XXXXXXX
"Gravitation can not be held responsible for people falling in love." Albert Einstein
XXXXXXX
Chapter 8
XXXXXXX
Snow started falling in thick white flakes as the Cherokee moved thru downtown Chicago. They swirled in the cold wind in search of a surface. Sam felt a chill just thinking about how cold it was outside but the temperature inside the car was warm and fragrant with new car smell and Martin's aftershave.
Sam sat in the passenger seat as they rode in an awkward silence. She stole a glance at Martin. His eyes were focused on the road ahead but he looked like he was lost in thought. She knew that back on the sidewalk they almost crossed a line from co-workers to something else. The question was now that the moment had passed what they were going to do about it.
She ran her eyes over the dashboard and stopped at the radio. Needing any excuse to fill the silence said, "You know, they say you can tell a lot about a person by the kind of music they listen to."
Martin glanced at her as the lights from the street played over his face. He gave her a gentle smiled and quietly replied, "Oh yeah? Well, go ahead, I'm not afraid."
She reached over and clicked the radio on. She looked at the glowing digits on the radio as the familiar tune filled the interior of the car.
The heart is a bloom, shoots up through stony ground
But there's no room, no space to rent in this town
You're out of luck and the reason you had to care,
The traffic is stuck and you're not moving anywhere.
You thought you'd found a friend to take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand in return for grace
It's a beautiful day, the sky falls
And you feel like it's a beautiful day
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
"U2. Nice." Sam complimented with a small smile. "Clearly you have impeccable taste in music."
She saw Martin's lips curve into a grin and he looked at her quickly. "I'm glad it meets with your approval." He watched her for a second before returning his attention to his driving.
You're on the road but you've got no destination
You're in the mud, in the maze of her imagination
You love this town even if it doesn't ring true
You've been all over and it's been all over you
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
Touch me, take me to that other place
Teach me, I know I'm not a hopeless case
Sam turned her head and her focus out the window as she thought about what Martin had told her back outside the restaurant. He had almost been a member of her unit. She would have met him two years ago. She wondered if her life would have been differently if he had taken the position that was now filled by Kyle Dunkin. Although, she wasn't sure just how much longer Kyle would be a part of the team.
Kyle and Jack had been at odds ever since the Graham Spaulding trial. Neither one of them would say exactly what had happened but she knew that Spaulding had been released on the grounds that they had denied him an attorney. They both claimed that he never asked for one but whenever the subject came up Kyle would remain quiet, clench his jaw and refuse to look at Jack. In the year since the trial the tension had only escalated and she knew that Kyle was putting out feelers for any openings in other units.
See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
See the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colours came out
It was a beautiful day
A beautiful day
Don't let it get away
She watched the sidewalks as snow started to cover the ground and the tops of cars. By tomorrow morning Chicago will be covered by a thick blanket of snow. She exhaled and the window fogged up, blurring her view, her thoughts drifting to what Danny had told her earlier. Was it really as easy as just having a fling? Could she really just sleep with him, release a lot of pent-up sexual frustration and then just go home? She had to admit that she found him very attractive and based on his behavior earlier the feeling seemed quite mutual.
Touch me, take me to that other place
Reach me, I know I'm not a hopeless case
She leaned back in her seat and turned to look at Martin's profile. He had nice features: short brown hair, the most perfect looking ears she'd ever seen on a man, chiseled cheekbones, a nice Romanesque nose, eyebrows that were a little bushy but they worked for him and then there was the subject of his lips. They looked pink and soft and inviting. She licked her own lips wondering what his kisses would taste like when her cell phone started ringing.
He turned to look at her and she just grinned as she fumbled through her coat pockets for her cell. Once she located it she flipped it open and answered, "Spade."
"Hey, Sam." Viv's voice greeted.
What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
You don't need it now, you don't need it now
Beautiful day
"Hi, Viv, what's up?" She saw that Martin was pulling into the drive in front of the hotel's main entrance. The bright lights of the Radisson lobby illuminating the car. Martin reached over and turned off the radio.
"Two things: first, I have some information about Carmela."
"Really, like what?" She looked over at Martin who was watching her interestedly.
"It seems that Carmela did have a boyfriend: Carl Batarbee. We are trying to track him down but he's been flying under the radar."
"Why didn't we know about him five years ago?" Sam asked as she un-clicked her seatbelt.
"We're still trying to figure that out because nothing at the time indicated she was in a relationship. We found out about him through a former neighbor of hers who heard we had re-opened the case."
"Well, it's someplace to start. Hang on Viv," Sam put the cell phone on her shoulder and looking at Martin said, "Does the name Carl Batarbee sound familiar?"
Martin shook his head replying, "No, should it?"
"Apparently he was dating Carmela around the time of her disappearance."
"I'll call the office to have them start researching it." He pulled out his own cell phone and started dialing.
"Thanks Viv. We'll start looking into it on this end too, anything else?" She tucked a loose strand behind her ears and watched Martin out of the corner of her eye.
"Yeah, but it's about our last case. OPR is asking about a few things so Jack wanted me to talk to you so we could clarify a few details."
She sighed heavily. This call was going to take awhile. "I see. Can you hold on for a minute?"
"Sure."
She put the open phone on her should again and waited for Martin to wrap up his call.
"Thanks. See you in the morning." He snapped his phone shut and turned to face her. "If he's anywhere in Chicago we'll know about it."
"Great." She smiled and nodded. Clearing her throat she said, "This call is going to take awhile but I just wanted to say thanks for the ride back."
"You're welcome." He gave her a little nod and added, "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah." She opened the door and a cold wind blew into the car. She stepped onto the curb and turning back to look at him said, "Goodnight."
He gave her a small smile and replied, "Goodnight."
She closed the door, gave him a little wave and walked towards the lobby. She didn't have to look back at him to know that he waited until she was safely inside before he drove away. He was just that kind of guy.
By the time she reached her hotel room door she and Viv had finished discussing the old case. Viv filled her in on the details. OPR was fishing for another excuse to bring Jack down and it was starting to look like Kyle was providing them with the ammunition.
"Do you think Danny and I should head back?" She asked as pulled out her key card and swiped it as the light switched to green. "You know, show a united front?"
"No, we have to keep on working. We can't let the case suffer." Viv replied assuredly. "So how are things going over there? Is Danny being a good boy?"
"For the most part, I haven't had to give him any time-outs yet." She closed the door behind her and walked across the room.
"And how are the other agents?"
"They are all really nice." She said lightly as she tossed her gloves and scarf on the dresser.
"Nice huh? Because I couldn't help but wonder who it was that you were talking to earlier because I'm pretty sure I heard a man's voice."
"I had dinner with the team. He just offered to drive me home." She replied as she pulled down the ubiquitous scratchy polyester bedspread.
"He? And does 'he' have a name?"
"It's not like that, Viv."
"Not like what? I just asked the name of this good Samaritan agent?"
Sam bit her lip contemplating how much to share with Viv. "Martin. His name is Martin Fitzgerald."
"Nice name. So what's he look like? I'm figuring that this nice old man has a receding hairline, paunch belly, yellow teeth…"
"Actually, yes, that fits him to a T." Sam agreed as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"C'mon Sam, I know you. You were being evasive and I want to know why."
Sam plopped down onto her back and answered, "He's just another agent Viv."
"Uh-huh."
She pulled off her shoes, letting them fall to floor with a plop. "What? He is."
"Whatever you say, it's not me you have to convince. Just be safe and have fun. I'm going to head home but I'll touch base with you if I hear anything."
"Okay, night Viv."
"Night Samantha."
Sam closed her phone and held it in the hand that she rested on her stomach. She stared up at the ceiling wondering why it was since everyone was encouraging her to have some 'fun' with Martin that something in her gut told her it wasn't going to be as easy as a little out of town fling.