Thanks to everybody who's reviewed! This is encouraging! (Just needed to say that again)

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They drove in separate cars, but Vivian found herself once more paired up with Danny. There was an uncomfortable silence between them until Danny finally said: "Um… Agent Johnson…"

"It's Vivian."

"Ok, well, Vivian. I… uh… I think I'll have to take back some of the things I said this morning when we were first assigned to this case. I've had a pretty low opinion of our victim and I no longer think it was justified."

"That's right, it wasn't", Viv confirmed keeping her eyes on the road. When Danny remained silent after that, she added: "But that doesn't matter now. I think we have a pretty good chance of finding her. If your Samantha does a good job tonight, we may be able to reunite Laura and her family by morning time."

"Yeah, I think I'll keep my prejudices to myself next time", Danny mumbled.

Vivian smiled. "Maybe you should. – Oh, look here we are." Vivian parked the car, not surprised to see Jack was already there, waiting for them. They got out of and walked over towards their boss who greeted them with a look at his watch.

"What took you so long?"

"Jack, you do know there are speed limits, don't you?"

They were about to enter the building when Danny, who was walking behind the two older agents, cleared his throat as if to gain their attention. Vivian heard it very well, but chose to ignore it making Danny have to repeat the noise, this time even louder.

This Vivian turned around to face him. "Yes, Agent Taylor?"

"I just got a text message from Sam. Samantha, I mean. She says it's not official at her office that she and I are… uh… together, so… if you could please not mention it?"

They were both looking at him, and Vivian felt a little perverse joy watching him fidget uneasily. But it was mean, and she knew it. So she finally said: "Sure, we'll keep your secret…"

"It's not about me… I mean, since you already know … It's just that Sam…"

But Jack interrupted his young agent impatiently: "C'mon, Agent Taylor, get your ass in there so we can get on with our work. We don't have time for soap-operas…" But he couldn't help his voice sounding more amused than strict.

Not much after that the three agents found themselves in a small, very messy office. There was a huge desk that along with a few shelves almost completely filled the room. The shelves were stuffed with files and all sorts of books; Vivian detected even a collection of dictionaries which included Swedish! Averting her gaze from the books Viv decided to rather concentrate on their owner; a not too good-looking, but very sympathetic man who looked old enough to already be waiting for his retirement. He greeted the agents with a friendly smile and a hand-shake.

It felt good to be greeted like that, since the local Police wasn't always happy if the FBI got involved in their cases – it was the same in New York as in any other place.

Detective O'Reilly was different. "Please sit down" he offered the agents.

Vivian noticed there were only three chairs (there wouldn't have been enough room for more anyways), and after a while the detective noticed it, too. "Oh… um… I'm sorry. Guess, one of us has to remain standing…"

Jack and Viv took a seat, both watching curiously who was going to take the last chair. Danny looked at it, uncomfortably. Detective O'Reilly meanwhile had other problems. He looked at his watch – for the third time since they'd entered his office.

"Where the heck is Spade?" he mumbled to himself, then remembered he wasn't alone and started explaining: "The girl just drives me crazy. So young, yet excellent at her job. But always has to play the diva. Being late, letting people wait… And especially today, as we have the FBI involved…"

He was interrupted by the door being opened and a young woman rushing in. She was several inches taller than Vivian, slender, with brunette hair cut short and a face, that Viv would have described as simply good-looking (rather than pretty). There was something very determined about her whole attitude, that impressed even an experienced federal agent like Vivian, and looking over, she could see that Jack was impressed, too.

After closing the door Spade turned to face the agents, to introduce herself. But O'Reilly was quicker: "Oh there you are, finally. Spade, these are agents Malone, Johnson and uh…" He threw an apologetic look at Danny. "What was your name again?"

"Oh, um… we happen to know eachother already", Danny said ignoring the annoyed glance Samatha Spade shot him.

"Oh."

"Let's talk about tonight's actions", Spade quickly said.

There wasn't actually much to talk about. Each of them knew the usual procedure of the operation they were planning. Soon everything was set and O'Reilly left the room to inform his men. Spade was about to follow, when Danny held her back: "Sam…"

"Not now, Danny", she said shortly but gave him a reassuring smile.

"I just wanted to tell you to be careful tonight…"

Now she grinned, her eyes resting on him for a moment before travelling towards Jack who she eyed with open interest. "I think I'm gonna be in good hands tonight…" she said and then off she went, leaving a perplex Danny behind who was still staring at the door, mouth open, after it had shut behind her. Looking at Jack, Viv noticed he was also staring at the closed door before finally excusing himself to go to the men's room.

The door closed again, leaving Vivian and Danny alone in the small office.

None of then said a word until, still in a disbelieving tone, Danny asked: "Did… did she just hit on Jack?"

Vivian just shrugged, but had a hard time to bite back laughter. This situation was ridiculous. But Danny was right, it had seemed as though Spade had some interest in their boss.

Danny sank down into the chair next to Viv's taking her silence as a yes. "I don't believe it, it's my first day and she'd hitting on my boss…Could this become any more embarrassing?" He ran a hand over his face and suddenly Vivian felt sorry for him.

Viv was just about to answer something, when the door opened and Jack stuck his head in. "What are you still doing here? Get ready, we're gonna leave in five minutes!"