Chapter 11: Lose Ends
Mike Logan was propped against the conference room table watching Bobby and Alex box the evidence they had carefully strewn about the room less than a week ago. "So you already new it was that agent, the young one, what's his name."
"McGinty," Bobby answered over his shoulder.
"We suspected he was involved," Alex added.
"She suspected," Bobby corrected. "Alex is the one who figured it out."
"O.k., I'll bite. What gave him away?"
"His interview with Nathan."
"Your nephew?"
Alex nodded. Bobby turned around from the newly cleared push board. "She was reading the interview transcripts at the hospital. McGinty asked Nathan if he and Nicole did anything after he finished his ice cream."
"As far as I could tell," Alex picked up, "Nathan had never mentioned having ice cream while he was with Nicole."
"It was… suspicious," Bobby said. "When he called me this morning, we knew for sure he was the mole."
Logan pulled the lolly pop out of his mouth and shrugged. "I don't get it."
"I told him I would get dressed, call Eames, and meet him downstairs. He said he had already talked to the Captain and that he had already called Eames." Bobby cocked his head a little and shrugged, "I knew he hadn't."
"And you knew that because… you dog! You knew he hadn't called her because she was there with you!" Alex tried desperately to suppress a smile. "And you, you little vixen, how long have you two been burning the midnight oil?"
"Detective Logan, I assure you there was nothing inappropriate happening at Bobby's apartment. All things considered, it was the safest place for both of us to be. Desperate times call for desperate measures."
"Sure they do." Logan sounded less than convinced. "So, how did you work it?"
"I called the captain and told him they were headed to the shipping yard and went down to the parking garage to get the SUV. I called Bobby's cell and he dropped it in his pocket so I could here them talking. I got a couple of blocks head start and waited for them to pass me. When they got to the warehouse, Bobby told McGinty, 'We've been here before, Nicole and I.' so I would know exactly where they were. Bobby hung up the phone when he got out of the car and I called the Captain back with the exact location. He already knew we suspected McGinty."
Logan leaned against the table shaking his head, "unbelievable."
Ross popped his head in the door. "Logan don't you have work to do… elsewhere."
"No," he grinned, "paperwork's done. Just waiting on another bad guy to do his thing."
"Well, wait out there somewhere. Find something to do."
"Yes, sir." He winked at Goren and Eames. "Amazing aren't they?" he teased.
"Back to work, Logan"
Logan ducked as if he were avoiding a smack and trotted back to his desk.
"Make sure you dot your 'I's' and cross your 'T's' on this one."
"Paperwork's already done, Captain." Alex assured him.
"You have a meeting with IAB in half an hour. I gave my statement this morning after Goren and so did Agent Foster. I assured them it was clean. When you're done, you two take the rest of the week off. I want you fresh and ready to roll on Monday."
"Yes, sir. Thanks, Captain." Captain Ross nodded at Alex and looked then to Goren. "You did a good job on this case." He turned back to Alex, "You both did a nice job." She smiled a thin, tight smile. Bobby nodded once in thanks.
"I'm heading up to IAB. Will you be here when I get back?"
"Yeah, I'm just gonna' finish up in here. Good luck."
"Thanks"
He leaned against the doorframe and watched her walk away until Logan interrupted his thoughts and his view. "Nothing inappropriate my ass!" Bobby lunged forward in mock aggression and Logan threw his hands in the air in surrender. "Hey, I just call 'em like I see 'em." He winked, spun on his heels, and headed around the corner. Bobby scanned the room to see if anyone might have witnessed their exchange. No one, however, was paying him any attention at all. He smiled to himself at the normality of the moment.
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One hour later, Alex returned to her desk. "Everything go O.K.?" Bobby asked.
"Yeah. They cleared the shooting."
"Good." They looked at each for a moment, neither one quite sure what to say. Bobby looked back down at his portfolio and returned to writing. Alex turned her attention to her computer. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bobby stand and walk toward the elevators. She furrowed her brow, questioning where he was going. A few minutes later, her phone rang. Without looking up from her screen, she answered, "Eames."
"Alex."
"Where are you, Bobby?"
"I'm downstairs."
"Everything alright?
"Uh, huh. I was just calling to see if you're busy tomorrow night?"
"Tomorrow night?"
"Yes, I'd like to take you out. You know, on a date… dinner, dancing… whatever you want."
Alex leaned into the phone. She could feel her cheeks turning red despite herself. "Alright… what time do you want to pick me up?"
"We have reservations at 6:30 so I'll pick you up at a quarter 'till."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
She smiled into the phone. "I'll be ready."
"Good, I'll see you then… Goodnight Alex."
"Good night."
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Bobby and Alex stood holding each other in his living room floor. They swayed back and forth as Ella Fitzgerald crooned The Nearness of You. Jazz had never sounded so lovely to Alex. Punch drunk in love, she stood on her toes and whispered in Bobby's ear. "Tell me something wonderful."
He pulled her in tighter and whispered back, "I love you."
Her eyes fluttered open unsure if she had heard correctly. She leaned back and looked up into his piercing brown eyes. She gave him a soft smile as they continued to sway in time with the music. "Say it again."
"I love you, Alex."
She tilted her head to the right and looked at him thoughtfully. "I love you too, Bobby." Their lips met, soft and sincere at first. The passion, however, that they had held in check for so many years was too much for them both. Ella continued to serenade the empty room as Bobby and Alex disappeared down the hall.
The End
Thanks to everyone who read and then graciously left a review. I hope you enjoyed reading my little fic as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'm looking forward to new inspiration in June with the return of CI. Thanks again and God Bless.
