Carolyn POV
"Cat's away, the mice will play, huh?"
I looked up to see Bernard and Lauren joining us at what's long-since been deemed our table in Steve-O's. It's practically a mile long, but we're loyal customers and good tippers, so management doesn't mind keeping other customers away.
For the past fifteen minutes, it was just me and Mike and Bobby and Alex, but I'd guess our numbers will triple over the next half hour.
"Why, because we knocked off at five-thirty on a Friday when the boss is out of town?" Mike asked him in amusement. "I'm pretty sure he'd be here with us, if he weren't in Albany. And I notice you didn't waste any time grabbing your wife to join us."
"Hey, my partner and I closed our case today," Lauren said reasonably. "Well, one of them, anyway. And I don't think we're too far off with the second one."
"The Canter case?" Bobby asked her with interest.
"You work fast," Alex added as Lauren nodded. "How'd you filter through everyone who hated her?"
"We haven't entirely," she admitted. "But we've caught two of them in lies, and it's looking like maybe a love triangle gone wrong."
"Like a love triangle could go right?" Mike teased. "How would that work, exactly?"
Lauren flashed him a smile while simultaneously flipping him off, sparking a few light chuckles from around the table.
"Well, at least someone's wrapping things up. I wish we could say the same thing," I stated. "But we are making headway."
Bernard nodded his agreement, having spent most of his day working with me and Mike going through Kevin Shaw's life.
"Any luck getting those prison visitor logs yet?" he asked.
"Supposedly they'll be on our desk in the morning," Mike answered.
See, we're starting to think Puccio had something to do with the girl's murder, because it definitely looks like a set up, and Puccio was certainly mad enough at Shaw, after that last case. It's our working theory, anyway. And I like that even though Mike and I came up with it, we didn't share it with Lupo and Bernard and yet they reached the same conclusion.
"What about you two?" Bernard asked Bobby. "Headway?"
"We found the car," Alex answered. "He ditched it in the parking lot of the Brooklyn Museum."
"Did you get anything from it?"
"Prints, but that doesn't help us. It was reported stolen two days ago in Jersey."
"Any reports of a car stolen near the library?" Lauren asked.
"No. But it's a short walk to the subway, and there's no shortage of cabs," Bobby pointed out.
"So you're nowhere," Bernard said blandly.
"At this point," Alex replied. "But his face is plastered all over the city. It won't be long."
"Yeah, hang in there, okay?" Mike offered.
I know it has to be tough for Lauren. I just can't imagine. I mean, I can but I can't. There've been plenty of times we've had people on the loose, coming after us and wanting to kill us, but not with the added fear factor that she has, of having already been terrorized by him once before.
"I'm fine," she assured him, but it almost sounds to me like she's trying to convince herself of that more so than anyone else.
We spent a few minutes, mostly in quiet, with just the six of us sipping on our respective beers. My mind was scrambling in an effort to say something to lighten the mood, because it's Friday night and we've all had a long week, and we're supposed to be in here laughing, but comic relief isn't really my forte.
"Can't escape those pesky marshals, can we?" Bernard spoke up as Mary and Jennifer entered the bar, along with John and Mike Cutter. "Jeez, guys, we work one case with you and now you won't leave us alone."
I guess I'm not the only one trying to think of how to make people smile.
Although it doesn't seem like the newcomers are in much of a joking mood either.
"These emails are out of control," Mary said gruffly as she sat down. She motioned to the waitress and then said, "And they're still talking about him in Detroit."
"You know, enough's enough," Mike said suddenly, squeezing my hand a little tighter, which tells me that I'm probably not going to like what he's about to say. "Your DEA contact is willing to work with us, right? He's keeping you in the loop?"
She nodded and asked, "Why, what are you thinking?"
But I'm pretty sure I already know. And I don't like it, but I understand it, and it's the right thing to do.
"Misinformation," I said evenly, as if the idea doesn't make me queasy.
Mike caught my eye, holding my gaze as he added, "Let it leak that John's going to be in Detroit."
"Wait, what?" Bobby asked sharply, at the same time John said, "It's about time."
I gave Bobby a reassuring look, although I'm not entirely sure it had that effect on him, while Mike replied to John, "Yeah, I don't think so, brother. It's my turn to be bait."
A lot of people started talking at once, but I focused on John's response.
"How's that going to work? You're just going to stroll into Detroit and then stand around on a street corner and wait to get recognized? Wait to get gunned down?"
"We use Mary's friend," Mike explained calmly. "The wiretaps. We drop the word that you'll be there, and we listen to the response."
"Flush the rats out of their nests," Bernard added with a nod.
"What is it with you and rodents today?" Alex teased, and now it seems she's the one trying to inject some humor into the evening, but she didn't have any better luck because John's still ticked.
"So I just stay here in my penthouse while you go into the hot zone? With my name tag on your chest?"
"You mean like the time I was on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico while you were shagging Molotov cocktails?" Mike fired back.
"Settle down, boys," Mary instructed, her focus mostly on her husband.
"It's not a competition," I added. "It's about using our resources. If Mike and I can force their hand, then we can stop playing the wait-and-see game. And we'll be ready for them, you know that."
"I don't like it," John stated firmly.
"I'm not asking you to like it," Mike said. "I'm asking Inspector Strathmore. Hell, never mind. I don't want to cause trouble between spouses, so I'll ask Inspector Dunn. Jennifer, what do you think?"
"It could work," Jennifer said thoughtfully. "But I don't like making you a sitting duck. Especially with only Carolyn as back-up."
I raised my eyebrow at her, and she smiled as she added quickly, "No offense. But it's a big city, and it's their turf, and I'd feel better if the numbers were better than their hundreds to your two."
"Sounds familiar," Cutter remarked, and I'm not sure what that's about, because he looked like he was playing, but was maybe a little afraid she might not think so, but she rolled her eyes at him, nudging him with her shoulder before saying, "Who else can go with you?"
"We'd love to, but we just got the Flowers case," Alex said, and I can tell her loyalties are torn. "And that's not one that can wait."
"No," Mike agreed quickly. "We'll be fine. I'm not even sure Ross will like us blowing town, much less anyone else."
"He'll be okay," I said smoothly. "Bernard and Lupo can handle the Shaw case, right?"
"Definitely," Bernard agreed.
"I could take Shaw. I mean, me and Eames," Lauren offered. "We're almost done with Canter anyway, and we can work both if we have to."
Bernard looked at her like she's crazy as he said, "I'm not going to Detroit. I'm sorry, Logan, but I can't leave…"
"No way," Mike and I said simultaneously. "You're staying here."
"No, I'm saying, B and Lupo can take over Flowers," Lauren explained. "Me and Eames will take Shaw. That'll leave Bobby and Alex freed up to go to Detroit."
Everyone was quiet for a minute, and then heads started nodding.
"That works," Mary said, and when John opened his mouth to protest, she interrupted, saying, "It's a good idea. And it'll work. And I'll make sure they have DEA backup, too."
"Okay," he said at last.
"Yeah, because I was waiting for your permission," Mike said sarcastically, prompting a few smiles and chuckles from around the table, easing a bit of the tension.
"Good, so…road trip," Alex said. "Mary, how fast can we get the word out?"
"I'll call Agent Winfield in the morning. You guys make your travel plans, and I'd say by tomorrow night, Mike'll be in Detroit with a target on his back."
"Perfect," John said drolly.
"Meanwhile, we're still flailing with these emails," Jennifer said, ignoring John's remark. "I can't believe how many internet cafes have crappy security cameras. Mulder tracked one of the initiating IP's to a place on Gardner, but they've got cameras with no recording capability."
"So the sender is using different cafes? And none of them have video?" Lauren asked her.
"We only have the one location pinpointed. We know they were all sent from Manhattan, but it's tough to narrow it down to a specific location, the way this guy is doing it."
"Guy," I repeated. "So we know it's a guy?"
"We think it's a guy. The language is concise. And the email Mary got wasn't about competition or jealousy or anything."
"Wait, you got an email?" Alex asked, and all of us shifted our focus to Mary, who glared at Jennifer.
"That's great, Austin, thanks."
"You didn't tell them?"
"It's no big deal," Mary said dismissively.
"You weren't saying that when they came to me," John pointed out.
"I mean, it's a big deal, but not that it came to me, because it was still threatening you," she said in frustration.
"Well somebody better tell me what the hell it said," Mike spoke up, and once again, I know what he's thinking. We just arranged to go to Detroit to stop the threat on John, but what if something happens to them here while we're there?
"Go ahead and spill it," Mary encouraged Jennifer.
"You aren't going to make me feel bad about disclosing to our friends," Jennifer stated boldly, and her remark makes me proud of her. She hasn't been in our group for long, but she already understands the dynamic, and she's right - Mary should've told us, and at the very least, if she wasn't going to tell us, then she should've let Jennifer know it was a secret.
"No, I know," Mary said on a sigh.
"It referred to the fact that she should think twice about being with John, because the more time she spends with him, the more likely it is that she'll get caught in the crossfire."
"Oh, is that all?" Mike said smartly.
"Yeah, that's all," Mary retorted.
The two of them went back and forth a few rounds, and the rest of us sat there and let them do it, because it's no secret that their ire has nothing to do with anger and everything to do with fear.
"Okay, that's enough," Lauren said suddenly, causing both Mike and Mary to go quiet. We all looked at her, and she said, "Is there anyone at this table whose life hasn't been threatened at one point or another? No? Good, then let's move past that and get to the part where we actually enjoy our Friday night, okay? Because it's been a sucky week, and I want to drink a few beers with my friends, and then go home with B and..."
"Wait, I'm going to have to stop you right there," Jennifer interrupted, a smile playing on her lips. "I'm pretty sure I'm not old enough to hear what you and Bernard do in the privacy of your own home."
Then she looked around at the rest of us and said, "I mean, seriously - have you see that Vincent Wolfe rug in the living room? You know why it looks like that, right?"
And just like that, we finally had what we needed. Honest to God laughter at the table.
"I knew it was an imprint of your ass," Mike said to Lauren, now grinning from ear to ear.
"Shows how much you know," she quipped. "It's B's ass, not mine."
"Remind me never to take my shoes off in your place," Mary joked.
"In whose place?" Lauren asked. "You think we're the only ones properly breaking in the rugs?"
"You're right. I'm never taking my shoes off again anywhere."
"Yeah, but what I want to know is where you keep that tiara while you're…" Mike said, trailing off and ending the sentiment by waggling his eyebrows.
The conversation devolved from there, and it was great to feel back in a groove again, with easy camaraderie and dirty jokes and respectful ribbing.
I'm impressed with Lauren for calling out Mike and Mary for their squabble, because really, of all of us, she's the one who has the most right to be off her game. Not only because Flowers is loose, but because he was actually out in front of her building this morning.
"She's a tough cookie," Mike remarked to me as we made the easy walk home. We spent several hours with our friends, and then we decided to call it a night, enjoying the warm evening air.
"Lauren? Yeah, I was thinking the same thing," I said, slipping beneath his arm and leaning my head against his shoulder as we walked.
"Actually, I meant Mary, but Lauren, too. Of course, so are you."
I hummed my agreement as he continued, saying, "You went along with me, offering myself as bait in Detroit."
"It's the smart move."
"Are you sure? Because you know, if you tell me no, I won't go."
I glanced up at him, surprised by his words, and said, "Since when do we stifle each other's investigative urges?"
"This isn't exactly our case. In fact, we're going to be dumping our case on someone else so that we can go halfway across the country to try to flush out Albanian gang members who want to kill me. Well, John, but me. You know what I'm saying."
"Are you trying to talk me out of it?"
"I'm saying I trust your judgement. I trust you not to fly by the seat of your pants. I trust you to take emotion out of the equation and do the right thing."
"That's a lot of trust," I said softly, loving the stock he puts in me and yet at the same time, it's a little daunting.
"Sweetheart, I trust you with absolutely everything. Surely you know that by now. I trust you way more than I trust myself."
The highest form of compliment, coming from a man like Mike, a man with very serious trust issues.
Although over the past year, things have changed so much. For the better.
"I think we need to do it. Otherwise, he's always going to be looking over his shoulder. And God knows Mary will never sleep again if she's still worried about him. The emails are bad enough, but maybe if her full focus is on that aspect, while we handle the other aspect, then we can put it all to rest before anyone gets hurt."
He hugged me a little more tightly to him, and I added, "And you know damn well I'll have your back. Just let some gang member try to take you out. He'll wish he'd never heard the name John Strathmore."
Mike barked out a laugh, as I was hoping he'd do, and then he said quietly, "I sure glad I heard it, though. Aren't you? I mean, look at this life we have…"
"It's perfect," I agreed.
And it is, in spite of all the chaos spinning around us.
"Yeah, well, it's almost perfect. I still have to call the chief and let him know we usurped his command by reassigning cases and authorizing days off."
"You know what?" I posed after we walked up the front steps, and he stepped away from me to unlock the door. "I love you so much that I'll call Ross."
"Really?"
"Uh huh," I said coyly.
He looked at me skeptically, but with a half-smile on his face, and he said, "Yeah, but what do I have to do for you?"
"Does it matter?"
He grinned fully then, tugging me into the house with him as he said, "Nope, not one damn bit."
TBC...
Next up: Jennifer