Chapter 7 of this older FF. I hope you like it and thanks for the comments!
C.J. looked again at what was written on the paper. It looked like directions to a bar located near the pier which opened in a few hours for a night-long happy hour.
"So what did you find?"
She saw Gracie walking towards her.
"Directions to that bar that the city tried to shut down last year," C.J. said, "Too many underage drinkers and loud parties."
"Sounds like just about every watering hole out there," Gracie said.
"This one also had rumors of mob connections," C.J. said.
Gracie looked at the slip of paper and then she saw the expression on her friend's face.
"Oh no," she said, "Don't tell me we're going to be dropping by that bar soon."
C.J. tilted her head.
"I want to find out more about this guy," she said, "before he hurts or kills anyone else."
Gracie put her hands on her hips.
"C.J., that's what the police are for," she said, "Give them the information and let them handle it."
"Like they've been able to do so far?"
"Have you told them everything you know so far," Gracie countered.
"You don't have to come with me," C.J. protested.
"Oh yes I do," Gracie said, "I'm not letting you go to some strange bar by yourself."
"Then that's settled," she said, "After dinner, we're going to go check out the bar. Maybe we'll get lucky."
"Lucky usually means you leave with some great looking guy and get some action," Gracie said with a sigh, "Somehow, I don't think that's what you mean."
"No I don't," C.J. said, "I'm hoping to find out more about this Clyde Jenkins. He looks so familiar but the name's not."
"Maybe it's an alias."
C.J. nodded.
"That's what I was thinking."
"Well it makes sense doesn't it," Gracie said, "that if you're going around with a gun shooting people, you might want to change your name."
"Maybe he has connections," C.J. said.
Gracie hesitated and then she bit the bullet.
"Why don't you call Matt and get him to help you?"
C.J. sighed and shook her head.
"Elizabeth would freak if he ran off on her to go rescue poor C.J. again,"
"He's not 'rescuing' you," Gracie pointed out, "He's helping you on a case. He's a licensed investigator right?"
"Yeah, but he's also working hard to rebuild his relationship with his former fiancée," C.J. said, "I don't want that on me if things don't work out between them."
Gracie grew impatient.
"It's not on you," she said, "I don't think Matt loves Elizabeth. It seems like she's the one trying to get him back."
"I don't want to rehash this here," C.J. said, "We'd better get back to my place so we can decide what we're going to wear tonight."
"I hope you didn't throw away your bar hopping wardrobe from back in the day."
C.J. smiled.
"I still have a few things."
Elizabeth paced the floor. Ginger grew exhausted watching her.
"So what are you going to tell him at dinner tonight," she asked.
Elizabeth sighed, finally sitting on the bed.
"I've told him everything," she said, "That I love him. That I want him back. That we belong to each other."
"Has he said anything at all?"
Elizabeth frowned.
"Not really," she said, "We always get interrupted and have to reschedule."
Ginger shook her head.
"It just seems to me that if he were really serious, he would just sweep you off your feet," she said.
"How can he when C.J. always needs him and he runs to her aid?"
"Was he this bad before they slept together," Ginger asked.
Elizabeth shrugged.
"I don't really know," she said, "When we're getting married, we were just so busy with each other…except when his work interfered and she's part of his work."
"Did he admit that they slept together," Ginger said, "Did he tell you?"
Elizabeth shook her head.
"I didn't really ask him," she said, "and he hasn't brought it up during any of our dates."
"Maybe you should ask him about it," Ginger said.
Elizabeth thought about that for a minute.
"Maybe I will," she said, thoughtfully.
Ginger sighed, just looking at her friend then a thought hit her.
Oh…before you get ready for your dinner date, we've been invited to this charity gala tomorrow night."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes.
"What charity event?"
"It's at a posh estate and is the talk of upper society," Ginger raved, "You've got to get Matt to go with you."
Elizabeth frowned.
"He hasn't said anything about it," she said, "Maybe he's got other plans."
Ginger shook her head.
"That's not likely," she said, "He's been spending most of his time lately with you."
"Okay I'll ask him," she said, "and maybe by the time of the party tomorrow night, we'll have our relationship back on track and we can plan our wedding."
Roy shook his head watching his nephew pour himself another Scotch.
"Bad day," he said, simply.
Matt sipped his latest glass slowly.
"Busy," he said, "I'd rather be out doing a stakeout but these ledgers have got to be updated."
Roy poured himself more juice.
"I told you," he said, "You need to hire someone and Murray's found you someone who's perfect."
Matt sank back on the couch.
"I know," he said, "but until then, I've got to organize our financial records in case the IRS ever decides to audit us."
Roy watched his nephew noticing he was just a little bit more than tense.
"You worried about your dinner with Elizabeth tonight?"
"I'm worried how she's going to take what I have to tell her," Matt said, "Like I said, I don't want to hurt her."
"She's going to be hurt Matlock," Roy said, "I think she put a lot of her feelings into coming back but it's better that you tell her now rather than wait any longer."
Matt put his glass on the table.
"I'm going to tell her tonight," he said, "I just have to find a way to do it to minimize her pain."
Roy studied him.
"You don't like hurting people," he noted, "Even when you have to do it. But I have a feeling, she's not the only one you hurt here."
Matt picked up his glass again and studied it carefully.
"C.J."
"I'm not going to ask for any details of what exactly is going on between the two of you," Roy said, "but I hope you work it out together. You've been close friends for too long."
"We're still best friends Uncle Roy," Matt said, "That's the way she wanted it."
Roy raised a brow.
"Is that what she said?"
"She didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize that," Matt said, "I didn't believe we had hurt our relationship at all."
Roy looked thoughtful knowing he was missing some back story somewhere but not wanting to pry into his nephew's affairs.
"She cares about you an awful lot," he said, "Sometimes I don't think you're aware how much."
Matt sighed.
"I think I understand better than she thinks," he said, "or wants me to."
Roy nodded.
"Maybe it's hard to have those feelings and then watch that person paying so much attention to a woman he was going to marry."
Matt grew irritated.
"I'm not going to marry Elizabeth."
Roy shook his head.
"But neither of them know that, do they," Roy said, "Because you haven't told either one of them the truth and that's not fair to either of them."
C.J. looked at herself in the mirror.
"Is this really how women dress at these places," she said, horrified.
Gracie looked at her finished creation and nodded approvingly.
"I used to own a club remember," she said, "Your new look is actually quite subdued."
C.J. looked again.
"Well, I guess we do have to fit in with the rest of the scenery," she said.
"We'll do just that," Gracie said, "Are you ready to go?"
"It's been so long since I've been at a single's bar," C.J. groaned.
"We're not going to be on the prowl," Gracie said, "We're just going to do some recognizance."
"True," C.J. said, but she still felt uncomfortable in the short skirt and high heels, with a pound of hair spray in her hair and another pound or two of cosmetics on her face.
"Let's get moving girlfriend," Gracie said, picking up her purse, "We've got a stakeout to conduct."
Matt dropped by the hotel to pick up Elizabeth who was already dressed. Ginger wished them both well and then closed the door behind them.
"Where are we going Matt?"
He took her by the arm.
"I thought I'd take you to a seafood and steak place by the pier," he said.
She smiled.
"That sounds great," she said as they walked to his car.
While driving towards the beach, they talked about some of the great venues in the city for entertainment.
"Ginger and I are going to that major gala tomorrow night," she said, "Have you been invited?"
"Yeah, both C.J and I get invited every year," he said, "I was thinking about going and RSVPed, but I've been so busy lately."
"Oh Matt, we should go together," she said, "It would be so fun. I heard they've got great catering and there will be a music band…"
He thought about it but he wasn't really into big stuffy affairs and wearing black tie.
"I wonder if C.J.'s going."
She felt annoyed but didn't want to show it.
"I imagine she is," Elizabeth said, "It's the event of the season."
He shook his head.
"She doesn't care about things like that," he said, "She likes good food and spending time with close friends."
"Well if you go with me and she takes her friend, she'll get the best of both," Elizabeth said.
"What about Ginger," Matt asked.
"She'll understand," Elizabeth said, "Besides she knows a lot of single men in L.A. and some married ones too."
"If nothing comes up at work tomorrow, I should be able to go."
Elizabeth sighed.
"Matt, you have to take a night off now and then to have some kind of life," she said.
He furrowed his brows.
"I love my life Elizabeth," he said, "and my work's a huge part of that."
They turned onto the Pacific Coast Highway, which had its usual evening traffic jamming its length which forced them to stop.
"But you need to do other things," Elizabeth said, "rather than focusing on your career."
"I do a lot of things," Matt said, "I have friends and family who keep me in line when I focus too much on work."
A silence developed between them for a long moment.
"Matt is it over between you and her?"
He looked at her confused.
"Me and who?"
"You and C.J.," she said, "After you got together in Tahiti."
He remained quiet, leaning back in his seat stuck in traffic.
"Who told you that?"
She knew from his expression she had hit pay dirt.
"I don't think anyone had to Matt," she said, "It's written all over your face."
He nodded.
"We were together for a brief period of time," he said, "She thought it was best that we remain friends."
"And what about you?"
He looked ahead as the cars began to inch forward down the highway.
"I agreed with her."
Elizabeth nodded.
"Then there's no remaining issues between the two of you," she said.
"Elizabeth…"
She turned her head and looked out at the ocean as they drove past it.
"Isn't it beautiful Matt," she said, "The sky is so lovely tonight."
He just looked straight ahead.
"I'm not getting out of this car."
Gracie rolled her eyes at C.J. who sat in her seat and refused to open the door.
"What is this," Gracie said, "It's not like you've never gone undercover before and this could be a lot of fun."
"I thought you were worried it was too dangerous," C.J. reminded her.
"That was before I found out we'd be dressing up in these threads."
"I can't believe I'm wearing this," C.J. said.
Gracie looked her over.
"You look hot babe," she said, "Now we'd better get out of this car and into the bar."
C.J. got out of the car and looked around her before they both headed towards the bar. Loud music and people packing the establishment wall to wall greeted them. Gracie used her inborn radar to seek out the refreshments and C.J. just followed her. They both ordered drinks and went to squeeze into a corner booth.
"What if someone asks us to dance?"
Gracie looked over at the crowded floor and shrugged.
"Not all of them look that bad," she said, "or that desperate."
"Do we look desperate," C.J. asked.
"I don't think so," Gracie said, "I mean we're both just kicking back after a hard day…"
"Relaxing on the beach," C.J. said, "We need a better cover story."
Gracie shook her head.
"You don't need an excuse to be here," she said, "just an urge."
C.J. sighed.
"I don't see the guy anywhere."
"Maybe he hasn't arrived yet," Gracie said, "or maybe he got lucky elsewhere."
A man moseyed up to their table.
"Can I buy you gals some drinks," he asked.
C.J. and Gracie looked at each other.
"Thanks but we've already got some."
He leered at them.
"Sorry about that," he said, "Boy you ladies look sexy tonight."
"Gee thanks," C.J. said.
"Do you want to do some slow dancing?"
"I'm a lousy dancer hon," Gracie said, "What about you C.J.?"
She looked up at the guy.
"You're just not my type."
Gracie nodded.
"My friend here," she said, "She's getting over a busted love affair."
He took his hat off.
"I could help her with that," he offered, "I'm really a nice guy."
C.J. shook her head, feeling dizzy.
"Excuse me, I need some air."
She walked through the crowd, maneuvering through the wall of people. Outside, a cool breeze hit her face and she breathed slowly. Looking down at her getup, she almost burst into laughter, thinking how funny she looked.
"C.J. what are you doing here," a familiar voice said.
She looked up to see Matt and Elizabeth approaching them. Matt's eyes widened as he took in her outfit while Elizabeth just looked dismayed.
"Why are you here," she asked.
"We're here to eat dinner next door," Matt said, "C.J., what is going on here?"
She bit her lip.
"Nothing," she said, "Gracie and I thought we would just head out and hit some spot on the pier before heading back."
"So have you met anybody," Matt asked.
She looked at him uneasily but then smiled over it.
"The usual crowd," she said, "Not too much excitement tonight."
Matt looked into the bar.
"I can see that."
Gracie came out suddenly.
"There's no sign of him anywhere," she said.
Matt's eyes narrowed.
"Signs of who," he asked.
C.J. sighed, knowing she had to come clean with him.
"We saw Clyde Jenkins earlier on the pier and we thought he might be coming here tonight."
His eyes widened.
"You mean the man who shot me."
She nodded.
"Why did you think you might see him here?"
"Because when we saw him talking with someone on the pier, we found a piece of paper that was dropped," C.J. said.
She reached inside her purse and handed it to Matt. He examined it and then looked back at her.
"C.J., this man's very dangerous," he said, "He just shot at you not too long ago."
"I know Houston but the police aren't looking in the right place for him," she said.
"Why didn't you ask me to help you?"
She hesitated.
"Because I don't want you to spend all of your time coming to help me," she said, "Elizabeth is here now and I don't want to take away your time with her."
"C.J…"
She put up her hand.
"No, I mean it," she said, "Whatever happens between you, I don't want to be responsible for it."
"You're not responsible," he said, "Whatever is going on between Elizabeth and me is for us to work out. It's not for you to worry about."
"I'm not worried," C.J. insisted, "Only that you got shot the other night and you've done nothing but run around since like nothing's happened."
"I'm fine now," he said, "and I wasn't hit by a Molotov cocktail."
"It's my second one," C.J. said, "It's no big deal. Some glass just nicked me."
"So you're going to wait here until this Jenkins guy shows up," Matt said.
She nodded.
"That was the plan."
"Then what," he asked.
"We're going to find out what he's up to," C.J. finished.
He sighed.
"I'm waiting here with you," he said, "and no argument."
"Houston, you were on your way to dinner," C.J. said, "What about Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth just watched the two of them talk about her. Matt turned towards her.
"Maybe you'd better wait in the restaurant where it's safer," he suggested.
She folded her arms.
"No I can wait here with you," she said, "What's this guy going to do inside a crowded bar?"
C.J. and Matt just looked at each other.
"We don't know Elizabeth," he said, "but he did shoot me inside a restaurant and almost hit C.J. the other day on the street."
"If she can stay here with you, so can I," Elizabeth insisted.
Gracie looked at her critically.
"With all due respect," she said, "You're not appropriately dressed. You'll stick out like a sore thumb and ruin the whole operation."
Elizabeth looked nervously at Matt.
"Will I if I do that?"
Matt sighed.
"It might actually be boring if he doesn't show up for you," he said, "And a single's bar is not the most entertaining place to be unless men start fighting over their women."
Elizabeth sighed.
"So what's the problem unless you're going to get in the middle of it?"
He hesitated.
"I'm just here waiting for Jenkins in case he does show up."
She took his hand.
"Then I'll wait with you," she said, "I need to become more familiar with what your career is like if we're going to make this work."
Matt just looked back at her, thinking they were really going to have a talk but a stakeout inside a crowded single's bar wasn't the place for it.
"That will be good for her Houston," C.J. said, "Besides if anything happens, she can leave."
Matt thought about it and then nodded.
"We'd better head back inside," C.J. said.
Matt appeared uneasy to be bringing Elizabeth inside the bar but then C.J. thought he could always leave and take her home if he didn't like her being in the middle of a potentially dangerous situation.
They sat at the booth in the back for a while after ordering drinks and receiving a bowl of chips and salsa.
"Look at that guy hitting on every young girl in the place," Elizabeth said, shaking her head, "and they're just eating it up."
"That's why it's a singles bar," Gracie said, "It's for men and women to hook up and you know, go off somewhere and do the horizontal tango."
Elizabeth blanched.
"Well I know that," she said, "but where is their sense to not go off with men they barely know?"
Gracie chuckled, sipping her second beer.
"They're not using their brains right now but then neither are the men," she said, "Look at that older guy over there by the bar."
Elizabeth watched as he tossed up peanuts and caught them with his mouth as a couple of blondes tittered.
"Of course one wrong move and someone will have to do the Heimlich to keep him from suffocating on a peanut."
"I never wasted any time at a bar," Elizabeth said.
Gracie looked her up and down.
"I didn't think so. The cotillion looks more like your style," she said, "C.J. and I used to hit them all the time when we were back in college."
C.J. looked down at her drink.
"Only because they had dollar margarita nights," she said.
"Don't be so modest," Gracie said, "You were quite the sensation on the dance floor."
Matt furrowed his brow.
"I think I remember that," he said, "She still can dance anyone off into the sunset."
C.J.'s face flushed trying not to remember the last time they had been dancing together on that beach. He smiled, always reminded of how pretty she looked when she blushed.
"I had some good partners," she said.
A man who had been standing by the bar came over and asked her to dance. She smiled and said yes, following him out on the dance floor. Matt watched her put her hands on the guy's shoulder and he putting his hands on her waist as the music started.
"She loves dancing," Gracie said, "She needs a man who understands that."
Elizabeth frowned.
"That shouldn't be too hard to do," she said, "Find herself a good man who will return her feelings. She's attractive enough."
Gracie gave her a pointed look.
"What's that all about," she said, "C.J.'s gone out with many different guys who have fully appreciated what she has to offer. She has no problem in that category."
Elizabeth shook her
head.
"I wasn't saying that she did," she said, "But she might be happier if she wasn't alone."
Gracie snorted.
"She's not alone," she said, "She's got her friends including Matt here."
Matt looked at the both of them.
"Excuse me," he said, "I think I'll go refresh my drink."
Elizabeth handed him her glass.
"Could you get me another wine spritzer please?"
"Sure thing," he said taking her glass.
He walked to the bar and watched his best friend dancing with the guy, enjoying herself. She said something to the man and he laughed. Gracie joined him at the bar.
"It's good to see her happy," she said.
His brow furrowed at her words.
"She's happy more often than not," he said.
Gracie sighed.
"There's so much about your own best friend you don't know."
Matt turned to look at her.
"I've known her most of my life," he said, "I think I know a lot about her."
"Have you even talked to her lately," she said, "Or have you been spending all your time with Elizabeth?"
Matt took his drink from the bartender.
"I've tried to talk with her," he said, "She puts me off."
"She's been struggling with her feelings since you got back from Tahiti."
He looked at his drink.
"How much do you know about that?"
"Enough."
"I didn't want it to end," he said, quietly after a moment, "She did."
Gracie shrugged.
"I think she was scared she would lose you as a friend if things didn't work out between you."
"I tried to convince her otherwise," Matt said.
Gracie folded her arms.
"By spending every waking moment with your ex-fiancée," she said.
Matt sighed.
"That's complicated," he said.
"You don't love her," Gracie said, "Why don't you just be honest with her about that?"
"I don't want to hurt Elizabeth," he said.
"She's going to be hurt Matt," Gracie said, exasperated, "That's what happens to a woman when the man she loves doesn't return her feelings. If you want to know more about that, ask C.J."
Matt blinked.
"She never told me anything like that."
"She thinks you're in love with Elizabeth and trying to get your wedding on track," Gracie said, "and you've done nothing in the past few days to convince her otherwise."
Matt looked thoughtful.
"No I haven't."
The music stopped and C.J. walked up to them with her new friend.
"This is Brian," she said, "He's from the Mayor's office. Brian, this is Matt Houston a private investigator and Gracie who's visiting from the Bay Area."
The two men greeted each other warily while Gracie smiled widely.
"Nice to meet you Brian," she said, "You come here often."
"Actually no," he said, "I had a meeting in Venice and decided to relax with a beer before heading back home," he said.
"He's a great dancer," C.J. said, grabbing his arm.
"No, you're incredible," he said, "I'll buy you a drink."
She smiled.
"Sure."
Matt watched them order their drinks.
"Maybe you'd better get Elizabeth her wine spritzer before she sends a search party," Grace reminded him.
He looked distracted but then turned to look at her.
"Yeah," he said, going back to Elizabeth's table.
C.J. spoke with Brian and found herself liking him. They sat with their drinks and talked about living and working in L.A. He told her stories about his job working on the mayor's staff and she shared stories about some of the cases that she and Matt had worked on during the past several years. He was telling her about a party he had attended at the convention center the other night when she happened to see a woman coming into the bar. Her eyes widened as she recognized her from the night that Matt had been shot at the restaurant. The woman looked around the bar as if looking for someone and then sat in a booth not far from where Matt sat with Elizabeth. She ordered a drink from a waiter.
C.J. touched Brian on the arm.
"Excuse me," she said, "I'll be right back."
He nodded and smiled.
"I'll be waiting."
She walked slowly to Gracie who sat at the bar talking to a tall guy.
"So how is he," Gracie asked, "Are you taking him home?"
C.J. rolled her eyes.
"He seems like a great guy but we've got a job to do," she said, "and I see the woman who was with the guy who shot Houston on the night it happened."
Gracie blanched.
"You're kidding right?"
"No I'm not," C.J. said, "She's right near Houston and Elizabeth and she must be waiting for Jenkins."
"You'd better tell Matt," Gracie said.
"He seems to be busy," C.J. said.
"I'm sure Elizabeth will understand that sometimes work comes first," Gracie reasoned.
"No she won't," C.J. said, "That's her biggest complaint about the relationship."
"Matt's never going to be happy with a woman who doesn't support his career."
"He seems perfectly happy to me," C.J. said.
Gracie looked at the woman and saw a man moving towards her. She pointed him out to C.J.
"Is that him?"
C.J. looked at him carefully and then nodded.
"It's definitely him," she said.
They both walked over to Matt and Elizabeth who looked up at them.
"Did you see him," Matt asked.
C.J. nodded.
"He's with that woman from the other night at the restaurant."
Matt looked over and saw them sitting at the table deep in conversation.
"We'd better approach them slowly," he said, "C.J. maybe you'd better step back."
She gave him that look.
"I will when you will," she said, "What if he shoots you again?"
"That's not going to happen," he said.
"Nothing's going to happen if we sit here hashing this out all night," she said.
He saw that she had made her mind up and knew arguing was a futile gesture at this point.
"Okay, let's move together," he said.
They tried to move through the packed crowd pushing people aside so that they could pass through.
"Were drinks half off tonight," Matt asked.
"Maybe it's wet tee-shirt night," C.J. said.
They neared the table cautiously step by step. Matt kept his hand on his firearm but he hoped he wouldn't need it. Shooting up a crowded place like this was never a great idea. Before they reached the table, the man got up and headed towards the bathroom.
"Don't lose him," C.J. said as they tried to follow him through the crowd.
"Watch the woman," Matt said.
"And leave you to face an armed man by yourself," she said, looking at him like he was crazy.
"I'll keep an eye on the woman," Ginger offered.
Matt turned to see Gracie and Elizabeth not far away.
"I can handle myself," Gracie said, "Go follow him."
Gracie had worked as a bouncer before she owned her own club. C.J. knew her friend was tougher than she looked. Matt nodded and he and C.J. tried to continue following the man. He didn't appear to see them as he continued towards where they figured there might be a back exit into the alley. They followed just behind him.
"What do you think the woman gave him," C.J. asked.
"I don't know C.J.," he said, "but that's a good question."
"He's heading to that door over there," she said.
Matt looked ahead and saw him opening the heavy door and holding it, while looking both directions. He closed it behind him.
"We can't lose him," Matt said as they ran the remaining distance to the door and opened it. By the time they did, they saw him at the end of the alley.
"C.J. call the police," Matt said, as he drew out his gun and ran towards the man.
She nodded and ran to the other side of the building to use the payphone. Matt ran after the man who was standing at a streetlight to cross. When he saw Matt running towards him, he decided not to wait and sprinted out into traffic. Matt followed him, narrowly dodging cars who were forced to stop until they had crossed the street. The man had opened up more of a lead and took off down the street, with Matt in hot pursuit. Matt picked up his pace ignoring the stitch in his side from where he had been shot. He ignored the discomfort and kept after the man, who decided to head down another alley.
Matt followed him hoping that the alley led to a dead end but knowing if that were the case, he might need his gun. Sure enough, a short wall kept the alley short and the man made a flying leap onto the wall. Matt ran faster, hoping to grab his legs before he sprung over and started running again. But he just fell short, missing the legs and landing on the ground. He hoisted his body up again and reached for the wall to leap onto and over it. By the time he managed to do that, the man had started running through the alley and out onto the main street again.
Matt took after him, feeling his lungs burning and his legs aching from the exertion. The man began to slow a bit and looked behind him to see how close his pursuer was. Then Matt heard the distant whines of police sirens become louder and the squeal of brakes as several police cars stopped trying to block the man. He tried to dodge the cars and finally tried to leap over one of them. Matt leaped onto the car too and grabbed the man by the legs. They struggled until they rolled off the car and the man broke free and started running again.
The police officers jumped out of their cars to apprehend the man but he managed to elude their grasp. They pulled out their guns but he turned a corner and was gone. They started to pursue them and Matt joined in but the man had disappeared.
Matt sighed and ran his hand through his hair as he put his gun away. A police officer looked at him.
"Friend of yours," he asked.
"Not really," he said, "Is Lt. Hoyt on his way?"
The officer nodded.
"He wasn't happy when we told him you were here."
Matt grimaced.
"I'm not happy the guy got away."
"Houston…"
He looked up and saw C.J. approach. She looked around at the scene.
"I can see the cavalry arrived," she said, "Are you okay?"
"I'm just fine C.J. but Jenkins got away."
"Gracie and Elizabeth are back in front of the bar," she said, "I think the police are breaking up a fight there right now."
"Please don't tell me either woman had anything to do with it," he said.
She chuckled.
"No, it was some guy at the bar who tried to pick up a woman by showing off his prowess with peanuts and he charmed the wrong girl."
"Oh."
"So Jenkins got away."
Matt nodded.
"We still don't know what he's up to," he said, "What happened to the woman?"
"She was the wrong woman," C.J. said, "Frankly I think she set up the whole brawl as a diversion."
"You're probably right," he said, "I'm going back to the office to see if I can dig up anything on Baby."
C.J. frowned.
"What about Elizabeth?"
Matt looked towards the bar.
"I guess I'd better take her home first," he said, "I don't think either one of us is up for dinner now."
"She must be really upset," C.J. said.
"She seemed okay," he said, "What about you and what's his name?"
Her face brightened.
"Oh Brian," she said, "He's a great guy. I'm going to go talk to him before we leave."
Matt's brows rose.
"You interested in him?"
She narrowed her eyes.
"Would it bother you if I were?"
He looked at her, for a moment.
"C.J. you barely know the guy," she said.
She put her hands on her hips.
"I'm going to thank him for a good time," she said, "I'm not in the market for a boyfriend right now. Life is complicated enough."
He rubbed his chin.
"Yeah about that," he said, "I think we need to have a talk."
She looked back at him blankly.
"About what," she said, "Everything's going just fine."
He put his hands in his jacket pockets.
"I feel like there's something between us and I want to make sure there isn't," he said.
"Like what," she said, smiling, "Like I said, everything's just fine."
"I miss you," Matt said, "It seems we haven't seen each other much lately."
She didn't meet his eyes.
"That's because you've been busy fixing your relationship with Elizabeth," she said, "and I've been busy too."
He started to say something else to her but then Elizabeth walked up to him.
"Matt, I just got off the phone with Ginger at the hotel and told her I'd be home soon," she said.
Matt turned towards C.J. who started to walk away.
"Are you going to the gala tomorrow?"
She stopped and looked at him.
"I'm going with Gracie," she said, "I'll see you there."
He watched her as she walked away, while deep in thought and Elizabeth watched him.