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"California?" Deakins voice was raised in disbelief.

"That's where the body is. And, we need to see the crime scene in person."

Deakins sighed deeply, in resignation. "Ok, the mayors office doesn't like the link to that movie star anyway, they want it cleared up a.s.a.p. Book your tickets."

~~~

Boarding was still a half hour away. Bobby, tired of sitting, got up to stretch his legs and told Alex he was going to the newsstand they'd past on their way to the gate.

A few minutes later, and Alex was as frustrated as he had been, so she picked herself up and went to join him, stopping first at a designer coffee shop. A few minutes later, balancing two steaming containers of coffee, she found him standing in front of a magazine rack that held issues of business and pc magazines. Alex wondered to herself what he was reading, Time, Newsweek. He noticed her approach and folded up the magazine in his hands. Alex stopped short, her hand in mid air, handing him his coffee. "Entertainment Weekly?" She cried out, and began to laugh. "I never figured you for a movie mag kind of guy."

"Research." He told her, taking the coffee she was offering him before she spilled it. "There's an article on Mark Price." He showed her the cover.

"Well you'd better bring it with you, they're boarding our flight."

Bobby picked up the issues of US Weekly and People, since they both had Marks name on their covers. He had just enough time to pay for them and make his way back to the gate to meet Alex right before she boarded.

~~~~

Alex stepped onto the plane, smiled at the flight attendants and made her way through first class. Two steps into the steerage cabin, the isle was crammed with people, those who were struggling with their overhead bags, their seatbelts. Alex glanced over her shoulder at Bobby and she was suddenly reminded of one of their cases, the Tuxedo Hill case, as she'd come to call it in her mind. They'd had to search a private plane, one that Bobby's large frame barely fit into. She smiled at him now, with the memory. He was thinking the same thing, because as he returned her glance he said: "Tight fit in here." Just as he had on the private plane. The line finally began to move, and they found their seats.

~~~

They walked out of LAX and into the bright sunshine. Each slipped on their sunglasses as they approached their rental car. Alex climbed in behind the drivers seat as Bobby folded himself into the passenger side, and unfolded the map. She took the turns he pointed to, and soon they were at LAPD HQ.

"Officer," Bobby called out getting a young patrolman's attention. "Can you tell me where we could find Detectives Stevens and Smith?"

"Smith just walked inside." the patrolman ran up the front steps, trying to catch the sought after detective. Bobby and Alex followed his lead, hurrying up the steps after him.

"Smith. Hey, Detective Smith." The patrolman called out across the lobby. Bobby scanned the people in the area the young officer was looking at. He watched as a tall black man, wearing a baseball cap turned around and began to walk toward them.

"What's up Kelly?" He asked the officer.

"These here detectives are looking for you." Officer Kelly told him, jerking his thumb toward Goren and Eames.

Bobby Smith held out his hand. "NYPD?" he asked shaking Alex's hand first.

"Alex Eames. I guess we were expected." Alex replied, looking after the young officer as he left the building. Smith gave her a puzzled look in answer. "We didn't tell him we're cops." Alex explained.

"Oh." Smith gave a short low chuckle. "Kelly's pretty bright." Then he extended his hand to Goren. "Bobby Smith." He introduced himself.

"Goren. Bobby Goren."

"Come on up." Smith said turning and walking back to the elevator. "I'll introduce you to my partner, get you caught up with what we know."

Abandoning all small talk, Goren started asking about the case right away. "M.E. determine cause of death?"

"Suffocation. We found marks on her face and neck that suggest the perp put his hand over her nose and mouth until she stopped breathing."

"Was she raped?" Alex asked.

"Inconclusive." Smith paused as the elevator doors opened on his floor.

"Joel." Smith called out a few feet away from their desks. He half turned, bringing Joel's attention to the new arrivals. "These are Detectives Goren and Eames, NYPD. They're here about the Kirkland case."

Joel Stevens shook hand with Goren and Eames as they introduced themselves. Alex took control of the conversation.

"You said the rape test was inconclusive, why?"

Joel answered for his partner. "There was defiantly seamen, but no tearing or bruising. The ME found traces of sleeping pills in her system, not enough to kill her, but enough so that we think she was probably asleep when she was killed. Maybe even during the sex." He reached for two files on his desk as he spoke, handing one to Goren, the other to Alex. "Crime scene photos and the ME's report." He explained.

Goren opened his folder and scanned the report. He was more interested in the photos, and after a moment he was standing in his familiar place behind Alex, looking over her shoulder.

"Where do you want to go first, where she was found, or to the ME's office?" Smith asked.

Alex looked to Goren. "The ME's office. I want to see the body." Goren said simply.