The fangirls are getting restless. The case is starting to get bizarre but that's how it came out.

3: CONFRONTATION

After quickly dropping Bikky off at Carol's place, an arrangement Ryo had made with her aunt after Bikky and Carol became inseparable, the detectives headed to the site. Since the M.O. matched the 'Perk' cases, Karen had also been paged. What they saw was a suit, a tie and that same soul-less stare. Only this this time it was right before them and seemed to go right through them.

After the photographer had done his job, Karen placed gloves on her hands out of routine. Slung over her shoulder was a device that reminded Ryo of the tricorder from old Star Trek episodes that Dr. McCoy always carried around. There appeared to be an input device that resembled a microphone that she was passing over the corpse.

She then stood up and walked around in an increasing spiral around the poor wretch, as much as she could within the confines of the alleyway the victim had been found in, the scanner pointing towards the center of the body at all times. All action stopped as the onlookers couldn't help but be mesmerized by the agent's action.

Dee leaned his head towards the ear of his slightly shorter partner and harsely whispered. "What the hell is she doing?"

The lighter-haired detective, not taking his eyes off this bizarre procedure nudged Dee and said, "Shhh. She's obviously concentrating."

When the radius of the circle had reached about 15 feet, Karen stopped and curtly asked the reporting officer in the tone of a statement, "He's been moved, hasn't he?"

A stout officer, who was probably a fixture in the neighborhood, was dumbfounded, "He was late coming home and his wife thought she'd go out and retrace his steps. She found him on the sidewalk. Apparently people though he was a mental case and left him there. She dragged him into the alley to get him off the street. How did you know?"

With terse lips, Karen said, "A slight aberration. I could tell he had been moved but not very far." With that explanation she then withdrew from the limelight, apparently to analyze the 'data' she had gathered and allowed the other officers to begin collecting the physical evidence at the site. They were put off that they were delayed by some 'recent college-grad with a flash-in-the-pan techi device' usurping their jobs.

With all the scrutiny off the activities, the two detectives then turned their attention towards the officer, who was relating the statement he had gathered from the recent widow. "According to his id, his name is George Strassman. Age: 45. Employed by the Lower East Side Financial Group. Address on 8th Street. His wife said he likes to get home as quickly as possible. It looked like the poor guy had a heart attack but she said that's impossible because he's so concerned about his health. But you never know what's gonna take you out."

Apparantly satisfied with the information stored in her recorder, Karen approached the group of men. She held out the packet of Perks that had been bagged and held it up for the gentlemen to see.

Dee noticed some strange markings on the carton. He took the evidence and turning it over in his hands, stared at the intricately designed company logo.

The street-smart investigator was speculating. "Say Ryo, do you remember how Proctor and Gamble were accused of supporting the devil because their logo has 13 stars in it (look it up, you'll see what I mean). Well, I may have been raised Catholic but there were a lot of kids in the neighborhood who were into the occult and used them as gang symbols. This looks vaguely familiar. It helps to know gang symbols to avoid stumbling onto someone's turf."

Amazed, the dark-eyed man acknowledged the uncanny insight from someone everyone else saw as a 'slacker'. "By 'turf', you mean it designates a specific geographic location."

Dee nodded in agreement, "Let me get together with the Gang Task Force and check the database. Maybe they can tell us something about it."

Karen beamed at Dee's suggestion. "Great idea. Let's call it a night, boys. I'll be taking the evidence to forensics and try to tie them in to the other cases since I know you haven't had a chance to read through the details. I hate to say this but we may have to wait for more victims."

Ryo was startled by Karen's blase attitude and snapped. "I thought you said your job was to prevent victims."

Dee was surprised. 'When had she said that.'

All of a sudden she looked haggard and tired, she swayed a little and Ryo felt guilty for thinking she was taking the case lightly. In fact, the case seemed to be taking a personal toll on her. She said, more to herself than to anyone within hearing distance. "Remember, we need to find Bruno."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

After reporting back at the station, filing their report and being told Karen had already left. Ryo offered to drive Dee home, having parked in the underground lot.

Dee pleaded with his puppy-dog eyes. "Please, Ryo. Just let me crash at your place." More often than not when Dee has been staying over at Ryo's place, he was sleeping in Ryo's bed.

Ryo knew it had been a long night and he didn't relish making another stop but he told Dee, "I don't think that's a good idea." as they climbed into the car.

Within the confines of the enclosed space, Dee said as casually as he could, "So Bikky told me you went out on a call last night. Must not of been a big deal if they didn't need both of us."

/silence/ "Yeah. It was a false alarm. Do we have to talk about this now, it's late."

Dee slammed his fist into the side door, "Dammit, Ryo. What are you hiding from me?"

Ryo told him with reluctantance, "I knew Karen when I lived in Japan. She didn't want to be perceived as having a conflict of interest on this case so she acted distant but really she's an old friend. I haven't seen her in a long time and we were just catching up."

Dee bore down. "So why did you blush when I mentioned her?"

/silence/

Ryo said cautiously, "Like I said. We're old friends... and... I'd like to spend more time with her."

There was a hint of despair in Dee's voice. "My worst nightmare is coming true. You fall in love with a woman, get married, have kids and leave me behind. I know it's your life but did you let me kiss you because I was convenient and always throwing myself at you?"

Ryo blurted out. "No! But I need to sort out some unfinished business. I admit, I'm confused, please don't be angry with me but we need to cool it for a while."

Afraid by the tightness Dee felt in his chest. "How long's 'a while'. We're partners. We work together. I thought we were over keeping secrets from each other. I thought we trusted each other."

With downcast eyes. Ryo said in a quiet voice, "I do trust you."

Dee was feeling a growing sense of frustration. Had those years of waiting, watching, being there, telling him a bazillion times that he loved him been for nothing? Had Ryo been ready to give in because he was getting tired of Dee's persistance and just wanted to shut him up until something more 'traditional' showed up?

Opening the car door, Dee said with finality. "Never mind. I'll take a cab." With one foot on the concrete, Dee turned to Ryo and whispered. "I love you." before bounding out and slamming the door shut.

Ryo winced at the violent reaction and whispered in return, "I know."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"I want to see Karen Shu."

The elderly man attending the desk gave the man with the tousled hair and fiery expression an appraising look. "Sir, it is very late and I don't wish to disturb our tenants. Is she expecting you?"

Dee flashed his badge at the doorman. "If you don't tell her I'm coming, I'm going to hijack this elevator because it's a hell of a lot easier than taking the stairs." He then shoved the phone's receiver in his face. "Call her." As he pushed the up button on the elevator.

The doorman, shaken but yielding to authority, called Karen up apologizing for disturbing her. "There is a Mr. Dee Latener who is quite insistant on seeing you." Satisfied with the response on the other end of the line, he turned a ledger towards Dee. "Please sign-in and you may go up." The elevator doors opened up.

As Dee stepped inside, he stated, "You've already got the name."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

As the apartment door opened, a tired voice said with politeness, "Good evening Detective Latener."

She looked so young and vulnerable that Dee felt a pang of guilt. But realizing this was his love he was fighting for he forged ahead. "Sorry it's so late. Call me Dee."

With sly humor, Karen said, "The neighbors are talking about my late-night visitors. And call me Kadee."

Lessening the tension with the small talk, Dee said with surprise, "I thought your name was Karen."

She stepped aside and allowed him to pass, "Kadee is short for Kaede, my Japanese name. Please make yourself comfortable." As she continued. "Kaede Shu. Japanese-Chinese. Translated as Maple Tree. Have a seat. Would you like something to drink."

Dee stammered. "Um, no. I don't intend to stay for long." /pause/ "It's driving me nuts. I've never seen him move towards a girl no matter how hot she is. I get the impression he knew you already."

Kadee chuckled. "I suppose I should be glad to hear he's faithful. But did you call me out because you're jealous? Am I the one you should be talking to?"

Dee confessed. "He won't tall me anything. He wants to cool things off for a while and I don't know why."

She sighed. "Yeah, well Ryo and I were lovers."

The news hit him like a ton of bricks. His worst fears were realized.

Kadee went on to explain, realizing this was the best way to diffuse the tense personal currents underlying their assignment. "His parents were studying Asian Art at the local museums. He attended an International School in a different district so his studies wouldn't be hindered by language barriers so he didn't interact with a lot of the neighborhood kids, plus, he couldn't help standing out with his looks. I was kind of the girl-next-door. I would watch him practice his martial arts, he would teach me what he learned and I became his spotter. Since his parents were art dealers they mixed in rather high social circles. Ryo was to make his debut in New York when he turned eighteen. He learned which fork to use and took dance lessons and I was often his practice partner."

"As the day came closer for him to leave Japan, we realized we had strong feelings for each other. Then the hormones kicked in. Oh we weren't stupid about it, we knew about safe sex but we also knew we were too young to make promises but... we also believed we had something to build a future on."

"We had been corresponding with each other. I was making plans to study in the US when my letters started coming back to me."

She interrupted her narrative to ask him a question. "You know what happened to Ryo's parents?"

Recalled to the conversation as he was absorbing this new information he said absent-mindedly, "Yeah. They were accidentally killed by a drug cartel."

She nodded in acknowledgement. "His family had disowned him due to the circumstances of his parents' murders. I found out he was living with his Aunt Elena. She and her husband were often on location because of their jobs. They were away almost as often as Ryo's parents but they always made an effort to get together for Christmas as a family.

"I probably shouldn't be telling you this. This kind of information should come from him but he may be ashamed to admit it. He had fallen into a deep depression by New Year's and was hospitalized for six months. His aunt gave him my letters but she couldn't promise that he would write back. He told her he wanted to forget that time when he was happy."

Her voice grew quieter, either through fatigure or through painful emotions. "And then my own life got in the way."

"If he wrote to me or tried to find me, I had no way of knowing."

"I couldn't be there for him."

"When I could, I traced Ryo's movements. Everything he did was a driven by his lack of closure. I followed his career but never tried to contact him. I wasn't in any position to do so. And it hurt because I knew he was alone."

She then turned her attention to the man sitting beside her. Returning to the present and taking in his intense gaze. "Those signals you send each other when your eyes meet his. The way he lights up when you enter the room. The appreciative glances you send his way. It was obvious the way you interacted at the deli that you two were at total ease with each other. A girl notices these things. With you, he's no longer alone. With you, you've allowed him to trust in love again."

With enthusiasm that gave her a second wind she said, "The Ryo I see today reminds me of when we were kids. It was a time when he was happy and so was I and I think he sees the same thing because he senses it in me. But he cares for you a great deal and doesn't want to hurt you."

Kadee then gave her own confession. "I know I can't stay with him but I'm selfish. I love him. I want to be with him. If he feels the same way, would you feel...betrayed?"

Loosening the muscles in his throat, Dee said in earnestness. "Damn right I would! He's with me now. I'll never lose him to another guy. Well, I won't lose him to anyone. He may want to be with you because of the past but I'll never let him forget I'm here, now, in the present. And if you hurt him, I swear I'll come after you. If you love him you would stay with him or you would let him go to love another. I love him so much I would let him go if it made him happy and you tell me to my face you're selfish? It's been 10 years, dammit! Why come back after all this time. You were dead to him and he has moved on."

With a weariness she could no longer suppress but that unquenchable fire in her eyes, she said, "I have a job to do. I told you if Bruno was dead I wouldn't be here."

They stared down at each other but with an understanding. The lines had been drawn.

Kadee arose from the couch. "I hope your curiosity has been somewhat satisfied Detective Latener."

Dee, likewise, prepared to leave. "Thank you for your time, Miss Shu."

The door closed between them and Kadee heard Dee slam the door to the emergency exit, not bothering to wait for the elevator.

Damnit.

Shit.

Their sentiments echoed each other.

TBC.