by C Paradee
Tony walked into the autopsy suite and looked around. She had already gone to Megan's office, but she wasn't there. Seeing David, she walked over to him, "Hi. Know where Megan's at?" she asked. David looked at Tony and smiled, "Yes. She got summoned to our fearless leader's office. She should be back soon. She's been gone for a half hour already."
"David, has Dwayne been a problem?"
"Not that I've noticed. He mostly seems to avoid us both, which is fine with me. I really don't like the guy," David said
"I know exactly what you mean," Tony said. Seeing Megan enter the room, Tony's smile quickly disappeared when she saw the expression on her partner's face. "What's wrong?"
"I'll tell you on the way home. I need to get out of here," Megan said in a very controlled voice. "David, I'll see you tomorrow," as she turned and walked out with Tony, her tense body belying her calm voice
Tony pulled out into traffic, and then asked, the concern evident in her voice, "What's the matter?"
"He is such a jerk. I can't believe it," Megan said, trying to control her anger. "Would you believe he wants to go public with the results of the GCMS test. That'll tip our hand. We can't let that get out yet. All he's worried about is his public image. After all HIS office discovered it. Look how good that would sound in the newspapers." Megan paused, still angry. "He is such an arrogant, egotistical, condescending..."
"Bastard," Tony filled in for her when she ran out of words. "I'll talk to him. I'm quite sure I can convince him that wouldn't be a good idea," Tony reassured Megan. Inwardly, she was angry. Who did this idiot think he was anyway? He dumps the case on Megan and then when she discovers the method of death, he wants to go to the papers without regard to their case simply to bask in the glory. I'm going to enjoy explaining some things to him. "I'll talk to him tomorrow, ok?"
"He can be really stubborn. I don't know if he'll listen," Megan said looking over at Tony. Her partner smiled grimly, "Don't worry, he'll listen." After seeing the look on Tony's face, Megan believed her
They decided to stop at Bally's on the way home. "Now remember, don't overdo it," Megan cautioned. Tony rolled her eyes, "I'm fine, really."
They both moved to the stationary bikes and began to warm up. "How often have you been coming here?" Tony asked. "Used to be 3 or 4 times a week." Grinning over at her companion, she added, "I've been a little negligent lately. Can't imagine why."
Tony smirked over at her and said, "Oh, really. Guess I'll have to work on that then." As they slowly increased their speed, Tony couldn't keep her eyes off Megan. Watching the supple muscles rippling in her partner's legs and thighs and her fair face flushed with exertion, Tony slowed down, distracted
"Tony... you're staring," Megan teased, not minding the attention at all. Tony just grinned and winked at her. God, I love when she does that. She is so sexy. Pay attention Megan. You're supposed to be working out. Yeah right like I could really pay attention with her sitting over there grinning at me and those long perfect legs and...
"Uh Megan... come back," Tony smirked at her. Megan colored slightly, when she realized she was doing the same thing she teased Tony about. "Let's go do the machines. I'm warmed up enough." More than enough, actually.
They took turns on the machines, and Tony was pleased to find out that even though her back placed some limitations on her, overall her body was quite well tuned considering the events of the last week. If she pushed it, she should be back to full form very soon. Finishing the leg weight lifts, Tony said, "Want to go do a few laps before we leave?" Megan nodded
Megan set a leisurely pace enjoying the workout. After several laps, Tony picked up the pace. "This isn't too fast, is it?"
"No. But I think I've tormented my body enough. What about you?" Megan answered knowing her partner was pushing things just a little
"What ever you want to do," answered Tony, not willing to admit that she'd had enough. Megan smiled to herself. She was finding it easier to read subtle changes in her partner and knew Tony's ego would never allow her to admit what she considered a weakness, so she said, "Ok, let’s go."
"I get the shower first," Megan said when they entered the apartment. Tony watched her walk toward the bathroom. Grinning wolfishly, she thought, I think not. She quickly but quietly closed the distance between them and walked in the bathroom right behind the smaller woman. Tony placed her arms around her whispering in her ear, "Sure ya don't want some company?" and started nibbling on Megan's ear. Megan started at the sudden contact, before quickly relaxing against Tony and said, "I think I could be convinced." Tony began placing soft moist kisses along her neck, and moved her hands up under Megan's tank top, lightly caressing the soft skin. Megan felt like all her nerve endings had come alive. Still leaning against Tony, she said, "If you don't stop, we'll never get a shower." Tony smiled, moving her hands to Megan's waist, letting her gain her balance. Her mouth moved to Megan's ear, and her voice dropped seductively, "are ya convinced yet?" Megan turned around and answered her with a kiss
* * *
Dwayne knew he needed to calm down. He was finding it harder and harder to control his rage. Everything was going wrong. He had not been able to uncover even one clue as to his wife's whereabouts. And Megan, the bitch, had been riding back and forth to work with that crazy FBI agent. He had stayed away from her at work, not because he was afraid of the tall woman, but to cause any attention on him to abate. He left the house deciding to take out his frustration in other ways.
* * *
Tony walked with Megan to her office and then asked her where Dr. Whitehouse's office was. Megan directed her, knowing it was better if she did not go with her. Tony walked along the short hallway turning left at the end. Seeing the office, she walked in and told the secretary she was there to see Dr. Whitehouse.
"Do you have an appointment?"
Tony pulled out her FBI identification and said, "I really don't think I need one. This will only take a few minutes." The secretary turned away and entered Dr. Whitehouse's office
After a couple of minutes, she returned and said, "He can't see you right now. He suggested you make an appointment. He has an opening for next Friday, a week from tomorrow, at 10am."
Tony waited until the secretary sat down, then walked past her to the doctor's office. Ignoring the flustered woman who was insisting she couldn't go in there, Tony did just that. Stalking over to the desk, she stopped in front of it and growled, "I need to talk to you now," folding her arms and glaring at him
"You have no jurisdiction here and I am asking you to leave. When you have properly scheduled an appointment, I'll be happy to see you," replied Dr. Whitehouse, who was very intimidated, but being an elected official, figured he was the one in charge here
Tony thought quickly. She knew he was within his rights to ask her to leave. She also knew she had a message she had to get across. "Fine, I'll set up an appointment. But don't be surprised when you see the article in the paper tomorrow about how the most junior pathologist on your staff discovered the method the Shadow killer is using on the first victim she autopsied. Since that happened to be the third victim..." she left the sentence hanging, knowing he would understand her point
"You can't threaten me," he retorted
"I'm not. It's a matter of public record that you did the first two autopsies."
"What do you want?" he said, knowing he had underestimated this woman
"I don't want the discovery of the drug to be released yet. That will damage our case more than help it at this point."
"I've already scheduled a press conference for tomorrow."
"Well, I guess you'll just have to cancel it, or... find something else to talk about," Tony advised him
Dr. Whitehouse knew he was beaten. If he went ahead with the press conference, he had no doubt the FBI agent would release a contradictory statement, and her story would be backed up by facts. That could prove to be very embarrassing. "Ok, I see your point. I wouldn't want to do anything to hurt the case," he lied
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Tony smiled to herself, and said, "Thanks for your cooperation," before leaving the office. She stopped by to see Megan and told her there would be no press release
The day passed slowly for Megan and she waited impatiently for 5pm to arrive. She was looking forward to going home. Well, she mused, she looked forward to going home every night now. Smiling to herself, she thought about how everything was so different now. It was hard to believe that all the things she'd always heard about love and never thought she'd experience were true. Well no... not exactly. This was better than what she'd heard. She shook her head, she knew she was hopeless
Tony called over to Brian, "See ya tomorrow," and made her way around the desks toward the door to the street. It had been another day of interviewing informants. There had been no new developments and she was tired of interviewing lowlife punks. Maneuvering through the traffic toward the Coroner's office, she had one thing on her mind, Megan. She just wanted to be with her. It was comfortable. It was nice
Megan watched her tall lover walk down the hall toward her. She could watch her all day. She moved so fluidly down the hall, her walk so perfect, her muscles moving in perfect synchrony with that gorgeous body. She is gorgeous. Megan stood waiting in the doorway of her office. Tony was early. Megan said, "Hi ya," giving her a big grin and continuing, "I missed you." Walking into the office Tony hugged her, smiled and said, "Right back at ya."
"What is this?" Tony asked looking in the crock pot. "It looks interesting," she said dubiously. Megan chuckled, "Interesting? That's original."
Looking at Megan, Tony raised an eyebrow, still trying to figure out what was in the crock pot. "Well?"
"It doesn't have a name. My mother used to make it." Megan started laughing at Tony's expression and walked over patting her on the stomach, "I haven't poisoned you yet, have I?"
"No, but..."
"Tony expand your horizons a little," Megan teased. "It's sort of like a goulash."
"Must taste ok, huh?" Megan chuckled when Tony filled her plate a second time. "Yep. It's really good," she said, looking slightly embarrassed
"What time is that guy coming over?"
"He should be here at 7pm. I never knew they actually come to your house and demonstrate."
"Why not? It's money in his pocket," Tony answered. She had suggested to Megan that getting a cellular phone would probably be a good idea. Tony knew that even though she wanted to, she couldn't go everyplace with Megan, but, for now, she sure intended to try
"You know Tony, I was thinking. Did you ever see any of those movies or read any murder mysteries where they tell the reporter a lot of provocative stuff to put in the newspaper trying to lure the killer into the open? You know, stuff like being unable to interact normally with women, so he gets his kicks by killing them because it's the only way he feels he has any control over them and stuff like that."
Tony nodded her head, "Yeah. But most of the stuff that works on TV and in books, doesn't in real life. But, that may not be a bad idea. We certainly aren't making any progress on the case." Tony mused aloud, "The killer is very cool. Almost too cool. It's really kind of weird. Something should have broken by now. All we've got is a description of someone buying drugs that is so vague it'll never do us any good. Tell ya what, let me talk to Brian tomorrow. I think it might be worth a shot."
Megan sat on the couch looking at the cellular phone. It was very small and would easily fit in her purse. "Don't you think it's kind of cute?"
"It's just a phone," Tony answered, watching Megan play with it. "Here, let me have it. I'll go plug it in," she offered.
"I still think it's cute. Look how little it is," Megan said handing over the phone. Taking it, Tony shook her head wondering what could be cute about a phone, and went to plug it in
Tony sat down on the couch stretching her long legs out. Megan settled in next to her comfortably. Tony looked at her and said, "Let's go out to some place nice for dinner tomorrow night."
Megan smiled, liking the idea. "Ok. Want to go the Lighthouse? It's really nice there and the food is good."
"Sure," Tony didn't particularly care where they went as long as she was with the small woman relaxed comfortably against her. Tony kissed the top of her head, draping her arm around her shoulders.
"Could I ask you something?" Megan face had turned serious with a small crease between her eyes. She had noticed the past several days, that whenever they were not at home Tony had a completely different air about her. She seemed incredibly in tune with everything around them. Her eyes never stopped scanning any area they walked. It was a predatory alertness. It was like she was in a perpetual state of awareness
Tony took in the expression on Megan's face as she asked the question sensing this was not going to be something simple. Guardedly she answered, "Sure."
"There is just something I can't figure out about that night in the Flats," she paused, watching Tony carefully. "How did the guy ever get near enough to you to stab you?"
Tony's expression turned introspective. Her mind journeyed back to that moment in time, and she remembered exactly why she had been taken off guard. Caught up in the maelstrom of emotions she felt that night, Tony captured Megan's eyes with a penetrating gaze. Her contralto voice began relating the memory, "You see, there was this beautiful intelligent woman, wearing a teal colored dress, with absolutely mesmerizing eyes, a body to die for and a smile that lit up her whole face that I just couldn't get out of my mind." Tony watched Megan's eyes widen in surprise, and then said, "I love you," leaning down and gently capturing Megan's lips with her own. Words couldn't have explained Megan's feelings just then, but her response to the gentle kiss did.
PART 4
"HEY," TONY RESPONDED to Brian's greeting the next morning. Grabbing a cup of coffee from the never ending pot in the squad room, she walked over to his desk and sat down. Brian looked at her expectantly. He knew she had to want something to come and plant herself at his desk. "Well?"
Grinning companionably, she said, "Megan came up with an interesting idea. She suggested using the newspaper as a medium to lure out the killer. What do you think?"
"I don't know. Might work, ya never know. But I wouldn't hold my breath," Brian said, picking up his coffee and taking a sip. "I think I saw Mark in the Lieutenant's office. He's been covering the story. He'd probably be the best one to talk to."
"You want to do the release?"
"Oh no. The brass would never approve it. They're much too conservative." Besides, the FBI is better at this type of thing. You don't have to worry about local reaction."
Tony smiled at him, "Laying it on me, huh?"
"Well, as much as I hate to admit it, the public is much more in awe of the FBI than the police."
"Ok. But I'm going to play the reporter too. I think his story will be much more believable if he doesn't know it's a ruse. You ok with that?"
Brian shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah. It's your call."
"Good. I'll clear it with Mike." Standing, she turned and made her way to the task force room. Picking up the phone and dialing, she waited for an answer. "Braxton," was the response. Tony was surprised the Director had answered and not his secretary. "Hi, Mike. It's Tony. I want to make a bogus press release today ridiculing the Shadow killer. An attempt to draw him out a little," Tony said relating the idea to him
"Isn't that a little risky?" Mike asked, "he could go off the deep end."
"Yep. It's a big risk. But since he hasn't left any clues and doesn't seemed inclined to stop killing innocent women, it might be worth it. No guarantees though. I know it's a long shot."
Mike thought about it. It really wasn't any skin off his back. If it backfired, the blame would fall directly on Tony. If it worked, it would make him look good. "What do the locals think?"
"They're ok with it if we take responsibility for the announcement."
"If you think the risk is worth it, go for it," he replied wanting to make absolutely sure she understood this one was on her
.
Tony smiled to herself. He was setting the stage for deniability on his part. No problem, she could deal with that. "Ok. Later," she said hanging up the phone. She went to find the reporter
"Interested in a story?" Tony asked, knowing he'd be unable to refuse
Mark's eyes brightened. "Did you get a break? The killer finally make a mistake?"
"No, nothing like that. We just want to send him a message." She led him to the conference room and motioned for him to have a seat. Tony painted a picture of an antisocial, dysfunctional sociopath who preyed on women because he couldn't face his own shortcomings and it was the only way he could exert control in his otherwise miserable little world. Tony was very careful to lend credence to the statement by pointing out correlations between some of the other known serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer, John Gacy and Ted Bundy
Mark took down all the information provided, and when she finished he asked her, "Do you really think the killer is a sociopath?"
"Of course. He is obviously a pathetic individual with absolutely no conscience," she said, wanting to make sure he was convinced. His delivery of the story would be very important. Tony knew that most sociopaths have methodical cunning minds, and are usually very intelligent. The ones that chose to kill were always difficult to apprehend
Mark stood and said, "Thanks. I really appreciate the scoop. I'll get right to work on it. I should have it ready for tomorrow's morning edition."
Finishing their case load, Megan and David adjourned to Megan's office. "So what's the big news you have to tell me?" Megan asked, smiling at her good friend
"You know we've been looking for a house," David saw Megan nod, "well we finally found one, and it's right on the Silver Coast. You should see it Megan. It's one of the older colonial style houses. It's in great condition. The roof was just done last year and the basement is completely dry. The hard wood floors were just refinished, it has a completely modernized kitchen and 3 bedrooms. I've always wanted an extra room for an office and Mike needs a place to work on his blue prints. We both love it. The loan is already approved, but I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure. We just have to wait for the closing," David finished beaming with pride