Chapter Thirteen

Alex wakes from a restful sleep. She looks over and Bobby is still asleep.

This is nice. I can get use to this, very easily.

Her movements in the bed wake him. Instead of a cheery good morning, he gets up on his elbow and looks at the alarm clock.

"Does that say 6 AM?"

"Yes. Why?"

He looks over at her with sleepy eyes. "Is the house on fire?"

"No. Of course not."

"Then what are you waking me up for. I normally sleep until at least seven and since I'm not going to work today. I can sleep later."

"I didn't mean to wake you up you big grouch."

Aloud so he can hear. "Mental note. Do not wake Bobby up before7 AM because if you do he acts like a big prick."

"I love you too." He falls back down on the bed and his head is very close to her neck.

"Bobby I need to talk to you about something. I wanted to last night but I never got around to it."

He says playfully. "Oh a neck." He starts kissing her neck and nibbling on her ear. She asks him to stop but at the same time, she does not move.

"I want to talk to you."

"I'm listening."

"Will you stop?"

"If you want me to stop. You're gonna have to move."

"Oh what the hell." She turns her head and their lips meet. "I can be a little late for work."

In between kisses, he says. "You actually think it's going to take that long?" She pokes him in the ribs and he starts to laugh.

They make love and as they lay in bed holding each other close. Neither wants to be the first to let go. Alex lays her head down on his chest. "I don't want to leave."

"That's a nice thing to hear." He kisses the top of her head then lifts her head up by her chin and kisses her gently on the lips. They look into each other's eyes. "I can't find the right words to say exactly how I feel about you and just saying I love you seems so…I don't know, like it's not enough."

She grabs him by the back of his neck, pulls him close to her, and kisses him. "Say it. I love the way it sounds."

"I love you. Alex."

They hug each other again and the alarm clock goes off. It is 7 AM. It startles them. "Damn." He gets up from the bed and turns off the alarm. "Well at least it got me out of bed."

She laughs. "When did you set the alarm?"

"I don't remember force of habit. I probably just put it on before I went out last night."

"Bobby, will you do me a favor?"

"Of course."

"Would you get the bag I have in the back seat of my car?"

"A bag?"

"Yes. I brought a change of clothes with me."

"Oh you did. Huh." He smiles as she walks up to him and reaches up to kiss his cheek, "Mind if I use a shower?"

"Not at all." She walks towards the door. "Wait." She turns around. "What?"

"Let me in there first. Damn, I have to get another bathroom in this house."

When she is finished in the bathroom, she finds her bag of clothes on his bed. He is not in the room. She can smell coffee and it smells great. Alex changes, applies her makeup and joins him in the kitchen.

The Today Show is on as she pours herself a cup. She takes a sip. "Hey this is good."

In a teasing voice, "Get my breakfast woman."

"Woman." She repeats. "You know actually I wouldn't mind making breakfast if you ever had any food in this place. You bachelors, all your refrigerators have the same three items. Beer, wine and maybe an egg."

He laughs. She opens the frig and it is as she said but there is one extra item, A jar of pickles. She turns to look at him. "What's with the pickles?"

"I have pickles in there?" Shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders, "I don't know."

She pours herself another cup of coffee and sits down next to him. "I want to talk to you about Richard. The Captain wants to wrap up the Lowell case. He wants me to bring Richard in."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"Don't you want to talk to him?"

"No."

"What do you mean no?"

"I don't want to talk to him."

"Bobby?"

"Alex. Now that we know each other's name, you have to do this, I can't."

"What do you mean you can't? What are you giving up?"

"No. I can't do it, you have to." He pauses as he takes a sip of coffee. "Why do you think he waits until their unconscious before he touches them?"

"Because he's afraid of them."

"He's in awe of them, but he also has no respect for them. Now if you approach him being the kind of woman you are, strong and independent, he'll crumble."

"But how?" How should I approach him? Guilt him into admitting it?"

"How can you quilt someone into admitting something when they have no conscious."

"Trick him?" Bobby shakes his head. "No. He's too smart."

"Then what should I do, lie to him?"

"No." He pauses, "Tell him the truth, and unveil his secret. Unravel his crime step by step and he will fold. Remember, to make it personal. Say his name as much as possible and make eye contact with him."

She sits back in the chair and finishes the rest of the coffee in her cup. "I can handle him, the little scum ball. We should have had this conversation two weeks ago."

He does not answer her he just turns his head away. A look of disappointment shows on his face.

Damnit. Alex sits up and puts her hand on his. "We are not responsible for his actions Bobby."

"I know that but…" She cuts him off. "Don't beat yourself up over it."

He nods his head. "I won't." He kisses her hand and sits up straight. "When you're ready to pick him up call me. I want to watch."

He notices her staring at the coffee pot. "Go ahead take the rest. I can make more."

She fills her mug again. "I plan on picking him up early this morning. You remember you have an appointment this afternoon."

"Yeah I know."

She sits down next to him. "Who is this doctor and why did Olivette recommend him or her to you."

"Her name is Angela Sherman. She's a psychologist."

Alex notices that whenever he talks about what happened to him with Nicole he is unable to look at her. "Her patients are mostly people who have been held hostage or abducted and spouses who have been controlled by their mates."

"Are you nervous?"

"No. Not yet."

She can see the look on his face. He is a little nervous. She has seen that look before. She drinks down the last of the coffee and stands up to put the mug in the sink.

Bobby stands up and walks behind her. He grabs her from behind and she turns around. In a Ward Cleaver kind of voice, he says.

"Have a good day dear."

She starts to laugh and then she kisses him. "Bye honey."

He chuckles and walks her to the door.

One Police Plaza

A young man exits the elevator he has a delivery for Alexandra Eames. Detective Barbara Miles shows the young man to her desk.

Bobby steps out of the elevator and people look over and nod at him. Carolyn walks over. "Hey Bobby. How are you feeling?"

They walk together toward the observation room. "Much better thanks."

"You back?"

"No not yet. Alex is bringing in Richard Lowell and since we started this thing together I want to see it through till the end."

"Barek, phone call."

"Take care of yourself Bobby. See you later."

"Thanks, Bye."

Barbara catches Alex as she exits the elevator. "Who is he?"

"Who?"

"The one who sent that?" She points. "He must be very sweet, Alex."

Alex nods her head. "Yes he is."

On her desk is a single red rose.

If you send a single red rose, it means, "I love you."

Bobby notices Alex walking behind Richard. He is being escorted by two police officers, his parents are nowhere in sight. She sees him across the room and it is hard for her not to smile.

"Bring him into interrogation. I'll be right there."

"Are you ready?" Bobby says.

"Yeah."

"Good luck."

Bobby walks into the observation room. Captain Deakins and Ron Carver are already in there.

Alex un-holsters her gun and puts it in the gun locker.

"Morning Detective."

"Morning."

Deakins patting him on back. "How you doing Bobby?"

"I'm doing alright Captain, thanks."

Alex walks into the room. Richard looks up quickly and then lowers his head. Alex sits down across from him. Without looking at her, he asks. "Where's the big guy?"

"He's not here today, Richard. You have the honor and privilege of talking with me today."

"I'd rather talk to him."

"That's too bad. I know all about you Richard."

"Oh really. What do you know?"

"I know that you're just a scared little boy."

"Hey. I'm a man."

"Oh you're a man. A man who can't ever look at me when I'm talking to him." She slams her hand down on the table. "Look at me Richard!"

He lifts his head up but looks away from her. "Not over there, I'm over here. Why can't you look at me?"

He keeps his head down but she can see his eyes.

"I know what you do. You sit and watch. You are very patient. You wait and watch them for hours while they get high and make fools out of themselves. It makes you feel superior, doesn't it?"

She pauses, waiting for a response from him. He doesn't say anything he just shakes his heads from side to side.

"Then you see her, you watch her as she stumbles and you, do what? Pretend to be a nice guy and help her walk and then you take her upstairs. Maybe you talk her into one more drink and watch her as she passes out?"

"No. I told that big guy and now I'm telling you, you got the wrong guy."

Alex does not respond to his comment she continues her story. "Then you make your move. My God Richard why not use one of those blow up girls, you'd get the same effect."

"No you don't. Those things are cold, at least the girls are warm."

Bobby, Carver and Deakins look at each other. Bobby says. "Oh man. That is one sad and lonely kid."

"That is one messed up kid." Says Deakins.

"And he's so young." Carver says. "Fortunately we got him before he grew up into God knows what."

Bobby says barely above a whisper. "He was already there."

They look back to Alex and Richard. "But they're asleep Richard."

"Yes they are."

Carver says, "Got him."

"That way they won't complain. Because all you woman ever do is complain, you bitch about everything, you're never happy, no matter what we do, it's not enough."

Alex sits back in her chair, takes a deep breath, and says very calmly. "So, what happened that night with Michelle?"

"She moved."

"Did she wake up Richard?"

"No she never opened her eyes but I got scared. I thought she was going to see me. I didn't want her to see me so I held the pillow over her face, she didn't move after that."

He buries his face in his hands and starts to sob, for himself.

Alex stands up. "Richard Lowell you're under arrest for murder." Two police officers enter the room and escort him to booking.

"I'll be right there." Alex says.

Before Bobby leaves the room, he extends his hand first to the Captain and then to Carver.

He just says. "Thanks." Both men shake his hand and they respond by nodding. He excuses himself and leaves the room.

Carver speaking to Deakins, "You think he'll be alright?"

"Yeah, I do. He'll be fine. He'll be back just as brilliant and annoying as ever." Both men laugh.

"Annoying I can understand that."

"He's gotten to you a few times."

Carver nodding his head, "Yes he has. He has undermined me more than once. As a lawyer some of the things he's done has really pissed me off but as a human being living on this planet I can't knock the man for his passion as a matter of fact I admire him for it."

Bobby meets up with Alex. "Good job."

"Thanks partner." They start walking in the direction of the elevator. "What happened to his parents?"

"I almost fell over when he told me. But they went away for a couple of days."

"Oh man."

"During the search this morning we found two kegs of beer, bottles and bottles of wine and alcohol."

"Oh my God, he was planning another party. Any drugs?"

"No, I guess he didn't get a chance to buy them yet."

She pushes the elevator button. "You trying to get rid of me?"

"I don't want you to miss your appointment."

"I won't." The elevator door opens. They both step inside. "It's just downtown." The door closes. "Besides it's only one o'clock."

"That was so sweet, thank you. I wanted to give you such a big hug, it was frustrating, so I'll do it now."

"The smile on your face made it all worth while."

She breaks the hug but keeps hold of his hand. "I was thinking, since I couldn't make breakfast this morning. How about I prepare dinner tonight."

He gives her a puzzled look. "Really?"

"Why do you say it like that?"

"No reason, you're gonna cook?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna cook, I'm a damn good cook."

"Ok I believe you." He pauses. "What are you going to make?"

"I'm not sure yet, I need to go shopping. But I want to use your kitchen, mine is too small."

"Ok. What time should I expect you?"

"Probably a little after six."

"Alright, should I pick up a dessert? Cheesecake perhaps."

"Definatley."

The elevator door opens and they give each other a quick hug. "I'll see you later."

"Good luck."

He smiles on the outside but he is starting to get a little nervous.

TBC