Thankfully, the remainder of the week was blessedly uneventful. All Andy had to do was file, research and dodge Denny's advances. In other words, just like any normal day should be.
Unfortunately, she wasn't quite up to feeling normal.
It was not unusual for her emotions to linger after a hostage situation.
But, this one had hit her with both barrels. Her dreams were haunted by crazy men with guns, and she was more than a little antsy, jumping at any little noise or sound out of the ordinary.
Must be out of practice, she chided herself.
Deep inside, she knew the answer. There was no need to admit it. Admitting it would get her nowhere. So, she worked and went home and doubled her exercise routine, hoping to fall into a dreamless sleep at night.
The nightmares were disturbing enough, sure. But, it was her thoughts upon waking that had her the most perturbed.
She wanted Carl there with her. Her boss. Her stand-offish, smart-mouthed boss.
But, he wasn't like that on Denny's balcony. He comforted her when no one else could even come close.
That was a pitfall of her previous job. Men – and even some women – she had rescued were drawn to her afterwards. Psychologists would say it was all based on the need to feel safe and loved or some crap like that.
And why she was trying so hard to get back into that field, she didn't know.
Whatever this was between them was brewing long before Al and his gun walked into the office. While not as obvious as Denny or even Alan, she'd noted somewhere in her mind that way Carl would watch her, almost as if he himself wasn't quite sure what to make of their situation.
Although she hadn't seen much of Carl the rest of the week, everyday there was a delivery of something or other to the office. Flowers – the largest bouquet of tulips she'd ever seen - were first. Then candy from one of the ritziest candy-makers in Boston. None of them had any indication of who they were from. She'd almost told the delivery men that they were mistaken, but her name was clearly on the card. And, no signature.
It didn't matter. She knew who they were from.
Andy was glad he was busy with a trial. She didn't quite know what to say. For once in her life, she was at a loss for words.
Although Denny sure didn't have that problem.
On more than one occasion, usually as he helped himself to the box of candy on her desk, he had to comment on who the gifts were from.
And, she told him she wasn't sure.
And, she wasn't one hundred percent sure. So, she wasn't lying.
Of course, Denny wasn't the only one who wanted to know. Katie, Jerry, Whitney – the all had to ask.
And, she showed them the card with her name on the front and nothing else.
Of course, they had a field day with secret admirers and just who it could be.
Andy let them contemplate it on their own.
She didn't think they'd figure it out, anyway. It was too . . . farfetched. Unlike him. Out of the ordinary.
But not too farfetched, unlikely and out of the ordinary for Shirley to figure out.
On Friday morning, Andy was already elbow deep in law books researching precedent for a case of Lorraine's when she felt her neck prickle. Instincts born from the need to survive on the dangerous streets of Boston made her look up.
It was Shirley. Studying her from just inside Denny's office, standing half in the hallway. It wasn't that she was sending out death rays. But, she certainly didn't look happy.
Andy almost slammed her finger shut in one of the books, she was so surprised.
The last thing she wanted was to get on this woman's bad side, and making moves on her man seemed to be the way to do it.
Although he wasn't her man anymore. And, she wasn't making any moves on him, either, Andy told herself.
"Now, I know you're not researching anything for Denny." Shirley gave her a small smile, and Andy relaxed just a bit. No hair pulling just yet. Don't get carried away.
"Lorraine."
"Ah, yes. Something to do with dog fighting, is it?"
"Uh . . . pigs. Feral pigs."
Shirley shook her head, almost as if to say nothing surprised her anymore. "So, how've you been since Tuesday's little fiasco?"
Andy knew her face betrayed no emotion, but a little ripple of fear trickled through her heart just at the mere thought. She shrugged nonchalantly. "Unfortunately, you get used to it."
Shirley studied Andy shrewdly, and Andy made herself relax even more.
The older woman motioned towards the flowers and the candy. "Seems you have an admirer."
"Be nice if I knew who it was."
"So you have no idea?"
Andy swallowed. "Uh . . . not for certain. No."
Shirley looked like she wanted to say something, but changed her mind. Awkward silence filled the air between them.
Hesitantly, Shirley reached out and touched one of the tulip petals. "I guess I should thank you, too. For what you did."
"That's not necessary. I just did what needed to be done."
"He could have died in there, you know."
Somehow, Andy knew she wasn't talking about Al. And, she didn't trust herself to answer. So, she just at her desk, law books haphazardly scattered about, and kept silent, finding sudden interest in her hands clasped in her lap.
Shirley brought her unwavering gaze back to Andy's. "I can honestly say he never once bought me flowers."
Andy blinked. A million responses fired through her mind, but none of them seemed appropriate. Either too wussy or too bold or just plain stupid.
But, she had to say something instead of sitting here with her mouth open, looking like a guppy.
"I. . . I don't know if . . . if they're from . . . him," she finally said, albeit a little lamely.
Shirley shook her head. "You don't have to offer any excuses, Andy. Rather he knows it or not, he's had a thing for you since you walked into his office. And, I could quote fraternization rules all day long, but somehow, I don't think it would stop him." Her wry smile waited on a reply.
This time, Andy was saved from having to comment by Denny bustling through the door. "Shirley! What do I have the pleasure of having your delectable body standing in my office?"
Shirley rolled her eyes. "I was just speaking to Andy, Denny, not throwing my body in your direction." She said it good-naturedly.
Denny looked at both woman. "Did I miss a catfight?"
Shirley shook her head in exasperation. "Do you ever give it up?"
"If there's a catfight in the offing, no way!" He followed her out the door and down the hall.
Andy put her forehead on her desk, cursing whatever forces got her in this situation to begin with.
"I tell you, it's Sack! No one would be so . . . so boring with flowers and candy and all that nonsense!" Denny pounded his fist on Alan's desk in his exuberance.
Alan raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "I don't know, Denny . . ."
"You do know! You just won't admit it!" Denny pointed at his friend for emphasis. "And, to top it all off, I think she and Shirley were having a little tête-à-tête about it just a little bit ago."
"Claws sheathed or unsheathed?"
Denny almost appeared to be pouting. "I listened long enough to figure out Andy wouldn't piss her off for all the chocolate in Boston!"
"But . . . Shirley and Carl . . ."
"I know, I know. Over. Vamoose. See ya later. But, would you want to cross that woman?"
"Daily, if I had a choice." Alan leaned back in his chair. "So, what else did you hear while you were spying?"
"Fact-gathering. Andy's not sure if it's him. And I don't think 'fraternizing' is exactly what they've been doing."
"Fraternizing, huh? Is that what they call it nowadays?"
Denny threw up his hands in disbelief. "I don't believe it! I just don't believe it! I would shower her with diamonds and buy her the most expensive doo-dads until her little heart's content, and she choose Carl!"
"She's too young for you." Alan pointed out.
"She's too young for him. Probably kill him in the sack. Sack dead in the sack!" Denny thought for a moment, shaking his head at his own play on words. "Anyway, I'll keep you posted."
"I'll be waiting on every word," Alan replied caustically, returning to the work spread across his desk.
Carl wasn't quite sure when it occurred to him what he really needed to do for Andy.
But, only to show his appreciation for what she did for him. Nothing more. Right?
He stewed on it for several days, all the while sending her little gifts. He left his name off them on purpose.
After all, she'd know who they were from. And that was all that mattered.
It was probably a good thing that he was busy with a trial all week. It kept his mind off what he was going to ask her and gave him time to plan it out to the best of his abilities.
And, it kept his mind off the real reason he might want to go through with this plan.
Sure, it also kept him away from Andy, too, an effect he didn't much care for. However, the less time he spent with her in the office, the better. Less gossip that way.
On Friday afternoon when he finally found her, she and Lorraine were deep in discussion in Lorraine's office.
Although he could interrupt – after all he was a senior partner at the firm – he wanted to have this conversation in private.
Standing outside Lorraine's office, he couldn't help but watch her. Of course, Lorraine was a sex kitten in her own right, but the air about her screamed, "Hands off, buster!"
Although she tried, Andy couldn't quite pull the ice queen façade off. She was too . . . too human. Too in-touch with everyone around her. Now that he knew her just that much more, he found that her eyes really did give her away. They showed her fear, her frustrations.
And even a little more than that, if their discussion on Denny's balcony begged to differ.
And, when they ended their conversation, and Andy's eyes met his, he saw the wariness there.
Not what he was expecting.
But, then again, it had been so long since he'd had to play this game, who's to say he knew what he was doing?
Andy's knew she faltered just a bit as she caught Carl's stare from just outside Lorraine's office.
Dammit, how could affect her like that?
Control, girl! You've got to get control over yourself!
Good thing she had plenty of practice with that.
"Hi, Carl. Waiting on Lorraine?" she asked as she breezed out the door.
That's right. Upbeat, but disinterested. You can do this.
"Actually, I wanted to speak with you."
He was walking so closely, she could feel the heat from his body, smell his cologne. "Didn't mean to keep you waiting." It was getting harder and harder to be neutral, that's for sure.
A job offer from a police department anywhere needed to land on her desk. And soon!
"At least someone was doing some real work around here. Couldn't see where interrupting would do any good." He opened the door to her office, relieved to see Denny was quite absent.
"You haven't heard about this case then, I gather." Andy knew how he hated the strange cases that seemed to darken their door lately.
"Honestly, I don't want to know."
"Good. Because, I don't want to tell you." She dumped her armload of books on her desk, catching sight of the flowers displayed across the room. She needed the space on her desk for research.
Andy cleared her throat and adjusted her sweater. "You know, you really shouldn't have gone through all the trouble."
He managed to actually look innocent as he stood just inside her door. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Don't give me that! You know exactly what I'm talking about."
He returned her smile, and she cursed what it did to her insides. School girl. Acting like a silly school girl!
"Of course I do. And, that is actually what I've come to see you about."
"Oh?" She crossed her arms across her chest, knowing it was a self-defense pose, but couldn't help herself nonetheless.
He took a piece of paper from her desk and a pen. "I would really love you to join me tomorrow morning at 10 at this address." He talked as he wrote and handed her the note when he was done.
Curious, she took it. It was an address she recognized, thanks to the Boston PD. "The marina?"
"You're familiar with it, then?"
"Well . . . no. Not exactly. I just . . . recognize the address. What's at the marina?"
He gave her a mischievous smile, looking more like a little boy than a distinguished attorney. "Patience, my dear. Oh, and bring a change of clothes. And a bathing suit."
"The skimpier, the better?" she asked.
"I'm not Denny, but I won't complain either way," Carl shrugged.
Andy stared at the address written in his bold print.
What would Shirley say?
Does it matter what Shirley would say?
Hell, do I want to go? Well . . . yeah.
But, do I need to go?
"I . . . don't know. Is it . . . well is it a good idea? To . . . to fraternize outside of work?" Damn Shirley and her little visit earlier!
Some of his cockiness vanished, and he looked momentarily defeated. "Honestly, you're right. It's probably not a good idea. Just . . . I apologize for putting you on the spot." He reached to take the paper out of her hands. "Forget I asked."
Andy snatched it out of his grasp, putting it behind her back, surprised at her own reaction.
He looked equally as shocked. "You want me to wrestle you for it?" he asked.
"I . . . I didn't say I didn't want to go. I guess it's good we're on the same page, though."
"Which is?"
"That this is not a good idea. Plus, I hate surprises."
"You would."
She looked hopeful. "Just a hint?"
"Well, it's at the marina, so that sort of narrows the possibilities, doesn't it?" He adjusted his coat. "So, 10 tomorrow?"
Andy glanced at the address again. "Right," she said, albeit rather weakly.
"I guess I could say if you chicken out, then you're fired, huh?"
Her eyes snapped back to his, but he was picking at her. She could tell. "And, I guess my lawsuit against the company could rival anything Denny has ever had against him, right?"
He smiled at her before he walked out of her office. "See you tomorrow, Andy Sutherland."