"Indivisible" – Chapter 2

They were about to enter the interrogation room when Eames stopped short, her hand hovering at the door handle. Bobby just managed to catch himself before running into her. She looked up at him over her shoulder with an expression of … anxiety? Concern?

"Eames?"

"You …" she hesitated, then shook her head, apparently changing her mind about whatever it was she intended to say. "She just makes my skin crawl, that's all."

The corner of his mouth quirked in agreement. "She has that affect on everybody."

"Not everybody," she muttered before finally opening the door.

For such a small woman, Nicole's presence filled a room. In true psychopath fashion, she could be the most seductive personality at any gathering – her alluring smile and witty conversation drew an audience and held them in her spellbound embrace.

"Bobby. It's lovely to see you again," Nicole greeted him with a graciousness that would lead anyone to believe she'd been turned out by a fine finishing school. "And Alex – always a pleasure." Apparently her game this evening was to play the charming socialite.

"Trust me, the pleasure is all yours," Alex's usual sarcasm served only to widen Nicole's smile.

Goren dropped his portfolio on the table with a loud thump intended to wrest control of the situation from Nicole. "Have a seat, Nicole."

Ignoring his ploy and his words, she actually managed to look hurt. "Is that any way to greet an old friend?" Receiving only a cool look from Bobby, Nicole turned her attention to his partner, giving her an appraising once-over. "Alex, dear, you really are struggling with those last few pounds of baby fat, aren't you?"

Unable to resist, Goren risked a quick glance at Eames. Whatever 'baby fat' Nicole may be talking about, he certainly didn't see it.

"Tell me, Nicole … how did you manage it after you had your daughter?"

Alex's barbed remark hit home. The smile wilted from Nicole's face, replaced by an icy look in her eyes. "That was cruel, Detective Eames, considering that my little girl is dead."

"By your own hand," Alex smoothly reminded her.

Nicole's mouth twisted impatiently. "Say it as often as you like – that won't make it true." With nothing more than an imperceptible shift of her body, she turned her attention back to Bobby and effectively dismissed Alex.

"Bobby, I'm here as a courtesy to help the police understand what happened to my husband. I am not here as a target for Detective Eames' post-partum frustrations. If you can't control your little pet, I'm afraid I'll have to call it a night." Nicole shifted the strap of her designer purse more securely on her shoulder, emphasizing her intent to make good on the threat.

"And since when do you control our interrogations?" Alex's temper was on the rise. Much as Goren was tempted to let Alex loose on her, he suddenly realized that was exactly what Nicole wanted all along.

Raising one perfect eyebrow, Nicole kept her focus on him. "Interrogation? Bobby, I was told you had a few things you wanted to discuss with me here at the station. Your partner makes it sound as if I'm under arrest, in which case I really must insist that I have my attorney present."

"You're not under arrest." It was time for Goren to intervene. If Nicole decided to bring in a lawyer, he would lose any tentative advantage he may have this evening. Seeing that she wasn't appeased, he tried a different tactic. "We just have a few questions for you. Questioning … interrogating …" he made a rocking motion with his hand to emphasize the similarity of the two words.

"Ah … yes. I can see how she would confuse the issue," Nicole agreed with a sympathetic nod.

Alex opened her mouth to protest, but Bobby cut her off. "Eames." He looked at Alex and with a slight toss of his head indicated she should leave them alone.

For a second he thought she was going to argue with him, the stubborn set of her jaw telling him she wasn't happy with what just happened. But there was also a moment when he again saw that flash of concern in her eyes. Interesting.

She relented, but not before he realized there would be hell to pay later. "She's all yours," Alex ground out as she picked up her folder. She had to walk behind him to reach the door and Bobby would have sworn he felt the heat of her anger warm his back.

"Now … isn't this much better? Just the two of us." The smile Nicole gave him held pure satisfaction. She moved toward him with catlike ease, and the image of something feral sprang to mind. Goren resisted the urge to step back, knowing she would smirk at that sign of weakness.

Nicole leaned in close to him, placed her hand on his chest and stretched on her tiptoes until her mouth was close to his ear. He felt a warm puff of breath before she whispered, "Does she know yet how you feel about her?"

Pulling back to look into his eyes, she had an intriguing glint of mischief in her own. Nicole ran her fingertips across the muscles of his chest, dragging her nails over the small, sensitive circle of flesh she unerringly found beneath his shirt. Bobby sucked in a breath as his body involuntarily reacted to the caress before he snatched her wrist and pulled her hand away.

"You always were very sensitive, Bobby," she purred loud enough to be heard through the speakers in the adjoining room.

"All right, Nicole – you've had your fun." Still holding her wrist, he reached with his other hand to slide the chair away from the table, the harsh scraping sound breaking the final threads of her allure. "Now take a seat," he said as he finally released her and circled to the other side of the table. Nicole stood perfectly still, an expectant look on her face.

"Please."

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Alex didn't think it was possible to hate Nicole Wallace any more than she did before tonight. She was wrong.

She had joined Captain Deakins in the observation room, still fuming that Goren would sacrifice her authority with that 'questioning … interrogating' stunt, and then so quickly dismiss her from the room.

Standing on the other side of the two-way glass, Alex was forced to watch with growing anger as Nicole leaned in close to whisper something in Bobby's ear – her hand resting possessively on his chest. She witnessed Nicole's caress, and Bobby's reaction. Alex was surprised she even heard Nicole's flirtatious remark over the roar of blood in her own ears.

Out of the corner of her eye she caught Deakins' anxious glance, but whether his concern was for her or for Bobby, she couldn't tell.

TBC …