Chapter 10: Good Behavior

Woody is in jail, isolated since he, being a cop, wouldn't be welcome in an ordinary cell. He is sitting on a bench, with his head between his hands and his elbows on his knees.

Jordan approaches from behind the cell, glancing at him in a sad, loving way.

-Hey. - utters Jordan. Woody stretches and draws his attention to her.

- Hey, Jo. - He answers reluctantly. His shame and his confused state of mind are palpable. He stands, nonetheless, and moves toward the cell bars… and Jordan.

- I've paid the bail; they're coming to get you out of here. - Says Jordan, looking intensely at him.

- It seems that, in the end, I'm the one who's a handful of trouble. I didn't mean to disturb you…-

- Sssh, don't…- Jordan requests him to be silent and takes one of his hands with hers, over a cell bar. - I love you… - A tear escapes her eye – You're forgetting I've been there myself, and you were always there for me…

He squeezes her hand, holding it tight, and fights to control himself, words can't find their way out. After a long moment that seems ages, he kisses the small part of her hand that is inside the cell.

- I love you too.

As Woody was removed from the case, Seely was the lucky one who got it. Lucky because it was almost finished and because they had already nailed the killer, the mysterious Damian. Although, it meant working with Jordan, it could be tolerated since she was the one who had found the right suspect and she handled the witness, little Alissa, amazingly well The only major thing left was receiving the killer, who was being delivered by Pasco's police, and finding out if they could get a motive for the murder. Though it didn't really matter since they knew that evidence and witnesses showed him as guilty, it was always better to know why somebody did something as horrible as killing his pregnant girlfriend and leaving behind six children without a mother. They had also to release the kids to their fathers and tutors, as none of them were involved in the crime, it seemed such a piece of cake. Well, Seely thought he was lucky, he didn't suspect the real reason behind the good-behaving Jordan…

- You know, Cavanaugh, things in the Morgue have improved. - says Seely, who is coming to catch up with her along the hallway.

- And why is that?-

- Because I have no longer to deal with Dr. Macy, he's to busy laboring his admission to heaven with Mrs. Walcott.

- Oh! You're gonna love Kate! - "Sweet jerk-phobic Kate" thinks Jordan, and she smirks. - Are you lacking good company?

- If I were looking for good company I'd be looking somewhere else. - Answers the immutable detective. - I'm here to discuss some things left from the Jaime case. - They continue walking the hallway to wherever Jordan is going.

- Ok, shoot, what do you want to talk about?-

- Do you have any clue about Damian's twisted reasons for killing his girlfriend? I'm gonna question him today and I want to know where to start.-

- Well, first of all, you might want to know that Miranda was pregnant with his child. DNA confirmed his paternity. Secondly, as he was pregnant, it may happen that she might wanted some kind of support, I mean, economically, and maybe threatened him with something… he was an illegal immigrant, maybe she threatened him with going to Immigration to coerce him to help. It could have easily gotten out of control, since it seems Miranda had a soft spot for abusive partners. The only one who didn't treat her that way was Mr. Santiago, but he had left her… maybe that was the beginning of the fall… Since then, she picked up scum, one after another… - Jordan seems to become oblivious of Seely's presence as she is reflecting on Miranda's life.

- How is Hoyt? – asks Seely, matter-of-factly. "Again, is he being concerned? Maybe Woody isn't the only one with a façade" Jordan stops and stares at him.

- As you know, he's suspended. For someone like him that is huge. He's not allowed to come back before some good time on a shrink's couch, and community service… -

- All right, Cavanaugh, one more thing. Tomorrow we're gonna release Miranda's children. I had no luck in finding two of the fathers, but I've got tutors. George is going with his grandmother, the mother of the missing father; and Juan with a cousin of Miranda's, a Mrs. Jerkins; this last kid's father doesn't even know that he has a son.-

- What about Carl and Danny? Are you leaving them with Raymond? - Asks Jordan alarmed.

- Well, yeah… he is the father and he wants them…-

- Are you insane?! – Shouts Jordan – That's the last thing I'm gonna let happen! Got it?

"This was going right. What the hell...?" Thinks Seely, disconcerted.