A/N: As always, the reviews are always appreciated. Thank you for all your suggestions and support. As usual, all characters, with the obvious exceptions, are owned and copywritten by Steven Levitan Productions, Brillstein-Grey and NBC.
MR GALLO GOES TO WASHINGTON
Based on characters created by Steven Levitan
Police Captain Oakland was a big man, with broad shoulders and a large, red, frustrated looking face. He ran a hand through his grey crewcut before speaking.
"I have to admit it wasn't the world's greatest robbery attempt," he said, "I mean, two guys walk into the middle of an apartment building in the middle of the day, for pete's sake. Also, they had real bad luck in that they picked a day that the owners decided to have the place exterminated."
Allie had called Jack at his office around eleven that morning with the news that two guys had been found in her apartment, the one that she'd gained from Jack in the divorce, by the building manager and two exterminators conducting their monthly spraying. The manager had called the police as the exterminators held them at bay with their sprayers until they arrived.
"But it's a secure apartment building," Jack said, seated across from Oakland, "How did they get in?"
"They used these." Oakland held up a keyring with a pencil, as they were now evidence.
"We found them on one of the burglars, a..." He looked down at his notes, "Bud Aberline."
Jack studied the keys for a moment, then said, "Those look like my daughter's keys."
Oakland gave Jack a suspicious gaze. "Your daughter?"
"Yes. Maya Gallo. She works for me at the magazine."
Jack sat back in the chair. "Now how do you suppose those two guys got her keys?"
"She around?" Oakland asked.
"She's back at the office."
"I think we'd better have a talk with your daughter, Mister Gallo."
"Maya? Don't be ridiculous, Captain, Maya wouldn't be involved in anything like this."
"Still, I think we should talk to her, even if it's just to straighten things out."
"If you think it wise, Captain."
Back at Blush, a thought had been playing around the back of Dennis Finch's mind ever since the phone call from Allie and Jack's quick explanation and departure. First, Maya's keys, including one to the said apartment, turn up missing. Second, the said apartment is broken into. Coincidence? He suspected not.
The idea of Cal Berkeley playing Maya for a fool had crossed his mind, but he'd driven it away as simply jealousy. Somehow, probably since that night right after her final breakup with Elliot, he'd appointed himself as her silent protector, feeling that Maya loved not wisely, but too well (Shakespeare, he thought--Maya quoted a lot of it that weekend). Ever since, he'd viewed every guy with suspicion. He had about a .500 average in picking the good ones from the bad ones, so he wasn't perfect, but he felt pretty sure that Congressman Berkeley would shatter her into little pieces and run off to Washington right after the election, leaving a mess behind.
But who could he tell? The answer was obvious, so, as he tended to do in situations involving Maya and her boyfriends (By the way, Maya was forty--do you call them boyfriends at that age?), he'd keep his mouth shut and take the pain.
As he played the idea of Berkeley's involvement around in his mind, he caught sight of Nina sweeping across the bullpen.
"Ah, Dennis, just the little blond troll I was looking for."
He just gave her a gaze that she, as usual, ignored.
"I've just thought of something."
"Come on," Dennis answered, "I don't buy that for a minute."
"Just think about this a minute. Now, who am I?"
"A drunken ex-model with no self control?"
She paused, then said, "No...I'm a celebrity."
"OK, I'll play along."
"Anyway," Nina continued, "I thought, I could do a commercial for Jack's campaign!"
"I don't know, Nina. Jack's campaign is sinking fast enough as it is."
"Aw, come on, Dennis, everyone else is helping!" She seemed near tears. "Elliot's shooting his campaign photos, Maya's sleeping with his opponent, you're doing...whatever it is you do, and I'm the only one who isn't doing anything. I owe Jack a lot and I want to help, damn it!"
"OK, OK," Dennis waved at her to calm down, "Look, I know you do. I'll...well, I'll talk to Jack and his guys and see what I can do."
She smiled. "Thanks, Dennis. I knew that deep down you were all right. I'll get to work right now on what I want to say."
As she walked away, Dennis thought, 'that should keep her until about October'. He returned to his work as another interruption stepped off the elevator.
"Dennis," Jack asked, "Where's Maya?"
"Interview for her piece on gambling addiction among the elderly. Should be back any minute unless she pisses off the 'metamucil mafia'."
Oakland looked at his watch. "I got a couple minutes."
"Congratulations," Dennis said.
"Dennis," Jack asked, "Please tell Captain Oakland that Maya would not be involved in anything illegal."
"Maya Gallo wouldn't do anything illegal," Dennis answered, "Believe me, I've tried."
The elevator car returned to the floor, this time carrying Maya, black bag over her shoulder.
"Maya," Jack called out, "Can you come here a moment please?"
As she came over, Oakland pulled out his wallet. "Ms. Gallo, my name's Oakland, I'm with the burglary section. I'd like to talk to you a moment."
Jack led them into his office, where Oakland closed the door behind them.
"I'm sure you heard that the apartment of one Allie Gallo was broken into?"
"What? Dad, is everyone all right?"
"Oh, sure, Maya," Jack assured her, "Allie was taking Hannah to her baby-sitter when it happened..."
"Mr. Gallo, please," Oakland interrupted, then to Maya, "The burglars had in their possession a set of keys to the apartment."
He pulled out a ziploc bag with her keys in them. "These keys, to be exact."
Maya stared at them, disbelieving. "Those are my keys! How..."
"That's what I'd like to know," Oakland snapped, "When did you last see them?"
"Last night when I parked my car at..."
She hesitated, then finished, "At a place where a friend works. I rode with him back to his place where I...I stayed the night."
"This 'friend' have a name, Ms. Gallo?"
She started to refuse, but then, with a defeated sigh, she answered, "Cal Berkeley."
Jack nearly jumped from behind his desk. "The Congressman?" he roared.
"I don't know how it happened, Dad, I just...well, I like him, and we went out to dinner and...well..."
"You gave him your keys to break into Allie's apartment." Jack finished.
"No! I wouldn't do that! You know that, Dad, I'd never..."
Jack held up his hands to silence her, unable to say anything, just shaking his head.
"Did you have the keys while you were there?" Oakland asked, "I mean, that you know of."
She didn't look at Oakland. She just looked at Jack's dejected form and answered, "Not that I know of. I thought I had them in my purse, so I never double checked to see if they were actually there. I could have lost them anywhere."
"Yeah, I suppose so. Anyway, I'll keep in touch, Mr. Gallo. I appreciate your time."
Neither Jack or Maya noticed Oakland's departure. Jack didn't move for a moment, then stood up and faced the window, away from his daughter.
"I didn't do it, Dad," Maya told him, "You know me."
"I thought I did, Maya. I thought I did."
"Dad, I..."
"Get out, Maya." Jack forced out almost at a whisper, "Just...get out."
He never looked back, listening as Maya's shoes clicked out of the office.
Dennis looked up from his laptop and saw Maya's devastated face, tears rimming her eyes.
"Maya, what..?"
He watched Maya walk across the bullpen to her office, barely hearing Jack's calling out, "Dennis, will you come here?"
He cast a final glance at Maya's closed office door before entering Jack's office.
"Jack, what's wrong with..."
"Dennis, I want you to begin termination proceedings on Maya. I'm firing her as of today."
A/N: I'd better cut this short--it's already five pages. Don't panic, though, more will follow very, very soon.