09 - All's Fair in Love and War

The interviews with the inmates bunked around Ju Tan went just as Matt had expected: no one had seen or heard a thing. As he and Martinez finished with the last one and went back down to the cubicle his phone rang. "Yeah, Babe?"

She immediately knew he was ticked off. "Is it a bad time?"

"Maybe if you've got some good news it isn't."

"Well…" CJ took a sip of water. "I'm not sure if it's good or not but it is news."

"What?" He unlocked the desk drawer and handed Martinez her pistol and put his own into his holster.

"Penelope called: she wasn't able to find out much more about the phone but she did get two more pieces of information for us about calls that have been made on it - specifically made the same day as the one to Lynch. One was to Japan and one to Mexico. And all three were made within five minutes."

He plopped down into his desk chair and immediately regretted it, pulling himself back to his feet, grimacing in pain until he was able to get his back to pop and then sitting down more carefully. "You still there?"

"Yeah." He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, willing his back to relax.

"So what happened?" She listened as he explained both his identification of the body in Dallas and the deaths of the two girls from the van.

"And?" The sound of his voice had given him away and she was relatively sure of what the problem was.

"That's it."

"I know better, but we'll discuss it when you get home."

The henpecked voice came over the line. "Yes, dear. Love you."

"You, too." Hanging up she worriedly stared at the picture of Bill and Wade across from the desk as Vince came to the door of the study.

"Look what I found hanging out at the airport." He stepped aside to reveal Roy's son Will.

"Hey, you!" She came around the desk and gave Matt's cousin a big hug. "Thank you for coming to help."

"I figured a job this size called for a reunion of the dream team of installers. Plus I don't want Dad to over do it again."

"Let's get you settled into a room."

"Done already."

"Can I at least get you a drink?"

"Some of Madre Rosa's sweet tea would hit the spot."

"Let's go."

She led the way to the kitchen and poured a glass for both men and they went out onto the back porch, sitting down on one of the swings."

"I like the bunkhouse." Will motioned towards the structure with his glass. "Kinda got that classic cowboy vibe."

"You should see the inside."

"So where are the kids?"

"Napping, thankfully." She rolled her eyes. "The boys are exactly like their daddy."

"Nothing but trouble, hey?" Will smiled behind the glass.

"You know it."

Back on Baker Street, Matt reached into the top left hand drawer of his desk and retrieved a bottle of Tylenol, knocking back two with some of the cold coffee.

"C'mon. Lunch is on me." Martinez got to her feet.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? After what happened last time we had breakfast together?"

"Beats the alternative of me eating a desk." Without another word she led the way out to her SUV and slid behind the wheel as he entered the passenger side. "Now - we need to talk."

"Funny. CJ just said that."

"Great minds think alike. So what's going on?"

"Regarding?"

"Your back for one thing. And whatever else is bothering you. You didn't fill me in on what CJ called about so the obvious conclusion is that it's something that you don't want to share."

"I told you about my back before."

"True. But what I just witnessed was worse than before."

"Just one of those days."

"Not really the answer I was looking for. And the other?" There was an uncomfortable silence. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and do a little speculating: it has something to do with the guy that tried to run you off the bridge." Once again there was silence. "This is the part where you spill your guts."

He gave a snort.

"So?"

Matt thought back to his discussion with Roy that morning.

"You've got until they bring my drink to tell me." She put the Suburban in park outside of the diner and the pair entered and had a seat at a table in the back, Matt automatically trying for the chair that would give him the best view of the door and parking lot, but being beat to it by Martinez. He nonchalantly moved his chair slightly to improve the view. "And that just reinforced my theory. Out with it." She watched as he glanced over at the approaching waitress and nodded.

"In a minute." Both ordered tea and the chicken fried steak platter.

"So?"

"It's complicated." He paused as the drinks arrived. After a long sip of the beverage he began telling her the whole thing, his eyes carefully surveying their surroundings and the other customers, most of which were other cops. By the time he reached the part about the phone calls to Mexico and Japan their lunch arrived.

"Why didn't you tell me this when the wreck happened?"

He took a bite of steak, chewing as he tried to think of a good answer. "I'm still not positive that was related."

"Nooooo, of course it wasn't. We have folks running deputies off the road on a daily basis." Martinez gave him a somewhat exasperated look.

"Well, I guess it wasn't anything personal then." He smiled across the table.

"Smartass."

"Like I tell Michael all the time: better than a dumb one."

"I like him - and his lightning rod theory." There was quiet for a couple of minutes as they both ate - and kept a watchful eye out for trouble. "Seriously, though. I think we should see about a security detail."

"No, thanks."

"What about CJ and the kids?"

"That's being taken care of already."

"You're stubborn, you know that?"

"Think I've heard that once or twice before."

"How does CJ put up with you?"

"Years and years of practice. Any other questions?"

"No. But I want you to see someone about that back."

"Um hum " He stabbed at the green beans on his plate.

"You've got until Friday." She received a surprised look. "I mean it. The last thing we need right now is for that thing to lock up when someone is after you." She saw the irritated expression on his face. "Oh, alright - or when you're after someone. Does that make you feel better?"

"It's fine."

"Good. Should make it easy for a doctor to sign off on it then. And until one does you're working from home, Sergeant."

He set down the glass of tea, staring at her in disbelief. "Are you trying to pull rank on me?"

"Not trying - did. And if you don't believe I'm serious just try me."

"I'm supposed to qualify at the range tomorrow."

"I'll take care of that." She finished her mashed potatoes. "I'm the sheriff. I can do stuff like that." After a sip of tea, she signaled the waitress. "Two slices of pecan pie, please."

"What if I don't like pecan pie?"

"You do - I saw you declare war on one at the cookout." She smiled brightly. "You're not the only detective in the world, ya know." The two sat there quietly eating the pie, Matt looking angry. "Look…" She took another sip and set the glass down. "I really appreciate how much work you put into a case here. You really are the best I've ever seen. But…" She held up a hand as he tried to speak. "Everybody has their limits. We're only human and we all need a break sometimes. And we all have personal things that we have to take care of - and in your case, it's your back."

"I don't have a doctor down here."

"I'm sure we can find one for you. Do me a favor: call CJ and tell her what's going on. She mentioned that your doctor in LA is a close friend. Maybe she can recommend someone." He poked at the pie in front of him as he surveyed their surroundings yet again. "Alright, then I'll call her."

"No…"

"Then do it right now." She received an exasperated look. "I mean it, Houston."

There was a moment's pause and then he pulled his phone out and hit CJ's number. He glared across the table at Martinez who ignored it, ate the pie, and continued to keep a lookout. "Hey, what's going on?"

"Not much. Are you finally going to tell me about your back?" There was silence on the other end of the line for a minute.

"Can you talk to Carol and see if she can recommend somebody down here?"

"For your back?"

"Yeah."

"So what finally convinced you?"

"The Boss Lady is sending me home after we finish lunch and won't let me come back until a doc signs off on it."

"Please tell her I said thank you." She heard a big sigh. "Tell her."

"CJ says thank you."

The lawyer could hear laughter on the other end of the line and the sheriff's reply. "Us girls have to stick together."

"I'll call Carol right now and see what she says, hon. And there's a surprise waiting here for you."

"Oh?"

"Uh huh. Be careful. Love you."

"Love you, too. 'Bye." He hung up and looked across at his lunch companion who was still smirking. "Y'all don't play fair."

"All's fair in love and war." She put down her fork and emptied her glass. "I don't know what you're so upset about. You're still going to be on the case - you'll just have other folks doing the footwork." They got up from the table and made their way out to the parking lot, Houston grumbling under his breath.

When they arrived back at Baker Street, his mood didn't improve. Camped out at the top of the steps was Tamara Placer and her cameraman. "It's your lucky day. I'll take care of her while you get in your truck and make a getaway." Martinez shot him a big smile that was returned with a stony glare. "Let me know what you find out, okay?" Her tone changed from one of amusement to concern. "And I mean what I say about working from home: I'll know if you aren't."

Matt slid out of the truck. "Sure you will."

"I will - because I'm putting a detail on your front gate. Like it or not." With that she mounted the steps and was gone.