Chapter 63: Drama
Gus attempted to enjoy her couple of days of before the next rotation, but found it difficult since the lab was on a separate schedule and everyone was busy working. Not to mention Lindsay was still in Montana, though she was able to somewhat rehash her talk with Flack over the phone.
"You told him you still loved him?" Lindsay squeaked out.
"Well it is the truth," Gus sighed.
"I just can't believe he wouldn't give you another chance."
Gus snorted, "I think your pregnancy hormones are making you crazy, or being married has turned you soft. I broke him, Linds, why would Don even contemplate taking me back when he has someone a million times better than me waiting for him without any drama?"
Lindsay tutted at her friend, wanting things to work out for her and Flack. They were a good team, at work and outside of it, they both full of light and life when they had been together, something that had dimmed in both of them since Gus had left and come back. "Angell is just a shiny new toy, he'll get tired of her eventually and come to his senses. Or she'll get bored with him, you know how she is."
"But she's never had Don!" Gus protested.
"Who says she really has him now? Let him get this out of his system, he'll come around now that he knows the truth!"
"As I said, pregnancy hormones. Would you hurry up and come home?"
"I will, promise, Gus. I thought it would be great to be back here, but my parents are driving me crazy with all their fretting."
"Poor Lindsay, getting waited on hand and foot, crying you a river."
"Seriously, it is annoying. What about Stella?" Lindsay asked, realizing that the trio hadn't had a girls night in forever regardless of her pregnancy and that neither woman had mentioned seeing each other.
"Oh, didn't you hear, she also left me for the incomparable Jessica Angell, they are like so BFFs now. Or are least working on some super secret case I'm not supposed to know anything about because I will tattle tale to my uncle." Gus rolled her eyes.
Lindsay was rolling hers as well, but for a different reason. "Gus, hate does not become you, sweetie. And this is not the hormones talking, but I think you need to get laid and get things out of your system."
"Sure, Lindsay, because I have such a line of suitors coming a calling," Gus drawled.
"Just think about it. Look, I have to go, but chin up and we'll chat again soon. Good luck on your rotation."
"Thanks, I feel like I'll need it."
Gus arrived early for her shift, wanting to steel her nerves before working with Flack. The pit was nearly empty, which helped immensely. Parker had left a couple of donuts on her desk, something she realized was a great sacrifice for the man. She was had just taken a small bite of one when Daddino exited his office, a scowl on his face.
"Oh good, you're early, where the hell is everyone?" he said, walking over and stealing the box.
Gus knew better than to protest, working on swallowing her bite of donut and wishing she had eaten something more before coming in. "What's up, Loo?"
"This just came in on the tip line and unless someone has a sick sense of humor, looks like we need to get over there on the double. Since everyone else seems to be MIA, call Flack and have meet you over there. If it is an actual DB, get the crime lab on it ASAP." Daddino turned his tablet toward her so Gus could see the body splayed on the screen.
"Seriously, someone emailed this in?"
"Yep, gotta love the internet. I got tech doing a trace on it now, but someone needs to get to the scene, and that someone is you."
"On it, boss!" Gus gave a small salute as she pulled out her phone.
"Broussard, you are good working with Flack, right?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" Gus said with a broad but fake smile as she pulled up Flack's number. "Damn it Flack, pick up your phone!" Gus swore as it rang unanswered yet again as she pulled the car to the curb. She was hoping to get him to meet her at the precinct, since driving in Manhattan was pure torture for her.
"Flack!" he gruffly answered finally.
"Rise and shine, blue eyes, we got a call already, and yes I know our shift hasn't started but it is right around the corner and Loo put us on it. Sending you a photo from the tip line now."
"Sure, send it."
Gus tried to not sigh at his distracted tone and was also trying to ignore the music playing the background along with a voice she was sure belonged to Angell.
"See you as soon as you can get here, I'm here and going in now."
Gus entered the theater company, happy to see that uniforms had already secured the scene with tape and were keeping people out of the studio.
"Detective?" the uniform asked, seeing her shield.
"Broussard. Thanks for securing the scene, did anyone actually find the body or just the show off who emailed it to the tip line?"
"Had to get the security guard to let us in, but he just sits at the front desk, doesn't make rounds, got here at 8am, but said people don't start getting in until much later."
"Yeah, theater folks tend to keep much later hours. Thanks for securing the scene." Gus peered over the crime scene tape, realizing she had forgotten foot covers in the car. It had been a while since she had been on an active scene. "I'm going to call the crime lab and then got have a chat with the security guard. Detective Flack should be here soon, but until then, no one in. Got it?"
"Yes Ma'am," the uniform answered.
Gus guessed he was barely off probationary period. "Officer Wilson, word of advice, don't call me ma'am."
She didn't get much from the guard other than the identity of the victim before Flack arrived. "Hey, sorry to bug you so early, I just was already in the pit when the photo came in and, well, lucky us."
"Sunshine, stop being so punctual. What's the story?"
Gus gave Flack a quick rundown and they walked the scene until crime techs arrived to start processing. They were briefing Mac before anyone came in to the theater.
"Hey, this is my theater, what's going on?" a man said from the doorway.
"And you are?" Gus asked, striding over to the crime scene.
The man looked Gus up and down, leering at her. She cocked a hand on her hip right over her gun.
"James Copeland, as I said, this is my theater, and that's Marshall, what happened?" He attempted to push past her, and Gus noticed a crowd starting to gather behind him.
Flack moved beside her, noticing how the other man was still leering at Gus. He gestured with his chin, "why don't you talk to the theater people, you speak fancy and Mac and I will have a nice chat with Mr. Copeland here."
"Fine," Gus replied, happy to have an excuse to remove herself from Copeland's reptilian stare.
Gus didn't get much from the theater company folk, most of them had been at the party after the rehearsal the night before. The only thing she was really able to glean was that Marshall Baxter was not very well regarded.
"He was a complete sleaze and he didn't know what he was talking about., tried to tell me I would be better for Elvira, when I have played Anna like a million times. Like insulting me would get me to sleep with him!" the soprano Gus was interviewing simpered in her dressing room.
Interviews went on like this for hours, leaving Gus frustrated and starving. She met back up with Flack. "Anything?" she sighed.
"Nope, gotta wait on the geek squad, as usual. You?"
"Yeah, there won't be any mourning songbirds at his funeral. Most common descriptor of the guy was douche or creeper." Gus flipped through her notebook, blushing as her stomach let out a large growl.
"Have you eaten yet?" Flack asked with a smirk.
"I was trying when Daddino gave us this," she gestured toward the now empty crime scene. "What about Copeland?"
"Tussled with the vic over parking, otherwise about the same, creeper douche. How about we get you food, wait on autopsy and then head over to the vic's apartment?"
"Sounds great, but you are so driving the rest of the day."
"Still haven't learned to love driving in the city?"
"Not gonna happen, Flack."
Somewhat sated, with nothing but confusing results from autopsy and the lab, they met Hawkes at the vic's apartment.
"Jesus, he needed a maid," Gus remarked as they opened the door and surveyed the mess.
"He was a bit of pack rat," Hawkes remarked.
Flack smirked, "think this is bad you should see Adam's place!" He made a face.
Gus picked up a wine bottle, "Adam doesn't drink wine, and he throws his take out containers away."
"How do you know-" Flack cut himself off, realizing he was about to sound like a jealous ex, even if that was what he was feeling like.
Hawkes shook his head and went toward the bedroom. Gus rolled her eyes and turned to the coffee table covered in papers and debris. A few minutes later she heard Flack say to Hawkes, "did you find something?" She wandered into Baxter's bedroom to find the pair looking at a box full of what appeared to be surveillance photos.
"Looks like he wasn't just a creeper," she remarked.
"It looks like he was a stalker and these were his victims." Hawkes suppressed a shudder. Flack raised his eyebrows, "let's go run him through the system, see if anyone reported him.
"Definite creeper," Gus remarked from her desk a while later. Flack walked over, standing behind her. "He has a record, in Rhode Island, that's why it took so long. Aggravate assault, criminal contempt. Plus a juvy record. Want me to see if I can get a hold of it?"
"Yeah, I'll try to catch up with Hawkes."
It was forever before Gus was able to get anything from the Providence PD, "got the id on the complainant but no dice tonight on the juvy record. Woman's name is Carrie Langdon."
Flack looked up from his files, a furrow on his head. "Possible she's our killer?"
Gus shook her head, "not unless she came back from the grave, she committed suicide six months ago. Brother is now suing the PPD." She sighed, perching on the edge of Flack's desk, rubbing her neck.
"You okay?" he asked, looking at her with concern.
"Yeah fine, just forgot what it was like to be back on an active case. Plus, I can't really say I am feeling bad about Baxter not being around to stalk anyone else." She shrugged, feeling worn.
Flack tapped his pen against his desk. "It remind you of Muller?"
Gus rolled her eyes, "no Flack, it does not remind me of Muller. Or at least it hadn't until you brought it up. Yes, I was stalked, that's what I get for even talking to a full of himself attorney and not once did I ever think of taking a swan dive off the roof because someone thought I was the bees knees and couldn't take no for an answer. I would have shot him myself before I would have let him get to me."
"Fine, but if it starts to get to you, just let me know and we can pass-"
"Flack, I will not pass my first active case off to someone else! What is eating at you?"
"Hawkes seemed pretty shaken up about it, wants to know everything the second we know and he kept talking about Kara and it made me think if it was bugging him this much maybe you..." he trailed off and shrugged.
Gus slid off the desk and gave his shoulder a squeeze, "I'm fine, sugar, now how about I go find Hawkes and tell him what we found out?"
"Yeah, go do that. How about first thing we head up there and talk to the brother and maybe see if we can get that juvy record unsealed?"
"Sounds like a plan. See you in the morning," Gus patted Flack on the back before walking away. She paused halfway to the elevator before turning to look over her shoulder at him. "And Flack, thanks for worrying about me." With that, she strode purposefully toward the elevator.
64: Crazy 'Bout Ya
Gus slumped down to the car waiting at the curb early the next morning. Good Lord, it is way too early!" she yawned getting into Flack's car.
"Whining already about being back on active, sunshine?" Flack asked with a smirk.
"No, just remarking on this gorgeous sunrise," she pouted, pulling on her seat belt as he pulled away form the curb.
Flack gestured toward the to a cup steaming in the holder. "extra large au lait, extra shot with that weird sugar. That is still how you take it, right?"
Gus nodded, "sure is, unless you found coffee with chicory." She reached greedily taking a long drink as Flack pointed that car toward I-95.
They rode in silence for awhile, until Gus couldn't take the silence anymore. "Sorry about dragging you into work early. I didn't know Daddino was going to spring this on us.
Flack raised his eyebrows, "no big deal, it's the job, right? New rotation had to start some time. Jess was less pissed than the night you ruined my shirt and I missed all her calls because I was at your place."
A low growl sounded in Gus' throat and she slumped against the door, petulant.
Flack mentally kicked himself but tried to play it off. "What, whadisay?"
She turned to him, narrowing her eyes, "we are like what, 15 hours into our rotation together and you have already broken the one, ONE rule I had, Flack!" Gus threw her hands up in frustration, wincing as they contacted the hard metal of the roof.
Flack tried to not laugh, knowing it was the worst possible move. "Sorry, sorry, I just, forgot, it's just it's easy being partnered with you but it's hard not-" he let out his own growl of frustration, weaving around a slow moving car and gunning the engine.
"Well this is going to be a long drive," Flack said finally.
"Pretty much," Gus replied, crushing her now empty cup.
They continued their trek in an even more tense silence, Flack being the one to finally break the silence this time. "Gus, I really am sorry."
Gus was still pouting in her corner, but couldn't help but concede. "I know you are, Don, I'm just a sore loser."
"You aren't a loser, sunshine," he attempted to placate.
Gus held her palm up toward him, "just don't, okay, don't be...you."
"Who do you want me to be then?" Flack rolled his eyes, hating the tension between them, but also at a loss as to how to make things right other than to just forget the past almost year had occurred, and that wasn't fair to anyone.
She pursed her lips finally coming out with, "Jess was pissed about the shirt, huh?"
Flack cleared his throat, "I think it was more about you than the shirt. But I thought we weren't talking about this?" he teased gently. Gus shot him a look. "I was just sayin'. Yeah, she wanted to make sure I had you and I quote 'out of my system'. Fun conversation that one was."
Gus breathed in a long intake of air, torn between asking if he did, in fact, have her out of his system and not wanting to know.
Flack slid his eyes towards her while trying to keep focused on traffic up ahead. "She also wanted to know why you hadn't been crying on Adam's shoulder."
"Adam? Ross? Why would I be..." Gus dropped her head to her hands, shaking it as she realized what Flack was asking and what clearly more than one person had been thinking. She finally looked up, her eyes flashing. "Adam and I are just friends, okay? He's been through a lot and he was the only person who damn well would talk to me when I was in New Orleans and he was the only person who actually gave a shit about me when I was in the hospital, so yes, I happen to spend sometime with the ONE person who cares about me but that doesn't mean I am sleeping with him so you can just pass that along to your precious Angell and anyone else who is wondering about my sex life, okay?"
"Okay, sunshine, Jesus."
"Do not sunshine me, Don, you don't get to do that anymore!" Gus protested.
"Are we going to argue all the way to Providence and for the rest of this rotation," Flack paused dramatically, "Detective Broussard?"
"Yes we are if you keep being infuriating!" Gus crossed her arms over her chest with a scowl.
"I am not being infuriating, I was simply, damn it, I don't know what I was doing, but I wasn't trying to piss you off. Maybe this was a dumb idea, partnering back up." Flack maneuvered around cars until they were clear in the left lane and press the accelerator before setting the cruise control.
Gus uncrossed her arms and reached out for Flack's arm. "No it wasn't, it isn't a bad idea, I just can't handle hearing about you being blissful with little Miss Perfect anymore than I can handle any more rumors about my love life, no matter how much Lindsay tells me I need to get laid."
Flack tried to choke back a laugh, "I don't even know where to start with that, sunshi- Gus, really."
"So don't, let's just drop it, okay? Though I am sorry if my meltdown caused you any problems with Jess. I do want you to be happy," she paused to make a face followed by a wry smile, "even if it isn't with me."
"You are impossible," Flack retorted, turning to look at her.
"Eyes on the road, mister."
He turned back, keeping quiet for a couple of miles before diving back in. "Lindsay says you need to get laid, huh? Hard to believe such a purdy Southern Belle doesn't have more suitors than a prom queen."
Flack's horrendous accent made Gus cringe and laugh at the same time. "Harder than you think to find ones that aren't criminals or taken. Or both," she tacked on with a smile.
The awkwardness subsided enough that they continued the journey by keeping their talk confined mostly to work, specifically the case, though some of the talk did veer off into concern over Sheldon.
"He just seems to be taking it to heart, maybe he should step down," Flack suggested.
"I don't think he should, he might not have been able to help Kara, but it doesn't really look like Baxter was really that much of a victim."
"Pretty sure it is his body down on Sid's table, Gus."
"You know what I mean, Flack, he isn't exactly an alter boy is all I am saying. Now what about Carrie's brother, what's your take?"
"I think we are about to find out, this is his building," Flack said, pulling in front of a well appointed high rise.
"Nice digs," Gus said, looking up as she got out of the car, "you want to take this one?"
"If you want," Flack said, giving her a long look, surprised she was taking the back seat but not wanting to push anything given their earlier argument.
Gus sat fairly quietly after they were shown into the apartment, letting Flack take the lead on the interview. She spent the majority of the time feeling bad for Langdon. She was pretty sure he had nothing to do with Baxter's death and was crushed under the weight of guilt of his sister's suicide.
Flack finished up the interview as Langdon cut them off, showing them to the door after giving his alibi and directing them to his lawyer. Flack gave a final show of empathy in mentioning his sister, and Gus could see thoughts about Sam weighed heavily on his shoulders. She wondered what else she had missed in his life and felt the distance between them once again.
Gus gently squeezed Flack arm and motioned towards the hallway behind Langdon's form filling the doorway. Flack gave a slight nod and exited, understanding that Gus wanted a minute alone. "Mr. Langdon, this isn't your fault, you do know that, right?"Gus asked, looking at the man with wide eyes.
"I am quite aware of whose fault it is, Detective," Langdon sneered.
Gus nodded. "We have to do our jobs, Mr. Langdon, you understand that, but I've been in your sister's shoes and know how hopeless such a situation can seem, and I also know that people that love you will do anything to protect you, anything! So you have to understand why it is not unreasonable to think..." Gus trailed off with a shrug.
"I would have killed him, if I knew where he was and had the chance, but I didn't and I am not going to lose any sleep over his death either. If that makes me a bad person, so be it. Have a safe drive back to the city, Detective. And I am sorry if you ever had to go through a fraction of what Carrie did."
They wordlessly got back in the car and on the interstate. "That sucked," Gus said finally as they sped back toward the city.
Flack smacked the steering wheel. "Damn it did, I was hoping he had done it!"
"He didn't," Gus sighed.
Flack scowled, "I know, but where does that leave us?"
Gus scrolled through her phone, "Lab found the other complainant. Dana Melton. In Boston."
"Should I be pointing the car more North?" Flack rolled his eyes.
"Nah, Danny says BPD has everything digital, they are getting the files to listen to now and see where it gets them. But for right now, I guess we are back to square one. Joy." Gus slumped against the seat, exhausted.
"You okay?" Flack asked, genuinely concerned.
Gus nodded, her eyes still closed, "I didn't sleep very well last night. You called it, I was thinking about Muller and..." she trailed off, still not opening her eyes.
"How about you catch a few Zs on the way back and I won't take the fast lane?"
Gus turned her head slightly, looking at him briefly with a small smile. "Thanks, Flack, and I'm sorry for earlier."
"I know, Gus, we just need some time. Now get some sleep, okay?" He gave her hand a slight squeeze, before returning it to the steering wheel.
"Hey, Gus, wake up, we're back and you are drooling on the glass."
Gus woke with a start, realizing Flack had been shaking her. "Who? What?" She wiped her cheek and realized with a blush that he hadn't been lying about the drool on the window. "Crap, guess I need to clean that."
"No worries, I'll get a boot to do it, we gotta get in and try to track down this Dana Melton, BPD can't track her down."
Gus tried to clear her head, "Baxter's other vic?"
"Yeah, she rabbited," Flack shrugged, coming around and opening the door for her.
"Can't blame her, can you, Flack?" Gus asked, climbing out of the car and stretching.
She caught Flack's eyes following her form and as soon as they set upon his, he looked away, suddenly extremely interested in a small scratch on the rear door.
Some time later, frustrated by the lack of leads on Dana Melton in any database, Gus threw down her pen in frustration. "She is like a ghost!" she cried in frustration, startling Parker across the way who was nose down in DB-5s.
"Chill out Broussard, Hawkes got a lead on her apartment. Let's roll there now with him and Mac."
"This is a sweet place for person with no bank records," Gus remarked as they pulled up to the building at a pricey address.
"Nice security too," Flack said, flashing his badge to the doorman and nodding at Mac and Sheldon who were already waiting.
"She's going by Odessa, building manager is coming with the keys now," Mac said after greeting them. He tried to not be concerned with his niece's worn appearance, wondering if she was really ready to be back on active cases or handling being partnered back with Don very well.
"Here we go, Vanessa Shaw apartment 805." He escorted them up to the eighth floor, pointing out the security features of the building, including the doorman and extra deadbolts, which he opened with a variety of keys after they knocked to no answer.
None of them were surprised to see the apartment empty, except for the building manager, who could only remark that her mail had been piling up.
"I'll go talk to the doorman," Flack grumbled.
"I'll check the neighbors, though if she kept to herself," Gus shrugged and went next door.
Back in the lobby, she met up with Flack. "Anything?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Me neither. This woman is awfully good at disappearing."
"Once again, can you blame her?"
"No, but that doesn't change the fact that it is looking more and more like she is our killer. Baxter was stalking her, followed her here and boom he just ends up dead with the same weirdness of the crime scene as Stella's lecture? Not buying that coincidence, sunshine."
"Boom? I'm telling Danny you stole his line. Now can we get some food on the way back to the precinct or do they need us here?" Gus asked, ignoring the use of sunshine.
"Nah, Stella's trying to track down her dry cleaner and Mac and Hawkes are working on her moving company, we just have to get started on the paperwork. I don't guess you are still willing to do all the paperwork?" He flashed her a grin.
Gus rolled her eyes, "I might be cheap, Flack, but I'm not free. You're picking up the check for dinner and I'll do the paperwork. This time."
They had finished dinner and Gus was working on the paperwork when Mac and Sheldon returned to the precinct, Dana Melton in cuffs. Mac was glowering at Sheldon, who was carefully leading Dana towards booking.
Flack came over to her desk shaking his head. "Looks like that didn't go so well."
Gus caught Sheldon's eyes and the corner of his mouth turned up. "For Mac, I'm guessing. Why don't you head home, I've got this."
Flack looked at her, "you sure, you good?"
"I'm fine, Don. You let me sleep in the car and Muller is old news, I was being silly earlier. Go, I am sure Ang-, I'm sure you have better places to be. See you next shift."
"Okay, if you're sure. Take care, Gus."
Flack headed back to his desk, sorting out some things before pulling on his jacket. He looked over at Gus, rapidly typing away on the report. He was trying to not worry about her or let Jess' comment weigh on him, but he was pretty sure he did not have Augusta Broussard anywhere near out of his system.
Chapter 65: Great Wide Open World
The next week went quiet enough to almost things awkward again between Flack and Gus, though Angell being on watch two meant their paths rarely crossed, making things somewhat easier.
It was so quiet in fact that Gus had wandered up to Special Vics with take-out in hand to meet up with Doyle, who was also stuck on watch three this rotation.
"Would have thought being promoted would have gotten you better hours, Jimmy!" Gus remarked in the doorway.
"Only thing it got me was this tiny office and a few more gray hairs. Come on in and take a load off if you can find a spot."
Gus set the bag of food down on his desk and moved a stack of files off one of the chairs. "So you enjoying being the next Lieutenant Fields?"
Doyle lifted a carton out of the bag, happy to see it was Italian and not Chinese. "It is what it is, I suppose. At least I have a great team. Would be better with you on it, homicide still working for you?"
"Are we going to go through this every time I see you, Doyle?" Gus said shaking her head with a smile and reaching for her own container.
Doyle grinned back, "we are until you agree to transfer up here." He tucked into his chicken marsala before continuing, "I'm just ribbing you, kid, hadn't heard from you in a bit, was wondering how things were. Heard about your new rotation partner."
"What did they do, put it in on the freaking intranet? Gus stabbed angrily at her food. "Nah, it's fine, Jimmy. Mostly." She shrugged and kept eating.
"How can you eat that this late and not have raging heartburn the rest of the night?" Doyle watched her devour the spicy dish without even sipping on her water.
"In the genes, sugar, in the genes." She finally paused to take a drink of water. "What you got going up here?"
"Mostly run of the mill stuff, luckily sexual assaults are declining overall, especially in Manhattan. Heard Brooklyn was swamped, may have to shift someone over there if it keeps up."
"Yet another reason to not live in Brooklyn," Gus replied with gallows humor.
"You Manhattan girls, think the whole city is this one tiny island," Doyle replied, accentuating his Bronx accent.
"I am still a New Orleans girl, Jimmy," she paused as her phone started buzzing. She looked down to see Flack paging her. "Damn it, gotta go, you want the rest of this?" she gestured to her food.
He nodded, "yeah, I'll put in the fridge for later, once I buy some milk."
"Don't be a wimp, Doyle." Gus closed the container and set it on his desk.
"Nice catching up with you Gus, however briefly. I'll get dinner next time, maybe actually outside of the precinct?"
"Sure thing," Gus said, only half paying attention as she tried to decipher the page from Flack.
"What the hell, Flack, your page made no sense, attorney calls in a crime scene but the body is missing?" Gus asked back in the pit.
Flack helped her with her jacket, "you know what I know. None other than Robert Dunbrook's attorney called Brass to report a break-in at his office that ended with the perp taking a swan dive out the window, Dunbrook calls his son and his lawyer and looks down and poof, the body is gone."
"Gone? How the hell does that happen?"
"That is what we are going to find out."
They got to Dunbrook's office tower, a gaping hole twenty stories up marking the crime scene. Patrol cars marred an otherwise eerily quiet financial district.
Flack leaned into Dunbrook hard, but he gave up very little. Gus was about to attempt her feminine charms on him when Mac appeared at the scene.
Flack and she moved quickly away, attempting to garner more information from Connor Dunbrook, as the son also was the head of security for his father. Gus' best descriptor of Connor was asshole, and she was pretty sure the apple hadn't fallen far from the tree.
"Connor, I get that this is a state of the art system and you take your job of protecting your father very seriously and I know I am not an engineer, but it looks to me like your fancy system didn't work," Gus taped her pen against her notebook.
"Miss, Broussard was it? I never have a problem with my system working but if you grab a drink with me, I can explain to you how my fancy system works." He gave her what Gus was sure was a grin that had gotten him plenty of bed companions but sent chills down her spine.
"Detective, it is Detective Broussard," Gus snapped, grateful for Flack coming up behind her. "Perhaps Detective Flack can better explain what we need from you, Mr. Dunbrook."
She gave Flack a look and turned on her heel to where Mac was having a heated discussion with the elder Dunbrook.
None of them were able to get anything out of either Dunbrook, despite protestations of innocence.
Danny and Flack both had their disdain for rich people faces on as they left the scene.
"Ugh, I don't like that kid one bit," Gus made a face as they walked away.
Flack pursed his lips, "me neither. One way or another I am getting that information."
Gus looked at her watch. "Give it a couple of hours and I will call Judge Pembrooke to get a subpoena. She despises the Ledger and will happily sign it, but not if I don't let her get her morning run in first."
"Works for me, you guys want to grab some breakfast?" Flack looked at Gus and Danny.
"You interrupted my dinner, what do you think, Flack? Gus replied.
"I got to get back to the lab with what little evidence we do have," Danny sighed, giving them a slight nod.
"See ya, Messer."
Gus ran down the subpoena, and Flack ran the information down. "This case just keeps getting weirder," he said, running through the logs.
"What now?" Gus asked, looking over his shoulder. "What the hell, Ann Steele, isn't she dead? You have to get this to Mac."
Flack rose, looking down at her. "On my way, can you start running down Dunbrook's financials?"
"Sure, though given all that he owns, it might take me a couple of years," Gus grumbled.
It took a while, but Gus found a couple of curious things in Dunbrook's financial records, most interestingly that Ann Steele had been on Dunbrook's payroll before her death. She flagged it and shot Flack a text with a note to send it up to the lab.
She rubbed at her nearly permanently crossed eyes and went back to the seemingly endless records.
"Thought you could use this," Flack said coming in with a coffee a while later.
"Thanks, I am pretty sure I am going to need a date with a masseuse after this," she rotated her neck, wincing at the knots.
"Just let me run a background check on him first, alright?" Flack said, fighting the urge to massage her neck himself.
Gus rolled her eyes, "one time I get locked up with my own cuffs and left in my apartment, one time, Flack! Jesus, this guy owns half of New York," she sighed as the records kept piling in.
"Damn rich people," Flack grumbled.
They both jumped, hearing the shot right outside the precinct. "Crap, Dunbrook was holding a press conference out there," Flack swore as they rushed towards the front door, hands on their holsters.
The crush of uniforms made it hard to exit, so much so that the ruckus had dissipated and Mac was leading Dunbrook back inside.
"I think it should be clear to everyone that someone is trying to kill me and not the other way around, so could someone please actually do their jobs?" Dunbrook growled at Flack and Gus as he passed by.
"I kind of wish someone had better aim," Gus grumbled before they went to start pulling surveillance.
"Useless, guess no one thinks we need to watch a police precinct for crimes!" Gus huffed coming in from canvassing the area.
Flack was already back at his desk looking equally frustrated. "Not anything on the electronic feeds either. Looks like we get to play wait on the lab again."
"Oh yay, that is my favorite game. Want to go up there and hover over them until they make some magical connection?"
Flack smirked, "I will tell your uncle you said that."
"And Mac will say it isn't magic it is science," she mimed her Uncle.
Flack laughed, "magic or science, we might not have to wait too long. They got an id on the bloody prints at the scene. Looks like they belong to a guy named Johnson, Agent Johnson."
"Agent? A fed?" Gus looked at Flack, her mouth agape.
Flack nodded, "Yeah, Mac's heading over to the field office now, should be a fun chat. Meanwhile we need to track down Agent Johnson. Can you get an APB out on his car?"
"No problem. You want us to sit on his house?" Gus asked.
Flack shook his head, "nah, I'll get some unis to do it, we need sleep."
Gus yawned as if on cue, "I am not going to argue with you. You going to head home or hit the on call room?"
"Home, I hate that on call room, those cots are made of concrete I swear. You want a ride?" Gus shook her head, "I'm good, could use the walk."
Flack gave her a look, "you are actually going to go home and get some sleep, right, Gus?"
"Yes, Flack, I am, I told you I wasn't going to argue with you on that point. You want to tuck me in and make sure I don't stay up reading under the covers with a flashlight?" She meant it as a light joke, and Flack took it as such until they both realized Angell had come in to the pit behind them and was now staring daggers at both of them.
"And that is my cue, see you, Flack," Gus said, hurrying away as Angell pulled Flack around the corner, her brown eyes flashing.