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It had been a couple years since they had decided to call off their relationship. They left it on good terms and their partnership had finally started to look solid again. They weren’t without tribulations and cases that hit too close to home but they handled it in stride and were a stronger duo because of it. Goren had made a real effort. Eames had appreciated it. Even though neither had attempted to restart the relationship, their feelings for each other remained. No one would understand them quite like they understood each other. They simply saw each other through so much.
Their focus went where the cases took them. This time, they ran across a couple murdered. The woman had expensive taste but was wrapped in a cheap scarf and Eames had caught it immediately. Their victim, Marya Onegin, looked like a model and apparently found a man willing to take care of her expensive taste. Yet, not much led them to why these two were found murdered and the identity of that man was still unknown. Eames needed to think. They were getting nowhere at the moment, so they decided to take a break until more information came their way. Eames decided to clear her head and ran on her break. During her run, things got interesting.
Eames saw Captain Ross with a woman talking as she ran and reached a corner. She ducked behind a food truck. Hmm Who is that woman? It had appeared to Eames that their captain was engaged romantically with that woman. Not that bad, she is a bit of a looker. Eames was happy for him. Not that she sat around thinking about her Captain’s love life, but it finally appeared that maybe he was getting life together. She knew he had ended things with Rodgers and he had been divorced from his ex-wife. It seemed as though he was unlucky in love. Maybe we all are. She finished her run before cleaning up and getting back to their case.
One Police Plaza
“We have an id on our male victim’s prints.” Eames calls out to Goren.
“Taras Broidy” They now knew who but still no closer to why. Eames passes redacted files over to Goren.
“All right, Looks like they’ve been looking at him since 2005 for illegal weapons trading. But every record’s been redacted.”
“Yeah, I’ll call Judge Shrum, get a warrant.”
“No, we should tell Ross,” Goren said, trying to keep their Captain in the loop.
“But the FBI Memo shows they copied him on Broidy’s identification. He knew before we did.”
“Then, why didn’t he tell us?” It was a valid question.
Eames gets a grin on face. She’s not normally one to spread gossip but this felt wholesome at least by her intent. “He might have other things on his mind.”
“Other things like what?” Goren returned her smile.
“I saw him when I finished running. Uh, he was with a woman. Our captain may be getting his life together.”
“So he’s getting involved with someone.”
“Seemed at ease with someone who happens to be very attractive.”
Attractive was a relative term. The eye of the beholder. This coming from Eames though felt like it rang true. But it didn't make sense. I mean it wasn't totally outside of the norm for Captain Ross to date as he did have a previous relationship with their M.E. Rodgers. It just never really affected his work and if he knew something about the investigation, it was not like him to hold it back from them. Not if it was important information relevant to the case.
“I’ll check ATF.” She stated as she noticed her partner deep in thought.
They had proceeded to investigate the case as normal, giving the captain his updates catching him up to speed. They didn't realize the alert their request triggered. Nor that Ross would be so adamant to speak on it over the case at hand.
“The search of the victim’s apartment brought in a lot of material, we’re going to need time to go through it all.”
“Also, we’re going to need a warrant for Damocles' security. Jan Van Dekker, the man who ran it for Broidy, is a former mercenary.”
Captain Ross guided his detectives to his office and closed the door behind them.
“Did you know that the FBI file on Teras Broidy was redacted?
“Yes, so I went to the ATF database.”
“Those files were redacted for a valid reason.
“Right there’s a RICO investigation,” both Goren’s and Eames’ eyes become inquisitive.
“Yes, they want a moratorium on this.”
“Okay, we’ve been in these situations before. We’ll keep a low investigative profile.”
“I want no profile.” Captain Ross said sternly. “I’m honoring the FBI's request.”
“But it’s a double homicide. We’ve fought jurisdictional battles before and won,” Eames added.
“We wait for this RICO indictment, our case will grow cold.”
“I’m not contesting jurisdiction.” No more warrants. No interviews.
“Well, do we have a name? Who’s in charge of this case for the feds?” Eames tried.
“You don’t need to know that.”
To whom do we address our files?” Eames tried another way.
“Organize everything, put it on my desk. I’ll see that they get it.”
Eames and Goren walk out of the office.
“Were you waiting for what I was waiting for?”“
Yeah, you mean a wink and a nod, tell us to proceed with the case?”
Eames nods. They proceed to their desks where they start to comb through everything organizing it for Captain Ross.
“You’d better see this.” Eames calls out to Goren from across her desk. Goren walks over and proceeds to check her computer for what she was talking about.
Two mil for two years. Ross approved.
The text read out on the computer. Goren was staring at an email from Loftin to Taras in disbelief and more confusion because if what he read to be true meant what he thought it meant, it was not in Ross' character. It didn’t make sense. Unless there was something they didn’t know.
“So what’s this? Is there any other mention of Ross?”
“No. The other emails are all about some aircraft.”
“Well we’ll ask him about it.” Eames said
“Yeah.” Goren agreed.
“So who’s this Roy Loftin?
“Um the FBI looked at Loftin as the weapons transport person. Rents hangars place at Patterson airport."
With that Goren walked off with barely a plan in mind but an itch he couldn’t yet scratch. He needed to know and even though Ross had told them to stop. Now, it was personal with the mention of his Captain. So with a digital camera and a barely formed a geeked out persona, he proceeded to the hangar at Patterson airport.