AN: First as always a quick thank you for all of the supports. Second for anyone who read my little onzie—Stillness of Heart, No I did not plagiarize. 3 of the scenes were written for a fic I attempted 6 months ago and wasn't taken to, so I removed it. But when considering the Dawning, I really felt they should have been written for it so that's that. Just wanted to clarify since our fandom has had some issues with theft recently.

Thirdly, sorry for the holdup but as many know this is mid-term month. This chapter is small but as I have the story planed out, the content that needed to be placed here just ended up being smaller. Next chap shall bump back up and will not take two weeks to post.

Thank you,

Pokie.


Chapter Six: Dangerous Game

(Lauren's POV)

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21st Precinct—Interview Room—6:58 p.m.

** They say honesty is the best policy.

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Time to find out if you're the Saint everyone

Thinks you are dearest Doctor.

Or are you just like the rest of us. **

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My eyes go over the lines word by word, letter by letter.

Is it the words striking so close to home or is it the fact that my mystery writer had managed to get a patrol officer to play delivery man?

"Why so serious?" I look up at Evony as she walks through the door, eyes narrow and her features as stoic as ever, but I sense the subtle sway to her walk. The slight glisten to her eyes even within the dim, box like room. She drunk—at least partially. "What's that?"

"Nothing." Lies are becoming as natural as breathing for me. "Don't worry about it." I shove the card into my jacket pocket, eyes locked with hers as she just stands there trying to study me. "How are you here?"

"How am I here?" She chuckles, fingers grazing my shoulder and then along my back as she walks around to the seat beside me. "I think all of the time you've been spending with that little cop has dulled the complexities of your linguistics."

"I meant why are you here?" I glance over at her, scowl firmly on my face.

"Well genuinely when my client is taken into custody I like to attend the questioning."

"I'm not your client."

"But you are."

"But I'm not."

"But you really are." She laughs, eyes closing as she tilts her head from left to right trying to crack her neck.

"Evony." I snap.

"Alright, you want the sappy emotional answer or you want the cold heartless answer."

"You have a sappy side?" my eyebrow rises.

"Option two it is then." She stiffens in her chair, jaw tightening as I begin to recognize this version of my ex. "My law firm has invested a lot of money in your career, in your research and while our personal relationship has come to a mutual end, our professional relationship is one that will continue."

"I wasn't aware I was owned by your law firm."

"We bought your school debt, we got you hired, we amped all of that P.R. You remember the same P.R. that has enabled you to be able to go to the Congo at the beginning of next year."

"Oh how I miss this part of our relationship." I can't help but to snort, shaking my head.

"You choose."

"How the hell did you get in here?" Hale's voice cuts through as he bursts through the door, Bo following close behind.

"Little leather loving birdie." Evony winks, something that earns a scowl from Bo as she takes a seat across from her.

"I see." Hale lets out in a sigh taking his seat across from me.

"What can I say, my brother has connections." Evony winks and I have to look away to keep from smirking.

Call the woman what you'd like, but she did do her job flawlessly, which means despite her distain for Bo she won't sell her out.

I clear my throat, running my hand through my hair, the sudden memory of her telling me how she tried to throw the bank case.

I'm not sure if the waves of uncertainty beginning to wreak havoc in the pit of my stomach is because if she was willing to do that for me supposedly, then if push came to shove for me she would sell Bo out. Or, if this was me subconsciously finally making a decision that I don't believe her.

"If Lauren isn't under arrest then we can simply leave." Evony's words pull me back to the present.

"You do that and we will arrest."

"I'm pretty sure this is illegal."

"I assure you, it's not."

"Would you like to find out how a jury will see this Detective Santiago?"

"Jury?" My brow raising as I look over to her, but she doesn't look back.

"Lauren," he pauses, breaking eye contact with Evony to draw mine. "I like you, I won't bullshit you and try to pretend we're friends, but we've seen each other. We've bullshitted. I have nothing but respect for you, and sympathy for what went down. I promise that had the next slip up these assholes did I would be up their asses. But I cannot allow vigilantes in my city."

"Your city? Getting a bit of a Batman complex there detective?" She scoffs, she's so drunk. "If you want to question my client then do it, save us this good cop routine."

"You really shouldn't have brought her Lauren."

"You cannot advise my client that she does not need an attorney." Evony snaps.

"I cannot advise her of that-if she is under arrest."

"Alright, Jesus." Bo brings her palms down on the table laxly. "As entertaining as this is I have shit to do, real police work that doesn't involve senselessly questioning the good doctor here."

"Touching." Evony mumbles under her breath.

"Okay, let's do it yall's way then." Hale says, his voice and even demeanor is calm, but there is something there. Something because of Bo? Something because of Evony? Something personal? Does he know something about that night? "What do you know about these?" He opens this cheap, ninety-nine cent folder and spreads five photos out. "Tell me about these Lauren."

He taps the table, hand managing to touch three of the photos as he does. Each one a photo of the same mutilated body with the exception of the fifth, that one is a picture of inside a cooler containing several major organs.

These are official-but they aren't.

These were taken with the intent to rattle someone's cage—my cage.

They're too close to be regular shots, but too far to be as if they were focusing on something specific. The angles are all off, something similar to a film student trying to get the goriest shot over the best shot.

"This doesn't turn your stomach Lauren?"

"She's a doctor." Bo says under her breath, and I can't help but look up and start to shake my head.

Evony's hand resting on my knee underneath the table. At first my reaction is to push her hand off, look over at her and ask what the hell is wrong with her. Then I realize it's the subtle way of telling me something. Telling me to think. Telling me to realize Bo is steadily throwing herself under the bus, no need to help her.

"Doctor or not," his words and harsh tone directed at his partner. "There's no way you can be so numb to that. You knew this guy."

"Yes, I did. I knew him as a low life thug, a thug who had battery charges and attempted rapes on his record. I knew him as one of several men who attempted to rob the bank that morning almost four years ago. I knew him as someone who stood by and let Jason Wallace kill my father. That is how I know this man-if you can call him that." I take a breath, eye dropping to the pictures. "He's dead and I don't feel sorry for that. I don't even feel sorry that someone took a little creative leap in their approach of ridding the world of him." I feel Evony squeeze my knee tighter. "But I didn't do this."

"You sure? Cause you seem to be pretty pleased with this work?"

"Having no sympathy for how someone died is not the same as killing them yourself. I may not win any awards for my compassion, but I didn't do this."

"Are you sure?"

"Hale, she answered the question."

"Detective Dennis, do you need to wait outside?" He turns to his partner once again. "Let me remind you aren't working for the defense here."

She needs to back down-she's going to get herself in trouble.

I need to do something-but what?

I use her as my alibi for the night, and I pretty much throw her career away. I use Evony there is a chance she won't go along with it-not to mention I'm not sure she can't represent me if I do. I don't use either and I'm screwed. I know how it sounds, 'No, I was home all alone ladies and gentlemen of the jury', may as well put the handcuffs on myself. I can't use the hospital, there is too many cameras and records. I can't use my brother because well they don't allow visitors at twelve-thirty in the morning.

"Just tell me what happened Lauren." He says, causing me to look back up to him. "Was it self-defense? You can tell me."

Self-defense, really Hale?

It takes a conscious effort not to laugh.

Sure, if they had found him on the floor dead then maybe I could claim self-defense. Then again the wiping of prints and use of bleach might be an indication otherwise. Though the biggest of problems is that somehow he's managed to get himself nearly skinned and gutted. That does not scream self-defense at all.

I could come clean about all of it.

I could explain what happened just like I did to Bo and plead for mercy. Evony is a good enough lawyer to get me some kind of reduced sentence.

Would they believe me?

Would I believe myself if I was in their shoes?

"You know what, I have grown bored of this." Evony says and I think she's cut him off-maybe them by the look they're giving her. "You have something then arrest her, if not then let us go."

"You really want to push me?" His hands lay flat on the desk as he stands up, staring her down. He's going to arrest me, I know it.

"Push you, baby this isn't even a nudge." She smirks, slowly standing herself. I can't help but to shake my head to myself. "But if it will make you sleep better at night, go ahead and give her a polygraph."

Seriously ballsy bluff here.

"Polygraphs are used by small town departments that can't manage to string together decent questioning." Bo pipes in, but remains seated. Even in a situation like this, back nearly against the wall she can manage to appear as though she's in charge. "Eight out of every one-hundred answers falsely test positive regardless. It's bullshit."

"Yeah, well she's getting one." He looks from Bo to Evony, and then finally to me. "If nothing else, just to continue fucking up her night." His words followed by a chuckle, and another glance over us before practically storming out.

"Normally prefer it to get a little more aggressive, but considering I'm seeing two of everything, it wasn't completely boring." Evony says calmly, resuming her seat as if this was something that was as common as breathing.


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21st Precinct-Bathroom—7:32 p.m.

"What are you doing?" it's just a reaction at this point I guess. A reaction to ask questions I already know the answer to. A reaction to avoid questions I don't feel inclined to answer. A reaction to pretend I'm the innocent bystander in this all. "If Hale catches you in here with me—"

"He's talking to the poly-tech."

"Still." I look away from her, running the irritating excuse for a paper towel over my hands. "You shouldn't have brought Evony here."

"You needed a lawyer."

"No, I didn't."

"That's bullshit and you know it." She snaps, my eyes moving from the trashcan to her. "Look I don't know what this deal is with you and your mood swings. Or where you think you can handle everything on your own, but you can't."

"Bo, I don't need you to protect me." I walk toward her, despite my best effort, eyes meeting hers-resolve quickly dissolving just as I knew it would. "It's one thing for you to try and help behind the scenes, but to go up against your partner? To chance getting caught with me in here—"

"I'm an adult Doctor Lewis, I make my own decisions, but your concern is appreciated." Her lips curve into this nearly nonexistent smirk, but I catch it. "Take this," she holds her hand out toward me, this little red tack resting in her palm. "It'll tear the shit out of your foot, but you won't have a failed poly on the record."

"I thought they didn't hold much weight around here?" my eyebrow raising, eyes moving from the tack to her intense stare.

"They can't be used in court, and most city cops think they're a joke yeah," She nods, eyes shifting down to her hand, a non-verbalized order of sorts. "But there's a stigma that goes along with failing one."

"Thank you," I say softly, hand going over hers. "Really Bo, thank you." I pull my hand back, the faint sound of someone passing outside the door grabbing my attention.

"Lauren," she nearly growls my name as I start to try and pass. Her free hand grabbing my arm just hard enough to stop me. "Just take it."

"I won't need it." I look over, this little smile coming onto my face. It was supposed to be comforting to her-to myself a little as well, but it's not.


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21st Precinct—Interview Room—8:00 p.m.

"Can we get a move on, I'm starting to sober up and suddenly the quality of eye candy around has dropped exponentially," Evony yawns, leaning into the corner of the room. "With the exception of you of course." She winks, and I can't help but to smirk.

Bo though doesn't seem to find it as amusing as she leans against the door next to Hale, death glares firmly on their faces. Granted for very different reasons at the moment.

I look at the technician in front of me messing with his contraptions. Some nerdy kid who looked more like he should be in school learning how to do this rather than actually administering it.

My eyes shifting to the various wires attached to the things on my arm.

He asks me three test questions. Name, age, sex. True, false, true. All simple enough, no need to regret my decision to refuse the tack-yet.

I don't move in my seat despite being uncomfortable, I'd hate for them to misread my action. Instead I just look forward, staring at Hale's shoulder.

"Do you know Bryan Wright?"

"Yes."

"Do you know anything about the circumstances surrounding his death?"

"No." I see Hale look over at the technician as the 'boy' shakes his head subtlety.

"Did you kill Bryan Wright?"

"No." Actually a rather easy question, considering he apparently wasn't dead when I left him.

"Have you had any contact with him since the last day of the trial?"

"No." I watch as Hale and this 'boy' have the same exchange, Hale's eyes narrowing further.

Guess I'm passing, what does draw my attention though is the way Bo's eyes narrow this time.

"Did you want Bryan or his brother dead?"

"No." I notice Bo's brow furrow further, Hale looking over at her and then back to the screen.

"Do you possess the skill set in order to carry out the actions in which caused Bryan Wright's death?"

"Yes."

"But you yourself did not carry them out?"

"No."

"Did you hire someone to carry these actions out?"

"No."

"So you know absolutely nothing about this?" Hale snaps abruptly, taking a step forward.

"No, I don't."

"You know something, I know you do." His voice raises slightly as he takes another step forward.

"No, I don't." I repeat, eyes shifting back to Bo as she's seemingly enamored on the screen rather than this sudden turn of events.

"Bullshit."

"I don't."

"You killed him didn't you?!" his voice raises further, a large step toward me and I can hear Evony saying something in the background, but it's Bo's silence that grips my attention more than anything. "Didn't you?!" he stands over me, hand slamming on the table.

"That's enough! This is unprofessional and borderline illegal detective."

Hale takes a step back looking-calm. He looks at the screen for a long moment, Evony's voice drowning out as I study his face.

What is it he's after?

"Tell me again how you think she has nothing to do with this." He barks through a near disgusted grin, looking back at Bo who seems—-something.

"You can take her, we're done with her." Bo says, flatly.

"Bo?" her name leaves my mouth without a thought, but she doesn't say a thing.

She doesn't even bother to look at me before following her partner out of the room.

I look over at the technician as he starts to remove the various things attached to me, but the polite presence he once had about him now missing.

Feeling Evony's hand on my shoulder I glance over just as she is leaning down, lips hovering above my ear.

"Next time someone gets in your face like that," she whispers. "Try to appear as though you aren't about to pass out."


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Lauren's Apartment—10:41 p.m.

"Jesus." I grumble to myself, and looking down at the mattress beside me. More accurately, looking down at my phone that hasn't stopped going off for the past thirty minutes. "I am not interested in a drunken booty call Evony."

(That's not what this is about.)

"I'm sure."

(It's not. Li-)

"Look, I know I was a little ungrateful earlier, and I'm sorry about that. I do appreciate it, but I don't want you to think-"

(Lauren shut up and listen to me.)

"What?" I sit up, something in her voice grabbing my attention.

(My assistant is dating a patrol officer.)

"Kendra, yeah I remember."

(They've been keeping tabs on Taylor since they discovered his brother's body. An hour ago he dropped off the radar. They can't find him. They don't even have a clue where he could be.)