Sharon smiled over her shoulder at Provenza as they left the electronics room. "Nicely played, Lieutenant," she said, then continued walking to her office.

Provenza simply shrugged as he turned to see that Sykes was carrying out the Captain's orders to send the press release. Satisfied, he turned towards the Captain's office and walked in, not bothering to knock.

"Something I can help you with, Lieutenant?" Raydor asked, composed as always.

Provenza closed the door and sat down across from the Captain before answering. "Rusty cornered me before I got to Electronics."

"Ah..."

"He's pretty upset."

"I can imagine."

"I guess it's safe to assume that DDA Rios will try to use this to remove him from your home."

"Yes," Sharon nodded, "she has already started."

"Damned woman, she doesn't miss a trick. I'm not even sure she didn't write that letter herself."

"Mmm... that would be an interesting twist, I must say. What exactly did Rusty tell you?"

"Well, he said he got the letter and brought it here when he read it. That Det. Sanchez was having it tested, and that Rios has already accused him of writing it."

"She didn't accuse him, but I can see how he would think that. She was only doing her job."

"Rusty wasn't happy."

"No, he wasn't."

"I wish we were dealing with Hobbs on this one."

"That would be better for us, but not necessarily better for the Prosecution. I spoke to Andrea about it the other week, and she said Rios is the best person from the DA's perspective."

"Rios is the best they've got?" Provenza chuckled derisively, "I find that hard to believe."

Sharon merely shrugged. "That's what Andrea had to say. She says Rios is a pitbull and doesn't waste time on sentimentality."

"Well... we know that's true. The way she keeps trying to ruin Rusty's life is proof of that. She seems oblivious to the fact that providing him with a stable home is the best thing going for her case."

"I might have to use that argument if she keeps pushing for Rusty to be removed from my care. He's scared that she will win."

"Of course he is, and we can't let that happen."

"No, we can't."

"Alright Captain, so what are we going to do?"

"Do?"

"Yes, do. You and I both know Rios will try to go over your head. She's probably in talking to Taylor right now, trying to make him see things her way."

"Chief Taylor shares our opinion of DDA Rios, Lieutenant."

"Harrumph, don't count on it," Provenza scoffed, "Taylor is always looking for the path that gives him the most credit with the least effort. If doing what Rios wants is going to make his life easier, then he'll do it."

Sharon leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes briefly. "You've got a point," she sighed.

"I haven't read the letter, so what did it say?" Provenza prompted.

"I don't have a copy of it with me, but it mentioned Sunset Boulevard, and had religious overtones of repentance. It also mentioned Stroh by name, and how Rusty is testifying at the trial. Something I did find interesting was that the writer compared himself to Rusty."

"Compared how?" Provenza sat up.

Sharon sat up as well, "The writer said he was a 'sinner' like Rusty."

"What's your take on that?"

"I don't know... did Stroh find the writer on the street? Did the writer work the streets and need Stroh for legal help? Perhaps he was a john, and that's how he met Stroh. I can't see what other sin the writer would be referring to."

"Or maybe the writer is throwing around whatever he knows and hopes something will stick. How detailed was it? I mean Sunset Boulevard isn't exactly a hard street to pick. Discovery would mean Stroh knows a few of those details about Rusty already. Did he have anything specific?"

"No, none of it was specific enough to be an outright threat. It wasn't even sent to the Department or my home, it came through DCFS."

"Again, that's not a detail that would be hard to discover."

Sharon shrugged once more, "Exactly. It's obviously a threat with just enough information to make us uncomfortable, but not enough to give us a clue or warrant real concern. Rusty is more worried about being moved than the threat itself."

"Smart lad. We all know things are easier to see when they are in motion, and if Rusty is moved, he will be more easily found."

"I hope the lab comes up with something we can use."

"I agree," Provenza nodded, "but that's not going to change the fact that Rusty's new found independence needs to be curtailed."

Sharon groaned and put her head in her hands. "He was so proud to get his drivers license, and to have the freedom to go anywhere he wanted with his friends. Now I have to take that away. He's going to be so upset."

"He'll loose more than that if Rios has her way."

"Don't even joke about that," Sharon's head flew up.

Putting his hands up to calm her, Provenza's voice became soft, "Sharon, we won't let it get to that."

She was just about to answer when the phone rang. "Yes Chief, I'll be right there."

Sharon stood and looked at Provenza. "Well, the game is afoot. DDA Rios has met with Chief Taylor, and he just asked that I join them."

"Keep focused. Remember Taylor puts his own concerns above that of anyone else," Provenza counseled while pointing at her, "remind him of his own self-interest and he will side with you. Don't play Rios' game."

"You're right," Sharon nodded, taking a deep breath.

"And while you're gone, I'll talk to the kid to make sure he understand what is happening and what we are going to do about it."

"Be gentle on him."

Provenza raised an eyebrow and nodded as he watched her leave the room. "Gentle is your job," he said softly once Sharon had left the room. "My job is telling it like it is."