Chapter Seventeen

Impulses

Two Weeks Later

One Police Plaza

Another week, another case and Alex was so right in her comment about how things are getting back to normal, not only their partnership but their friendship as well.

Their current case is the murder of Lester Walker a real estate tycoon. His wife Christine, 40 years his junior, is slowly becoming their number one suspect. Alex meets up with Ross outside his office and the two walk side by side through the squad as she fills him in on their progress. Bobby is at desk, with his cell phone open and whispering to whoever is on the other end. "Captain, Christine does have her own money, she didn't shoot him herself she hired someone, the problem is we don't know who. She is not some dumb blonde she is very bright and she has done a marvelous job of covering up the money trail."

"Where does her money come from?"

"Her father, he won a Vermont state lottery in 1995, ten million dollars. He died three years ago, before she married Lester, he left her and her siblings two million dollars each."

"You would think she would be happy with that, he was what 74 years old?"

"Yes he was but healthy as a horse and if she left the marriage she would get squat."

"She signed a pre-nup with those conditions? I thought you said she was bright."

Alex shrugs her shoulder, "Maybe at the time she thought she was in love." She sits down at her desk as Bobby closes up the phone.

"There is always a money trail," Ross says. "Find it."

A frown shows on Bobby's face, "Everything alright?" Alex asks with concern.

He looks up and nods, "Yeah as well as it can be." He immediately stands, "I'll be back in a while, need to do something."

"Oh ok," she says somberly watching him as he leaves the room.

Two Hours Later

Alex asks, "Everything ok?" As Bobby returns to his desk, a nod is his only reply.

"Anything new," he pulls out his chair, "About Christine and her conspirator?"

"No, she doesn't seem the type to know people of that quality."

He opens his case, "Maybe she has a boyfriend and he did the deed. You know that some guys will do anything for love and money."

Later that Evening

Alex hears the sound of rustling paper and looks up over the computer screen as her partner stands, sorting through papers, "Bobby what are you doing?"

"It's after six. I'm leaving." He says sharply, she watches him as he stuffs some papers into his case and zips it up.

Frowning she asks, "Don't you want to finish this?"

He rubs his face. "If you what to spend your night going through all this shit go ahead. I'm leaving."

"Bobby?" she says as a look of confusion shows on her face.

"What?" he says sounding irritated.

"Don't snap at me, I'm just a little surprised that's all."

He walks to the side of her desk, "Sorry, I'm sorry." He bends down speaking softly, "Alex it's just a job. Look at it this way." She turns her head and they catch each other's eye, "The guy will still be dead tomorrow." He straightens up, giving her a slight wave. "Goodnight."

"Yeah goodnight," she sits back in the chair tossing her pen on the desk. "Wow, what the hell? What's with him?"

Hennessey's Bar

Wiping up the water ring made from the beer mug, the bartender asks, "Bobby, ready for another?"

Bobby downs the rest of the drink and sets the glass on the bar, "Yeah Fred, sure."

"Good evening Detective," she says with a sultry tone.

He slowly turns his head to the sound of a familiar voice, coming face to face with Christine Walker, "Misses Walker," he holds up his drink. "Good evening to you." Bobby scans the room, "Are you here alone?"

"Yes I am," she sets her glass down on the bar as she steps up onto the stool. "Except for Henry, my driver, who is waiting outside."

Fred, the bartender, returns with Bobby's drink, giving his friend a quick wink, Bobby has to smile. Chuckling he says, "You're driver." He turns his attention to her, "Ok I'm impressed."

"I wouldn't think something like that would impress you."

Raising his eyebrows, "You're right I'm not impressed it seems a little ostentatious to me."

She takes a quick sip of her drink, "I thought so. An honest one, very refreshing, Detec…." She sets her glass down, "Robert or do you prefer Bobby or Bob."

"Bobby is fine."

Taking in his form, she focuses on his eyes, "You look like a Bobby, the name fits you."

"Thanks," he finds himself focusing on her appearance as well, her shoulder length blonde hair, glistens in the light and her soft blue eyes are dazzling, however sad.

The bartender returns, "You ready for another, Ma'am?"

"Yes I am, how about you Bobby?"

"No not just yet, thank you," he says as he stirs the ice cubes in the glass with a straw. "This place seems a little, oh how shall I say this, beneath you."

She laughs, "No I've always enjoyed this place, my friends and I would come here," she pauses. "When I had friends," she says softly. "They would have a band set up in that corner."

"Yes I remember that."

The room suddenly fills with music and they laugh, "Want to sit in a booth?" He asks.

Nodding her head, "Yes I would," he helps her off the stool. "Oh my, a gentleman, I must say my thoughts of police officers have been a little short sighted."

"I suppose that's a compliment however I must say that I have met a few cops who could very well give you that impression." She turns to retrieve her drink from the bar, his hand is already on the glass, "I got it," he follows her through the crowd.

She slides in first; he hesitates for a minute, next to her or across? He steps forward, across. He slides in and places her drink down.

"Your partner, have you been partners long?"

"Going on eight years, she has taught me a lot and vice versa. She is very bright and has a big heart and….I like her. I think the feeling is mutual, no." Nodding his head, "The feeling is mutual."

"I was going to ask if you were married but something tells me I already know the answer to that," she takes a quick sip of her drink. "The job, same as Lester," she leans forward. "Did you know….oh you probably do that I was his first wife."

"Yes I knew that, I was a bit surprised. In our research we uncovered that you were born in Vermont, do you see your family?"

"No, after my father died my brother and sister, seem to have more interest in their own….no I'll be honest I feel the same way. We were never close. When my father won that money, he gave each of us five hundred thousand dollars to do as we wished, we thought we'd be happy but nothing changed, in fact we became even more distant." She picks up her drink, setting it down quickly, "I wear expensive clothes, I've traveled all over the world, met famous people and here I am sitting in a bar…." She looks up at him and he flashes a warm smile.

"With a lowly cop," he takes a sip of his drink. "Believe me I'm not insulted."

"I wasn't going to say that." He raises his eyebrows, "No really Bobby, I wasn't," smiling at him as she places her hand on top of his.

He looks down, his first thought move it away, he decides to leave it where it is, "I believe you, Christine."

"Yes I am sitting in a bar but the night is turning out a little….a lot better than I thought." She finishes her drink. "I may have over 15 million dollars to my name one day but I've lost my friends, my friends that I could come to places like this with," opening her bag she removes a tissue, she gently wipes her eyes. "Thank you, it's nice to have someone to talk too."

"I came in here with pretty much the same thought, been a bad week for me."

"I'm listening."

"Let me just say that it's my Mom and leave it at that."

She sits back in the seat, "Problems with her?"

"She always has a problem," he chuckles softly. "Usually I can deal with it and let it go but not this time." Before she can inquire further, he steers the conversation back on her, "I must admit Christine that I honestly can't figure you out, which is usually an easy thing for me to do. I have to ask. Why in hell would you get together with a….?"

"A son of a bitch, yes as a business man Lester was a tyrant, but as a husband, he was…."

Bobby interjects, "Wealthy."

"I loved him, why it is so hard for people to believe that I loved him," she covers her face with her hands. "He used me, he wasn't capable of returning that love, he played a game and I was his whore." She immediately leaves the booth and jogs to the bathroom.

He rubs his forehead, Man this guy used everyone. A waitress steps up to the table, breaking his thought, "Another drink Sir?"

"Huh?"

"Would you care for another drink?" He picks up his glass, staring straight ahead, the alcohol is starting to take effect, "No, bring me a ginger ale and a combo platter."

Noticing the empty glass, "How about the lady, would she like another drink?"

"I…." She returns, fresh makeup but her eyes are red. "Ma'am would you care for another drink?"

Nodding her head, "Yes….gin and tonic." She resumes her seat, "You're still here? I thought you'd have been halfway home by now after that scene, I'm sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about, I understand that feeling of being lied to by someone you love."

The waitress returns setting down the glasses, she notices the carbonated drink, "Ginger ale?"

"Yeah, I also ordered some food," he leans forward. "I thought that we should have something to eat."

"You're probably right," she hesitates. "Just not hungry," once again the tears start, "I'll be right back," she says sobbing.

She returns as the waitress places the platter on the table. She sits next to him this time and he slowly slides to the left. "I can't stop crying, not sure if it's for me or Lester. He was a bastard but no one deserves to die like that." Looking over the assortment of food, she picks up a zucchini stick, setting it down quickly. She picks up her gin and tonic and after three sips it's gone. "I haven't been eating well, since I found…." She rubs her eyes, "I'm running out of tissues again, he….Oh God it was horrible, every time I walk into that house I see him lying there in that pool of blood."

"I'm sorry that must have been awful for you. I'm ashamed to admit this but after all these years of visiting crime scenes I forget how it must feel, especially to see someone you love."

She grabs his hand, resting her head on his arm, he fidgets a bit and she looks up. He leans in and she lifts her head to meet his lips, he bolts up. "Sorry, I'm sorry…I had no…."

Her hand comes to lay on his thigh, "Don't apologize, it was unexpected but I'm not complaining." Moving her hand from his thigh to the back of his neck, she pulls him forward.

They leave the bar quickly, Henry spies his employer and opens the passenger door, she and Bobby get in and Henry closes the door.

TBC