Colby was relieved when he finally went back on field duty. They were getting nowhere on the Hague murder, ballistics couldn't match the bullets to anything they had in the database. The fraud case was progressing nicely, but Robin was using the rest of the task force to chase down patient testimonies, so he and the rest of Don's team were off the hook on that.
They put the Hague case on a back burner and began an investigation on a jewelry theft ring that were targeting jewelry stores. The ring had started on the East Coast the year before, but had begun hitting jewelry stores on the West Coast. Colby had been particularly anxious because Hannah owned a jewelry store. He'd tried to take some comfort in the fact that this ring targeted jewelry stores in malls. These stores were hit before or after business hours, when the mall was open for early morning walkers or late night theater traffic. And they seemed to be focusing on men's gold jewelry and high end watches.
"Don't you think you should take extra precautions, Hannah? Add lights and security, perhaps?" Colby prowled the jewelry store a little restlessly, checking out each nook and cranny to see if there was any way he could make the store more secure.
Hannah tried to stay calm as she watched him check everything out. He'd been checking the store out every morning before she opened, and coming to get her every evening when she closed, since he'd started this investigation. She wasn't sure if she was getting nervous because of his meticulous checks, or because the jewelry theft ring was in the area. "I don't know what else I can be doing, Colby," she said softly, "You're already checking each morning and evening. If you think I should add a security guard, I will. Just tell me who to go to. We've already added alarms, lights, and cameras. What else do I need to do?"
Colby sighed and he drew her in for a hug, "I'm sorry, I'm just worried about you."
"I know, but we're doing everything we can, right? And they don't target the kind of merchandise I carry anyway, right?"
"Right on both counts, but I don't want to take any chances with your safety, Hannah."
She hugged him, "I know." She looked at him thoughtfully, "What do you want to do about the jewelry show on Saturday? Olivia and Amita are meeting me at the convention center. I need to bring the jewelry there."
"I know. David and I have been talking about it. Megan and Robin were planning on going anyway. Don's going because Robin's going to be there, and he wants to make sure she's safe. David and I will drive you from here to the convention center."
Hannah looked at him in some amusement, "Are you sure that's okay?"
Colby shrugged, "We'll all be on personal time for that. Don's okay with it, and that's all I care about."
-----
Saturday's jewelry show went off without a hitch. Hannah's jewelry was a big hit, and everything she'd brought there sold within hours of their arrival. She was breathless and happy, and it made her even happier to see the stunned look on Amita's face when Charlie gave her the set that he'd purchased for her. Olivia nudged her when Charlie and Amita left together. They looked at each other and grinned with satisfaction.
"What are you two up to?" Robin asked, smiling indulgently. Hannah had also finished the jewelry Robin had intended to wear for the US Attorney's ball the following week. She had been amazed at the design. It had even stopped Don in his tracks. She couldn't wait to wear it with her gown for the ball.
Megan grinned, "You two aren't matchmaking or anything like that, are you?"
Olivia tried to look innocent, but Hannah just laughed at her. "Just giving Charlie a little push in the right direction," Hannah replied, smiling.
"When are your college friends coming in, Hannah?" Olivia wanted to know.
"In a few hours. Colby and I are going to the airport to pick them up. Do you want to join us for dinner?" Hannah asked the other women.
Robin shook her head, "It's a rare evening off for Don. I think we're going to spend some time at home."
Megan said, "I have plans."
When it became obvious that she wasn't going to say anymore, Olivia grinned and told Hannah that she and David would meet them for dinner.
-----
"Charlie, you didn't have to do this," Amita said softly. She was stunned at the generosity of the gift. It was a beautiful piece that Hannah had designed. Amita had been reluctant to take it off after she had modeled it. Now she couldn't stop touching it, she could hardly believe that it was hers, let alone that Charlie had bought it for her.
"I wanted to," Charlie said. He sighed and thought to himself, "Good going, Eppes, 'I wanted to' that was brilliant."
Amita smiled at him, her brown eyes shining with happiness.
Charlie cleared his throat, "Would you like to have dinner? Hannah was telling me about this Peruvian restaurant close by. She says it's a bit of a hole in the wall but the food is wonderful. I've been meaning to try it."
"Sure! Let's do it. I've never had Peruvian food."
They finally sank into a table at Mario's Peruvian and Seafood Restaurant on Melrose Avenue. It was a utilitarian sort of place, but the line had been out the door. They'd had to wait 30 minutes for a table.
Amita was giggling, "I hope the food's worth that wait!"
A little fascinated, Charlie reached out to touch Amita on her cheek. She had the loveliest, most flawless skin he'd ever seen. "Luminous," he said.
"What?" Amita looked at him curiously.
He hadn't realized that he'd said the word out loud, "Oh, sorry. Um, I was just describing your skin. It's flawless and luminous."
She was stunned and speechless. She wasn't sure what she was expecting but that wasn't it. "Thank you!" she responded, and was surprised at how breathless she sounded.
Charlie smiled, almost shyly, "I know we had a difficult time the last time we had dinner. But I might have made a mistake when I said we shouldn't talk about work. So I'm not going to limit our conversation in any way."
"Okay. That might make it a little easier. Since that's what we have in common."
"We also have friends in common," Charlie said. "Like Hannah."
"And Robin," Amita said, laughing. "How do you feel about your brother dating Robin?"
Charlie shrugged, "He's happy, that's all that matters." He reached over and traced the design on necklace. "It's really quite amazing. It's almost all standard geometric designs, yet there's just something about it that just fits you perfectly," he trailed off. Then gently caressed her cheek with his thumb.
Amita's lips parted, and Charlie's thumb gently made its way down to trace her lower lip. "Amita," he said, his voice suddenly husky, "Let's go someplace a little more private."
-----
"David, Olivia, this is Willow Owen, and Kayla Stanley," Hannah introduced her college friends. "My two best friends from college."
"We're on our way to Hawaii, and thought we'd stop here to see Hannah. Check out this guy she's been dating," Willow teased Hannah, who rolled her eyes.
David grinned when he saw Colby squirm a little. They'd obviously been giving him a difficult time since they'd been picked up at the airport.
Kayla chimed in, "Yeah, then we saw him, and all Willow wanted to know was if he would be into a foursome with us. Never mind that we're both happily married, and that our husbands wouldn't approve."
David choked on his drink at those words, while Colby turned red with embarrassment. It didn't help when all four women burst into giggles. Colby sighed. It was going to be a long evening.