Beauty Can Be Deadly
Chapter 5
Steve walked into the precinct the next morning and couldn't help but notice the glances that then dissolved into whispered conversations that were accompanied by laughter. Ok, something is up. He rounded the corner and headed towards his desk. He got no further than a few steps when he stopped dead in his tracks. No, his mind screamed. There on his desk in a beautiful gold tone birdcage were a pair of lovebirds. The cage was liberally decorated with red roses. He forced his sluggish feet to move forward and that's when he saw the bottle of wine with two wine glasses attached. On the far side of the cage that he couldn't see from the door, a ribbon with writing had been interweaved through the bars of the cage. Its message caused a flush to spread from Steve's neck up to his face. 'Some wine to toast our true love, the love birds represent the perfect couple we will make.' Steve nearly gagged. Who is this woman? Does she write for a soap opera? He heard a snicker behind him and turned to find Jesse peering around him.
"What are you doing here?" Steve questioned.
"Uh, Cheryl called and said she needed some medical advice," Jesse responded with a grin.
"Yeah right," Steve responded gruffly. He scanned the room to find that everyone was trying to look busy. He finally spotted his partner leaning against the wall next to the coffee machine. She had a smug smile on her face. He moved towards her accompanied by his slightly shorter shadow. "Cheryl," he greeted calmly.
"Steve," she greeted with a serene smile on her face.
"Indulging in a little payback?" he asked.
"Why I have no idea what you mean," she responded innocently.
"Oh please you weren't happy with what happened yesterday, so this is your way to get back at me," Steve responded.
"What happened yesterday?" Jesse inquired.
He received two responses the first from Steve, the next from Cheryl.
"None of your business," Steve responded.
"I'll tell you later," Cheryl said.
Jesse moved to Steve's desk to inspect his newest gift. "Are you going to keep the birds?" he asked.
At Steve's threatening look he held his hands up. "Hey, I'm just asking a question."
"Don't you have patients to see? If you have this much free time I can put you down for more hours at Bob's," Steve barked at him.
"Gee, correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think I work for you at Bob's. As best I can recall we are equal partners. So if I have time for more hours I can schedule them myself," Jesse responded. "I do need to get back to the hospital though I have patients in extreme pain that are more fun to be around then you are, Steve. Cheryl, I'll call you later about your 'medical advice'," he said with a wicked grin as he exited the room.
Cheryl arched one eyebrow and contemplated her disgruntled partner. "Are you going to be grouchy all day?" she inquired.
He was prevented from responding by the arrival of Lt. Katie Burns. She wasn't able to stop the laughter that erupted from her lips. "Oh, this is priceless," she exclaimed gleefully. "Your mystery woman or women sent you lovebirds. She either has a really great sense of humor or has read too many romance novels." Steve once again was prevented by responding when one of his fellow homicide detectives called his name.
"Hey, Sloan, the pet store called and said the birds like privacy and mood music."
Cheryl, sensing the impending explosion, grabbed her partner by the arm and tried to drag him from the room. The arm tensed and felt like a rock beneath her grip. She looked up to see that it mirrored the stone like expression on his face. She gave up trying to move him and instead sidled up close to him. "Steve, they don't mean any harm. If it was happening to someone else you would be joining in on the teasing." She felt the tense muscles under her hand relax slightly.
Steve contemplated his partner. She wore a slightly worried expression. He looked up at the other faces in the room. She was right, they were all good people and if the shoe was on the other foot he would join in the teasing. He allowed a grin to grace his features and addressed the group. "I'm sorry everyone. I seem to have lost my sense of humor. Anybody want some birds?" he asked in an effort to lighten the tension.
The slight joke served its purpose and relieved the tension in the room. Everyone shared a laugh and went back to work.
Cheryl breathed deeply. That was close, she said to herself. "Steve, Amanda called before you got here and confirmed her speculations from yesterday."
"The lab also feels that this was murder. They are still working with the eyelash. The finger bruises on the victim's shoulder appear to belong to a female," Katie Burns informed them.
"Well, I guess I better head on over there and get ready for the evening gown competition," Steve informed them. "You coming with me?" he asked Cheryl.
Cheryl stood contemplating the tall man in front of her for a moment. She didn't know if she wanted to witness more examples of these women fawning over him. In the end, duty won out over discomfort, and if there was a murderer on the lose she needed to have his back. "Sure, just let me grab my purse," she responded.
Steve turned to Katie Burns. "Lt. Burns, hopefully I won't have any reason to see you anymore today. If you come up with any details on either murder you'll call me?"
"Of course, and I likewise hope not to see you anymore today. I would like to get home at a decent hour tonight," she responded.
Steve moved to join his partner and they headed out of the precinct.
~~****~~
Once again Steve was involved in a mind numbing process. He didn't know they made that many styles of evening dresses. He heard a slight rumbling to his left and realized that his hearing aid wearing buddy had drifted off to sleep and was snoring softly. If only I could be so lucky, Steve thought. Only three more girls and then I'm done till the night of the pageant, just hang on. Gratefully, the last three women made their appearances and Steve made his choice. He noticed one of the contestants making her way down the row of judges. She was stopping at each one and asking them to sign something. He couldn't remember her name only the fact that he had caught her staring at him on several occasions. She had reached the teeth clicker beside him and he listened as she explained what she was doing.
"I'm collecting signatures on these letters to encourage the pageant organizers to host a pageant each year. It has been such fun, and is for such a great cause. I am asking people to sign these letters individually so that I will be able to hand them a large stack of letters rather than a petition," she completed with a smile. With another signature secured she moved towards Steve.
My turn, let's make this quick, Steve thought. "Hi, I'd be glad to sign," he responded without giving her time to say anything.
She was slightly taken aback but covered her shock with a brilliant smile. "Why thank you, Lt. Sloan, I knew I could count on you."
She then moved off and Steve got back to the business at hand. He talked briefly with some of the other judges then began to survey the room looking for Cheryl. He spotted her over in the far corner of the room chatting with a security guard. She looked up and saw him watching. He motioned for her to join him. Cheryl said her goodbyes and crossed the room to join the partner.
As she got close to him, Steve leaned down and whispered. "Let's get out of here before somebody gets killed. How about some lunch?"
In spite of herself Chery,l felt herself melting. Her face flushed. Alright Banks what are you? Some teenage girl with a crush? Straighten up, she told herself. "Sure, but I get to pick," was her response.
Bowing stiffly at the waist and using a truly dreadful British accent Steve responded, "As you wish."
Cheryl laughed. "You can't think up lines on your own? You have to steal them from 'The Princess Bride'." You really are a piece of work, Sloan. Let's go eat.
They walked out of the auditorium in companionable laughter.
~~****~~
Steve peeked over the top of his menu at the woman on the other side of the table. She was staring intently at the lunch items and was completely unaware of his perusal or so he thought.
Cheryl was well aware of the blue eyes that glinted above the menu. Those eyes would be so easy to get lost in, she thought. She shook herself mentally. "What are you going to get?"
Steve didn't immediately respond. What I want isn't on the menu, was his thought. "I think I'll have burger," was his verbal response.
"A burger, now there's a shocker," Cheryl responded.
They both laughed and were preparing to order when Steve's phone rang. "Sloan, here," he answered. "You're kidding?" he responded in a disbelieving tone. "Ok, we'll be there in 15 minutes." He closed his phone and glanced up to find Cheryl looking at him expectantly. "That was the Captain. Another one of the contestants has been found dead."
Her disbelieving look said more than any words.
