Chapter 11

Flynn was fast asleep on the couch when Sharon came in dressed already dressed at 6 a.m. Sleep had left her early this morning. She made sure Flynns hand wasn't anywhere near his gun before she touch his shoulder gently. "Lieutenant?" she said smoothly.

Flynn blinked "huh?" he gave back sleeply.

"It's time to get up. If you are quick the bathroom is still free. There are towels if you want a shower", she said silently, while his vision sharpened. He saw the Captain smiling down at him. Did she wake up looking like that every day? With make up? Hm, no she got up entirely to early.

"Morning Captain he mumbled."

"Bathroom", she reminded him, then added "I'll have breakfast ready when you return from your shower." He took a quick shower and toweldryed his hair before he exited the bathroom finding Lauren waiting for her turn. "Morning", she jawned.

Returning to the kitchen he found the Captain making scrambbled eggs and toasting some waffles "Wow. You need any help?"

"You can set the table", she said turning the eggs and pulled some fruit salad from the fridge. Lauren shuffled around the corner next.

She smiled at Flynn. "Slept well?"

"I didn't sleep!" he protested and Sharon giggled, a sound he had never heard before from her.

Lauren knew her mother was nervous. She had this giggle fits only when she was really, really stressed out.

"He was asleep slumped halfway down the couch when I came in", Sharon said between giggles. Lauren laughed a little and asked "How's your back?"

Flynn grumbled "Don't ask."

"See! This couch is a back killer!" Lauren exclaimed towards her mother who giggled some more on that notion.

They had breakfast and even Rusty made attempt to play nice with Lauren. It was a lot of "Would you mind handing me the…" and "Thank you." Sharon was relieved to see they were at least trying to bury the hatchet. She didn't need them fighting on top of everything else.

"Are you going to sleep on the couch till this investigation is over?" Rusty asked and Sharon and Flynn answered in unison "No", but only Flynn continued "We take turns."

Sharon glared at him and it failed to have the desired effect, since Flynn had her in mind giggling. She was even more annoyed when he grinned at her "This won't happen again."

"Nah, Provenza snores like an elephant, you should leave him in his car."

"No Lieutenant. I'm perfectly capable of defending myself and I need my detectives at the top of their game", she gave back before she ordered

"Lauren you'll eat at least this waffle!" Sharon said pointing at Lauren's half eaten waffle.

"I'm no child mom and I'll eat if you eat", Lauren gave back and motioned at her mother's untouched waffle.

Sharon dissected the waffle in rhythm with her lecture for Flynn on insubordination and started eating the waffle while she continued to point out in great detail, what she could do to him according the LAPD rules for failing to follow an order.

Rusty cleared his throat "Ahm Sharon couldn't Lauren take me to school?"

Sharon jerked her head towards Rusty. "You mean could Lauren let you drive to school?"

Lauren shook her head "Lauren can't! Rusty you have no idea but I'm the world's worst passenger. Ask my brother. I'll make you nervous. I mean really. That's a bad idea."

"Perhaps some other time", Sharon decided.

Rusty spent the rest of the early morning pouting and mumbled when he got out of the car "Why did I ever get my license when I'm not allowed to drive."

"Well whatever brownie points I had I lost them when I declined."

Sharon smiled "He'll come over it or you'll overcome your prejudices about teenage male drivers."

"Yeah right! My pulse is accelerating at the memory. It's a wonder the car is still there and I spent the better part of my undergraduate studies hoping I'd survive the way to college!" Lauren said her eyes widened. Sharon laughed "Give him a chance. Rusty is very precautious."

The rest of the morning was dedicated to finding out more about Elca's and Melinda's customers. Since Elca didn't work for an agency they couldn't find anything. She preferred cash and had funny loony toons names for her customers in her time planer. The list of Melinda's clients was more revealing. As they had predicted there were some very important people on that list. One name stuck out it was found several times on her schedule right before she went exclusive with McGregor. Judge Simon Richards was one of her most frequent customers and Sharon had him brought in for questioning, while they tried to get hold of some other customers. The Judge hadn't been seated in an interview room yet when Chiefs Pope and Flynn rushed into the murder room. Sharon sighed and motioned for her office.

"Oh my. The Pope that's bad!" Flynn observed handing Lauren a cup of tea. They had gathered at Provenza's desk for better view. The old Lieutenant managed to look busy and to sneak a glance at the office. Lauren pretended to read what was in reality an empty piece of paper. Flynn didn't even bother to pretend working.

"They aren't yelling yet", Provenza mumbled and as if on cue the volume within the Sharon's office picked up considerably. Flynn made a fist with his free hand and after watching the chiefs yell at the Captain for another moment he growled "I'm going in there now!"

Provenza held him back "You can't and me to they'd eat us alive", he glanced expectantly at Lauren.

She put down the mug and the paper "Oh great and what do I say?"

"You're a smart girl figure something out", Provenza said making a shooing motion with his right hand urging her on.

"Great, just great!" she grumbled straightening up. She knocked on the door and opened it after a brief moment. Everyone's eyes turned on her. Lauren blinked innocently.

"You wanted me to tell you when Buzz is ready" she said directed at her mother.

"And this is?" Chief Pope asked.

"The consultant" Taylor spat out in that condescending way of his, while Lauren took a hesitant step into the room. It was an act she wanted to rush in and yell at them how they could dare to yell at her mother but she held herself back focus on Pope smiling shyly and bating her eyes "Dr. Lauren Raydor, it's a pleasure to meet you Sir", she said extending a hand to the Chief of the LAPD. Pope's rage melted away at Lauren's sight and he took her hand.

Taylor on the other hand wasn't fooled so easily. "So perhaps the consultant cares to explain the necessity of dragging in a well known judge for questioning and why we are trying to interview a lot of other important people", he sneered.

Sharon leaned on her desk watching how her daughter played cute on Pope. She couldn't decide what surprised her more, her daughter being able to do it or that it worked. Taylor rolled his eyes when Lauren answered, making bambi eyes tilting her head slightly and smiling just a little broader, while keeping her focus on Pope "I'd love to Chief". Pope, who held on to Lauren's hand far too long for Sharon's liking decided to have this conversation in his office and left Taylor behind fuming and with the order to carry on. When they had left Sharon only shrugged at Taylors glare. "Since he's already here may we interview the judge?" she asked.

"Fine, but no one else from that list till the Chief has made a decision."