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�It�s too early in the morning for this.� Joey complained as she and Pacey wove through the crowd and entered a luxurious, decadent mansion, now a scene of a crime. �I forgot you didn�t get much sleep last night.� Pacey replied sympathetically. �Arrgh!! They could have at least waited until I had changed into some decent clothes.� Joey grumbled as she futilely attempted to pull the leather skirt down. The skirt was much too short and restricted Joey�s movement and her feet were aching thanks to the stilettos. Not to mention that the majority of officers that were attending were staring at her ass or her chest, depending where they were standing. �Nice outfit Joey.� Jen Lindley, attending coroner, spoke. Joey made a face. �They had you on hooker detail again, didn�t they?� Jen deduced. �Unfortunately. Every time the department decides to do a clean up of the streets I always end up on hooker detail. I�m a detective for goodness sake!!� Joey spoke in frustration. �It�s called using the Boston PD�s best assets.� Pacey grinned while his eyes wandered appreciatively over Joey�s �assets� before quickly diverting his gaze and scanning the room. �So what do we have here Lindley?� �The now deceased Jerome Parker.� Jen answered. Pacey whistled. �The computer hot shot? Genius whiz kid? Created some amazing programs at the age of seventeen which resulted in the software company Parker Enterprise? People predicted that Parker Enterprise would one day, soon, rival and surpass Macrosoft Inc? That Jerome Parker?� �The one and only.� Jen confirmed. �From what I can see two gun shot wounds. Most likely the first hitting Parker on his left shoulder which, hypothetically, sent him reeling where he tripped over that stool and fell. The next shot is through the head.� Jen bent down close to the body and signaled Pacey and Joey to come closer. �Entry wound is here, it�s very small, but as you can see the exit wound is much larger. The bullet probably did massive internal damage killing Parker almost instantaneously. All of this will probably be confirmed in my report after I examine Parker more thoroughly. I can tell you this though, I seriously doubt it is suicide. Based on the angle in which the bullet entered Parker�s head, he would have serious difficulties trying to shoot himself.� �Homicide.� Pacey stated. �Just great. Another one of the many trials and tribulations, life and death stories, of the rich and famous.� �I�ll go talk to the uniforms, see what witnesses we have.� Joey said. �You can go check out the premise. Get a feel of how Mr Jerome Parker lived.� Pacey nodded his consent and watched as Joey walked towards the uniformed police officers, his eyes entranced by the gentle sway of hips. �It�s almost hypnotizing isn�t it, Pacey.� Jen teased. �What? I don�t know what you�re talking about.� Pacey feigned innocence. �Sure you don�t. I�m sure Joey will be interested to know where your eyes have been wandering.� �So I look. Guys look. We can�t help it. It�s a natural, biological thing. You�re a doctor, Jen, you should know this.� �Somehow they left that vital piece of information out of med school but I�ll remember to inform my old professors about the oversight.� Jen remarked sarcastically. �Okay guys! I�m done here. You can take the body to the morgue.� Jen snapped off her gloves. �Well it�s been great talking to you again Pacey, real enlightening.� �Always a pleasure Dr Lindley.� �By the way, don�t even think about staring at my ass.� Jen warned. �Wouldn�t dream of it.� Pacey�s head cocked to the side as he let out a low whistle of appreciation as Jen�s hips swung side to side as she walked away. Jen turned around, a glare on her face. �I heard that!! And I can feel you watching.� She laughed as Pacey quickly put on a schoolboy picture of innocence. �You�re incorrigible, Pacey Witter.� He produced his devilish grin that sent Jen�s heart fluttering despite her engagement to Jack McPhee.
�So you were the officer in attendance?� Joey asked a young uniform. �That�s correct Detective Potter. I got a message from dispatch around 8:15am. The whole place was quiet, dead quiet, you know.� replied Officer Lawrence. �It was almost spooky. I knocked on the door and it just opened, creaked open in fact. And so my partner and I entered and took a look around. My partner, Officer Quinn, he was right behind me as we walked through the hallway and then we saw it. There was this pool of blood. It was just so red, so dark and red. And his hand, Mr Parker�s, was just lying there and his body was just there. Dead. With blood. Everywhere.� �Your first homicide?� Joey asked Officer Lawrence. The poor boy was pale as he answered. �Yes Detective Potter. It�s just�it doesn�t seem real, you know. How do you get used to it?� �You never get used to it, Lawrence. Never. The day you get used to it is the day you lose your compassion. All you do is try your hardest to find the sob who did it.� �My partner, Officer Quinn, is over there.� The young uniform spoke. �He�s questioning some of the neighbors. From the gossip columns, I understand that Mr Parker had a steady girlfriend. A Miss Louisa Holt. She hasn�t turned up yet. Apparently she and Mr Parker were having relationship troubles. The columns and some of the people here today have implied Miss Holt was cheating on Mr Parker. And I heard from one of the neighbors, although I doubt they will say it to us, that Miss Holt tended to frequent a male stripper joint. A place called Moon Shadow." �Thank you. You did good, Officer Lawrence.� �If there�s anything you need Detective Potter, anything to help nail the guy who did this�� �I know who to call.� Joey assured the young officer before she went to talk to Officer Quinn and the neighbors.
�Geez! How many shirts does one guy need?� Pacey muttered as he browsed through Jerome Parker�s closet. �And those shoes�I swear he�s worse than Joey and Jen put together when it comes to shoes.� �Hey Witter, where�s that gorgeous partner of yours?� came a very familiar voice. �Drue Valentine. The devil himself. Who let you in or should I say out?� �Ha ha�very funny Witter. I�m here to look at this mess. I suppose the higher ups decided that you couldn�t handle this case on your own.� �Yeah right, as if Captain would assign us both to the same case. You probably heard the call over dispatch and decided to come along for the ride. Listen Valentine, the last thing Potter and I need is you honing in on our case.� �Okay you got me Witter. But Cap�s got us on some petty, no brainer case. Can�t you at least share the fun?� �It�s not my decision and you know it but since you�re already here�you might as well help out. So Tweedle Dum is accounted for, where�s Tweedle Dee?� �Chris is around, somewhere. So what do we have?� �One Jerome Parker, now deceased. Potter is talking to the uniforms. I�m just taking a look around.� �Mr Parker sure knew how to live.� Drue commented as he checked out the deceased�s bedroom. �This bed is huge. And look mirrors on the wall!!� �Really??� Pacey asked fascinated. �Yeah. Man I would kill to have mirrors above my bed. It�s a real experience, if you know what I mean.� �Valentine, too much info that I really didn�t need to know.� �Well from the looks of things the guy was into real kinky stuff. Handcuffs, leather, whips, the whole thing. Not to mention there�s a jacuzzi in the bathroom.� �I�m going to check out Parker�s study. This might be work related homicide. A word of advice to you Valentine, you might want to stay clear of Joey. If I remember correctly, your last encountered with her, your nose came out worse. And she�s been practicing that right hook of hers.� �Thanks for the warning!� �I was more concerned about Joey�s hand than about you, Valentine.� Pacey yelled in reply as he exited Jerome Parker�s bedroom.
After speaking to Officer Quinn and the neighbors Joey entered the mansion again in search of Pacey. �Hey Potter.� �Detective Wolfe. What brings you here?� �Oh Drue and I decided we would pay you a visit.� �How delightful. I�m absolutely thrilled.� �Thought you would. And I have to say, Josephine Potter, you are looking fi-ine today.� �Thank you.� Joey replied tersely. �However I�m currently working on a case so if you excuse me�� �Now c�mon Potter, enough of those Ice Queen acts, I�m just being friendly.� �You think I�m acting?� Joey asked incredulously. �In that outfit, hell yes!!� Joey glared at Chris and stalked off. �Hey c�mon Potter, don�t be like that!! I was just teasing.� �Well I didn�t find it amusing.� Joey growled. �What happened to us Potter?� Chris asked softly. �We were great partners once.� �We were rookies just out of the academy, Chris. A lot has changed since then.� �It�s Witter isn�t it? Ever since the two of you became partners�look�I realize Pacey and you are the hot-shot team in the department but can�t you make room for old friends?� �I don�t think this is the appropriate time or place to have this discussion Chris.� �With you it is never the appropriate time or place.� �It stopped being the appropriate time and place the day I found you in bed with that slut, Abby Morgan. Remember??� �It was a mistake.� �It�s always a mistake with you Chris. Honestly we�re better off as friends.� �It�s Witter isn�t it?� Chris reiterated. �It has nothing to do with Pacey.� �C�mon Joey. I�ve seen the way the two of you interact. Practically every girl that�s met Pacey Witter has slept with him, you know his reputation. H/ell I bet you�re partners in bed as well as in the force.� A loud resounding slap could be heard. �Looks like the Ice Queen strikes again.� Drue smirked. Joey glared at Drue Valentine and Chris Wolfe before she stalked off. �Man that woman is brutal.� Drue commented. �And beautiful enough to tempt a man to forget.� Chris agreed.
�Are we ready to leave Pace?� Joey asked. �Yeah I�ve just finished here.� Pacey answered as he turned out to look at his partner. �You okay Jo?� �I�m fine.� �No you�re not. I can tell. We�ve been partners long enough for me to know when you�re not okay, even when you�re trying to hide it.� �It was Chris.� �Ah, that explains it. I should have told Valentine to disappear. I�m sorry Jo.� �Pace, it�s not your fault. You weren�t the one to make men jerks.� �All men?� �Well you�re the exception.� �You flatter me, Potter.� Joey grinned. �I�m fine. I am. But if you really want to make it up to me you can finish the Emerson report.� �I�m not that sorry!� Pacey quickly stated. �Okay. Why don�t we head back to the station and discuss this new case with Cap.� |
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