The partnership

Chapter 9

Very early the next morning, Mike came strolling in the office early, coffee in hand. As he strode down the long aisle, he felt he was slowly acclimating to the more laidback feel of the West Coast.

Los Angeles definitely beats most cities when it comes to perfect, sunny weather. With winter just ended, he already saw LA drivers in sports cars with their convertibles down, cruising down Ventura boulevard, radios blaring. Pedestrians walked around in shorts and sandals. Restaurants served up meals on outside patios as people basked in the warmth of the sun. No wonder life went at a more leisurely pace here.

LA's philosophy seemed to be one of 'work to live', unlike New York City's 'live to work'.

Yet despite all the good things LA had to offer, he still missed the intensity and energy of the Big Apple. There was a part of him that relished the idea of going back to the familiar, going back to the hustle and bustle of New York.

But, then again, that would mean leaving her. Connie always seemed to be on his mind. Mike tried to clear his head as he approached his desk.

Or at least where his desk used to be.

He was now viewing an empty space where his desk once stood. He looked left, he looked right. No clue as to where his desk might have wandered off to.

What happened to his desk?

He heard a male voice behind him.

"Cutter."

Mike turned to face Jerry Hardin, who was pointing with his index finger towards his office.

"...My office now."

Taking a deep breath, Mike figured Hardin was going to berate him for his courtroom antics this afternoon. Mike had certainly heard that speech enough back in New York! Nodding reluctantly, Mike turned and followed Hardin back to his office.

Once they settled in, Mike decided he was going to get the first words out. If Hardin planned on canning him, he would not make it easy for Hardin.

"Jerry, is there a problem? Is taking away my desk a weak analogy for you taking away my case?"

Hardin leaned back and watched Mike, slightly envious.

A part of Hardin wished he were in Mike's position right now. In his eyes, Mike was relatively young, smart, and ambitious. He had everything. Then, to top it off, Mike was about to be partnered with Connie Rubirosa.

Cutter would soon be feeling on top of the world.

"Actually, Mike, " Hardin said, "I couldn't be more pleased with the job you are doing on the Paige Regan case."

Mike had braced himself for the worse and this compliment came from nowhere. It also didn't escape Mike's notice that Hardin addressed him by his first name this time.

Something was up.

"...And because you're pleased with how I am handling my case," Mike theorized,"you've decided I no longer require a desk?"

"That had crossed my mind several times," Hardin admitted,"the last time being yesterday evening when Judge Cruz called, none too happy with the stunt you pulled. "

Hardin was sending mixed signals. Mike looked totally baffled, especially when Hardin broke out with a grin.

"...And?" Mike wondered.

"And," Hardin continued, as he bobbled in his executive chair, "as you know, winning a case is what my office is all about. And the idea that you might pull a rabbit out of a hat with this case pleases me to no end."

"..so then you reward me by having my desk removed?"

Hardin was really enjoying this.

"Not removed… moved," Hardin's steady gaze watched Mike's reaction, "I'm assigning Rubirosa as your back up on this case. I want a strong win for us, Mike, and I know she'll be a great asset for you."

Connie working alongside him again. Mike was thrown for a loop.

"Jerry, I-I don' t know what to say..."

"You could begin with a 'thank you," Hardin suggested casually, "And as far as the location of your desk,I had your desk moved into Rubirosa's office. I'm sure it won't be too much of an inconvenience for you to share space with her."

The last part almost had a wistful tone to it.

At first Mike thought he had heard wrong. Sitting motionless, he wanted to just absorb the words.

Sharing an office with Connie. He looked out the window to see if the heavens had opened up. He was even more anxious than ever to work on the case. He needed to get to Connie's office, or rather, their office now.

"Perhaps, then, I should get started…" Mike started to get up from his seat, "..and, uh, thanks, Jerry."

"Just one thing, Cutter," stated Hardin, in a tone that made Mike sit back down in his seat. Here it comes, Mike thought, he knew there would be a catch.

"Yes? " Mike looked at him cautiously.

Hardin leaned forward and clasped his hand on the desk in front of him.

"Look, Cutter, " began Hardin, "I have always prided myself on running an efficient office. Previously, we had been the working model for other DA offices across the country. However, these last two years, the conviction rate for this office has been…"

"Jerry, do you think you can get to the point faster?" Mike was getting impatient, anxious to get going.

Hardin looked down at his hands as he gathered his thoughts together.

"What I am trying to say, " Hardin explained, looking back at Mike, "...is Connie Rubirosa has a future here. I don't want you screwing it up for her."

Again, Mike was caught by surprise.

"Now you've gotten to the point too quickly," Mike pointed out.

Hardin grinned.

"Oh, I'm sure you know EXACTLY what I mean," Hardin countered.

The implication was obvious. Don't make things personal with her. An awkaward silence followed as Hardin stared down Mike. It was as if Hardin was working on mind control. He obviously wasn't going to explain further.

Mike nodded.

Message received loud and clear.

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In Connie's office, the two desks had been placed back to back in the tiny room. There was barely enough space to maneuver around the desks.

At the moment Connie was busy reviewing Paige Regan's file as Mike patiently waited for her to finish reading.

But it was slow going for her as she prodded on. It wasn't that she was a slow reader. Connie was feverishly aware of Mike's presence, making it hard for her to concentrate on the words on the page.

At one point she unexpectedly looked up and found Mike staring at her. Mike felt his color rise at being caught peering at her. His eyes quickly switched to the paper he held in his hand. He used his other hands to casually scratch the back of his head while intensely eyeballing the sheet of paper in his grasp.

Hiding her smile, Connie continued reading her file.

Mike read the words on his page as gibberish while Hardin's words echoed in his mind: I don't want you screwing it up for her.Obviously Hardin wanted to make sure Mike did nothing that would threaten Connie's reputation or job performance.

He was determined not to mess it up for her, too.

Eventually Mike would leave LA, unlike Connie, who would remain in this office to deal with these people day in and day out.

But as Mike sneaked another glance at Connie from across the way, all he could think about was how he wanted to wrap his arms around her and pull her into the shelter of his body.

He liked the way she bit her lower lip when she was in deep reading. Come to think of it, what didn't he like about her?

At last she had finished reading the file and looked over at him.

"Mike, I have to commend you on how well you did in court, " stated Connie, "Paige Regan was not what we would exactly call jury-sympathetic, so you definitely had your work cut out for you. I also thought that was quite a theatrical ending in court yesterday! But knowing you, I shouldn't be surprised. It's just lucky that you picked the right judge for your kind of shenanigans."

"Shenanigans, eh?" Mike teased, "thank you for that wholehearted endorsement of my prosecutory skills. Definitely lucky that I won the lottery in the roulette wheel of indulgent judges!"

Connie snickered.

"You know what I mean, Mike!" defended Connie lightly, "I am proud it worked out for you! And whatever your reason for your unconventional prosecution, Hardin seemed very happy with your handling of the case."

Mike shrugged, "At least my 'shenanigans' gave us more time... I don't doubt you would have had the same results in court, by the way. I'm just glad you're on board for the remainder of the trial. I really could use your help. At least, when Bennett gets Paige on cross, he won't be able to make a big deal about her being a stripper."

"...You mean...exotic dancer," Connie corrected, "We need to refer to her as an exotic dancer, Mike, not stripper. Remember in California, it's all about being politically correct."

The corner of Mike's mouth turned up in a smile.

"Ri-ight...See?...it's good we're a team again…you're a big help already!" nodded Mike.

"Well, I don't know if I will be a BIG help," Connie modestly stated, "after all, it's not as if we're in a foreign country and you need my help in teaching you a foreign language!"

"Yes, but I sometimes forget that I am not in New York City" explained Mike, "...And I need to get the right vernacular so I can sound as though I'm from Southern California."

Connie's smile was sincere.

"Out here we say lingo, not vernacular, Mike," Connie gently corrected, "We're more laid back here, remember? And by the way, we typically say we're from 'So-Cal'."

"Again, Connie, this is why I really need you!"

Connie tried to tell herself not to read too much into it, yet the way he was looking at her in that moment made her feel as if she were the only woman in the world. It was those piercing blue eyes, she determined.

She hoped he did not hear the unsteadiness of her breathing. She looked down quickly at her lap or she would be lost in his eyes.

As Mike picked up another loose paper from his desk, Connie became mesmerized by his hand. Mike's hand seemed so very...nice and strong. What would it be like if that hand was touching her?

Shallow! she berated herself, as an inner warmth filled her. But she knew she had to look at something besides his face, for she knew that a flick of his gaze would send her pulse racing.

"Here are some notes I've jotted down regarding court strategy, " Mike was saying, "perhaps you could add some other ideas. " From across the desks he handed his paper to Connie.

As she read the sheet, Mike watched her and it caused his heart's beating to quicken. He was absurdly aware of her presence and had to force himself to focus back to the case.

Connie spoke out, "Our case would be a lot more solid if we could solve the mystery of those names Jesse and Phoenix."

Mike nodded, liking how she already referred to it as "our case".

The mention of the names Jesse and Phoenix helped Mike to focus back on the case.

Grabbing his pencil, he began tapping on his desk, as he looked up at the ceiling, silently staring upwards for a time. Connie couldn't help but smile. He never tapped a pencil back in New York. He always had his ever reliable baseball. She bet he really missed it now.

The reminder made Connie realized how much she missed him.

They were not even chatting now, yet something about him being in the same room with her was so...comforting, so intimate, It had always been that way when they worked together. For the first time in over a year, Connie felt contentment in her heart.

No, she can't allow these happy musings of Mike to enter her mind.

"Connie?"

"Yes..sorry...what is it, Mike?"

"Do you have any theories as to why the defendants would use those names?"

Connie looked puzzled and shrugged, "I don't know...Maybe the defendants picked those random names so Paige wouldn't know their real names."

In a "maybe" gesture, Mike tilted his head left, right, left, right in quick succession.

"Perhaps, but...Connie, I just have a feeling there's a reason for those specific names. We're missing something here..."

Mike got up from his seat, shoved his hands in his pockets and started pacing as he continued speaking.

"...the significance of those two particular names is the key to winning the case, I just know it!"

He glanced at his watch. Court would occupy most of their morning and afternoon. However in the evening, they would be free. Perhaps it's time he and Connie do some investigating.

The answer might be found at the beach house, where the rape had occurred. Although the police had already talked to the third roommate, Larry Cantrell, Mike wanted to go back there to question him personally.

Mike suddenly stopped pacing. Yes, they needed to go there.

He looked over at Connie. His gaze turned warm when she smiled sweetly back at him, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"You've got a plan, Mike?"

He nodded, "I've got a plan..but right now, we're due in court."

Connie grabbed her jacket and briefcase, "I'm ready."

Mike grabbed his briefcase. This morning he would wrap up his questioning, and he was not looking forward to Bennett's cross examination of Paige. He knew it was going to be vicious.

Then after a long day in court, he and Connie would visit the beach house to question roommate Cantrell. The words Don't make things personal with her entered his mind again.

Mike sighed.

First, he had to deal with Paige facing hostile questions on the witness stand by the defense, and then with trying to keep things impersonal while accompanying Connie to the beach during a lovely sunset...

...what could possibly go wrong with either scenario? he sarcastically asked himself.

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More court testimony next chapter!

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