AN: I am so so so so so so so sorry for the late update! I have been super busy, but I'm trying to get back in the writing mode. So stay with me:)

Chapter 9:

"I'm fine! Will everyone stop treating me like a child!" Ashley yelled in annoyance.

Her, Carlton, and Henry were currently standing around the living room of Henry's house. Well, Carlton and Henry were standing, Ashley was actually pacing frantically around the room, shouting at them and trying to convince them she was fine.

"We're not treating you like a child this is a standard police procedure and we have to take the necessary…."

Ashley spun around to face Carlton as she interrupted him, "There is nothing standard about this! 'Hey Ashley, your ex-boyfriend might just be a serial killer. But we're going to hunt him down for you so don't worry!'... Yeah I'm sure that's really normal."

"Ashley, will you please just let them do their job and..." Henry stepped forward, attempting to argue.

"Dad, Logan shouldn't even be a suspect! This is ridiculous! He's not going to just show up out of the blue and try to kill me!"

"But there is always a chance he will!" Carlton said firmly.

"But he won't!"

"But he might! And I'm sorry Ashley, but I'm pretty damn sure no one wants to take that chance and risk your safety. Will you just let us do our job and keep you safe! Maybe you're right, maybe it's just a coincidence, maybe Yang's being crazy. But again, maybe not. And that's why someone is going to be with you at all times, no arguments." Carlton replied, standing his ground.

Both Henry and Ashley stood shocked for a moment at Carlton's outburst. Henry nodded to himself a bit, happy that Lassiter was taking this seriously. Ashley dropped to the couch and sighed.

"Alright." she replied.

At this point, she was tired of fighting everyone. She was tired of trying to reason with everyone. She was tired of this whole case. She didn't come back to Santa Barbara for more drama, she left because of the drama.

"Thank you." Carlton replied sighing happily. Ashley didn't reply but instead sat motionless on the couch staring straight at the blank TV in front of her.

"You know kiddo, you probably don't have to actually stay in one place the whole time, we just want someone to be with you whenever you do go out." Henry spoke up, Ashley suddenly looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Like a babysitter?" She asked.

"No. Like a… I don't know… bodyguard." Henry suggested, "I'm sure detective Lassiter wouldn't mind, would you?"

Carlton suddenly cleared his throat in surprise, "Um, yeah of course. Whatever is needed, I'll do."

Ashley smiled, "Alright then detective, I'm hungry. Let's get lunch."

"What?" Carlton asked dumbfounded.

"You said you're going to be following me everywhere I go. I'm hungry. I'm going out to eat. Come with me if you must." She said matter-of-factly, standing and moving toward the door.

"Good luck with that." Henry said with a smirk as he patted Carlton on the back and then walked upstairs.

Slowly, Carlton followed Ashley outside. Ashley smirked when she saw him trudging closely behind her. If she was going to be followed around all the time, might as well make it fun. And flustering a certain head detective was certainly fun.

Carlton and Ashley were currently sitting at a local pizza joint awaiting their drinks they had just ordered. When Carlton had asked her what she wanted to eat she had just smiled at him and insisted he choose. She explained it was only proper etiquette for the man to pick where they went on a date. This of course caused Carlton to stutter and rapidly explain that is was not a date and they were just following police procedure. Ashley nodded along, but smiled when she noticed the hint of pink on his cheeks. She finally suggested a local pizza place she remembered from her childhood, she didn't think it would still be open, but Carlton reassured her it was. On the way, Carlton had asked her what Logan's full name was and where he last lived. Carlton then decided to update Shawn and Juliet with this info. He noted Shawn seemed rather annoyed over the phone at being called, though he didn't explain why. The remainder of the car ride was dead silent.

Ashley sat tapping her finger on the table as they waited. Carlton seemed to be deep in thought. He stared at the menu in front of him, his eyes way too focused for someone who should have been picking pizza toppings. However, he finally looked up and spoke in a serious tone.

"Ashley, we really need to know more about this Logan guy."

Sighing Ashley replied, "There's not much to know. His name is Logan Bennett. He was born in England. He's an only child…"

"Ashley we know all that. We need to know more about him. What was he like? Did he get angry easy? Did he have a good relationship with his parents? Personal things."

"Personal things? Carlton, what do you want me to do? Tell you about our relationship and how close we were?"

"Yes… Well mostly what you knew about him and how much he confided with you on things."

"Confided? I'm not some sort of accomplice!"

"I know that. Ashley, please." Carlton said desperately.

"Fine. He could be pretty easily angered. Little things set him off sometimes. We got in fights constantly. He was really sweet right after we made up. Now that I look back on it though, almost too sweet. He would obsess over trying to forget about the fight. He would say things like 'I don't want you to leave me' or 'Please, you can't leave me. I need you'. I thought it was sweet. Now… I don't know anymore." She explained as she resumed tapping her finger on the table.

"That's a good start. Now is there anything you can tell me about his mannerisms besides the anger? Was he nervous often? Did he seem ADHD? Was he…"

"Ready to order?" Their waitress interrupted as she came up to their table.

Ashley smiled at the distraction from their current topic and pointed to what she wanted on the menu, "Yes, I'll have the double slice pepperoni with pineapple, please."

Carlton, however, was a bit annoyed at the intrusion but nodded all the less, "I'll have a single slice cheese and a coffee."

The waitress nodded and took their menus then headed back toward the kitchen. Carlton folded his hands on the table as soon as she was gone and resumed his serious expression.

"Now, what was he…"

"Carlton." Ashley stopped him, "Is this lunch or an interrogation?"

He sat back for a second, surprised. "Wha…"

"Because I would very much like to have a nice conversation and lunch with you, without bringing up my possible murderer ex-boyfriend if that's possible."

"Ashley, we need to find out more about…"

"Carlton, you don't think I know that? Yes, okay. I've come to terms with the fact that he may

be a murderer. I understand that and I will give you all the information I have. I will tell you and the police department everything I know about that asshole, I promise. However, right now, I would like to enjoy a nice peaceful lunch with this very handsome head detective that still owes me a date. Is that alright with you?" Ashley asked, smiling at him.

"Vvvery well." Carlton stuttered.

"So…" Ashley began as she leaned over the table, "Tell me more about you."

"Me? I'm not that interesting really. What about you?"

"Oh, you know enough about me! And I'm certain being head detective is something interesting. How long have you lived in Santa Barbara?"

"I've been working at the SBPD for about 15 years now. I came here straight out of the police academy and started as an officer, eventually working my way up to detective and now here I am. It's honestly quite boring." Carlon insisted.

"What about before the police academy?"

"You really don't want to hear my whole life story Ashley."

"Why not? I've got all the time in the world." she smiled as she took his hand from across the table.

AN: I know this one was kind of short and again I'm sorry for the late update. But I'm getting back into it now and hopefully updates will be coming sooner with longer chapters!

Reviews are always loved:)