Title: Trouble comes in Twos - Part 15

Well, we managed to keep our hands to ourselves, somewhat, and after getting ready and having a bit of breakfast with Darius, Nora and I are on our way to the Folsom police station.

It still amazes me that Nora and I kissed. I've been so concerned, for so long, about keeping my work and love life separate and here comes Nora blasting away at the wall that I kept safely between the two. She snuck in without a by-your-leave and made herself at home right from the first day. I'll have to remember to tell Daddy and thank him for asking Nora to come out here.

Monday is coming too soon however. I'm looking forward to it and dreading going into the office.

But it's not Monday yet, so I firmly tuck those thoughts away until tomorrow and resist the constant urge to touch her while she's driving. I nearly laugh in release as she takes the matter in her own hands, so to speak, reaching over and slipping her warm fingers around mine.

I turn and throw a happy smile her way, which she returns with a small smirk and then concentrates back on her driving. I never thought I'd be so glad for an automatic transmission.

Absently rubbing my thumb along hers, I just sit back and enjoy the ride, watching the cypresses and the oaks as we drive by.

By the time we pull up to the police station I'm humming along with the music and wishing I could take a few more days off.

But how would you spend those days, Nikki?

I get out of the car and wait for Nora before entering the building. To say I'm rather tired of seeing the inside of the Folsom police station would be an understatement, but at least I wasn't arrested.

"Ms. Beaumont..." Officer Newton sees me and gives me a shy smile, " I mean, Detective Beaumont..."

Returning his smile warmly, just because I know Nora would notice, I greet him, "Officer Newton, we heard you and your partner wanted to see us?"

"Yep. Right this way, Detectives," he says, ushering us back to the interrogation room, only stopping off long enough to have me sign about ten evidence release forms and giving my gun to me.

Ugh. Why couldn't they have cleaned it before sending it back?

The one and only interrogation room, slash break room, is occupied by Officer Harkins and... hmmm...

"Is that Jacob Poirer?" Nora asks before I can say anything. He's about the right age, but and he does look a lot like his twin, but not identical. Fraternal twins obviously.

"Yep. He just walked in early this morning and started yelling for a lawyer," Newton says, thumbs in his belt. "Harkins had me call that fancy lawyer of yours..."

"Keith Blanchard," I tell him. "He's an old friend of the family. Don't you all have any lawyers of your own?"

I almost feel bad when Newton looks at me with eyes that remind me of a wounded puppy. This boy wouldn't last a week on the New Orleans streets with a spine like that. But I suppose Harkins doesn't get much chance to season his younger partner.

The the three of them were in the small interrogation room, with Nora and I on this side of the one-way glass. Officer Harkins, Keith Blanchard, and Jacob Poirer. It's not often that a suspect for murder just walks in on his own, let alone ask for a lawyer then give a confession. Usually if a suspect gives a confession he does it without a lawyer. And boy was he confessing.

"I'm tellin' yah! I killed Richard. Was me. My lil brother wasn't even there," Jacob insists, his voice carrying very clearly through the speaker.

Keith looks very pained right now and I don't blame him. It's hard for a defense attorney to defend you when you open your mouth. Of course, on the job I'd prefer more suspects disregard their attorney's advice.

But it all begged the question, why did he even want an attorney if he was going to confess? Probably wants a better deal than the death penalty.

"This stinks," Nora mutters just loud enough for me to hear.

I nod slightly and add, "It does. He's lying."

Turning to Newton I ask, "Has he mentioned where his younger brother James is?"

"Says he doesn't know. He says he didn't even know his brother was free from juvenile detention," the young officer answers readily.

"Who told him that James was out?" Nora asked, her eyes still on the room on the other side of the mirror.

"Well," Newton pauses, "no one. Harkins caught that too."

Nora and I look at each other, then she looks over at my shoulder to the other officer. "Let Harkins know we're here."

When he's out of earshot, Nora asks in a whisper, "What do you think?"

"Well, you'd think that being such close family, that they'd know he was getting out," I reply easily.

Nora nods. "Let alone pick him up."

"Maybe he's covering for his little brother."

She nods again in agreement. "Why would he be willing to go to prison for his brother? Especially if James killed his twin."

We turn as one to Harkins who has exited the interrogation room and come into the viewing room. "Officer Harkins, it's a pleasure to see you again." I offer my hand in greeting. Harkins takes it and then shakes Nora's hand.

"Thank you for coming, Detectives," he greets almost cheerfully. "As you can see, Jacob Poirer decided to come in for coffee this morning." He grins, pleased with himself. I'd probably be doing the same, if I were in his shoes.

I can see the suspect in the interrogation room talking quietly with his counsel. I would give just about anything to know what was going on in Jacob's mind.

"Thank you for getting my weapon released, Officer Harkins. I appreciate it, especially since we were going back to New Orleans today." And I did appreciate it, but I was giving him time to broach the real subject of why he called us in.

"You two deal with this kind of thing every week, more than I have in my entire career here," he starts. His stance is a bit defensive, which I don't blame him for, with his arms crossed over his chest. "I was hoping you two would listen in so I could pick your brains afterwards. Something about Jacob's story doesn't feel right."

"The fact that he didn't know his brother was released? A juvenile who would need an adult, preferably a family member, to be released to?" Nora asks with little emotion. She's trying not to make him feel more defensive or feel stupid. The fact that he knows something is wrong with Jacob's confession shows us his experience.

"Has he mentioned how or why his brother was shot?" I question.

Harkin nods, "Yeah. He said it was an accident, but he couldn't provide any real details about how."

"And he has no idea where his younger brother is?" I can see Nora grimacing in the reflection of the window as she speaks.

"None. He's lyin'. Personally, I'd like nothing better than to wrap this up with him headed up to Rivers Correctional in Ferriday, but I like to think that, despite my jurisdiction being a tad small, I'd do all I can to ensure the safety of ALL the people of Folsom. And that includes the stupid ones like Jacob Poirer."

Damn, I think that's the longest I've heard Harkins speak at one time and I think my respect for him has gone up a notch.

"This is your playground, Harkins," Nora looks toward him, giving him a nod of confidence. "We're just... visitors. what do you really want with us?"

Harkins gives Nora and I a long, hard look. Measuring us. But for what?

I respect this small town policeman. I respect what he has to do on a day-to-day basis. Which is to stay and see the same people day after day, to deal with their problems and the aftermath of their mistakes on a more personal note than Nora and I do. We handle on a massive scale every day what he only has to deal with once every five years. We don't have the time to greet Maude as she walks by and talk about how the garden is going. He does. He knows these people in their everyday lives. I almost envy him.

Nora and I, we live in a world filled every day with victims. Rape victims. Murder victims. Victims of every race, color, and creed. We don't live in a world where every citizen on the street knows us by our first names and went to high school with us. We live in a world where every citizen is either a victim, friend, or family of a victim. We live in a world of survivors who tick down every minute between incidents.

So Harkins measures us against a measuring stick that has been made in his own backyard, just like we measure him according to ours, and if we're good cops and good people, we meet somewhere in the middle.

His stern look changes to a slow smile and he finally says, "I think James is still around and I want you two to help me find him. I've already got permission to temporarily deputize you both, since you're two of NOPD's finest."

Wow. I really don't know what to say to that.

Fortunately, Nora does. "In the spirit of interdepartmental relations... let's go catch a murderer."

I just love the way she talks.

TBC