An effort is being made ... sort of.
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CHAPTER Three: The storm is lifting
Nimbostratus Opacus: a very dark and grey colored cloud layer that blots out the light of the sun. It is massive and has a continuous fall of precipitation.
Eames and I are working a case. I know, news flash, it's what we do. We used to do it in sync and without effort. Now, there is effort. The words she said after I interrogated Stout keep replaying in my head like "Ground Hog's Day." My brain is on automatic rewind. I know I need to get out of this funk and move away from my anger. I suppose we both have unresolved issues with each other, we have been partners for nearly seven years … things were bound to catch up to us. I know I have been difficult, but she needs to take some responsibilities here too. It takes two to tango. We have both covered for each other … her more than me, I get that, but the fact remains that I have always at least tried to be there for her. Family commitments didn't always permit me to drop things and run to her aide. After all, she wasn't dealing with a schizophrenic mother and a less than helpful brother. I can't help the fact that my life has been one big "rain on my parade." I do my job and I do it well, we need to move on.
I'm in the conference room going over all the evidence that we have collected. Woody and Avery have run off together. The old soul and the hot young massage therapist. Did they really run off together or did somebody stop them. My bet is on the latter. They may have started off that way, but … hmm? We interview the husband … Roy … now that guy's an asshole if I've ever met one. Then I had to endure being called 'Bullwinkle' by his ex-wife. I wanted to slap her. Eames saddles me with watching their sex tape. I make a game of it. I make popcorn, invite the guys in … the sex was mundane but the ballgame was good. So, asshole has an alibi and she should be watching who she's calling 'Bullwinkle!' My magic gut from the beginning tells me to look at the wife … Ross's ex-girlfriend, Kathy. I know … I'm out of line … he needs a slap too. I notice that she was married before, to an older man, a judge. She went from an older man to a younger man with an old soul. Makes me think. It's what I do. I google, usually what Eames does. The judge died suddenly. The wheels are turning. I didn't see Eames enter the conference room, so when I got up abruptly, I nearly knocked her on her ass.
"Sorry."
"You got something?"
I'm still in my pissy mood … I shouldn't have said it, but I did.
"My water's on the table Eames. You can carry it if you want."
I continue my trot out of the door.
"Fuck you, Goren!"
I turn around and smile.
"Yeah, you'd like" … Nah, I stop myself, I'm not going there, I'm really not the bastard that I'm acting like. I continue on to my fact finding mission.
I need to dig into her past. Who was this judge? Why did he die suddenly? Eames catches up with me and grabs my arm. She catches me off guard and slams me up against the wall. She's very strong for a little thing.
"Listen Goren. I'm sick of your shit! You don't have to like it, I don't have to like it, but we're still partners … deal with it!"
"ME? You're the one that asked for a new partner Eames … you DEAL WITH IT!"
She looks surprised. She thought I didn't know.
"Yeah, I heard all about it. So, you do your thing and I'll do mine. I have work to do."
I start to walk away and she stops me again.
"It's our case!"
She's right, it is … I need to play nice.
"Kathy did it and I need to prove it."
"What do you have on her?"
"A dead ex-husband. A judge … died suddenly. She could be a black widow. I think she's been playing Ross all along."
We start to get along better after that. She's secretly pissed off at Ross. She loves the fact that I think it's Kathy. She knows that I'm usually right, which will piss Ross off and if I'm wrong, I'll look like a real jerk. This is win,win for Eames. She has that evil smile on her face.
Ross confirmed the story about the judge. He liked … boys. We dug him up. She over-dosed him on V-Boost. We proved it before we moved on. We connected the dots, as we often do. Her and her little crime novels, even those I can solve within the first few chapters. We figured out where and how she offed Woody and his little massage therapist. When Ross walked away from the crime scene with Kathy yelling after him, I couldn't help but say … "I told ya so." He didn't like that. Eames hit me … smacked me right across the chest. I don't care. That's what he gets for saying I was out of line. He's been out of line since he took this job. I guess that's what put me and Eames out of sync to begin with.
When Eames and I start to walk away, she asks me out for a drink. She wants to clear the air between us. Time will tell. The ice queen may be melting and this asshole is getting too old for this shit. You know what they say about alcohol. What is they say about alcohol? That depends on who you're with and how much you drink … I'm still an asshole … really, I am. Eames may see a side of me she's not quite prepared for. I may see a side of Eames, I've been prepared for, for a very long time. Drinks with Eames could turn into a funnel cloud … it rotates and extends from the base. Drinks with Eames could be the beginning of the end. After all this pent up anger and frustration, I'm willing to take that chance.
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Next up: Drunk and disorderly partners. Please remember when you're reviewing, I'm on Flu medication ... but don't let that inFLUence you in any way! Thanks for reading, Judy