"So where is Mike taking you for the honeymoon?" Ainsley asked Meg, as the gang slowly made their way back to the parking lot.
"He won't even tell me," Meg laughed. "He swears one of the guys will do something to wreak havoc on our time."
"Chet probably would," Ainsley laughed, looking over at the curly haired fireman that was walking with Carol and the Stanley's. "Or at least he would have if he wasn't otherwise currently occupied."
"They're cute together."
"The guys have been enjoying giving Chet some of his own medicine. They joked that he wasn't allowed to date her because he'd been involved in her rescue."
"And he went for that?"
"Hook, line and sinker," Ainsley smiled, remembering the story Johnny had told her.
Meg stopped walking and waited a few minutes for the others to get a few steps ahead of them. Mike was walking with Johnny and Roy, he had Hunter on his shoulders and was bouncing and pretending he was a pony that Hunter was riding on. The little boy was laughing. Meg watched them for a few seconds.
"I honestly think one of the reasons Mike won't tell anyone where we're going, even me, is because he's afraid the arsonist will follow us there, or beat us there, if he can figure out where we're going."
Ainsley watched Meg's expression as she watched the men walk away from them.
"He's walked the perimeter of the house every night," Meg said. "It's not unusual for me to wake up in the middle of the night and find he's not in bed anymore. He's usually up checking locks, and looking out into the dark yard. I'm worried about him."
"Get a dog," Ainsley said.
"What?"
"Johnny started that, just a couple times. Finally, as he started to get out of bed one night, I grabbed his arm and asked him where Chief was. He was sleeping in the hallway outside the kid's rooms, on his back, all four feet up in the air, snoring," Ainsley painted the picture for Meg. "I asked Johnny if he honestly thought our dog would be sleeping if there was anyone within a 100 feet of our home. Now, as long as Chief is sleeping, so is Johnny."
"I do like dogs," Meg said, watching Mike.
"A nice big one," Ainsley said. "Trust me."
"Meg, are you ready to get this honeymoon started?" Mike asked, lifting Hunter off his shoulders and handing him to Johnny.
Meg blushed at Mike's wink.
Johnny laughed, catching the exchange.
"What, what'd I miss?" Chet asked, looking around.
This made the group laugh even louder.
"So, seriously, Mike, where are you two going?" Captain Stanley asked.
"Let's give them a little mystery," Ainsley said, coming to Mike's rescue. "I'm sure he'll tell you guys all about it when they get back."
"Minus all the juicy details," Mike said, slipping his arm around Meg's shoulders and heading her toward his truck, where the suitcases were already packed.
E
"Work interfering with our date, fair Kate?" Eric asked, seeing his wife's frown.
They were stretched out on a blanket in a near deserted park, watching the sun set in the distance.
"Sorry," Kate turned her head to smile at her husband.
"What were you thinking about?"
"No, you're right. Today is supposed to be about us, not work."
"You know I don't really mind," Eric said, leaning forward and kissing his wife. "It's what makes us such a great match; we're both extremely committed to our jobs and we don't expect the other one to apologize for being the same way."
"I know. But, we've been working this case for so long without any progress. I really think we need to take a day off. I'm just having trouble getting my mind to cooperate."
Eric stood up and stretched out his hand. When Kate took it, he pulled her to her feet. "Let's walk around and see if we can find any wildlife to take your mind off work."
Kate slipped her arms around his waist. "Or we could head home and find other ways to keep my mind off work," she whispered suggestively, standing on her tip toes and kissing her husband.
"You don't have to ask me twice," Eric said, bending down and grabbing the blanket and picnic basket with one hand and taking Kate's hand in his other and heading toward the car. Kate laughed as she followed along.
E
"Thanks for meeting me," Larry said, as Sue slid into the passenger seat of his car.
"I can't risk being seen with you," Sue said, looking around.
"No one is going to see us, Sue. Relax."
She looked nervously around one more time. Then turned to lean against the car door to look at Larry. "Why'd you want to meet?"
"My producer is really pushing for more stories on Station 51 and the arsonist that is targeting them. I really need you to keep me updated on any breaks in the case."
"I don't know, Larry. Kate is so mad, and everyone is on high alert. I don't think I can get away with snooping in any more files."
"I'm just asking you to keep your ears to the ground and call me directly if you hear anything about a suspect, or a new lead. I don't need any pictures or copies of files. Just information, and I'll pay big," Larry promised. "To prove how much faith I have in you, here's a little…advance." Larry handed her an envelope.
Sue opened the envelope and looked inside. She looked back at Larry.
"There's a lot more where that came from."
Sue smiled. "I'll call you if I hear anything."
Sue watched Larry drive away and looked back into the envelope. $300, she couldn't believe it; and this was just an advance. She knew exactly what she wanted to do with this money. She had been drooling over a purse at a shop in Beverly Hills, the cost was $300; but it was an original Prada. She'd seen Jackie Kennedy Onassis carrying one on a news show covering the funeral of Aristotle Onassis. She'd be the envy of everyone she knew.
E
Kate pulled into her parking lot early the next morning anxious to get a start on the day. She had a few ideas she wanted to flesh out. Taking the night off really had helped clear her head and get the ideas flowing in her head again.
As she walked into the building she saw 4 of the secretary's gathered around Sue's desk. They were pretty excited about something.
Kate casually walked over. "What's so exciting?"
"Oh, nothing," Sue said, slipping her purse off her desk and into her drawer.
The other secretary's started to walk away.
"I don't mind that you were all looking at something, I was just curious what it was," Kate explained to the departing group.
"It was nothing special," Sue rushed to say. "I was just showing off a new purse. I got a great deal on it."
Kate looked around as the other women all slid into their seats and started pulling out files for work.
"I've been thinking about getting a new purse," Kate said. "Can I see it?"
"Oh, well, um, sure," Sue opened her drawer and lifted out the purse. Before she could quickly put it back in the drawer Kate reached out and grabbed it.
"Very nice," Kate said, fingering the soft leather. She turned it to look at the emblem on the front. "Prada Milano. Where do you find this?"
"Oh, an estate sale in Beverly Hills," Sue said, tugging the purse back from Kate and dropping it into her desk. "You'd be amazed the deals you can find. I really have to get to work, Detective Mignery needs some notes typed for court this afternoon."
"Sure. Well, nice purse. If you find any other good buys like that let me know," Kate said, moving back to her desk. She stopped at her desk and then changed direction and headed into Eric's office. He was out, but she went in anyway and closed the door.
She pulled out her little phone book and looked up the number she needed.
"Hello," Ainsley answered the phone on the second ring.
"Ainsley, hi, it's Kate."
"Hi, Kate. Is everything okay? Johnny's on shift today."
Kate could hear the concern creeping into Ainsley's voice.
"Everything's fine. This isn't business. I just had a quick question for you."
"Oh, okay."
"I noticed your purse yesterday at the Grand Opening. It was really lovely and I'm thinking about getting one for Eric's sister's birthday. Do you know where I could find one like it?"
"Um, well, yeah, they carry them at some of the more exclusive shops in Beverly Hills, but…," Ainsley hesitated.
"What?"
"It just, I mean, they're kind of," Ainsley sighed.
"What is it?" Kate prodded.
"I'm trying to think of how to word this without sounding snobby," Ainsley confessed.
"Just say it," Kate said. "I won't take it personal."
"This purse, and ones like it, run about $300." Ainsley said.
"$300," Kate said, her shock obvious.
"I know, it's extravagant. Even with my trust fund I wouldn't have bought one of these. It was a gift from my mom," Ainsley explained.
"So, a woman on a detective's salary certainly isn't affording one," Kate said. And there is no way a secretary could, Kate was thinking.
"I didn't really want to say that, but, probably not."
"Do you think they would ever sell one of these at an estate sale?" Kate asked.
"Oh, um, maybe, I guess. Probably not like the one I have; but an older one maybe."
"Why not the one you have?" Kate asked, knowing Sue's was the same style although a different color.
"This model just came out a few months ago. Jackie Kennedy Onassis carried it at Aristotle's funeral and there were pictures in all the magazines. If anyone has one of these, even if they are not using it, they are keeping it"
"Jackie Kennedy Onassis, really," Kate said. "You have been extremely helpful Ainsley."
"Good luck finding something for your sister-in-law," Ainsley said, hanging up the phone. She looked back at the phone. "That was bizarre," she said to herself. Ainsley shrugged and moved back to finish washing the dishes from breakfast.
E
Kate hung up the phone, "Eric!" Kate started moving toward her husband.
"What's up?"
Kate grabbed his elbow and moved him into a nearby conference room.
"I just got a call from Total Construction. They hired Ridgeway Roofing to do some work on their new building over in Carson. Ridgeway was there working yesterday and when the general foreman did an inventory check this morning; they are missing two blocks of C-4. Enough to level at least two large buildings."
"Was Kory Costas working at that site?"
"Yes, he was," Kate said. "And he didn't show up for work this morning."
"Call the judge, let's get a warrant to search his apartment."
Kate and Eric moved toward his office, neither noticing Sue, who was standing only few feet away thumbing through a filing cabinet. She closed the drawer she'd been in and opened another drawer removing a file.
She waited until Kate and Eric closed the door to his office before she moved back to her desk. She picked up her phone and quickly dialed the number she had made herself memorize last night.
"This is Larry."
"It's Sue. They have a lead. C-4 is missing from a construction company called Total Construction. The company Kory Costas works for was there doing work on the roof of their building and he didn't show up for work today. Kate and Eric are trying to get a judge to let them search his apartment."
"Thanks, Sue. This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. Can you give me Kory's address?"
Sue read off the address from the file she had pulled out of the filing cabinet before calling Larry.
Sue hung up the phone and opened her drawer to look at the purse she'd bought last night. She let her hand stroke the soft leather. It had cost her the full $300, but it was worth it. Her roommate was so jealous when Sue had shown it off last night. Although carrying it to work may have been a mistake; the purse had certainly caught Kate's attention. But, she was pretty sure Kate bought the estate sale story. It had been quick thinking, Sue thought.
Larry hung up the phone with Sue and immediately picked it up again. "Andy, I need you to get over to Kory Costas apartment. The police are going to raid it. I need the video footage. I'm on my way."
E
"You can't do this," Kory yelled, trying to block the way of the uniformed officers that were entering his apartment.
"This is a warrant to search the premises," Eric said, holding up the sheet of paper. "We can do this, and if you keep trying to obstruct our officers we will put you in handcuffs in the back of a squad car."
"Officer, why don't you take Mr. Costas and his friend back into the bedroom and let them put some clothes on; then they can come sit on the couch," Kate directed the uniformed officer next to her.
"Yes, Detective," the officer looked over at Kory who was standing in his underwear and the scantily clad woman who was trying to cover herself with a pillow from the couch. "Ma'am, right this way."
Kory was still mumbling under his breath as they walked away.
"I want to you to search every crevice of this place. We have two bricks of C-4 missing and he could have already built the bomb. Look for any pieces of wire, wire cutters," Eric directed, already moving around the living room.
The team searched the apartment for several hours.
"Kate, can I see you in the hall?" Eric asked, coming into bathroom where Kate was standing on a ladder and using a flashlight to look inside the vent.
He put his hand on her back to support her as she climbed down off the ladder. They walked out into the hallway and a few feet away from the open apartment door.
"There's nothing here," Eric said.
"You think he stashed it somewhere else?" Kate asked.
Eric shrugged. "I don't know, maybe."
"We can at least bring him downtown and question him."
"Yeah, I'll have a patrol car transport him. We have to release the girl."
"Maybe Kory said something to her," Kate argued.
"You can ask her a couple of questions as you walk her out to her car; but we have no reason to hold her," Eric said.
"Fine," Kate sighed in frustration.
"I know," Eric said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and putting his head against hers. "I was really hoping this was going to be our big break too."
"We may still get something from interrogation," Kate said, not ready to give up hope.
"We might," Eric said, not very confidently.
"I can walk you to your car," Kate said, moving over in front of the girl who'd been sitting on the couch with Kory.
"I'm free to leave," she asked.
"Yes," Kate said, reaching to grab her arm and help her up. Kate unfastened the handcuffs and placed them back in her pocket.
"What about me," Kory asked, his tone defiant.
"You're taking a ride downtown," Eric said from the door. "Officer, put him in your patrol car and take him to the precinct. I'll be there shortly."
"I didn't do nothin'," Kory yelled. "You can't hold me. I want my lawyer!"
"You entitled to a phone call. Which you can make from downtown," Eric said. "Get him outta here."
Kate walked the woman out the door and down the stairs toward the exit. She sighed when she saw a cameraman filming the building. "Great," Kate said under her breath.
"What?" The woman asked.
"Nothing," Kate said. "So how'd you get mixed up with a guy like Kory?"
"He's a nice guy, at least I thought so," the girl said. "He comes into a bar where I waitress. He's always been very flirty and tips me good. Last night he asked me to hang out after we closed and things just kinda happened."
"Did he say anything to you about wanting to get even with the police or the fire department. Anything that made you think he might be dangerous?"
The woman shook her head. "He had other things on his mind, if you know what I mean."
"Yeah, I got the picture," Kate said.
The woman got in her car. "I think you're barking up the wrong tree, Detective. Kory's not a bad guy." She started her car and Kate watched her drive away.
"Yeah, he's a real prince," Kate mumbled, as she turned to watch the uniformed officer walking Kory out to the police car.
When Kory saw Larry and the camera man he started yelling, "False arrest, false arrest. Man, I ain't done nothin' wrong and these pigs are dragging me downtown. They just trashed my apartment!"
Kate rolled her eyes.
Larry started heading in her direction, the camera guy right behind him.
"Detective, can you tell us why you're at Kory Costas apartment?"
"No comment," Kate said, moving back toward the building.
"Is he being arrested?"
"No comment."
"We have sources reporting that you suspect Kory Costas of stealing C-4 from a construction site. Do you suspect him as the person attacking Station 51?"
Kate whipped around to face Larry. "Who told you that?"
"Kory Costas is Kevin Costas brother. Kevin Costas was arrested for terrorizing Fire Fighter Mike Stoker and attempting to murder him and his now wife; isn't that correct."
"Who's your source Larry?" Kate gritted her teeth and took a step toward him.
"No comment," Larry said, giving her a grin that made her blood boil.
"Why you little," Kate moved toward Larry, but felt someone grab her arm.
"Let's go," Eric had to almost physically drag Kate away from Larry.
"When I get that little snitch she's gonna wish she'd never taken a job at the police department," Kate seethed.
"What little snitch?" Eric asked.
"Sue."
Eric looked shocked. "Are you sure?"
"Oh, I'm sure," Kate said. "I just have to figure out how to prove it."