"So where is this party?" Logan asked from the back seat of the car.
Eames looked into the rearview mirror. "The Grand Ballroom of the New York City Hotel. Didn't you read the invites?"
"I never even saw them. My partner grabbed them up."
"Because I wasn't about to listen to you weasel your way out of this by claiming to lose your invitation," Barek snapped.
"Well, since this isn't a date, you won't object to me working the room, will you?"
"You are going to get your stupid ass sent back to Staten Island. Just behave yourself, Logan, and don't feel up the commissioner's wife. I don't particularly care for Staten Island."
Goren said, "I'm glad Logan has someone to keep an eye on him."
"Just like you do, right, Goren?" Logan snapped.
"You have no idea."
Eames looked sideways at her partner, but he had turned to look out the window. Even Logan frowned at his response. He had not expected Goren to reply; he had honestly expected Eames to tell him to shut up. Hmmm…what could the big cop have meant by that?
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The four detectives were shown to their table. "Hey, Barek, it pays to show up with Goren and Eames. We're not being seated out on the balcony."
Barek rolled her eyes. "Just behave yourself, Logan, or I'll toss you off the balcony."
Goren nudged Logan. "Let's get the drinks."
They headed toward the bar. Logan glanced back at the women, who had begun talking. "Aren't we going to ask what they want?"
Goren knew exactly what his partner liked so he didn't have to ask. "Use your brain," he said. "She's been your partner for months now. You ought to have some idea what she likes…if you pay any attention to her at all."
Logan opened his mouth to reply, but decided to keep quiet. It would probably be frowned on if a brawl were started tonight. He'd already antagonized Goren quite a bit. "Ok, I'll play it your way. But if she doesn't like what I choose for her, you're going to drink it."
Goren just waved a hand dismissively at him and stepped up to the bar.
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Eames watched the two men walk away before she turned her attention to Barek. She broke the silence between them by asking, "Is Logan difficult to work with?"
"Not as difficult as I've heard your partner is."
"Goren's not difficult. He just…does things his own way. You can't try to force him into being conventional. He works well just the way he is."
"And you?"
"What about me?"
"Come on, Eames. Five years…he's never had a partner last more than four months until you."
"He doesn't scare me, Barek, and he doesn't intimidate me."
"I've heard he walks on the edge."
"Lots of cops do, like your partner for instance. They just walk along a different precipice. Don't believe everything you hear about him."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. They both walk on the edge. It's up to us to keep them from going over, huh?"
"Exactly."
The men returned from the bar. Goren set a drink in front of his partner as Logan handed Barek her drink. "If you don't like it, tell him. I wanted to ask."
Barek suppressed a smile. "Just sit down and try to relax, Logan. The food at these functions is usually great. The company can be a little stiff at first, but things will loosen up."
Eames nodded in agreement. "You get a bunch of cops together and an open bar, and, well…you know how that works."
Logan looked from one woman to the other. "Have you been to one of these before?"
Barek replied, "I've been to a couple."
Eames also nodded. "I come from a family of cops. I've been going to these things all my life."
Logan looked at Goren. "What about you, Goren?"
Goren shrugged. "I've been to one or two."
"So I'm the odd man out, huh?"
Goren looked amused. "There's always a first time."
"Yeah, well, I'll bet if I'd stayed out on Staten Island there wouldn't be."
Barek took a drink. "Well, you belong to Major Case now, so enjoy it."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a smartly dressed man, silver hair cut close to his head in a crew cut. "Well, Major Case…Where's Jimmy?"
The detectives got to their feet to greet the police commissioner. "Hello, Commissioner," Eames was the first to recover from their surprise. "It was the captain's anniversary, so he asked us to represent the squad."
The commissioner slid his arm around a beautiful, stout woman at his side. "This is my wife, Claire. My dear, these officers represent the finest of New York's finest." He turned to Eames, taking her hand in his. "It's a pleasure to see you, Detective Eames. How is your father doing?"
"He's fine, sir. Thank you."
"Give him my best." His gray eyes shifted to the big detective beside her. He held out his hand. "It's good to see you here, Detective Goren. It's been awhile since you've been to any of our functions."
Goren accepted the outstretched hand. "Hello, Commissioner. The captain insisted we come…with his regards."
The commissioner smiled and turned to the two remaining detectives. "Detective Logan," he said, extending his hand toward him.
"Commissioner."
"I hear things are working out for you in your new squad."
"Yes, sir."
"Very good." He looked at Barek, taking her hand in his. "And Detective Barek. The FBI's loss is NYPD's gain. Enjoy yourselves tonight."
And he was gone, off to say hello to another group of cops. He would spend the night being congenial and friendly. A lot of high level police and political figures would be in attendance, and he was all about making connections and being certain they were having a good time. Each precinct and squad was represented tonight, and he was making the rounds early to say hello. He would spend the rest of the night amid the upper echelons of the command staff, leaving the rest of the department in attendance to enjoy themselves.
Logan looked at Goren and Eames. "He seems to know you guys, not that I'm surprised. I guess he would know the COD's golden boy and his partner. Huh?"
Eames' expression didn't change. "He knew you, too, Mike," she said pleasantly. "I guess taking a swing at a councilman on the courthouse steps gains you a bit of notoriety."
Logan opened his mouth to say something, but Barek kicked him. "She's right. Now shut up and don't get yourself noticed tonight, ok?"