work a little differently to Dr Derek Patterson"

As she spoke she crossed her long legs and pushed her hair away from her face, when the hem of her dress fell slightly too high up her thigh she waited a breath before she adjusted it.

Chandler looked down at her, he could see what she was doing. Lily wasn't about to flick her hair around and bat her eyelashes, she was far too smart for that, and the men would have seen through it in seconds. No, instead she was quickly and effectively displaying the difference between her and 'Old Derek Patterson". The antiquated, grey old man and his outdated ideas compared to the young, attractive and new prospect they had in front of them. He couldn't blame her, she had moments to grab their attention, sadly for Joe it appeared to be working, although most of the men still looked annoyed with their brows furrowed, they were quiet and focussed solely on her.

Chandlers face was expressionless as he watched her address the men, he listened as she explained that she used new and heavily researched methods of reading non-verbal language, body language, linguistic analysis and even subtle eye movements to analyse witnesses and suspects, she briefly explained the work she had done in Chicago, studying Serial Killers, and they're habits and behaviours. She didn't brag, she used words like "help" and "support" and importantly she kept the emphasis on the fact that 'they' would be doing the hard work, and 'they' would catch the killer. She would be in the background. Chandler had to admit he had underestimated her, she was effortlessly winning them over.

As Chandler watched his team fall under Lily's spell he tried to identify what it was that he felt, he had dreaded the day that he would see her again but he had never imagined the circumstances would be quite as horrendous as this, the idea that he would have to work with her was appalling to him but there was no doubt in his mind they they needed her help, he just didn't want it.

Chandler realised he hadn't been listening for a while when he heard Lily say "I'll only be in the UK for a matter of weeks at the most and then you'll never have to see me again" Relief washed over him, he knew this last statement was for his benefit. Finally Chandler identified what it was that he felt for Lily. It was nothing, nothing at all. Except that the nothingness was vast, it was a gaping expanse of emptiness that screamed inside his head.

Just as Chandler was about to speak Miles' phone ring shrilly, he answered it quickly, and spoke briefly as all eyes watched him, after a moment he hung up and spoke.

"They got a match on the DNA, an anaesthetist at the hospital,Uniform are bring him in right now" and to Lily he said "Well, it looks like you have a chance to prove yourself doesn't it?"

Lily looked back at Joe who was immediately snapped out of his reverie, having decided that if what he felt was nothing then he could deal with that for now. "Kent you take Dr Harlow to the Monitor room to observe the interview, and update her as much as you can" he said without looking at Lily he turned away to speak to Miles and the other men.

"Yes sir" Kent said gathering files from his desk and smiling nervously at Lily as she stood, trying to gather her herself together, unsure of quite what she's been plunged into.

*AUTHORS NOTE: Sorry this has been so long coming, hopefully we're back on track now! Thank you for the lovely reviews, they really help. I'm not entirely sure I have Commander Anderson's Christian name right, if anyone can correct me if I'm wrong that would be great!