Disclaimer: Despite my efforts I still am no closer to owning cold case
A/n: sorry about delay in posting on a cruise ship and costs an arm and a leg to get internet access
Chapter 15: The dinner party
Lilly and Scotty made it back to her apartment a few hours later. Lilly fed the cats who seemed a little ticked off that their dinner was late. Scotty sunk into the couch and sighed he was exhausted.
"Scotty I need to tell you something" she said sitting down beside him. His eyes remained closed as his head rested on the back of the couch "Mmmm" he said sleepily "What's up Lil?"
"Kat knows about the baby" she said and his eyes snapped open and looked at her
"Oh" was all he could say
"She said that I should tell people, she reckons everyone would be happy for us" She said looking at her boyfriend
"That's what I been saying for the last two weeks Lil" He replied
"I know, and your right so I decided that I wanna have Boss, everyone from work, your parents, Mike, Allie and Emilio over for dinner tomorrow night and just get it over with" She said hurriedly and she watched a smile spread across his face.
"Really?"
"Yeah, It's about time I really don't know why I put it off for so long" She scooted closer to him and wrapped an arm around his waist pillowing her head on his chest as he hugged her towards him.
"Thanks Lil" he pressed a kiss to her forehead "Lets go to bed I am exhausted" He said standing up and they moved off to her bedroom.
They walked in to work the next morning and Lilly took a deep breath noticing that the rest of her colleagues were already there. Better get this over with she though and she walked over to them
"Morning Lil, Scotty" Jefferies said cheerily
"Morning Will" Scotty said putting his jacket on the back of his chair
"Um I was wondering if you all wanted to come over for dinner tonight" Lilly began
"Sure" Miller said "Just need to see if my Mom can sit for Veronica" she replied knowing that if her suspicions were correct Lilly was planning on telling everyone and would need all the support she could get
"Oh you can bring her the more the merrier" Scotty said placing his hand on Lilly's shoulder silently offering her his support
"I am in, I won't pass up a free meal" Jefferies said
"Yeah alright I come, what's the occasion?" Vera questioned
"We just wanna have dinner with you all" Scotty said
"I am gonna see Boss" Lilly announced heading off to Stillman's office
Stillman had agreed to go as well and after a quick call to his parents and Mike Scotty confirmed their attendance also. Lilly knew she was doing the right thing, they all needed to know but she was still nervous.
Scotty and Lilly headed out to talk to Jeremy about James hoping that he could give them something to go on as Miller's background check only produced an unpaid parking ticket.
They knocked on the door of his apartment and waited.
"Yeah who is it?" a voice cried out through the door
"Detectives Valens and Rush Philly Homicide we are after a Jeremy Preston" Scotty said holding his badge up to the eye hole in the door. The door opened slowly, the chain still attached and a middle aged man looked at them. Seemingly deciding they were the genuine article the closed the door over and they heard the chain being removed before it swung open again.
"I am Jeremy, What's this about?" He asked cautiously looking between them
"We want to ask you about James Douglas" Lilly replied taking out her notebook "May we come in?" She asked and he nodded stepping back to let them in.
"Jesus I haven't heard that name in years, you guys finally got a lead on the case?" he asked sitting down on the small sofa pointing to the seats opposite indicating for them to sit and they did.
"That's actually what we hoped you could help us with, we are looking into it again for his brother" Lilly answered
"Well I don't know what I can tell you that I didn't tell the detectives that investigated originally" He replied
"When was the last time you saw James?" Scotty asked
"The night he died, we played a gig at the Blue Note" He said standing up and walking over to the book shelf. He picked up a picture of the two of them the same one the bartender had shown them.
"That guy sure had an incredible voice" He said looking up at the two detectives
"Did he say anything to you about where he was goin after the gig" Scotty asked
"No..., Oh wait he did say something about an audition for a small record label but I think that was later that week" He said moving back to the couch
"Do you know the name of the record label?" Lilly asked
"Nah, he didn't say but Julie might know. She was in his friend at the music collage they were a little competitive. He probably would have told her to make her jealous" Jeremy smiled and let out a chuckle. "He acted like he didn't like her but I knew he had a thing for her, but the music school kinda frowned upon students and teachers dating" he said
"Wait this Julie was his student?" Lilly asked
"Yeah, she took his vocal coaching course he did every summer" he answered
"Do you know her last name?" Scotty asked
"Allen I think but you could ask at the school" Jeremy replied
"Thanks" Scotty and Lilly stood up to leave
"Could you let me know if you catch this bastard" Jeremy asked and Lilly saw the tears welling up in his eyes "The guy was like a brother to me, He was the one that got me the job at Blue Note. I owed him so much"
"We let you know" Lilly said following Scotty out of the room
The rest of the day passed fairly quickly. The music School said they couldn't release there student lists without a court order which meant they would have to see Kite about it. He was not in until tomorrow so they were pretty much stuck.
"I am goin to the market to get some stuff for tonight" Scotty announced "Wanna come wit me now Lil, or should I pick you up later?" He asked walking over to her
"I guess I go with you now. Give us more time to get everything ready" They bid their colleagues goodnight telling them they would see them in a few hours and headed out the door.
When Lilly came down stairs a wonderful aroma met her nostrils. "What smells so good?" she said comming into the kitchen watching him stirring something on the stove.
"You mean besides you?" He said suggestively wriggling his eyebrows at her, she giggled and playfully slapped his arm.
"No seriously" she said
"Ma's pasta sauce" he said putting a spoon into the thick red sauce and feeding it to her. Her eyes closed at the delicious taste "Oh this is so good" she said leaning in to kiss him "What else are we having?"
"Spaghetti and some fresh bread, I also make a cheesecake for desert" He said standing back from the stove to pull her into a hug.
"You are gonna get me fat" she replied kissing him lightly on his cheek and he grinned.
"Gotta keep my family fed and happy" he said lightly rubbing her stomach.
"You better go get ready, they'll be here soon" Lilly pulled away from him shoving him towards the door.
He chuckled "Yeah okay I am goin"
Half an hour later there was a knock on the door and Lilly took a deep breath "Showtime" she said under her breath and headed for the door. Stillman and Jefferies were the first to arrive and Lilly stood back to let them in.
"Brought a bottle of wine" Stillman said handing it to Lilly
"Thanks Boss. Can I get you anything to drink?" she asked
"Beer would be fine for me" Will said hanging up his coat
"I have a glass of the wine" Stillman replied
"I'll be right back, make yourselves at home" Lilly headed off to the kitchen. Scotty was putting the final touches to dinner when Lilly came in and she smiled "Boss is here and Jefferies too"
"Thanks baby, I'll be right there" he followed her out to the living room and greeted his Boss and college. There was another knock on the door and Scotty moved off to answer it finding his parents, Mike, Allie and Emilio.
"Hey bro" Mike said pulling him into a hug
"Hey Mike, Allie how are you?" he asked
"I am great" they stepped inside and Emilio hugged his uncle
"Hi Ma, Pop how you both?"
"We are fine mi hijo, how are you and Lilly?" Rosa asked
"Fine" Scotty said receiving a kiss from his mother and a hug from Ramiro
"Why are we here son?" Ramiro asked
"You'll see, just go in and make yourselves comfortable" Scotty replied closing to door after them. Lilly was hugged and kissed by Rosa and Ramiro. Emilio even gave her a hug "Hi aunt Lilly" he said cheerily. This shocked her a bit and she smiled nervously down at him "Err Hi Emilio" as the little arms wrapped around her waist.
Nick arrived next with Kat and Veronica close behind now that everyone was here Lilly's nerves were increasing but Kat placed a hand on her friends shoulder "Don't worry Lil" she whispered into her ear giving her a small smile. Lilly nodded and headed off to find Scotty. Soon they had everyone at the table and Scotty stood up
"Thanks for comming guys, Lil and I have an announcement to make" he said placing a hand on her shoulder "Lil's pregnant" he said beaming with joy. Everyone was silent for a few moments as they took in the news and they a cheer went up and they were both congratulated from every angle
"I am so happy for you Lil" Stillman said beaming with pride and kissing the detective he always considered as his daughter.
"Thanks Boss" she said "I am sorry I didn't tell you earlier, I guess I just panicked"
"No problem Lil, if you need anything just let me know and we and we can discuss your maternity leave a little later" He said kissing her cheek again.
Scotty's mother pulled him into a hug "My baby is going to be a father, I am so happy for both of you" Rosa said
"Congratulations Bro" Mike said hugging his brother
"Thanks Mike" Scotty said
"You hear that Em, Your gonna get a little cousin" Mike said bending down to his son's level
"Yay, Can you make it a boy Uncle Scotty" Emilio said
Scotty laughed "We'll see Em" Scotty said hugging his nephew.
A/n Thank you for all your reviews. I really feel happy when I get a good review (of course constructive criticism is also welcome) thanks to all those who are following this story I hope you like this chapter.
DIPH