Disclaimer- I promise I didn't buy them while you weren't looking.

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OCTOBER 17, 2003

Becca was just finishing her warm-up when her cell phone rang. She snatched it up from the bench where she'd dropped her things, and answered.

"Swann. This had better be good." She growled.

"You know Bec, most people can't tell the difference between regular and decaf." Ben teased.

"It's now legal to kill morning people, Wyke. You're cutting into my work out time, whaddaya want?"

Damn man knew how much she hated to miss a workout.

"No time to punch the bag this morning, Becca. We've got a partially nude body floating in the fountain at Duboce Park." Ben told her.

"On my way. Meet you there in twenty." Becca hung up pulling her jeans on over the unitard and grabbing her jacket as she headed out the door.

Eighteen minutes later, she pulled up at the park, and climbed out of her car as Wyke walked up the trail.

"How'd you know I was here already?" Becca asked as they turned together to walk to the scene.

"I could hear that bomb of yours a mile away. Hell, Swann, when you gonna get a real car?" Ben grinned down at her.

"You mean like that granny sedan of yours? Get real; the '68 Shelby Cobra is a primo example of American heavy metal. Face it, Wyke, my car has balls and you can't stand it."

"Jeez, Becca, why do you have to be such a guy? Aren't you ever feminine?"

"I can see me chasing down a perp in Prada pumps and a Ballenciaga." She snorted. "I'm no lipstick, Ben."

"You'd like everyone to think you're a dyke? Why is that? Scared some guy'll get close?" Ben loved to analyze her quirks.

"Just giving you a thrill, partner. I know how boring your life is." Becca spotted the taped off scene ahead and suddenly, playtime was over. "What've we got?" Her game face was on now.

Ben put out a hand to stop her. Just out of earshot was a crowd of people at the other end of the fountain.

"It's a kid, Becca." He warned her.

"Shit! Thanks for the heads up, Ben. I'm good." Becca took a deep breath.

It was bad enough when the victims were adults, but the kids haunted her dreams. She was going to be tenacious until they caught the perp, and if he didn't confess, she'd help him.

The victim floated face down in the fountain, clad only in a shirt. Becca looked over at the crime scene photographer. "You got all you need?" When she nodded, Becca told the ME's to bring him out.

They lifted the kid and laid him face up on the body bag. Everyone flinched as they caught sight of the kid's crotch. There was a bloody hole where his genitals should have been.

Becca stepped over and checked the body. He was a brunette about eight or nine. The shirt looked new and she reached a gloved hand out to check the tag.

"Ben, we got any missing kid alerts? I'm betting this one's been reported. He's wearing good stuff here, definitely not discount store crap."

The two detectives continued looking over the body, noting the bruises on the wrists and ankles. Ben leaned over and touched her hand, Becca raised an eyebrow to ask if he was done and he nodded.

"You can take him now." Becca told the ME's, and stood, pulling her gloves off.

"We got some luck on this one; guy from Airport Division found the body. He was out for his morning jog, called it in, and secured the scene." Ben told her. "He's over there. Kid's only been on the job six months."

Wyke pointed over to a group of uniforms standing with a guy in gray sweats.

"Did the uniforms turn up anything on area search?" Becca asked as they headed over to the reporting cop.

"Not even a pile of dog crap." Ben said.

"Well hell, just another beautiful day in the city by the bay." Becca groused. "Let's get the guy's statement, maybe he spotted something or someone."

After interviewing the very shaken young cop who'd found the body, Becca and Ben headed back to their cars. When the public bathroom came into view Becca stopped. "Gimme a minute." She said, and ducked into the john.

When she came out a few minutes later wiping her face, Ben was still waiting.

"Well there went my coffee. That girly enough for you, Ben? Delicate little lady blows chunks over a corpse."

"Come on, partner, I have trouble holding my cookies when it comes to the kids. Doesn't make you weak, just human." Ben put an arm over her shoulder. "Let's go write this up and grab a bagel while we wait for the ME."

"At least you manage to hold yours. I toss over every kid." Becca sighed.

"Cheer up, Bec, you only lose it the first time you see the corpse. At least it's over this time." Ben reminded her.

"Yeah Ben, but I getting real sick of there being a next time." She dug her keys out of her pocket. "Why can't the sickos at least confine themselves to adults?"

"You say that every time, Becca. You know you can't let it get to you." Ben looked at her. "When do you see your shrink again?"

"Thursday, but I'll call her when I get to the office, Mother." Becca grinned at him. "You want to get somebody started on the missing kid alerts or shall I?" She asked as they reached her car.

"I'll get it, you get the bagels and coffee." Ben said.

"You already owe me for two years worth, when you gonna pay up?" Becca ragged him.

"Hey, I always buy dinner." Ben protested.

"Yeah, well, next time it's steak, not a greasy spoon." Becca swung into her car and cranked it. "See you at the house, old man."