10

On the ride over Matt told her, "Judge Salinger says hi by the way."

C.J. smiled for a second and then said, "He's still around? I would have thought he'd have retired by now. He must be 70."

Matt told her, "He's actually 75 and a big fan of yours. Told me to tell you that you were missed and that he's always looking for your articles in the Law Review. He's proud of you."

She smiled and then said, "You know I clerked for him just after my 3rd year at Harvard. He taught me so much about local law, although, if I remember correctly, he runs things a bit informally."

He said, "He remembers you helping me talk my way out of a couple of charges from time to time."

She chuckled again and said, "I remember that too. You know, if he really liked me, I probably could have talked you out of this one." Then she got serious, "Why didn't you call me?"

Matt still didn't want to tell her the real reason Bo and Lamar called him down to Texas, but he really didn't want to lie so he said, "C.J., Bo and Lamar are worried about keeping up with Floyd's old property and they wanted me to look over a few things." She put her head down for a second, which Matt noticed. He continued, "Your life there wasn't an easy one and none of us wanted you think about all the ways Floyd and Missy made you feel bad when you grew up there. We just didn't want to bring up ancient history."

C.J. nodded and then said, "You know I have some pretty great memories in Texas too though."

Matt smiled as she squeezed his hand and said, "I know, we both do, but that house isn't one of them. When we do go visit, C.J. you never go down to that old place and I don't blame you."

She nodded her head as they pulled in to the parking lot of the hospital. Sure enough all three would be Dads were there, Sam Perkins, Joshua Blake and Darrin Calindis, along with little Dove. Perkins held her and was telling the others as they walked up, "Listen, I'd rather not put her through this. Why can't all of you just acknowledge, like Randy has, that she's my daughter."

That was when the bickering started and Dove started to cry. C.J. walked over to Perkins and said, "Listen, while all of you argue about this, why don't I take Dove inside and buy her some juice, alright? Clearly this is all upsetting her."

Perkins reluctantly agreed and CJ. took the little girl by the hand and walked her inside. After getting her orange juice from the cafeteria she asked her, bending down to her level, "Do you like orange juice?"

The little girl nodded, "Yes, I do. I like chocolate milk and cookies and cereal too." She sipped through the straw.

C.J. smiled and told her, "I think the doctor will want you to take a little test. It won't hurt, they'll just put a little cotton swab in you mouth for a second and that's it. Would that be ok? It won't hurt I promise."

The girl smiled and said, "I do good at tests. Sandy made me a school and I take tests and get the treasure box."

C.J. asked her, "You get a prize from the treasure box at school?"

She smiled and said, "Yes I do. I like bubbles." She drank the rest of her juice. and told C.J. more about her favorite toys and what she like to do at home while they waited for the others.

Outside Perkins was still yelling, protesting on behalf of Dove, he claimed. Roy told him, "Listen, I talked to Dr. Winston and he assures me that no blood needs to be drawn and they can do all this with a swab from inside your mouth. Its not going to hurt Dove."

Calindis then spoke up, "What are you so afraid of Sam? You afraid you'll find out you're really not the father? Macy always looked after her, not you. She lived with Macy and saw you, what, maybe 3 times a year? Usually when you wanted to renegotiate your contract. She doesn't even call you Daddy now does she?"

Perkins then said, "What she calls me is beside the point, you two are both wanting to put her through something she shouldn't have to go through, all for your own economic gain. Exactly how much time did she really spend with Macy and not Sandy, huh? That nanny is more of a mother to her than Macy was."

Blake then interjected, "You all really should be ashamed of yourselves. Macy loved Dove, I know she did, I saw it. I'm sorry but Darrin is right, she doesn't really know herself who her father is. I tried but she was really little when we were together, but that little girl needs some stability..."

Darrin then said, "And what? You are going to provide that? You tour how many months a year? I can stay home with her..."

Perkins then said, "Of course in Macy's house with all that money right..."

Matt then interrupted, "Alright, now hold it fellas. Now I would think that all three of you would want this so one of you can find out you're a father today. Mr. Perkins, if you are so sure you're the father, why not prove it, huh? This would eliminate all doubt right?"

Perkins came back with, "It seems like I'm the only one thinking of Dove here, the way a true father would."

Matt put his hand up before the other two could come back with a rebuttal and directed them inside.

C.J. took Dove by the hand and led her to the lab where she kept holding her hand as they conducted the test. Then she smiled at C.J. and said, "That didn't hurt at all."

Matt came in with the three men and Perkins picked up Dove and said, "Are you ok, honey? It didn't hurt, right?" She shook her head and Perkins was told to open his mouth, which he did and then the two left.

Matt watched C.J. as her eyes followed the two out. He could see clearly her concern for Dove and maybe even a bit of wistfulness and knew why. Walking over to her, he rubbed her back for a second, communicating his love to her again. She leaned back in his arms for just a second, communicating back.

Blake went next and said softly, "You know I was there when she was born. Such a beautiful little bundle. I feel in love right away. I hand picked that nanny, you can't be too careful you know. It was amazing...to fall in love so quickly, and scary too. I told myself when Macy and I broke up that taking myself out of Dove's life was the best thing for her, but now I feel like I need to fight for her. I doubt I am the father, but if there is even the slightest chance our affair brought that little girl into this world, I have to know the truth, Mr. Houston. No matter what you may think of me, I only want what's best for Dove."

Then Calindis went, willingly opening his mouth. Then he asked, "These hospitals are secured right? There is no way Perkins can get in here and switch the results?"

The lab tech looked at him like he was crazy and then said, "No, there is no way the results are getting switched. The lab is a bit backed up though so this will probably take us a couple of days."

They all nodded and then left. Matt's arm stayed around C.J.'s waist as they walked out. He asked her, "You hungry?"

She seemed lost in her thoughts but responded, "Not really. I need to get back to the office. It seems like there are fewer and fewer forms I need to sign on a daily basis and I need to find out what's going on."

Matt then told her as they got to the car, "Well, that's probably because I told the two associate VPs to handle some of it." She shot him a look but he continued, "I just thought you could use a little break from all that for a couple of days to recover from your headache."

C.J. then nodded and told him, "Well, until we can find out who the father is, we could focus more on Macy and what happened."

Matt then said, "You mean figure out who killed her if in fact she didn't just fall down a flight of stairs. The scene of the crime is usually the best place to start."

She nodded and then said as they were driving over to Macy's house, "According to the autopsy report, she suffered a blunt force trauma to the head and a broken neck. Hoyt said she hit all 30 steps when she fell and none of them have alibis."

Matt then said, "Yeah, Hoyt filled me in on the ride over to the funeral yesterday. Larson claims to have been sleeping off the last all nighter he was a part of, Blake claims he was alone writing his next big hit, Calindis was out driving around in his new car and Perkins claimed he was alone in his office working out the calendar for Macy's next tour."

C.J. then said, "Not a strong alibi in the bunch."

When they pulled in they had to get around the crime scene tape, they saw Warren and Hoyt. Hoyt was telling him, "Look, I'm glad you have a life, but let's keep this in perspective shall we?" Then much louder he said, "We have a high profile murder investigation to conduct here. Now I'm sorry but that trumps your vacation time to take out your new girlfriend!"

Warren then said, "Look, all I'm asking for is a few days off. I think I've got it coming to me. How about I make you a deal, I don't ask again and you give me a week after I solve this little mystery, alright?"

Hoyt almost laughed, "You really think you're that hot shot a detective that you can solve this whole case yourself?"

Warren then said after looking at Matt, "Well, I'm pretty confident that between us and Houston we can get it solved fast enough for me and Chris to make our flight next week."

Hoyt then stuck out his hand, "Ok, fine, you get this solved by next week and you can have your week off. If not, you just lost your deposit on your flight reservations." They shook hands.

Matt then asked after Warren was called over by another officer, "Nothing wrong with a little confidence Hoyt." Hoyt was rubbing his head.

He stopped and said to Matt, "No, obviously not. Now if he could only do what his mouth is claiming he can. You know I hold you partially responsible."

C.J. then smiled and asked, "Why? Because Chris works for us?"

Hoyt then answered, "No, because he's too much like you Houston. Doesn't have a problem bending the rules a little bit to get his way. He sees you do it on a consistent basis and thinks its just fine."

Matt then said, "It probably doesn't help that I solve quite a few cases now does it."

Hoyt looked at him really irritated and said, "No it doesn't. Now what do you two want...oh wait...let me guess. You want to look over the crime scene yourselves...well, knock yourselves out. Nothing out of place, killer didn't take anything, no jewelry nothing. The only thing out of place is the rug at the top of the stairs. It would appear she stepped on it and slipped." They started walking up the huge staircase as he continued, "See how only one edge hangs over? We think she stepped on it and slipped. Why she didn't grab the railing, we don't know, unless..."

Matt finished the sentence, "Unless she was pushed and didn't have time to grab it."

Hoyt nodded and then said, "None of our suspects can account for where they were when all this happened."

Matt then said as he looked at the stairs, "That's quite a fall for someone who wasn't drinking, on drugs or anything else. The tox screen was clear. No, I can't see why else she wouldn't grab that railing unless she was pushed." They shook their heads.

C.J.'s last comment was, "At least Dove was out with the nanny and didn't see anything."