Chapter four
You dropped this…

Charlie placed his hands on the desk; it was the gesture that he meant business. For a moment the team all looking to him, it was getting to look like one man was making it harder for them. "This is it," Charlie finally spoke into the silence.

Ray kept standing being Charlie, his arms folded across his chest, his eyes focused on the others. Erica, feeling like her focus kept still, but inside her head, she had to get this man, he was a monster, she ate monsters for breakfast. Shea sitting on a chair, his feet up, he thought about why he was doing this, every case seemed to waver, but this one, it was hard. Lloyd leaning against a desk, his hands inside his pockets, shifting his gaze to everyone, it seemed they all had the same thought pattern, but as his hands played in his pockets, one hand brushing over the napkin, slowly his attention to the back of Elizabeth's head, she was playing her hands into her long red hair, twirling it nervously. Julianne kept still beside her sister, for a second clearing her throat. "I feel like I should of…"

"No, it wasn't your fault Julianne," Elizabeth placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, "It's just a mad man," her eyes going to Charlie's eyes keeping his attention. "But we've got to find him, four people have died."

Charlie exhaled, "It's no one's fault," he kept looking from face to face, finally landing on Lloyd, "but we need to find him, we can't keep waiting for him to strike again." He lifted his hands from the desk; he stood to his full height.

"I was thinking the numbers," Lloyd spoke up, "I've been going over them trying to work, if it's order, procession," He kept looking to the notebook on the table, "I'm not sure if it means anything, but I think I might know the next victim." He kept his tone smooth, his eyes looking to Charlie; he wanted to show he wasn't useless.

Ray unfolded his arms, "well, we're not getting any closer, if you don't speak up already." He brushed his hand under his nose, his eyes going to Julianne, slowly moving to Elizabeth. It seemed like Elizabeth being here, it was good, but Julianne didn't seem to be getting better. "So spit it out already."

Lloyd pushed himself away from the desk, "Well the fact all of the Jury has been put under police protection," He kept looking to Charlie, "He can't be stupid to believe his pattern wouldn't have been picked up on, but it just means now he's going to get careful."

"Well Der!" Elizabeth turned her head to face him, her eyes looking him over, "but the fact, you're the expert on behaviour or what ever," she kept her tone even, "say something to find him."

Lloyd rubbed his hand into his hair, he glanced over the team, "Irvine Bishop," He said the name, "I'm pretty sure according to the notebook, she's the next victim." Now relaxing back again the desk, his eyes closed lightly thinking it over. "Yes, it's her."

Ray nodded, "Right saddle up," He side glanced to Charlie, he was staring at him. "What, you always give the go."

Charlie exhaled, "Come on, if we move now, we can try and catch him," the sound of his voice was confident.

Julianne quickly behind her laptop screen, she quickly typed, her eyes on the monitor, "Twelve seven George Street," Her voice soft, her eyes going to Ray, for a second she gave a small smile to him.

Shea clapped his hands, "Well lets roll," He pulled his jacket on, his eyes on Erica, "I think she's going to be needed."

Charlie nodded, "you too Lloyd," He now picked his own jacket up, the team leaving the office in a rush.

Elizabeth kept looking to the coffee machine, her eyes focused as it poured out a dark muddy liquid. Tapping her hands on the table, she could see the reason for this mission. The catching the bad guy, her fingernails tapping, her free hand was twirling a ring on her finger. Just waiting for her coffee to finish, her head tilting one side, her hand stopped drumming rubbing the back of her neck softly. "You know, you have a good eye for character." Lloyd's voice snapped Elizabeth from her daydreaming.

Elizabeth turned carefully, "Thanks," Her voice kept light, for a second leaning on the table, "But if you're trying to get into my good books," Her eyes going back to the coffee machine that had finished. "I'm not easily flattered."

"I wasn't trying to, I was," Lloyd felt the words were catching in his throat, he kept watching Elizabeth.

She kept watching him, "Relax," Elizabeth put the lid on the coffee, "I was just saying," Elizabeth blew onto the coffee before sipping, "I just see how you've been looking at Jules."

"What do you mean?" Lloyd felt his hand playing in his pocket again, he could feel her gaze going from his eyes, slowly to the outside the coffee room.

Elizabeth kept still, "You, her," She waved a hand, "Never mind, case closed. Means I can get home and read." She started to walk to the door.

"Hey, wait," Lloyd called, he took the napkin out finally, "you dropped this last night," holding it out, he watched her turning to face him, her eyes on the napkin.

Elizabeth bit her lip lightly, "I, what?" for a second she knew that he was watching her, studying her. So she kept herself still as possible.

Lloyd kept focused, "This," he stepped careful; he watched her free hand reaching out for the napkin.

"It's not mine," Elizabeth finally spoke, her hand letting go of the napkin, "plus do you remember what I was wearing last night?"

"Dress, nice colour, very…" Lloyd took the napkin back, "You didn't drop this napkin then?" He kept focused, waiting for Elizabeth, for a second shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

Elizabeth brushed her hand into her pocket, "No, that must have been Jules's napkin, I'm so sure she misses a bar napkin…" rolling her eyes she walked out of the room feeling like she was missing something.

Lloyd watched Elizabeth working away, his eyes going to the name, the number. It was a sinking sensation in his chest, his eyes looking Julianne. He could see her talking to Elizabeth, her face breaking into a smile. Lloyd exhaled, "Damn." He glanced to the napkin one more time, and then he watched his hand dropping it into the trashcan.

"So, fancy a drink?" Elizabeth smiled, her eyes going to Julianne, slowly to Erica, "I mean, it's been a long day." Taking a sip of the coffee, watching the two girls.

Erica let out a deep breathe, "Well, that would be a bit hard for me," She brushed a hand through her hair, "Vans taking us back to Maryland."

"It's that the prison?" Elizabeth kept calm, she wasn't quite sure, but was slowly picking up the look on Julianne's face. "You're a con?"

"Wow, you say that so nicely," Erica smiled, "Yes, the whole using Cons to find cons," her eyes slowly going to Julianne, "you didn't tell her?"

"It never really came into conversation…" Julianne slowly moved her gaze to Elizabeth nervous.

Elizabeth licked her bottom lip, her hand still in her pocket, sipping more coffee, "Ah, well maybe I'll smuggling in some tequila next case," her voice smooth while looking sideways to Julianne.

"That isn't a wise thing," Julianne kept looking from Erica, turning to see Charlie talking with Ray and Shea, slowly her eyes meeting Lloyd joining them. "Hey, you okay?"

"I'm fine, good," Lloyd kept a smile on his face, "Could even say great," he clapped his hands while looking over Julianne.

Elizabeth shifted her gaze from Julianne to Lloyd, finally looking to Erica, "well, I guess I'll see you guys later, I need to eat something, maybe sleep," Her hand placed the coffee mug down, placing a hand on Julianne's arm, "Ready?"

Julianne glanced over Lloyd, "Yeah, I just need to get my coat," for a second her eyes pulled away from Lloyd, "I just need to talk to Ray about something," her voice soft, quickly she moved away the group.

"So, I guess you're part of the team," Erica smiled, it was trying to ignore the tension in the group. Her attention was aware of Lloyd watching Julianne talking to Ray.

Elizabeth nodded, "Yeah, guess you'll have to get used to me for a while," A simple nod, a hand into her pocket again. "See you…" She walked away leaving Lloyd and Erica alone.

Lloyd kept focused on Elizabeth and Julianne, he kept still, and then turned to look at Erica who coughed, "You know, you really are just…"

"I was making an observation on how alike they are in appearance." He kept his tone even.

Erica rolled her eyes, "yes, because you need to know their Asses look the same," her hand tapping his shoulder, "you really are messed up Lloyd." She now walked leaving him alone, with just himself and his thoughts.

AN: I am very away of the shortness of this chapter, but I thought it got the message of what I am trying to convey, plus I am hoping that My next chapter is going to be better than this.
Much love.
Emma
X0X0