CHAPTER FOUR
"Harris has no known association with gambling syndicates." Carver's tone is very familiar to the other occupants of Deakins' office. The where-is-the-evidence tone is in full swing, albeit gentler than it has been, as he examines the folder put together on Harris. "Closest he's been to horses is taking his kid for a pony ride at the zoo."
Leg crossed over his knee, occasionally moving when his body can't remain still, Bobby stares at the part of Deakins' desk that's in front of Alex. He hasn't dared look at her since the riot act in the SUV. Counselor, he tiredly thinks, please make our day in this respect... Nothing is going right... Least of all, he knows, for himself...
Alex takes a breath before reminding the ADA of what they've found. "He went to the same school as Greg Monroe and Penny Chai," she declares, using her hand to stress each point. "He was in the same frat. His bets conformed to the computer program." Her voice raises at the end, trying to get Carver to see their point.
Carver takes a deep breath, motioning in a placating gesture with his hands. "Can't Harris be a young engineer who made a lucky bet?" His head shakes slightly, trying to be reasonable.
Alex sighs, frustrated in general. Damn it, her mind hisses at him, aren't you concerned about what someone who behaves like that is capable of?
Bobby takes several seconds to gather his thoughts, to regroup. "A young engineer," he remarks, using every trick he knows to keep his voice even and his tone conversational, "with no discernible fear response." He keeps his eyes drifting between his boss and the ADA, not wanting to risk meeting Alex's still furious ones. How can I make you, Mr. Carver, Bobby thinks as he takes a breath to remain calm, see the urgency? "People like him, they become firefighters, race car drivers... or tweak the upbringing another way. They become psychopaths," he finishes. Oh, he notes, I know that the world isn't always that straight-forward, but it happens more often than most would like...
"Which way did Harris get tweaked?" Deakins doesn't add, if you can tell. This is the team that finds the things others miss. His eyes scan his detectives, taking in that neither will meet the other's eyes, and the tension in their postures. Goren, he remembers, looked guilty when they came back from the site... and seems too ashamed to meet Eames' eyes. And she's not looking at him, like he angered her...
Not noticing that the scrutiny from their boss is slightly higher than normal, Alex shrugs. "At Hudson, he was a member of the skydiving club. He's been a volunteer firefighter," she acknowledges with mild annoyance. People never behave fully one way or another... To Alex, it's never pleasant when Bobby's assertion that the world is mostly shades of gray – as far as criminal and moral behavior go – is once again accurate.
"Definitely a miscreant," Carver retorts. And I should know after some of the people from my block... I always thought several of them were bound to land on the wrong side of the law eventually, or skirt close to it.
If Alex had been less angered at her partner, that line would've drawn a sharp glare. Chris, the middle child in the family, is a firefighter. Oh, she recalls, he was as mischievous as any Eames, but being a criminal has always been the furthest thing from his mind.
Bobby frowns. Thank you, Counselor... "On the other hand, his DMV records show three speeding tickets from high school," he adds, briefly switching his through gaze to his boss, "two of which he driving 80 miles an hour in a 35-mile-an-hour zone."
The bad boy from hell, Deakins feels. His skin chills at the idea of his girls meeting anyone like that, let alone actually liking the guy. And I've got one who might...
Carver's eyebrows raise at the news. Well, he considers, that doesn't bode well for the man's character, but I can't convince any judge based on high school joyrides. However reckless they were, it's not considered relevant.
Bobby notices – in the corner of his eye – Deakins' face tighten, but focuses on Carver's disbelieving gaze. He opens his mouth, and then opens his binder to locate the photos that he knows are of Harris inside the squad room. "Look, he has what it took to sneak into this building," he insists, handing the photos over in the process.
Carver shakes his head regretfully. "It's very thin, people," he reminds them as he goes through the photos one by one. "Let me know when you have something that, uh..." He hands the photos back, finishing with, "sticks to the spoon."
Bobby resists an urge to sigh as he stands, taking them back. Watching as Carver leaves with his briefcase, he wonders, Okay, what now...?
Deakins sighs, standing slowly. "It's late. Sleep on it," he orders, mostly to Bobby. "Maybe the answer will come to you in the morning." The hint of optimism doesn't seem to register, but Deakins isn't surprised. If she's that furious at you, of course you'd be uneasy... Took a long time to build trust between you two...
Not gonna happen... "Yeah," he nods, willing Deakins to drop the subject. I need to figure out other things... Important things, he silently adds, forcing his eyes to stay on his binder – the only safe thing to look at that'll help him focus his thoughts.
Sleep... Sometimes I wonder if he knows the meaning, Alex's mind grumbles as she gets up.
I need answers now, Deakins decides. As the detectives move toward the door, he pretends to inspect a paper. "Alex," he asks, like it's business as usual, "you got a minute?" Now for Goren to leave so she might be more candid...
Both detectives blink, but it looks like Alex's opinion is wanted on something. Must be an old case, Bobby decides, and Cap doesn't want to encourage my brain... He sighs and walks out, closing the door behind him. I'll... I guess I'll use the time to... figure out what I can do... to earn Alex's forgiveness...
Once he leaves, Alex turns and notices her boss watching her partner. Bobby doesn't like people watching him, she thinks. So she aims to get Deakins' attention off of him, eyes willing his away as she casually asks, "So what's up?"
Perfect opening. Deakins stares out of his office. He almost looks lost, he notices as her partner moves to his own desk. After another few seconds, he puts the paper down, slides his hands into his pants pockets and fixes a scanning look on Alex. Time to cut to the chase... "I could," he quietly remarks, "ask the same of you and Bobby."
Alex's eyes blink uncontrollably for a moment, but she gathers herself, despite her racing thoughts. Oh, no... What does he suspect? She tries to hide a nervous swallow. "Why?" To her ears, her voice is shaky, increasing her unease.
Seeing that he was right to be concerned doesn't make Deakins any happier. He sighs, trying to figure out how to explain it while treating his mentor's daughter with the respect she's earned the right to expect. "You two have been acting differently in the last two weeks," he observes, freeing one hand to occasionally gesture between her and the door. "You're more in each other's personal space than before, you're having more silent conversations, and it seems like you two are now almost always coming and going together."
Alex fights to not flinch. This, it occurs to her, is exactly what Bobby had worried about... Was I overconfident...?
Deakins takes several breathes, scrutinizing his detective's silence and posture. Great, his mind groans, just great... When did the rumors become true...? "But then you get back from Harris' current project, and you two are suddenly barely talking, little eye contact. He looks guilty, you furious."
Damn, Alex realizes, my fingers are shaking... Stop, fingers, stop! But her mind can't slow them. Okay, she tells herself as she folds her arms in front of herself, time to give a little explanation... Clearing her throat, she strives for a level tone and to not avoid eye contact. "In showing Harris doesn't scare, my partner did a stunt that I thought might get him killed. I didn't like seeing him risk himself so needlessly, so I read him the riot act. You don't have to lecture him," she quickly adds. "I think I've punished him enough."
If the look on Goren's face was any indication, Deakins muses, he thought you were about to walk out on the team... He considers asking what happened, but thinks better of it. It might bode better if I don't. "Yeah," he shrugs. "Maybe I've overlooked a method of keeping him in line."
In line. Alex knows that Bobby doesn't fit in any lines other than the ones he sets for himself. Or, she allows, the ones we've created together. But the implication of his words... Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she quips, "What, was it too obvious?"
Responding with a question... Not entirely unreasonable, Deakins thinks, and completely predicable coming from an Eames, but I want answers. Shaking his head, he remarks, "I doubt it; what I saw is very subtle. I only saw it because I look out for potential trouble in my squad."
Yes, Alex notes, you do... She – along with many in the NYPD – knows it's why he's such a good leader. Which makes doing things against the regs risky; Deakins is too likely to spot something if you're not completely careful. Guess Bobby and I need to talk more about frustration management...
Deakins' eyes bore deeper into hers, searching for hints about what's really happening. No clues again, he notices. Time to be direct. "What I want to know is what's going on, and whether you're going to be renewing that request."
That request... The words mean nothing to Alex for several seconds, but then the memory slams against her consciousness: the new partner request. "No," she blurts, eyes popping before she blinks them back under control, "no, I won't be." Oh, no... In trying to not blow up at Bobby, I've given Cap reason to look closer at us...
You mean he's so important to you that you'll all but take his head off if he scares you... Deakins sighs loudly. That speaks volumes... "Then what's going on, Alex?" He rubs his forehead. "I need to know that you two can still work together. The whole working more without speaking part I don't mind since you seem more efficient, but..." He hesitates, weighing his options. Oh, hell, might as well be direct without accusing. "Well, you know that you two are an unusual team, and get talked about."
He thinks Bobby and I might be involved... That the Captain isn't outright asking tells Alex that he won't accuse them without proof, but suspicion on his part is cause for alarm. Alex resists a strong urge to wring her hands together as she evaluates her options. Well, she slowly realizes, there's an explanation that doesn't tell any outright lies... She takes another moment to collect herself, then quietly states, "You know that he just buried his father last week."
Yes... And...? Deakins nods, letting what seems like a diversion slide. For the moment, he silently adds. "They were close?" The tone holds a little curiosity; Detective Goren is known for not talking about himself and his history beyond what might be necessary at a given moment. All I know is in his file, and from a few interrogations... Deakins has always wondered what makes the man tick, what drives him to do the things he does. Maybe I'll learn something useful for this moment...
Frowning, Alex shakes her head. "Exact opposite." And I doubt it would've helped Bobby... "Let's just say that the old man didn't do his duty by Bobby's mom, or by either of his sons... and leave it at that..." I can't say any more without breaking his confidence...
His father was... negligent...? Silent as he absorbs the thought, a few things make more sense. Is that, he wonders, where Goren's problems with authority come from? "But," Deakins comments, leaning against his desk, "he made the arrangements..." It doesn't make sense...
"Bobby felt obligated to handle the arrangements himself," Alex sighs sadly. She releases her hands to help her talk. "I guess because he can't hold grudges..."
What...? Doesn't hold grudges...? Well, he admits, it would explain a lot of his actions, but to do that much for a man who failed you? "But," he protests, "doesn't he have other family? Aunts, uncles? He has a brother, right?"
Swallowing down a lump in her throat, Alex wrings her fingers. Need to restrain their movement... "The only other family I know about is his brother, and Bobby couldn't reach him in time." Better not mention anything further... Alex sighs loudly, a release for more of the frustration of the day. "Except for my helping clean out his father's apartment, and my being available for talking, he dealt with it alone."
Alone? Deakins raises his eyebrows, skeptical. "You couldn't go to the funeral?" The flicker in her eyes confirms his guess. If he's as important to you as I sense, why weren't you there?
Finally, Alex's mind breathes in relief, something I can cleanly answer. "I would've if not for my appointment," she stresses. "I couldn't reschedule. Bobby understood." There, now I don't have to admit to what I'm doing for my sister... yet...
Short answers, the best for concealing information. Deakins takes a deep breath, evaluating what he's heard. Alex isn't lying, his gut tells him, but – at the very least – she's aware of something between them that she thinks I shouldn't know about... Deakins feels another headache coming, and rubs his forehead again. "Okay, so he's had a rough time." He drops the hand to his still folded arm. "I don't see how that explains the behavioral changes between you two."
Forcing in a deep breath, Alex takes the moment to consider the best phrasing. That, she knows, is key to keeping us out of trouble while I mend fences... "I knew that he would withdraw into himself. It's his way of coping," she explains, gesturing randomly with her hands. "But I didn't like seeing him beat himself up over this anymore than I liked seeing him beat himself up... almost five months ago." She finishes awkwardly, folding her hands again to prevent excessive fidgeting. If I say anything more, I might admit to something I don't want to...
Five months ago... Deakins sifts through the variety of thoughts to figure out what she's referring to. That was early October. What happened to throw him off...? The answer instantly appears, and he mentally slaps himself. How could I forget that sight...? "Nicole Wallace," he mutters, skin crawling.
Alex nods grimly. Yes, she silently growls, that harpy... "I hated seeing him suffer," she breathes. "His work doesn't falter, but I think the the effort to ensure that drains him. I knew he'd be fine eventually; he's bounced back from far worse. But I hoped that I could help him recover sooner. So I've been been a friend. Giving him support, reassurance, and encouragement. It's helped him," she emphasizes.
Deakins weighs her words, wondering what that Eames mask is concealing. She hasn't lied, he feels, but I don't like her omitting critical details. "Support, huh?" His skeptical eyes belie the casual tone.
Her boss's stare alarms Alex. I need him to believe that there's nothing to worry about... "Hey," she contends, waving her hands, "it means he's easier for others around here to deal with."
Whoa, Deakins silently breathes in realization, whoa... He has been a little... calmer... I haven't had to soothe as many ruffled feathers in the past few months as I usually have to... Oh, this helps, his mind groans. If something that breaks the regs is helping them work better...
After several long seconds, he reluctantly decides to appear to take her words at face value. Let's wait. If there is a problem, he reasons, I'll find out. Quickly if today is any indication... "Okay," he allows, slowly pushing himself up and back to his chair. "But," he orders, stopping to point and stare at her, "sort out whatever happened today by tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir." Good, Alex, she tells herself. Keep up the even detective's voice and maintain eye contact...
Deakins nods as he pulls out the aspirin bottle from the drawer where he used to keep Necedrol. Another detail, his mind groans, that I'd do better to forget... "Okay. Good night," he says with a slight smile. Habit, he knows. Alex won't be fooled. The question is what will happen tomorrow, and I'm going to try to not think about it until then...
"Good night, Captain." As she walks out, Alex fights back a sigh of relief at hiding the full truth. However, the sheer fact that their boss sees trouble in their partnership... If he sees it today, she thinks, then others will notice before long. We have to talk... before the scrutiny falls on us...
Bobby went to his desk when Deakins dismissed him, and sat down to write some notes to help direct their efforts tomorrow morning. His attention was soon distracted by his eyes glancing up, seeing Alex standing tensely and obviously explaining. She's trying, he had realized, to convince him of something, but what? A few times Bobby sensed alarm radiating from her body, like a secret was almost out.
Finally, he hears her open the door. Looking up, Bobby freezes. Tension, he notes. She's radiating it. He immediately pieces together a possibility. Oh, no... Cap figured it out...? His heart sinks from his stomach to his gut. If she was wrong about this, his mind trembles, then we're finished... In every way...