The boys were waiting for them on the sidewalk when they pulled into the kerb.
Maverick let out a low whistle when Maddie stepped out of the car, Ashley and Darry following close behind her.
"Told you I wasn't exactly dressed for the occasion." She gave him an inviting smile.
"You look just fine to me." His eyes indicated that he liked what he saw.
"Behave yourself Captain." She admonished him. "Now, point me towards the sheriff so I can work my magic."
The young policewoman could barely disguise her amusement as she took in the ragtag group that walked through the door.
"This is your legal representation?" She gave the boys an incredulous look. "I wouldn't want to be in your trainee's shoes right now."
"If it isn't too much trouble, could you please let the sheriff know that Madison Harris from Mason, Schubert and Harris is here to see him."
Maddie gave the young constable a withering look as she handed over her business card.
"Oh of course, I'm sorry Ms Harris, I won't keep you a moment." The young police woman stammered, recognizing the name of the company immediately.
Maddie's firm handled a lot of high profile cases and they were frequently in the news. She scurried away to see the sheriff. Maddie shot a confident smile at the boys.
"Wow, she got further with one sentence than we got in the whole time we've been here." Lee was impressed.
"Remind me to call Maddie if I ever get arrested." Ashley whispered jokingly.
"Ms Harris, what on earth would bring a high profile New York lawyer to our little corner of the earth?" The sheriff asked as he greeted Maddie, holding out his hand.
"Sheriff Wayne Perkins at your service ma'am"
Maddie took his hand and smiled. "Sheriff Perkins, so nice to meet you." She said smoothly.
"I apologize for not scheduling an appointment and for my inappropriate attire.
I am on holidays and have received an unexpected call regarding some clients of mine that seem to have landed themselves in some trouble."
Lee, Ashley and Maverick all looked at each other, this girl was good.
"No problem at all Ms Harris, why don't you come through to my office and we can talk." The sheriff offered, openly admiring the attractive woman in front of him.
"That would be wonderful, thank you sheriff." Maddie gave him a warm smile. "And please, call me Maddie." Her voice trailed off as they disappeared out of sight.
They had been gone for about fifteen minutes and Maverick and Lee were watching the clock anxiously as the time for the arrival of the transport rapidly approached.
They heard laughter coming from the other side of the desk, and saw Maddie and the sheriff approaching.
"Wayne, thank you so much for being so understanding." She was saying to him.
"I suppose boys will be boys." The sheriff conceded, smiling warmly at her.
"I will make sure that you have the letter of apology tomorrow, and you just let me know when you get the new letterbox in,
and I'll make sure that you are reimbursed and that there are a certain four strapping young lieutenants on your doorstep, ready to install it." She assured him.
"Oh and Wayne, I'm sure that the Captains here will make sure that there won't be any more trouble." She nodded in Maverick and Lee's direction.
"We will make sure that they don't put another foot out of line sheriff." Maverick said gratefully as he watched four very sheepish trainees file out of the cells.
"Ma'am, how can we thank you?" One of the trainees who went by the call sign Bear asked Maddie gratefully when they were outside the police station.
"No need to thank me boys, I was happy to help." She smiled at them.
"You can do your Co's a favour though and stay out of trouble for the rest of your time here." She rested her hand on Maverick's arm as she turned to him.
"Now handsome, if it's ok with you, Ashley and I have a date with your son. We promised to take him to the beach." She ruffled Darry's hair with her free hand.
"Have I told you yet just how incredible you are?" His eyes glowed as he pulled her in close.
"Not since earlier this morning." She joked. "Are you going to join us at the beach?"
"Lee and I still have to have a little discussion with this lot." He nodded his head towards the hapless group of trainees. "I'll call you when we're done and see where you are."
"Don't be too hard on them Mav, it wasn't that long ago that you were a trainee yourself." She leant in and gave him a gentle kiss. "I'll see you soon."
Lee had been watching Ashley closely while Maddie and Maverick talked.
She still wouldn't look at him, and was standing as far away from him as possible. I think she's avoiding me, he thought to himself.
He would have to do something about that. He walked over to her and stood close behind her.
Every nerve in Ashley's body screamed as she realized that he was standing right behind her.
"What do you want Lee?" She asked him coolly.
"Something like that would be nice." He said, watching the little exchange between his partner and his new girl. Ashley turned, smiling sweetly at him, and leant in nice and close.
"In your dreams Captain." She whispered in his ear. "You had your chance and you blew it." She stepped away from him.
"You ready Maddie, or are we going to stand on the sidewalk all day." She asked a little impatiently.
"Yeap, let's hit the beach. What do you think kiddo?" She asked Darry.
"Well it's about time, I was getting bored." They all laughed at this little outburst, and went their separate ways.
Lee stood quietly on the sidewalk, watching the car drive away. He had fought the urge to go after her, realizing that she didn't intend to make this easy for him.
"What's wrong mate, Ashley steal your lollipop did she?" His partners voice jolted him away from his thoughts.
Maverick had noticed what had just taken place between them. This one is going to give Lee a run for his money, he thought to himself,
amused at the idea of a girl having the upper hand over his partner.
"Don't have a clue what you're talking about Mav." Lee dismissed the comment. "Now let's get this lot back to base and give them a lecture they're not going to forget in a hurry."
Maverick chuckled to himself. Ashley has definitely gotten under his skin, Lee never changed the subject like that.
The girls drove around and around the block, trying to find a parking spot that wasn't a mile away from the main beach in Oceanside.
"This is hopeless." Ashley sighed in frustration. "Even if we do get a parking spot, we'll probably have to fight somebody for room on the beach."
"Surely this can't be the only beach around here." Maddie commented. "Maybe we should try following the coast road and see what we can find." She suggested.
"Good idea, I don't know about you guys, but I think it's too hot to be imitating a sardine today."
Ashley joked as she turned the car back onto the coast road and headed out of the main center of Oceanside.
They had been driving about fifteen minutes when they came around a bend in the road and saw a deserted stretch of sand below.
"Now that looks perfect." They both exclaimed at the same time.
Ashley turned into the street that looked as if it would be the closest to the beachfront and parked the car opposite a path that went between two houses.
They grabbed their bags and towels and headed for the path, each of them holding one of Darry's hands.
The path led to some stone steps that had been cut into the cliff face to allow access to the beach.
It brought them out onto the rocks at the far end of a small stretch of sand. It looked like they had the whole beach to themselves.
Darry let out a happy yell and took off running across the sand towards the water.
"I hope he can swim." Ashley looked at Maddie in alarm and they both took off running after him.