Chapter 99: UN-dead
Gus had barely entered the pit for her evening shift a couple of nights later when they got a call directing them to a French Embassy fund raiser at the UN. "Well oh la la," Flack said en route to the scene, "I wonder if we will need someone to translate?"
"I am certain people will speak English, Flack, it's the united nations," Gus said with a roll of her eyes.
"Of course, freakin' UN," Flack muttered.
"Nice place," Flack whistled on the way into the scene of a young woman trapped dead in a fake guillotine.
"Embassies do tend to be on the swank side," Gus said, with a shrug.
"And how do you know?" Flack asked Gus.
"I might have been in Model UN," Gus finished with a mumble.
"What was that?" Flack smirked.
"Model UN," Gus said turning away to talk to the first person she encountered, "excuse me, did you see anything?" Flack just shook his head with an increasing smirk.
Gus and Flack split up, trying to get information from a sizable and horrified crowd.
Flack came up behind her and said, "I got one for you over here, was right by the guillotine when it went down, but she's all ya know..." Flack made a gesture.
"No, can't say I do know," Gus said with a grin.
"Oui oui oui, I can't understand her," Flack looked frustrated.
"Gotcha. I'm on it, but can you check in with Mac and Stella, I think they just arrived," Gus gestured with her chin.
Gus got some usable information from the woman, even if the woman did accuse her of speaking 'Dirty French' with disdain, Gus wrinkled her nose and explained she grew up with Cajun grandparents, which for some reason amused the woman. "Two people were taken away from the scene," Gus said, sidling up to Flack.
"Yeah, I know, French Ambassador and the hostess of the event."
"Yeah, Evie Pierpont, practically New York royalty and only 15," Gus said, not shocked he had gotten the same information as her.
"Tough life, though I imagine it sucks to have your French teacher die when you are the one that pulled the handle on the guillotine," Flack said.
"Simone de Lille wasn't decapitated, Flack," Gus said, following him back over to the body where Mac, Sheldon and Stella were.
Flack relayed the information they had gathered to Stella, who perked up at the information of Evie being removed from the scene. "Alright Mac, I got this one. Flack you're driving," Stella said.
"Wonders never cease," Gus muttered.
"Engine's running," Flack said walking off.
"Have one of your guys impound memory cards from all the cameras, if she was poisoned here, we may have our killer on camera," Mac called out. He turned to Gus and said, "I want you to stay here on scene."
"No problem," Gus replied, her eyes widening as she caught sight of a new arrival on scene.
"Captain Gerrard," Sheldon said in a low voice coming up to Gus and Mac. Gus growled as she saw the man greet Flack.
"Deputy Inspector Gerrard", Mac said to Sheldon.
"He got made?"
"That would be one word for it," Gus sneered.
"He has authority over the crime lab?" Sheldon asked.
"Not just the crime lab, he's the right hand man to the Chief of Detectives" Mac said.
"And a political machine if there ever was one," Gus quipped.
Gus crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes as Gerrard marched up the stairs barking, "don't touch that body".
"Is there a problem here?" Mac asked, far too relaxed.
"Yes, death is on UN property. Our victim was a part time translator. UN security has asked that the scene remain secure and the body untouched until we get an all clear."
"That's isn't required protocol," Gus hissed to Sheldon under her breath, "they could easily let us take the scene. He's just stirring up trouble!" Sheldon hushed her as they watched the showdown occur between Gerrard and Mac.
"It's UN and security and it's the way we are doing it," Gerrard said, stepping closer toward Mac.
Mac's face clouded as he replied, "we are trying to solve a suspected poisoning. Delaying the examination of the victim could degrade evidence in the body. Not to mention our murderer has quite a head start".
"Hey, I don't need a crime scene tutorial. I understand the implications, it's a question of international diplomacy, Detective" Gerrard said.
"Pompous freakin' ass" Gus snarled, leaving the stage before she started yelling.
Gus was checking in with the uniforms to see how they were doing with the flashcard collection when Mac came up to her.
"You seem a little angry," Mac said calmly.
"And you don't!" Gus snapped, "you should be."
Mac rubbed his neck, "I am not happy about Gerrard stepping in, but he outranks all of us". Gus didn't say anything, feeling heated anger still in her face. Mac sighed, "Look I know you have your issues with him."
"Issues? The man is evil incarnate, and he somehow keeps climbing the ladder even though I know, KNOW he had something to do with the Hansen case and god only knows what else and-" Gus tried to keep her temper in check but was quickly failing.
"Stop!" Mac ordered, putting up his hand, "see if you can get any information from the office of the French Ambassador and then see what information Stella and Don collected from Evie Pierpont, but as of now, we need to leave the scene".
"This isn't right, Mac," Gus protested.
He shook his head, looking weary, "I know, but it is the way it is".
Gus caught a ride back to the precinct with a uniform and started the arduous task of trying to get to the French Ambassador. She was finally able to get through to his assistant's assistant utilizing a string of creative French curse words right before dawn.
"The Ambassador is sleeping, but I will place a return call to you first thing on his agenda. He is a very busy man though, Mademoiselle," a lilting voice told her.
"Merci, and I look forward to speaking with him as soon as possible. Salut," Gus said hanging up as Flack walked in. "Hey blue eyes, how are things with the Upper East jet-set?" Gus asked with a smile.
"Next time, you get the pampered princesses, sunshine. Though she seemed pretty tore up, Stella didn't have the heart to tell her Simone was dead and not just in the hospital," Flack sat down. "No friggin' way," he said, shooting up to answer his cell.
"Jesus, another call?" Gus said, looking at her own phone, "could people stop killing each other for twenty minutes in this city?"
"Twenty, I'd take ten," Flack said raising his eyebrows suggestively at her.
"You know how to make a girl feel special," Gus snorted. Her desk line rang from Mac, "We got another call, Mac", she said by way of answering.
"I know, but I just talked to your Loo, I want your main focus on the Pierpont case."
"Over and out," Gus said hanging up.
"You coming?" Flack said grabbing his coat.
Gus shook her head, "Nope, I am on UN duty".
"Have fun with that," Flack said, squeezing her shoulder on the way out, "we'll catch up later."
"Yeah, later," Gus sighed, slumping at her desk.
"So what happened?" Parker said coming up to her at her desk a while later.
"Stalled on the UN case, Flack got sent on another call. And I was told to stay here," Gus flipped through files on her desk.
Parker followed behind her, not letting her go, "so you heard about Gerrard, huh?"
"Yeah, he showed up at the UN with his chest all puffed up," Gus said, leaning against the wall and closing her eyes, "do we have a new Captain?"
"Interim right now, rumor is its going to be Sinclair from the 2-8".
"You know anything about him?"
"Heard he is another coat-tail climbing politico. I was hoping Daddino was going to put in, but he likes where he is at," Parker said, sipping on his own coffee.
"Can you blame him? He doesn't have to deal with half the political bullshit" Gus said, rubbing her neck.
She was glad to be back, but these cases had been kicking her butt, not to mention she was still pretty sure Muller was lurking out there somewhere, she thought as she walked back to her ringing phone.
Gus happily took the call from the French Ambassador, even if the information she got from him amounted to nothing. She hung up the phone exasperated and feeling like she was wasting space when she got a call from Mac.
"Gus, Simone's work visa expired."
"So she wasn't working legally for the UN!" Gus exclaimed.
"Exactly, I am having her body transported over here immediately. I also have some other interesting news, apparently her boyfriend committed suicide a couple of days ago," Mac stated.
"Curious and curiouser," Gus quipped.
"I know. I'll see you in the lab" Mac said hanging up.
Gus hoofed it toward the lab, running into one of her least favorite people looking angrily at his watch. "Inspector Gerrard."
"Detective Broussard," he said with a nod.
"How's George?" she muttered under her breath.
Luckily Gerrard gave no indication of having actually heard her because he was yelling at Mac, "Detective Taylor. You authorized the ME's removal of Simone de Lille" he barked following Mac in to his office. Gus strained to hear his words through the glass but only caught, "it might come back and bite you in the ass," before he and Mac exchanged a few more words before Gerrard stormed out, not even looking at Gus.
"Speaking of asses," Gus remarked stepping into Mac's office.
"I have to head to autopsy, check in with Hawkes and Stella, see what they need," Mac said, walking off without another word to Gus.
Gus wandered over to Stella and Sheldon who were puzzling over evidence in the death of Charlie Cooper, Simone's supposed boyfriend.
"So it wasn't a suicide," Sheldon said looking up, "hi, Gus."
Stella didn't say anything to Gus but continued on, "no, spatter on the hand rules it out. There was skin in the gun, but it didn't get a hit in CODIS".
Sheldon went over to the machine and re-ran the sample, "Gus, we found this at the Cooper scene, can you work on running financials for Simone?" He handed her a note that appeared to be a blackmail scheme between Simone and her expired visa.
"I'm on it, I'll get back to you guys," Gus said, heading back to her desk.
Gus made haste in pulling up the financials, which were easy enough to obtain. She was intrigued by the large amount of deposits made into Simone's account over the past few weeks from the Pierpont household account. "It's all connected, Stel, we just have to figure out how," Gus said after dialing her phone.
"CODIS hit came back to Simone on Charlie, Hawkes and I are about to brief Mac. Meet us," Stella said, feeling like they were finally going to get somewhere.
Gus stepped into Mac's office as he was telling Sheldon and Stella, "Let's go Uptown." He turned to Gus, "I want you to help me question Jackson Pillock, he's the Child Psychologist that escorted Evie to the party".
"No problem," Gus replied.
Stella, Mac and Gus headed Uptown to question a terse Mr. Pillock, "I have no idea where this came from" he said of the note. Pillock did not earn any bonus points with any of them as he compared Evie to Royalty and being prepared and groomed. The family attorney interrupted the questioning with berating questions of his own.
"Mr. Vanderross, I need a word with Evie" Stella said, walking up to a young girl. "I'm starting with you on the writing samples" Mac said to Jackson.
Gus stood by the desk as Mac instructed Pillock on the writing sample. "Nice plush gig you got here, Jackson," Gus said, looking around at the ornate office. "Perhaps I should have picked child psychology instead. Just did clinical, couldn't handle the ankle biters".
"Aren't you a cop?" Pillock sneered.
"There are worse things I suppose, like being a paid hand holder to, what was it 'Manhattan Royalty'?" Gus sneered back. Pillock made a noise. "What? Do you not enjoy working for Evie Pierpont?" Gus said, moving closer as Mac walked away.
"I don't work for Evie, I work for the Pierpont family. And you should ask her about all this. Ask that little witch what is going on. All the money in the world and this girl has to take pleasure in creating other people's pain."
"Do you have any specifics on that Mr. I mean Dr. Pillock?" Gus asked carefully.
"No, no one will openly talk about it, but bad things happen around that girl. She's a rotted seed."
Mac gave her a gesture that Stella was finished and to go. "Well, if you ever want to chat more, here's my card," Gus gave Pillock a sad head shake and walked away.
"I'm going to run the handwriting samples," Mac said back at the lab.
"I've got my own samples to run," Stella said, clutching an evidence envelope.
"I'll go have my hundredth cup of coffee for the day," Gus said, walking back to homicide.
Flack was sitting at his desk when she walked in, his face lit up as she approached. "Sunshine, heard you were hanging out with the mucky mucks" he said, wanting to greet her with a kiss.
"Weren't you as well? Fancy restaurant opening, I heard?" Gus said sitting down across from him.
"And closing, head chef iced with a corkscrew of all things. Then Lindsey and Danny found a cockroach on the body that turned out to be, you'll love this, jewelry".
"No way!" Gus made a face thinking of the hideously huge flying roaches of New Orleans.
"Yep, one worth 100 Gs. I'm doing a work up on the roach owner now. Food critic."
"A food critic wore a roach to a restaurant opening? That's just gross" Gus said, mulling over her notes from Pillock. "What did you think of Miss Priss?" Gus asked Flack.
"Evie? Regular spoiled rich kid. She was pretty broken up at the time we questioned her".
"She was getting ready for a dressage lesson when we saw her".
"Well you know the kind, put equal amount of grieving into the loss of a tutor or a cell phone," Flack said with a look of disdain.
Gus shook her head, dialing her phone, "Stel, it's me, what's your take on Evie? Really, oh re-ally. Tears? Come on, Stel, Mac isn't gonna go for that" Gus noticed Flack motioning at her, "Hold on one sec, Stella" Gus covered the mouthpiece, "what's up?"
"I gotta meet up with Danny for a questioning of a suspect, something about counterfeit wine. But I'll call you, later," Flack said with a very hot and knowing look in his eye.
"You better," Gus said going back to her phone call with Stella as she blushed bright red. "So Mac didn't go for it? Yeah, I'll get a subpoena for the Pierpont accounts".
Gus waded through financial records after wrangling a subpoena for the rest of the day it seemed. Her eyes felt like they were going to start bleeding when Mac called her up to observe questioning with him and Stella.
She walked past Flack and Lindsay observing Danny. "Hey, Lindsay, nice to see you back! You got a collar on the roach case?" Gus asked.
"It's looking that way, roach activist, if you can believe that" Lindsey said.
"This city has got to have the highest per capita of weirdos" Gus replied, trying to ignore the fact that Flack was currently undressing her with his eyes and realizing it had been a few days since they had spent any non- work time together.
Lindsay laughed, "Yeah, I think so. Call me later, we should hang out".
"Sure thing, I feel like we have some stuff to catch up on," Gus winked before walking off to where Mac and Stella had Luther Vanderross in questioning.
Gus watched as Mac confronted Luther about stealing a swatch of a patent pending drug from Evie Pierpoint's father, the same drug that killed Simone.
Luther did give up much, lawyering up quickly, but he did try to sway the investigation onto Evie, saying the girl was poison after Stella pushed him about setting up the account in Simone's name and her then blackmailing him about it.
Stella came storming out of the room, anger flushing her cheeks, "Something isn't right here," she said to Gus, "Evie has manipulated everyone for her own purpose, her own game it seems."
"I guess Clue isn't good enough for the Uptown set," Gus joked, following Stella back towards the lab.
"I'm going to recheck the evidence with Hawkes". Gus stood behind the pair as the debated the evidence spread before them. "Two people are dead because she manipulated everyone around her. It all fits. If you play the Evie card" Stella muttered.
Sheldon looked over her shoulder "that print we took off of Simone's neck matches the print they took off the guillotine handle. Is there anything we can do?"
"Nothing" Stella laughed defeatedly, "We've got nothing on her."
"It's not illegal to be a psychopath," Sheldon pointed out.
"She won't stop with this" Gus spoke behind the pair, who jumped, forgetting she was there. They turned to look at Gus, "Psychopaths don't stop, they escalate. But she won't be this lucky next time.
"There shouldn't have to be a next time" Stella said, resigned. Sheldon and Gus nodded in sad agreement. "I need a drink" Stella sighed.
"Me too" Sheldon added, "You coming Gus?"
"I'll take a rain check, I think I am going to catch up with Lindsay."
"We need a girl's night" Stella said.
"Yeah you do" Sheldon added, still curious as to what had been happening behind the scenes lately.
"Glad you are helping fill my social calendar, Shel. Night you two."
Gus found Lindsey joking with Danny and Flack and the canteen. "Hey, Broussard," Danny said as she walked in and sat down beside Flack.
"So did the roach guy do it?" Gus asked, trying to not react to Flack squeezing her thigh under the table.
"Sure did, what a whacko" Danny said with a smirk.
"Hey, Linds, you wanna get some food?" Gus asked, squirming away from Flack's hand.
"Er, sure" Lindsay responded hesitantly, she had been hoping Danny was going to ask her out.
"Unless, you all had plans or something," Gus added quickly, hoping she hadn't messed things up.
"Nope, no plans" Danny replied, nonchalant.
Flack didn't say anything, but Gus could see a slight flicker of disappointment. She cleared her throat, "we could all go, you know," she said, nudging Flack slightly with her foot.
"Yeah, that's sounds like a plan" Danny brightened, "Ya up for it, Flack? Think we can keep them offa too much girl talk?"
"These two? I dunno, they haven't seen each other for weeks," Flack said making a face.
"Stop it both of you or I am revoking the invitation," Gus said standing up and looping her arm through Lindsay's, "we can have fun without you boys, right Linds?"
"I guess so" Lindsay said with mock sadness.
"You are as bad as Don," Gus laughed at Lindsay, "come on the lot of you, I want a slice and some beer."
"Ah the house wine" Danny joked.
"What?" Gus asked, wrinkling her forehead.
"Nothing, you had to be there" Flack snickered as Lindsay smiled.
"Great, now y'all have inside jokes, just because I got stuck on the UN case-"
"Means you didn't end up with cockroaches crawling all over you, so I don't want to hear it", Lindsay said, yanking on Danny, "come on cowboy, if you are good I'll treat you to some house wine."
Flack and Gus watched them go ahead. Flack turned to Gus and raised his eyebrows, "guess you gave some good advice, huh, sunshine?"
"Don't I always," Gus replied, moving in for a quick kiss before they rushed to catch up with the other pair.
Gus slid into the booth at their favorite pizza joint, snatching the menu away from Danny across from her and sliding it to Lindsay. "No way, Danny, ladies choice tonight," she said with a grin.
"Well in that case" Danny retorted with a smirk, "I go best with the traditional Italian sauce, Montana."
Lindsay rolled her eyes as Gus and Flack groaned into their beers.
They chatted about their recent cases, pausing to give their order, all of them giving their input on Evie Pierpont. "Rich people are all the same," Danny quipped.
"You never know what might have happened to her when she was younger," Lindsay responded.
"Younger, she's freakin' 15," Flack said.
"But not a normal 15 year old, Don," Gus said shaking her head and grabbing at a piping hot slice of pizza that had been set in front of her. "Dammit!" Gus squealed as the grease seared the roof of her mouth causing an instant blister and cheese scorched her chin.
"You do that every time, sunshine," Flack said, wiping at her face.
Lindsay and Danny shared a look, with Lindsay speaking first, "Okay, spill it. What is going on with you two?"
"Whadda ya mean?" Flack asked, furrowing, as Gus was sucking down beer and wincing.
"Ah come on, Flack, look at ya" Danny said with a gesture.
"Look at us what, Messer?" Gus replied, trying and failing to look innocent.
"I'm just askin' if when you are finally going to be ready to take your stock public, that's all," Danny leaned back in the booth, with a relaxed posture that allowed him to throw own arm over the back of the book and sort of around Lindsay.
"I don't know Danny, but tell me how was Montana? Flight and weather good?" Gus said with a smile.
Lindsay turned about as red as the sauce and Danny glowered at Gus.
"Sorry, dawlin' didn't mean to turn ya the color of red gravy," Gus drawled, trying to lighten the mood, mostly because she wasn't really sure if she and Flack were at the point to go public. Politically and career wise, it didn't feel like the wisest idea but it was getting harder to hide their relationship.
"Red gravy?" Lindsay said, snorting her drink.
"Don't ask," Gus said, "but really Lindsay, how are you doing?"
"Happy the trial is over, glad I can put that chapter of my life behind me." Lindsay replied, looking very much relieved.
"That was pretty brave of ya, Linds," Flack said.
"It wasn't brave, it was something that had to be done," Lindsay remarked, matter of fact.
"I wish people were like that in all of our cases" Gus said, "sometimes getting witnesses and victims to testify is the hardest part."
"Luckily we don't have to deal with that too much," Danny said.
"More than I like to," Flack grunted.
"What do ya think of Gerrard's promotion?" Danny asked, changing the subject.
"That he is an ass-kissing, scum sucking political machine," Gus sneered.
"And tell us how you really feel," Lindsay laughed.
"I agree with your woman, there Flack. She knows what she is talking about. Can't stand the creep myself," Danny said.
"He didn't win a friend in Sheldon either with the UN case," Gus expressed.
"Yeah well maybe you, me, and Hawkes can start an anti-fan club,"
"Maybe so," Gus replied and pointed at Lindsay's yawn, "stop that, they are contagious you know".
"I don't know why I am so tired," Lindsay yawned again.
"Musta been fighting off all those cockroaches, huh Montana?" Danny said, giving her a little squeeze.
Now it was Flack and Gus' turn to exchange looks. "You better get home for your beauty sleep, Linds, but we do need a real girls night soon," Gus intoned with a warning look at both men.
"Don't look at me, we can amuse ourselves," Flack said, palms up in the air.
"I'm sure you can," Gus drawled, shoving him out of the booth.
They settled the tab, slipped back into coats and stood outside the restaurant, all yawning. "You want to split a cab?" Danny asked them all, but Gus knew he just meant Lindsay.
"I could use a good walk, burn off that pizza. Thanks anyway, Danny."
"I'm gonna make sure she gets home safe," Flack said, his hand pressing into the small of Gus' back.
"Yeah, and work off that pizza," Danny smirked.
"Just make sure Lindsay gets home safe too, Messer."
"You heard him, Linds, guess we're splitting a cab" Danny said, whistling loudly and holding the door open for Lindsay.
"I think they are in love," Gus sighed, heading towards her apartment.
"Nah, ya think?" Flack dripped.
"Don't get so sarcastic on me, Don, or you will be working your pizza off on your own," Gus said, with a tug on his tie.
"Wouldn't want that," Flack dimpled, sliding an arm around her waist and tucking her into him.
"Nah, we wouldn't," Gus said, sighing contentedly.
A few yards from her apartment, shrouded in comfortable silence, Gus whispered, "I do love ya, Flack".
"I know. You too. But why the declaration, sunshine?" Flack asked, nuzzling her neck.
"I just thought I should-OH GOD!" Gus exclaimed, separating from Flack and rushing up to the curly haired figure slumped in front of her building.
At first, just seeing the hair, Gus thought it was Stella, but then she realized it was the hostess from her brunch place around the corner. "Mandy, can you hear me hon?" Gus questioned, feeling for a pulse on the pale and battered girl. "Mandy?" Gus asked again, feeling a pulse and checking for breath on the unconscious girl.
"I need a bus" Flack barked into his radio, slipping his jacket off and rolling up his sleeves, "she's from that Farmer's restaurant isn't she?" Gus nodded, slapping the girl gently on her bruised cheeks.
Chapter 100: Turning CI
A groan escaped from the young girl's lips. "Mandy, come on girl, wake up, sugar," Gus said, assessing for more critical injuries.
The girl stirred to consciousness. "Gus, you're home," she said.
"Yeah, I am, what are you doing here though?"
"Left shift, bartending," the girl moaned.
"Did you get mugged? Can you describe your attacker?" Flack asked gently, memo book in hand.
"My boyfriend," Mandy said, tears starting to well up in her eyes.
"Your boyfriend did this to you?" Flack questioned.
Mandy shook her head violently, matted curls bouncing, "no, but I think he's in some trouble".
"Trouble, what kind of trouble?" Gus perked up, as the girl started to drift off again, "come on, stay with me Mandy. Dammit, where is our bus?"
"They're backed up," Flack said after radioing dispatch.
Gus growled but brightened when Mandy opened her eyes and sat back up, "let's get her inside."
Together, they maneuvered Mandy upstairs to Gus' couch. She was fully conscious now, though slightly hysterical and sobbing. Flack assessed her injuries, canceling the bus, while Gus made tea and ice packs.
"My boyfriend!" Mandy wailed.
Gus sat down beside her, in full therapist mode, concern flick across her face, "what about your boyfriend?"
Flack wandered into the office, to give the women more privacy, but still listened at the doorway.
"I think Jimmy's gotten mixed up with some really bad guys," the girl said between sobs.
"What kind of bad?"
"I don't know, some sort of gang, drugs, guns, I don't know," Mandy took a sharp intake of breath, while Gus remained quiet. "I was leaving work, walking home and some guy grabbed me from behind," Mandy said after a pause, "he sounded, I don't know, like British or Irish or something and he started slapping me around wanting to know where Jimmy was with his money. I kept telling him I didn't know what he was talking about."
Mandy looked sheepishly up at Gus, "and I didn't not really, except Jimmy has had an awful lot of extra cash lately," she fingered her Cartier necklace, "and the last coupla times I spent the night, he would slip out at all hours."
Gus nodded, silently urging her to continue. "Anyway, so this guy started punching me and screaming at me and he was way bigger than me, I just kept screaming that I didn't know where Jimmy was. Finally he stopped punching me and made me call Jimmy to have him meet me, except it wasn't really going to be me, it was going to be this guy. He made me trick Jimmy and it's all my fault and I didn't know what else to do, I thought he was going to kill me, but now Jimmy might be dead instead!" Mandy started sobbing again.
"Okay, calm down, take a deep breath," Gus laid her hand on Mandy's arm, "where did this guy have you tell Jimmy to meet you?"
"11th and West 45th in Clinton at Midnight."
Gus looked up at the clock, twenty minutes ago, "crap," she sighed.
Flack came out of the office, clipping his badge back to his waist and re-holstering his weapon, "I'm on it," he said.
"What?" Mandy and Gus asked in unison.
"You two stay here, I'll go check on Jimmy," Flack came over and kissed Gus on the head.
"No way Flack, you need back up!"
"And I've got it, Sanchez is on duty and in that area already," his face was set.
"Be careful," Gus said, slumping back into the couch, knowing he was going whether she liked it or not.
"Always am, sunshine," Flack replied, with a quick peck he was out the door calling, "you two sit tight."
The two women sat, not talking for the longest time until Gus sat up straight, "Mandy, does Jimmy normally carry?"
"Carry what?" she asked innocently.
"A gun."
Mandy shook her curls violently and then wincing, "No, no! At least I don't think so. He said he doesn't anymore, can't, he has a record."
"Mandy, sugar, we have got to get you a better guy."
"I know, tell me about it," Mandy replied glumly, adjusting her ice pack.
Flack finally returned home a few hours later, Mandy was passed out on the couch in borrowed pajamas, Gus curled up in a chair, trying to read. She stuck a finger to her lips and looked at Flack questioningly as he softly closed the door behind him.
Mandy stirred and saw Flack, sitting up she asked, "Oh my god, is Jimmy alright?" She attempted to stand, but fell back to the sofa.
"He will be. It ain't pretty, but he'll live. Sanchez is with him in the E/R at St. Mike's right now. Probably has a couple of broken ribs, his nose and maybe his right hand."
"I have to go see him!" Mandy said wildly trying to stand and failing again, looking at Gus imploringly.
"I think what you need is sleep, we'll take you by the hospital before our shift. Come on in here, there are clean sheets on the guest bed," Gus said, motioning for Flack to help her get Mandy settled into the office. "You need anything else?" Gus asked after getting her settled.
"No, I'm fine, thank you both so much," Mandy grinned sweetly beneath her bruised face.
Curled in bed, Gus turned to Flack and said, "so you going to fill me in, blue eyes?"
"That girl needs a better boyfriend," he said with a wistful smile.
"I said the same thing".
"Kid's gotta record, mostly juvy so it was sealed, but he has an outstanding warrant so he was willing to talk, as much as he could at least, shocked his jaw wasn't busted. He's in some deep shit with some runners from Hell's Kitchen, didn't get all the details, but he apparently got a little greedy. But he must be good at whatever it is he is doing for them, because they didn't kill him. They must need him for something, though I think they gave a good try at getting their message across."
"Huh," Gus said, taking it all in and moving onto Flack's chest, "so what are you gonna do?"
"Snachez and I will talk to Loo tomorrow, but most likely we will try to turn him CI".
"Jesus, poor Mandy."
"Yeah, I know, she seems like a good kid. Need to figure out how to split those two up," Flack sighed, running his hands through Gus' hair.
"And how do you purpose to do that?" Gus asked sleepily relaxed.
"I don't," Flack smirked, "I figured I went out to check on the boyfriend, so that makes you responsible for breaking the young couple up."
"Oh joy," Gus sighed, flipping back over.
"Ah, come 'ere. I don't think it is going to be that hard," Flack said moving around her.
"Depends. Can I introduce her to Bobby then?" Flack's response was a playful swat and a deep kiss.
Still groggy from lack of sleep, Gus and Flack dropped Mandy off at the hospital and continued on to the precinct.
Flack immediately disappeared with Sanchez into the Lieutenant's office, leaving Gus to catch up on paperwork, guzzle coffee and goes tease Lindsay.
She managed to get little from her friend other than plans for the next night the three women managed to all get off and some assurance that Lindsay was currently 'evaluating all her options'.
"Don't overthink it Linds, that's my job," Gus said with a laugh, leaving Lindsay's office.
"You don't have sole ownership on over analyzing Gus!" Lindsay called after her.
"Missed ya last night," Sheldon greeted her in the hallway.
"I should have come with you guys," Gus stifled a yawn.
"Long night?" he asked with concern.
"I'll tell you about over lunch," Gus said, looking at her phone, not shocked that Flack was still in with the Lieutenant, for all she knew it could have become a task force by now, but her phone remained silent.
"I am never one to turn down lunch, as long as it isn't from a cart this time," Sheldon added with one of his million watt smiles.
"Nope, we can even go and sit some place, since it appears to be a slow day."
And it was, no calls, probably due to the nice weather they had been having, it made New Yorkers much happier than normal.
Flack had seemingly disappeared, as had several other homicide members. Gus tried to remain unperturbed as it neared the end of shift and still she had no clue what was going on. "Where is everyone? Busy day, and if so, why are you here?" Parker asked entering the pit.
"The exact opposite, in fact, slow. I don't know where everyone is, all I know is I haven't been included yet," Gus sighed.
"I would count yourself lucky on that one, kid," Parker said, sitting down and opening his newspaper.
A bit later, Gus trudged home alone. While the murder rate was down, the CSI's still had their hands full with other crimes that still needed processing. Gus went home, turned up her stereo and caught up on housekeeping.
She had just climbed out of a hot bath when a knock sounded at her door. "Coming," she called, wrapping a robe around her. She couldn't help but grin as she looked through the peephole, swinging open the door she said, "howdy stranger."
"You always answer the door for strangers like this?" Flack asked stepping into her apartment.
"Only the sexy ones", she replied with a grin, "I really need to get you a new key, huh?"
Flack nodded, his eyes drawn to the gape in her robe, "I, uh, here," he stuttered handing her the flowers he had been concealing behind his back.
"What on earth are these for?" Gus remarked at the overly extravagant bouquet, "you didn't do something wrong did ya?" she smiled, inhaling the floral scents.
"Disappeared on ya all day," Flack shrugged, taking off his jacket and suit coat.
"Well you did do that, but I managed to amuse myself," Gus said, padding into the kitchen leaving wet footprints behind her.
"So are they calling a task force?" Gus asked, arranging the flowers in water and then attempting to see if there was anything she could scrounge up for dinner.
Flack averted his eyes, shuffling his feet, "yeah."
"So more boring meetings?" Gus said with a grin, pulling containers out of the freezer.
"Not for you," Flack said softly.
Gus stopped, turning slowly, "what do you mean, not for me?"
"You aren't gonna be on the task force," Flack spoke each word carefully.
"And why not, pray tell?" Gus retorted, using all her will power to remain calm, there had to be a simple explanation that she could work around.
"Brass doesn't think you should be. You know, since you have gone through a lot lately."
"And you haven't?" Gus questioned, her voice trembling slightly, "I'm just the poor helpless female that might shatter? And so help me god if I find out Angell or someone is on the task force."
"Nah, she's not gonna get called in either," Flack closed in on Gus, "they think this might be a really big deal, heavyweight," he encircled her wrist and pulled her close.
"And I'm not able to handle a heavyweight?" Gus muttered.
"Not this kind," Flack replied with a wrinkled brow.
"How bad?" Gus asked softly, the look on his face raising her worry.
"Don't know yet, we'll see. But you put in your time on the Hansen case, I really don't want you in on this one," Flack traced her face with his hands.
"I thought we talked about how you don't always have to be the hero," she said, staring into his eyes.
"I don't, but this...this is big and I can't not be in on it."
Gus nodded, trying to understand, but failing. "I'm gonna make dinner, chicken okay with you?" Gus questioned, changing the subject.
"It's not because you aren't a good cop, Gus," Flack said, moving up behind her.
"Good to know," Gus said, throwing vegetables on the chopping block and attacking them.
"I told them not to put you on it, Daddino wanted to," Flack admitted, jumping back as Gus whirled with the knife in hand.
"What?" Gus snapped, pointing the knife and then turning to put it back down, refusing to give in to the screaming lunatic she so wanted to become right now, with a deep breath she turned back to face Flack.
"I think this might involve some pretty big guns, some really dangerous guys, I don't want you in that, no I CAN'T have you in that right now," Flack looked a curious mix of resolute and worn.
Gus studied him carefully, realizing that he was just trying to protect her out of love, pretty damn deep love. It chilled her and delighted her at the same time, she also realized this was part of Mac's hesitation at their relationship.
Mac Taylor right as always, Gus thought before wrapping her arms around Flack, "you can't always protect me, Don," she said into his shoulder.
"I know, but when I can, I'm gonna," he said, tipping her face up to kiss her. Dinner was forgotten as they made their way to the bedroom.
Chapter 101: Praline Girl
The next Monday night, Gus and Flack found themselves in Central Park on what would have otherwise been a romantic night, had it not been the start of their shift. They stared down at the armored body and Gus quipped, "what a knight, huh?"
Flack snorted and smirked, "you had to, huh, sunshine?"
"Someone was going to," she shrugged.
"Go finish talking to the crazy homeless guy while I fill Stella in."
"Not every homeless person is mentally ill, Flack," Gus admonished.
"Let us not start this again. He informed me that sugar was actually granulated tracking devices, I am calling it on account of crazy," Flack stated.
"Fine, fine, I'll go work my magic," Gus said with a wave to the arriving Stella.
"Mr. Smith, I'm safe, I promise," Gus said, trying to pry information out of the only witness.
"Fine, fine, but I am warning you girlie, they are watching."
"Got it, so the knight just came wandering up and crashed there, correct? You didn't touch the body?"
"Wasn't going to touch him, he's obviously crazy. Who goes around in Central Park in body armor?"
Gus nodded, agreeing with the man, but also thinking it was a serious case of the pot calling the kettle black.
She wandered back over to Stella and Flack, "anything?"
"Blood trail, Stella found cherry blossoms in his hair and a kissed ring."
"And the plot thickens", Gus retorted following them and the blood trail.
"These are horse tracks," Stella said pointing.
"Lots of tracks," Gus said, studying them.
"More than one horse," Flack looked up, "Lance, armor, dead knight, go ahead say it," he looked at them.
"Our vic was jousting in Central Park," Stella replied, but Gus had turned her attention to the noise she heard and was quite familiar with.
Gus was already at the blood covered horse, snapping gloves on to grab its bridle when Stella and Flack came over. "Looks like you got another body to process," Gus remarked, gently leading the horse out of the briars.
"Great," Stella said wryly, starting to photograph.
"Can you call for a horse trailer, Flack," Gus said, trying to keep the horse still, while Stella worked.
Flack and Gus helped Stella load the horse and then went back to canvass the park area. They working frustratingly through the night, getting nowhere, until finally the decided to catch a shower and head back into the lab.
Flack went to touch base with Stella to see what she had lifted from the horse, while Gus went to grab them coffee. She spotted Mac and a bleeding Peyton on the way back in. "Oh lord, what happened?" Gus asked Danny who was standing off to the side.
"Somebody knocked Peyton into the ME's van and stole a body."
"Stole a body? You've got to be kidding me!"
"Wish I was."
"Looks like the weirdness factor is back on."
"Yeah, heard you caught a vic trying to live out Camelot."
"Sure did, on my way to deal with it some more now. Tell Peyton I hope she feels better."
"Will do, I'll see you Gus."
Flack was putting the coat he had just taken off back on as Gus came in with the coffees.
"Where we headed?"
"Back to the park, Stella found pull marks on the horse, so it was probably from one of the carriage places. I called some guy reported a horse missing a couple of hours ago".
On the way back to the park Gus informed Flack of Peyton's injuries and the stolen body. "That is just sick, just sick" Flack pulled a disgusted face.
"Sure is," Gus said, falling silent as they made their way to the carriage drivers.
"Here," Flack handed her a mug shot of the carriage driver who had reported the missing horse.
"Meet ya in the middle," Gus said, starting on one end to look for the driver.
Flack found the guy first and Gus walked up to hear him questioning the guy, or an interrogation by the sounds of it, "on a credit card that wasn't yours?" Flack was barking.
Gus bit her lip to not crack up, sleep deprived Flack made one sexy bad cop. "Don't go anywhere JJ," Flack said walking off towards Gus.
"And another thing Detective, I want my horse back," JJ said standing up in the carriage. Flack just smirked and continued walking. JJ made the mistake of leering at Gus then, "detective, that woman, could be her, but I would have to see her with less clothes on!"
Flack stiffened, but only Gus detected it, "in your dreams, buddy," Gus said, unclipping her badge and flashing it.
"Why couldn't you have been the one to question me?"
"Because Flack, here, is way nicer than I would have been, JJ. We'll see you around," Gus retorted, pulling on Flack's sleeve.
"Anytime, sweet thing, I'll even give you a ride on the house."
Gus refrained from comment and hissed at Flack to do the same. Flack shook his head and pulled out his buzzing phone, "looks like Harbor Police found the missing body."
"Why would you steal a body to only dump it in the water?" Gus asked with a shake of her head.
"That's what we are about to find out," Flack said, opening her car door, "but the kid that was driving the car that stole the body is a councilman's son."
"Well that may have something to do with it".
"And that also means Mac's gonna feel some heat".
"Remind me to not make any plans with him anytime soon," Gus groaned.
The arrived on scene, to a commotion. "What's going on now?" Gus sighed.
"The guy in the body bag was alive!" a uniform exclaimed, scribbling hastily in his memo book.
"Say what?" Flack said and rushed off toward Mac. Flack came rushing back, "It's warrant time" he said, swooping back into the car, "Mac needs one for the kid's car like yesterday".
"Car's got to be already cleaned out" Gus remarked.
"I know, but Mac said something about it having a brain. A black box and he wants Danny to process it anyway".
"I guess I should have worn a skirt today then, huh?" Gus joked.
"Then I probably would have had to smack JJ around," Flack said, squeezing her knee, "and you'll do fine as it is" he said, pulling up in front of the courthouse.
"Ya just gonna leave me here?" Gus admonished.
"I'm going to go check out the restaurant where JJ tried to use the vic's card and see if I can get an id".
"Always about efficiency aren't you?" Gus smiled, closing the door.
Flack grinned wickedly and rolled down the window, "not always, sunshine!"
Gus went on a wild goose chase of a warrant for a connected young man, waiting impatiently outside a judge's chambers.
Sighing, she called Lindsay to see how she was doing. "Not so good, DB last night found dead in a penthouse suite of some ritzy hotel and no usable evidence of who killed him other than she was blond. You didn't kill anyone last night did you?"
"Can't say I did Linds. So you have nothing to go with?"
"I am waiting to see about a woman who called his room five times and also on financials, but you know how they love to put us lab rats at the bottom of the heap."
"I'll make a couple calls for you, Lindsay. I have a couple of guys that owe me favors for helping them with their women troubles."
"Would you? That would be great," Lindsay gushed.
"No problem and if I am still stuck in the court house when the results come through, I'll have Flack get them to you".
Finally, as Gus' patience was coming to an end, she was called into the Judge's chambers. She plastered a giant smile on her face and greeting the older rotund man with a big "why good afternoon, Judge Chaisson!"
"When my secretary said a detective was waiting on me, I did not expect you," the judge said rising from behind his desk.
"Oh sit down now," she drawled.
"So what can I do for you, Detective Broussard, right?" he looked curiously at her, "wait you are the praline girl".
Gus wrinkled her nose, she had in fact delivered pralines to all sitting judges shortly after joining the field full time in order to make herself memorable, however most of the judges could have cared less either used to much more extravagant gifts or having no clue what the hell pralines were.
"Er, yes your honor, that is me," Gus sat sheepishly.
"Where are you from, Broussard?" he asked leaning forward, his over sized belly slapping against the desk.
"New Orleans, sir," Gus replied.
"Ah, I thought so!" he smacked his leg, "I knew you had to be one".
"One what?" Gus questioned, hoping she wasn't going to hear any more refugee bull.
"One of us, child, I'm from Lafayette, originally!" Chaisson exclaimed, happy as a small child with a present, "so what can I do for ya little lady?"
"I need a warrant," Gus squeaked out.
"That's no problem, though I don't see why you had to wait for me, you could have just had a clerk handle it for you."
"Well it's against Councilman Bowfield's son," Gus sighed.
"Oh well, that could be a problem," the judge leaned back, patting his belly in thought,"what for precisely?"
"To search his car, we believe he was involved in the removal of a body from the ME's van and assault on the ME herself."
"Dead bodies? What would the councilman's son want with a dead body?"
"Actually the body wasn't dead, per se," Gus grimaced.
"Wasn't dead? Probably just some childish prank then. Shame the ME got hurt though." Chaisson continued to think and stare at and through Gus.
Finally he spoke, just as Gus was figuring it was a lost cause, "look here, I will sign off on this warrant on one condition, Detective Broussard." Gus gave a slight nod of her head, wondering what he was going to come out with. "I have a standing lunch date with myself at Forlini's today. If you agree to join me, you get your warrant."
Gus debated for less than a second, "deal" she said leaning her hand over the desk for a shake. "I''ll have my courier run it over right now then," the judge said writing up the paper work.
A good while later Gus was walking back into Criminal Court, stuffed with scrumptious Italian, and laughing at Judge Chaisson's accounts of growing up on the bayou.
"Darlin' I do hope you come and get all your warrants from me," the man drawled, patting Gus on the arm.
"That might look a bit suspicious, Your Honor," Gus trilled back.
"I do see your point, Augusta, but at least promise you will pass a good time with this old man again, occasionally. It is good to talk to someone who understands the quirks of the swamp."
"I think I can be amenable to that," Gus said, holding up her finger as her phone rang.
"Ah duty calls, I shall let you go, I need to get back to the bench," the judge said, waddling off, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
"Broussard," Gus said with a gulp.
"Sunshine" Flack greeted with a note of curiosity, "where are you?"
"At the courthouse, you know where you dropped me off," Gus said, wiping her own tears of laughter away.
"Still? Great, Mac's going to be pissed if he doesn't get his warrant," Flack's jaw tightened.
"Mac got his warrant forever ago blue eyes."
"So what are you still doing at court?"
"Lunch with a judge."
"Well aren't we something," Flack snarked.
"Flack!" Gus warned, "catch me up."
"Got an id our on vic, stockbroker named Derek Curson. Also, our vic had a brain tumor and a female apparently touched his eyelids and the eyelids of the vic in Lindsay and Hawkes' case".
"Bob Smith?" Gus asked incredulous.
"Yep. Lindsay said thank you for the financial info. Turns out Bob Smith bought the lance that killed Curson. And Stella and I went to talk to Isabella Cooksey, who is the woman that made all the calls to Bob Smith's hotel room. Lindsay says thank you for that as well. You have been busy today, Broussard," Flack's voice had a smile in it.
"Sounds like you have been, too. What did you and Stella get from Isabella?"
"Lies, damn lies and no statistics," Flack joked, "claims to be Smith's real estate agent who was selling his place. Says Smith didn't like watching people nosin' around his stuff, so why potential buyers checked out his place, he went to hotel. She says she was at dinner with a friend at TOD, but refused to give up DNA or fingerprints".
"So she's involved somehow, huh?"
"I'm thinking so. I then went back to yourfriend JJ to see if he could id her as the woman Curon was with".
"I bet that went well." Gus sniffed.
"Oh yeah, maybe if I had a photo of her legs. Anyway, he said something about giving you a free ride you wouldn't forget. I managed to not punch him, but I thought about it. I am about to head back to the lab, you want me to pick you up?"
"It's not that far of a walk," Gus said, but secretly wanting him to.
"Yeah, but I haven't see you much today," Flack admitted, dropping his voice.
"With such a convincing argument, how could I say no?" Gus laughed.
"Hey hot stuff, going my way?" Flack called from his squad car.
"That is no way to talk to an officer of the law," Gus smiled, sliding in.
"I'm going to go fill Stella in," Flack said once back at the lab.
"I'll be right there," Gus said, slipping into the canteen for a coffee.
"Rats with human ears on its back, goats spinning silk with spider DNA, it's just freaky," Danny said, sitting at the table, telling Adam about his case.
"Bio-engineering, wave of the future, Danny," Gus replied, taking a drink of coffee.
"That's one freaky future. Thanks for getting that warrant by the way, though it didn't do me much good, kid's car was clean."
"Ah no problem, glad you got somewhere regardless, you did get somewhere, right?"
"Working on it," Danny sighed, looking tired.
"Good luck," Gus said walking towards Stella's office and stopping by Sid who was explaining that Bob Smith had leukemia. Coupled with Curson's brain tumor, the men had something else in common other than the woman who left her fingerprints, they were both terminally ill.
"Short timers, maybe a month or two left, max" Sid said. Gus felt her heart skip, a realization that they may not be cold blooded murders as much as they may have been assisted suicides.
She was about to blurt this out when Stella announced, "Isabella's artwork, her self portrait, it's her DNA".
Flack nodded, his bottom lip poking out in a thinking pout as Stella rushed past her to Sheldon in the lab, "hi Gus!" she said, rushing past.
"Both guys were dying," Gus muttered, pacing in the hallway as they waited for Sheldon to run the DNA profile.
"Yep," Flack said, matter of fact.
"That's sad," Gus replied.
"Sad is them both getting offed before their time was up, however short that time was," Flack remarked, grabbing Gus by the shoulders to make her stop pacing, "how much coffee have you had today?"
"A lot with lunch, only way I could avoid the judge pushing wine on me."
"Why was it you went to lunch with the judge?" Flack questioned.
"He's from Lafayette," Gus shrugged out of Flack holding her shoulders, but leaned against the wall instead of pacing.
"So if a judge is from Albany, I should go out to lunch with them?" Flack smiled.
"It is how I got my warrant. Chaisson is a pretty good guy, for a judge at least. He grew up not far from where my father was born," Gus started tapping her foot, "how long is this gonna take?"
Flack shrugged, "what are you thinking on the case?" he asked suddenly, gently placing his foot over hers to stop the tapping.
"They are inexplicably interwoven. And maybe it wasn't an ordinary murd-" Gus was cut off by Sheldon gesturing them into the lab.
"DNA is a match to the lipstick from the ring," Sheldon remarked..
"That's it! Isabella is connected to both cases now. Phone calls to Bob, kissed Derek's ring!" Stella said excitedly.
Sheldon held up a hand, "but she didn't touch the eyelids of the vics, so there is still another woman out there. We need to find out marijuana smoker who left that blond hair in Bob Smith's bed".
"Blond pot-smoker in New York, yeah that narrows it down," Gus grumbled.
Flack added, "yeah and as far as Isabella goes, she's not going to confess to anything and we can't convict her unless we can place her at the crime scenes".
Lindsay came striding in with a studious face, "long ago in Fiji, a little girl was punished by her mother."
Flack smirked, Sheldon and Stella exchanged smiles and Gus wrinkled her brow as Lindsay continued, "she ran away and got tangled in a white flowery vine. Her tears turned to blood and landed on the vine, turning the flower red. Thus the Tagimoucia flower, which is what we found on our vic's armor."
"Fiji? So it was imported" Sheldon exclaimed.
Gus was still stuck on tears turning to blood and her assisted suicide angle.
"No, I checked the soil fragments. I found peat moss, but no sand, silt or clay. Which means this flower was grown in a controlled environment."
"Greenhouse," Stella interjected. Lindsay nodded.
Gus and Flack shared an eye roll, "lots of greenhouse in New York, Lindsay," Flack pointed out.
"Well that is true, Flack, but the flower also had yellow discoloration which means it was exposed to calcium hydroxide. This flower was grown in a greenhouse that was in the path of a chemical toxin".
Flack smirked wider, "I am so glad that figuring this stuff out is your job. Not ours. Let's go, Gus." Gus snickered and followed him back to the pit.
Luckily the CSIs where great at their job and they had a greenhouse address in no time. Gus followed behind the greenhouse owner, Stella and Flack, stopping to admire the amazing array of fauna and flora the man had on a rooftop in New York. She perked up when she heard Henry Kroft identify himself as a psychiatrist who runs a support group from terminally ill young people. "Your kind," Flack muttered.
"Yeah, it's a cult," Gus retorted.
Flack shook his head and said to Kroft, "so that's how you knew Bob Smith and Derek Curson?"
Gus felt buzzing in her ears as she heard the doctor say, "it is one thing to be old and terminally ill, but another to get that kind of news before your life has even begun."
Gus made a strangled noise, earning a look from Flack as he pulled out the flier with Isabella's photograph on it, "you ever see Bob and Derek with this woman?"
Kroft nodded, "Yes, all the time, she was in the same support group as them."
"Isabella Cocksey is dying?" Stella said, her eyes wide.
"You would never know it, would you. Vibrant, beautiful...The people in that group were very close," Kroft replied, "they came to the sessions together, hung out afterwards, had a special connection. It isn't always like that."
"Because it isn't supposed to be," Gus grumbled under her breath, recalling best group therapy practices she had had drilled into her by one of her old professors, a group therapy expert. No one heard her as Stella thanked Henry for his time and he walked off.
Stella turned to Flack and Gus, "that's it!" Gus read her face, nodding, believing that Stella may have some to her same conclusion.
"What's it?" Flack asked.
"Well we've been concentrating on the killer, but we've forgotten about the victims. What was going on in their minds, Flack they wanted to die."
"That's why Bob didn't struggle against his bonds?" Flack stated, starting to catch on. "And why the prints indicated Derek was pushing the lance towards them."
"It was in their control," Gus remarked.
"Yeah they were young and attractive. Bright futures, then life throws them this curve ball. This was their revenge," Stella said, happy that Gus was buying into her theory, not knowing Gus had been there for a while already.
"Gus, you think since they couldn't control the when in their death they would control the how?"
"Right!" exclaimed Gus and Stella at the same time.
"Planning your fantasy death is the ultimate finale to life," Stella shrugged.
Gus rested her chin in her hand, deep in thought as Flack said, "yeah Stell, but we are talking about an ice pick to the brain. Don't you think you might be romanticizing?"
"I'm going to talk to Kroft again," Gus said, rushing toward the psychiatrist and leaving Stella and Flack to duke it out on their own.
"Dr. Kroft, did any of your group members have excessive suicidal ideations? Bob and Derek for instance," Gus asked as she got close.
"It can be a normal part of the terminally ill patients death process to use such ideation's as a coping mechanism," he gave her a strange look.
"Psychologist by trade," Gus replied.
"Then you know I can't give out specific information on my clients."
"You can if they were killed by someone who is going to keep offing your group members. You do remember a little something called Duty to Warn, don't you?" Gus glowered but he was saved from answering by Flack calling him back over.
"Any patients in your group use medical marijuana?" Stella questioned.
Dr. Kroft squirmed as he stated, "I wouldn't know."
"You do know it is illegal in New York, yeah?" Flack added.
"And there happens to be a plant over there that resembles a marijuana plant," Stella remarked with raised eyebrows.
Flack stared down Kroft and evenly said, "it would be very helpful for us to have those names".
"A few of them use it, yes."
"We are looking for a woman with blond hair," Stella responded.
"Who we think killed Bob and Derek," Flack glowered.
"Back to that Duty to Warn thing," Gus snipped. He quickly gave up the name of Jennie Parker.
On the way to the woman's apartment, Flack said, "all it took was one little pot plant to make the shrink sing like a bird. There's confidentiality for you".
"Actually, Flack, a pot plant wouldn't have done much to his license, I think he may have heard some planning going on with his group members and failure to warn would have gotten his license yanked," Gus countered.
"And here I thought it was my impressive interrogation skills," Flack volleyed back.
Stella was deep in thought and ignored the playful banter.
Uniforms quickly cleared the small apartment for the trio, who found Jennie Parker splayed out on her bed, pill bottles dotting her nightstand. Flack checked for a pulse, "she's gone."
Stella gravely remarked, "looked like our killer had our own fantasy death."
"So what was Isabella's?" Gus asked. The other two looked at her, searchingly. "She's the only one not dead, but she was in the same group and involved in the assisted suicides of at least two of the others. She had to have her own plan. Back to the control thing, Isabella is definitely the type to want to be in control.
"That is an excellent point," Stella nodded, "And I think I want to go find out."
"You need back-up?" Flack asked.
"Nah, you two go work on the paperwork and then catch some sleep. I'll touch base tomorrow."
"You sure, Stell?" Flack looked concerned.
Stella shot Gus a glance, Gus realized that Stella wanted to question Isabella for more personal than professional reasons. "Come on Flack, Stella's cutting us loose, how often does that happen? I'll buy you dinner," she smiled at him and bumped him with her hip.
He dimpled in response, "my stomach won't argue you on that one."