Penelope and Josie
Storm brought her stuff early in the morning as she promised. Penelope just woke up and she was in her yoga pants, lose shirt and her hair was down. She felt a bit weird being dressed like that. She had late start. At noon they would get their delivery from prosecutor's office and shew as very curious what was in those boxes. She and Storm agreed to scan all the documents so they could work on them all the time, not just in the office. Storm was surprised to see Penelope in such a casual clothes. She looked much younger than she looked in her usual work clothes.
''Welcome to our new home.''
''Thank you Penelope…''
''These are bedrooms. You pick one you find most suitable.''
She picked a bedroom that is far from Penelope's and the spare one. In doing her little research she learned that Penelope was married with three kids. She choose this room so Penelope and her family could have some privacy when they visit.
''You really want your privacy… You picked the room at the opposite side of the apartment.''
''I am sure you and your family would appreciate some privacy when they visit.''
''Oh…''
''Did I say something wrong?''
''No, you didn't… It's just… My family life is a bit complicated.''
''I will not be nosy… I respect privacy of the others.''
''It's not about privacy…It's just that I don't know what is going on with us.''
''Ok. I can work with it.''
''Good.''
Storm went to the room that was supposed to be the office and put her equipment there. Penelope and her agreed that Penelope would work at the dining room table and Storm would have office because she has more stuff she needs for work than Penelope. After she connected everything and turned on computers, she got out of the office to find Penelope. Penelope was ready for work and having some water in the kitchen when Storm came.
''Where do we start from? Do you have any idea?''
''I have some, but I would like to see what's in the papers that prosecuter sent. We can start from there.''
''From papers you have?''
''No, from what is missing from there.''
Storm gave her a small smile.
''I like that.''
''Good… Now, let's go there and see what is missing… But my guess is usual… Dig into her Facebook, Instagram, phone and the rest of devices.''
''Ok, I can do it… And when you find more holes in the paperwork, we will know where to snoop for more.''
They got to the offices and just as they arrived, clerks with boxes came too. They had ten boxes and two days to prepare opening statements. They all looked at Elizabeth for advice where to start and she turned to Penelope waiting for her to tell them what to do. Elizabeth had her ideas, but she wanted to see how Penelope thinks under pressure.
''Ok… Let's do it like this… Each of us can start with a box in pairs… We are all here experts for different things… Mark our boxes as crime scene, witness' statements, forensic, arrest… so each team can focus on what is their specialty. I think that is more efficient than investigators reading things for lawyers and so on. We don't have time to waste…''
She looked at Elizabeth that looked proud. Dividing files will take about hour or two. The rest of the day we work on what is in boxes and at the end of the day we present a summary…. Is that ok with everyone?''
They nodded and started opening the boxes and labeling the ones where they would put files they pick.
''Oh, and one more thing… Names… Write down every name that is relevant to the case… Officers who came to the scene, detectives, doctors, every expert who signed final reports that would be evidence in this case.''
They took notes of what Penelope asked from them and got back to work. She and Elizabeth went through one of the boxes and saw it was mostly something they would have to deal with they kept going and found things for other boxes too. As predicted, it took them about two hours to separate files and then in teams in charge of the boxes they worked on the content. Glass walls of the conference room and windows were turned into Penelope's murder board. She was putting important papers and evidence to the spot they belonged and she was placing the parts of murder puzzle bit by bit. By six Penelope and Elizabeth had pretty clear picture what they should be focusing on and everyone went home. She noticed that Penelope was with detective's statement in her hands reading the same passages and using highlighter.
''Anything fun?''
''It's just the language.''
''Ok, care to explain?''
''Imagine you are a detective… You have to write you report about the case. You write about the murder scene, and everything that you found…''
''Ok…''
''Then you come to the part when you write about the victim…''
''Ok…''
''How do you call her?''
''Mrs. O'Neil?''
''Exactly! But detective Simmons calls her Rebeca.''
That got Elizabeth's attention.
''Really?''
''Yes…''
''Ha!''
Elizabeth took her glasses and started reading highlighted things.
''So, what do you think Penelope?''
''You don't call someone by the first name unless you know them…or they tell you when you meet. She couldn't tell him and the scene, because she was murdered… So that means…''
Elizabeth smirked.
''They knew each other before.''
''Yes, and they look the same age.''
''Check that out with you roomie…''
''I will…''
''Good job Penelope…''
''Thank you Elizabeth.''
Penelope had bunch of folders to comb through when she gets home. She took a long shower and dressed in comfortable clothes. She picked up her phone and saw missed calls from Josie and Helena. She called Helena first.
''Mom, thank God!''
''What is it?''
''Call mom…''
''Is she ok? Are babies ok?''
''Yes, just call her.''
Penelope did what Helena told her to and called Josie. She answered the phone on the second ring.
''Penelope!''
''What is it Jo?''
''She knows!''
''Who knows what?''
''Lizzie… She knows I am pregnant…''
''Oh… And what did you tell her? How did she find out?''
''She was going through our medicine cabinet in the bathroom and found new prenatal vitamins.''
''Why was she in our bathroom?''
''Snooping… I caught her by accident.''
''What? I am confused.''
''She was sure one of us is sick…''
''Oh, that's why she went there to snoop.''
''Yes…''
''And what did you tell her?''
''Nothing. I just ignored her. Boys needed me to change them and get them to bed…So I managed to avoid the conversation.''
''When did that happen?''
''Less than an hour ago… She just went home. I refused to leave boys' room before she leaves the house.''
''Ignoring her is going to cost you a lot.''
''I know. What should I do?''
''I don't know Jo. It's something you must decide. It's your pregnancy.''
That was a bit cold to Josie and she felt hurt by what Penelope said.
''I think your time to tell the truth is getting shorter and shorter. Lizzie will tell to everyone we know.''
''What do I say if they ask about it?''
''Are you ready to tell them what really happened?''
Josie didn't expect Penelope to act so cold. She hoped Penelope would change her mind and stay with her.
''Are you Penelope?''
''I will be, when the time comes.''
''Really?''
''Yes, I know that we will have to tell the truth at some point. There is no point in lying.''
''Penelope ,are you coming back home?''
''I think I need some time to process this all… I can't think about it now.''
''Because of the case?''
''No, because it's too fresh for me to be rational in what is for the best.''
''And what about how you feel?''
''You don't want to know how I feel Josie…''
''Why?''
''Because that would lead to sending you divorce papers or sleeping with someone just for doing it…. And I don't want to do neither of those two things until I am sure what is the best path for us and our family.''
Josie didn't say anything. Penelope saw Storm leaving the study and ended the conversation.
''Do you have a minute Penelope?''
''Sure…''
''I did what you asked me for… There are a lot of things that we didn't get from the prosecutor and I don't know it has to do with bad police work or withheld evidence.''
''Anything concrete.''
''Detective and victim dated in the past…''
''Oh…''
''Yes, high school sweethearts.''
''This is getting better and better.''
''Maybe he was the father of the baby?''
''Possible, but we can't get sample of his DNA without warning him.''
''Maybe we can figure something out… Independent lab and sample we can work on.''
''Like what?''
''Coffee cup…''
''That is illegal…''
''If we use it in the case… But if we present the court with a yearbook and some other evidence that proves they knew each other. We have grounds to ask court to test his DNA against the baby's.''
Storm smirked.
''You are something else.''
''Why?''
''You think way too fast for all the people in that room.''
''Even your ex?''
Storm just looked at her.
''Angela, the investigator…''
Storm was not surprised Penelope was on to them. Most of the team was straight and very blind to some juicy lesbian drama.
''We are complicated.''
''I am familiar with complicated. I live that at the moment. Nothing can surprise me.''
''Ok. Angela and I dated for years… Pretty much since high school... At first, things were good, but then they were not… She entered police academy and she was surrounded with more out girls and her main goal was for us to be out. I was not ready… Long story short… She sent my dad pictures of us kissing. She outed me on the graduation day… It was very messy… I got accepted to MIT, so it took me very short time to get to the bottom of who sent the pictures…We broke up… I moved out and went to live on campus… it took some time to mend relationship with my father. It's still very complicated, but we have lunch once a week.''
''That sucks… My wife and I were outed by her sister… We didn't really get the chance to do it on our terms.''
''How old were you?''
''Sixteen? Something like that.''
''Oh, high school sweethearts… How romantic?!''
''Seventeen years together.''
''And why is your situation complicated?''
''She slept with our friend…and she is pregnant.''
''You win Park! Your situation is more fucked up!''
''Unfortunately.''
''And what will you do?''
''No idea… After I come back to Boston, I will have to resolve it.''
''Yes, you will…''
Penelope picked up her folders and went to the bedroom.
''Good night Storm.''
''Good night…''