Sara and her partner entered the Vorschlag building ten minutes early for
their three o'clock meeting with Ian Nottingham. They went to the desk and
were sent straight through to the private elevator. "Well, he has some
pull around here, I'll say that for him," Danny said, trying not to be
impressed and failing. He was not particularly comfortable with the whole
situation. He knew Sara's taste for tattooed bad boys and when he had
first met Nottingham, he thought she had made a change. Now he was unsure,
head of Security for Vorschlag, that made him think that maybe she had just
found one with better dress sense. He suspected that this guy was
dangerous, and he was not inclined to let his partner get hurt.
"Yeah, something like that." Sara tried to keep it light. They arrived at the top floor and were escorted to the office by the same nervous gentleman who had done the same for Sara yesterday. Sara hid her amusement, wondering how long the poor guy would last. Nottingham obviously made him jumpy, but then he had that effect on a lot of people. Ian stood up as they entered, turning off the computer screen.
"Sara, Detective Woo, I'm sorry we have to meet again under these circumstances." He shook Danny's hand politely, and gave her a very warm smile. "Please sit down." He indicated the couch in the corner. Sara was amazed at how like his father he was at this moment, although she knew it was only a façade, a way of getting through the day. Ian took the chair and Sara gave Danny the place on the couch near him, preferring to let Danny take the lead, to avoid perceived improprieties.
"Nice office," Danny commented a little sarcastically. He was unsure what to make of this guy. It was obvious that he meant something to Sara, here he was playing at being a businessman, but there was something about him that niggled in the back of Danny's mind. He moved with the grace of a man with long years of physical training and there was an energy about him, like a tightly coiled spring wrapped to tightly.
"Yes, Mr. Irons permitted me the use of it for this interview, as he is not here and mine is too small."
"I thought Mr. Irons was missing," Danny asked coldly "Never believe everything you hear in the media, Detective, it is frequently unreliable. Mr. Irons is a private man. He is at home, or at least was the last time I saw him," he said calmly.
"Then why do so many people seem to think that something has happened to him?" Danny asked, a little aggressively. . His antagonism was obvious and while Ian was trying to remain calm in deference to Sara, it was apparent to him that the detective was going to make this difficult for him.
"I have no idea, Detective," Ian answered coldly. "I am hardly responsible for what people believe, nor am I responsible for Mr. Irons behavior, just his safety." Sara sat trying to hold her temper, watching the two most important men in her life snipe at each other.
"And how can you look after his safety here, if he isn't with you?"
"I don't presume to tell you how to do your job, Detective, please grant me that same courtesy. I have duties here as well and, as I am sure you are aware, the estate has the best security available."
"Didn't seem to do those two bodies we have downtown any good."
"They were certainly not killed while under my protection." Ian had gone stiff and his eyes were cold with warning. Sara had lost patience with the verbal sparing match, afraid they were about to come to blows. They were circling like a pair of dogs spoiling for a fight, and she was not in the mood. She stood up, catching both of them with her glare.
"Knock it off you two, this is ridiculous," she broke in angrily. "You both know why we are here, and I expect you to act like adults." She fixed her partner with a steely gaze, "Danny, you've been my partner since the academy. And Ian," she looked over to him. "You know our relationship is making this case difficult for me. The least you can both do is to act your age and let us get through this as easily as possible." She turned her back on both of them and started toward the door. Danny watched in shock as Ian rose with amazing speed to intercept her, his concern obvious in his movement.
"Sara, I'm sorry, please."
"Yeah, Partner, I was out of line, let's try this again, ok?" Sara gave them both a black look but returned to the couch.
"All right, Mr. Nottingham, I have to ask you about the circumstances regarding the deaths of two directors of this company." Danny began, starting with the standard questions. Sara sat back and watched as they played nice, working through the list with speed. They were doing pretty well, the simplicity of the interrogation making things a little easier.
As they began to work out the timetable for the last day of the two victims' lives, they were interrupted by the ring of Sara's cell. She nodded for them to continue, figuring that they were finally safe to be left alone, and stepped outside to answer the call.
"Pezzini," she practically barked at the phone, anxious to get it over with. They were doing better but she did not want to leave them alone too long.
"Hey, chief, you called me." Gabriel's cheery voice greeted her.
"Gabriel, I don't have a lot of time at the moment, but I need to talk to you. You free tonight? I think I have a proposition for you."
"Hey, Sara, if you've changed your mind, then."
"Knock it off, I meant a business proposition, don't get any bright ideas."
"Hey, no problem, just kidding. Does this business proposition involve, uh, your little toy? Because last time."
"Yes, and no, I'll let you know tonight, ok?"
"Sure, why don't I bring pizza and you can fill me in, unless you have plans?"
"No, that will work, say 6:30?"
"I'll be there."
Danny and Ian finished the timetable and then sat and looked at each other cautiously. Danny was trying to figure out how to say what he wanted to say to the strange man sitting across from him. Finally as the silence was getting deafening, he decided to just be blunt.
"I don't know what the deal is with you and Sara. But I want make something clear, if you hurt her, I will find a way to kill you. I am not going to let you play her, she doesn't need that."
"Detective Woo, if I ever hurt her, you will not have to, for I will be unable to live with myself." There was true sincerity in his voice, and Danny realized that he actually believed him. In his own way that disconcerted him more than anything else. Sara had said she trusted him with her life, and now he sitting here saying he would give his life for her. This was definitely not her run of the mill relationship. He sort of wished that it was. There was definitely something very intense going on between the two of them and he was not sure whether that was a good thing. He just looked at Ian and nodded, as Sara came back in and returned to her place.
The two of them were sitting there quietly, both looking at her. Since there were no bruises or other signs, she concluded that they must have managed to act like adults during her little absence.
"Ok, what did I miss?" she asked casually.
"Just finished with the schedule. Now for the next bit, thought I would wait for you, partner."
"Ok, then lets get this over with. I am pretty sure that our desks are sinking in more paper by the minute."
"Ok, Mr. Nottingham, now as to your whereabouts on the evening of the 16th of November. Why weren't you present at the meeting, if I may ask?" he continued, getting closer to the heart of the matter.
"I normally would not attend unless necessary or unless it was being held in another location, although it is not unusual for me to be in the house at the time. However on that particular evening I was with a friend," he answered.
"And the name of that friend? I have to ask for the record, sorry."
"Detective Sara Pezzini, I arrived at her home at around five o'clock and did not leave until after midnight." Ian looked at Sara and she nodded confirmation to her partner.
"Yes, she has already told me that. Listen, off the record, I won't bring her into this if at all possible, but if we need it, nice to know."
"Gee, thanks, Danny, talk about me like I'm not here," she said sarcastically. Some of her good humor had returned with the routine of police work, and she was feeling a bit more comfortable. Danny looked at Ian significantly and he gave a small smile in return, male solidarity asserting itself.
"Thank you, Detective Woo, I truly appreciate that. If you need any further assistance, please contact me," Ian said as he rose gracefully from his place. Danny and Sara rose as well. Ian shook hands with Danny, who promptly headed out the door.
"I'll go get those files, Sara, why don't you catch up?" he called over his shoulder as he exited. The minute he left the room, she laughed. Ian gave her a look of surprise.
"He is giving us time to say a private goodbye," she told him.
"Oh, I see," he responded and reached for her hand, she let him, sliding her thumb under his glove. He closed his eyes for a moment, then raised her hand to his lips and kissed her palm.
"I'll see you tonight then, the phone call was from Gabriel, he is going to come by before you get home." she said, walking towards the door with Ian following.
"Very well, hopefully you can convince him to aid us. That would take one worry from your shoulders." He said, continuing to hold her hand in his for a long moment before releasing her.
"I hope so," she said and started to walk out to meet her partner, who was standing at the desk, a knowing smile on his face. As she left she called back over her shoulder to him. "Hey, Ian, see you at home." He looked up at her retreating back as the words warmed him deep into his soul.
"Yeah, something like that." Sara tried to keep it light. They arrived at the top floor and were escorted to the office by the same nervous gentleman who had done the same for Sara yesterday. Sara hid her amusement, wondering how long the poor guy would last. Nottingham obviously made him jumpy, but then he had that effect on a lot of people. Ian stood up as they entered, turning off the computer screen.
"Sara, Detective Woo, I'm sorry we have to meet again under these circumstances." He shook Danny's hand politely, and gave her a very warm smile. "Please sit down." He indicated the couch in the corner. Sara was amazed at how like his father he was at this moment, although she knew it was only a façade, a way of getting through the day. Ian took the chair and Sara gave Danny the place on the couch near him, preferring to let Danny take the lead, to avoid perceived improprieties.
"Nice office," Danny commented a little sarcastically. He was unsure what to make of this guy. It was obvious that he meant something to Sara, here he was playing at being a businessman, but there was something about him that niggled in the back of Danny's mind. He moved with the grace of a man with long years of physical training and there was an energy about him, like a tightly coiled spring wrapped to tightly.
"Yes, Mr. Irons permitted me the use of it for this interview, as he is not here and mine is too small."
"I thought Mr. Irons was missing," Danny asked coldly "Never believe everything you hear in the media, Detective, it is frequently unreliable. Mr. Irons is a private man. He is at home, or at least was the last time I saw him," he said calmly.
"Then why do so many people seem to think that something has happened to him?" Danny asked, a little aggressively. . His antagonism was obvious and while Ian was trying to remain calm in deference to Sara, it was apparent to him that the detective was going to make this difficult for him.
"I have no idea, Detective," Ian answered coldly. "I am hardly responsible for what people believe, nor am I responsible for Mr. Irons behavior, just his safety." Sara sat trying to hold her temper, watching the two most important men in her life snipe at each other.
"And how can you look after his safety here, if he isn't with you?"
"I don't presume to tell you how to do your job, Detective, please grant me that same courtesy. I have duties here as well and, as I am sure you are aware, the estate has the best security available."
"Didn't seem to do those two bodies we have downtown any good."
"They were certainly not killed while under my protection." Ian had gone stiff and his eyes were cold with warning. Sara had lost patience with the verbal sparing match, afraid they were about to come to blows. They were circling like a pair of dogs spoiling for a fight, and she was not in the mood. She stood up, catching both of them with her glare.
"Knock it off you two, this is ridiculous," she broke in angrily. "You both know why we are here, and I expect you to act like adults." She fixed her partner with a steely gaze, "Danny, you've been my partner since the academy. And Ian," she looked over to him. "You know our relationship is making this case difficult for me. The least you can both do is to act your age and let us get through this as easily as possible." She turned her back on both of them and started toward the door. Danny watched in shock as Ian rose with amazing speed to intercept her, his concern obvious in his movement.
"Sara, I'm sorry, please."
"Yeah, Partner, I was out of line, let's try this again, ok?" Sara gave them both a black look but returned to the couch.
"All right, Mr. Nottingham, I have to ask you about the circumstances regarding the deaths of two directors of this company." Danny began, starting with the standard questions. Sara sat back and watched as they played nice, working through the list with speed. They were doing pretty well, the simplicity of the interrogation making things a little easier.
As they began to work out the timetable for the last day of the two victims' lives, they were interrupted by the ring of Sara's cell. She nodded for them to continue, figuring that they were finally safe to be left alone, and stepped outside to answer the call.
"Pezzini," she practically barked at the phone, anxious to get it over with. They were doing better but she did not want to leave them alone too long.
"Hey, chief, you called me." Gabriel's cheery voice greeted her.
"Gabriel, I don't have a lot of time at the moment, but I need to talk to you. You free tonight? I think I have a proposition for you."
"Hey, Sara, if you've changed your mind, then."
"Knock it off, I meant a business proposition, don't get any bright ideas."
"Hey, no problem, just kidding. Does this business proposition involve, uh, your little toy? Because last time."
"Yes, and no, I'll let you know tonight, ok?"
"Sure, why don't I bring pizza and you can fill me in, unless you have plans?"
"No, that will work, say 6:30?"
"I'll be there."
Danny and Ian finished the timetable and then sat and looked at each other cautiously. Danny was trying to figure out how to say what he wanted to say to the strange man sitting across from him. Finally as the silence was getting deafening, he decided to just be blunt.
"I don't know what the deal is with you and Sara. But I want make something clear, if you hurt her, I will find a way to kill you. I am not going to let you play her, she doesn't need that."
"Detective Woo, if I ever hurt her, you will not have to, for I will be unable to live with myself." There was true sincerity in his voice, and Danny realized that he actually believed him. In his own way that disconcerted him more than anything else. Sara had said she trusted him with her life, and now he sitting here saying he would give his life for her. This was definitely not her run of the mill relationship. He sort of wished that it was. There was definitely something very intense going on between the two of them and he was not sure whether that was a good thing. He just looked at Ian and nodded, as Sara came back in and returned to her place.
The two of them were sitting there quietly, both looking at her. Since there were no bruises or other signs, she concluded that they must have managed to act like adults during her little absence.
"Ok, what did I miss?" she asked casually.
"Just finished with the schedule. Now for the next bit, thought I would wait for you, partner."
"Ok, then lets get this over with. I am pretty sure that our desks are sinking in more paper by the minute."
"Ok, Mr. Nottingham, now as to your whereabouts on the evening of the 16th of November. Why weren't you present at the meeting, if I may ask?" he continued, getting closer to the heart of the matter.
"I normally would not attend unless necessary or unless it was being held in another location, although it is not unusual for me to be in the house at the time. However on that particular evening I was with a friend," he answered.
"And the name of that friend? I have to ask for the record, sorry."
"Detective Sara Pezzini, I arrived at her home at around five o'clock and did not leave until after midnight." Ian looked at Sara and she nodded confirmation to her partner.
"Yes, she has already told me that. Listen, off the record, I won't bring her into this if at all possible, but if we need it, nice to know."
"Gee, thanks, Danny, talk about me like I'm not here," she said sarcastically. Some of her good humor had returned with the routine of police work, and she was feeling a bit more comfortable. Danny looked at Ian significantly and he gave a small smile in return, male solidarity asserting itself.
"Thank you, Detective Woo, I truly appreciate that. If you need any further assistance, please contact me," Ian said as he rose gracefully from his place. Danny and Sara rose as well. Ian shook hands with Danny, who promptly headed out the door.
"I'll go get those files, Sara, why don't you catch up?" he called over his shoulder as he exited. The minute he left the room, she laughed. Ian gave her a look of surprise.
"He is giving us time to say a private goodbye," she told him.
"Oh, I see," he responded and reached for her hand, she let him, sliding her thumb under his glove. He closed his eyes for a moment, then raised her hand to his lips and kissed her palm.
"I'll see you tonight then, the phone call was from Gabriel, he is going to come by before you get home." she said, walking towards the door with Ian following.
"Very well, hopefully you can convince him to aid us. That would take one worry from your shoulders." He said, continuing to hold her hand in his for a long moment before releasing her.
"I hope so," she said and started to walk out to meet her partner, who was standing at the desk, a knowing smile on his face. As she left she called back over her shoulder to him. "Hey, Ian, see you at home." He looked up at her retreating back as the words warmed him deep into his soul.