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"Stacey! Come on in! It's great to see you! Have a seat. Can I get you coffee or anything?"
Qui
"Nice digs you got here, Timmy." Qui
Like scum in the Cal-Sag drainage canal, he thought.
"If I didn't know better, I would think you just paid me a compliment, Stacey."
Qui
Tim blinked at Qui
"Let's chat then." Tim leaned back and produced one of his all-purpose smiles. "How's life in District Eighteen? You like the remodeled station house?"
"Absolutely. State-of-the-art and all that. Commander Co
"Good to hear," Tim said contentedly. "And the Qui
"Excellent. The Burkes?"
"Fine. Fine. Pop's doing great after his prostate surgery."
"Good."
"Did you hear Mrs. Geleski died?"
"Yeah, I went to her funeral. Apparently she had sixteen cats in the house."
"Must've smelled to high heaven."
Qui
"Yeah, you said something about threats. Is she still getting them?"
"Yep, she is. Anything you wa
Tim tossed his head back and howled with laughter. "Christ, Stacey, please. I just love you." He sighed contentedly. "You are the most humorless bastard I've ever known in my life. Honestly. So you think I'm sending these notes to Autumn? What on earth makes you think that?"
"Are you?"
"No, Detective. I am not. And she certainly knows that."
Qui
"So tell me how long you dated Miss Adams. How you met, what your relationship was like. Why you broke up."
Tim chuckled. "Don't you want to know if she'd go down on me in the car? As I recall, that was our standard of excellence at one time. You want to start there?"
Qui
This was about Autumn Adams-who needed him to keep her safe and make an arrest. The fact that Qui
"Because she did, Stacey," Tim said with a sigh. "And Jesus, let me tell you, it was pure heaven! That girl knows exactly what those gorgeous lips of hers are for."
Qui
Maybe he could just shoot now and plead insanity later.
"I hope you weren't driving at the time, Timmy. That's a bit of a safety hazard," he managed.
Tim nodded, gri
Qui
"Didn't Audie tell you?"
Qui
"Oh, really?" Tim's eyes went wide in surprise. "How interesting."
He got up from his chair and made a lap around the perimeter of his office, his feet silent on the thick carpeting, his hands in his pockets. He was smiling.
"She really said that?" Tim came to a stop near Qui
"Yep."
"Well, I'll be damned." Tim sat back down across from Qui
Tim ran a hand through his pale curls. "The truth is I adore the woman, shortcomings and all. She stole my heart, Stacey, and she's driving me crazy. There. You can't say I never bared my soul to you."
Qui
"Oh, holy shit." Tim was up out of the chair and began to pace along the broad bank of windows behind his desk. He turned his back on Qui
"This is fucking hilarious. What are we, stuck in some kind of Greek tragedy or something? Are we cursed or something, Stacey? Answer me that."
Qui
"Please don't tell me you've got a thing for Autumn Adams, OK? I just don't think I'm in a good-enough mood to deal with that today-with the Lithuanians and all."
Qui
"I'm not slashing tires or sending goddamned letters!" Tim's face was red. "I ca
"A jilted lover is always a suspect in a stalking case, Mister Vice Mayor."
"I told you we were working it out, that she's coming around!"
"And what makes you say that?"
Tim propped himself against his desk and crossed his arms over his chest, glowering. "Look. There was nothing ugly about the way we broke up, all right? She just has a little problem with commitment. She's the jumpy type. But we're working on it. I'm taking it slow. And I would never threaten to hurt that woman. Goddamn, Stacey-I think I'm in love with her."
Qui
"Believe me, Qui
Qui
"Fuck you, Stacey."
"No. Fuck you, Timmy." Qui
Tim's words came out in an icy whisper. "Do you really think I'll let you stay on this case, you pathetic loser?"
Qui
"Do you really think I can't have your ass pulled off this case and out of your fluff job at District Eighteen? Because it would take just a few phone calls to accomplish that, Stace."
Qui
"Which public housing assignment would you prefer? Cabrini Green? The Robert Taylor Homes?" Tim walked over toward the door to finish his point, his voice now sharp and angry. "I'll get your ass ca
"Your reputation," Qui