Love is an excuse for its own faults

Sunday 21st May 13:15

"Detective Sloan?" the man enquired extending a hand towards Steve, "I'm Alex Simmons, let's go through to my office." Moments later Steve was seated in a very cramped and cluttered little room, which he noticed, had no source of natural light.

"I see you were reading some of our literature out there" Alex Simmons began before Steve could speak. "I'm sure you know enough about me already to know I was in a real bad way due to drugs for a long time. This place, this scheme, is my way of helping others who are in that situation." The sales pitch was over and Alex leant back in his chair. From the photos he'd seen of Max, the two brothers were quite similar looking, and because of that Steve automatically analysed Alex's features trying to work out if Luis would resemble him in thirty years time.

"I'm sorry to hear about your brother's death, and to disturb you on a Sunday" Steve began and Alex stared straight into Steve's eyes.

"Detective Sloan, as I said, I'm in no doubt that you did a lot of research on me before you came here today. You know that Max and I had a falling out, a big one, and that while things between us were….let's say OK on the surface there was still a little tension between us. Let me tell you something" he began. "My brother was a successful guy, and I'm not just talking fame here, ever since we were kids he was well liked by everybody. I'm one of life's drifters, do you know what I mean?" Steve replied with a non-committal nod. Alex pointed to a photo on his desk "my wife and daughters, they are my focus now, but for many years I had nothing, not like Max. It's hard you know, to grow up with this big brother who everybody compares you to."

Steve thought of his own younger sibling Carol, and a shudder ran down his spine. Simmons continued, "Worst of all, I let him down. I wanted to make him proud, but he never understood how hard it was for me living in his shadow. I went off the rails and that was my fault and nobody else's, and Max stood by me through that. But he stood by me purely out of duty as a brother, not because he sympathised with me and you have to understand that. So when I set up this place, there was no money in his pocket to help me out. Max never understood drugs, never had time for those who abuse themselves like that and he just didn't want to be associated with this kind of place. That was his choice but at the time I admit I was pretty angry with him for coming over so high and mighty, deciding who's worthy of his mercy and who's not. But look at this place now, we are doing really well and all without his help, that makes it even sweeter."

Realising the anger in his voice and the look of suspicion on Steve's face Alex blew a short breath and continued. "I had no reason to hurt Max, I know for a fact he didn't leave a cent to me in his will. He said he'd leave something for my kids and I told him that was his choice but if he didn't want his money spent on this project then he'd better not give it to me. This place and my family are all I have and all I believe in and I wouldn't jeopardise any of that for all the money in the world." He folded his arms defiantly over his chest.

"Maybe Max wasn't killed for money" Steve suggested, "maybe somebody had an old score to settle with him."

Alex smiled at Steve's non-too subtle remark. "Detective Sloan, I told you that Max upset me and there were certain things we never resolved. I never lived up to my brothers expectations and there was ill feeling between us but he was my brother and I loved him" he declared. Leaning forward over the desk his eyes bored into Steve's "I loved Max and there won't be a day goes by that I won't kick myself over the fact that he died before we got to be true friends again." Steve felt his throat tighten as his head again began to swim with images of his dead sister.

Sunday 21st May 17:46

"Do you have any news?" Corrine Simmons asked anxiously as Steve again found himself in the luxurious lounge room.

"Only more questions I'm afraid," he informed her. "Mrs Simmons, can you tell me about Matthew Green please?" he asked cutting straight to the chase.

Corrine looked briefly shocked, but her face soon fell into a well-rehearsed smile. "Who told you about Matthew?" she asked "was it Lexie, would you believe she had the biggest crush on him?" 'Yes I Would' Steve's brain screamed as he tried to keep his face impassive. Corrine chuckled "Oh, I know who, that air-head of a receptionist at the office, the girl spends all day gossiping while the phone rings off the hook."

Steve smiled and tried to steer the conversation once more "If you could just tell me about Mr Green please" he asked again more firmly.

Corrine relaxed back into chair "Matthew was something in the office at SKE" she began casually, "executive something or other, but to tell the truth I don't know what he did for a living, I just know that he was a great guy and we spent a few months together having fun."

"Did Max know about him?"

"I told you yesterday detective, Max always knew, maybe not the details but he was a smart guy and I'm sure there was office gossip. So yes Detective, Max knew about me and Matthew."

"How did the relationship start?"

"SKE function, we got talking, then we got to more than talking, as I say, we had fun."

"And when did it end?" Steve asked.

Corrine thought for a second "about a month ago I guess. I was telling you the truth when I said that I have no…involvements at the moment."

"Why did your involvement with Matthew Green come to an end?"

She shrugged, "It stopped being fun."

Steve wasn't buying that as an answer and pressed her again "It was fun then it wasn't? I've been very patient with you Mrs Simmons, please don't test my patience now."

Corrine Simmons examined her well-manicured nails as she filled in some of the gaps. "Matthew Green was…I guess you could say a little green," she giggled. "He got clingy, serious, talked about us setting up home together." She looked Steve straight in the eye. "I have a home Detective Sloan, and I had a loving husband who was also a great father. Why would I give that up? I'd never have left Max, we have two children together and though you find this hard to accept, I loved him dearly." She saw the disbelieving look on Steve's face and pressed the point home. "Our marriage may not have been conventional but it worked for us, Max and I were very happy with our lifestyle. Now if you have no further questions Detective I'll ask you to leave. I'm expecting three hundred guests in less than two days, and I still have countless arrangements to make for the funeral."

But Steve did have another question "when did you last see Matthew Green?"

"Not since the night I told him it was over, about a month ago" she replied frostily.

"Do you know where he is now?" Steve continued.

"No, I suggest you try SKE"

"I already did" Steve informed her and noticed how this information grabbed her attention. "Matthew Green hasn't been seen there since the day of Max's death."

It took Corrine a while to digest this news. "In that case, Detective, I don't know where he is, but it seems you should try to find him."

Sunday 21st May 19:23

"I was just about to come looking for you" Cheryl chirped as Steve walked into her apartment.

He slid his arms around her waist and lifted her from the floor. "Well here I am," he declared, kissing her quickly and standing her back down. "Something smells great" he enthused as he headed to the kitchen and lifted the lid from a pan. Cheryl slapped his hand and he replaced the lid. "Good day?" he asked.

"Oh, the kind of action packed day I joined the force for" she replied sarcastically. "You know, a morning spent catching up on paperwork and an afternoon sat waiting outside a courtroom. Days like this I think I'm going to die from boredom. Dinner will be a while," she added glumly.

"Hey, you can't be out there doing your wonder-woman routine every day" he reminded her. Taking both of her hands in his Steve began dragging her towards the lounge. Flopping backwards onto the couch he pulled Cheryl down on top of him.

She smiled, "What do you think you're doing?"

"While whatever that beautiful smelling stuff is bubbles and boils, I thought we could….simmer" he grinned running his hands up and down her back.

"That sounds good but…"

Cheryl's protest was in vain as Steve pressed his fingers to her lips "you won't get bored" he promised and kissed her tenderly. Just as she began to respond a rap on the door made Cheryl look up, but Steve covered her ears with his hands and tried to kiss her again. She pushed herself free of his grasp and stood,

"Ignore it" Steve pleaded in a whisper reaching out to grab her hand "they'll go away."

But he was too slow, and as Cheryl skipped over and opened the door Steve recognised the voice which asked "I'm not too early am I, are the others here yet?"

"Not yet, come in, make yourself at home" Cheryl replied and from where he lay slumped on the couch Steve watched his father hand Cheryl his coat. Mark shot a worried glance at his son,

"Are you OK?" he asked anxiously and Steve tried to hide his frustration.

"I'm fine dad, I'm just…." he looked at Cheryl who was obviously enjoying his embarrassment "I'm just afraid I'll die of boredom."

A look of confusion crossed Marks face but he didn't voice it. Cheryl returned to the kitchen as father and son began to chat.

Sunday 21st May 20:32

"Alex Simmons told you about Matthew Green?" Amanda asked Steve.

"He found out from Lexie who, it seems, finds her Uncle's wild past very exciting. She calls him regularly and spills the family beans. For his part Uncle Alex is worried that Green may have developed a …..well, let's say an unhealthy interest in young Lexie."

"And Green's gone" Cheryl added.

"According to the receptionist at SKE he was in the office and acting very agitated the morning of Max's death. He's not been seen at the office since and they can't raise him on his cell phone."

"Why didn't Kent or Emerson mention this to you when you interviewed them?" Amanda asked and Steve shrugged in reply.

"Could be that the receptionists idea of 'agitated' is different to theirs, or that they are so high up in the food chain that they are out of touch with what goes on lower down in the ranks." Cheryl suggested.

"Well, I'll be heading back to SKE tomorrow to talk to Kent and Emerson, driving up to see Alex Simmons just ate a chunk out of my day today" he griped.

"So Matthew Green has got to be a suspect right?" Jesse enthused.

"Until I learn more, he certainly is" Steve replied "we put out an APB on him this afternoon so hopefully we'll find him before too long."

Steve collected the last of the plates and carried them to the kitchen as Cheryl started dishing up dessert, "what was this in aid of?" he asked quietly, nodding towards the table where his father, Amanda and Jesse sat.

"I got home this afternoon and I just thought, 'why not'," Cheryl explained. "We impose on your father enough, usually with no notice at all, I just thought it would be nice to have everybody over here for a change. And another thing…."

"Hungry people through here" Jesse yelled from the lounge.

"Jesse!" Amanda scolded. Steve picked up an apple, appeared in the doorway and hurled it at his young friend. He didn't wait to see how good his aim was.

"The other thing?" Steve asked turning back to Cheryl,

"Your friends have never been to my apartment, and now that you spend so much time here I just wanted to…." she shrugged.

"Show them it isn't a den of iniquity?" Steve whispered and Cheryl punched him on the arm.

"I wanted them to know that they are welcome here" she paused "I wanted you to know that it's OK to invite people over, that this place is yours too now."

Steve took the bowl that Cheryl was holding and placed it back down on the counter. "Thank you, but you may live to regret opening your doors to this bunch" he whispered and cupping her face in his hands he pressed his lips to hers.

"Need a hand?" Mark asked as he entered the kitchen "Guess not" he answered himself as he turned on his heel and returned to the lounge. "Desert may be a moment," he explained to Amanda and Jesse.

As Steve pulled away from Cheryl she confessed "I think I regret it already". They picked up the bowls and rejoined their guests.

Sunday 21st May 22:20

"Night son, night Cheryl" Mark called as he crossed the road to his car. Steve waited until his father pulled away then closed the front door and locked it. Cheryl headed towards the kitchen and started tidying as Steve followed in behind her.

"And what do you think you are doing?" he demanded.

"Clearing up this mess"

"Not tonight" he informed her removing the cloth from her hands. Cheryl stood with her back to him, and Steve reached around her waist pressing his mouth to her ear. "I'll do it tomorrow" he whispered and began planting kisses on her neck. Slowly she turned around into his embrace.

"Do you think it went OK?" she asked sheepishly.

Steve looked up, laughed and squeezed her tightly "Of course, the food was great" he reassured her.

"But do you think they like me?" she continued.

"How could they not like you?" he asked in amazement "you're intelligent and beautiful and funny" he assured her, punctuating each quality with a kiss.

"Carry on" she instructed him laughing,

"Amanda doesn't have to set me up with her single friends anymore, Jesse doesn't have to worry about me trying to steal his dates and dad sees the possibility of getting his house to himself." This time Cheryl punctuated each reason with a playful slap. "Now leave this mess and come with me," Steve commanded, shuffling backwards whilst still embracing her firmly.

"What do you have in mind Sloan?" Cheryl cooed between kisses.

"Well" he paused "I'm not saying you dinner party was boring," Cheryl glared up at him and he beamed back down at her "but I think your day could still use a little bit of action."