Author's Note: This chapter is intended mainly as a "catch-up" for anyone who hasn't read the Bobby and Sienna series so far. This is basically everything that happened prior to Bulletproof Armour, which I'll be posting in the extremely near future. If you've read this far, you can probably skip the next chapter. The titles in square brackets are the titles of the fics in which the events described occurred. (For reference, "Army Fatigues" was set in the summer of 2002, between Criminal Intent seasons one and two. "Bulletproof Armour" is set in summer 2005, after the end of season four.)

Don't worry if you're not sure who the narrator here is, or who the two individuals in the previous chapter were. All will be revealed in the fullness of time. Onward!

From: anne.price the guardian .co .uk

To: acuriousman refusingtobeacynicalgoon .org

Date: 20th August 2010

Jack

Any thoughts on that book yet? I need to speak to the publisher next week .

Anne.

From: acuriousman refusingtobeacynicalgoon. org

To: anne. price theguardian. co. uk

Date: 26th August 2010

Subject: Summer 2005 – City of London stadium.

Dear Anne

I've considered your proposal to write a book about what happened in summer 2005 long and hard, and – not to beat around the bush any longer – yes, I'll do it. If nothing else, it makes a fascinating story. After all, I was there for most of it, and indeed played a role in it myself instead of being a mere observer… something I intend never to repeat, I might add. The events at the City of London stadium three years ago… well. I don't think I will ever be so scared again in all my life. I sincerely hope not.

You've asked for some background information so that you can begin planning an outline. Background information on what actually happened is sufficiently sensitive, even after five years, that I'd rather not discuss it except in person. Background information on the individuals involved, however, I can provide here, by email.

Our story begins, therefore, in summer 2002, when Detective Bobby Goren of the NYPD's Major Case Squad found himself seconded to a surveillance operation on the east coast, north of New York, along with two CIA agents, a British intelligence officer, Andrew Davenport, and two individuals from Interpol's Eastern European and Russian division; Lieutenant Tim Whitefield and a young translating officer, Sienna Tovitz ('Army Fatigues'). At that time, he was 41 and had been working for the NYPD since leaving his career as an Army Intelligence Officer. She was 26, living in the Ukraine and working for Interpol as a translator whilst dreaming of bigger things. (Half-Russian, half-American, she had traded on her gift for languages so far, but was considering a career move into the planning and strategy aspect of intelligence work.)

Exactly how that operation turned out is also sufficiently sensitive that I can't relate it here. Suffice it to say that it was during that day and night that Bobby Goren and Sienna Tovitz discovered a very strong mutual attraction to each other and… acted on it, let's say. ('Primitive Female', 'Primitive Male').

Not long after that, Lieutenant Tim Whitefield was offered a new post in New York as the head of the newly-created Interpol Foreign Serious and Organised Crime Squad, intended to tackle crime arising from the activities of the Russian and Eastern European mafias in New York. As his protégé, Sienna Tovitz came with him to work as a senior translator within the division, and was instrumental herself in helping to set it up. She and Bobby Goren renewed their acquaintance on her first visit to New York, one month after the surveillance operation where they first met. It was around this time that Sienna first met Bobby Goren's partner, Detective Alex Eames ('I'll Meet You in the Bathroom in Five', 'Silver on Black').

After around four months of travelling between the two countries helping to set up the new division, Sienna Tovitz eventually moved permanently to New York. She and Bobby Goren continued their relationship, to the point that she moved in with him, and all seemed set fair for their future… ('Perfect End to an Awful Day', 'Bobby Goren and the Irresistible Book').

Unfortunately, things did not work out for them, and she eventually left New York altogether, moving to London to work as a Liaison Officer between Interpol and the Metropolitan Police ('Perfect Day').

Undoubtedly, she and Bobby Goren thought they would never see each other again. As it turned out, fate had other plans. This would be the point at which myself and Tanya came into the story, along with you-know-who…

Ah, you'll have to excuse me, I must stop writing. My wife is shouting at me and apparently I'm needed on the beach outside. Speak to you about this when we get back from holiday!

Yours with best wishes,

Jack.

And now we're up to date, and "Bulletproof Armour" will be posted very shortly.