Two Short Deals

Most police officers keep a second weapon about them somewhere, which was good because the drenching most of the Major Case Squad had gotten would have put a strain on even the armory of the NYPD. The office looked like the locker room of a swim club, when they all traipsed back inside after their dunking.

"Thanks for the bath, Eames." One of the older detectives called to Alex as he slopped his way toward the locker room

"Somebody had to cool you off." Alex returned. "How come they aren't blaming you? You got just as wet as anyone." She snorted at her partner.

Bobby leered at her. "I don't look as good in wet clothes as you do." He nodded to the evidence of her dunking on the front of her tank top.

"Great." She brushed ineffectually at her wet top.

"I'd offer you my jacket but…." Bobby tried his best to try to hold down his smile and be supportive while he enjoyed the view.

"Hey, I vote that Eames won the wet T-Shirt, uh, tank top competition." One of the younger members called.

He hastily whirled away and pretended to be engrossed in something else when Bobby whipped around to glare at him then the room in general. It was one thing for Bobby to enjoy the sight, but quite another for her to be the target of that kind of talk. Captain Deakins was one of the last ones to enter the room. He looked around and glared at anyone not busy either drying off or working.

"I've never, ever gotten drenched in the line of duty. This is one for the record books. Assault by swimming pool."

"I wonder what the statute of limitations is on that, Captain." Bobby commented.

That comment was so completely out of character that Deakins stared at him then burst out laughing. Gorens hair had begun to stand out all over his head and he was sitting in a puddle of water around his chair. Eames hair had faired better, but all in all they looked like a squad of drowned rats.

Dave Leiver came into the room looking cool, dry and pleased with himself. He came over to Eames and Gorens desks and shook their hands. "You don't know how happy I am that you fell into that deal for me." He grinned and winked at Alex. "I wasn't looking forward to retiring and trying to find something to do with myself. For your help, I'm going to give you the first years gym membership free. As soon as we get open you come see me and I'll set it up."

"You said we. You and the current owner?"

"We set up a deal. I'm going to provide the working capital and he's going to put up the facility. I'll be buying it from him eventually and you're all invited to the grand opening and you get a discounted membership. Thanks again, guys." He patted Goren on his shoulder and headed for his desk.

"There goes a happy man." Alex said.

"He's a good cop. It's too bad he has to retire, but his wife put her foot down and told him it was either her or the job. He'll miss it here." Deakins said shaking his head.

"I think he may have gotten the best of the bargain." Bobby interjected. "He will have something to keep him busy, and he'll have a lot of officers coming in to use the equipment. He'll be a part of the gossip without the danger. And he'll be able to watch the female officers get wet." He gave Alex a sly look.

She wadded up a piece of paper and lobbed it at him, grinning.

Fin