Chapter 14: A new enemy
A/N: Well again thanks for all your great reviews guys and all the favs and readers out there. And a special thanks to Aip for our little talk, lol, hope this will give it justice.
This story hasn't been beta-ed, so all mistakes are mine.
Summary: Sequel to JBH. Mac and Stella start to take things toward a common future while a deadly killer piles up body in NYC. Whole team whump, deadly game between killer the city and the team...
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, besides the characters I created for this story. CSI NY belongs to CBS and Jerry Bruckeimer.
Their lunch was quick as it was only composed of two slices of pizza on a take out and two bottles of water, but at least, they had some quiet time together. Well, that's what Stella had appreciated. She looked up, her eyes piercing through the green foliagesoftlyswaying with the warm summer wind. Her sight caught the winking sun behind it and she smiled. They were in the middle of New York City and Mac had found a way to take them in a quiet and restful place in no time. She loved that side of him. Lingering in the soft wind and the birds' lullaby, the mood gently reminded her of the SusquehannockForest, and their amazing weekend. She glanced toward her partner sitting beside her on the bench.
His shoulders was sagging a little, and he seemed more relaxed than the last couple of hours, although she could bet he was still thinking at Fincher. She sighed, well she too was thinking about that jerk. His threat had been real toward Mac and due to her own encountershe knew he wasn't kidding. Her lips tight, she looked down at her pizza not sure she was that hungry anymore; a tight knot forming in her stomach. Mac was going to be his next target. Silently, she prayed that if it comes to that, she would be there for Mac. Though, she couldn't stop but think that something bad was going to happen.
Mac took a deep breath, enjoying the humid and warm breeze of the bay. He liked this place, though he had rarely stopped here because of the close proximity of Ground Zero. But today was different; he wasn't alone anymore; Stella was with him, and a new future was shining for both of them. A small smile grazed his lips and he glanced at her, but quickly replaced it by a frown. Stella wasn't eating anymore as if frozen in a sad contemplation. Even though she had tried to boost his mood, it was obvious that jerk was still in her mind.
He closed his eyes a second trying to shave that horrible image of her in his grasp, and his muscles instantly tensed under his shirt and jacket; sending a jolt of pain from his new bruised shoulder, to his healing stitches. Never. He would never let that happen again. That guy had been too close of her already. Slowly, his eyes lowered to her mid section. He had watched her while they were processing, and although she had stated she was okay, he could bet she was going to have some bad bruises tonight. He cringed inwardly, his jaw clenched. But he intended to take care of that, at least if everything happened according to their plans.
He sighed, remembering their talk with Don. As they had been done with the crime scene. Don had come back but this time Mac had seen his serious gaze, the smile gone. He had closed the door behind the ME as soon as they had taken the body away and had stared at them.
Don had sighed deeply, before taking a sad tone. "You guys owe me an explanation." He had tightened his lips and stared at Mac. His sight hadn't been angry, just worried. "I mean, alright Mac, you're the boss but here on the field I'm the lead for my precinct and this case." His hand had pointed at the messy floor where the vic had been. "I'm responsible for whatever happen here, you know that."
Mac had sighed and had turned toward a silent Stella. He knew Don had been right, but his first priority had been Stella at the time. That's why he had dismissed him shortly after the incident. All right, he shouldn't have done that, the hell, in normal days he would have never done anything like that. But seeing Stella in the hands of this guy. Damn it! He would do it again a hundred times if it meant her spending less time with that jerk. He sighed deeply. He had just snapped and needed some time with her, first; to check that she was okay. The procedure and everyone could go to hell if she wasn't okay. He closed his eyes a second, knowing that logic should have dictated him another course of action, the same one he would have called on his friends or anyone if they hadn't respected it. But he had just done the opposite.
So, after a moment, and raking her throat and glancing at Mac, Stella had finally spoken. He smirked, he had been relieved she had been the one to speak first. This too had been another sign that she was okay. At least to his eyes.
"Sorry Don," had apologized Stella. She had looked down and then at Mac. "Fincher tried to scare me with a bad joke," she had finally said. "And Mac arrived on time to save the day."
A joke? That's how she had called Fincher's move. Mac had cringed at the word, but then, if she felt better this way, he would support her. He had sighed, still remembering Don's stare turning red.
"You mean that asshole aggressed you?" the young detective had uttered in smoldering anger.
Stella sighed deeply and Mac had seen how bitter she had been about that. She couldn't admit someone as weak as Fincher had got the upper hand on her. "No," she had said, careful with the words. "He played me, and he wanted to get back to me because of something I told him. So why. Really wasn't that bad."
Mac's fists had tightened then. Really not that bad. Damn it! She wasn't going to excuse him, now? His mind had shot furious.
Don's gaze had traveled from one of his friends to the other not sure how to say that. It was obvious than he considered Stella like his big sister. Whoever touched her, had to face him, but he had quickly noticed too that Fincher's face had already met Mac's fist first. "Mac?" had asked Don, probably understanding too well what had happened and why now Mac had rushed inside.
"Sorry, Don," Mac had finally managed, his frustration boiling inside. His jaws had clenched, as he had observed Stella, talking with calm and composure while he could bet she was even more frustrated than he was. Somehow he couldn't shake the idea he had failed her. And by getting into a fight with Fincher, he hadn't helped either. Though at least, he had gotten the guy out of her. But even being in the same room as Stella, it was already too close to her for his taste. Now, Stella could always press charges against Fincher but then, he could always argue that Mac had attacked him first, though it would be hard to prove it as none had other witnesses than themselves. He sighed deeply.
"What you guys wanna do?" had asked Don.
Mac had stared at Stella. It was up to her. But if it was him, he would press charges against that bastard. But then Stella had nodded.
"I'm alright, and he didn't scare me. And I'm sure he understood Mac's point of view." She had declared, with a weak smile to Mac.
Mac's lips had tightened, knowing she wanted to move on and avoid maybe heat coming his way. He should have cuffed the man, instead of hurting him. Now, even if none of them could attack each other, the simple facts of pressing charges against Fincher, would get heat on him. And Stella knew that any political heat like that could damage his file. Nonetheless he had argued that she should press charges, no matter the outcome, especially about him. He sighed, he didn't care about his file and his career, all that matter was her. But then at the end, it was her call to go against Fincher.
Seeing that she was still plunged in her thoughts. He grabbed the slice of pizza from her hand that was threatening to fall on the ground, and put it aside. Softly, his fingers entwined with her cold hands bringing warmth to them. Surprised, Stella seemed to be pulled back from her thoughts and looked at him with a gentle frown.
"I will never let him touch you," Mac said in a reassuring tone, breaking the lullaby between two birds.
"I know." Her eyes connected with his soft, ocean gaze and then slowly drifted on the green grass near the bench. She knew he was right, she should have pressed charges against Fincher. But then, Mac would have had to explain to the internal affairs why he had fought with Fincher instead of calling for the officers outside, and just arrest him. It wasn't because of their relationship she was afraid. No, Mac had snapped, and any political enemy of the Lab could use that later to destroy him, and that was out of the question. She sighed. She didn't want Mac to have troubles because of her. This incident was really nothing.
He frowned. "So what is it, Stell?"
Her lips tight, her emeralds locked with his green, ocean eyes this time, and she let out a deep breath. "I just have a bad feeling about that. I mean he threatened you and..." she started, searching her words not to appear too worried.
Mac smiled, and his warm hands squeezed hers gently. "Don't worry, he's no match for me."
She shook her head, and offered him a weak smile. "Yeah, in a fair fight, Mac... But you saw his eyes..." Her voice trailed off. "He won't come to face you in front the next time."
He sighed. "I know, I got the same warning from Sinclair." He cringed as he saw the realization dawning in her eyes. He hadn't really talked about that with her. Damn it!
"Sinclair?" She frowned. "You said it was nothing? Is it what Fincher meant by crushing your career down?" Her heart accelerated now. So she was right. Fincher wanted to hurt him too, maybe even more than her. If Sinclair had come to warn Mac, it had to be for something big.
"Stella." He sighed. "I don't want you to worry. Sinclair just came to tell me that his father is a good friend of the governor, that's all."
"That's all," she repeated bewildered. She couldn't believe that. "Mac..."
He smirked, looking back at the grass. "It just means that next time he'll try to get to me in a more political way. And I will be ready for it," he reassured her.
"Still, sounds bad to me." She squeezed back his hands. "I really don't like it."
Mac sighed, and their eyes connected softly. "Me neither, but we got Dumbrock, right?" He shrugged, dismissing Fincher as a small event. "So I guess it's not a crooked cop that's gonna scare me." He offered her his best, charming smile.
She smirked. "There's nothing that scares you, Mac. That's why I'm worried with a guy like him. He'll come at the most unexpected time to jump on you."
"I'll worry on time. Until then I intend to enjoy every minute of your company." He graced her of a boyish grin. "Still hungry?" he asked with a mischievous grin, showing the slice of pizza he had carefully put aside.
"Ah you know I can't resist to that double cheese crunch."
"That's my girl," he said with an amused smile.
As Stella bit in her half eaten slice, Mac's phone went off. Still smiling at her, he brought it to his ear, and his smile turned serious. "Okay Don, we're on our way. Good job." He looked at Stella as she was finishing her pizza. "Don's men have found Trent. They have him in custody."
"He's the guy whose name and prints were on Marlyn's card, right?" asked Stella trying to remember the elements of Mac's case.
"Yes. He also has an aggressive past and he currently works in a flower shop."
"Then let's go," she said with a big grin, wiping her hands on a small napkin.
Mac smiled and as they both climbed into the avalanche, he looked at her mischievously.
"What?" she asked, bemused.
He gave her a boyish grin. "You have some tomato here." And to show her, his thumb gently caressed her lips, cleaning the tiny trace of tomato at the corner of her delicate lips.
She smiled. "You know you don't need any tomato excuse to do that," she stated, her eyes gleaming with amusement at his tender touch.
He blushed slightly and turned on the engine. "I'll remember that."
xxx
Few minutes later, and several blocks away from Battery Park, Mac glanced toward Stella as they were about to enter the 12th precinct. His smile changed into his serious poker face, and she knew it was going to be all business from now on. Though, she noticed with delight, his eyes smiling when he opened the door for her.
"Ladies first," he teased with a grin.
Her eyes gleaming, she nodded, and stepped inside. As always the first thing that assaulted her was the heavy smell of sweat lingering in the air, quickly followed by the overwhelming noise of voices and rumble composing any precinct. Her lips closed, she watched as cops came and went with cuffed perps, while others were sitting behind their desk, taking notes from witnesses; as always the 12th was very busy. She smiled, she had never been bored by this atmosphere when she had worked at the 9th precinct, earning her second grade badge at the time. As Mac stepped beside her, a few pair of eyes looked up and then quickly went back to their files as they recognized them.
With a childish delight, she felt Mac's hand protectively pressing on the small of her back. Maybe it was because of his altercation with Fincher or their talk in the park, but anyway, she liked that new side of him, especially as private as he used to be. Though somehow she had to admit, feeling his caring presence behind her this way was really comforting. So much comforting that she felt a pair of wings growing in her back. Delightly amazed, she headed straight to the interrogation room as if all the madness had disappeared from the surface of the earth.
There, Flack was waiting for them, a file in his hand. He looked at Mac with a grim face, although his eyes softened as he noticed the protective gesture toward Stella. He knew Mac cared about Stella more than life itself. He sighed, well, his showdown with Fincher's had proven how much. But Flack had to admit, it was the first time he had really seen his so-controlled friend snap so fast, even with Drew Bedford or that creepy women's killer, he had never done that. He nodded as his friends stopped before him.
"My guys caught him in a bar, two hours ago." He smirked. "According to the bartender, he spent the night there drinking like a fish, and the rest of the day sleeping like a noisy dog." He handed the file to Mac. "It seems his loud snoring bothered the clients, so they called the cops. Talk about some luck in your drink."
Mac grabbed the file, his eyes quickly scanning the lines and Trent's profile. His lips tight, he glanced at Stella and without a word she nodded, heading for the observation room. He smiled, she had understood him in a blink of an eye, and for once, he was glad she hadn't argued with him. Trent was a giant with his 6 foot and plus, combining to that his aggressive mood, and the cocktail was explosive. Especially after what she had been through few minutes ago. No, it was better she remained aside for today. Then, he turned to Don. "I'd like you to stay with her."
Don looked at him bemused. "Huh? Mac, you sure you don't want I tag along, I mean you read that report, right?" Don switched his balance, unease at the idea of Mac being alone with this colossal man. "It took four of my guys to get him to sit on that chair and cuff him. I mean, he looks groggy and his speech is slow because of alcohol but he was quick to grab one of my guy. If we hadn't been there, I don't know how he would have ended up."
Mac frowned and looked through the open blinds, their suspect waiting behind a plain, steel table. His cuffed hands were gathered awkwardly in front of him, so that it lifted his broad shoulders even more, making him appear like a giant, grizzly bear waiting to strike. Mac bit his lower lip, watching as Trent was playing with a bottle of water placed on the table.
"I'll be okay, Don, thanks," he finally said.
With a deep frown Don nodded, knowing that if Mac wanted to be alone it meant he had a strategy in mind. So with regret, he left his friend.
A few seconds later, Stella greeted Don with a small smile as he entered the observation room, and her sight quickly went back to the room where Mac had just entered. She tightened her lips. She knew that if Mac wanted to be alone he had his reasons, though as his partner, she couldn't shake the idea that she should have been inside. For a minute, she wondered if Mac wasn't trying to keep her safe from any harm. She frowned. He had never really done that before, but deep inside she couldn't be sure that the scene with Fincher hadn't really shaken his foundations. So maybe, he was really trying to protect her. But as caring as he was, she didn't want to appear as a little, fragile doll. No way, she would have to talk to him about that.
She took a long breath, and watched as he tossed the file on the table. The man didn't even move a muscle, and then slowly a wicked smile curved Trent's face, as if he was readying himself for a fight. She shivered, wondering if he was tied enough for Mac's sake. But then, as he moved his hands she had the disgusting feeling to see that only his hands were cuffed, and to nothing else. No restraints. Mac, I pray he doesn't come at you.
"Dean Trent," started Mac, not impressed; he too could play this way. "Seems you run fast, but not fast enough to escape to the NYPD, especially when you drown yourself with alcohol," quipped Mac with a victorious smile, he knew his suspects always hated that smile, kinda made them nervous.
Trent grunted, half leaned on the table to support his pounding head. "Whatya want, detective? I was in vacation. I didn't know I shoulda let my schedule with you guys," he huffed.
"With us no. But with your parole officer that surely," replied Mac. Then, his brows rose, faking as if a new thought had crossed his mind. "That reminds me," he paused, narrowing his steel, ocean gaze and staring at Trent with a smile. "You haven't seen him in a while, have you?"
"Just spread your BS accusation, and be done with it!" Trent growled, his cuffed hands massaging his temples, and ignoring Mac's sight as much as he could.
But Mac was used to big bullies like Trent, and wasn't impressed by his self-confidence. Standing up, he circled Trent with a dark stare, and sat on a corner of the table, leaning closer to Trent. "Sounds to me like a parole violation that could send you straight back to jail."
With a smirk, Trent looked back at Mac. "You ain't gonna take me anywhere, detective!" stated Trent with a firm glare.
A frown appeared on Mac's face, but he didn't lose his calm. It was just Trent's way to try to get under his skin. But inwardly, something in Trent's behavior and the way to say anywhere with so much confidence made him cringed; something was off.
xxx
From behind the glass mirror, Stella tensed, knowing that kind of answer wasn't going to please Mac at all. Was this guy really thinking he could escape the system?
Don raked his throat next to her, and she glanced quickly toward him. His right hand before his mouth, he had a serious look. "You know you should have pressed charges, right?" He glanced shyly toward her, almost apologizing for bringing back that subject, but frankly, he had to try. Then slowly, his stare went back to their suspect. "Mac was right, you know," he said speaking at the window. "You should have listened to him and pressed charges."
"I know, Don. But..." She sighed, her gaze following Mac behind the window. "I'm not sure how to do that without Fincher getting into a witch hunt using the media." She frowned, and felt Don's gaze on her. "I mean, I know is capable of anything, and I don't want Mac to pass for the bad guy on the 8' o'clock news while Fincher brag about it. He has enough already to deal with." She gazed at Mac in the room. "I can't do that to him..."
Don frowned, worries lingering behind his big, blue eyes. "He's still recovering?"
Stella glanced at him and then back to Mac. "He's doing better I guess. But with him it's always hard to know."
A light smile curved his lips. "Mac knows what he's doing."
"I know." She sighed deeply. "Doesn't mean it's safe for him."
With a deep frown, Don stopped watching the interview and stared at Stella, observing her with intensity, and then finally a grin lighted his face. "He has you," he dropped suddenly.
Stella looked at him stunned. "As a friend I can always..." she started, but as his sight peered with a big grin, she stopped. "How? I mean..." she blurted out, realizing her friend was speaking literally.
His smile widened. "I got the clue this afternoon, and with the way Mac was looking at you." He smirked. "Maybe you haven't noticed, but it wasn't just worries. There was something more, and until now I hadn't made up anything of it." He grinned. "Though with the way he behaved lately I should have known it was you behind all this."
Her eyes gleamed at his remark. "So what changed?"
He smiled. "You're way to look at him too." He glanced at Mac in the room and then looked back at her. "You have the same fire inside, and it wasn't there before." He chuckled. "Well, not with that same intensity."
Finally, a shy smile curved her lips as well. "The same intensity," she whispered.
Don patted her shoulder, his eyes suddenly sad. "Yes, the same fire I could see in Jess when she..." his voice trailed off, his lips tight.
Stella nodded, and a long silence lingered between them, thinking at their friend gone.
"You know I'm here for you guys if you need anything, alright?"
"Thanks, Don. We know that."
He smiled. "Hey come here, big Sis," he said as he pulled her in a big hug.
Stella smiled as she squeezed back her friend in a warm embrace. "Thanks."
"Anytime, Stell. Anytime."
Breaking their hug, Don rubbed the back of his neck shyly, and glanced at the interview room. Mac was still inside, but was now standing, obvious anger displayed on his face, as Trent was smirking broadly.
xxx
"No, you're staying here, Trent," replied Mac as he glared at the man smiling before him. Slowly, he pulled out a small plastic bag from his jacket and stared at Trent. With a light smirk, he placed inside it the small bottle of water Trent had drunk from it. Then, he glanced at the officer before the door. This trick was so old, he couldn't believe the suspects were still falling for it. But anyway it would help them get Trent's DNA and prints.
As the officer was about to leave with the bottle. Trent locked darting, angry eyes with Mac, and stood up abruptly. The heat rose in the room as the officer froze near Mac who quietly sat back, and looked at Trent with composure.
"You can go, officer," Mac told him. He didn't need help to contain Trent. The officer darted nervous eyes toward him, but seeing his calm determination, he finally settled for leaving, taking with him the precious bottle with its genetic evidence.
"Sit, down!" ordered Mac, staying on his chair and glaring at Trent.
The giant man glared down at Mac, daring him to make him move. But before Trent realized what was happening, Mac had tugged on his cuff, and Trent was sitting before him with a dark grim on his face.
"I have three murders to solve and no time to deal with your outbursts," Mac exclaimed.
"I swear I'll have a field day with you, detective," huffed Trent as he slumped back in the chair, his cuffs leaving Mac's hand.
Mac smirked, ignoring the threat and going for Trent's motive. "Now, I got it. You killed Marlyn by passion. Huh? Maybe she rejected you and you decided that you were going to make her pay for it. That's why she had your card, right? You gave it to her in the heat of the moment?"
Trent grunted, shaking his head. "She was a hooker," he finally blurted out with a disgust. "She eyed me all night and then took off after I'd given her my card." He smiled wickedly. "So yeah, I gave her my card, but I didn't kill her."
Mac stared at Trent, not buying his not guilty pout. "What I don't understand," he continued. "Is why killing Parker and Calaveros? Were they her lovers? Or they too barged into you and pissed you off?" He smiled, hoping to trigger Trent. "Or maybe you hit on them too, and like Marlyn they refused to go with you?" He smirked and gave a scanning look at Trent. "You got to give them that you're not the Apollo model type," scoffed Mac, knowing this kind of comment could really piss Trent off, and it worked even better than he thought.
Out of the blue, Trent's cuffed hands raised to punch Mac. But luckily for him as the man was fast, the table between them hindered his move and Mac swung back on his chair before pushing the table forward and pinning Trent to the wall.
Trent groaned, and glared at Mac, as he tried to push the table probing angrily into his midsection, his head stretched out in burning anger.
Mac stared angrily at Trent, not speaking, and caught a view of Trent's neck and what was hidden by the green t-shirt.
"I... I..." tried to speak Trent between his ground teeth.
Releasing the pressure on the table, Mac sat back and Trent breathed normally again. He glared at Mac, his hands cuddling his midsection. Hatred flashed through his eyes. If the man hadn't been cuffed, and in this interrogation room, Mac could swear that he would have plunged on him to choke him to death. Yeah, this man wasn't harmless at all.
But before any of them could say another word, and Mac tried to get a confession, the door opened, breaking the boiling silence. A tall, blond man in a real expensive suit, and a fierce, blue gaze entered as if the place belonged to him.
"Detective," he said, putting his silvery suitcase on the table. "I'm Alistair Cornwel, Mister Trent's lawyer. You shouldn't have started this interview without my presence." He glanced at Trent, rubbing his sides and frowned. "I'm advising you not to say another word."
Mac stared at the lawyer, his jaw clenched. With him now, he could kiss good bye to his chances to get a confession. Damn it!
"Can you tell me, what are the charges against my client?"
"Your client is the prime suspect in a multiple murder case," replied Mac keeping a firm gaze on the lawyer. He knew what the lawyer was going to make of this. They had no real evidence that tied Trent to any murders. The fertilizer wasn't enough, so why he had opted for getting a confession, or maybe a statement that would compromise Trent. But now his hope was gone.
Cornwel smirked. "In other words you have nothing." He glanced back at Trent smiling like a peacock. "Let's go, Mister Trent." He looked back at Mac with a proud gait. "That would be wise to have someone take the cuffs around my client's wrists quickly. Or we might have to press charges for abusive force." His chin slightly pointed at Mac, and Trent rubbing his ribcage.
Mac huffed, his eyes not leaving both Trent and the lawyer. In any case he wasn't impressed by the bragging lawyer. "Your client resisted to an officer, and fought with four more," Mac stated, omitting his own showdown.
Cornwel glanced at Mac. "Well, he's not anymore. And if you keep the charges of resisting an arrest, I'll have this precinct charged of abusive force and he will be free in an hour. And you said it yourself, he's a suspect, not accused of anything. So we're leaving."
Taking a deep breath, Mac watched as both men walked to the door and an officer freed Trent of the cuffs. Mac's fists tightened at his sides.
Then, Trent turned back toward him with a smug face. "Thanks for the drink, detective Taylor. I'll remember you."
Mac watched bitterly, as his suspect walked out of the precinct. Something in the way he had said thanks was making him very uneasy. The guy knew they would compare his DNA and prints. So for him to be that confident, he had to have something in backup or really being innocent. Don and Stella silently joined him in the interrogation room.
"You think it's him?" probed Don.
Mac sighed, biting his lower lip in deep thoughts. "I think Mister Trent is even more suspect now."
"What you mean, Mac?" asked Don with a frown.
"From what Danny gathered about him, he appears to be everything but wealthy. So, how a guy working in a flower shop can afford a lawyer costing 300 boxes an hour?"
Stella stepped beside him. "You think he's protected. Commissioned?"
"Maybe." He turned to his friends. "He definitely sticks to our profile. This guy had an air born unit tattooed on his neck. Couldn't see exactly which one, but he made it to the military." He shook his head. "Which means we should be able to get his file from them."
Stella grinned, as she saw Mac's immersed expression. "You're thinking about something else."
He smiled shyly to her, his lips tight, and his eyes twinkling with a shining light. He couldn't keep anything from her. "He didn't react when I spoke about Parker or Calaveros as if he already knew."
With a smiling nod, Stella gazed at him. "So he's definitely our guy."
"Now, what we need is hard evidence," continued Mac.
"Don't wanna ruin your theory guys, but as his lawyer said," intervened Don. "He has an alibi for last night. He was in a bar in Long Island City, between the 31st and Broadway." He sighed. "And I got a couple o' witnesses rememberin' him from midnight to 10 this mornin'."
Mac frowned. "He could have slipped out for an hour or two without being noticed. Long Island City isn't that far from where we found Calaveros. It's only a half an hour drive, and even shorter if he does that when everybody is asleep." He glanced at Stella. "We need a precise time of death. Let's go see Sid and check if his alibi is still working, then." He turned to Don, and both men exchanged knowing glances.
"I'll call you," Don said a bit too enigmatic for Stella's taste.
Mac nodded and headed out, ignoring Stella's puzzling glances. Although he knew she wasn't going to drop the case that easily. And as expected, as soon as they neared the car, she made it known.
"Mac?" she asked as soon as she reached him. "What was that?"
He sighed, knowing he couldn't hide anything to her perceptive senses. "I asked Don for a small favor." In fact, he had asked him right after they had cleaned up the crime scene, but with Stella around, Don hadn't got the time to confirm if he was going to do it or not. Though he had never doubted his friend would help him.
She sighed, already knowing what it was about. "You are going to have him digging into Fincher's past, don't you?"
With a deep frown, he climbed inside the driver's side, and she quickly joined him. "That guy is dangerous, Stella," he started. "I'm not gonna let him loose, while you..." He stopped, tightening his lips and offering her a pout of remorse.
"It'll be okay, Mac," she said, as her fingers gently grabbed his hand clutched around the wheel.
His gaze softened as their eyes locked. He sighed. "But I can put this one aside, Stell." For you... his mind continued.
She shook her head. "I agree, but don't you think you're going for a witch hunt that could be interpreted as harassment. If the IAB is on our back, how are we going to be together without Sinclair..." her voice trailed off.
"I know. But this scum bag isn't gonna stay free. He's dangerous and you know it. I'll talk to Sinclair. And about us, we haven't done anything wrong." He sighed, his eyes gently connecting with her emeralds. "The cases are on their way, everything is fine with the Lab as well. They can't call on us on anything." He let out a deep breath. "I'm tired of all this."
"I am too, Mac. I'm just worried that this scum bag will try something against us or worst, against you."
Mac chuckled lightly, his eyes shining gently to reassure her. "Told you he can't do anything to me." He gave her his charming smile. "I'll clear up the situation first thing in the morning with the Chief. For now, we got to check with Sid and then get ready for the mayor's cocktail." He frowned. "You still wanna come after..."
But Mac couldn't finish his sentence as Stella was now pressed against him, her lips crushing his with passion. Gently her delicate fingers snaked around his neck and started to play with his short hair. With delight, she felt her partner relaxing slowly in her arms. After a minute of a much tender hug, she finally sat back, her cheeks flushed. His face too reddened into a soft blush as Mac remained silent, his eyes shining with happy content and watching her. "Now I know how to shut you up," she quipped with a broad grin.
He smiled, shaking his head in fake despair, as he turned on the engine. What could he really answer to that?
xxx
As soon as they got out of the lift, Mac and Stella instantly felt their body recoil at the aggressive smell of death. Mac glanced quickly at Stella. Both were used to it with their work. But as he read it in her eyes, she was as disgusted as he was inside. So it was really a matter of appearance for everyone when they were downstairs, hiding well the repulsion to let their brain connect on their work. Mac turned toward the smiling ME coming their way. Somehow, he hoped it was the same feeling for his friend. He frowned, it was true that sometimes, Sid's passion for his work was really worrying him.
"Ah, welcome to my lair," greeted Sid with open arms as he spotted Mac and Stella. "Been a while since you two came down together." He smiled. "I was starting to wonder if everything was fine in the great partnership."
Stella winked at Sid, and gently patted Mac's arm as she leaned on him playfully. "Ah you know how we are busy, Sid, especially Mac," she teased.
Mac turned to her with a small grin, rolling his eyes up, which was instantly noticed by the ME. But then, he looked back at Sid, his face serious. "What did you find on mister Calaveros?"
Sid frowned, and put aside the idea that had crossed his mind for a split of a second about his friends. It just couldn't be. He clipped his glasses on, and stepped near the autopsy table, lifting the blue sheet covering Calaveros.
Stella stepped beside Mac. Now both could clearly see where their vic had been wounded.
"I extracted that one out of his neck." Sid showed them as he grabbed a plastic bag and handed it to Mac.
Turning the bag before him for Stella to see, Mac looked closely. "Looks like a small dart," he remarked.
Sid nodded. "Even if that thing went deep in mister Calaveros' neck, it didn't pierce any artery or anything vital. I send a blood sample to tox. You might wanna check for poison." He looked up and met Stella's enquiring gaze. "Same pattern like your last client I heard," he said with a small frown. "Is that why you're both here? This murder is related to one of your case?"
Mac nodded with a deep sigh. "To both."
Sid straightened up, clipping his glasses down his neck, his mouth forming a small O. "I guess that means there's a serial killer out there." He clenched his jaw. "Hope you guys can catch him quickly before I have to open a second storage room." He shook his head. "I don't mind the company, but the place is a little too overcrowded lately."
Stella locked her eyes with Sid. "You know Mac, Sid. He won't rest until we have him behind bars." She glanced at Mac, her gaze soft and filled with tenderness as it laid on her companion. He was so engrossed in his thoughts as he looked at the body, that he seemed to have left the planet.
Sid creased his face, marvelling at the way Stella was looking at Mac. No, really there was something in the air today that he couldn't really grasp between those two. But he quickly came back to reality, pulled back by Mac's enquiring voice.
"What's our TOD?"
Sid looked at the body and his gloved hands went to rest on the edge of the table to support his tired shoulders. "Ah, around 11 to 10 hours."
Stella watched with delight as Mac's green, ocean eyes rose to the right. Working with him was just a pleasure at any moments. She breathed slowly. At least today, she hadn't to worry about him, and had the opportunity to just be with him and linger in his comforting presence.
"So that makes the time of death between 5 and 7 AM."
Sid nodded. "It seems mister Calaveros enjoyed the early morning."
"But to get him at that time," intervened Stella. "The killer had to be waiting for him on the other side of the street."
"Or he knew Calaveros' habit," suggested Mac.
She frowned. "You think, Trent could have been hired for this job?"
"Could be. Now we have to find from where the dart flew, and check Trent's alibi." Mac smiled as he turned toward Stella. "I wonder how fast someone can drive from Long Island City to Calaveros's place."
She smiled back. "Adam?"
Mac grinned. "You read my mind," he quipped. "Thanks Sid," he added. "Nothing else?"
"Huh, no sorry. Can't always have a surprise for you, Mac," teased the ME.
"Well, this will do." Mac nodded with a smile and turned to Stella. Without a word, he marveled as she had understood exactly what he had in mind and nodding to Sid, she headed to the lift.
As both detectives left the morgue, the chief ME remained deep in his thoughts. It was true that he hadn't seen Mac and Stella together since at least a week. But what he had just seen was... Hmm how could he put it into words? It was as if their friendship had upgraded to a new level. He frowned, remembering the talk he had with the team three days ago, and how they had bet that they could get something about their relative dates. He smiled happily. What he had just witnessed was putting a lot of his theories into perspective actually. He shook his head with a mix of amusement and happiness. Finally things were going to be what they should have been a long time ago, his mind reassured him. In the middle of this chaos, he was glad that his friends had finally found happiness.
...TBC
A/N: All right, this one contained a lot of news, hope it wasn't too much. Anyway, stay tuned for the big mayor's event and more actions and Smacked moments to come. As always feel free to drop a review and let me know what you thought of this.
Have a great week.