Logan looked up and down the deserted beach. The wind that blew in off the ocean was cold and wet. He took his jacket from the back seat and pulled it on. There was no sign of the sun as it hid behind gray clouds that hung low in the sky. The surf crashed on the shore, drowning out any other sounds that might have been in the late morning air, with the exception of the cry of the gulls.
A short way down the beach sat the Seaside Motel, a run down motel that had seen much better days. Most of the windows were boarded up, and those that weren't were broken. The roof of the front porch was sagging halfway to the ground on one side, and the dunes ran almost up to the back porch, which no longer even had a roof. Goren looked around, the wind ruffling his hair and his shirt.
"Romantic," Logan commented. "I like what they've done with the place."
"Speak for yourself."
"You don't think the beach is romantic?"
"Not when I'm here with you, I don't."
Logan couldn't help but laugh. "So what's your plan?"
"I never said I had a plan."
"Great. You expect to just pop on in, say hello and take her into custody?"
"Something like that."
"No wonder they say you're nuts. What would Eames say about a plan like that?"
"Same thing you just did, and then she'd follow me inside and we'd do what we had to do."
"Yeah, you're both nuts." He picked up a shell and turned it over in his hands. "You think she's got Eames in there?"
"Yes."
"And what is she doing? Waiting for you to come in looking for her?"
"Yes."
"And you're going to do what? Waltz right in the friggin' front door?"
"Actually, yes."
He swore. "That's just what she wants you to do."
"I know. But what she doesn't know is that you are going around the back side, and you're going to slip in there, find Eames, and slip out."
"Ok. Then what?"
Goren looked at him. "You are going to keep your word, Logan. You are going to make sure my partner stays safe."
"And you think that she'll stay put just because I tell her to, knowing you're in there with Wallace, alone? She protects your life as steadfastly as you protect hers, you know."
Goren grabbed Logan's shirt and stared into his face. "You keep her safe, Logan. Got it?"
"All right, all right. I'll do my best. Can I cuff her to the car?"
A dark look crossed Goren's face, and Logan didn't like it one bit. "I'll just do what I have to, and the less you know about it the better it'll be for me."
"You've never had your ass kicked as bad as I'm going to kick it if you cause her any grief, you got me?"
"Yeah, I got it." Goren released him and he muttered, "Note to self…never joke around with Goren when he's stressed out."
He studied the big cop as he watched the motel. He finally decided that Goren did not handle worry well at all. That was a very good point to remember for future reference.
Finally Goren sighed. "You ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." He looked at Goren, shaking his head. "You know, I don't know how to classify the kind of guts it takes to go after a psycho like her alone. She's shown us she has no compunction against murder. No conscience."
"She's never hurt me."
"That so? I remember the last case. Her words cut you deeper than any weapon ever could. You may not have shed a drop of blood, man, but you bled."
Goren looked away. After a moment, he looked back. Softly, he said, "Thanks for coming with me. Be careful and take care of Alex."
"I will. See you soon."
"Hopefully."
Logan disappeared into the dunes while Goren headed down the beach toward the run-down motel.