Nora and Dan made their way to LT. Park's office. "Any luck?" he asked as they entered.

"I'm afraid they got away," Dan answered.

"I'm assuming this is fallout from Masters." Nikki winced at the harshness of the lieutenant's words, whether they were directed at her or not.

"That would be our guess, sir."

"Detective," Park said as he turned to Nikki. "Would you mind giving me a few minutes with my detectives?"

"Yes sir," she answered as she stood and left the office.

"Close the door and sit down." Once Dan and Nora had taken their seats the lieutenant continued, "So what are we thinking."

"That depends on what Lieutenant Simms has said," Dan answered.

Park frowned. "Well he claims that while he did authorize Beaumont to go ahead with her buy, she didn't give him all the information, so he had no way of knowing that she was going after Masters."

"He claims?"

"Beaumont disputes this, she assures me that he did know it was Masters."

"So it comes down to who we believe," Dan said.

Park looked to Nora. "You've been pretty quite Delaney."

"I believe her," she answered firmly.

Dan shook his head. "Just because her daddy..."

"Oh please. You know that has nothing to do with anything," Nora scolded him. She turned back to the lieutenant. "Last night, at the bar, she was scared. And then this morning, she was really pissed that she was used by Simms."

Park nodded. "Have we considered the possibility that Beaumont was made without anyone tipping off Masters?"

"Simms knew we had an operation going. Why send her in?" Dan asked. "And if he is on the take then why let the operation go three months."

"I know Lieutenant Simms, he's an ass. It's possible he was just screwing with us." The lieutenant hated to think anyone on the force purposefully undermined this investigation. But unfortunately he knew the department's poor reputation was based on at least some facts. "As of this moment we don't know anything 'dirty' happened. All we know for sure is that our operation was blown. Now whether that was done by an over eager detective, an attention grabbing lieutenant or, God forbid, a dirty cop we need to find out the truth. Especially if Masters is going to come after you two."

"That may be our only way to nail him," Nora determined.

"Meaning?"

"I agree with what Dan said last night, we aren't going to get another inside shot at Masters. After three months we were just getting somewhere, which is why I think we were outed now."

"You think, whoever it is, was following your progress?"

"Yes sir."

"So what's your plan?"

"We can use the little information we were able to gather and hope it's enough to go after him or we let Masters come to us."

The lieutenant considered Nora's plan. "It's risky but if we can catch him in an attempt on an officer's life it would help cement a case against him." He looked to Dan, "what do you think?"

"She's right. But I'd still like to know for certain if someone within the department is working with him."

"I agree. We can't afford to let a dirty cop get by."

He stood and moved to the door then called Nikki back in. "Detective Beaumont I'd like you to work with Detective Delaney."

"Lieutenant?" Nora asked as she jumped to her feet.

"Talk to Beaumont's CI find out if he has any new information," Park ordered. He looked at the cut on Nora's head and the blood on the collar of her shirt. "But first stop at home and get cleaned up."

"Yes sir," Nora relented.

Nora started to follow Nikki out of the office but the lieutenant grabbed her arm. "Find out how good an actress she really is while Dan and I look at Simms," he said quietly.

Nora nodded then rushed to catch up with Nikki.

"So divide and conquer huh?" Nikki asked. "Lucky for you I'm telling the truth."

"We'll see," Nora smiled. "Before we do anything we have to check on my car," she announced as she led Nikki out of the station.

**

With her car out of commission Nora had no choice but to allow Nikki to drive them to the department garage.

"I know you have no reason to believe me or to trust Darius, but he didn't set you up this morning," Nikki said, breaking the silence.

"Just a coincidence I guess," Nora answered sarcastically.

"You getting shot at in front of the station where you work everyday? Yeah, I guess so."

Nora frowned, she'd have to give Nikki that one. "So what's his story?"

Nikki cast a quick glance Nora's way before taking a deep breath and turning her eyes back to the road. "Back when I was a rookie I came upon a group of kids messing around in the cemetery. When they saw me approach most of them took off."

"Which means they were up to no good," Nora determined.

"Vandalizing headstones. Anyway most of them ran but one hid in the shadows and tackled me when I got too close." Nikki shook her head at the stupidity, both hers and the kid's. "I don't know what the hell he was thinking, I had no idea who they were, he could've gotten away like the rest of them."

"Trying to prove something to his friends."

"I guess. Anyway he was a big football player, managed to knock my gun away from me and was in the process of strangling me when Darius came up behind him. Hit him with a potted plant and saved my life."

"I guess that's a pretty good reason to trust him," Nora finally conceded. "So he was one of the vandals?"

Nikki nodded. "He was a dumb teenager doing a dumb thing but he stood up when it mattered."

"Lucky for you."

Nikki nodded more emphatically. "I put in a good word for him, he got probation and he's been on the right side ever since."

"Okay."

Nikki turned to look at Nora again. "Okay?"

"Call me crazy but I trust you."

Nikki found herself smiling at the admission. "Just wait till you get to know me sugar. You'll love me."

"Don't push your luck," Nora laughed.

**

When the two detectives finally made it to the garage Nikki had to rush to keep up with Nora. They spotted the beloved car and the back half of a body sticking out of the driver's side. "Watch what you're doing there, the poor girl's been through enough." Nikki turned at the harshness of Nora's words and was surprised to find a huge grin gracing her features.

"What did you do to my car?" The mechanic's words had Nikki's head spinning back in her direction. This was turning into an interesting meeting.

"Your car?" Nora asked as she moved toward the vehicle.

"All the work I put into restoring it? You bet your sweet ass." The woman turned back to appraise the damage, holding her arms wide, motioning to the destruction. "What the hell did you do to it?"

"Nothing," Nora demanded. "I'm fine by the way."

"You wouldn't be here if you weren't darlin'." She turned the same appraising eye to Nora, frowning as she noticed the cut on her forehead. "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," Nora said with a reassuring smile.

Nikki stood back and took in the exchange between the two women. She was intrigued by this side of Nora, she seemed open and teasing and nothing like the gruff detective she'd been dealing with so far. She was brought back to reality when the mechanic spoke in her direction.

"Where's Danny?"

"He's working another angle of the case," Nora answered. "This is Detective Nikki Beaumont from narcotics."

Nikki stepped forward to shake the woman's hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Nikki this is Regina Monier."

"Reggie," the woman corrected as she shook Nikki's hand. "From narcotics?" she asked as her eyebrows pulled into a frown.

"Word travels fast," Nikki answered with a shrug.

"So you think you can fix her up again?" Nora asked, not paying attention to the other conversation or just not wanting to discuss it.

Reggie gave an exasperated sigh. "Sure. We've already dug out all the bullets and have sent them to ballistics. I have a few papers for you to sign and once it's released I'll have it towed to your parents'."

"That won't work," Nora said with a shake of her head.

"Why? That's where we worked before?"

Nikki watched as Nora cast her a quick glance and realized that this wasn't a conversation Nora wanted with an audience.

"It just won't. Can't we work on it at your place," Nora pleaded.

Reggie closed her eyes and stretched her neck as she thought over the request. "Fine," she relented. "But we'll have to work fast, the garage is being converted into an art studio."

Nora gave a snort. "You're giving up your garage?"

"Yeah, the things I do for love," she answered with a sad smile. "Come with me to sign the papers."

Nikki stayed behind as the other two went into the office. She wandered around the car seeming to take in the damage while keeping a surreptitious eye on the office. She could see the two through the window, they seemed to be arguing but almost in an apologetic way. Her suspicions were cemented when Reggie's hand moved toward Nora's injury only to be stopped before she made contact. Nikki saw Nora's head jerk in her direction and hoped that her own head jerked away faster.

Needing a diversion Nikki pulled out her cell and called Darius, setting up a meeting for later in the evening. She snapped her phone closed just as Nora returned. "Okay Beaumont, let's head out."

Nikki turned back toward the office and gave Reggie a wave.

Once they were settled back in the car Nikki turned. "Okay where to?"

"Home James," Nora teased. "Sorry, couldn't resist. But you're probably more used to saying that than hearing it."

Nikki started the car and pulled away. "I'll have you know I've been driving myself since I was sixteen," she said adamantly. "Besides, we never had a driver named James," she added with a grin.

Nora laughed. "My mistake."

Nikki debated how to approach the next subject, or even if she should. Honestly, it was none of her business but that had never stopped her before. "So you and Reggie go back far?" she asked.

"High school."

"Hmm, you seem close."

"Yeah," Nora replied simply.

"And she's involved with an artist?" Nikki tried to keep her interrogation more conversational. "A little role reversal in that relationship."

Nora turned as her brows frowned. "What?"

"Well, she's the mechanic and her boyfriend is the artist. It's kind of cool," Nikki answered casually and she watched as a conflicted emotion flittered across the other woman's face.

"Right," Nora said as she turned back toward her window. "Take the next right." The rest of the conversation consisted of directions to Nora's apartment.