Natasha watched as Goren approached the body, squatted down, and began to pry open the victim's hand. "There's a note in her left hand," he said, extracting it from the body's grip.
"'Mike did it,'" heread curiously. He looked at Alex.
"Excellent," said Eames, rubbing her hands together. "If only they were all that easy. How about that for a first case for you," she said, nudging Natasha in the shoulder.
She turned to Alex and whispered, "Does he always do that?"
"You should see it when he sniffs them." Alex was totally amused by this. Natasha looked only a little frightened.
"Ok…" she said.
Bobby Goren sprung himself back up out of his squat and said, "Her wallet and cell phone where still in her purse. We've got her mother's phone number."
"Time to find out who and where Mike is," Eames said.
Natasha felt like a total outsider. She might as well have been on the other side of the crime scene tape. The understood everything Goren and Eames were talking about, but hell if she knew what was the motivation behind the way they handled it. She supposed she would understand it in time. Perhaps once she had a partner she would feel just as 'in the loop.' I don't know, Natasha thought to herself, they're awfully close.
Alex stepped away with her cell phone and the victims wallet. Bobby walked up to Natasha. "Why don't you take a look," he said calmly.
Natasha nodded and calmly walked up to the body and tentatively squatted down and examined it. "Victim was shot execution style in the back of the head… no signs of being bound or tortured… she just stood there and let him do it?" she asked, looking up at Bobby.
"You'd be amazed what you'll do when you've got a gun to your head," he said sagely.
"This is really that simple?" she asked.
"Looks that way," said Alex as she stepped back. "Mom said Mike was the victim's boyfriend. I told her we'd be over there to interview her in an hour or so."
"You've got a doctor's appointment. We'll drop you off and go interview her," Bobby said.
"Thanks, daddy," she said sarcastically.
"You're welcome," he said simply before turning back to the body.
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"Mrs. Ludwig, how long has Anika known Mike Noon?" Natasha asked.
"They started dating a year ago," she sniffed in reply.
"Was he ever violent with her?"
"Never, but…"
"But what?"
"He found out that Anika had an affair… he swore he'd kill her." She broke down crying. Natasha gave Goren a furtive look.
"So," said Bobby, "was he possessive of her in any way? Even though he was never violent with her?"
"I don't really know. I hardly ever saw them. They seemed so in love…"
"Then how did you find out about the threat?" Natasha asked a little suspiciously. She would have to tone down her blatant curiosity in the future…
"She called me and told me. She was so upset. So she came over- we ate ice cream, had a girls night out." She smiled through her tears.
"Mrs. Ludwig, the nature of you daughter's death- the note in particular- indicates that Anika might have actually come to terms with her death."
"The god thing," Natasha added quickly, "is that she identified her killer, and we can prosecute him."
"I want him to pay for killing my little girl," she said defiantly.
"Do you know where we can find him?" Bobby asked.
"They shared an apartment in Queens. I'll write down the address."
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Alex and Natasha stood at the door of Mike Noon; Goren was standing behind them. Alex knocked on the door and a gruff young-looking man answered it. "Yes?" he said.
"Are you Mike Noon?" Alex asked. She sounded a little intimidating for a pregnant woman.
"We have some questions about Anika Ludwig."
"Why? Bitch turn up dead?"
"It sounds like you were there, Mike," Anika said.
"Maybe I was."
"Music to my ears," Alex said as she pulled out her handcuffs…
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"Good work guys," Said Deakins. "I hear Noon confessed in record time- and Detective Larking here did all the dirty work." Natasha smiled.
"How did we wind up with this one?" Alex asked.
"Hot Zone of the Month."
"Ah… well, I'm going home. Doctor says I need sleep."
"I say you need sleep," Bobby chimed.
"I'll try to have a better case for you next time," Deakins said with a smile.
"Can't wait," Alex said, gathering her things.
"See you tomorrow Natasha," Bobby said as he followed Alex towards the elevator.
"Bye!" She waved at them. Not bad for a first day of work; totally crazy, but not bad…
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Apartment of Alex Eames"What's up, Bobby?" Alex asked, wrapping her arms around him from behind.
"I wish I could have talked to Noon more… find out why Anika faced her death the way she did."
"Maybe you can talk to him in prison on you day off," she said supportively.
"Yah, I guess… there's always more…"
"Sorry you didn't get to play," she said in a kid-like voice.
"I don't get to play?" he asked, grabbing her arms and pulling her around in front of him before lifting her off of her feet, planting a raspberry on her pregnant belly, and carrying her off towards the bedroom…