July 2

Carlton told me today that if I put him on another case with, as he put it, "that deranged little weasel", he'd quit.

He's now working three cases with "that deranged little weasel".

Two murders and an arson. And two of those cases don't even really require the help of "that deranged little weasel", truth be told. Carlton could easily handle them on his own.

But that's not the point.

The point is that until they fire me, which could be any day, this is still my station and my Head Detective will learn to play nice with whomever I tell him to.

I think he's finally starting to get the idea.

He's scowling and muttering under his breath even more than usual, but he hasn't quit on me yet.

He won't quit.

And he's learning to play nice.

Well, nice for him…

July 3

So far, they've always been subtle about letting me know where I stand.

Subtle like putting Interim Chief Vick on my door.

Subtle like telling me to close some of the precinct's cold cases because 'that's what ensures a long career in the SBPD'.

Subtle like asking me how I feel or how much time I think I'll need time off after the baby comes…

But today, they crossed the line from not-so-subtle subtly into all-out war.

They actually started interviewing candidates for my job.

Interviewing internal candidates.

My colleagues. My friends. People I've known for years.

They didn't even bother telling me. The only reason I know is because I happened to see a memo on Carlton's desk, asking him to submit a resume for the position.

He doesn't know I saw it.

He also doesn't know I watched him crumble it up and toss it in the trash can without even a second glance.

Not that this had anything to do with my pulling Shawn off two of the three cases they were working together.

July 7

The name.

It all comes down to the name.

What do we name the baby?

More importantly, who gets to name the baby?

Someone has to win on this one. There can't be a duckie wallpaper compromise, and we'll never agree on a name. There hasn't been a single one in any baby book or on any baby website that we've both liked.

So, someone has to get to choose the first name.

And neither of us wants to get stuck picking the middle name.

Everyone hates their middle name.

July 10

This might finally be it.

This may give them their cause to toss me out on my butt.

I just don't know what to do.

It's the strangest, most baffling murder I've ever seen, and if I can't close it soon…

I'm done.

I know it.

They've been waiting for me to screw up, and this time I just might.

I can't screw up a murdered cop case.

I can't.

But we don't have a lead.

Not a single lead.

We don't even have a murder weapon or a cause of death for certain, at least not until the autopsy comes back.

But it was definitely murder.

That much we know.

It had to be murder.

Why else would an otherwise empty, locked apartment be completely wiped free of fingerprints?

Even Shawn can't get any psychic visions on this one, except that it was definitely murder.

I've already gotten two calls about this case today, telling me to close it fast.

If I don't come up with some answers soon…