The Mystery Intensifies

Chapter 5

As expected, Jack did not take Mike's decision well regarding the Brantley case.

"A continuance you say!" Jack's voice boomed from across his desk as he eyed Mike with incredulity. Mike chose to ignore Jack's indignation.

"Heard and granted by the judge," replied Mike, holding his head up high.

A gruff sound could be heard coming from Jack.

"So our slam dunk case suddenly missed the basket!" Jack peered accusingly, "Mike, how did you ever let this happen?"

Mike was not one to cower, but then again, he did not look forward to dealing with Jack when he was on one of his rampages. Of all the people in the world, Jack was the one person Mike did not want to disappoint, yet, it seemed to be that he always did.

"There's more to this case than meets the eye, Jack" Mike argued, "I think the original investigation was not complete. This time around I'm bringing in Lupo and Bernard on the case."

Jack's expression was not a happy one. Reopening an investigation meant more manpower and more expenses, something the DA's office could ill-afford to do.

"What evidence do you have for a continuance?" Jack asked.

Mike was afraid Jack would ask that. If only Mike had been able to talk with Connie about the case earlier, he might have been better able to give a better reason before he faced his mentor.

"It's just...I have a hunch, Jack."

Predictably, Jack's eyebrows shot up, "Are you telling me, Mike" he worked to control his voice, "...that all the extra time, money and effort you will now need to put into this case is based solely...on a hunch?"

"It won't be the first time," Mike responded, to which Jack most certainly agreed. Mike's method as a prosecutor was built on play-it-by-ear conjectures, which usually drove Jack crazy. But...it's worked well before in the past, perhaps this would be one of those times, too.

It better be.

Jack's lips thinned in disapproval.

"I just hope you know what you're doing, Mike," Jack warned his protégé cautiously, "we need this wrapped up yesterday!"

Mike nodded as if he had been given approval, although he hadn't, "I'll do my best."

..

It was still early evening when Mike returned to his own office. Sitting behind his desk, he was busy reviewing the Brantley case, trying to decide which avenues he needed to explore. What started as a simple hit and run case did not seem that way at all. He scowled as he read the police notes that was attached to the file, trying to locate any red flags.

So concentrated was he on what he was reading, he didn't hear Connie until she called out to him the second time.

"Mike?" she tried again. He looked up to see her standing across his desk, waiting hesitantly.

As he met her gaze, his heart gave a funny thump. Then he recalled he had no right to feel that way with her. She was with someone else, after all. He sat up straighter, getting into supervisor mode.

"Have a seat, Connie" he stated evenly.

Although she didn't exactly expect balloons and confetti to fall from the ceiling, Connie wondered about the strange behavior from him. Perhaps it was due to the stress of the case, she thought as she sat across from him.

At least she hoped it was that, "You're not too busy, are you?"

"Of course not…," Mike looked up and put on a smile that did not reach his eyes, "did you need to talk to me about something?"

He was talking to her as if she were a first year law clerk with a question about a case finding.

"I'm sure you saw me in court when you were prosecuting the Brantley case," Connie eyed him, trying to gauge his reaction. She would have thought he would have been pleased to see her in the gallery. It did seem that way - for the first day, at least.

She watched him run his hand through his hair, which he often did when he was feeling nervous or uncomfortable.

Mike was trying so hard to be nonchalant with her, to show that she didn't have an effect on him, but it was so hard not to have a reaction to her. It was the end of the day, yet she managed to still look so lovely and refreshed.

"Yes, I was wondering as to your presence there in court," Mike admitted, "Did Jack send you to check up on me?"

Connie looked surprised, "No, why would he ever do that?"

Mike eyed her steadily, "I just can't fathom why else you would be there. Were you done with your own work?"

She was taken aback slightly by his implication that she didn't have anything better to do. However, the bigger picture that kept running through her mind was why did things seemed so awkward between them?"

"I've had plenty to do," Connie assured him, her tone sounding slightly annoyed, "but I had received an intriguing phone call, which was the reason that I sat in on your case."

Mike's breath caught. He hoped she wasn't referring to the phone call he made to her apartment the other night when that guy answered.

"Uh...Intriguing?" he repeating, wanting to buy some time, wondering how to answer if she asked why he called.

"Yes, a Ms. Help called earlier the first day you went to court, asking for you," Connie asked, "And since you were already on the case, she asked that I sit in on the case, too."

Mike felt relieved; so it wasn't his call. Meanwhile, Connie gave more details about this woman and her strange call.

"So you have no idea why she asked you to sit in on the case?" Mike inquired.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Connie said,"all I know is that she will call later to ask for my opinion."

"Very peculiar story ," Mike agreed as he picked up and gripped his baseball, deep in contemplation, "Sooo ...after listening to the court proceedings earlier today, what was your opinion of the case so far?"

For the first time he was able to look directly at her. A delightful feeling curled through him at the familiarity of discussing another case with her. It always felt so right.

"I had only listened to the end part of that one testimony, from that one witness, Mary Harrison," Connie told him, "I know she was suppose to be your star witness, but something about her just did not feel right with me."

Mike leaned forward, still holding tight to his baseball, "You too?"

His gaze was so intent on her.

"Y-yes," agreed Connie,who found herself looking at his tie, so as not to return his stare, "so I was relieved when you had requested for and was granted a continuance. Obviously you have your doubts, too, after hearing Ms. Harrison's testimony."

Mike acknowledged, "I did."

Connie felt a familiar, intimate feeling traveling throughout her body at the idea of Mike wanting her input on the case.

"What was it that concerned you?" she inquired.

"Mostly the part when she wrote down the license plate number,," Mike stated, getting back to business, as he put down his baseball and handed the evidence bag containing the pad with the written license plate number, "Tell me what you think about this."

"FTD 664," Connie said out loud as she peered at the paper with the license plate number written down.

"When you look at the writing, is there anything unusual about it that you see?" Mike was almost at the edge of his seat, wanting desperately for her to come to the same conclusion he had.

Connie handed the bag back to him, "It's awfully neat writing for someone who wrote while driving a vehicle at the same time."

"Yes! Exactly!" Mike looked beyond pleased, "That's the part I'm not buying. And if one part of a testimony is not truthful, it invalidates the entire testimony."

She nodded in agreement, as she leaned back casually in her seat.

"I wouldn't mind if you told me more about the case," Connie encouraged, "maybe you can bounce ideas off me."

Mike seemed pleased as his whole expression seemed more opened and relaxed.

"That would be great, Connie."

Before he proceeded, he looked at his watch. It was past the end of the workday. He wondered if Connie needed to be home for him, that other guy.

"Mike?" Connie interrupted his thoughts, "Did you have to be somewhere?" She had obviously seen him checking his watch.

"No, no," Mike discounted that idea, "But I thought perhaps it was you who needed to be nowhere."

"I'm willing to stay and listen," she volunteered, before adding, "unless, of course, you'd rather discuss it tomorrow." She held her breath.

"So you don't mind blistering your ear to hear about the case?" Mike inquired.

For the first time that day, Connie smiled.

"Not at all. I'll apply bandages to my ears afterward," she playfully remarked, relaxing the tension between them.

Mike was not going to miss this opportunity and eagerly began shuffling some papers in the file, happy to be sharing information, "The first thing I'd like to show you is the information here about the victim of the hit and run."

"Was the victim a male or female?" Connie asked, as Mike handed her a photo .

"Male, but the body has never been identified, " Mike responded, "Fingerprints were sent to the FBI, but there were none on file. After checking missing persons, the policed concluded that the victim was probably a drifter."

Connie accepted the photo and then scrunched her face upon viewing the aftermath picture of the mangled body, "Ugh. I may have to skip my dinner tonight."

"Yeah, it's was a horrific accident," Mike agreed, "At impact, the skull was smashed in like an eggshell. Then it looked like both wheels of the swerving car had driven completely over the head. The features were unrecognizable."

Despite the grisly appearance, Connie continued staring at the details in the picture. By the way she continued frowning, Mike knew something was up.

"What is it?" he asked, "Did you notice something else unusual?"

Connie pointed to a specific area of the picture, "The clothing the victim was wearing in this picture looks too color coordinated and too expensive to be a drifter," she surmised, gratefully handing the gruesome photos back to Mike.

The picture of the victim were so grotesque, Mike hadn't given the clothes any thought. But that was a good point she made.

"I've thought of bringing Lupo and Bernard in on this case," suggested Mike.

"I think that would be a great idea," Connie agreed, "If you want, I could give Lieutenant Van Buren a call regarding your case."

Connie, forever helpful and reliable, Mike thought. He had always appreciated her insights and thought they worked well as a team. In fact, she was practically on board with the case now, as far as he were concerned. Mike knew Connie was in a relationship, but he also knew she was in a relationship with her job, too.

"You mean our case," corrected Mike, "if you want in, that is."

They were going to work this case together. Connie felt a sense of quiet elation.

"The case certainly is intriguing enough," Connie said before teasingly adding, "but I need to ask my boss's permission."

She now stared openly at him, feeling totally at ease in his presence once again.

Mike smiled back, "As long as you realize that your boss won't be paying for overtime."

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