~ Hey crooked smile

It would never work between you and I~

"Oh my god," Lisa groaned, stretching out on a bright orange beach towel in the sand, "I'm so glad you suggested this."

"You're welcome," Rachel replied. She was laying on her own towel next to Lisa, reading a book.

"Excuse me?" Holly exclaimed. "You guys are here because of me."

"I concede the vacation time was your doing," Rachel stated matter-of-factly, "but I was the one to suggest Miami."

"Rachel, you should be in charge of planning every trip we take," Lisa added.

Sitting up from her own towel next to Rachel, Holly stretched and said, "Let's go out to a bar tonight."

Lisa's jaw dropped, and she sat up to stare delightedly at Holly. "Who are you and what have you done with my friend?"

"I feel like dancing," Holly said, grinning.

"Mr. Bennet, thank you for coming down to the station," Dov greeted the man sitting across the table in the interrogation room.

"Hopefully we can answer any questions you have and be out of here quickly," the lawyer sitting next to Ron Bennet said, crossing her ankles primly. "My client has a meeting at Three."

From the other side of the two-way mirror, Gail and Frankie watched the interrogation begin.

"We'll try to make this as quick and painless as possible," Dov replied, smiling politely. "Mr. Bennet, can you please tell me where you were the night of April 23rd?"

"My client has already answered that question during a previous interview," the lawyer interrupted.

"I understand, Ms. Clark, but I was not involved in that interview. Please, humor me."

"Smooth, Epstein, very smooth," Frankie marveled, leaning closer to the two-way glass.

The lawyer nodded at her client to answer.

"I was at home, with my wife," Ron supplied.

Dov sat back in his chair. "And your wife can verify this?"

"I believe we've already established my client's alibi."

"Right, right," Dov mused, looking through a file in front of him. He allowed a long pause before his next question. "But security footage at the Cloak & Dagger Pub shows you arrived at 10pm, had two drinks at the bar, and then left, around 11. Can you explain what you were doing there?"

Ron's face blanched. His lawyer leaned in to whisper something in his ear.

"That's my cue," Gail said, turning to head towards the connecting door.

"Go get 'em, tiger," Frankie cheered her on.

Ron was mid sentence but stopped speaking abruptly when Gail walked in; she could tell her entrance had shaken him further.

"I— uh, I drink there often and, uh, I—I had had a rough day and I ne-needed a strong drink," he stammered.

"Often? You often go to a bar that isn't near your home?" Gail said cooly, dropping into the chair next to Dov. "Because your wife told us you prefer to frequent the CC Lounge. She said it's closer to where you live."

"I w-was meeting a friend." Ron was sweating now.

"Security footage shows you drank alone, Ronald," Dov said mildly.

"My client is allowed to drink wherever and whenever he pleases, so if that's all you have, we'll be going now," Ms. Clark snapped, beginning to stand.

"Oh, no, we still have a few questions for your client. Please, sit down, Ms. Clark," Gail said.

The lawyer took her seat again, giving Gail a cold look. Ron swallowed hard.

Gail looked through the file she'd brought with her. "Mr. Bennet, were you aware your wife was having an affair with the victim?"

"You don't have to answer that," the lawyer said.

"Isn't the Cloak & Dagger Pub just a few blocks away from Richard Donaldson's house?" Dov added.

"I believe it is, Officer Epstein."

"Detective Peck," Dov began, but was cut off.

"Peck? What are you, the chicken police?" the lawyer scoffed.

"Good one," Gail deadpanned.

"Uh oh, I think I hurt her feelings," the lawyer taunted.

"She doesn't have feelings," Dov replied.

"Thank you, Dov," Gail said.

"No problem," he replied. "Now, Mr. Bennet, what did you do after you left the bar?"

Ron looked at his lawyer, who leaned in to whisper in his ear. Ron whispered something back and the lawyer responded again. The two sat upright and Ron began fiddling with his fingers.

"I went to see a friend," Ron answered.

"We'll need the name of this friend, so we can verify," Gail said.

Another glance at his lawyer, who nodded. "His name is Jerry," Ron said, voice shaky.

"Are we free to leave now?" Ms. Clark asked shortly.

"Just one more question," Gail said. "Why did we find your blood at the crime scene, Ron?"

Lisa came back to their table with three drinks in hand, a huge grin plastered across her face.

"Holly, do you want to get laid tonight?" she asked, full of mischief.

"Excuse me?" Holly replied as she took her drink from Lisa.

"The super hot bartender keeps making eyes at you and I totally talked you up and if you're interested," Lisa explained. "She gets off at midnight and is definitely interested in you!"

"Um, I, uh," Holly stammered. "I don't know…"

"Come on, Holly!" she wheedled. "No strings attached, no feelings, just a blissful night of fun and you never have to see her again."

Rachel patted her shoulder reassuringly. "You don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with."

"The best way to get over someone, is to get under someone else," Lisa added, grinning.

"Maybe," Holly said. She glanced over at the bar and caught the raven haired bartender looking at her. When their eyes met, the bartender smiled and winked. Holly smiled back. She was cute with her half shaved head and arm covered in monochrome tattoos. Maybe she would see what happened at midnight.

Rachel grabbed her hand and pulled her to the dance floor. They danced and drank and Holly began to feel like maybe she would be ok after all.

"So you got a full confession?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, admitted to it all," Gail said. "I think the prosecutor is going to offer a deal, but even if it does go to trial, it should be pretty straight forward."

"Good, I'm glad you were able to get justice for the victim. It's horrible though. If his wife hadn't had an affair, the victim would probably still be alive."

"Probably, yeah," Gail mumbled, moving some vegetables around on her plate without eating any.

"I just don't understand why someone would do that."

"What, kill someone?"

"No," Sarah clarified, "have an affair."

Gail looked up at her fiancé. Sarah was chewing on a bite of chicken and looking at her plate. She didn't appear to imply anything by her statement, but Gail was cautious nonetheless.

Sarah continued, "Why not just be honest with your partner and tell them you're unhappy?"

"I think some people don't want to hurt their partner," Gail said slowly. "And many people are scared of change."

"Yeah, I still just think it's very selfish to string someone along like that."

"Yeah, I think you're right, baby." Gail looked back at her plate, but she wasn't hungry any more.

Holly stood at the bar table with Rachel and Lisa. Rachel had made sure everyone took a break and drank some water in between songs. Between the three of them, they'd been dancing and having a good time for the last hour.

The attractive bartender approached their table. Lisa grabbed Rachel and pulled her a few steps away to give Holly and the other woman some privacy.

"Hey," the woman said.

"Hi," Holly responded bashfully.

It was loud, so the woman leaned in and said, "I'm Casey."

Holly could smell a subtle, floral perfume. It complemented her well.

"I'm Holly."

"Do you want to dance, Holly?" Casey asked, smiling.

Holly looked back at her friends, who nodded encouragingly at her.

"Um, yes. I'd like that," she said.

Casey grabbed Holly's hand and led her onto the crowded dance floor. Several songs went by as they danced, their bodies close and swaying together. When the current song ended, Casey leaned in close.

"I'd really like to kiss you," she said.

Holly was buzzing. She nodded her head slightly. Casey closed the gap between them and kissed Holly gently at first, then deeper as Holly parted her lips, giving unspoken permission. The kiss went on for several moments and Holly lost herself in the feeling. She hadn't been kissed like this since the night she and Gail had slept together. Suddenly she was overcome with memories of that night. She pulled back abruptly. Casey looked confused.

"I'm sorry, I just can't," Holly blurted out, pulling away from Casey's embrace.

"It's ok, Holly," Casey said. "Thank you for the dance."

She smiled softly at Holly and then turned around and disappeared into the crowd. Feeling both defeated and relieved, Holly made her way back to her friends.

"What happened?" Rachel asked.

"I don't know. One minute we were dancing and then she asked to kiss me," Holly answered. "And then all I could think about was Gail and the night she cheated with me."

Lisa wrapped her arms around her friend. "I'm so sorry, hun," she cooed. She pulled back to look Holly in the eyes. "She's an idiot."

Holly scoffed.

"I'm serious, Hols. If she was so in love with you, why didn't she fight harder? Why does she get to be mad you left, but rub the fact that she moved on in your face?" Lisa said. "Who the hell does she think she is that she can play with your emotions like she does?"

Holly squeezed her arms a little tighter around Lisa. "Thank you for saying that."

Lisa squeezed back. "I seriously want to punch her in the face."

"Please don't. She would definitely arrest you."

Everyone laughed.

"Seriously, Hols, it's Gail's loss. You're amazing." Rachel joined in on the hug. Everyone giggled again.

"Ok, guys, I think it's time to go back to the hotel and get some sleep," Holly said, attempting to push away from the group hug.

"Fiinneee," the other two whined in unison.

Gail strode down the hall of the Coroner's Office, her next case's report from the coroner in hand. She happened to look to her left and noticed Holly's office was occupied. Stopping, she looked closer. Holly was nose deep in paperwork at her desk, unaware of Gail's presence.

Gail knocked. No response. She knocked louder. Still nothing.

"Hey, Lunchbox," she said loudly.

Holly stirred and looked towards her office door. Gail watched as happiness flashed across her face before turning to hurt, and ultimately nothing as Holly composed herself and stood. Holly approached Gail.

"How can I help you, Detective?" Holly asked in her best customer service voice.

"I, uh, I heard you left," Gail fumbled, less question than statement.

"I did," Holly replied.

Gail waited for Holly to elaborate, but after several seconds, the silence began to make her uncomfortable.

"Where did you go?"

"I went to Miami with Rachel and Lisa."

"Sounds nice," Gail offered.

"It was," Holly confirmed. "Was there something you needed, Gail?" Holly's voice softened at the end of her question.

"No, no I was just stopping by for a report and noticed you were in." Gail began fiddling with the file she was holding. "You look well," she said.

"I feel good," Holly replied.

"I'm glad." Gail's voice was just above a whisper.

"I'm sorry, but I really do need to get back to work."

Gail nodded and started to turn, but stopped. Without looking back she said, "I know you probably won't want to come, but… you are invited to the wedding."

She didn't wait for an answer, rather she took off at a brisk pace and didn't look back.

Well shit, Holly thought.