III: Amy

Cute baby blue sundress? Check. Brown sandals to show off newly manicured toes? Check. My hair tied back with a baby blue ribbon? Check.

As I sit here at the coffee shop, I know I look pretty. With a nervous flourish of papers, I'm making sure that I can bring a good case to Mr. McMahon. Hopefully Daniel can help me piece together everything. I hear the soft cling of the bell that signals the arrival of new patrons and look up to see Daniel. He looks good today with his hair tied back and in jeans and a red polo shirt. I wave him over, "Daniel!"

He grins as he sees me and makes his way over, "It's good to see you Ames. You look beautiful today."

My heart skips a beat and I smile shyly, "Oh you don't look too bad yourself. Should we order now or talk first?"

"Order first. Great coffee can fix everything," Daniel chuckles as he fishes his wallet out of his pocket, "What will you be having?"

"Caramel macchiato with whipped cream," I lick my lips. I have a bit of a sweet tooth so things like that have always appealed to me. "I can pay though."

"Nonsense," chuckles Daniel. He's in such a bright, cheery mood. He must have high hopes for our work today. "You should let me pay."

I nod as Daniel goes to place our order. Shuffling through the few newspaper clippings and the list of evidence that led the cops to arrest Ryder, I let out a nervous breath. I've been trying to make a case for Ryder being innocent and only a few things point that way. The lead cause I have for this is personal knowledge: I've known Zach for years and he would never do something so cold as to kidnap someone and hold them for ransom. That's when it strikes me, I know someone who was there at the bar that night with Zach.

I know Brad.

As Daniel comes back to the table, I lay my papers on the table. "I've been doing work since last night on this."

"I can tell," Daniel nods as he hands me my iced coffee. "We'll get to that in a moment. Let's talk first, just us as adults."

"Is something the matter?" I question as I sip my drink.

"No but I thought this was a date," Daniel grins as he sits back in his chair, "I don't usually make business talk on a date."

I can't help but blush. A date. Here I was dressed for a professional-esque luncheon with the freedom fighter I've had a crush on since I attended my first political rally, ready to have a business meeting, while he's more worried about a date. That's fine by me though. "Oh…oh I didn't…"

"What sort of music do you like?" Daniel questions to silence my stammering. He's quite powerful in tone.

"Rock mostly but I like some modern folk," I smile at him, "You?"

"Rock," he nods, "mostly classics like Kiss and Hagar. But I like some modern music. Not dubstep though, it's too mindless."

"Mindless? Nah, it's got its own niceties," I chuckle as I lean back in my chair. "I find it easier for studying for tests. I don't get caught up in lyrics when I listen to dubstep, it's just my thoughts and the beat."

"Never thought of it that way," Daniel calmly replies, a smile on his face. "Movies?"

"Anything with a decent plot and strong female lead. I like my main lady to not need a man," I chuckle.

"Eowyn from The Lord of The Rings over Bella Swan from Twilight, eh?" Daniel asks with a smile. A nerd after my own heart.

"Eowyn is my favorite character in anything," I agree, "I'm totally anti-Twilight."

There's a moment of silence between us where it seems as if he's assessing me. I sip my drink and wonder what's going through his head. Before I can ask, he smiles again, "You really are a tough girl. Can look after yourself and everything."

"Yes," I nod, "I guess having a police officer for a stepdad will do that. Not that I call him my stepdad…"

"Police officer? Whose daughter are you?" Daniel asks, cocking an eyebrow.

"Well…my dad's a former officer," I run a hand through the end of my ponytail, "Stevie Richards."

"Stevie Richards is your pop? God, it's been forever since he got canned, Helmsley was still just a mob boss and not a politician," Daniel look a combination of shocked and ecstatic, "He was a true man of the people. Always made sure the right thing was done. Always. I wanted to be like him when I was younger."

"You mean a cop?" I question with a smile.

"Not a cop. Like your pop. He could have been a dirty cop, a man who used influence to do whatever he wanted. He wasn't like that," Daniel beamed.

I smile and push a strand of hair behind my ear, "So…this case…"

"I saw your files," Daniel nods, "May I take a look?"

"Sure," I agree, handing the files over. "It's not much but it's kind of a start."

Daniel takes time to look through the files I've brought with me. "This says they were seen leaving together," he speaks as he looks through the files, "Do we have any knowledge of who was there that night so that they can confirm?"

"Not yet," I lie, knowing full well I have one lead. Brad wouldn't talk to Daniel or even me if Daniel was with me. I have to go see him alone. "I plan on going to the bar he and she were last seen at and see if they won't give me a record."

He nods before looking at the evidence list, "This is complete?"

"Got if rom the brother of a friend," I smile, "He's a cop."

"Doesn't make it a complete list," Daniel shrugs, "Which cop?"

"Lacroix," I reply, "Carter Lacroix."

"So it is a complete list," Daniel smiles before inspecting it once again. "The evidence does make a case for Ryder being guilty. Her panties were the only article of clothing left. If Zach kidnapped her it would have been without…"

"He wouldn't!" I protest, "He's not like that. Besides, sometimes a lady leaves behind a token, like her undies, if she's leaving early so the guy has something to remember her by."

"True," Daniel nods as he finishes looking at the papers, handing them back to me, "I wish we could get our hands on the actual transcript or tape of the interrogation."

"Maybe Lacroix will give it to us," I ponder, "You should go see."

"And you?"

"I'll go to the bar and see if I can get transcripts of the guests that night," I nod as I stand, "We should meet back here tomorrow, see if we can't form a solid defense."

"Good idea," Daniel stands and we head to the door, throwing our empty paper cups away. "I had a lovely time today. It's nice to get out of the house."

"I had a nice time too. Are we for sure meeting back here tomorrow?" I smile.

"If you want. I was thinking we could meet at my house. Can I text you?" Daniel opens the door for me and I walk through.

Turning to Daniel, I grab a pen from my bag and scribble my number onto his palm, " My number. Feel free to call or text any time. If I'm in class I'll get back to you later."

I press a kiss to his cheek before I head toward the main area of campus. Trudging to my ethics class, the only class I share with Brad, I wait outside near the shady oak that stands near the walkway. Brad comes around the corner, smiling and waving at me. "Did you get the text?"

"What text?"

"Campus services. Class got cancelled."

This is a sign, I'm supposed to talk to Brad now. "So…I have a question…"

"Sure?" Brad asks, walking with me back toward the dorm building.

"The night Ryder and Lee went home together…you were there weren't you?" I ask softly so that no one but he can hear me.

Brad hesitates but nods, "Yeah…I was there…"

"Did they leave together? What did it seem like? Can you…"

"Look Ames, I saw them leave together and they never came back," Brad cuts me off so I don't ask any more questions. "Can we drop the talk about politics for ten minutes? I mean, sheesh, be normal!"

Though that hurts, I nod in agreement, "Alright, alright. Sorry." Though I promise not to talk about work, the way that he wanted my silence stands out. He's hiding something and my gut tells me I need to chat with one of the two men who usually stand at Mayor McMahon's side.

Hunter Helmsley or Randy Orton have intimidated my best friend.