Chapter 3
After several hours of pouring over the files and reading Eames' and Goren's notes about the latest round of "Alphabet Murders," Alicia Goren and her parter, Lewis Matthews, leaned back in their chairs, both unable to read another word.
"God, that was intense," Matthews said. "I had no idea the case was so complicated." He turned to look at his partner, whose head was thrown back and eyes were closed. "I apologize for that remark I made earlier, Goren. That case really put you through the ringer. You worked your ass off and got your man, but you wound up paying a pretty big price."
Alicia, her eyes still closed, gave a short, dismissive wave of her hand. "Thanks, Matthews. Apology accepted. But I brought most of the bad stuff upon myself. I was too close to the case and I let it suck me in and destroy me. Because of that I lost some really important aspects of my life...my husband, most especially." She opened her eyes and looked over at Bobby, who was on the phone. "What I did to him, leaving him like that after everything he did for me, or tried to do for me, that was totally unforgivable, and it was, and is, the hardest part of this whole thing to deal with."
Matthews simply nodded, not knowing what else to say.
At that moment, Bobby hung up the phone, looked up and caught Alicia's eye. He beckoned to her, then stood up and headed back toward the interrogation rooms. Alicia nodded once and stood up. Matthews hadn't noticed the exchange between the ex-spouses, but Alex didn't miss a thing. As Alicia looked down at Matthews and opened her mouth to speak, Alex jumped in.
"Hey, Agent Matthews, would you mind going over a few of these details with me?"
Matthews looked over at Eames and smiled. She was one good-looking woman. She wasn't a knockout like Goren, but he sure wouldn't kick Alex Eames out of bed. "Sure thing, Detective," he said as he stood up. He walked past Alicia, who smiled over at Alex then turned to follow Bobby.
Goren waited for Alicia in the doorway of one of the interrogation rooms. He stepped aside to let her pass then stepped into the room and closed the door. Alicia turned and looked at Bobby, wanting nothing more than to hold him and beg his forgiveness for what she had put him through. God, I love this man. He can put all this inner torment I feel to rest by simply saying he forgives me. I did him wrong, so wrong. I wonder if he even can forgive me. I wouldn't blame him if he didn't. She looked at Bobby expectantly.
"Alicia, my God, I can't tell you how surprised I was to see you this morning," Bobby said softly. "How long have you been in New York?"
"Three days. I wanted to call you, but da told me you were heading this case and that I would see you soon enough. I guess he wanted me to get my bearings first, you know? Especially with everything that's happened..."
"Where are you staying?" His eyes drank in the sight of her. God, how he wanted to kiss her, but he needed to wait. He did not want to rush her and confuse her. He didn't want to take any chances this time.
"With my parents, at least until after this case wraps. Then I'll probably start looking for a place of my own."
Bobby started in surprise. "You're not going back to Washington?"
Alicia smiled at his reaction. "No, Bobby, I've transferred to the New York bureau. I'm back for good." She watched him carefully and was rewarded with a wide smile.
"I can't tell you how happy I am to hear that, Ali," he said.
"I'm happy, too, Bobby."
They stared at each other for a long moment, a million thoughts running through each of their heads. There was just so much to say to each other, but nothing seemed appropriate at that moment. Finally, Bobby broke the silence.
"Are you doing anything for dinner tonight, Alicia?"
His question brought her both indescribable joy and total disappointment. "Oh, Bobby, I would love to, really, but I can't. Da and Mam invited the whole clan over for dinner tonight. All four brothers, their wives and assorted rugrats. Way too many people, an invasion, really. Geez, you've kept in touch with the family. You know how many of them there are."
"Coming to visit with the prodigal daughter, huh?" Bobby grinned.
Alicia laughed. "Yeah, something like that. She took a few steps to close some of the distance between her and Bobby. "Can we have dinner tomorrow night? I'm free. The thundering herds will be all gone by then."
Bobby completely closed the remaining gap between them and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Pick you up at 7:30?"
"Make it 7:00 and you've got a deal." She smiled up at him as she tilted her head back slightly.
"Done," Bobby said softly then he acknowledged Alicia's obvious desire to be kissed by gently covering her mouth with his own. It was a soft, warm kiss, filled with promise; a taste of what was most certainly going to happen between them. Bobby pulled away reluctantly. Alicia moaned softly as she felt him pull away then opened her eyes. They stood with their arms around each other, smiling at one another, for a few long minutes. Finally, Alicia ran her hands slowly down Bobby's back then pulled away.
"I need to get back to the office. Assistant Director Barkley will be anxious to talk to us. Matthews and I will meet you and Eames at the archives tomorrow morning like we discussed." She reached up and brushed Bobby's lips with hers. "See you at nine."
Bobby ran his hands up Alicia's arms then gently squeezed her shoulders. "See you then, Ali." He stepped aside to let her get to the door. "Be careful, babe, please."
Alicia smiled at the endearment. "You, too, Bobby." She opened the door and walked out.
Bobby leaned against the interrogation room table, his arms folded across his chest. His heart was beating furiously, and he felt an old, familiar stirring in his groin. Damn, she could still move him with the simplest caress, with the briefest of kisses. And he could still move her. He saw it in her eyes, heard it when she moaned after he kissed her. They would be together again, he was sure of it.
As he relived those few moments he'd spent alone with Alicia, Alex appeared in the doorway. "Bobby?" she asked tentatively. Goren appeared to be completely lost in thought.
Bobby shook his head to clear it. Then he smiled at Alex. "Hey," he said simply.
Alex stepped further into the room. "Alicia and her partner just left. We're going to see them tomorrow at the police archives, right?"
"Yeah."
Alex grinned at Bobby. "She's totally gorgeous. I'm really surprised that you never mentioned her before."
Bobby smiled proudly. "She is a real beauty, isn't she? I never could figure out what an incredible woman like that saw in a guy like me, but we worked, you know? We were really good together. Then the "Alphabet Murders" started happening. Once Alicia began to realize that the perp was targeting her, she began to withdraw, from me, from her family, everyone. Near the end of the case, she was like a stranger. I tried to help her, but she wouldn't let me. I'd never felt so lost in all my life as I did during those last few months we were together."
Alex realized that this was the most Bobby had ever said to her about his private life. She could see he needed to talk, so she pulled up a chair and sat down next to where he was standing. "Was there no way to work things out with Alicia? I mean, it's obvious you two still care about each other."
Bobby grabbed another chair and sat down facing Alex. "Yeah, Alex? You could see something between us?"
Alex smiled at Bobby's earnest expression. He looked like a little boy. It was obvious the woman meant a great deal to him still. "Geez, Bobby, a blind man could see what's going on between you two. You really love her, don't you?"
Bobby nodded. "I never stopped."
"Are you going to try to reconcile?"
"I hope so. We're having dinner tomorrow night and see where it goes from there."
"Hey, that's a good start." Alex reached over and patted Bobby's fidgeting hands. "She's a lucky woman."
Bobby was taken completely by surprise at Alex's remark. "Thanks, Alex. I appreciate that." He leaned over and gently kissed Alex's forehead. It was the most intimate gesture he'd ever offered her. "Thanks for listening to me. You know I'm not one for spilling my guts, but I know that I can talk to you. You're pretty much the perfect partner. I mean, look how well you tolerate me." He smiled as Alex laughed.
"Who says I can tolerate you?" she said, laughing even harder.
Bobby laughed at this. "Well, you haven't asked for a transfer yet, so I just assumed..."
Alex wiped the tears from her eyes as she giggled some more. "No way would I transfer. I've learned a lot from you over the past year. Besides," she said mischievously, "you amuse me."
Bobby sat back in mock surprise. He arched an eyebrow and said, "Do I now? Well, isn't that nice to know? So I'm just a big Bozo to you, huh?"
Alex involuntarily looked down at Bobby's size 13 feet. "Well, if the shoe fits..." She dissolved into another fit of laughter.
Bobby laughed as well, then shook his head. "You're a pisser, Alex, you know that?"
She nodded as she tried to control her giggles. "That's what my old man always said." With much effort, she finally settled herself down. After a few moments, she noticed that Bobby had clasped her hand in his. Another intimate gesture. Boy, he was full of them today.
"Bobby," she said softly, "I just want you to know that I'm here for you, okay?"
"I know, Alex. You can't imagine what that means to me."
They sat quietly for a few moments, hands still clasped.
"This isn't going to be easy for Alicia, is it? I mean, despite what she said." Alex was genuinely concerned for the other woman. She felt an affinity, a kinship, with Alicia Goren. In many respects, they seemed very much alike. Alicia was strong, confident; she knew her stuff and wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Alex was like that, too. Alex hoped that she and Alicia would become friends, especially since they had Bobby in common.
"Alicia is a very strong woman. She can usually handle anything and be able to talk about it later. Debrief, if you will. But there was something about this case that almost destroyed her. There was something about the violence, the sheer brutality with which the murders were committed, apparently in her name, that completely unnerved her and messed with her head."
"She wasn't at fault, Bobby, she realizes that, doesn't she?"
"Consciously, she does. Subconsciously, that's a whole 'nother ballgame."
"I can't imagine what a difficult time that must have been for you both. To see and feel someone you love so much pull away from you and not let you back in must have been awful."
Bobby stared intently at Alex. "That's exactly right. I tried everything I knew to hold on to her, to get her to open up to me, to show her that she could lay her burdens down on my and that I would shoulder them with her, but nothing worked. We were so special together before then, but afterwards...well, let's just say that the woman I married wasn't with me anymore." He gently untangled his hands from Alex's and stood up. "The woman I saw today was very much the same woman I married. I just hope I can keep her that way, especially with all that's going to happen."
"She seemed to be reaching out to you today, Bobby."
He looked down at Alex and gave her a sad smile. "She did, didn't she?" He paused then walked over to the two-way mirror in the interrogation room. Alex watched as he stared at himself in the mirror, almost as though he were looking at another person. "Alex," he said softly, "we've gotta nail this bastard, and fast. Before he kills again...and before he has a chance to get under Alicia's skin. I lost her once; I can't bear the thought of losing her again." He turned and looked at Alex. "She's been to hell and back, and she finally seems to be her old self again. For her sake, and the sake of all of us who love her, I can't let her be destroyed again. I won't. We've gotta get this guy, Alex."
Eames stood and walked over to Bobby. She reached up and gently patted his cheek. She could see how tense he was, and she wanted to bring him some comfort. "We'll get him, Bobby," she said quietly. "We always do."
