March 24th

When Tom arrived at the district attorney's office, he was accompanied by Carolyn Matthews. He had met with her the night before and found himself a little intimidated. The woman was a shark in three-inch heels. The sort of defense attorney that cops hated with a passion. He didn't want to think about what Maura was paying her to do this on such short notice, and he hadn't asked. Sometimes his mother was right about not asking questions you don't want the answers to. Laura Ryan was a wise woman when it came right down to it.

His union rep was also there. As was Harry and of course Craig Alexander. The one conspicuously absent person was Sean Galloway.

"Car0lyn. Nice to see you" Craig said "I'm surprised to see you here, though."

"One should always have an attorney present when summoned to the district attorney's office. Especially with charges pending." She said, "But it's good to see you again, Craig."

"Alight, everyone have a seat." He said. He knew that even when reinstated fully, Tom could afford about 5 minutes of Carolyn Matthew's time. And then only If he didn't pay his rent or eat for a month or two. His old high school girlfriend was likely picking up the tab. He wasn't sure what to think of that, but with the potential political fallout of looking too closely, he chose not to look at it at all. No law was being broken after all.

"So why are we all here," the union rep asked.

"I'm going to need your word that you are not going to represent Sean Galloway or his brother Patrick in any legal proceedings."He said to Carolyn Matthews.

"As Galloway was the Internal Affairs officer investigating my client that would be a conflict of interest." She said "You have my word. Do you intend on pressing charges against my client?"

"Not at this time."

"Cut the crap." She said sharply. "It is a yes or no question. You have had two months to make that decision, you haven't presented anything to the grand jury yet even though you have a taped confession from my client about the shooting, you have ballistics to prove that it came from his gun. He has never denied shooting the man. In the leg, I might add. Even you have to see this wasn't a criminal act. If you didn't you would have charged him."

"The victim in question was his then-girlfriend's husband," Alexander said, getting his dander up over her tone.

"All the more reason to believe that his life was in danger, but we all know that he wasn't aware of her marital status or to whom she was married. This case isn't the hill you want to die on, Craig. I could win it with both hands tied behind my back and a migraine. Hell, a wet behind-the-ears public defender could win this case and you know it. That's why you haven't moved forward with it." She locked gazes with him "Isn't it." She silently dared him to admit that it was a lever to force a man to betray a friend. She could destroy him with that alone. "Give me an answer. Yes or No."

"No. I'm not going to be pressing charges." He said, glaring at the woman. She knew and was willing to twist it into something more predatory than it actually was. Fine, he'd give her the victory.

Tom let out a shuddering sigh of relief.

"I will expect that in writing," Carolyn said.

"As will I." His union rep echoed.

"Tom," Craig said, trying to get to the point he'd originally asked Tom in for. "I assume you remember the Andreason murder."

He nodded. "Yeah. It's a cold case from five years ago." He said "David Andreason was shot and killed, then partially buried in cement. It was a real hack job. Too sloppy to be a real mob hit but someone clearly wanted to make it look that way. Why?"

"Without getting into too many details there is a connection between David Andreason and Councilman Galloway. Who also happens to be Sean Galloway's brother." He said "I'm not saying the case is solved. It's not. Unfortunately because of the connection between you and Lt. Galloway you won't be able to investigate it any further. I know it was a pet project of yours."

"Wait… why would it even be an option that I could investigate it?" Tom asked, not able to bring himself to ask the question he wanted to ask.

"Isn't that what detectives do?" Harry asked him, smiling brightly.

Tom looked between Harry, the DA, and his union rep. "Really?"

Craig took the gun and badge from his desk drawer and put them on the desk. "According to Chief Doyle, I need to give this back to you, with full rank and pay." He said "There is a probationary period, though, non-negotiable. Whether the shooting was clean or not you screwed up, Tom. You bucked authority and put yourself in this position."

"I know," Tom said quietly.

"Six months. You need to keep your nose clean for six months. No going off the rails, no breaking the rules. Do you understand me?"

Tom nodded. "Yes."

Carolyn looked at Tom. "They're doing this to avoid a civil suit." She said."Which I would be more than happy to bring against them if you wish." She looked toward Craig Alexander. "Now or at any future point if they try to make things unpleasant enough for you to quit."

"Lady if that happens," Harry said, "I'll call you myself."

Tom nodded his understanding but reached out to pick up his badge and gun. "I understand. "

She nodded "Alright." She looked to Craig, "I expect that written statement that you will not be bringing charges against my client in regards to this case, ever, on my desk by end of the day or I'll know the reason why."

"I take it back, Carolyn. It hasn't been good to see you again." Craig told her. "I'll have it to you by noon."

"Then I will leave you to all the other details involving his reinstatement. I'll be in touch Tom. Let me know if they are less than above board after this."

He nodded but said nothing. His attorney left the room.

"I get the impression she doesn't like you much," Harry said.

"We went to law school together." He said. "Beyond that is no one's business."

"Ah," Tom said, so the wind had blown that way, at least once in their history. "So when do I report for duty?" He asked Harry. "I assume I'm back under you or you wouldn't be here."

"Tomorrow. If you can get your doctor to clear you for duty. I'm afraid you'll be working with Sgt. St. John again."

"No one else will work with me," Tom said.

"Hardly. I just need the cases on her desk clear. She and Adams couldn't solve a crossword puzzle together. They are ruining my record." He said, "So the two of you need to bury the hatchet again."

"She was just doing her job, Tom." The DA said. "She busted my chops repeatedly over your case."

Tom said nothing to that. The Cassie situation was complicated. "That other assignment. I'm through with that. No more threats, no more pushing. Maura doesn't deserve it just because of who her father is, or who I am."

"Understood." He said. He didn't think Tom knew what he was getting into with that girl. She might not be connected to criminal activities but she was definitely connected to her father. He wondered how long it would be before detective Ryan was found floating somewhere with a bullet in his head.

"If you send anyone else, I'll know." Tom got to his feet, put his badge back on his belt, and picked up his gun. "I'll see you in the morning, Harry. I'll have my doctor fax something to you today." He walked out of the room, feeling a thousand pounds lighter than when he'd walked in. He wasn't sure which fairy godmother he owed for this, and it didn't matter. He had his life back.

He didn't slow down or stop on his way out of the building. He got into his car and drove straight to Maura's. He rang the doorbell impatiently and practically kissed the maid when she opened the door.

"She is in her studio." She said. "Do you know the way?"

"Yes, thank you." He said and made his way through the mansion to a room that was probably originally a solarium or greenhouse. There were windows on three sides of the room nearly floor to ceiling and the ceiling was glass as well.

Maura was seated in front of an easel, painting a seascape from a photograph. She smiled as he entered the room. "How did things go?"

He moved his suit jacket aside to reveal his badge. "What do you think?"

Her smile broadened. "You always did look good in gold. Does this mean it's over?" She asked putting her brush aside and wiping off her hands.

"It's over. And I told them I would no longer be spying on you." He said as they met in the middle of the room. He scooped her up into his arms and spun them around. "It's finally over." He eased her down as they kissed. "I love you, Maura Palmeri."

"I love you too Thomas Ryan." She said "I always have. We should celebrate. Where do you want to go?"

"Here." He said, "With you." He paused a moment. "There is one thing you should know... Cassie is going to be my partner again."

"Should I worry?"

"No. That ship not only sailed, it sank."

"Okay." She said. Now if she could just be certain Cassandra St. John felt the same way. "I trust you, Tommy." She did. She just didn't trust the tiny blonde any further than she could throw her.

Cassie was walking on air for the rest of the day. It wasn't that she hated working with Will. Especially after he had brought forward the evidence that had ultimately freed Tom. But they didn't work well together. She always felt like he was holding back instead of giving his all. It made her uncomfortable. Besides, she was getting Tom back. As her partner anyway. They worked well together. They always had, even when they weren't getting along. They played off of each other, their different views and insights complimented each other. She was looking forward to that again, and afraid of it at the same time. He'd said some pretty horrible things to her. Some of them she was sure he had meant.

She went to the gym after work and did her best to work off the cheesecake she'd dived into every time she'd had any contact with Tom over the last two months. He'd pushed her away so hard that she had half expected there to be physical bruises as well as emotional ones. She got it, she supposed. Cassie had been the one that had called down the dogs instead of letting him turn himself in. She'd hurt his feelings by not accepting his apology for the terrible things he'd said to her. How was she the villain for that? He'd said she was the worst mistake he'd ever made.

That thought made her angry again, and she wasn't sure why. She hoped they would be able to work past that. She missed him. Unfortunately, she thought that she would still be missing him even if they were working together. And with that thought, she lost that walking-on-air feeling she'd had since finding out the nightmare was over for Tom.

She ate dinner at a small bistro and went home. She was surprised to see Tom's car parked in front of her house. He got out of his car as she got out of hers.

"We need to talk." He said.

"Alright." She said and unlocked her door, then turned off the security system before it started blaring at her. "I have some wine if you'd like some."

He shook his head "I've had some tonight already." He said, "But coffee would be nice."

"Alright." She started the coffee brewing and put her leftovers from dinner into the fridge. "Harry told me what happened today. I'm glad things are straightened out." She said. Things were tense. Unbelievably tense. "And that we'll be working together again. We do make a great team, Tom."

"I know." He said, "I'm glad about that too."

"Believe it or not, Will, my last partner, was the one that came up with the information on Galloway. " She said and told him all about what had happened from her perspective. He then told her everything that had been going on since he'd been cornered by IAB and forced to reconnect with Maura. By the time they were done the coffee pot gave its steamy gasp indicating that it was finished. She walked into the kitchen where she poured cups for herself and Tom, making his exactly the way he liked it before bringing it to him.

"So you're not really a couple then." That was a relief.

"Oh, We are. I came clean. She forgave me." He said "We have a lot of history. I know you disapprove. But I can't live my life waiting for you to approve of it. That's never going to happen."

"That's not fair, Tom."

"Life isn't fair, Cassie. A lot of things between us have never been fair." He took a drink of his coffee and set it down. "I've said a lot of things lately."

"You were under a lot of stress. I understand that."

"The thing is, I meant them. I have missed you in my life. I have missed our friendship, and I've missed working with you. But I meant the things that I said. You do try and tear me apart any chance you get. You do it with a smile and a laugh like that's going to take the teeth out of it. I get it, it's what you grew up with. It's how your mother treats you every time she talks to you."

"I don't mean it that way." The thought that she had been treating him the way that her mother treated her saddened her, and horrified her.

"I know. It's why I've put up with it. But I can't do that anymore. These last two months have been worse than our divorce. I thought I had lost everything when we split up. These past months I did."

"I'm sorry I put you through that by calling Internal affairs."

"I don't blame you for that." He said, and the thought had honestly never occurred to him. "I was going to call them myself after I made the tape for Harry. You did what you had to do. I understand that. It's after that it hurt. You didn't trust me anymore. How are we going to work together if you can't trust me."

"I do trust you, Tom. I've always trusted you." She sighed seeing the look on his face. "Is this about that whole in-vino veritas thing? Tom, I never called you a liar."

"Then what did you mean by that? If you believe that everything said while someone is drunk is true, then you don't believe me when I say that it wasn't… what did you mean if not that I was lying and had been from the moment I told you I loved you."

"I was hurt. I know we screwed things up in our marriage. I just didn't want to think it was a lie too."

"But it was easier to believe that I never loved you at all than to believe that maybe I was angry and drunk and spewing crap because I was hurting and being a jackass."

"I'm sorry." She said.

"Me too." He said and eased back into the chair, coffee cup in hand.

"Are you sure getting into a real relationship with the mob boss's daughter is a wise decision?" She asked.

"Maura is the first person since this all began that hasn't made me feel like she wants to scrape me off of her shoe or save me from myself. " He said "When she had every right to tear me apart she didn't. She forgave me. She's completely out of my league in every way, and she doesn't even realize it. She never did. Do you have any idea what that feels like?" he asked.

"Tom-"

"No Cassie. She's off-limits. No kitten claws, no jibes, or berating me for being with her. Period. She thinks you want me back and I told her she was wrong. She's accepted that you and I are going to be partners again, even though we have a history. She's even willing to try and be friends with you because she knows that you're important to me and you always will be. So please, no matter what you might think about my choices at least pretend to give her a chance. You might find out you like her. How could I have fallen in love with you both and there not be something worth getting to know in both of you."

"You were in love with Virginia." She pointed out.

"And now I'm not. What does that say?"

"You're not in love with me anymore."

"Part of me is. Part of me always will be. Love doesn't go away just because it's inconvenient. It changes and becomes something different but it doesn't go away. I like to think we can salvage our friendship. I want to do that. But I have to set some boundaries. I'm pretty sure you have some too. I haven't exactly been perfect either."

"Alright, but you don't get to mock my choices either. You never like anyone I'm with."

"I was jealous." He admitted.

"And now?"

"Nothing to be jealous of. I want you to be happy. But if you don't want my opinion, don't ask for it… or hint around about it. Because I will assume you want my honest opinion and I'll give it."

"That's fair. If it goes both ways." She said. "You know if we'd had these conversations when we were married we might still be married."

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry." He truly was. He had wanted to share his life with her.

"Me too."

March 25th

Patrick Galloway had gotten up that morning and gone through his usual routine. He brushed his teeth, took his medications and vitamins, had a cup of coffee and some toast then went to work out on his treadmill before going into the office. He never made it to the office. He'd never made it off the treadmill. He wouldn't be found for two days when his wife came home from visiting her sister in New York City.

Tom was surprised to find that he wasn't given the cold shoulder at the office when he went in the following morning. He wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth and ask why. He was just going to go with it.

He had a box with him, things Harry had brought to him when they'd cleared his desk several months ago, and a few extras. He put everything back the way he liked it, along with a potted plant and a photo of him and Maura that had been taken in Miami.

"Good morning," Cassie said as she came into the office. It felt good to see Tom there. It felt like life was back to normal.

"Morning," Tom said. The talk the night before had helped. He could sit across from Cassie and have a normal conversation rather than lashing out at her. There were still things that stung but he could shove them aside for now and make things as normal as possible. "Harry said you had cases on your desk. Want to read me in?"

"Sure." She said and set the three cases she had on his desk. Will had gone back to the organized crime task force. She wished him well but was glad that he was gone. She smiled at Tom as she began to go over them.

Harry came out of his office. "Now this is what I like to see." He said, "The two of you hard at work, solving cases."

"Morning, Harry," Tom said with a smile. "Is that a new one for us?" He asked looking at the note in Harry's hand.

"Not for the two of you. You two get those three solved. This is for Patterson and Clark."

"Alright," Tom said as Harry walked away. "So this one, the Harrison case, This happened that night we ran into each other at the Movies. What was your read on it initially?" He asked, "I don't get the impression you think it was a robbery gone wrong."

"Honestly I thought the body was dumped there and killed elsewhere." She said "My partner disagreed. So we were never able to get search warrants for his home or car or anywhere else. Just the store. Besides, there was nothing in there that was worth stealing. It's all lotions and creams, hair care products, and essential oils."

"I've seen some of the things Maura has in her bathroom. The price nearly gave me a heart attack." He said "She has $200 body lotion. Don't get me started on her perfume."

"Yeah but it's not something you can fence or sell at anything close to the price. Most of the customers pay with credit cards so there wasn't a lot of actual cash in the register."

"And he's the owner?" Tom asked. "Is the shop still a crime scene under our control?"

"Yeah, his wife is pushing for us to let her have control of it again. Why what are you thinking?"

"That if it wasn't money or the product, then there was something else they were after. I don't know if I agree with you or your last partner about whether or not he was killed in the shop. I'd like to see it though."

"Your car or mine?" She asked.

"Mine." He said with a smile. They headed out the door and for the parking lot. Damn this felt good. He got in and waited for Cassie. "So tell me about the wife?"

"Evelyn Harrison. Age 35. She's the brains behind the $50 shampoo and $200 body lotion business. Her father is Judge Calvin Prescott."

"And that is why you can't get a warrant. I assume she didn't want to let you have a look around her place either."

"Wouldn't hear of it. After the initial interview, her lawyer was there every time we showed up like he was waiting for us."

"High-priced lawyer then." He said as he drove.

"I hear you have a high-priced lawyer. Did she really make Alexander sweat?"

He laughed "More like grinding his teeth." He said

"Really," She said, "I'd pay to see that."

"I'll let her know. She might sell tickets. She's pretty mercenary. She wanted me to file a civil suit. I said no."

"I'm glad you did. That would have been hard to come back from."

"I know. I just wanted my shield back. I don't even know how long they'll let me keep it. I'm on 6 months probationary period. One wrong step and that step is defined by other people, not me, and I'm out."

"Then we won't make any miss steps." She said. "We will follow the rules and thumb our noses at them every time they give you a funny look."

"Sounds like a plan to me." He said as he pulled into the parking lot of the upscale mall. "I have to make this work Cassie."

"I know." She said. "It's going to be okay, Tom. I promise." She took the keys to the shop out of the manila envelope she carried. "Okay, let's go have a look." She got out of the car and led the way to the back door of the shop. "I have the crime scene photos for you to look at too." They worked well together. They bounced things off of each other in ways that Adams just couldn't wrap his brain around. He never wanted to 'speculate'. That is until he landed at her place with a file folder full of almost evidence.

"Great. I was feeling a little behind the game." He said. He waited for Cassie to open the door. They went inside and he took the folder of photos from her hand. "Where was the body found?" He said stepping around boxes that had been piled up high in an awkward position. "These were here that night?" He asked.

"Yeah, they'd gotten a delivery that day." She said "Hadn't had the chance to put things away yet. The body was found out front behind the cash register."

Tom went out into the storefront and opened the envelope to take out the crime scene photos. He found the pictures of the victim. "Blunt force trauma?" He asked looking at the shots.

"Yeah, confirmed by the ME." She said.

"There's not enough room behind here to swing a cat much less a weapon. Head wounds bleed all over the place too. There's not much blood behind here at all. Do we know who opened the shop that day?"

"The morning shift consisted of one woman, 20-year-old Amanda Grant." She handed over a copy of her statement. "She opens the store 4 days a week. Frank Harrison came in a little after 1:00 that afternoon and she left here at 1:30."

He read the statement and went to the front door. He unlocked and opened the door to look at the exterior lock. It looked smooth and untampered with. He closed the door and locked it again. "So he was supposed to be here until closing that night which is at… 8 pm. Who found the body?"

"A customer. John Lane. He was here to buy a present for his wife. Couldn't get anyone's attention for a good twenty minutes then went looking and found Mr. Harrison behind the counter. "

"So he was in here for 20 minutes wandering around our crime scene." Tom frowned. He looked at the crime scene photos "So that was when?"

"He came in the shop around 6:30." She said, "M, E. puts the time of death between 3:00 and 6:00. But the CCTV from the mall shows a hand full of customers at about 5:00 but they all are seen leaving before 5:30. No one else comes in before Mr. Lane at 6:30."

"Which means our time of death is more accurately between 5:30 and 6:00. Unless there was someone else in here to take care of the customers between 5:00 and 5:30. It's not exactly complicated to run a cash register. So they wouldn't have to be an employee. They'd also have had to come in by the back door to have not been seen by the cameras"

"Which only opens with the key and It locks automatically," Cassie said. "But they would have to know about the CCTV as well to know to avoid it."

"If they chose to avoid the cameras then they came in here intending to do something illegal. What about the Delivery driver?" He asked.

" A real friendly guy Mr. McLean. Too friendly. But he made his delivery that morning. Amanda Grant confirms this."

"And they put the boxes in the way like that?" Tom asked. "I don't know why but that bothers me."

"Not everyone is OSHA compliant, Tom," She said.

"Hear me out. Our victim is about my height, 6'2." He said, "How tall would you say the wife is?"

"5'8 ish." She said "And Amanda Grant is only about 5'4"

Tom went back to the back room and stood in front of the stack of boxes. He had to reach up to grasp the top box and even then it wasn't in a position where he'd be comfortable taking it down. "Even I would need to stand on a step stool to get this up here. They'd have to be 6'6 or so not to need one. And I doubt your delivery driver is that tall. The question is why, when there is plenty of room up against that wall for two stacks of boxes and no need for this Jenga pile."

They started looking around the room. "There was no blood splatter here and surely there would have been something." Cassie said, "The blood would fly off the weapon as they brought it back for a second blow."

Tom looked up at the ceiling looking for anything that might have slipped someone's sight the first time through. He took a step back and looked around him quickly, finding the step ladder tucked into the corner. He brought it over to the boxes. "The only way to know why they are here is to find out what it's like when they aren't here."

Cassie set aside what she had in her hands.

"Be Careful, this is heavy," Tom said as he moved the first box and handed it down to her. She set it aside.

"And this is why I'm glad to have you back." She said as she looked up. There was a blood stain on the ceiling tile that had been obscured by the top box. "I'm going to call for forensics."

Tom nodded. He went back to get the keys and then came back to unlock the door to the storage room. "I think our crime scene is up there." He said, "And maybe, just maybe…" He said as he unlocked the door, "Yep there it is, the ladder into the space above." He pulled down the attic ladder and then put on a pair of gloves. He took note of the heavy smell of bleach in the small room. Even after a week, it was still strong.

He waited for Cassie before he started up the retractable staircase. Normally he wouldn't have but right now, rules were rules. He stepped up into the attic and found it to be much roomier than he had expected. Planks had been placed across the joists to make a makeshift floor to walk on and create more storage space. There was enough room for him to stand upright.

"This is definitely our crime scene. Between the bleach smell below and the blood smell up here, there's no doubt." She said and took a flashlight out to scan the room "That's where the blood appears to pool on the ceiling tiles below." She scanned the planks "And there are drag marks here made with blood. We should get out of here until forensics are through."

"You're right," Tom said and let her go down the ladder first.

"I can't believe I didn't see this." She said.

He stepped off the ladder and they walked back toward the storefront. "Well, Cassie, You're short. You're used to boxes being stacked taller than you." He teased.

"Oh is that what it is? I'll have you know Will Adams is 6'3."

"And an inferior detective," Tom said.

"Well, I'm not going to argue that point." She said.