People Ain't No Good

It'd been interesting, standing in the crowd of the morbid gawkers, watching the body come out of the apartment building. No one saw the body, of course, only the black rubberized bag it was contained within, which was itself strapped down to a stretcher. The police watched the crowd watching them, on both sides of the tape wondering if the killer was anywhere nearby. Oh, if they only knew. Slowly, after the Coroner's van pulled away, the crowd began to disperse. He fell in with the slowly meandering people, each going back to his or her normal routines. He walked down a side street aways, walking along, enjoying the day, nothing more than another man in a large city.

The evening and late news shows devoted a large chunk of their airtime to speculation. It was inevitable that someone would propose the return of the Zodiac killer, but amazingly the theorist who came up with that one didn't appear until the morning shows. The Chronicle would take the prize for sensationalism when they would run the headline 'SERIAL KILLER TARGETING SAN FRANCISCO?', causing a great leap in their daily sales. The city was mildly frightened. Four murders in six weeks was written off easily enough, they could reassure themselves it was just a fluke. The police were assuring them there was nothing more to fear than they would on an average day. Crime continued as it normally did, unaffected by the media's hollering. He loved it, though, and he was pleased as he drifted off to sleep that night in his motel room.

.-.-.-.

The sun woke Lissie, who greeted it by pressing her face into the pillow. As she drew in a deep breath it struck her that while the pillow was familiar, it was a pillow like her won, it was decidedly different. She rolled over, squinting against th soft light that came though the covered window. It wasn't her room, and she remembered arguing that she'd be fine sleeping on the couch. What some men thought was chivalry. Her overnight bag sat by the foot of the bed, she found as she sat up and leaned, stretching her back. Shucking her pajamas, she dug for a clean pair of jeans and a button down shirt. He found her toiletry bag and proceeded to the bathroom, emerging a few minutes later ready to face the world. Everything was shoved back in the bag and she padded to the sliding t\door that would lead her out.

Nash had been up for several hours already, not having slept well on the couch. Not due to the couch, but due to not being able to clear his mind of what he had learned enough to sleep. He looked up at his bedroom door at the first sounds of rustling in there. A few minutes passed, in which he started the ocffeemaker and tidied up the couch. IN sweat pants and an old tee shirt he was sure he looked a little less than presentable, especially when Lissie appeared, dressed and almost ready to face the day. She smiled as she come down into the living room, duffel bag slung over her shoulder.

'Sorry,' she said, dropping the bag into a nearby chair, 'I tried to hurry. Its a little hard to get going in the morning.'

Nash returned the smiel. 'No problem. If you don't mind, I'll go clean up.' As he walked past her he pointed back at the kitchen. 'There's fresh coffee and Nick probably has some kind of breakfast stuff in the fridge. Help yourself.' Lissie nodded, remaining in place until her boss was in his room. God, this was weird. She opened the cupboards, trying to find coffee mugs, which were found on the fourth try. She pulled an SFPD emblazoned mug and filled it with hot coffee, forgoing her normal sugar and tempering cream for the full effect of the coffee's effects. She looked out the panoramic windows as the financial district geared up for the day. There was a bit of fog still, but it would probably burn off by mid-morning. She settled onto a barstool, sipping her coffee, and considering her situation.

Nash appeared about fifteen minutes later. She was on her second cup of coffee, and had found some yogurt in the fridge. Lissie had just removed the lid and was licking some of the yogurt off of it, an action that seemed to have temporarily distracted her boss. Realizing it, she crumplend the lid and sucked down a large gulp of hot coffee, causing herself to choke a little. Dumb. Nash smirked and handed her napkin.

'Feeling better after a good night's sleep, Ms. Shaw?' asked Nash, leaning on the counter opposite her. Lisie nodded, and pointed her spoon at him.

'Ah, you promised not to call me that anymore, Captain.'

'Touche.' grinned Nash, 'But Lissie seems so casual for morning conversation.'

She laughed. 'Says you. If I remember correctly, I slept in your bed last night, so I think that puts us way past formalities.'

'Yeah, and if I remember correctly, I slept on the couch.' They both laughed, and Lissie swallowed her yogurt.

'Hey, that was your choice.' and a split second after those words escaped her she blushed red, and shoved another spoonful of yogurt in her mouth. Nash raised an eyebrow, interested by her slip. 'Ignore me,' she told him, seeing the amusement and something else in his features, 'I say stupid things in the morning.' He began to say something, and she cut him off. 'And besides, its not worth ruining my already damaged career.'

'Lissie, I wasn't suggesting...' but, Nash knew a part of him was- had been suggesting exactly that. They'd made amends, and she was anything but bad looking. Her face had gone a bit stony, she was well aware of when she was vulnerable.

'You were. Maybe. Besides,' she tried to make it sound casual, 'I have a boyfriend.'

'Ah.' followed with a sip of coffee and a long silence ground the conversation to a halt. Immediately Lissie fely guilty, and wanted to remedy the situation. The chance was lost when her cell phon rang, causing her to grab it, and slid from the barstool, seeking a sliver of privacy. Nash drank his coffee, trying not to think. She returned a few moments later, laying the cell on the counter, sighing.

'Kimmie. Mom called her last night, it seems. Evil woman, using my kids to get at me. You know how much it sucks to have to reassure your teenage daughter that, yes, you are okay and everything is fine?' She stabbed her yogurt, frustrated.

Nash smiled again. 'Tell me about it. Only Cassidy's mom, Lisa, used her on me.' he turned sober a moment later, just as Lissie had glanced up with a tiny smile. 'But, face it, Lissie, everything's not okay.'

'Tell me about it, Nash.' she replied, her mood soured again. She swiped the last bit of yogurt and crushed the plastic cup. As quickly as she could, she dispoed of it and put her mug in the sink. Suddenly, she wanted out of here. 'Let's go.' she told her boss, who finished his coffe, wondering what the day would bring.

.-.-.-.

The fog did burn off by midday, but promised to be back shortly as a front moved in, bringing low grey clouds to hang over the city. The rains threatened to return, and the city's occupants took advantage of the fleeting sunshine. A man sat on a bench on the pier, feeding bits of a pretzel to the seagulls. He kept his head down enough from the people strolling by- couples, singles, tourists in knots of three and four. A few children, his eyes following them form behind the dark shades. It was always the children and women who interested him the most. Teenage girls were his favorite, but they always attracted too much attention, so his tactics had changed. The two men, though, had been a fluke. Playing games, trying something new. I t never hurt to keep the people guessing.

The pretzel finished, he brushed the last of the salt from his hands and crumpled the wrapper as he rose. Head up, he walked down the pier, smiling at a group of young girls coming down the pier towards him. He earned some giggles, and two of the four looked back at him as he passed. Handsome was always a card he could play, and it had served him well from time to time. If it were any other day, he'd likely have his pick of them, but, his mind was elsewhere.

His car was parked on the street, convertible top open to the sky. He slid into the driver's seat and considered his luck. Somehow the cops had found where he was hiding all those years ago. He thought he'd finished the job on her, but, something went wrong for him. Now, she was all grown up and trying to pick up his trail from the pieces he'd left behind. It had occurred to him the other night, when he'd killed the cute little waitress, that he could wait for her to find him. Remembering the picture in his pocket, and leaving it behind, had made him decide it would be more interesting to toy with her. Work was always better when you were having fun.

He took a corner sharply, trying to avoid getting caught by the red-light camera at the intersection. A ticket would be the last thing he needed. There was a barely audible thump from the trunk. Maybe, Jack thought, he should have secured his cargo better. It didn't bother him, it wouldn't hurt the cargo, and it wouldn't be in the trunk much longer.

Yeah, Jack thought, he'd have some fun with Lissie Shaw, and then he'd finish what he'd started almost two decades before.

.-.-.-.

Lissie was relegated to file work again, the morning spent dredging the last bit of useful information from the past files related to the current murder investigations. There'd been many phone calls to Buck, who lightly complained at one point that she should just move down to the Hall of Justice so she could bug him in person. She knew Buck well enough to know when he was joking, trying to lighten a dark situation, and had offered in return to have him moved to the SIU. Buck had declined, citing seasickness. Lissie really would have preferred to talk to him in person, but going down there involved grabbing one of her fellow inspectors, all of whom were busy with their own jobs, or getting a uniform to drive her down there. It was too much trouble, so she was relying on her phone and reading glasses, half of a steno pad filled with scribbled notes.

Harvey relieved her doldrums briefly at lunchtime, insisting she come with him and Twon down to the Ferry Building for lunch. She relished her escape, but it was too short lived, and she soon found herself back in the SIU. Back at her table, files spread everywhere, her mood went south when she pulled her sister's file from the box, and opened it before she meant to. She'd snapped at Joe when he came back, then apologized, hoping she didn't look as if she'd been crying.

'Just the messenger, Lissie. You've got a visitor.' he winked at her, and was pleased when her expression brightened. Removing her glasses she went forward in Joe's wake. He broke off and went upstairs, joining Nash where he leaned against the railing, sipping water from a coffee cup. They were both focused on a lanky looking man who sat in the lone chair in front of Lissie's desk. 'The boyfriend.' Joe pronounced, watching Lissie's greeting of the man, Nash nodded.

'Yep.' he sipped more water, watching the reunion. He didn't look away, watching the man brush lissie's hair, smiling at her. 'I suppose we should introduce ourselves.' Nash turned away, leaving the mug on his desk and leading Joe down the stairs. 'Ms. Shaw,' he called out from the foot of the stairs, causing his inspector to look away from her visitor. She blushed, gripping the man's hand. He had also turned as Nash and Joe approached, smiling in a way most people would consider charming.

Lissie blinked, and recovered her smile quickly, realizing she wasn't in trouble. 'Captain, I'd like to introduce you to Jerome Marcus, my boyfriend.' the last word was a little too carefully pronounced, and made Joe wonder what else had happened this morning. Nash smiled, and reached out to shake the man's hand. 'Nash Bridges.' he told him, the man nodded.

'Your reputation precedes you, Captain.' his voice was mellow.

'And my partner, Joe Dominguez.' Nash release Jerome's hand and stepped back slightly, allowing Joe to step up.

'A pleasure.' intoned Jerome, smiling as Joe sized him up. 'I always like to know who my Lissie is working with.' Lissie blushed again, ducking her head, a little more than embarrassed by his possessiveness. 'I thought I might slip her away early for a little dinner, if that's okay with you?' he met Nash's eyes levelly, daring him to refuse more than seeking permission. Lissie interrupted, a little flash in her eyes.

'Um, honey, I actually can't. I'm in the middle of running a case file and can't leave it unfinished. I promise, though, I'll get out of here as soon as I'm done.' This answer seemed to displease Jerome, his features darkening. Something small in his attitude change rubbed Nash the wrong way, but he kept his face neutral. Lissie sensed something too, and gently turned him away, trying to smooth ruffled feathers. 'I promise. No more than a couple hours, then I'm all yours.' She smiled, and the darkness was gone, and Jerome smiled back.

'A couple hours. I'll meet you at the house.' He bent and kissed her, then straightened and smiled at Nash and Joe, who were still standing and watching. 'Captain, Lieutenant.' he nodded at them, Nash nodded back. 'See ya, bubba.' as Joe gave a little wave. Jerome brushed Lissie's cheek and walked out, feeling very confident that Lissie would show up on her won doorstep in two hours on the nose. Lissie didn't move until he was out the door, then turned on Nash and Joe.

'Thanks.' was all she said and then she went back to her files, hoping that the next two hours would go quickly. Nash wanted the complete opposite.

'Joe...' he said as soon as Lissie was out of hearing. 'Something's a little wonky about Mr. Marcus.' Joe was already nodding.

'I'll look into it.' he replied, sharing the same feeling as Nash. Something just too... perfect about the guy. Joe headed to his desk while Nash went back upstairs, where he spent the next two hours going over a case file, an exact copy of the one that was giving Lissie so much grief downstairs. He needed to know more, before they started losing pieces instead of finding them.

.-.-.-.