Alex POV

I'd barely stepped away from the podium when I felt my cell phone buzzing in my pocket.

Damn, Zaring, you can see me on TV…give me a minute to get inside.

I let it ring as I opened the door and stepped inside of 1PP and then I pulled it out and answered it.

"Eames, what the hell was that?"

It wasn't Zaring.

It was Moran.

"I'm sorry, sir, you're going to have to be more specific," I said tiredly.

Because I'd felt harried and unprepared for the whole thing, like I was constantly back on my heels, and worse yet, I could just picture Ross laughing maniacally while watching on TV.

"I've got the head of CCS up my ass already," he fired back. "You know what it does to that department when the announcement's made that murderers are meeting up in some kind of glorified chat room?"

"I'm not sure, but if it finds us our killers, then I'm not going to feel bad about giving them a little more work," I replied defensively.

"So you meant to disclose that information?"

"Yes, sir."

"That's just great. And I suppose you also meant to announce that a co-conspirator in the judge's murder has turned up dead."

"You thought I'd hide it? Misty Hahn's body was found in broad daylight at a public beach."

"You suggested that she's another potential victim of Martha Schuler."

"She is!" I shouted in frustration. I ran my hand through my still wet hair and leaned against the corridor wall. "Chief…trust me. I know what I'm doing."

He was quiet for a minute, and I was flooded with self-doubt.

Do I know what I'm doing?

Channel 7 had started off the session by asking me again about Yuille.

"Don't you think this city would be better served if the supposedly elite Major Case wasn't staffed by detectives such as Nick Yuille?"

I immediately went on the attack because quite honestly, I'd had enough of her.

"Theresa, did you have a personal relationship with Detective Yuille? Is that why you feel the need to throw him under the bus at every opportunity?"

She rolled her eyes at me and said, "You didn't answer my question."

"And you didn't answer mine," I retorted. "What's your obsession with Detective Yuille?"

"Okay," she said, standing up a little straighter. "Fine. It goes back to what we discussed on Monday. He was having an illicit affair with a superior officer, and then he received a promotion. Can you explain that?"

"If you'd like me to spend our time giving a Q&A session on each of my detectives, I can certainly accommodate you. When I took over as captain, Nick Yuille was already in the department. He's an excellent detective and has proven to me time and again that he deserves the position. As for whether or not he's having an illicit affair with his superior officer, considering that's me, I can say without a doubt that he is not. Next question."

"Has Yuille tracked down Martha Schuler yet?"

"Detective Yuille has a partner," I said sharply. "Detective Wyatt. They work together, and no they have not yet tracked Martha Schuler. However, this morning the body of her co-conspirator, Misty Hahn, was found on Rockaway Beach. This discovery has led to new leads on the whereabouts of Martha Schuler."

"So a woman was murdered because of Yuille's inability to make an arrest?"

"A woman was murdered because of another woman's homicidal tendencies. Next question."

"Personnel Q&A!" another reporter shouted. "Detective Logan was brought to Major Case last month after a two-year sabbatical."

"Is that a question, Paul?"

"No, but this is. Was he brought back because of a personal relationship between the two of you?"

"Did the chief hire him because he's a friend of mine? I seriously doubt it. I have a lot of friends, and only some of them work for the department. It's more likely that he was brought back due to his exceptional investigative skills."

"So you're not involved with him," he stated disbelievingly, and suddenly all of the Yuille questions became crystal clear.

Alonzo.

She's the one who suspected that I was sleeping with Logan.

And she most definitely still hated me for taking her job and getting her fired.

Of course, Ross had walked into my office today while Logan was giving me a congratulatory hug.

Had he planted the seed in a reporter's mind?

Would he stoop that low, just to get his job back?

"Asked and answered. He's a friend. Now, are there any real questions out there?"

"The Five Boroughs Killer…has any progress been made on identifying the latest victims?"

"We've been able to identify four out of the six. I have two more photos with me today that I'd like to show you. If anyone has any information on either of these two girls, please call the NYPD tip line."

"You're still using a tip line," Theresa called out. "So you have no leads?"

"At this time, we suspect that there are at least two killers who either first met or are presently meeting in a chat room created for the fantasy of murder."

"Chat rooms like that exist? Why hasn't it been shut down?"

"As long as it's fantasy, it's not illegal," I reminded them. "This particular one seems to have turned into a macabre competition and our Computer Crimes Squad is working with Major Case to track it down."

"Captain, I received word this morning that former Major Case Captain Danny Ross, who was purported to be the victim of murder last year, has returned to New York after spending the past year in witness protection. Can I get a comment from you about that?"

Comment.

I'd give him a comment.

The man was an arrogant prick before he died, and he'd somehow come back as an overblown version of his annoying former self.

"That is true, yes. After the culmination of an investigation into Khy Hassan two weeks ago, it was deemed safe for Danny Ross to resume his normal life."

"The investigation which resulted in the death of Hassan," the mouse clarified. "Weren't you a part of that investigation?"

"Yes, I was, along with three other exemplary members of the NYPD."

"And Hassan was killed during the sting?" Channel 7 pointed out.

"Along with a weapons dealer and a murdering ex-con, yes."

"Will Captain Ross be rejoining the NYPD?"

"At this time, I can't comment on Mr. Ross' future with the department."

I'd wrapped it up shortly thereafter, and then gone inside to deal with Moran.

"I do trust you, Eames. But I'm going out on a limb for you and I don't want you to send us both tumbling."

I wasn't sure what he meant by going out on a limb for me.

Was Zaring fighting with him over my position? As annoying as I find the commissioner, I was still under the impression that he's happy with my work.

"I won't," I assured him. "And do you know what you can do for me?"

"What do you need?"

"Get that damn sprinkler system fixed. How am I supposed to run a department that has regular monsoons?"

Not to mention the fact that I knew Zaring was going to bitch about my outfit, but I only had one extra in my locker and somehow I didn't think going in front of the camera in a soaking wet white blouse that had turned see-through was a good idea.

Although hell, with Zaring, who knows?

Maybe it would've scored me points.

So instead, I was in a black cap-sleeve knit top and black jeans, with my badge and gun clipped to my belt. Not exactly captain's attire, but like I said…it was dry and it didn't look like something from the pages of Playboy, so it was better than the alternative.

"I wondered why you were dressed so casual," Moran said on a chuckle, finally having relaxed. The man went through mood swings like a pregnant woman, and sometimes it was hard to keep up, but at least he didn't stay mad for long.

"Yeah, well, I'm sure I'll hear about it from the commissioner," I grumbled.

"Zaring's a pussycat. Don't worry about him," he stated.

"About this? Or at all?" I asked cryptically.

"I've got your back, Captain. You just catch this Five Boroughs Killer, okay?"

"That's the plan, Chief."

"Oh, and Eames…what are you going to do about Alonzo?"

"You noticed that, too, huh?"

"She's the only one who ever mentioned there being something between you and Logan, so it makes sense…that, plus Channel 7's focus on Yuille."

"I might have a sit-down with Theresa."

"An exclusive?"

"No, an off-the-record chat. Zaring already promised an exclusive to NBC."

"Of course he did," he muttered. "Yeah, okay. Get to the bottom of this thing, and if Alonzo's working on a smear campaign, hit her with a slander suit."

"Well, it's possible that it's someone else. Or at least, the Logan thing."

I figured I needed to get ahead of whatever Ross might try to say about what he'd walked in on today.

"Whoa, hang on. There's not something to it, is there?"

"No, sir. Absolutely not," I said quickly.

"Because I don't want to think about what I'd have to do…"

"I understand. Although you know, I heard from Captain Maas that he's got a new set of regulations ready for you to look at."

"So you think personal relationships should be accepted in the workplace?"

"I think that it's human nature for personal relationships to develop, whether it's against the rules or not. By keeping the ban in place, you're asking for there to be subterfuge and obfuscation in an environment that's supposed to be open and team-oriented."

He was quiet for a minute, and I thought maybe I'd gone too far, but really, he'd opened the door to this discussion.

"Alex," he began, and his use of my first name threw me. "Off the record, I promise, but I need to know. Are you and Logan involved?"

I let out a breath that I didn't realize I'd been holding.

"No. Logan's a very good friend. And he's in a relationship with someone else."

"Okay," he said, exhaling heavily. "Okay, good. So what happened that makes you think someone else suspects the two of you?"

My phone buzzed and I looked at the display and saw that Zaring was calling.

"Um…you know what? It's nothing. I'll handle it," I said quickly. "The commissioner's calling on the other line, so I'd better take it."

I hung up with Moran and answered Zaring's call as I continued to stand in the empty back hall.

"Got a little off track today, huh, Eames?" he boomed.

"Reporters tend to do that when you give them plenty of rope."

"Well, you did alright. And I got a call from the mayor a minute ago. He loves your outfit. He said it made you look like some kind of Hollywood actress portraying a cop."

Oh my God.

I spent an hour in front of the cameras, updating the public on all kinds of cases while deflecting personal questions…and the mayor called to say he likes my outfit?

I've had just about enough of this media crap.

"Well, I wouldn't want to look like a real cop, now would I?" I said with heavy sarcasm.

"It's a good thing, Eames!" he said enthusiastically. "And he's right, too. They're lapping it up! People used to think NYPD and they'd think some old fat uniformed cop with a doughnut in his hand. You know what the tagline is now? I just saw it on CNN a minute ago. NYPD – Not Your Papa's Department."

"What the hell does that mean?" I asked, my confusion overriding my manners.

"It means my idea worked, Eames! Now, the NYPD has a hot new image. It's got a badass chick with a gun who gives a verbal smack-down to any reporter who gets out of line!"

"Sir…"

"Not my words, Eames," he said quickly. "I'm only saying what they're saying. You know, as media liaison…"

"I have no interest whatsoever in becoming the department's media liaison. As soon as Goren and Logan catch the FBK, I'm out of the spotlight, okay?"

He paused and I closed my eyes, feeling yet another headache coming on.

I thought the press conference was my worst yet, but everyone was happy because of what I'm wearing…this wasn't why I joined the department, that's for sure.

"I've got a meeting with Ross on Monday morning," he said pointedly, as though that should change my thoughts on his job offer.

"Great. Maybe he'll be interested in being the media liaison."

"He wants Major Case."

"No kidding."

"The mayor wants him to have it, too. He was there for five years, you know. You've been there a month."

I felt my heart skip a beat as I waited for what he was going to say next.

Were they really just going to shove me out now that Ross had come skipping back to town?

"Yes, sir," I agreed carefully, pleased that my voice didn't crack, because I suddenly had the overwhelming urge to cry.

"We can make this easy," he continued. "With no hard feelings. I'm offering you a viable position in front of your adoring public."

"Or?"

"Or it turns into a power play. You against Ross."

"Have you ever known me to take the easy way out of anything?"

"No," he said on a chuckle.

"Then may the best man win."

TBC...