Brian's morning was rather boring and dull. The Detective spent his time reading the list of names Freja had given him and going through the file of brief background checks she had printed out of each. The high-profile cases each had added notes in the margin that Freja had added for him. The list as usual was thorough.
It was unbelievable how many people the deceased judge had seen through his courtroom. The list seemed to be never-ending. Thankfully Brian's gut told him to focus on the high-profile cases, on the cases that Evans had worked with the government on. Curiously somewhere particularly familiar as many where cases Bennett had given him to consult on. A couple of them Brian had even worked himself.
Highlighting the six names that Brian remembered arresting he headed down the hall to Freja's office. He knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Stepping in, he passed her the list "can you run more complete background checks on the highlighted names?"
Freja nodded taking the file and flipping it open. "Trying to confirm a hunch?"
"No, just trying to get more of the story," Brian said with a small shrug.
Freja nodded running her index finger down the list of names "these are all your cases, weren't they?"
Brian nodded leaning a little against the chair that sat on the other side of her desk.
"You missed one then, we worked this guy's case too."
Brian frowned softly stepping closer and peering down at the list. Lucas Bassi. "Oh right, I remember him now."
Freja nodded turning to her computer, she began to work her magic. "I remember him being a creepy guy. Elise was all freaked out after his integration because he started banging on the one-way window. Mind you that was only her third week being around the interrogation process, but still."
Brian nodded slowly. Now that she had pointed the name out to him, Brian remembered nearly everything from the day he held Lucas Bassi for questioning. He remembered the man setting all sorts of alarms in his gut. The man made him feel uneasy, not something that he was used to feeling even when he sat across from some of the worst criminals. He remembered when he returned from his office with a box, ready to play a rather old interrogation trick on the man. Elise was shaken and standing as far away from the window wall as possible. Apparently, the man had banged on the glass wall screaming his head off, scaring Elise and shaking Freja up a little too.
It had taken all of his self-control not to cuff the man and throw him behind bars. Particularly when he saw just how shaken his secretary had become after the incident. But the man had an alibi. It was a loose one, but an alibi, nonetheless, add to that the fact that his DNA never matched anything at the scene and Brian had no grounds to arrest him.
"Yes. We thought he might have been behind Carolina Wolf's assault and murder, but we never found any evidence to connect him to it. But I kept hoping to find something we could have thrown him away for. I kept thinking if we left him on the street, he would see to someone else's murder. Is Bassi still around?"
Freja typed a few keys on her keyboard and scrolled through the page she had brought up. "I think so, he still had his address set in the city. Down in that older neighbourhood."
Brian ran his hand through his hair, leaning down a little to look at her computer screen. "Why was he on Evans's radar?"
Freja scanned the report again, after hitting another button. "Blackmail and arson."
"What did he get?"
"Four years. But he only served one and is out on parole for one year."
"When was this?"
"Three years ago, before he was on our radar at least."
"Can you add that to the new file? Just make it up of the highlighted names, if you can summarize them that would be awesome."
"Consider it done."
"Thanks."
Brian stepped out of the office and stepped into the one next to it. "Hey."
Blake glanced up from what looked like paperwork.
"Holy, someone get a camera out, Blake is doing paperwork."
"Very funny. I could have just placed it on your desk," Blake said. "But I figured I would lighten your load by a few pages."
"How gracious of you," Brian said. "Come on, let's go pay a suspect a visit."
"We have a suspect? Already? That's a new record I think Brian."
"Well, he isn't a suspect in the traditional sense. Remember Lucas Bassi?"
Blake paused a moment before he slowly nodded "yeah, I never forget the people I have to stop you from beating to a pulp."
Brian frowned a little shaking his head. "He was in Evans's courtroom only a few years ago."
"So, you think it could be him?"
"Not really, but I think it is a good opportunity to remind him that we are still keeping tabs on him."
Blake nodded slowly getting to his feet "you really want to see to that man's arrest."
"My gut said he was not a good man, and you should know by now —"
"Oh, trust me I do. Your gut must always be taken seriously."
"Good, so let's go. We can grab lunch on the way back."
"Oh, excellent. That new Greek place?"
"Sure."
It wasn't long before Brian pulled up at the address Freja had written down for him. He parked the car at the end of the walkway, stepping out. Freja was not exaggerating when she referred to this as the 'old neighbourhood,' if anything, that was an understatement.
Most of the houses looked like they had been up since the Great Depression. Many of the lawns were dying and weed infested, somewhere vastly overgrown. One had a roof that looked to be falling forward off the house. Another had the front window taped over and boarded up.
"Watch your step, this pavement looks like it is about to crumble under our feet," Blake said as he began the walk up to the front door.
Brian nodded in agreement.
"This porch looks like a safety hazard," Blake muttered. The porch looked like it was falling completely off the house, the wood was rotten, and the railing had decayed so it was almost nonexistent. Blake carefully maneuvered up the steps knocking on the door.
"Mr. Bassi? Police department." Blake called before he stepped back down off the porch. Placing himself a little in front of Brian, his hand resting on his pistol.
This was Blake to a tee; he was very dedicated to his position. As he was technically not a Detective, Blake's job in the most basic sense, was to make sure he stood between Brian and any potential lines of fire. Until he knew that Bassi was unarmed and not a threat, he would remain ready for anything. Once the situation was deemed to be under control he would step back and keep a watch on Brian's back as he did the questioning. Blake was one of a handful of people who Brian trusted completely with his life.
Brian looked around the yard, and at the outside of the house as they waited for Bassi. This was one of the worst houses on the street. The lawn was dying, and the flower boxes where vastly overgrown with weeds. The siding was falling off in huge strips and the shingles where curled. Weeds were growing between them.
It was a few seconds when Bassi opened the door.
"Are you unarmed Mr. Bassi?" Blake asked in his cold, commanding tone.
Bassi looked at him, a careless smile flashing over his amused face. "I have been in enough confrontations with the police to know coming to the door with a pistol down the back of my pants is the wrong approach. Besides owning weapons would be against my parole."
Blake nodded slowly "step outside, sit on the step."
Bassi did as he was ordered "can I grab my box of cigarettes? They and my lighter are in my front left pocket."
Blake nodded slowly "sure."
Bassi nodded doing as he had said. He grabbed a cigarette and lit it. Taking a long slow drag. "So, Brian, what can I do for you?"
Brian frowned softly as Blake took a step back, remaining at his shoulder.
"Show some respect, he is 'Detective Harper', to you," Blake muttered coldly.
Bassi glanced at Blake with a small unamused smile "does it make you feel like a big man, having your lips sewn onto his ass?"
"That is enough," Brian ordered sternly, his lips nearly curling out of dislike for the man.
Blake and Bassi held each other's gaze a moment before Bassi turned to Brian.
"So, what can I do for you, Detective?" Bassi asked with a small glance back to Blake.
"I have a couple of questions about your prison stay, three years ago," Brian said, pushing his hands into his pockets. Leaning back into his stance, in a comfortable and confident position.
Bassi glanced up at him again, taking another drag on his cigarette. "Oh?."
"You were in Judge Andrew Evans' courtroom, is that correct?"
Bassi nodded. "I was. I suppose that is why you are here?"
Brian looked at him, his eyebrow arching a little in surprise. "You heard of his death?"
"Saw it in the paper the other day," Bassi said almost too casually.
There was that alarm again, the one that sounded when something was off. When something was not right, deep in his gut.
"Before you get to it, Detective, no I did not kill him."
Brian rubbed his chin with his hand "I imagine you have an alibi."
"Oh, of course," Bassi said his tone nearly mocking. "I was with one of my girls, we were together all night. I had a particularly annoying itch that just needed scratching. Got a pad of paper?"
Brian nodded slowly, pulling a small black book out of his inside pocket and a small pen he passed it to him.
Bassi scribbled into the book before he passed it back to Brian. Leah Murry, 202-755-8998.
"Is that all, Detective Harper."
Brian hesitated a moment. He hated letting the man go again, but that was all he could do. He had no grounds for a warrant, and in his hand, he held an alibi that Bassi was sure to have. Today he would not be getting revenge on the man for scaring his secretary.
Was that genuinely why he kept tabs on this man? Because he sought payback for Elise? Why? He didn't owe Elise that. She was his secretary.
Brian reluctantly nodded after a moment. "Yes, thank you for your co-operation."
"No, thank you, Detective. You know I really like these regular chats. Officer," Bassi said with a small curt nod to Blake. Stepping back into his house.
"He is something," Blake said glancing at Brian. "I can see why you want to lock him up. Arrogant SOB."
Brian nodded, tearing the paper out of his book, and he passed it to Blake. "Give her a call, but it's not him."
Blake nodded.
"So Greek?" Brian checked as he opened up the driver's door of his Mustang.
Blake nodded.
Brian leaned back in the driver's seat, tapping his thumb a little against the steering wheel as he drove. "So I think I am going to get a puppy."
Blake glanced at him raising a brow. "Oh, what sparked this decision?"
"I just realized that I can't spend any more time at the bar."
"Picked up another bimbo, did you?"
"Saw her photo on Facebook?"
Blake nodded. "God she was gorgeous."
"Yes, she was. Very pretty, but definitely not wife material."
"How do you know that? You know maybe in this regard your gut isn't the most trustworthy."
Brian looked across the car at him as they waited at a red light. "Maybe. But I just don't think I want someone who is willing to have sex with me on our first night out together."
"Now you are getting rather picky, Brian," Blake said. "Look you are a good guy. Eventually, you will find a woman that is willing to dig her heels in and push through all of the barriers that you have put up around yourself. One day soon you will be married, changing diapers, getting roped into Zumba classes and chasing toddlers around the house."
Brian raised a brow "Zumba classes?"
"Rachel loves them," Blake said with a small shrug. "Trust me I am desperately waiting for you to get a wife, then she will have someone else she can rope into doing those girly things with."
Brian laughed softly, pulling up at the restaurant. "I might have to attend one of these classes, I can't imagine you dancing."
"Oh, just for that, you are buying," Blake muttered.
Blake had married Rachel Barton 12 years ago. The two had met when Blake responded to a possible shooting threat at George Town University, Rachel was a Master's student at the time, and Blake at the time had been a young officer, just getting set free of the rookie training wheels. Their relationship was all thanks to simple dumb luck and Rachel's commanding confidence. Or at least that was the way Blake told the story.
Rachel McNeill was amazing. She was strong and commanding, but lovable. She was now a psychology Professor at GTU. In Brian's opinion, the couple was made for each other. There were perfectly different and similar. In many ways it was a surprise that they worked so well together, both held dominant personalities, but somehow that blended to make them a legit power couple.
The two had three children; Andrew, Ricky and Gail where 7, 5, and 10 months. They were all well-behaved and good kids. Hardly ever getting into trouble. From the sounds of it Blake and Rachel where currently discussing having another baby.
Sitting down at their table, Brian ordered a coke and began to look through the menu. A couple of moments of silence passed over them.
"So, what is the story between you and Chris? Why does he hate you so much?" Blake asked. Placing his menu down. He must have selected what he wanted.
Brian finished deciding on his own meal before he closed up his menu. "I'd rather not discuss it," he said.
Blake raised a brow but didn't push the question.
"I think in different circumstances Chris, and I would be pretty good friends. Mmh...okay maybe not."
Blake raised his brow again curiously. "What does that mean?"
"This stays between you and me?" Brian checked.
Blake nodded.
"Chris...has spent his career working with the best cops on the force. He is a massive manipulator and when the real stuff went down, he just manipulated the picture and the story to make everyone believe that it was him who did the dirty work. It was how he managed his career. He is good at politics, good at kissing ass, but his investigation abilities and his skills in the field are...questionable. I just don't know how Bennett doesn't see it."
Blake frowned softly leaning forward on the table "is he dangerous?"
"How so?"
"Well, if he and I are securing a house together should I trust that he has my back?"
Brian nodded slowly "he is a good officer, don't get me wrong. He has his qualifications, and he came up under some good officers, so yes. But I wouldn't trust him to lead a Major Crimes unit on his own."
"So, what will happen to Myers's old team?"
Brian shrugged "for now? They will stay working with Moore, he gets enough cases, and he can use the extra manpower. Who knows maybe I will hire another Detective, there is no way I am giving Chris his own team."
"So what did Chris do to get on a first-name basis with Bennett? The only person I know allowed to call him 'Henry' is his wife."
Brian laughed a little. "The list is very small. But I can't tell you what Chris did to make it onto it. If I find out, I will let you know."
Blake nodded. "So do you really think Bennett is trying to stick his nose into the operations of the company or is that just Chris trying to get under your skin?"
"If it is Chris trying to get under my skin, he is not doing very well. The thing is Bennett loves to have control. He hates feeling like something is going on and that he can't control it."
"That sounds like a fancy way of saying that you do think Bennett is trying to control things at the office."
Brian looked at Blake with a small shake of his head "he can only control so much at that company. If anything, I think he is just ensuring that one way or the other he has eyes and ears inside. Which is fine if we aren't planning on breaking any rules."
"And we don't mind having our every move watched by the DA."
"If it makes you feel better, his main focus will be me."
Blake nodded slowly.
It was rare when Brian spent lunch eating alone. He preferred having someone to talk to. Having someone to talk with about work and daily happenings was far better than people-watching.
Once back at the office, Blake made a phone call to Leah Murry. It was less than an hour later when she showed up. Stepping out of the elevator.
Brian straightened up, he had been chatting with Elise, leaning a little against her desk as he waited. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting, but he did know it was not the woman that stood in front of him. She looked normal. He was certain any woman that would pay Lucas Bassi any sort of attention would make him uneasy. Maybe have a visible drug or alcohol addiction. Maybe have a mental disorder.
That was not this woman. She was dressed in a pair of dark, high-waisted jeans. With a light gray blouse. She wore a black blazer with the front button undone, she wore black high-heeled ankle boots. Her brown hair was held up in a high bun on the top of her head.
"Miss Murry," Brian greeted stepping over to her, and offering his hand for her to shake.
Murry took it shaking his hand. "What can I do for you, Detective."
"Would you be comfortable if we stepped into my office?"
"No, thank you. I am in a hurry, Detective. I have to get back to work, so I want to keep this short."
Brian nodded slowly in understanding. "Alright. What is it that you do?"
"I am a children's psychiatrist. I work for a couple of public schools in the city."
Brian looked at her unable to contain his expression of surprise. Yeah, this was definitely not what he had imagined. "Do you enjoy it?"
"That isn't important, is it?" Murray asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Brian raised a brow. "Have I done something to offend you?"
"Not you in particular. I don't have much of a liking for police officers. No offence, but cops put a bad taste in my mouth. I think you are too focused on putting a person behind bars to stop and think if it is the right person. Not to mention police brutality. I also want this to be quick."
Brian nodded slowly in understanding. "I can assure you that my team has zero tolerance for brutality, and we are very dedicated to making sure we put the right man away. Incredibly careful when it comes to arrests. Now in the spirit of making this quick, do you know where Mr. Bassi was three nights ago?"
Murry nodded "we went out to dinner, then we went back to my place."
"And he was with you the entire night?"
"Yes, I am sure of it. We didn't go to sleep until rather late, maybe 3 or 4 in the morning."
Brian nodded slowly, running his hand through his hair. "Alright, thank you for taking the time. That will be all for the moment. I will call if I have some follow-up questions and if you think of anything else, please call me."
Murry nodded and shook his hand again. Then turned and headed back to the elevator.
Brian gazed after her a moment with a small frown.
"So, did Bassi, do it?"
Brian turned around. Chris was standing behind him, his arms crossed behind his back.
"No, he did not," Brian said positive of that. "Bassi doesn't have the know-how to do this. Nor the motivation. The average person that Evans sentenced doesn't have enough motive to kill him. I almost guarantee it will be one of his high-profile cases. But every chance I get, I like to remind Bassi that we are watching him."
"Don't like him?" Chris asked curiously, raising a brow.
"No. He is not a good man. He is up to something, what I don't know."
Chris frowned a little nodding.
Brian glanced at Elise leaning a little against her desk. "Elise, before I forget; I will be working from home quite a bit next week. My brother is in town."
"That is exciting," Elise said with a bright smile. She glanced down at her desk calendar. "I will put it in the calendar."
"Thank you," Brian said.
"You are taking time off during the early days of a high-level case?" Chris asked. His voice nearly scolding.
"Watch your tone," Brian said sternly. "I am technically your boss here, Chris. Now not that it is any of your business how I spend my time, but I am not taking days off, I am simply going to be working from home. When we need to have a meeting, or if I need to interrogate someone or something I will be here. My brother just got a big promotion and is coming in to celebrate."
"Dr. Harper got the head of the department?" Elise said from her desk.
Brian glanced at her with a small smile nodding. "Yes."
"Will you tell, him I said congratulations? That is fantastic."
"Sure will," Brian promised.
Brian wasn't sure where Elise got all the information about his family. She had never met any of them. Sure Brian talked about them on occasion, but how she knew the names of Ian's children and their rough ages, Brian didn't know. It was like she kept flashcards on his life in case she needed conversation material.
Not that it was a bad idea. Brian always loved having a conversation about his family. Family was the most important thing to the Detective.
Turning his gaze to Chris, he frowned softly. Then he turned back to Elise "I am going to head out, is there anything you need before I go home."
"No, have a good night, sir," Elise said.
Brian looked at her with a small smile before he headed to his office. Just as he was closing his door he paused a moment.
"Miss. Dixion, can I call you Elise?" Chris asked politely from the hall.
"Sure, sir."
"I wanted to apologize for the things I said in the meeting yesterday. My intentions were not to hurt you. I wanted to get under Brian's skin."
"No hard feelings, sir," Elise said.
"Good."
With a little bit of a harder push, he shut the door, however, even with it closed he could hear the occasional words or laughter from the hallway.
For some reason knowing the two were talking about things other than work made him angry, and hearing just how much Chris seemed to be charming Elise rubbed him the wrong way.
Brian shook his head a little. Are you jealous? She is your secretary. It's none of your business if she is dating. Geeze Brian, don't be the possessive type; it is not a turn-on.
. . . .
Brian stepped into his apartment about forty minutes later to find Katie restocking his fridge.
"Detective Harper, how was work today, sir?"
"It was good," he sat down at the bar stool.
"I have just finished restocking the fridge of your requested non-alcoholic beverages. I have also restocked the junk food and I picked up and wrapped the gifts for your nephews and niece."
"Excellent. Did Matthew pick up my dry cleaning?"
"He did, sir. I have already hung them up in your closet. I also tidied up the guest bedroom and did the usual cleaning. Did you need anything else tonight, sir?"
"Make me a scotch, a double, then you can head home."
"Yes, sir."