Chapter 39

"Is that everything?" Joe asked Charlie as he approached his lead detective's desk the next day. There were file boxes stacked on a cart in front of Charlie's desk and a second cart had just been brought in from forensics.

"I certainly hope so. What are they going to do with Debra Moffat's body?" Charlie wanted to know.

"She still has family back near Toronto so we are shipping her body back to them for a burial. They have offered to take Lynn in, if that's something the doctors recommend," Joe explained.

"I can't see the Crown Attorney's office wanting Lynn to testify. Especially since the defense could claim that the prosecution is manipulating her," Charlie figured.

"That is true. I put the family in touch with Doctor Kley. They'll have to sort it all out. I'm not sure that she'll be able to be outside a facility of some sort but at least she'll have family nearby and not a three-hour flight away," his boss said.

"Agreed. Speaking of family, I'm handing you my vacation sheet. I asked for Rex to fill one out but his penmanship needs work," Charlie smirked. Rex looked up from his resting spot against the windows and gave them a look.

"We'll have to get that sorted. How is Sarah?" Joe said, concerned about his Head of Forensics.

"She's moving ahead. Honestly, we haven't had a ton of time together because of this case and her folks… I wanted to pick her brain last night but I didn't want to press after we talked about getting the charges dropped against Danny," the detective admitted.

"You'll have time to press with this. You only want two weeks?" His boss looked at the sheet.

"Joe, we're already shorthanded and if I know Sarah, she's not going to want to be at home for that long. If something changes, I promise I'll keep you posted," Charlie told him.

"Well, I have a mind to poach Inspector Siku from the RCMP on a more permanent basis. We could use someone like her here," Joe said.

"I wish you luck with that. She would be an asset," Charlie smiled.

"Speaking of which, where are Anna, Mika, and Jesse?" It was as if he'd just noticed how empty Major Crimes was.

"Mika is back at her desk in Special Victims filling out her paperwork. Jesse and Anna went looking for a computer she could use. He said that he needed to give her temporary access since she doesn't have a login and she's acting as a consulting detective for the SJPD. I expect them back very shortly," Charlie filled him in.

"Oh good. I'll get your vacation paperwork filed," Joe nodded and headed back into his office. Rex left his station and came up to Charlie.

"What's up buddy?" The detective gave him a look. Rex gave him a look – one reminiscent of the one he'd given him out at the park bench.

"Not now. She needs to be able to go and enjoy it. Not be worried about moving around too much. Trust me, the minute I think she's ready, we're going," Charlie promised him. Rex narrowed his eyes a bit but then put his paws up on the desk.

"All right, a treat for your continued silence," Charlie chuckled and shook his head as he grabbed a dog treat out of the container on his desk.

To Be Continued…