Chapter 9

So I originally had all this in Chapter 8 and decided to split it up. So here's a chapter dedicated to relationships and revelation.

When they were finally alone in Sharon's car Lauren said still amazed "A real butler!"

"Yes and one who would do almost anything for his boss!" Sharon shot back.

"Ah, is the millionaire back on our list?" Lauren smirked.

"Was he ever off?"

"I think he'll have a rock solid alibi for at least one murder", Lauren said.

"Well let's hope he has for both."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to explain to Taylor or Pope why I'm arresting Douglas McGregor."

Lauren hummed, knowing that wasn't the entire truth. It was interesting to see her mother sometimes oblivious to her own feelings. She had always been good at reading people, even before she had studied psychology. Sharon was so used put up a wall against flirting she failed to acknowledge when she was interested in someone or decipher true interest from friendly banter. She wondered how many chances for a real good relationship had escaped her mother. When she was younger she had never questioned why her mother was always alone. She simply assumed it was a decision. Was it an unconscious one? She was stunning for her age there had to have been opportunities. *Are you lonely mom?* Lauren asked in mind.

"Why are you staring at me Lauren?" Sharon asked calmly turning into the parking garage of the LAPD building. It was past 3 p.m. when they returned.

Lauren blinked startled "I'm just wondering about the letters. If it arrives today", she lied.

Sharon nodded. Normally she could tell when her daughter lied but she was occupied with her own thoughts. She really hoped they could rule McGregor out as a suspect and she prayed they would be able to find the killer before he could kill someone else. Rusty was back from school and shuffled through the murder room head bent, pretending to read a book, when Sharon and Lauren entered. He retreated to his study table after a quick "Hi", to Sharon and her daughter.

Lauren frowned. Was she misinterpreting? He didn't look Sharon in the eyes when he said hello. Was he really preoccupied, or was he ashamed from this morning's events? She kept an eye on him while she read newly arrived letters with lab gloves on and hair tied back.

Rusty seemed more introverted than usually and according to Buzz's sighs unconcentrated. It was around 5 p.m. when Sharon decided to send Lauren and Rusty home, since they'd probably not get any new leads or letters today. They had finally gotten the files from Kerby's team. It was a major amusement to everyone when the Lieutenant himself had to bring in the box accompanied by Chief Taylor which made going over the stuff all the more bearable. Lauren drove them home in Sharon's car, who would be brought home by someone else. Rusty retreated to his room while Lauren took a long hot shower and took another painkiller to treat the returning back ache. She settled in the corner where her mother had set up a little workspace and ignored Rusty's return to the kitchen, while she worked on the stuff she had to do for university which meant reading and commenting on some semester papers.

"Do you want some pasta?"

Lauren blinked Rusty was in front of her and held up a plate with pasta. She shook her head. "No, thank you" she gave back and turned her concentration back to the text on the laptop.

"Fine!" the boy spat. "I'm done with your attitude. I didn't do anything to you! Why are you so unfriendly?"

Lauren looked up seeing Rusty fuming and pacing in front of her.

"I did nothing to you and you've been unfriendly since you arrived."

She followed his movements and decided she had enough to. "You know what Rusty. I don't like your attitude. You treated me like an intruder. This was my home long before it became yours and you know neither my mom nor me knew in advance I'd be working on this case till I got into that plane yesterday. I'm sorry universe forgot to tell you its plan for me to show up. I don't want to compete with you. Frankly I don't have the time. This is no plot to take my mom away from you or something. Besides I don't like that you are hiding something. It's ok to hide from me but my mom", she corrected herself since she didn't want to emphasize Sharon was her mother not his " Sharon, you hide something from her and don't dare to say different. I don't want to know but I want you to think. She has always been honest with you and has never ever lied to you Rusty. If you respect that, you should do her the same curtsey. I don't want to know what it is but if you don't tell her before I leave you are in big, big trouble", she emphasized the second big and Rusty felt reminded of Sharon somehow. Lauren seemed calm and pissed at the same time, while her voice was smooth and transporting anger simultaneously. "As for the meal. I'm simply not hungry yet. It's not to tick you off, I'm just unable to eat when my mind is occupied. Not everything is about you!" she said and the last phrase was purely unnerved and tried to put her attention back to the paper she read on screen. He was so demanding! Lauren wanted to shake him till he realized not everything had to do something with him.

For Rusty the spell was broken. He didn't feel like Sharon was talking to him he felt like he was fighting is a, well yes, a big sister. He turned and grinned before realization hit him. She knew, she knew something was wrong, silently he tried to decipher what that meant and left Lauren, who switched the laptop off a few minutes after his departure towards his room. Rusty had managed to tick her off just enough to disrupt her concentration. Her phone ringed and brought another distraction. It was her mother "Hey, when will you be home? Rusty made pasta!"

"I don't know Lt. Flynn is taking me home."

"Just to warn you I had a little stand of with Rusty."

"Oh Lauren, what have you done?"

"I declined dinner!" she answered. Really was she assuming it was her fault? When Ricky and she had had a fight she was mostly fair and assumed everyone had played their part.

Sharon only hummed not really wanting to discuss this while she tried not to look on the road. Flynn was a good driver, a good police driver which meant you should not try to look too closely while he drove. You will end up safe at home, just not focus on the way how you get there, she told herself in mind while she said good bye to her daughter.

"Lieutenant, please try to acknowledge at least half of the road traffic acts!" she pleaded closing her eyes and holding on to the seat for dear life, when he swooshed through the night's traffic.

"The road traffic act is a debatable question Captain."

"Definitely not."

"It is like your little rulebook", he said flashing a toothy grin.

Sharon huffed "That's an old line. I've heard everything down that road from you when I was still FID. Sing a new song."

Flynns grin vanished. "Ok then how about you explain your replies to my texts. I mean you leaf me speechless. If I didn't know better I'd say you are flirting with me."

"I could say the same to you Lieutenant", she said and flinched when Flynn shouted at a driver who turned onto their lane and caused the Lieutenant to hit the brakes.

"Me? I'm always flirting, what's your excuse" he said when he had finished his outburst.

She smirked "I'm returning the curtsey?"

He laughed and it sounded more like a short bark. "So you flirt with me because if flirt with you?"

"So you try to beat me at my own game?"

"Something like that."

"Gee Captain and here I thought you were flattered." Flynn parked in front of her address and casted a grin her way.

"Well you've probably just lost a bet Lieutenant", she replied getting closer and smirked while saying in that clipped voice of hers "I'm not flattered since I know, oh wait how did you put it" she mimicked thinking before she continued "you always flirt."

With that she exited the car and Flynn could only watch her depart with swaying hips. His gaze lingered on her frame till she disappeared into the building. He leaned back sighing.

"I'm such an idiot I shouldn't have started this" he said to himself. He would never admit it out loud but he had grown to be attracted to his Captain. She would never surrender to his advances, so he didn't really try. I need to forget this, he thought and vowed to find a distraction from his thoughts about his bosses legs and lips and, damn from her!