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Chapter Three
August 19th 0900
"What's the situation with the Rossi homicide?"
"We have two suspects in custody. Clarke and Jones are going to go back at them this morning."
"Do you think they'll get a confession. I want to indite as soon as possible."
"Indite?" Jim shook his head. "Alexandra, I think we can plead this out. We don't need to put the family through anything more."
"And if it were anyone other than Jessica?"
Jim flushed, his face turning a dark, ugly red. "That isn't fair, Alexandra."
"Isn't it?"
"I don't believe that a trial is necessary in this case."
"I disagree."
She turned and started to walk off, turning her back on him, turning away from him.
"Don't walk away from me, Alexandra." He reached out, grabbing her arm.
She spun to face him, jerking away from his hand, as if his fingers had seared her skin. "Don't touch me, Jim." She brushed her hair back off her face with a trembling hand, the ring on her finger glinting in the corridor's lights.
"Sorry." He backed away, raising his hands defensively. "We don't have to go to trial on this. We can plead it out. We owe her that much."
"We cant, Jim. This office must be seen to pursue a vigorous and full investigation. We cannot be seen to show any favouritism, simply because one of our own is involved in the case."
"And who are you telling that to, Alexandra? Me? Or whoever is covering the case for The Ledger?"
She smiled, the same superior smile, so familiar it made his heart twist, her delicate fist tightening around it with every day that she slipped further away from him. "Whichever one of you needs to hear it."
xxxXXXxxx
July 12th
"That's him." The bartender pointed past Jason, across the bar. "Over there."
"Thanks." Lifting his drink, he walked over to the table, conscious of cold unfriendly eyes tracking his way across the bar. Swallowing hard, trying to drown his fear and his nerves.
Trying to drown his guilt.
"What the fuck do you want?" The accent harsh and clipped, eyes glittering in the shadows.
"I'm looking for something." Jason swallowed hard again, trying to moisten his throat. "I heard you were the man to talk to about…"
"Shut up." The man leaned forward, his eyes flicking across Jason, rolling a tooth pick from one side of his mouth to the other. "You a cop?"
"No." Jason shook his head, sweat beading across his forehead, the heat and thick atmosphere of the bar closing in around him, his nerves tightening under the man's gaze. "No, I'm not a cop."
The man studied him for a minute longer, then nodded, and pushed a chair towards Jason. "Sit down, fool. I don't do business with a man standing over me."
Jason sank into the chair, his eyes nervously darting around the bar, feeling exposed, vulnerable.
"Now." The man grinned, his teeth gleaming white. "What is it you're looking for?"
He swallowed again, trying to delay saying it for as long as he could. "A gun."
No way to back out of it now.
xxxXXXxxx
August 19th
She stood at the door of his office, her skin pale and bloodless. "You had my mother arrested."
Jim stood up, drawing her into his office, conscious of questioning eyes lingering on them. "I'm sorry, Jessica. I had to do it."
"Why?" Her skin was cold, like marble beneath his touch, her eyes black and dead, bloodshot. "Why did you have to do it?"
"I thought it might be easier for her this way, Jessica. I thought it might spare her from having to go through a trial."
"Please, Jim." She took a step towards him, her lips pursing. "Please, Jim, drop the case. Don't do this to my family. Don't do this to my mother."
"I can't Jessica."
"Please, Jim. I'll do anything. You want me to go, let you chase after Alex like some lovesick puppy? I'll do it."
"Jessica…"
She put her hand on his chest, the nails pale, running her hand across his shirt. "You want me, Jim? I'll do anything you want. Please, Jim." Her voice fell to a whisper, almost breaking. "Don't do this to me."
"Jessica." He grabbed her wrist, pushing her away from him. "I'm sorry. I have to do it." The words felt cheap, hollow in his mouth. "Your father deserves a thorough investigation of what happened."
As soon as he said it, he knew it was a mistake.
Her dark eyes flashed angrily. "You're a heartless bastard, Jim. And my father got exactly what he deserved." She flung the door of his office open, storming through the Bureau, trying to ignore the stares and the whispers.
"Jessica."
The word stopped her, almost in sight of the exit. Almost free. She turned slowly, pale cheeks stained with crimson.
Alexandra Cabot stood in the middle of the office, her eyes glittering angrily behind her glasses. "My office. Now."
xxxXXXxxx
August 18th 2030
"What do we do now?"
"Just…just give me a moment. Gimme a chance to think. It'll be okay."
"We have to tell Jessica."
"We cant!"
"We have to."
"We cant call her. Not yet. We call her, we bring her into this. We need to keep her on the outside. She can do more to help us from there."
"I'm sorry…I just….I cant…"
"Its okay. Its okay. Everything's going to work out just fine. I'm going to take care of everything."
xxxXXXxxx
August 19th
"Jessica Rossi has been suspended."
"What?"
"For how long?"
Alex glared at Nick, her eyes dark with anger. "Until the current investigation into her father's shooting is completed. Her cases…."
"You suspended her? For that?"
"It's a conflict of interests, Nick." Jim's voice was cold, professional, distant. He leaned against the desk, arms folded, careful not to meet Alex's eyes. "The office has to be seen to be impartial."
He could still feel her touch, could still hear her accusation echoing around his head.
Alex smiled grimly, then smoothly replaced it with a politicians mask. "I will not allow the integrity of this office to be called into question during this investigation. Is everyone clear on that?"
She waited for the mumbled chorus of agreement and reluctant acceptance.
"Her caseload will be divided between you, until Jessica returns to duty. Any questions?" She looked around the room, meeting their eyes in turn. Except for Jim, his arms still folded across his chest, refusing to look at her.
"Okay." She sighed heavily. "Back to work."
xxxXXXxxx
"Sinclair and Associates, how can I help you? One moment, please." The receptionist smiled uselessly, pushing buttons on the switchboard. "Sinclair and Associates, how can I help you? One moment please."
Jessica shifted nervously, ill at ease, waiting. Listening to the sound of ringing telephones, the receptionists cool, practised voice.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" The man stood at the reception desk, a pair of delicate half moon glasses hanging from a chain around his neck. "Can I help you?"
"Yes." She stood up and walked over to the desk, clutching her bag in front of her like a shield. "I have an appointment."
"Of course you do." He put his glasses on, carefully adjusting them on the end of his nose, peering through them. "And your name is?"
"Jessica Rossi."
He turned a page, tracing the lines of names in the diary with a long finger. "And who was the appointment with?"
She swallowed, moistening her throat, wanting to say his name as quickly as she could. "with James Sinclair."
End of Chapter Three
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