Electricity

By LMR

Disclaimer: I don't yet know who stole CI. Between you and me, I don't trust Miss Scarlet.

A.N.: (Not an actual quote): Good chapter. Now what the heck was Bobby thinking!? Thanks for all your fantastic advice, guitar73girl.

A.N. 2: Glow in the dark cats: cool. Reviewers: cooler. Glow in the dark reviewers: scary.

A.N. 3: http://forums. 'shippers, vote! We need your votes (we're losing at the moment :( )

Chapter 11: The Annoyingly Short (but very important) Chapter

xXx

Under the glaring florescent lights, the detectives sat at their desks tackling their initial stack of paperwork, and occasionally stealing glances at each other when each was sure the other wasn't looking.

Paperwork, Alex, not gorgeous partner! she reminded herself.

"Radioactive Zombies from Hell," Goren suddenly blurted.

Eames set down the pen she'd been using with delicacy, as if preparing for a demanding task. "You know, usually I can take your non-sequiturs in stride," she said. "But that's a little much even for me."

"We couldn't see Justin's body in the blackout."

Eames made an "I get it" sort of nod and finished the thought. "That nice healthy radioactive glow. Won't wash off for a week. The phosphorescent make-up would have shown up if Koto had touched him."

"And Ninth and Kickapoo," he continued, as if this were a natural follow-up. "But Nopienit's on Eleventh and Kickapoo."

"You just like saying Kickapoo," Eames observed.

"Yes, but the point is that Cathy got the address wrong," Goren reminded her.

"If I'd gone someplace to commit a murder, I'd probably remember the address," she concurred. Goren nodded.

Eames furrowed her brow and snapped her fingers. "How heavy would you say that stereo was?"

Bobby had to ponder this one for a moment. First of all, Alex was wearing a sleeveless shirt, which he always found somewhat distracting. Her arms are just so- No, Goren, don't get off topic! Finally he shrugged. "Fancy stereo, good twenty pounds."

Alex had needed to look at the picture a few times, seeing as her initial look had been overshadowed by her newly discovered first name. She collected her thoughts. "You'd have to pick that thing up with two hands and really heft it into the pool, then drag it out." she pointed out.

"Drake couldn't have done it with that old injury," Goren agreed. "What about Matthews?"

Eames gestured with her hands, an excited look on her face. "Whoever threw that stereo in would have had to unplug it, then go into the water to push it back out again."

"Hoover's phobia," Goren surmised. "He never would have gone into the deep end to push it back out after throwing it in."

"It's got to be Audra," Eames stated confidently.

"She's the only suspect who could have done it," Goren agreed, a note of triumph in his voice.

Eames sighed. "We're not playing Clue™, Bobby. Carver isn't going to be satisfied with the process of elimination."

"Miss Scarlet did it in the kitchen with the knife," he said randomly.

Good grief, I'm rubbing off on him. "It was the wrench," Alex corrected for no particular reason. Bobby raised an eyebrow, using her comment as an excuse to look at her perhaps a moment longer than he should have.

xXx

Questions to be answered next time:

Will LMR be murdered for posting such a ridiculously short chapter?

How does Alex know it was the wrench? Does she know more than she's letting on?

Will Carver be satisfied with the process of elimination?

Will LMR tell us what's in the stupid package, already? (No.)