Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Cold Case.

A/N: Forgive me for the character of Rodrigo, I watched The Ladykillers right before I wrote this chapter, and so his character is a bit of an AH. Anyway, there's going to be one chapter after this one, and don't go jumping to conclusion's just because of one or two things I wrote in this one. I hop you enjoy it! (I like this chapter!)

Chapter Six
Closer

Lilly didn't know why, but something kept her from waiting an entire day to talk to Rodrigo. The man could have had some clue to this case, and she wasn't going to let Scotty's personal life interfere. It was bad enough that he had a personal involvement in the case and hadn't told anyone, but the fact that it may inhibit the questioning of a suspect made it all worse. No, Lilly was going in at this guy, alone.

She knocked on the door, a little apprehensive about the entire situation. When it swung open to reveal an older gentleman, cane and all, she was slightly taken aback.

"Rodrigo Metora?" she asked. The old man hung his head and sighed.

"I was wondering when somebody would say that name again. I've been going by Calvin Stien for the past six years of my life. Wont you come in?" He held the door open and Lilly took a few steps. When the door shut behind her, she knew there was no turning back.

"If you go by Calvin Stien, why is the name Metora attached to this house?" she asked. The man gestured for her to sit down and joined her on a small couch. The room they were in was neat, completely empty of anything unnecessary for daily living and minimal comfort.

"This is where I grew up, and I inherited this house from my parents. That's why. Now, since you seem to know more about me than I do, why don't you explain why your here," he was kind, more like a Hercule Poirot than a James Moriarty. The sort of man who would solve a crime, not commit one.

"I'm here about the Amaria's, Jose, Marco, and Gwen Amaria were all murdered on the same night ten years ago. Now, I understand that they were investigating-"

"My brother and I, yes. We had quite a criminal record. Jojo is still doing time for our misdeeds, which I am ashamed to admit I had a part in," he wasn't boasting. He seemed genuinely sincere about being sorry. But Lilly wasn't going to let him beguile her with his big words and gentlemanly manner, looks can be deceiving.

"I understand your brother was caught in a bank robbery, but you managed to get away. Now, that's motive," Lilly said. If he confessed, she'd say it was too easy. But if he resisted, she'd say it was perfect.

"That may be motive, but why would I do such a thing? If I murdered them after my brother's arrest, I would merely look all the more guilty than if I waited a few years and killed them mysteriously at a dinner party," he was a genius. Even if he had been a criminal, he was definitely a mastermind. A James Moriarty sort of man.

"Well, maybe because back then you two weren't known for your carefully planned exploits," Lilly retorted. The man gave a bit of a smile, he seemed amused at Lilly's idea of how his criminal enterprises were run.

"That was because I allowed my brother to run the show. Had I been in charge, we would never have gotten caught, and the entire Amaria family would be deceased. And even if they weren't, and you were still poking around, I'd be able to order you popped off in a manner of minutes with no evidence to trace back to me," he set down his cane on a coffee table for a bit of emphasis on his bold statement. Now he was boasting.

"How about you explain to me where rational thought comes in after your brother, and partner in crime, goes down for a bank robbery?" Lilly was a little upset at the man, now. He talked like a gentleman, he looked like a gentleman, but he was too big headed to be anything but a good for nothing criminal.

A smart criminal.

"Well, see, rational though is a very interesting subject. There's also the question of common sense involved. I used my common sense and steered clear of criminal activities for four years. I let everything about this case cool off before I tried anything, and then I got careless. That's why I changed my name," he looked defeated. As if Lilly had sucked the last ounce of ass-hole out of his body.

"So, do you deny any involvement?" Lilly asked. The man nodded, and looked down at his hands. "Then you wouldn't mind coming down to the station and making a statement?"

"No, I wouldn't. I'll go."

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The ball slipped through the hoop and bounced on the court. Jessie grabbed it mid bounce and began to dribble to the free-throw line. She dribbled at her feet and stared the basket down. She took a shot, the ball rolling off of her fingers and flying through the air. It bounced off the rim and fell to the ground, snatched out of the air by a foreign hand.

"I think I owe you a game," Scotty stood under the basket, smiling. It was true, he did owe Jessie a game, he'd promised her one more. He tossed the ball back to her and they both moved up past the three point line. Jessie checked the ball and Scotty bounced it back.

"Let's see if you still have it," Jessie said. She dribbled the ball, smiling. She bounced it behind her back and turned 360 degrees. She shot past Scotty and as she jumped, his hand came up to knock the ball out of her grip. He slipped around and grabbed it, taking it out before shooting. The ball fell through the hoop, and Jessie laughed.

"Looks like I do," Scotty said.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Hey, Chris," Lilly said. Her sister sat in the living room, eating a TV dinner and watching the TV. "How's it going?" Lilly hung up her jacket and Chris glanced over at her. She shrugged and returned her gaze to the Television.

"Same old. Not much changes when you live with your sister and Work in a bar," Chris said. Lilly sighed. Her day hadn't gone too well either. Rodrigo was still denying any knowledge about the Amaria's deaths, and Scotty had come in unexpected. He'd gone a little psycho when he found out that Lilly had questioned Rodrigo without him, and Lilly had tried to explain the problems that could be caused by emotional involvement in a case.

Scotty had appeared to accept that, but he'd left upset. Lilly didn't know where he'd gone, or even if he'd gone anywhere in particular. Probably back to his apartment. Lilly sat down next to her sister and grabbed a carrot out of her TV dinner. They both smiled, but the moment didn't last long.

There was a sharp knock on the door, and Lilly got up to answer it. She opened it to the face of Scotty Valens. He looked like he'd been drinking, or at least like he'd fallen asleep on his arm. He smiled, but it wasn't very convincing.

"Come in," Lilly said. She stepped aside, and Scotty took a few tentative steps. It reminded Lilly of when she had entered the Metora house. She smiled. Scotty took his gloves off and rubbed his hands together.

"Hi, Scotty," Chris had appeared, come to join the party. She was leaning against the wall, smiling. Scotty shot her a smile, a small one. It confused her.

"Lil, can I talk to you. It's about the case, and a few other things," Scotty said. Lilly nodded and he followed her into the kitchen. Lilly sat down at the table, and Scotty leaned against the counter. He set his gloves down and tried to decide where to start.

"Well?" Lilly said. Scotty took a deep breath, and tried his best.

"You said we found him because he lived in the house he inherited, but that he changed his name?" Scotty asked. Lilly nodded. "That sounds a little careless, especially since his drivers license still says that he's Rodrigo Metora."

"So, you think he's the guy?" Lilly asked. Scotty shook his head.

"No, I don't. He's got an alibi that's been confirmed. I just think that he's lying," Scotty said. He knew something, and Lilly needed to find out what.

"So, who are you saying did this? The grandmother," Scotty didn't respond. "Oh, come on, Scotty. She was at home baking cookies!"

"I lived in that neighborhood, Lil. I was there when Jessie showed up. And that woman was the person you went to when you wanted some baked goods. But her light was off that night, Elisa pointed it out to me. We were looking at the stars, and the lights were off. I'm not saying she did it, I'm just saying that she needs a new alibi." Lilly stared at her partner. There was no way to tell if he knew what he was talking about, but he grabbed his gloves and got ready to leave.

"You said there was something else, not case related," Lilly said. Scotty hung his head.

"I've been an idiot. Since Elisa died, I just went looking for love in all the wrong places," Scotty turned around. Lilly had figured out what he meant, and she stood up, he held his hand up to stop her. "Let me explain. I was talking to Jessie, and she already berated me for doing something stupid. I went to Chris because she listened. She gave me a chance to talk, but now I think I made a mistake. The way Jessie put it, I went for one sister because I didn't think I could reach the other."

Outside of the kitchen, laying on the couch, Chris closed her eyes. she had turned the volume on the TV down so that she could hear what they were saying, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to anymore.