A/N: You can read ahead at my Patreon, along with other stories I wrote but never published before. Episode 38 Recalibration is up! Thank you for reading!
Episode 37
Jack Routh
The pool area behind the hotel had been cleared hours ago as the organizers rushed to calm the panicked girls. Task force members dressed as maintenance workers sealed off the site that night as an emergency meeting took place inside one of the rooms.
He didn't join the meeting, preferring to take a closer look at the collapsed metal tower that was supposed to hold the lighting, cameras, and sound systems for the pageant.
"Someone took off the bolts." One of the experts brought in frowned beside him.
"How did it remain standing before it fell?" He asked.
"Whoever did this knew what they were doing." The structural engineer replied and pointed to a few bent metal poles. "See those pipes? They've been sawed off partially, drastically reducing their strength. Just kick this one truss off and the whole thing collapses."
"We didn't get anything substantial." One of the FBI agents added.
"No cameras on who did it?" He turned to look at the other members of the task force sorting through the wreckage, looking for clues.
"The tower was meant to hold the cameras for the overhead shot." The agent added. "Besides, everyone was focused on the swimsuit event."
"No shit." The engineer replied. "Everyone would be looking at those girls if they're wearing skimpy bikinis."
It looked like it was a dead end here. He stood up and dusted the dirt and sand that got on his pants. He was about to leave when a glint of something shiny caught his eye, and he focused his flashlight so that he could see what it was.
He knelt on the grass and moved his flashlight closer to the shiny object.
"What is it?" One of the agents asked him.
"I'm not sure." He replied. Whatever it is, it was partially buried in the ground and covered by blades of grass. It was a wonder he was able to spot it. "Take a few photos of it first, and then let's get it off the dirt."
"On it." The FBI agent quickly stood up and called for assistance.
It was a gold tooth cap.
It was getting late, but he still waited for the analysis from the FBI's field office, and the results confused him even more. They were able to retrieve trace amounts of DNA from the object. No records matched, but they were able to confirm that it came from a male. It might not feel like it was related to the incident earlier, but so far, this was his only clue.
He headed to the lobby, eager to get home and get some rest, but was surprised to see Angela eating a sandwich with Nyla Harper at one of the tables.
"What are you two doing here?" He asked.
"Look who it is." Angela gave him a warm greeting while Nyla just waved since her mouth was busy chewing.
"Mister big shot judge himself." Nyla added after she swallowed.
"I'm just a preliminary judge." He replied.
"Still a judge." Angela winked. "What county caught your attention?"
"The Butte girl has a nice figure." Nyla shared. "She rocked that bikini."
"I like the one from Glenn." His former T.O. replied. "Why don't you take a seat Jack, and get something to eat yourself. You look like you need it."
He was hungry, and with a quick glance at the menu on the table, decided on a simple roast beef sandwich with fries on the side, and quickly got the attention of a nearby waiter and gave his order.
"We're just here taking a break after investigating a news paparazzi." Angle revealed in a lower tone of voice. "That man gives me the creeps."
"What did he do?"
"We suspect him of tampering with crime scenes and then he sells them to the late-night news channels." Nyla looked disgusted. "Angela doesn't have any firm evidence to charge him yet, hence the surveillance operation."
"And he's here covering the pageant?" He asked, staring at the faces of the two detectives.
"I know, and it's out of character for him. He usually covers more violent crime scenes." Angela revealed. "The more bloody and disturbing, the better it is for him."
"There nearly was one here hours ago." Nyla mused. "Was that really an accident?"
He stilled, realizing there could be a connection between Angela's target and the domestic terrorist they were hunting.
"Do you have pictures of this person?" He asked.
"Sure." Angle handed him her phone, and he took a look at the picture of the man. He was looking at whoever took the picture, a friendly smile on his face. He had long, greasy hair combed back, deep sunken eyes, and a thin face.
He immediately picked up details and noticed the man's smile didn't reach his eyes. It was a strange look, and he had never seen anyone capable of smiling like that before. The facial muscles weren't quite right, no crinkled corners in the eyes, the eyebrows were the same, and it was like only his mouth and cheeks were moving while he was smiling.
He narrowed his eyes when he noticed the glint of gold clearly visible in his upper teeth. He had a possible suspect.
He ignored the waiter when he arrived with his food and took out his phone to call Garza immediately.
"Jack, what's wrong?" Angela looked worried.
"I'll tell you later." It took five rings until his call was finally picked up. Garza sounded like he just woke up.
"What is it Routh?"
"I need to bring in two officers into the task force." He replied. With strict operational security procedures in the FBI-led operation, he couldn't just share what he was working on, even though he was close to Angela.
"You trust them?" Garza asked.
"They're detectives assigned to Mid-Wilshire. What they're investigating might be related to what we're doing."
"Fine. Your call. Bring them up to speed."
"Thanks." He ended the call and stared at the two women, their faces full of curiosity and intrigue. He took out two twenties from his wallet and placed them under the plate, and grabbed his sandwich.
"Come on, I'm going to take you to a place that's more secure." The FBI had booked several rooms in the hotel where the pageant was taking place, and they were even generous enough to provide him with a room of his own.
Angela and Harper were silent as they followed them up the elevator, and a few minutes later, they were in his barely used hotel room.
"Nice." Nyla commented as she took in the view from the window.
"Spill." Angela looked eager. "It looks like we stumbled into something big."
"There's a domestic terrorist who calls himself the gentleman. He already made an attempt on one of the candidates with an IED, and he wants to stop the pageant using any means." He revealed. Angela and Nyla suddenly looked concerned and shared a look. "That utility tower that collapsed a few hours ago? That was deliberate."
"You mean the guy I'm investigating…" Angela looked thoughtful.
"…Is the only suspect we have so far." He finished for her and showed a photo of the gold cap from his phone. "I found this while we're sorting through the debris, and when I saw Bloom's picture."
"It's possible." Harper nodded in agreement. "You said something about a Task Force earlier. Who are we working with?"
"The FBI is taking the lead, supported by DHS and the LAPD." He answered. "I'm working as a consultant for the Bureau, and they brought me in because of the Gentleman's letter since it contained an older variation of the English Language."
"So what do you want us to do?" Angela asked. "Do you need help here?"
He shook his head. "There are more agents here from both agencies working on surveillance. If you can, try to investigate more about this Lou Bloom and his past. You might find something that can connect him to all of this."
"Meanwhile, I'll keep my eyes open here and work with the feds." He added.
"Got it." Angela stood up from the chair she was sitting on and stretched. "We'll keep you updated, and thanks for bringing us in."
"We appreciate it." Harper smiled. "Haven't worked on a multi-agency task force for nearly a year now. At least this is different."
Miranda Priestly
She rarely drank alcohol, but for tonight she had already drunk a glass and was about to finish the second. She nearly died and quickly realized that if Jack was even a second too late in getting to her, her girls would lose their mother.
She quickly dismissed her two assistants after the incident and locked herself up in her suite once she got inside. She didn't waste any time and immediately called on her babies, not caring for the time difference. She just needed to see them, see their smiles and hear their voices.
Caroline grumbled after being forced away from her favorite show, but sweet Cassidy was eager to demonstrate what she learned from her piano lessons. Half an hour later, and once the call ended, she opened the complimentary champagne the hotel staff had left for her suite and started drinking.
Her recent brush with death gave her a wake-up call, and it changed the approach and angle she was planning she had planned in her head regarding her target, Jack Routh. She initially wanted to focus on his lineage, but after spending time with him, she realized she wanted to focus on the man himself.
He was a cop from the city, yet the FBI asked for his help, and based on the whispers she was hearing, he had already helped the Bureau in catching a serial killer. She knew he was a decorated police officer, and she wanted to focus more on that. He had saved her life, and she wanted to know what made Routh wake up every day and knowingly put himself in harm's way. She wanted to know his motivations, his goals, and his inspirations. What made him choose this career? With his looks, various talents, and academic background, he could have picked a safer career path that paid more than a cop's salary.
She sent a message to the other Emily and tapped her fingers, waiting for her assistant to arrive. God, they were so slow.
A few minutes later, her door opened and she pinned her gaze on Emily. Her assistant was wearing a robe, and it looked like she had just showered with how wet her hair was.
"You called for me, Miranda?" The young brunette asked.
"I need you to do extensive research on Officer Routh's career as a police officer. His record, the charity organization he started, everything." She replied. "You like this type of work, correct?"
"Yes! My article on the labor union strike required…"
"Get to it then." She cut her off. "That's all."
Andrea Sachs took two steps back and silently left her room.
Angela Page
She left the gaggle of girls behind before breakfast even finished and headed down a hallway to one of the business centers. A couple of men in business looked up when she entered the room, but they ignored her and went back to working on their paperwork as she moved past them and opened a door on the other side.
The briefing was well underway, with Garza giving instructions since he wanted to assign more surveillance units around the hotel complex. A few agents gave her a friendly greeting as she made her way past them and sat on one of the couches, and took off her stupid sash. Miranda Priestly had already scolded her for allowing it to get wrinkled on her first day, and she didn't want a repeat. Speaking of the devil… she was surprised that the woman was present for the morning briefing.
Normally, the woman would appear just before lunch during her training period to become a believable pageant contestant. This time, Miranda Priestly sat in the front row, just in front of the task force commander, giving off an aura that screamed bitch.
She looked around, wondering why the man she wanted to see the most wasn't present. She heard his name so many times from her fellow contestants ever since it was officially announced that he would be a judge for the preliminary rounds.
Having Routh and the other judges join the contestants for breakfast just before the swimsuit and talent competition was incredibly funny. Nearly everyone watched the judges' table, specifically him, but no one dared to approach him so far. If they only knew what she knew, having spent some time with the famous cop, thanks to her previous assignment on doing security background checks on Howard's close friends.
His presence and friendship with the scientists assured her that Wolowitz wasn't some foreign agent and that he could be trustworthy. After her report, some defense contractors approached Wolowitz, eager to collaborate and develop new technologies for the military.
Howard and his friends were at first unsure of lending their expertise to develop weapons, but they didn't have any problems trying to create a prototype exosuit. She knew they had a good chance to create a viable prototype, seeing Howard's engineering talents firsthand.
"Sorry for coming late."
Routh arrived with a stack of folders tucked underneath his arm. "We identified a possible suspect who can be the gentleman."
Backs straightened, heads turned, and immediately the boring atmosphere of the morning briefing turned tense. Every eye watched as Jack handed a data stick to the tech that had his laptop hooked up to the overhead projector and then handed the stack of folders he had with him to Garza.
"Is this related to that call you made last night?" Their task force commander asked.
"Yes." Jack nodded. "With the help of a few detectives, we made a connection from our suspect to one of the contestants and a possible motive."
"Let's hear it then." Garza replied and stepped off the podium, and gave Routh the floor.
The overhead lights near the white screen shut off, and Jack gave a nod to the tech person seated at the side. An image appeared, showing a picture of a man smiling. She couldn't tell his age accurately, given how thin and gaunt his face was. His hair was black, with deep-set eyes that were looking right at the camera, at her. That smile wasn't right.
"This is Louis Bloom, age 33, from Figueroa Terrace at the Echo Park neighborhood. He owns Video Production News, and they mostly get footage of crime scenes and then send them to news networks." Jack revealed. "He's suspected of tampering with evidence at crime scenes, and that's why Detective Lopez from Mid-Wilshire was investigating him."
"How is he related to the gentleman?" One of the agents asked.
"Last night, we found a gold tooth cap near the base of the collapsed tower." A picture of a gold tooth cap appeared on the screen with a white background and a ruler beside it to show how big it was.
"Structural analysis from our expert stated that it had been compromised, with bolts removed and struts sawed off. We found this gold tooth right there." The image flickered, showing images of the tampered steel tube struts.
"Anyone else could have owned that." Garza pointed out.
"True." Jack nodded in his direction. "But, early morning, I had Detective Lopez follow Bloom discreetly as he submitted his own footage of the tower collapse to KWLA."
Another picture of Louis Bloom appeared, this time without a gold tooth cap in his teeth as he spoke to what appeared to be a staff member at the news station.
"Bloom was close to the previous morning news director, Nina Romina." Jack continued speaking, and she noticed he was looking in her direction. That surname sounded familiar. Wait.
"Are they dating?" An agent asked.
"We're not sure about that yet, and the detectives are investigating the matter. She passed away two months ago from a drug overdose, but she had a daughter, who is also a participant in Miss California."
"She's my roommate." She replied. "Rachel Romina, from Orange County."
"Then that's your focus now, Agent Page." Garza looked at her briefly and turned back to look at Routh. "Do you have any profile about this suspect?"
"He's a chameleon." Jack looked like he was deep in thought. "There are suspicions about evidence tampering and how his first employee died after trying to take footage of a suspect running away from the police. He still got away without any charges."
"He filmed his own employee getting killed and sold the footage for profit within the hour." Jack looked around, meeting everyone's eyes. "This is not an ordinary criminal. Before he started his business, he had a record for burglary, arson, and assault. To be able to start a profitable business using the death and suffering of others means he's resourceful and intelligent."
"What about that letter?" Garza asked. "It doesn't seem like that's his style."
"Like I said before in my analysis, whoever wrote it didn't seem like a genuine scholar, just someone who used a translation tool." Routh replied. "It's possible Bloom manufactured this identity to get more news for his business. I'm not yet sure about his motivations aside from money. It's possible he knows Romina's daughter, and he doesn't want her to participate in the pageant."
"I'll try to befriend her and get her to talk, see if she knows Bloom." She replied.
"In the meantime, we'll increase our surveillance the moment Bloom appears in the hotel." Garza ordered. "I want multiple eyes on him, parabolic microphones, the works. Routh, I want a more detailed profile for this guy. Work with my analysts and see if you can form a more comprehensive character profile for our new suspect. Dismissed."
Everyone stood up, some approaching Jack to ask for clarification about his presentation. She finally understood why the bureau wanted him so badly.
Angela Lopez
"You've been very helpful." She gave a nod of acknowledgement to the KWLA employee, the former News Producer, when Nina Romina was still alive. She had learned a lot from Frank Kruse and the poor ethics displayed by both Romina and Bloom. Still, what she had learned was merely speculation, and she needed more to pin the bastard down.
She got back into her car and headed back to the station. She was doing 40 when she received a call from Nyla and quickly picked up the call and put it on speaker.
"Did you get anything useful?" Harper's voice came out from her phone.
"Plenty." She replied in a grim tone. "The more I learn about this guy, the more I'm convinced he's the suspect. The man has no morals, just as Jack suspected."
"Hang on." She frowned. The car felt weird and hard to steer. "I need to have my vehicle checked. I think the brake pads are worn out."
"Doesn't motor pool service them every year?" Harper asked. "Where are you by the way?"
"I'm at Olympic and tenth." She widened her eyes in fear when she suddenly felt how loose the brake pedal was beneath her foot, and she was approaching a red light. "Shit!"
"Angela?"
"My brakes are gone!" She yelled. She wrenched the steering wheel to the left, narrowly avoiding the stationary van waiting at the red light and right into the active intersection. She ignored the horns from vehicles and narrowly collided with a fast-moving truck.
She breathed a sigh of relief as her car was able to pass through the traffic. She was still moving at around 30 despite taking her foot off the accelerator and activating the handbrake to no avail. She was still moving too fast.
She looked around, hoping to find a suitable structure to crash at, when a blue sedan overtook her and suddenly slowed down. She had no control and bumped the car in front of her, jerking her head forward. She could hear the car in front of her braking and realized it was trying to help her slow down.
She pulled on the handbrake once more, hoping it could at least help in slowing down, and shifted to Neutral. She looked at the speedometer and sighed in relief when she saw she was slowing down. Their two cars stopped just before another intersection, and she immediately turned off the engine and slumped back on her seat. That was fucking close.
It took her a moment to realize that the car that helped her slow down was none other than Nyla's personal vehicle. She gave a smile of relief when she saw the other woman step out of her car and approach her.
"You okay?" Nyla asked and, after checking to see if she had any injuries, engulfed her in a quick hug.
"Thanks." She replied, returning the hug with one of her own. That was so close. "You saved my ass."
"I told you I got your back," Nyla replied. Her fellow officer immediately used her radio and asked for emergency assistance. She endured angry beeps from passing vehicles since they were now blocking one lane of the street, but she simply flashed her badge to the annoyed motorists. That shut them up quickly.
Harper's timing couldn't be better. The next intersection was a busy one, and she was sure she would crash there and suffer injuries or even worse.
"Brake failure shouldn't be like that." Harper pointed to the trail of fluids from her car. "Someone's tampered with your vehicle."
Son of a bitch! She narrowed her eyes as she finally stepped out of her car and followed the direction Nyla was pointing at. She got to her knees and looked under the car and saw fluids dripping down from the chassis.
"I think I have an idea of who was responsible for this." She seethed in anger. Lou Bloom would pay.
Angela Page
It felt like she was back in high school, with all the fake smiles and compliments from some of the other contestants. She knew what was up, it was every girl for herself in this pageant, and she had a harder time conducting her investigation due to how suspicious everyone was.
Even she received malicious comments, from backhanded compliments like how brave she was attending the pageant despite her age, since she was one of the oldest at twenty-eight. She saw some of the girls purposely sabotage some of the other girls by hiding their make-up kits and luggage. It was a nasty environment.
It was purely a stroke of luck that she was roomed with Rachel Romina. The curvy blonde was one of the nicer contestants, and she felt bad for the younger girl for the teasing she endured after her disastrous showing at the talent competition.
"Don't mind them." she told the girl who was sulking on her own bed. They had a light schedule today. The organizers scheduled several SPA services for them, and she even heard that special sauna rooms were constructed near the pool area just for the competition. They had even brought out sporting equipment, thanks to a sporting goods sponsor, for those who just wanted to play and have fun. She glanced down from her hotel room window and saw a group of contestants playing catch with a Frisbee on the lawn.
"You know she's just insecure, right?" She told her roommate. "That girl from Fresno bungled her juggling routine, and now she's teasing you to make herself feel better."
"I got nervous." Rachel mumbled since her face was still buried on the pillow on her lap. They had just watched the recap of the preliminary competition on their room's TV and Rachel's tone deaf singing was featured prominently.
"Hey, even my self-defense demonstration got ridiculed." She tried to comfort the girl. "The girl from San Diego even told me I should have joined the bodybuilding competition since I have too many muscles. Of course, she told it in a nice way, but I knew what she meant."
"No way!" Rachel shook her head. "You've got a fit body! You're toned, and she's just jealous!"
"Thanks." She smiled. "I didn't let it affect me. Why did you get nervous anyway? I heard you in rehearsal, and you were much better."
"Fans," Rachel revealed. "I have a weird stalker who didn't want me to join the pageant and messaged me just before the talent competition. I shouldn't have posted my selfies on Instargram."
"That's serious." Her eyes sharpened. "Have you reported that to the cops?"
"They're harmless." Rachel waved off her concern. "I blocked them after that, so it's not a big deal. It's my fault that I let the worry get to me."
Seeing how the girl needed to loosen up, she suddenly had an idea. "Hey, why don't we try out the Saunas? I heard they brought in special ones from Europe."
"That's a great idea." Rachel immediately sat up. "I haven't been in a sauna in months!"
They gathered their towels and wore loose clothing, and headed to the area. The portable saunas made out of wood were placed in a relatively isolated area, well away from their fellow contestants who were lounging by the pool or playing in the yard and on the courts.
"You're right, this is fancy." Rachel remarked once they got in after they changed their clothes and wrapped the towels around their chests.
The wooden cabin was nice, and she could still smell the scent of the wood. It felt like she was not in the city anymore. She set the electric sauna control outside the door to a timer and headed inside. Ten minutes should do for now, then she planned to take a cold shower after and then jump into the pool.
Romina immediately took a whole bench for herself, lying on it and using it as a makeshift bed with an extra towel rolled up to act as a pillow for her head.
"So what's up with that stalker?" She asked once they had settled in, while the steam began to build up.
"I get weird messages every month or so this year." Rachel replied without opening her eyes. "Ever since my mom died…"
"Your mom?" This was it. This was what she needed.
"Mom and Dad are separated, and I lived with my dad growing up." Rachel shared. "Mom was some news executive, and she was a workaholic, always coming home late, I barely saw her except for weekends. I really don't get along with her, since my dad was the one who raised me."
"Daddy's girl, huh?"
"And proud of it." Rachel gave a small smile. "I think my mom was seeing someone before she died, though."
"What made you think that?" She asked as she poured more water into the hot stones in the middle of the wooden room. Although it had an electric function, she appreciated that there were still the traditional stones in the middle of the wooden structure. The steam felt incredible on her skin.
"I called her on Mother's Day, standard stuff." Rachel answered. "I saw a man in her bedroom, on her bed."
"Is he hot?" She teased.
"I didn't get a good look." Rachel replied. "Mom was embarrassed when I pointed out that someone was in her room and immediately closed the door."
She shared her own past, some parts true, tailor-made for the background she and the bureau made up when her fellow contestant asked questions. They talked about who the favorites were in the pageant and the cliques that started to form.
"Did you get a good look at Sugar?" Rachel suddenly asked.
"No." She was a bit embarrassed, knowing that the handsome man's eyes were focused on her while she was wearing that skimpy little thing. She was sure the organizers made the padding thinner too, since everywhere she looked, she saw headlights were on in her fellow contestants that didn't bother to tape their nipples.
"He's so hot." Rachel sighed. "I can't believe he's married already."
"Why didn't you talk to him during that breakfast event with the judges?" She asked.
"He looked busy eating." Rachel giggled. "And I don't know what to say to him once he's right there in front of me. All I could do was to keep staring, and I swear we locked eyes for a moment!"
Half the girls did, and she noticed that even a few were trying to work up the courage, and daring each other to approach the famous judge.
"He's like royalty right?" Rachel continued speaking. "I don't even know the protocols for that. I'd love to have his signature.
"I think he said in an interview that he's not royalty, he's just related to them." She replied. She didn't see any changes in Jack's behavior ever since his past was revealed. From her observation, it was the people around him who changed the way they spoke to him.
"Tell you what." She leaned forward and adjusted the towel wrapped around her body. Wow, she was really sweating. "After the pageant is over, I'll introduce you to him."
"You will?" She laughed at how wide Rachel's eyes had grown. "You know him?"
"I met him before." She replied. That was the cover story they both came up if they were seen together within the hotel. "You know I jog every morning, and I met him a few times."
"What's he like?" Rachel asked.
"He's not that talkative." She shared. At least until the situation called for it, like helping with an investigation, and then Routh would transform into a man who could instantly command a room's attention with the way he spoke, combined with his knowledge and observation skills.
She had read the files about the copycat killer and wished she were there when he helped out the task force. The way her fellow agents described him was inspiring. Garza said it in one briefing with the head office where she was present, and it stuck with her even today. Routh was born to hunt down those psychopathic serial killers and criminals, and they were his natural prey.
Louis Bloom
"Lou Bloom, of Video Production News." He spoke to his reflection in the mirror and smiled.
No, that wouldn't do. He tried again.
"I'm Louis Bloom, CEO of Video Production News." The smile was smaller, but his tone was more pleasant. Lou was yesterday, now he is Louis. Lou made funny jokes to make people at ease and like him. Louis didn't, he didn't need to now that he had influence, power, and control.
Control.
He made upgrades with his life in these past few years, from stealing copper wires and scrap and then selling it to junkyards to one of the most dominant suppliers of breaking news to KWLA. Other networks were already offering better pay for his footage, desperate to get their ratings back.
He had four news teams all working for him at reasonable wages. All were young, all eager to please their boss, and he liked that. He didn't like how they were hesitant at crime scenes, but with the right amount of incentive and punishment, they fell in line with his directives.
Wide angle, slow pan, and then zoom to the body. Simple. The more blood there was, the better. According to his analysis, the gore and violence in a crime scene increased his rates by double, sometimes triple, like the home invasion case in the Granada Hills.
He was moving up. A systematic upgrade was currently in progress.
His car was a beat-up, rusted car from the 90s, and he upgraded that too, to a Dodge Hellcat. Its speed and acceleration allowed him to follow high-speed police chases easily. It was a good investment, and he easily beat out the competition.
Before, he only had one news van with him and his former employee chasing crime scenes the entire night and well into the next morning. Now he had a fleet of four vans, with top-of-the-line equipment acquired with a huge discount and crews to man them. With how spread out they were, they could easily cover any scene in the city within minutes and have the footage on the news within the hour.
He moved to a new apartment with proper security and more privacy for his activities. Everything was moving up in his life, and he had decided months ago that it was time to upgrade his girlfriend too.
Nina was obedient, and after some hesitation, she finally agreed to do what he wanted with her. He was satisfied until he saw her daughter. A younger, more fit, and attractive female. He was surprised at how Nina dared to say no to his demands to introduce him to her daughter.
He terminated their relationship after that and made sure she would not be able to threaten the business that he worked so hard for.
Rachel Romina would be perfect for his current stage in life. Unfortunately, she refused to respond to his messages, and he resorted to observing her from afar. He listened to her talk with her friends, had fun at clubs, and learned one thing that she confessed to one of her best friends, Becky. She liked proper men, gentlemen, like those actors in the TV show she watched for hours.
So he transformed himself, wore suits, cut his hair to match, and wore a nice, elegant watch and shoes. Still, it was futile, and she rejected him, barely giving him a glance when she won the County title. She was the last piece in moving up in his stage of his growth.
He rarely got angry, but right now he was furious. Rachel needed to be under his control, she needed to be obedient. He couldn't stand her decision to participate in the Miss California 2018 pageant. She wanted a gentleman for a partner, yet she was willing to participate in an event so unbecoming of a lady, not understanding how he would feel. Now, he was under suspicion for his past actions. He took care of that detective earlier, and now he had to punish Rachel.
She needed to be taught a lesson.
Jack Routh
"Something wrong?" Miranda Priestly asked him once he returned to the expansive lawn.
They were under one of the VIP tents, watching as the contestants had fun with the array of activities prepared for them. There were no official media present, only event photographers to take pictures, allowing the participants to let their hair down and relax.
"One of the officers I worked with nearly got hurt." He replied as he scanned the field.
A group of girls were playing catch with a football, a few were playing tennis at the courts, and laughing while another batch just lounged at the pool while eating at the poolside bar.
"Is she alright?" Miranda asked.
"She's fine." He replied. Angela was saved by Harper, and he made a mental note to do something nice for her in the future. Zoe was very angry at what happened to one of her detectives, and a full team was now investigating the incident. Preliminary reports indicated that someone had tampered with her vehicle, and they already had a suspect.
Angela was investigating Lou Bloom and his relationship with KWLA, and it was clear someone did not want to dig deeper.
His phone rang, and he quickly picked it up when he saw Angela's name.
"Jack."
"Are you alright?" He asked her.
"I'm fine." He could almost see his old TO rolling her eyes, judging by the tone of her voice. "Docs at the hospital gave me a clean bill of health. Anyway, I have something important to tell you."
"Shoot."
"I spoke with the news producer, Frank Kruse, when Romina was still alive." Angela shared. "He definitely suspects there's some sort of relationship between her and Bloom."
"What makes him say that?" He asked.
"She easily pays twice or sometimes triple the normal rate when it's Bloom who delivers the footage." Angela answered. "Kruse complained that she had blown through their allotted budget, but the higher-ups in KWLA didn't complain because of the ratings."
"And get this. Nina wasn't as generous with the other stringers, that's the term they call freelance photojournalists when they bring fresh footage of a crime scene or incident that Bloom hadn't been able to cover."
"That's clear favoritism."
"Oh yeah." Angela replied. "And Frank Kruse once saw them on a date in some fancy restaurant."
"The daughter might know something." He mused.
"I doubt it." The newly promoted detective snorted. "According to Frank, Nina and his daughter didn't get along. The last time she saw Rachel was when she was just in her early teens at a company Christmas party, just before Nina and her husband separated. The judge awarded full custody to the father during the divorce. That just shows what type of person Romina was when the judge awarded full custody to the father."
"Still, she might have something. Agent Page is still working on her." He replied. "Do you have Bloom's location?"
"Harper checked his apartment, he's not there."
"Thanks for calling, Angela." He needed to check on Page. She hadn't reported to the planned briefing this morning, although she's usually punctual and always arrives on schedule. He checked on the other surveillance teams using their group chat, and one agent reported that she was headed to the pool with Rachel Romina.
There was one problem, the two women weren't there. He looked around, past the contestants around them, hoping to see Page and Romina. There were no signs of the two in the pool area, but the last agent that reported seeing them was walking from the lobby to this reserved area with towels in their arms.
"I can't find Page or Romina." Luckily, he and Miranda were the only ones currently present at the VIP tent. The older woman looked confused and stared up at him from beneath her glasses.
"I'm sure they're around here somewhere." Miranda tried to assure him. "Maybe they had something to eat at the hotel restaurant?"
"With towels in their hands?" He shook his head. "They should be here, but they're nowhere in sight."
His group chat with the task force was now buzzing with activity, as the others slowly realized their undercover agent was missing. He looked at the extensive grounds behind the hotel once more and spotted a few structures that were not there before.
He remembered a briefing about a sponsor assembling a couple of their special saunas for the exclusive use of the contestants. They must have finished assembling the structures last night, and he made his way to the wooden structures.
They were located at the other end, hidden by decorative bushes and trees. The path leading to the sauna wasn't marked at all, and there were no signs leading to their location. He arrived at the isolated clearing and immediately heard banging noises from one of the two wooden sauna cabins.
A small glass window embedded within the door showed him the face of one of the women he was searching for, and he moved into action. He noticed Angela Page's panicked face immediately transform as soon as she caught sight of him as he reached the door.
"We're trapped! The door is jammed!" Page's shouts were muffled, but he could still hear what she was saying.
He looked at the door and realized someone had jammed it shut from the outside using what looked like screws. This was no accident, this was deliberate. With no time to waste, he motioned for Angela to step back. The sweaty agent nodded immediately and dragged the panicking Rachel Morina further back.
With the immediate area clear, he used his right foot and kicked it open. The door splintered as it swung and crashed into the other wall, creating a loud racket. Steam immediately poured out of the door, and the two women stumbled out and collapsed on the lawn. A wave of heat greeted him, and he was shocked at how the two women were still conscious despite being trapped inside for god knows how long.
"Thank god!" Romina cried out in relief and collapsed on the ground. He looked the two women over and saw how weak they were, and immediately checked their pulses and breathing. They looked to be stable, but their skin was flushed and sweaty.
"Code red!" He called on his emergency radio. "Bring a medical team to the new sauna area. I found Page and Romina. They appear to be dehydrated and suffering from prolonged exposure inside the sauna."
"On the way." Garza's voice responded through the speaker.
Rachel Romina was still unconscious, but Page looked like she was holding up well. Her skin was red, and her hair stuck to her face and dripping with sweat.
Agents converged on their location, and he looked up as Garza arrived, leading a group of FBI agents with her.
"Miranda pointed me to where you went." Garza replied. "What happened?"
"I found them stuck in the Sauna." He replied.
"We must have been there for thirty minutes or more, I couldn't tell." Page reported after she emptied the water bottle handed to her.
"Your door was jammed from the outside, and the temperature moved to the highest setting." He told Page.
"Fuck. I was too busy trying to calm Romina." Their undercover agent looked frightened. "If we were stuck there any longer…"
"Then both of you would have died of heat stroke or dehydration." He recognized the pattern, this was the same person who caused the tower collapse and the near-fatal accident of his old TO. "Bloom's here."
"Impossible." One of the agents shook his head in disbelief. "We're checking all press credentials, and today, only official photographers are present."
"But did you check those who are staying in the hotel?" He asked. "They may have reserved a large section of the hotel for the pageant, but that doesn't mean they have stopped accepting guests who wanted to check in."
"And IDs can be easily forged." Garza looked disturbed. "Coordinate with the hotel's staff, and check the CCTV footage of anyone who checked in recently. Flag anyone who is male who roughly matches the description of our primary suspect."
"On it." One of the agents dashed off and headed to the building.
"How is she?" He asked the medic checking over Romina.
"She's dehydrated." The medic reported and handed Page another bottle of water. "Both of them are. It's a close thing. Ten more minutes and they would have collapsed from heat stroke."
"And get slowly cooked alive." Page grimaced. She was looking better already and was able to slowly stand up with the assistance of the medic. "Romina told me her mom might have a boyfriend. She saw him once in a video call, but he wasn't able to see his features. She also admitted she has a stalker, but she didn't seem too concerned about it and just blocked them."
"So he's moved on from the mother to the daughter." Garza looked grim.
"She's waking up." The medic announced. "They're both stable, they just need to hydrate and rest in a cool room."
With a nod of his head, Garza signaled the majority of the agents to disperse, leaving him alone with the two women, Garza and the medic.
"What happened?" Rachel Morina groaned as she tried to sit up.
He exchanged a look with Garza as the medic gave the woman an electrolyte solution to drink. This was going to be a long story.
Angela Page
"You mean he might have killed my mother?" She was surprised at how angry her current roommate sounded after they explained the situation to Rachel.
"We have no direct evidence yet." Garza explained.
"But it fits his pattern." Routh added.
The cool air felt like heaven, but Rachel still had a flushed face, and she knew it was not from being trapped for almost an hour inside the sauna. She was amazed at how the other woman was able to multitask, stealing glances at Routh when she thought he wasn't looking and listening to the briefing Garza was currently giving her.
"The collapse of that utility tower, the cut break lines of the car Detective Lopez was using when he talked to Frank Kruse, and then this." Routh continued. "Even that crude IED that he made. Sergeant Ellis from the Metro Bomb squad told me that whoever tried to make that device must have watched a tutorial on the internet because of how poorly it was made. Even that letter. They're all attempts to mimic by a man who has no real identity and sense of proper morals."
"A true psychopath." Garza nodded in agreement.
Routh had suggested that Rachel be brought in, and she had to agree. It was too dangerous, and it was better for the woman to be aware of the danger and that her harmless stalker was anything but.
"Okay, I'll still participate." Rachel nodded in determination. She had to hand it to the younger woman, she was brave. "You'll watch out for me, right?"
"Every second." Garza assured her, but she noticed how the woman was looking at Jack Routh for confirmation.
"We'll keep an eye on you." Routh must have sensed how the girl was looking at him and faced her. She hid a smile as Romina visibly relaxed upon hearing their consultant's reply.
"And Agent Page is an FBI agent." Routh continued speaking as he now looked at her.
"Page?" Rachel tilted her head and looked at her in confusion. "You're an FBI agent?"
"I am." She nodded in reply.
"But you're so pretty!" Rachel gushed.
She rolled her eyes at the amused glances directed at her by her fellow agents.
They headed down after eating an early lunch inside the room. She could tell Rachel had calmed down by now, and she seemed like her previous self as they both made their way back to the grounds where the other contestants were still making the most of their schedule-free day.
Jack arrived by another way, and she felt more secure as she spotted more familiar faces in the area. Agent Stevenson was there, wearing a maintenance outfit as he pretended to be a gardener and trimmed the bushes. Agent Starr winked at her as she served her a smoothie, her fellow female agent looked convincing in her hotel uniform.
She looked around the grounds, and she made contact with Routh and nudged her head at her three. The man they were looking for was there, taking photos while he sat in a nearby chair just outside the reserved area. He was wearing a white collared shirt and khaki shorts, and shades. His hair was cut short, but the shape of his face and that smile were unmistakable. Lou Bloom.
The task force moved at once. Several agents converged on their primary suspect and escorted him to a more secluded area. She headed to follow the group and glanced to the side to see Routh heading there as well.
She arrived and immediately noticed that Bloom didn't seem worried at all despite being surrounded by three FBI agents. He was speaking calmly to the agents, but paused when he noticed the arrival of Routh.
"Officer Jack Routh." Bloom smiled. "An honor to see one of LA's finest in person."
"You're under arrest." Routh stated, not even bothering to respond to Bloom's greeting.
"For what, officer?" Lou Bloom tilted his head slightly in confusion. It was unnerving to see the smile remain on his face. The man didn't show any ounce of fear. "I'm just a law-abiding citizen, checking into this wonderful hotel to relax."
"The use of a fake ID is illegal under California law under Penal Code 470b." Routh answered.
"But that's just a misdemeanor, isn't it?" Bloom tried to be charming as he raised his hands to his chest. "As a CEO of my own successful company, I needed to take precautions."
What a load of crap.
"It can be a felony, depending on the circumstances of the case." Routh answered. "And what you did earlier is more severe than a simple fake ID. You're under arrest for attempted homicide."
"I don't understand." Bloom looked confused.
"The use of the screws was smart." Their consultant narrowed his eyes at Bloom, whose face gradually lost his smile. "It nearly cooked Rachel Romina and Agent Page in there, but you didn't get away clean."
"I'm afraid you don't have any evidence." Bloom replied, his tone of voice utterly devoid of any emotion. The change in his demeanor was shocking. "This is all speculation on your part, Officer Routh."
"Yes, you were careful to attack there since there's no CCTV coverage in that area. But you got sloppy, and freshly applied varnish is hard to wash out of your hands."
Every eye focused on what Routh was talking about, and she spotted that there was indeed a faint yellow stain on the palm of Bloom's left hand.
"You weren't aware of the required curing time of varnish." Routh continued speaking. "When you jammed the door shut in the sauna with wood screws and a screwdriver, you failed to notice the fact that those wooden structures were hastily built last night. You were probably wearing gloves, but they didn't cover the rest of your palm."
"I want a lawyer." Bloom replied, his face for the first time showing frustration and anger.
"You have that right." Routh nodded. "Cuff him. I'm sure we can pin those charges on him once forensics is finished."
She watched with satisfaction as Bloom was slowly led away by two agents. She thought it was the end of the operation when she saw Agent Stevenson running towards them.
"Routh!" Stevenson gasped as he reached them. He must have been running at full sprint. "I just received word. Captain Zoe Andersen was rushed to the hospital after she collapsed while in a meeting!"
"What!?" Jack, for the first time, showed panic in his face.
He heard another shout and spotted Bloom running away from the agents. She didn't know how the suspect had managed to shake off his guard.
"Jack! Bloom's running!" She yelled.
Jack looked conflicted, the other way was to the parking lot, and where Bloom was headed was to the loading and delivery area for the kitchen. She watched in amazement as Jack bent down, grabbed a discarded football that must have wandered here from earlier from an errant pass, and eyed their suspect, who was rapidly gaining distance from the two agents running after him.
She heard a grunt and the football shot out of Routh's arm like a missile, and she and Stevenson watched with their mouths open in awe as the ball travelled a good distance and smacked Bloom at the back of his head just before he reached the path to the service area. He collapsed on the ground, and a few moments later, the two agents jumped on him.
Damn. That must have been more than seventy yards by her estimate. She watched as Jack gave a satisfied nod and ran towards the lobby, his long legs easily making up ground, showing how fast the man could move if he really wanted to.
She really didn't know what to make of Jack Routh. That throw, his vision, and ability to calculate the area where Bloom would appear were just amazing. And he hit the back of Bloom's head too, with pinpoint accuracy.
"He should sign up for the Rams." Stevenson whispered.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead
The sudden request for a meeting with the director and producers of Rogue One caught her off guard. They were even willing to meet with her at her home, but she was reluctant to show that side of her life and decided to have a meeting in a nearby hotel, about a 30-minute drive from her home, with traffic in mind.
She realized there was an event going on when she arrived when she noticed the nearly full parking lot only lucky got that she was lucky to park so quickly. She was confused, as far as she knew, they were still in the pre-production stage, and by what her agent told her, filming with the actors would start in January, still a few weeks away. Did they change their mind? She was suddenly worried. Star Wars was big, and a successful film would catapult her career to higher levels. This was her lucky break.
The director, Gareth Edwards, had asked her for a meeting with the writers. She checked her watch and smiled. Good, she was five minutes early.
"Mary!" Edwards waved her over as soon as she entered the restaurant.
She put on a smile and waved back, and as soon as she sat down, she was introduced to the other three men at the table. They were unfamiliar faces, and she felt a tightening in her gut. This didn't bode well. A change in the writers just a few weeks before shooting was a bad sign from her experience. Where was Gary, the original writer?
As soon as they gave their orders to a waiter, Edwards dove right into the purpose of their meeting.
"I'm sorry for calling you at the last minute, but my schedule is very tight." Edwards gave her a weak smile.
She spotted his heavy eye bags and pale skin and knew that the man was under a lot of pressure. She could understand him feeling this way. This was Star Wars after all, and she knew a lot of expectations were on his shoulders.
"It's no trouble." She replied. "What's this all about?"
"We've made some changes to the script," Edwards answered. "Substantial changes."
"And it's all largely thanks to the handwritten notes I've read on the script you accidentally left behind at the last table reading." Edwards continued.
"I forgot about that." She admitted. "Is something wrong?"
"No, in fact it's the opposite." The man who introduced himself as Tony spoke up. "It solved a lot of the problems we were having with the screenplay. I didn't realize you knew so much about Star Wars lore."
"I'm not." She admitted. "A member of my… team gave me feedback about the script when I rehearsed my lines, and he pointed out some inconsistencies. I wrote notes regarding some parts that I intended to ask Gareth for clarification, but I forgot the script when I left the table read."
"I see." Edwards nodded in understanding. "The last part of the note suggested the entire team should die?"
"It's a strange request for an actress," Tony added. "Normally, they would want to be part of a film's sequel if it's successful, and this is Star Wars."
"It provides for a greater impact." She replied. Jack wanted to emphasize the sacrifice it took to obtain the plans for the Death Star, and the sacrifice of the Rogue One crew would emphasize that. She agreed with her friend's sentiments, and besides, she didn't want to be chained to a trilogy and contractually obligated to prioritize their schedule. What happens if a good role appears in another film? "You said it's a war film at its heart. I'm focused on that."
"I did say that," Edwards replied with a grin.
"And your notes indicated you're not a fan of the love story plot between Jyn and Cassian?" Tony asked.
"There should be hints of it, not an entire love story plot." She answered. "It will only detract from their overall objective if we focus too much on their relationship."
"And a what could have been between Cassian and your character Jyn would give the audience a bittersweet feeling, perfect for the tone of a war film." Tony clapped his hands once. "That's perfect!"
"I'd love to talk to your team member," Edwards replied. "Bring him on set when we start filming."
"I'll see what I can do." She replied. "He has a very busy schedule."
"Oh?" Tony looked intrigued. "Is he working on another script for one of your future projects?"
How could she explain that her handwritten notes were thanks to Jack's rambling about Star Wars lore and explaining about different independent rebel cells, and how they slowly unified into a potent threat to the Empire? She looked around and was surprised to see the man she was thinking about was right outside, standing in the expansive lawn, while he was talking to a man in cuffs, with more men surrounding the area.
"Must be a paparazzi." Edwards must have followed her gaze. "I heard that the hotel is the venue for the Miss California 2018 pageant."
Any further talk on the table stopped when they watched as the man in cuffs suddenly bolted away after knocking down the agents that were escorting him by slamming his shoulder into one of his guards while he kicked the other guard's leg, causing him to trip and crash into the lawn.
There was a shout from a pretty woman with a sash on her chest standing beside Jack, and she watched with wide eyes as her friend picked up a football and hurled it a good distance, hitting the man in cuffs at the back of his head and causing him to fall on the ground.
"Did you see that?" Tony looked shocked.
"Yeah. What an arm!" She heard Edwards reply. He sounded giddy with excitement.
She shouldn't be surprised after seeing the range of skills Jack showed when they were on the island for that reality show. She settled instead for a smile and shook her head in disbelief.
"Actually, that's the man responsible for my notes." She wanted to call Jack, but her friend suddenly sprinted in the opposite direction, probably responding to another emergency.
"Why don't you call him in?" Edwards looked eager, his eyes still trained on the man in cuffs as he was restrained by the guards.
"I can't." She replied. "He's probably responding to another issue. He's a police officer."
"No way!"
"Who is he?" Edwards asked.
She turned to them and smiled, enjoying the shocked expression on their faces.
"His name is Jack Routh."
It was nice to be on the other side for once.
Zoe Andersen Routh
She denied Grey's proposal for quotas. That didn't sit well with her, and she believed a proper accounting and utilization of their resources was enough. Creating quotas for traffic stops and arrests would make for a dangerous precedent, and she didn't want that road for her division just to supplement their budget.
Besides, she was sure there were easier ways to raise funds for her division. Central allocated a yearly budget for each station, and it was up to each CO to supplement that. She knew many stations implemented a quota system, and ever since she took up her post in Mid-Wilshire, she was resistant to the idea and instead relied on fundraiser activities.
"You okay, Captain?" Grey asked as she massaged her temples. She ate a hearty breakfast this morning, but her stomach felt bloated, and she could feel a growing headache.
"Yeah." She replied. "Breakfast didn't agree with me."
"Do you need to take a break?" Grey asked.
"I just need a drink of water." She replied as she tried to rise up from her chair.
"No need." Detective Vestri motioned for her to remain seated and quickly fetched a pitcher of water and a glass.
"Thanks." She reached out for the glass, but she scrunched up her nose when she caught a scent of Vestri's cologne.
It was too strong, and it was making her nauseous. Who was Vestri trying to impress with that pungent scent? Instead of drinking, she quickly stood up and walked out of the conference room.
"Let's take five." She called out and headed through the bullpen. She needed fresh air, but her stomach had other plans.
She walked past the officers making reports and didn't bother to return greetings as she hurried to the nearest bathroom. Her head was dizzy, and it felt like what she ate that morning didn't agree with her. She reached the bathroom just in time and heaved the contents of her breakfast into the bowl.
She felt a painful sensation in her chest as vomit rushed up. It was nasty, and she wondered why she was vomiting right now. The urge came again, and she heaved, and her body shook as she tried to expel the contents of her stomach. The smell was foul, but at least the dizzy sensation in her head lessened. She flushed the toilet immediately to get rid of the smell.
"Captain?" Harper. She felt a hand on her back and continued to lean over the toilet bowl, trying to see if she would vomit again.
"I'm… fine." She gasped and slowly stood up.
"You don't look fine." Harper replied. "You're sweaty and really pale."
She headed to the sink to wash up, but suddenly her vision darkened. She heard yelling and shouting, and soon passed out.
She gained consciousness when she felt movement and opened her eyes, and looked around. It looked like she was inside an ambulance on a stretcher. A woman with an EMT uniform hovered over her and spotted Lopez sitting on the other side.
"What happened?" She asked. Thankfully, the dizziness was gone.
"You passed out." The EMT replied. "We're getting you checked up in the hospital, Captain."
"Grey is taking care of everything." Harper added. "You fainted in the bathroom, Cap. Good thing I was there to catch you before you hit the ground."
Fainted? How embarrassing.
"It must be food poisoning." She replied, feeling an unpleasant sensation in her mouth and throat.
"Drink." The EMT gave her a bottle of water with a bendable straw attached. "That should wash out the stomach acids."
"Thanks." She took a sip and immediately felt the slight burning sensation in her throat vanish. "This is probably some form of food poisoning."
"I'm not too sure." Harper replied. "I have the exact same symptoms when I first got pregnant with Lila."
Pregnant? That was impossible. She had long accepted the fact that she was incapable of being a mother. She was lucky that Jack was fine with her inability to give him a child.
"That seems to match up with what I've noticed." The EMT replied. "Your blood pressure is normal and you don't have a fever. Everything seems to check out, but we'll have tests done to make sure."
"You've been eating more in the break room." Harper shared. "When was your last period?"
She tried to recall and realized she was late. Very late. She didn't want to hope, but with what Harper said, she began to connect the dots.
Her increased appetite, aversion to food she previously liked. Her sensitive nose and sore nipples, and breasts for the past few weeks. The nausea and strange cravings. It all lined up. She felt her eyes tearing up. Still, she didn't want to hope for that miracle and steeled her heart. She wanted definite proof first.
"Trust me." She felt Harper give her hand a squeeze. "It's a mother's instincts."
She was barely able to stop herself from breaking down and crying.
Thirty minutes later, and she stared at the pregnancy test kits. She asked the doctor to repeat the test again and the results were the same. She couldn't believe it. Two lines. That meant she was pregnant. Life was growing in her womb.
"Congratulations." The doctor told her. Her condition meant that her chances of getting pregnant were slim to none, yet here she was staring at the proof of her condition.
She blushed when the obstetrician-gynecologist asked her details about her sex life and how active she was. She was sure she saw a raised eyebrow when she revealed she practically had unprotected sex several times a day, every day, for nearly a year.
"That will certainly increase your chances." The female doctor muttered when she informed the woman of the details. "Since you're thirty-four, it's on the threshold of a delicate pregnancy. We'll have monthly check-ups, and increase that in your second and third terms."
Right, she couldn't take chances with the life growing inside her. She didn't have a problem with the doctor's suggestions.
Jack arrived in the waiting area just outside the emergency room, looking like he had come from a battle. His hair was sweaty, and he was breathing heavy. She watched the moment when her husband noticed her and watched as his shoulders sagged in relief.
"What happened?" Her husband asked as he reached her. She felt his arms on her shoulders, his eyes looking over her for any signs of injury.
"I passed out." She smiled at Jack. "I'm pregnant."
"Pregnant?" She giggled at her man's surprised face. She watched his expression, seeing astonishment all over his face. "What? How?"
Jack must be really shocked, since her husband wasn't usually this tongue-tied.
"Well, remember what we keep doing every morning and evening?" She teased him.
"Well, of course I know that." Jack took a deep breath. "Honey, you're pregnant?"
"Pregnant." She nodded, her smile wide and free. She laughed when Jack suddenly picked her up and spun her around.
"We're going to have a baby!" Jack laughed.
They headed back to Mid-Wilshire, with pamphlets and a booklet for first-time mothers provided by the hospital tucked under her arm. Lopez beamed with delight when she learned of the news, since she was the one who picked them up while Jack followed behind them with his motorcycle.
She could immediately feel the change somehow as she ran a hand over her still flat abdomen. The doctor said she was about a month pregnant and gave her advice on what to eat and vitamins, and supplements to take.
The reactions from her officers were amusing. She could tell Grey was happy for her, but she could tell he wanted to say more to her in private. She received that once she was alone with him and Jack inside her office.
"There have to be changes now, Captain." Grey looked serious. "That means, no more late hours for you, and please try to limit your activities."
"And as the captain's husband." Grey turned to Jack. "You need to provide a relaxing environment with minimal stress for your wife. You always need to be there for her in her delicate condition."
"Of course, Sergeant." Jack nodded in agreement. Her husband still hadn't let go of her hand ever since they entered the station.
"I've been thinking." She spoke up before Grey could leave. "I think it's time, don't you think?"
"Time for what?" Grey asked.
"Your promotion to Lieutenant." She replied, hiding her amusement when she saw Grey's dumbfounded expression. "Since I'll adjust my work hours, I need you to step up for me. Caradine is already busy with the cases, and you will take care of day to day operations."
"And your new promotion entitles you to longer vacation times." She added to sweeten the deal. She knew Grey avoided political maneuverings with the brass, but he needed to step up at some point.
"Deal." Grey nodded immediately.
Her mind was busy with things they needed to do once they got home. She was still in disbelief about the whole thing, and she stared at the front of her house once he stepped out of her car. She looked at her Jack, who was standing beside her, and saw a rare moment of vulnerability in her husband's face, with how nervous he looked.
"We'll get through this." She told him. "We'll learn how to be parents."
"We will." Jack rand a hand through his hair, a habit she knew when he was agitated or unsure. "I'm just nervous. I don't want to make mistakes."
"We will make mistakes." She leaned on his side. "But we will learn through them to avoid the really bad ones. There are plenty of resources to help first-time parents like us."
"But first." She stared at their home. "We need to make some changes."
Is this what nesting feels like? She wondered. It was too early to tell. She needed to make their home baby-proof. Jack had all sorts of dangerous props and gadgets like that sword, and they had plenty of handguns hidden in their bedroom and a whole armory in their secret bunker.
They needed a nursery, and that meant they would need to convert the guest bedroom into one. She probably needed to buy a soccer mom car, probably a van. Pam and Reese would probably tease her for that, but she didn't care. She would soon become a mom anyway.
She felt a hand grope her butt and looked up at Jack. He was staring at her with a naughty smile on his face.
"Want to celebrate?" He asked.
The doctor did say it was fine to have sex even if she was pregnant, and in fact, it was encouraged to have more even when a woman was weeks and even days from giving birth.
"Oh yeah." She grinned. The doctor did say some women lose their sexual drive in their first term of pregnancy. She wanted to find out if that applied to her.