Nikki walked hesitantly toward the blonde sitting in the corner, her steps faltered slightly when uninviting green eyes lifted to meet her own. The detective took a deep breath and continued to the table. "I stopped across the street and your partner told me I might find you here."

"He's very helpful that way," Nora kept her eyes on her breakfast as she replied.

Not waiting for an invitation Nikki sat down. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah well I guess it's our own fault for not getting your blessing to do our damn job," Nora began angrily. "Oh wait, we did."

"I'm sorry about that too. Actually that's why I came today," Nikki paused, she continued when the other detective finally made eye contact. "I had no idea there was an operation under way. I went to Lieutenant Simms with my tip and he okayed me going in."

"He knew we were there," Nora informed her.

"I know that now. Believe me, I had a long talk with your lieutenant last night."

Having been on the receiving end of more than one of those long talks Nora decided she would cut the other woman a break, she probably couldn't add much anyway. "Apology accepted," she said through a forced smile. Her focus returned to her food hoping the other detective would take the hint. She didn't. "Something else?" Nora asked irritably.

"Wow, your partner was right. You are a tough nut to crack."

Nora set her jaw as she looked up. "Look, Detective..."

"Beaumont," Nikki supplied.

Nora shook her head as the name registered. "Of course," she muttered. "What is it you want from me?"

"Just a little interdepartmental cooperation." Nikki smiled as the waitress approached the table. "I'll just have some coffee please. Put it on her tab." After filling her mug the waitress walked away and Nikki turned her attention back to Nora. "Look, Simms knew you were undercover and he okayed me anyway. Plus I shouldn't have been made as quickly as I was, I'm good at what I do."

Nora's lip twitched at Nikki's forwardness but she tried to keep the smile off her face. "So you think he sent you in to mess us up?"

"I don't know. He could have been trying to steal your collar and someone else outed me but I do know that something isn't right."

"So what do you want to do about it?"

"Your operation got fucked and I was used to do it, I figured we could work this out together."

Nora studied the determined woman sitting across from her. She really should hate this woman but there was something there that she trusted. And Nora survived her career by going on her instincts. "I'll probably regret this, but I'll run it past my lieutenant," she finally relented.

"Trust me you won't," she promised as she took a sip of her coffee. "Regret it I mean." She took a quick look over her shoulder, "when I found out you were here I called my informant for a meeting, he should be here soon."

Nora shook her head, she didn't like surprise visits with informants she didn't know. "How do you know he didn't out you?"

"I trust him."

"Oh well, okay then," Nora responded sarcastically before she went back to her breakfast.

The two women sat in silence until Nikki spoke again. "I wanted to thank you too, for blowing your cover for me."

"Yeah well what was I..." Nora cut off her statement as a man's approach caught her eye. "Shit."

Nikki looked over her shoulder. "Don't worry, that's just Darius."

"Your informant?"

Nikki turned back and nodded.

"Well well, Lola from Nola," Darius said as he came up to the table.

"Darius," Nora returned, she had seen him more than once at 'Big Daddy's'.

"Girl, you are good. I must admit I had no idea," he said as he slid in next to Nikki.

"That's kinda the point."

"Darius, this is actually Detective Nora Delaney," Nikki introduced.

"The pleasure is all mine," he said as he reached across the table. Nora took a breath as she met his hand with a firm shake. "I have to tell you that Masters is right pissed off. Not only were you a cop but you almost killed his brother."

"So Skippy pulled through huh?" Nora asked.

"Oh yeah. He's pretty pissed too." Darius informed them. "And it's not like he was too fond of you before."

Nikki turned to him. "Wait. You told me the brother's name was Johnny?" she asked, slightly confused.

"It is," Nora said. "But he calls himself Long John. I think he likes to think of himself as a pirate since he has a boat on the lake. But when he introduces himself he gives a little wiggle of his eyebrows. He's a pig."

"So you thought you'd get on his good side by calling him Skippy?" Nikki deduced.

"Hey, wasn't his good side I was working on. Besides his brother thought it was funny, earned me some points there."

"Well lucky for you Louis knows his brother is an idiot," Darius informed her. "But unlucky for you he is still his brother and you tried to kill him."

Nora gave a shrug. "Well this has been fun but I gotta get back to work," she said as she stood from the table. "And Beaumont for my unlucky decision you can spring for my breakfast."

Darius watched her go before turning back to Nikki, "what did that mean?"

"I told you I got made. She probably saved my life by taking out the brother."

Darius nodded. "She's okay in my book then."

Nikki grinned. "I'll be sure to let her know."

"Well I haven't been able to find out too much about who might have outed you but I'll keep digging."

"Just be careful..." Nikki's plea was cut short by the sound of gunfire. She pushed Darius out of the booth and rushed to the front of the restaurant. As she came to the doorway she saw Nora crouched behind a car as a black SUV drove past firing shots in her direction. As the car passed she joined Nora and they ran into the street and fired at the retreating vehicle.

"Still trust him," Nora admonished as she turned and rushed to the car. "My car," she exclaimed as she took in her beloved El Camino. The driver's side was riddled with bullet holes, the windows were shattered and the windshield was a web of cracks.

"Yes," Nikki answered.. "I trust him with my life."

Before Nora could say anything Dan pulled to a stop next to her, she immediately climbed into the car and the two sped off leaving Nikki standing in the street.

Within seconds Nora was able to spot the speeding SUV, luckily the traffic had slowed its progress.

"There, a block ahead."

Dan hit the lights and siren, and while it did clear the path in front of them it also alerted the SUV to their presence. The chase lasted a few blocks until finally the SUV darted down an alleyway, Dan was able to close the gap between the two cars until the SUV exited the other end of the alley and a delivery truck pulled in front of the detectives, effectively ending the chase.

"Dammit!" Nora yelled as she slammed her fists against the dashboard.

Dan called the car description into dispatch and hoped that another unit would be able to pick up the vehicle. "So you think Masters is a little upset?"

"That would be my guess," Nora agreed. She flinched slightly when Dan's hand came up to wipe against her temple.

"You're bleeding," he told her.

She pulled down the visor so she could inspect the damage. "Probably just got hit by some glass."

"We should get it checked out," he said as he pulled into the street.

Nora pulled a few napkins out of the glove-box to clean up the blood. "It's not bad, let's just get back to the station and figure out our next move."

Dan sighed but knew better than to argue. "About that, I saw that Beaumont found you."

"Yeah. Thanks by the way, you couldn't just deal with her on your own."

"She wanted to talk to you. You're the one who saved her life, I just drove the car."

"I didn't..." Nora cut off her protest. "So what do you think about her theory?"

"My only problem is that if Simms is dirty then why not out our investigation three months ago. It doesn't make sense."

"So you think that he sent her in hoping to get a part of our collar?" Nora asked, although she didn't actually believe this theory.

"Possible. Lieutenant Park had a morning meeting with Simms so until we hear his side we only have her word that he did anything."

"Wait, so you think maybe Beaumont is the one that's dirty?"

"Makes just as much sense."

Nora was quiet as she contemplated Dan's idea. "I suppose she could have been helping Masters but she was taking a pretty big risk. I mean, if I wasn't a cop she'd be dead."

"Unless she and Masters had something worked out. I don't know Nora, all I do know is someone screwed up this investigation and I don't think it was for any part of the glory. Someone is on Masters's payroll."

Nora sighed and let her head fall back against the seat. "Okay, so I know it wasn't me and I'm pretty sure it wasn't you..."

"Gee thanks."

"I'm also fairly certain that the lieutenant is clean, I really don't see him doing anything wrong."

"I agree. Between the three of us we will figure it out but I don't think we should widen the circle any wider."

"Beaumont is going to want in. She was pretty pissed that someone set her up to get killed."

"You're assuming she wasn't lying to you," Dan argued.

Nora nodded, "if she was then she's the best I've seen. And we all know how tough a nut I am."

Dan chuckled. "Sorry, she wasn't supposed to tell you that."

"Right," Nora frowned. "I just don't know how to play her. If we push her out and she's clean she's going to get in the way."

"But if she's dirty she'll get suspicious." Dan sighed as he pulled up in front of the station. "We'll let the lieutenant make the call, that's why he gets the big bucks."

Nora nodded as the two exited the car and walked into the station, their pace slowed as they approached Lieutenant Park's office. "Guess he's made his decision," Nora said quietly as they saw the brunette detective already there.