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"Get down on your knees, and thank heaven, fasting, for a good man's love." Euripides

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Chapter 18

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Sam and Danny walked into the federal building in Milwaukee where they were supposed to rendezvous with Martin and Charlie. It was a newly renovated building that still had the smell of drywall and paint. It wasn't very busy and her heels echoed as she walked on the tile. They decided to meet here because it would be the best way to let the local agents know they were here to interview Carl Battarbee as well as get directions to his home and work.

She spotted Martin and Charlie talking to a few other agents at the far end of the building so she made a beeline straight for them. They had to have arrived long before since Danny insisted on driving even though he was such a city boy that he had a hard time maneuvering in the snow and moved at a snails pace.

As she walked she smiled to herself at seeing Martin talking animatedly with his hands. She was still spinning from his kiss last night. She couldn't help but wonder if he could make her body come alive with just a kiss what it would be like to enjoy the full experience of being with him. She felt her cheeks warm at just the thought of what Martin looked like underneath his conservative suits.

"You okay Sam?" Danny asked in a hushed tone.

She nervously tucked some loose hair behind her ears, "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

He smirked and said, "You look a little flushed."

Sam swallowed at being so obvious that she was busted and picked up the pace. As she neared Martin and Charlie she spoke up, "Hi, so what's the plan?"

Martin turned to look at her. "I was beginning to get worried."

"Yeah, well, Grandpa Taylor over here missed the exit." Sam grinned with her head tilted towards Danny.

"Thanks Sam." Danny said sarcastically. "So the plan…..?"

Martin smiled and said, "I think we should split up. Two of us head to his office and the other two to his place of residence."

Sam nodded her head. "Good idea." She looked directly at Charlie and said, "Why don't you and Danny go to the office and Martin and I will cover the apartment."

All three men looked at her in slight surprise. She knew that it was a bold move to blatantly ask to be partnered with Martin but she really wanted to talk to him and she was afraid that Charlie would interfere again. Charlie held back a smirk while Danny made no such effort. Martin on the other hand tried to conceal his smile with his hand.

Charlie clapped his hands and announced, "Okay then, you heard the lady…" before correcting himself, "Excuse me, Special Agent Spade, let's go Taylor. It looks like it's you and me."

"Yeah let's get out of here." Danny said as he put his hand on Charlie's shoulder leading him out. "I can tell when we're not wanted."

As soon as they were out of range Martin coolly said, "So…."

Sam gave him a coy smile and said, "So let's go."

A few minutes later they were in his car moving through the city streets toward Carl's apartment. The snow storm that was assailing Chicago had yet to reach Wisconsin so the roads were nice and clear as they drove.

"I…" They both began before laughing at the obvious awkwardness.

Martin gave her an apologetic smile and said, "Sorry, you go first."

Sam shook her head and gestured to him, "No, you go ahead."

He turned to face the road and stuck his tongue out before beginning, "About last night, I'm sorry..."

"You don't have to apologize for kissing me." She interrupted.

"That's good because I wasn't planning to." Martin replied without any hesitation.

Sam blushed brightly and said, "Sorry."

"I was just going to say that I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance to respond to what I said." Martin said as he quickly glanced at her. He turned his focus back to the street as he turned the car and added, "So, have you….thought about it?"

"Yeah, you gave me a lot to think about last night." She watched Martin's lips curve into a smile. "Don't go getting too full of yourself stud." Martin looked over at her and nodded his head. "But you made a good point. I'm sorry for trying to tell you what to do and it was wrong of me to even ask."

Martin nodded his head as he waited for her to continue, "Good, thanks. Apology accepted."

"As for the kiss, it was…..well, it was nice. More than nice actually…." She replied with a soft sigh.

"Yes it was." He agreed.

She looked over at a grinning Martin who slowed the car to a stop and pulled into a parking space along the street. She cast him a dubious glance and said, "Uh, what are you doing?"

"We're here." Martin pointed to a small basement window. "Carl lives there." He gave her a devilish grin and said, "Why did you think I pulled over?"

She shrugged and made quick work of unbuckling her seat belt. "I don't know that's why I asked."

Still sitting in his seat and in no apparent attempt to hurry said, "No it isn't. You thought I was going to try and kiss you again."

"No. Please…." She replied suddenly feeling very embarrassed. She fumbled for the door latch and stepped out of the car.

"Yeah you did." She heard Martin say before she slammed the door shut. She didn't even have to look at him to know that he was grinning.

She was already on the front stoop by the time Martin opened his car door. He caught up with her in the stairwell. It was dimly lit and in dire need of a paint job.

"Some place." Martin commented with his eyes on the exposed plumbing and wiring.

"Schemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated." Sam murmured under her breath as they walked down the stairs. When she was a little girl she and her sister used to say that they were going to be like Laverne and Shirley. Get jobs at a brewery and have crazy adventures while living in a basement apartment. Now though, the idea of two adult women living in an itty bitty apartment seemed incredibly sad.

They reached the door and Martin knocked. As they waited for someone to answer he leaned towards her and softly whispered, "You so thought I was going to kiss you again."

"Shut up." Sam replied with a grin. She had no idea what it was about this boy that flustered her so much. Normally she was cool and collected with men. Of course, that was usually when she had the power in the relationship.

They heard someone walking up to the door so they squared their shoulders and put all kidding aside. The door opened a crack and a man with dark mussed hair, a white t-shirt and three days worth of stubble appeared.

"What can I do for you?"

Sam held up her badge and said, "I'm Special Agent Samantha Spade and this Special Agent Martin Fitzgerald. Are you Carl Battarbee?"

"Yeah." He replied with a quick glance behind him.

"We'd like to ask you a few questions about Erica Mosconi." Sam commented trying to peek behind him into the apartment. He was obviously being secretive and she wanted to know just why.

"I don't know any woman named Erica." He brusquely replied before he tried to close the door.

Martin's hand went up and he pushed back on the door. "We're not done yet Mr. Battarbee."

"Look like I said, I don't know any Erica Macaroni…Mostoni….whatever."

"How about Carmela Chicchini?" Sam asked and she could see beads of sweat form on his upper lip.

"Um….." He stuttered.

Martin pressed hard on the door causing it to open a little wider, "How about you invite us in so we can chat? Or perhaps you would be more comfortable talking at the federal building?"

While Carl and Martin were engaged in their standoff Sam spotted a very familiar figure standing in the background. She leaned to the side so she could look beyond Carl, smiled and said, "Hi Erica, we've been looking for you."