Chapter 4: The Seduction Begins

Stella glanced up as Danny came into her office, closed the door, and sat in one of the chairs facing her desk.

"Well, Danny Messer, make yourself at home," she said with a wry smile.

"I don't understand that girl," Danny immediately started pouring out his problems to his co-worker. "Mac orders me to start processing evidence, I do what I'm told, I nail the guy and clear the case, and I get yelled at. I can't buy a break with her."

"You mean Lindsay? She's probably just upset because she got stuck at the impound lot. I don't know what she said, but I'm sure it had nothing to do with you." Stella kept typing at her computer as she said this. Danny got up from his chair and made his way to the door.

"I can see you don't really care. I'll leave you alone," he said in an injured tone.

"Oh, Danny, I just don't think it's a big deal. She'll probably apologize before the day is out."

"Right, right, She can't be that mad."

The rest of the day moved quickly for Lindsay. She knew she had to get to Danny before he left for the day, but she wasn't quite sure how to go about it. She had just bawled him out in the middle of the hallway for something he thought wasn't his fault.

"But he could have waited," Lindsay thought. "We had plenty of time before that carjacking-murder suspect was released. He just wanted to clear that case himself. Now he can pay for it by helping me out."

At that moment, Danny rounded the corner and moved toward his desk. Lindsay reminded herself not to lay it on too thick. After all, Messer wasn't stupid. Lindsay got out of her chair and stood in front of Danny's desk.

"Danny? Are you busy?"

Danny kept his eyes on the stack of papers in front of him. It sounded like he was about to get the apology Stella had predicted. He smiled to himself as he answered in a gruff voice.

"Yeah, I have a ton of paperwork to finish up from this morning and Mac said it has to be done before I leave for the weekend."

"Give me half of it. I did help collect evidence, so I can help with the paperwork."

"So you yell at me and now you offer to help me. I can't figure you out, Montana."

"Danny, there's nothing to figure out. I'm sorry I yelled at you. It's been a really long day." Lindsay suddenly had a flash of wicked inspiration. She turned away and closed her eyes. "And long days just make me more homesick than usual."

Danny got up from his chair and patted Lindsay's shoulder. "You need some cheering up. After we finish this paperwork, I'll take you out for a drink. I know this cozy little spot that would cure anyone's homesickness."

"I'd really rather just go home and curl up on the couch."

Danny flashed her his best smile. "Come on, Montana. Let me buy you a drink."

Lindsay gave him a small smile in return. "Alright."

Yes, Danny thought, the Messer charm is still going strong.

Yes, Lindsay thought, I've got him right where I want him.

Later that night, Danny took Lindsay to his favorite local bar. They each had a couple of drinks, they played pool and darts, and they talked about their plans for the weekend. Danny was vague about his plans to visit his parents and was impressed with the way Lindsay tried to draw him out. She asked about his brother's condition and listened attentively and sympathetically as he described Louie's prognosis. She asked about his parents and when he hesitated to answer her questions, she talked about her parents. She told some funny stories about life on the ranch in Montana. She asked about his childhood home and he opened up a bit about growing up in a small house in Staten Island, sharing a room with his brother, spending more time on the baseball field than in his home. Amazing how things change, Danny found himself saying. Now his parents lived in a spacious Manhattan apartment.

Danny walked Lindsay to the curb and hailed a cab, opening to door for her. Lindsay hesitated, then shyly kissed Danny on the cheek and climbed into the cab. After giving the cabbie her address, she pulled out her cell phone and called for Manhattan information. When prompted, she asked for an address for Anthony Messer.

Meanwhile, Danny started the short walk to his apartment building with a sparkle in his blue eyes. That's one terrific girl, he thought.