The Next Day …
Ben woke up first despite having been up half the night before waiting on Margaret and Ray. Diefenbaker slept soundly in the corner of the bedroom, snoring. It took Ben a moment to realize that the warm body butted up against his wasn't the comfort seeking wolf-dog.
Meg
He smiled at the thought of her nestled against him, her hair tickling his shoulder. She'd pulled the sheet up over her ear, cocooning herself in linens. Looking at her so peaceful and relaxed, Ben noticed how young and small she seemed. The tongue that castigated him so sharply had spoken softly and kissed him sweetly the night before. Her arms had slipped around him, pulling them closer than any time other than on the train. He couldn't help it, a sigh escaped.
One deeply brown eye peeped up at him and blinked sleepily. The other eye followed a second later.
"Good morning, Margaret." Ben whispered, not wanting to break the cozy silence between them.
"Benton, morning." She gave him a lazy half smile as she looked at him openly. Ben reached out and caressed her cheek tenderly. They enjoyed the private moment for a while, until Diefenbaker finally roused and needed to head outdoors.
"What do you want for breakfast, there's cold cereal and scrambled eggs, I'm not much of a breakfast person." Meg offered, sliding from beneath the bedclothes.
Ben felt his face flush at the sight of her pajamas again. He wanted to slide those spaghetti straps off her shoulders and untie the white, satin drawstring on her lounge pants.
"Cook's choice, whatever you want." He answered, trying to think of the Yukon River in December or walking barefoot on an ice floe to chill his flaming libido.
"Okay," Meg shrugged, not helping Ben's urge to tug on the hem of her loose shirt. He watched her walk away longingly.
"Blasted cast." The laid up Mountie lamented under his breath.

Meg smiled to herself as she let Diefenbaker out the front door. She'd seen the way Ben looked at her when she woke up and especially the hungry way he watched her when she climbed out of bed. He wanted her in the worst way and for once he'd let his feelings, no, desires, show.
"As soon as that cast is gone I'll take care of his desires." Meg thought to herself with a devilish grin.
"Yo ho ho," Ray Vecchio's voice called out as he knocked on the apartment door.
"Drat," Meg growled. She had wanted to enjoy her morning with Benton a while longer.
"Come in, Detective," She opened the door a moment before disappearing back into the bedroom for a robe.
"Mornin', I brought pastry." Ray held up a large, brown bag of freshly baked pastries from his favorite place.
"Good morning, Ray, you're up early today." Ben said as he passed Meg in the hall.
"Yeah, I thought you'd like to talk to the guy who left you for buzzard bait this morning." Ray shrugged, sitting the pastry bag on the kitchen table.
"Yes, I would, thank you kindly." Ben made his way to the coffee maker and started a fresh pot. Meg smelled it as she walked back into the living room, this time completely covered in a black, silk robe. She also heard her tea pot warming up for Ben's herbal tea. Meg walked between Ben at the stove and Ray at the kitchen table to fetch some paper plates and napkins for the pastries.
"At least I don't have to cook now." Meg mused, appreciating the thought.
"You comin' along for the show, Inspector?" Ray asked as he settled at the table.
"Yes, I'd like to hear the young man's statement as well." Meg answered, slipping into 'Inspector Mode'.
The next half hour Meg and Ben spent getting ready to leave. Ray helped Ben with his crutches and the wheelchair, just in case. Ben gave the latter an openly disdainful glare as Ray pushed it toward the elevator. That didn't keep Dief from whining for a ride in it.
"I'll ride with Ray, if you don't mind, Margaret." Ben said as they exited the elevator.
"Alright, I suppose you need some male bonding time without me." She teased gently.
"That and the Riviera has more leg room than your economy car." Ben answered playfully. Meg shook her head and walked to her Toyota Camry while Ray, Ben and Diefenbaker loaded into the Riv.

The Twenty-seventh Precinct Station …
Everyone cleared a path for Ben to navigate the hall toward Ray's desk. They all gave him sympathetic greetings. Dief used the slow march as time to beg treats from charitable humans.
"Sheesh, Fraser, he'd sell you by the pound for a donut." Ray snickered as they arrived at his desk.
"Of that I have no doubt." Ben agreed, giving the wolf-dog a baleful glance. Dief looked up at him and seemed to shrug.
"Hello, Fraser, how are you feeling?" Elaine walked up to the trio, a sheaf of copies for the detective.
"I'm fine, thank you kindly for asking, Elaine." Ben answered, settling himself in a chair across from Ray. He noticed the way Margaret eyed the Civilian Aide distrustfully. Ben caught Margaret's eye and smiled, reassuring her that he only had eyes for her.
"Ray, these are for you and Lieutenant Welsh wants an update on the hit-and-run case, apparently the suspect's mother called him at home last night." Elaine handed him the usual set of new missing person's fliers and requested information.
"Okay, I'll do that." Ray nodded, tossing the fliers into his in-box before picking up the telephone. Ben and Meg listened quietly as the detective called Cook County Jail and set up a meeting with Josh and his lawyer for later that morning.
Cook County Jail …
Joshua shuffled into the interview room with a guard shadowing him. The two cops from the night before stood waiting for him, as did a man holding crutches.
"Hello," Josh greeted inclusively, taking a seat across the table from the trio.
"Mr. Reitman, good morning, I believe you've met Detective Vecchio and Inspector Thatcher, I'm Constable Benton Fraser, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police."
Josh took it all in, waiting for the man on crutches to come to a point. His associates made Josh wonder. They seemed an odd pair. The large white dog sitting between them didn't help their image either.
"Look, I don't mean to be rude, but my mom, …" he paused, looking sheepish, "I don't want to talk to the police without my lawyer."
"I understand your hesitancy, representation is your Constitutional right. However, your mother spoke with Lef-tenant Welsh last night. She believes you witnessed a fatal hit-and-run perpetrated by the mayor of your hometown. She's very concerned for your safety, especially in police custody." Fraser related, studying the younger man's reaction closely. At the mention of his mother, Josh's expression saddened.
"Look, I know what I did was wrong, running and hitting that woman in the van. I'm no better than the mayor really, but I panicked when I saw that he'd killed that old lady. He'd seen me, he knows who I am. The mayor and the police chief and sheriff are all old buddies from high school. They cover for each other." The young man shrugged, his dark eyes pleading for the three strangers to believe him.
"When ya were runnin' from the Mountie here, you led him across a roof top. He fell in and nearly died, got that busted leg to show for it. Why didn't ya stop and check on him?" Ray stormed the table, leaning in to make his point.
"I didn't know he fell, that dog was on my heels," he pointed to Diefenbaker, who seemed to frown at being called just a dog. "I ran for another four miles before I lost it." Josh continued.
"He's half Arctic wolf." Fraser clarified on Diefenbaker's behalf.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do so I ran. I stole my boss' car and ran after I called 9-1-1 for the old lady." Josh started to run his hand through his dark hair but came up short in the handcuffs.
"Are you claiming that there is corruption amongst the leaders of your hometown? That the mayor hit and killed an elderly lady without checking on her?" Fraser asked steadily.
"Yeah, I am." Josh again looked around the room at the unusual trio.
"Okay, kid, if you're telling the truth we'll help ya, if not, you're gonna rot in a cell." Ray stepped forward again, this time his demeanor less hostile.
"Thanks, Detective." Josh sat back, visibly relieved.
"Oh, yeah, your mom is coming in sometime today, she should be at the bail hearing." Ray said as he helped Fraser with his crutches.
"She's very worried about you, Mr. Reitman." Inspector Thatcher said as she left the interview room.
****