Chapter 93: See You Around
Gus and Stella met for lunch at a bistro equidistant from each of their places. Gus could tell as soon as she walked in the door and spotted Stella shredding a napkin with haunted eyes that something bad was still going on. Gus slid into a chair across from the other woman and placed a hand over the one shredding the napkin. Stella pulled it away quickly.
"Stel, what happened?"
Stella just shook her head with such force her curls bounced all over, "I can't, I can't talk about it."
"Is it that NYU professor, did he turn into an asshole, I'll kick his ass!" Gus clenched her fists and rapped them on the table.
"No, not him, I haven't seen him in a while, he was...boring".
"Boring isn't bad..." Gus trailed off, she wasn't about to let Stella sidetrack this, no matter how good at it she was. "Stella, I know you freaked out at work and then you stood me up, and no offense but you looked like you have been mauled by a gator when I came by your place. Tell me!"
"I can't."
Gus leaned forward to look into her friend's green eyes and dropped her voice low and soothing, "Stella, I get if you can't talk to me, but promise me you will talk to someone, Mac, a therapist, I don't care but it hurts me that you are hurting."
Stella's eyes started to shine with tears, she took a deep breath, obviously trying to compose herself. Finally she spoke, her voice wavering, "I think, I think I might get fired."
Gus looked at Stella in complete shock, "What? Stella have you been smoking crack in your off hours? You are the best CSI I know. Mac would never fire you, you are like his arms or something!"
"He may not have a choice," Stella said, absently pulling at her curls. Gus didn't say anything, knowing Stella would most likely fill the silence when she was ready. Finally Stella leaned in and dropped her voice to a near whisper, "I got cut on this case we just wrapped up."
Gus blinked, trying to figure out how that would get Stella fired, god knew she had been scraped, bumped and bruised on, well nearly every case she had worked.
"The vic was HIV positive," Stella said so softly, Gus had to strain to hear her. Gus was still a little perplexed, not having been at the scene to know about all the glass and blood. "I got tested, but it is a long window before I know for sure. I don't know if I will be able to continue working," Stella said, just as quietly, but with a look of relief crossing her face.
Gus knew that look, she had seen it in many clients over the years, happy to have unburdened themselves of a deep secret, even if the telling did nothing to take care of the problem. Gus clasped Stella's hands, not letting her pull away. "Stella, I am here for you, Mac will be there for you. You won't get fired and statistically speaking, you have nothing to worry about. Though I know you will anyway. But you can't keep this burden to yourself."
Stella just nodded her head, "I know you are right, but I can't talk to anyone about it right now. I just have to process it on my own first".
"That's a lot to process alone, Stel".
"Just for a little bit, a week or so and then I'll talk to Mac".
"Promise?"
"Promise. So tell me how the trial is going".
"Well there is this bench in the hallway, we've become besties" Gus snarked. Stella laughed, it was good to see her smile. Gus launched into the tale of the smarmy attorney and her call from the Commissioner.
When she was done, Stella looked at Gus with concern, "sounds like this is a big deal. It also sounds like you've been threatened".
"I would say warned, look Stella, I know you and Mac always love to stand up for the underdog and fight for what is right, but I know my place on this one and it is to keep my mouth shut". Stella started to speak, but Gus put up a hand, "please no boss or motherly speeches, I don't need them. I love my job and I am not going to jeopardize my career or possibly Flack's by speaking on speculation".
"You done?" Stella asked.
"Yes", Gus squeaked, not liking the look in Stella's eye.
"I was going to say, go with your gut on this one, these are some pretty powerful people you are dealing with and while you may not like the game, sometimes you have to play it. But don't tell Mac you are, he wouldn't deal with it very well".
"That's an understatement" Gus stated dryly and then switching gears, "So about that shopping?"
"Yes, please, I want to go buy this gorgeous purple suede blazer I have had my eye on for months," Stella said with a slight twinkle in her eye.
What seemed like hours and, to Gus, good bit of torture later, they both had filled their arms with shopping bags and were in seemingly better spirits.
Gus arrived home later that evening, bags in hand and was debating what to do with her Saturday night since Stella had said she wanted more alone time and everyone else on the planet was once again busy. As she was contemplating the contents of the Styrofoam boxes in her fridge, her phone rang with an unknown number.
"Detective Broussard," she answered.
"You haven't called, kitten, I'm shocked," said a voice Gus didn't place right away.
"Excuse me? Who is this?"
"Detective, I am not usually forgotten so quickly, but I suppose you have been pre-occupied. It's Mark Muller".
"Mr. Muller, are you aware that by even calling me you could be placed in contempt of court for witness tampering? Or do you not know your witness list from a hole in the ground?"
"Ah you mean the George Hansen case? I'm not actually working that one, just stop in from time to time for moral support".
"Still don't you think this might be a conflict of interest? Besides the fact that I am seeing someone"."
"Funny, you don't seem to be."
"What does that mean?"
"You come and go alone, spend a lot of time alone as far as I can tell."
"Have you been following me?" Gus felt her throat tighten up, fear clawing at her chest.
"Following sounds so ominous, doesn't it? I prefer researching. I just want to get to know you a little better Dr. Broussard, that isn't such a bad thing".
Gus felt her stomach clench, why kind of detective was she that she hadn't noticed someone following her? Stella knew right away when Reed had been. But then again, she had mostly been sitting in the courthouse and going straight home, and while normal New York defensive, she certainly hadn't put her full antennae out lately, preferred to save that for actual cases.
"I am a good guy if you get to know me. I treat my lady friends right, take them nice places, show them a good time, send them flowers."
With that, Gus' door buzzer sounded. She gasped dropping her phone and running to the intercom, grateful that the door had been fixed and the old people stopped opening it. "Yes?" she asked, trying to not sound panicked.
"I have a delivery for an Augusta Broussard."
"What kind of delivery? I wasn't expecting anything."
"Flowers, I'm from Starbright Floral Design over on W. 28th."
Gus didn't respond, instead went to gather her gun and creds from the table, noticing her caller had hung up. "Freak" she muttered, trudging downstairs. She kept one hand on her gun as she opened the door to the delivery boy, who was really just that, some acne faced teenager who looked very unimpressed with having to wait for her to come to the door.
"Here," he said, shoving the flowers at her. Gus brought the bouquet inside, setting it on a table in the buildings entranceway.
It was an interesting arrangement to say the least of dark plum calla lilies and black magic roses. Posh, expensive and sort of macabre. Gus felt her flesh crawl as she removed the card from the flowers. See ya round, kitten was all it read.
Gus left the flowers there and went back to her apartment, punching up Flack's number with shaking hands. "I kinda have a problem," Gus said, her voice unsteady as he answered.
"That doesn't sound good," Flack said, catching the fear he could tell Gus was trying to hide.
Unfortunately he was also standing at a crime scene and couldn't talk.
"That attorney, he just sent me flowers."
"Gus, having an admirer is hardly a problem," Flack attempted to keep annoyance out of his voice, this was not like Gus to call him for something so silly.
"Flack!" Gus snipped and took a drink of whiskey, "I think he's tied into the Hansen case somehow and I think he has been following me"
"You want me to put a unit at your place?" Flack said, feeling a shiver run down his spine, he should have known it was something bigger than some guy hitting on her.
"I don't know, just yet. But I told him I was seeing somebody and he knew I had been coming and going alone."
"Dammit!" Flack swore, waving off the crime scene tech who was trying to get his attention, he thought for a minute and then said, "I'll run the guy or have Parker run the guy. I just got called out to a scene otherwise I would come over. Call Danny, have him come and pick you up and take you back to his place. Do not go home tonight. If this guy is watching your place, I want him to see you with someone".
"What if Danny's busy?"
"Messer ain't busy, he's too busy pouting over Monroe being gone." Gus closed her eyes and tried to not panic. "You still there, sunshine?" Flack asked, his voice soft.
"Yeah but this sucks!"
"Yeah it does" Flack ran his hand through his hair, feeling powerless, looking around he said, "Gus, I love you, be careful. And call Danny."
"I will, I promise," Gus said, feeling her heart catch.
Gus hung up and quickly tried Danny's cell, chanting "Pick-up, pick-up," as it went from ring to ring. Voice mail. "Crap!" she said as her phone rang in from Mark again. "Please stop calling me" she said.
"That's no way to thank a guy for flowers, didn't your parents treat you manners Augusta? I thought Southern Belles were supposed to be full of hospitality?"
"I guess I have been in the city for too long, because you need to fuck off!" Gus snapped.
Gus fought off the spinning in her head and tried Danny's home number, he picked it up on the first ring, "Messer," he answered.
"Oh thank god, Danny" Gus choked out, trying to not cry.
"BB, I just hung up with Flack, heard you need rescuing," Danny tried to keep his tone joking, but he was worried for his friend, especially after the frantic tone Flack had in his phone call.
"Can you come and get me? I don't mean to ruin your Saturday night, it's just this creep and this case and Don wants me not here and..." Gus trailed off, fighting for breath as her intercom buzzed again.
"I'll be there in a flash Broussard, you ain't ruining anything," Danny said, before sliding his gun into his holster and grabbing his car keys.
Gus threw some things into her tote and waited on Danny, taking a moment to close the drapes and blinds around her apartment, hating shutting out the city. She jumped in the air when her intercom buzzed at the same time as her cell phone. She sighed when she saw the caller was Danny. "Broussard," she answered, trying to sound composed.
"I'm here, and it appears all clear," Danny said.
Gus buzzed him in and threw open the door a couple of minutes later as soon as she saw him through the peephole.
Danny took one look at Gus and felt a shiver, she was paler than he had ever seen her, and looked beyond frazzled. "This case is bad isn't it?"
"I damn well guess so," Gus said, feeling the world spin.
"Steady there, old girl. Let's get you out of here," Danny said, righting her while he handed her her coat.
Gus flashed him a small and forced smile. "Thanks" she said, shrugging into the coat and locking the door.
Danny had parked illegally out front, but had thrown his "on duty" pass up."I gotta warn you the place is a wreck" Danny said on the way over.
"When isn't it?" Gus said with a smirk.
"Was that almost a smile, Gus?" he teased, happy to see her looking less pale. Gus rolled her eyes, but didn't comment until Danny opened the door to his place, which was indeed a wreck.
Chapter 94: Secret Lair
"Good god Messer, do you ever clean?" Gus said kicking a path through dirty clothes and takeout boxes and other boy detritus.
"Only when girls come over," Danny remarked. Gus shot him a look. "What? You're not like a girl, girl."
"Thanks, Dan-o, appreciate that" Gus said trying to find a sofa under sporting equipment and magazines.
"You know what I mean," Danny said exasperated and getting them both beers.
Gus grunted and twisted off the top of her beer, flicking the cap towards the trashcan and missing.
"Except you throw like one," Danny joked, flicking his straight in with ease, "plus, Flack would kick my ass if I ever looked twice at you. He made that pretty damn clear a long time ago".
"Really?" Gus raised her eyebrows and chewed on a fingernail.
"Donnie boy has had it bad for you since the first day he met you, Broussard. Don't mess him up," Danny said in a warning tone.
"Wasn't planning on it," Gus said, reaching to throw a pile of trash away.
"Good," Danny said with a nod, "you don't have to clean though".
"I am not spending the night in a pig sty," Gus said, grimacing at the food she found on a plate on the floor.
"It's not that bad!" Danny protested. Gus shoved the plate at him without a word. "Alright, so maybe it is."
"Obviously it has been some time since you had a girl girl over," Gus said, heading to the kitchen, cursing as she hit her hip on the pool table along the way. "Dammit Messer, most people put a dining table in their dinning room."
"I'm not a dinner party kind of guy," he called picking up his dirty laundry.
Gus was filling the sink with hot, sudsy water debating the merits of throwing his dishes away and buying him new ones when she called out, "so how do you afford this place again?"
"Asks the girl who lives on a private park" Danny called back.
"I will take you down, Messer! Just because I have been fiscally responsible and happened to have owned property that quadrupled in value after a cat 5 hurricane-" Gus was caught in the back of the head with a pair of balled up socks. She turned and flicked suds on him, "nice shot, but not cool," she said narrowing her eyes.
"Rent control. The lease has been passed around my family for years. So I get to spend my money on toys instead of rent."
"Kind of like Flack's arrangement."
"Yeah except I do have to pay some rent and I don't have to worry about any siblings or cousin's or whatnot trying to crash here unless they want to sleep on the pool table. Though it does sleep pretty well if ya know what I mean".
Gus shuddered and pulled a face, "there is absolutely no way I am ever playing pool with you again!"
Danny snickered, "I get it professionally cleaned".
"You should try that for the whole apartment," Gus said, rinsing another plate.
Later after making Danny's apartment mostly presentable, and chowing down on pizza Gus slumped in the corner of the sofa, her knees curled up to her chest. "You okay?" Danny asked, flipping through tv channels.
"Yeah, just wondering about the case. And sorry I ruined your night."
"You'll be fine" Danny said, ducking when Gus threw a cushion at him. "and you didn't ruin my night, I was just hanging out..." he paused, looked at Gus and then admitted, "hoping Montana was going to call".
"Have you talked to her much?" Gus asked, truly curious because Lindsay had not mentioned it in their conversations.
"Not too much. She left me a card when she left and I've talked to her a coupla times, but I don't wanna push ya know?"
Gus smiled, "oh, I know," thinking of how many times she had run from Don.
Danny caught the look in his friend's eyes, "You really love him dontcha?"
"Yeah, I guess I really do," Gus said with more assurance than she ever though she could muster.
"I just don't get why it can't be that easy for Montana and me."
Gus snorted with laughter, "easy, you think it's been easy? Do you ever actually talk to Flack?"
"You've kind of been an off-limits topic, Gus," Danny said, going to get them another couple of beers.
"Well it hasn't been easy and it's not gonna be easy for you. But it will be worth it, in my opinion. And take it from me, you gotta keep at it, even when she pushes you away."
"I have been."
"Well don't stop now. But don't push her too hard either."
Danny rolled his eyes, "women, why do you have to be so complicated?"
"Keeps you men on your toes," Gus said going over to the pool table to rack the balls.
A knock sounded heavy on the door and Gus froze, panic creeping into her paling face. Danny went to the door, hand on gun, and looked through the peephole. His posture relaxed as he unlocked the door, Gus' didn't until he opened it all the way saying, "Bro, you coulda called first so you didn't get shot!"
"Just wanted to make sure you weren't putting the moves on my woman, Messer," Flack surveyed the room, "and good thing I did seeing as you actually cleaned for her."
Gus wanted to throw herself into Flack's arms but didn't want to be that girl, so she just sheepishly waved at him instead.
"She cleaned for me, actually," Danny said thumbing in Gus' direction.
"You cleaned his place?" Flack asked closing the distance between them. Gus just nodded and Flack drew her into a huge hug, "you're a brave one aren't ya?" Gus didn't respond as she inhaled the scent of him, the wool of his coat scratching her cheek, she fought down tears she didn't know she had been holding back.
"Do I need to leave you two alone? Clear the pool table?" Danny asked, feeling more than a bit like a third wheel. The pair shot him an evil look.
"I thought you were working," Gus said giving him a quick nuzzle.
"I am, and I have to get back, but I wanted to stop by," Flack shrugged, hating that he had to leave her, but knowing she was in good hands with Danny.
"Thanks," she said, not wanting him to go, but knowing he had to.
"I'll come pick you up at the end of my shift, take you home."
"'Thank you," she said with a sigh of relief.
"Let her win a game or two, okay, Messer?" Flack said, walking back to the door.
"Let her?" Danny and Gus quipped at the same time as Flack let himself out.
"What's wrong with you, Broussard, you don't normally suck this bad," Danny teased as Gus sunk the eight ball yet again before its time.
Gus grimaced, "I guess I am just worried about the trial."
"And you keep looking at your phone like it is a bomb, maybe yous should just turn it off," he suggested, pointing the cue at her.
Gus nodded, walking over to her phone and powering it off.
"Anything you see in there you wanna talk about?" Danny asked, his face concerned. Gus sighed, but didn't talk.
"Look, Gus, I know what it is like to get mixed up in things and end up over your head and sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do," he gestured in such a way that made Gus believe that he did know what she was going through, probably more than anyone else on the team with their mostly squeaky clean backgrounds.
Danny continued, "so if you ever want to talk about it, you can, and it won't go any further, I swear on my grandmother's grave." He made a quick sign of the cross that she had to smile at.
"I will if I need to Danny, thanks."
"Good then, now if you don't mind, it is late and I need my beauty sleep. You want the couch or the bed?"
"Whens the last time you changed the sheets on your bed?" Gus asked. Danny's face became one of concentration. "Yeah, I thought so, I'll take the couch".
"Hey there sunshine."
Gus barely registered the voice in her ear, swatting at the hand in her hair and mumbling, "Guhngr."
"Gus, wake up, come on."
Gus felt someone shake her shoulder and bolted upright, knocking into Flack's skull with a crack. "Ow!" she whimpered, rubbing at the welt already forming.
"You got a hard head, you know that?" Flack said rubbing his temple.
"Like you don't," Gus said looking around confused, "what time is it?"
"Late or early, depending,"" Flack whispered, still crouched beside her.
Gus shook her head, feeling a bit cobwebby, "how'd you get in?"
"Messer gave me a key forever ago when he went on vacation. Let me crash here."
"Tell me you didn't use the pool table as a bed too," Gus muttered under her breath.
"What?" Flack said looking confused and then a moment of realization followed by a look of disgust, "yeesh, no".
Gus yawned and stretched strained to see the clock, "did you solve the case already?" she asked.
"Didn't have to, Sid ruled it accidental. So I bugged off shift, I'll catch up on the paperwork later," he shot her a sly look, "or save it for you".
"Gee thanks" Gus said throwing the sheet back.
"You didn't have to sleep in your clothes, sunshine, I am certain Messer knows enough to behave himself".
"I was cold, and he doesn't appear to have any blankets that have seen the wash this decade," Gus said, slipping into her sneakers.
"That doesn't shock me."
"You two are definitely on opposite ends of the cleanliness spectrum," Gus said, landing a quick kiss on Flack's cheek.
He wrapped her into his arms, kissing the top of her head, "come on, let me get you home." Flack felt Gus immediately stiffen in his arms, "my home, Gus. We can catch a couple more hours of sleep before I have to be at the Center."
Gus relaxed slightly, "I hate this. I can't believe I didn't pick up on it before. How can I be such a crap detective?"
Flack put a finger to her lips, "Shhhh, you ain't a crap detective, but you might be a dead one if you wake up Danny." Gus just nodded, grabbing her bag and following Flack out.
Arriving at Flack's place, he unlocked the door, making another 'be quiet motion' as his sister was sprawled out asleep on the pullout couch in the living room.
"Sam would rather sleep on your pullout than next door with your dad?" Gus whispered as they crept up the stairs.
"Sam would rather sleep here for free than pay rent to our father who is insisting on her fiscal responsibility," Flack whispered back, leading her by her hand up the stairs.
"So it takes me getting followed to finally be able to see Don Flack's secret lair, huh?" Gus quipped as they stood outside his room.
"I can take you back to your place, you know!" Flack quipped but stopped seeing the fear flick behind her eyes, this guy and case had shaken her badly. Flack pushed open the door to his room, letting Gus go in first.
Gus blinked, it was definitely a male space, but not in a juvenile pin-up girl kind of way. Pretty much it looked like how Gus' had always figured Flack's place would have looked had he had his own apartment. The only surprise was the amount of books on the bookshelves.
"Yes, I am a closet reader, not another word," Flack said coming up behind her as she was studying the titles on the bookshelves, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"I didn't say a thing."
"Didn't have to," he replied, kissing her neck, "now stop gawking, we need sleep," he said, folding back the covers on the bed.
"Fine," Gus grumbled, slipping down to just her t-shirt and underwear.
Flack gulped as she snaked her bra off and clamored up on the bed. 'Sleep, actual sleep, down boy' he said to himself, stripping down to his undershirt and boxers.
Gus snuggled into Flack's bed, marveling at how comfortable it was, "Flack, how can you sleep at my place, your bed is amazing!" she sighed, turning over to curl up on what felt like a cloud.
"In case you hadn't noticed sunshine, you tend to be in your bed, that trumps my mattress any day," he replied, curling around her, happy to be keeping her safe.
"Well that makes sense, I suppose," she said, snuggling into him. "And thanks, Don, I appreciate this."
"It's more morning, but sweet dreams and no problem," Flack said, lifting her hair to kiss the back of her neck and falling quickly into a dead sleep.
When Gus woke up, it was bright out and the birds were noisily chirping outside Flack's window. He was missing, which didn't surprise her in the least, but he left sweats for her on his pillow and a note that stating Don't go home without me! Coffee's ready downstairs. -F.
Gus smiled to herself, slipped on the sweats and crept downstairs.
Sam was still splayed out on the pullout, sleeping the kind of sleep that Gus couldn't attain without a lot of booze or a prescription. Gus tried to remember the last time she slept like that, couldn't, pulled her hair up into a ponytail and headed into the kitchen where a full pot of coffee was waiting.
Bobby was slumped at the kitchen table looking more than a little green around the gills. "Hey," he groaned, into his coffee.
"Late night?"
"Yeah, you could say that. I just got in as Donnie was leaving."
"Have you been to bed yet?" Gus asked praying he wasn't going to hurl on her. Bobby shook his head no, stopping mid-shake. "You need grease" Gus said, trying to take pity on the boy, but knowing he got himself into his hangover. "You got to learn to hold your drink better, sugar," Gus said, surveying the contents of the fridge.
"I can hold it fine!" Bobby protested, "I was at a friend's house to watch the fight and we had a few beers and then we started playing some video games and then someone decided we should start doing shots and then some girls came over and we ended up playing poker so then we kept drinking and..." Bobby trailed off, his head resting on the table, "and now the world won't stop spinning. Make it stop Gus," he whined into the top.
"Aw, you poor thing" Gus dripped, pulling out food and only marginally trying to not bang around too much. "Here, take these, Gus said grabbing a bottle of Advil off the counter and pouring him a huge glass of water, "tell me you didn't drive as I hate to point out that your cousin and I are cops."
"Oh please" Bobby made a face, "I am not an idiot."
"Just checking," Gus huffed, cracking eggs into a bowl, scrambling them with more force than needed.
"Why are you here?" Bobby huffed back.
"What, do you need to see my invitation?" Gus snapped and then took a deep breath, "sorry, Bobby, I'm sort of a witness on a case I worked a few months back and now I sort of have someone following me because of it before I testify and I guess I am a little on edge."
"Whoa!" Bobby said, staring at her entranced.
"It is not nearly as cool as it sounds" Gus said, flipping over the frying bacon.
"Yeah right, my life is so boring compared to your and Donnie's," Bobby said, drinking the water and trying to will the ground to stop spinning.
"So tell me what is going on in your life," Gus said, still making breakfast. Bobby chatted about what was going on his life, and Gus was happy to have something to focus on other than the Hansen trial or Mark Muller.
Bobby dug into the food with gusto and after clearing his plate said, "If you keep cooking, you can stay as long as you want."
"Thanks, I think," Gus said, pouring more coffee for herself.
"I'm gonna hit the hay, wanna play with the Wii later?"
"Sure," Gus said with a laugh as Sam stumbled to the coffeemaker, shooting death stares at them both.
"You could wake the dead," she groaned, sucking down coffee.
"If I could, it would make my job a lot easier" Gus quipped, sliding what was going to be her plate at Sam, "breakfast?" she asked.
Sam lit up, "yeah! How long are you staying?" Gus rolled just rolled her eyes and waved to Bobby.
Gus and Bobby were embroiled in a football game on game console when Flack arrived back home.
"Made yourself at home, I see" Flack teased, noticing that Gus was winning by more than a little and Bobby was sulking.
"How were the kidlets?" she asked doing a little happy dance at scoring the extra point on a kick.
"The usual. They suck at hockey though," Flack came over and grabbed the controllers from his cousin.
"Hey!" Bobby protested.
"Get lost, kid, not like you were doing that great anyway".
"Fine, fine, I don't want to see you guys making out anyway," Bobby said backing out of the room as Gus and Flack shot him angry glares.
Flack was concentrating on the game when he said, "Your phone's off." Gus didn't answer. "You're worried that guy will keep calling."
Gus shrugged, "maybe, Danny suggested it, seemed like a good idea."
"It's alright to be freaked out by this, babe," he said, looking at her with wide eyes.
"I am more worried about the Deputy Commissioner," she said, making a face.
"What now about the Deputy Commissioner?" Flack asked, dropping the controller on the sofa and sliding down to the floor beside Gus.
"He called me on Friday."
"And you didn't tell me because?"
"You've been busy. And it was just a friendly little warning reminder," she replied, trying to brush it off.
Flack took a deep gulp of air. "You think this Mark guy is just trying to spook you before you testify or do you think it is something more serious?"
"I dunno, did you run him?" she asked, not entirely wanting to know what they found.
"Parker did. Couple of speeding tickets and a 10-50," he said.
"No assaults or DV charges?" Flack shook his head. "Any complaints to the bar?"
"Not that Parker said, I'll check the full file tomorrow," he replied firmly.
Gus nodded, "it's probably just the case then. I hope."
Gus shivered, Flack pulled her close. "You want to stay here?"
"Nah" Gus shrugged and squared her shoulders, "I'm not going to let some attorney asshole scare me out of my place, not with my HOAs. He seems harmless."
Flack studied her carefully, knowing she could handle herself, but still not sure what to make of the man who had been following her. "You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure," she replied, even if it was mostly bravado.
"Alright then, come on, I'll take you. Even stay if you ask me to," he dimpled standing up.
"Don't play coy, love," Gus teased, "of course I want you to stay." Gus held out her hand for Flack to help her up.
Chapter 95: Trials and Tribulations
They arrived back at Gus' building, Mrs. Potter was in the lobby, rearranging the flowers that had been sent to Gus. Gus felt her skin crawl at the sight, Flack pulled her against him.
"Oh Gus dearie, you had someone looking for you earlier. A young attorney, I assumed you work together," she shot a look from Gus to Flack, unsure of what the couple's arrangement was.
"You didn't let him in, did you Mrs. Potter?"
Mrs. Potter flushed and stammered, "Well, I, he..."
Flack went over to the woman, towering over her, "when was this?"
"Earlier this morning, he said he had some papers to drop off, I figured, he gave me his card. Oh dear, did I do something wrong?"
Flack and Gus exchanged a look and called for the elevator. "Do me a favor, don't let anyone else into the building, you hear me?" Flack said, his tone and eyes sending all the warning Mrs. Potter would ever need.
"Crap!" Gus said, kicking at the elevator as soon as the doors closed.
"You need an alarm," Flack said, trying to keep his cool.
"A little late, don't ya think? And I didn't think I needed one".
"This is New York, everyone needs one," Flack said as the elevators slid open.
At her door, Flack pulled out his weapon and studied the door. "Stand here!" he ordered.
"I know how to clear a place, Flack!" she hissed back.
"Doesn't look tampered," he said, staring at the lock and pulling out his keys. He turned the lock, but noticed that the key stuck, something it hadn't ever done before, "Crap!" he swore.
Gus drew her weapon, "I'll take low,"
"Fine," he said swinging open the door, "NYPD!" he shouted. Gus gasped upon entering, crouched low and almost dropped her weapon.
Someone had obviously been in there, and while it didn't look like a robbery, the place was definitely trashed. Books dumped from shelves, tables, upended, mirrors and picture frames broken. Most disturbing was the spray-painted message over the mantle and across her television screen stating, "KEEP QUIET!"
Flack cleared the apartment, while Gus stood frozen in shock. "It's clear, the damage seems to be here and in your office. The rest of the place looks untouched."
"Great," Gus said, sighing, "he didn't bring that with him," Gus said pointing at the spray-paint can, "it was under the kitchen sink."
"I'm calling it in," Flack said, dialing his phone.
"What for? We know who did it and why!"
"Gus, come on, someone's been following you, he broke into your place and trashed it, don't you want him punished?"
"I doubt he was stupid enough to leave prints, he's a defense attorney for god's sake!"
"I want a file on this. And you need to call the judge and tell him what's been going on," Flack turned, giving his badge number to dispatch and relaying the information of the incident.
Gus crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot until he was done. "So they can declare a mistrial and I can go through this all again later? That sounds just great" Gus said, frustration playing across her face.
Her home phone rang and both jumped. "Put it on speaker," Flack called as she made her way to her office, "and be careful."
Gus couldn't find the phone, but pushed the speaker button on the base, which had been thrown off her desk, but was still connected to the wall outlet. "Broussard!" she barked.
"You sound so official, so cop like. Did you get my message?"
"Loud and clear, asshole!"
"Not the name calling again, Augusta, that isn't nice."
"What do you want, Muller?"
Mark just laughed, a sound that chilled both Gus and Flack. Gus whipped the curtains that had been opened closed again. "What? Don't want me to see your gentleman caller? You are a busy girl, Augusta. One man picks you up, you don't come home and another one drops you off. Not very ladylike, I must say."
"Look, I got your message, though I got it without you having to break in and trash my place," Gus was trying to remain calm, but Flack could hear the strain in her voice.
"Break in and trash your place? I would do no such thing! I am a fine and upstanding citizen, a prominent member of the legal community from a very reputable firm. I am certain you can have those friends of yours from CSI look at your place but they won't find anything. Though there may be a report or two of a gang sighting in your neighborhood".
Gus growled and hissed through the line, "Listen Mark, I suggest you forget you met me, or where I live or you are going to be meeting some of the clients you couldn't get off behind bars and I am certain they will find some very creative ways to thank you for not getting them off."
"But you are very unforgettable, Augusta Broussard. Though I suppose I could be persuaded to move on to more willing parties say if a certain case ended in a mistrial."
Gus looked about ready to start swinging. Flack unplugged the phone from the wall, "don't answer it again until it is tapped and recorded."
"Flack, I am not having my line tapped!"
"Gus, you don't know this guy could be completely unstable".
"A master manipulator, yes. Suffering from a personality disorder, most assuredly, but he isn't crazy. Someone has made it clear to him that he stands to gain if the Hansen case is declared a mistrial. And so it probably will be thanks to your report," Gus glared at Flack.
"I don't think you are taking this serious enough!"
"And I don't think you get that this isn't really about me, it's about the connections that George Hansen has made!"
"I damn well hope you are right," Flack said, pulling her to him and squeezing her tightly.
They stayed like that until the knock sounded on her door. They both froze until they heard Mac's voice, saying "Gus, Flack, I'm coming in."
Mac pushed open the door, gloved, kit in hand and also froze when he saw the state of Gus' apartment, two techs stopped behind him. His eyes shot over to his niece, steely and concerned at the same time, "Is this about the Hansen trial?" Gus nodded. "How long has it been going on?"
"Couple of days," Gus mumbled, feeling like a child in trouble as per usual when dealing with her uncle.
Flack moved between them, "some attorney who works at the defense firm chatted her up a few days ago and apparently has been stalking her. Sent her flowers yesterday evening, did this some time today."
Mac nodded, directed the techs and started processing the scene, "call a locksmith, you need this lock changed, I think it has been compromised," he said, after taking apart the lock. Gus nodded, paling a bit.
"You want me to get a clean-up crew in here?" Mac asked. Gus shook her head, "no, I'd rather do it."
Mac gave Flack a look while Gus back was turned, Flack just raised his eyebrows. "I don't want you to stay here tonight. You can come to my place," Mac said, worried about how quickly this situation might escalate.
"I'll be fine," Gus said, not believing it even as the words came out of her mouth.
"I don't think you should stay here until you have talked to the judge," Mac pushed on, his voice still steady as always, but his eyes full of concern.
"I'll bring her home with me," Flack said, giving them both a look that made it clear he wasn't going to argue.
"Fine," the pair said in unison, with Gus flouncing off to pack a bag.
The pair of men stood in the living room, staring each other down.
Flack suddenly felt like he was about to get a lecture from a father before he took a girl to the prom, he cleared his throat, "Mac," he said quietly.
"Don," Mac answered, kit clenched in hand, "keep your eye on her. Take good care of her or so help me-" Mac cut off as the emotions crept into his voice.
"Approve of it or not, I love her, and I am not going to let anything happen to her. You hear me, Mac?" Mac nodded and walked out.
After cleaning up as best they could, Gus went to go collect a few things. "You about ready, sunshine?" Flack asked, leaning on the door frame of Gus' bedroom.
"Yeah," she said, standing up dejectedly, "I hate that I have to leave though, I love this place."
"I know. I do too," Flack said, slipping an arm around her waist, "but you did say my bed is more comfortable," he dimpled down at her.
And so they spent a low key evening at his place, watching movies with Sam and Bobby, eating what leftover's Sam had been sent home with after going to grandma Irene's for dinner.
Later lying in bed and happy that Flack hadn't been called in, and betting her uncle had something to do with that, Gus turned to Flack and said, "I'm sorry you've been dragged into this."
Flack rolled towards her and gave her such a serious look that she drew in a quick intake of air. "Gus you haven't dragged me into anything. It's still a package deal. When are you going to get that it is all part of our partnership?"
"I'm sorry I still have trouble believing in true partnership."
"I'm sorry you do too, now come here," he said, scooping her onto his chest.
"I guess I have to give you keys to the new lock, huh?" Gus said after he kissed her senseless.
"I guess you do" he said, with a dimpled smirk, kissing her again. "So you are going to talk to the judge in the morning?" Flack asked after they came up for air.
"Yeah. It's not right, no matter what I had decided to say or not, they have overstepped their bounds. I am not going to be pushed around by some boys' club who think they have all the power in the world."
"That's my girl," Flack said, smiling.
"Unfortunately they do have some power when it comes to our careers, so I hope I am not shooting us in the foot," Gus said soberly.
"Gus, it's not like they will demote us to beat cops. Besides if they try anything, I know a few crime reporters who would love a story like this."
"You sure? I know you have worked damn hard at getting where you are on the force, and I don't want my mess up to take you down."
"You haven't messed up anything!" Flack's voice cracked with emotion. "You did a UC job you never should have done and now you are getting punished for maybe seeing some things you shouldn't have and they know you have power and knowledge and they are scared you might use it. You have the upper hand here!"
Gus closed her eyes and sighed. Flack moved over her, placing his hands on either side of her head, "Look at me," he growled. She obliged, unable to say no to that voice. "I've got your back, always. You've got mine. Partners, 'til the end, got it?" he growled out each word, slowly and Gus was caught in the deep blue of his eyes.
She nodded slowly and he responded by growling into her ear, "now see if you can remain silent, detective," and led a trail of kisses down her body.
Before court was called into session the next morning, Gus found herself at the judges chambers pouring out her story to him.
"And you are sure this is not just some admirer, Detective?"
"I may have believed that until my apartment was vandalized, your Honor," she said, sliding the report she had received from Mac, including some very persuading photographs. "And you say this person works for the defense firm?"
"Has since he graduated from law school," Gus said, adding information received from Flack and Parker to the stack.
"Do you have proof that the defendant is behind this tampering?"
"I wasn't aware I needed proof, your Honor!" Gus said, feeling bile rise in her throat, surely this judge was not also a client of Hansen's, "but I do think this is something both the prosecution and the defense should know about," she said, pulling herself straighter in her seat.
"You are aware that either could call for a mistrial."
"Or you could grant one as well, I am aware."
"And that does not necessarily mean Mr. Hansen will be tried again."
"Your honor, I believe double jeopardy would only be attached if there is prosecutorial misconduct intended to provoke a mistrial. If the defendant consents to a mistrial, a retrial is not generally not barred. Sir."
"Detective, have you attended law school?"
"Er, no sir, but I do know my way around a law library or two," Gus gave the judge a stoney glare.
"And you believe Mr. Hansen will agree to a mistrial?"
"I think he might want to avoid a press scandal that could be called jury tampering that would definitely lead to a mistrial and might make it harder for him to receive a fair trial in the future."
"Is that a veiled threat to the defendant, Detective, I would hate to hold you in contempt of court," the judge glared back and in that instant Gus knew for sure he had been a client of the brothel.
She refused to back down, "no sir, I just know from experience working other cases what sorts of things the media likes to latch on to and since this," she tapped on the report of her apartment, "is now a matter of public record, as will be the TPO I plan on getting on Mr. Muller, I just think perhaps you may want to consider declaring a mistrial in advance."
"I am not going to have some cop tell me what to do in my courtroom!" the judge roared at her.
Gus still didn't react, despite the fact that she was shaking like a leaf inside and was concerned this might end her career and possibly Flack's. Gus sat still and silent until the judge calmed down.
"Well, I will just review the information given to me and rule on it as I see fit. Though I suggest you don't stray too far from the courtroom, Detective.;"
"Wouldn't dream of it, your Honor," Gus said, standing up, chin held high.
Late that afternoon, after wearing a furrow in the marble tile in front of the courtroom, Gus head a commotion from within. A few gavel bangs later, one of the ADA's came rushing outside and grabbed Gus by the arm, pulling her around the corner.
"The judge just declared a mistrial and I think Hansen is going to take a plea, did you have anything to do with this, Detective?"
Gus tried to not smile at the ADA and instead attempted a vacant and gaping look, "what, me? Come on Hamilton, I am barely above a beat cop, how could I have anything to do with it?"
"Well there was a charge of witness tampering tacked on and it's not like there are a hell of a lot of witnesses speaking out against Hansen." Gus remained quiet, she wasn't about to admit to anything. "You aren't going to tell me are you?"
"I plead the fifth."
"I don't think that applies here, Broussard."
"Yeah well just the same, I think my brass would rather me back in the field catching bad guys than walking the halls of this damn courthouse," Gus waved behind her back, walking away, a grin playing on her face.
Not knowing where else to go, she hailed a cab back towards the precinct, deciding to swing by the lab first to update her overly worried uncle.
However, upon arriving, everyone was either missing in action or well absorbed in work. Groaning, she turned to head down to homicide, not wanting to go home alone before calling an alarm company and a locksmith. "Damn you, Muller," she grumbled.
"Figured you would be happy to be out of court there, Gus," Sheldon said, coming out of the canteen with a coffee.
"Yeah, but just realized that the world hasn't stopped even if I was on hold for a week," she said with a grimace.
"Well can you stay on hold long enough for a cup of coffee? I got a cold case I would love to consult with you on," Sheldon grinned at her, stopping short of batting his eyelashes.
"You are incorrigible, you know that, Sheldon?"
"Is that a 'yes'?"
"Of course it is" Gus said, shaking her head, "but I want real coffee."
"Works for me, let me grab my coat and tell Stella I'll be back, meet you at the coffee shop, then?"
"No problem."
Sheldon met Gus and they spent time discussing not only the cold case, but also catching up on what had been happening with each other. "Sorry I was working on Saturday," Sheldon said, his eyes wide with concern after Gus dove into her court/stalker story.
Gus tried to look nonplussed, "it should be over now, I hope," she sighed, checking her watch, "Crap, how did it get so late? Now I am gonna have to wait until tomorrow to get people out or pay a fortune for a 24- hour locksmith."
"Do you want me to see you home?"
Gus felt her stomach quiver at the thought of going home and what may be waiting for her, "maybe," she said hesitantly.
"You're still worried about this." Sheldon said in not so much a question, but a statement of fact.
"I'm trying not to be. It should be over, but that doesn't mean there wasn't one last push for me to keep quiet or someone pissed off that I went to the judge".
Sheldon nodded empathetic, picked up his phone and scrolled through, "Hey Russell, it's Hawkes."
Sheldon got up and walked away, leaving Gus to chew nervously on a coffee stir and debate on whether to call Flack or not.
Her phone buzzed as if by divine intervention. "I was just thinking about you," she answered by way of greeting.
"Good things, I hope?" Flack half-laughed, "heard you have been freed from court."
"News travels fast doesn't it?"
"Faster when it's gossip involving one of New York's finest finest."
Gus tried to not blush, as Sheldon had come back to the table and was looking at her expectantly. "Er, hold on one sec there, Flack, Sheldon's looking at me funny" Gus pulled the phone away and raised her eyebrows at Sheldon, "What's up, Shel?"
"I called in a friend and if you can be at your place in an hour, I've got you an alarm system and new locks coming." Gus broke into a wide and genuine smile, "really? Thanks, Shelly!" she squealed, dropping her phone and pulling him into a big hug and cheek kiss.
"You're welcome," Sheldon said, looking taken aback, "but you might want to pick up Flack," he said with a smile, pointing at her phone.
"Sorry there, blue eyes."
"It's fine, I heard the good news, you want me to meet you there?"
"That would be great," she said ringing off.
Sheldon saw her home, arriving just as Flack was pulling up.
"Hey there, Shelly," Flack smirked.
Gus punched him on the upper arm. "Can't say I missed those, sunshine," he said, mock rubbing the spot.
Sheldon looked a bit uncomfortable, shuffling his feet, "well, I'm going to head home, but Russell should be here soon and he'll take good care of you."
"Thanks again," Gus gushed, giving him another hug.
"No problem," he said disappearing into the night after a head nod to Flack.
A few minutes later, true to Sheldon's word, Russell the locksmith arrived.
She let the diminutive man inside, where he got straight to work, without making mention of the markings in Gus' living room. Flack made small talk with him, while Gus went to further explore if there was any damage she had missed earlier and to try to piece things back together better.
"All done, Miss," Russell said, coming up to her with a manual in hand for the alarm system, "just ready for you to pick the code."
Gus gave him a small grin, feeling suddenly drained, "thanks, I know it is well after normal business hours, I do appreciate this."
"Any friend of Doc Hawkes is good people in my book," Russell replied, "just sorry this had to happen to you to get your business. Now if you come to the main keypad on the unit and decide on your code. Make sure it is something you will remember but not something the whole world would guess..."
Russell walked her through the ins and outs of the alarm system and the new deadbolts on the door and so on, wrapping up when he noticed her eyes were glazed over and handing her the bill.
Gus handed over her credit card, trying to not wince or fall asleep standing up. After all was settled and the locksmith went on his way, Gus stood in the apartment trying to not look fearful or miserable.
"How about we head back to my place and sort out the rest of this tomorrow?" Flack said, catching her look and knowing her thoughts.
Gus gave him a wry smile and fought down a wave of emotions, "that would be great, but you won't think I am a wimp, will you?" she asked, looking down at her feet.
"I don't see that ever happening, Gus." Flack said, hooking a finger under her chin and forcing her to meet his eyes. Her smile became wider, but her eyes started to glisten.
Flack wrapped her in a silent hug until she wriggled out after composing herself, "must just be exhausted," she said, wiping at her eyes.
"Must be," Flack said dimpling at her.