�What�s up?� Kevin asked looking at her.
�Well it�s merely a suggestion about this case,� Jenai stated looking at Nickolas and he raised an eyebrow.
�JJ, I don�t have time for a witness�s suggestion on a case.�
�Won�t ya just listen to what I have to say?�
�No.�
�Why not?�
�Because I don�t have time.�
�It�ll only take like five minutes.�
�I have to get this done, Jenai.�
�Why can�t you just listen to my suggestions once in awhile? It might surprise you and actually work.�
�You�re a witness, Jenai.�
�So that makes me incapable of having any good ideas when it comes to my life and Dani�s life.�
�I didn�t say that.�
�You don�t have to. You�d rather save your own life from me than save mine from some psychotic terrorist. Thank you so much for caring. You�re not happy unless you�re ruining my life. I forgot, I�m just some stupid stripper who knows shit.� She went back inside.
�I don�t know why she gets so pissed off when I don�t listen to her ideas,� Kevin said.
�Maybe ya should,� Nickolas said and Kevin looked at him. �It is her life and is entitled to a suggestion or two regarding her safety.�
�Maybe so, but most of her ideas don�t work.�
�Perhaps this one will.�
�I ain�t going to chance it, Nick, because it�s her life.�
�But ya should listen.�
�Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?�
�Of course not; just suggesting.� Kevin sighed.
�She always wants to get in the middle, even when she shouldn�t ya know.� Nickolas grinned. �At times I think she should be a detective. She helps me out a lot with cases and finds the missing piece. She finds the stuff in between the lines that I miss. She�s a smart girl, but her ideas are crazy.�
�Maybe she should be a detective.�
�I mentioned it, but it�s not what she wants. Everyone that knows her knows that dancing is her life. Dancing is her love and she feels that if she doesn�t have that she has nothing. Whoever attacked her at the house knows how much dancing means to her.�
�May I make a suggestion?�
�Sure.�
�Um�why don�t ya close the case without closing it?� Kevin looked at him. �These people want you to and JJ�s life is on the line. You could say ya closed it to protect JJ, but actually work on it secretly.� He looked at Kevin nervously.
�It might work.�
�Really?�
�Yeah�yes it will and I�m going to go for it. First thing tomorrow morning I�m going to declare the case officially closed.� He nodded. �Let Stevens think she�s won. We�ll be getting her in the end though.� Nickolas nodded and started getting up.
�It was JJ�s idea.� Kevin looked at him, as he went to walk away but stopped.
�Hey, Kev,� Jenai interrupted. �Dan�s here.� He walked onto the balcony.
�Sorry to bother ya, Sarge,� Daniel began, �but the Commander needs your signature on some papers for a case that�s going to court tomorrow. He asked me to bring them by.�
�Alright,� Kevin said. Daniel handed him the papers and Kevin saw a bandage on his right hand. �What happened to your hand?�
�My neighbor�s dog bit me about two weeks ago,� Daniel replied.
�I bet it was painful,� Jenai said and Daniel nodded. Jenai looked at his hand again and thought back to the day at Callen�s apartment: she picked up the letter opener and drove it through her stranglers hand; her stranglers right hand. Jenai gasped and dropped the glass she was holding, as Nickolas, Kevin, and Daniel looked.
�Are you all right?� Nickolas asked.
�Uh, yeah,� Jenai was quick to say. She bent down to clean up her mess and Nickolas joined her. �I can manage.�
�Are you sure you�re ok?� Nickolas whispered and she looked at him. �Let�s go inside.� They got up and he led her inside.
Nickolas led Jenai into the bedroom and closed the door while looking at her. She looked at him while wiping the tears from her eyes. They looked at each other and he walked over to her.
�What�s wrong?� Nickolas asked and she shook her head. �So you just cry when you break a glass?� She didn�t say anything. �JJ, I saw the way you were looking at Dan�s hand. What is it?�
�I think its Dan,� Jenai blurted out.
�What?� Nickolas exclaimed along with other voices and they looked to see Justin, Dannika, Orlando, Summer, and Aaron.
�What do you mean it�s Dan?� Justin asked.
�I ain�t talking to you,� Jenai snapped and looked back at Nickolas.
�Why Dan?� Nickolas asked.
�He�s got a bandage on his right hand,� Jenai stated.
�Because the dog bit him,� Justin reminded her.
�None of his neighbors have dogs,� Jenai pointed out. �Dogs aren�t allowed in the apartment, because Jake lives in that building and so do you Justin.� They looked at each other.
�Maybe he meant the place beside the building,� Dannika suggested.
�No,� Jenai said.
�Why not?� Nickolas asked. �A lot of people get bit by dogs.�
�He said it was about two weeks ago it happened,� Jenai began, �and two weeks ago, about, I shoved a letter opener through some guy�s hand.� She pointed to her neck. �I got a reminder.� They looked at her. �It was the right hand and Dan�s right hand is bandaged.�
�It could be a coincidence,� Orlando said.
�I don�t think it is,� Jenai said.
�Dan�s a good guy,� Justin said.
�And I use to think you were a good guy also,� Jenai rebutted and Justin just looked at her. �How much do we actually know about him? Not that much.�
�If he was a psychotic terrorist,� Nickolas began, �I don�t think he would have gotten the job. I�m sure they would�ve found something during the background check.�
�Maybe you shouldn�t mix your meds anymore,� Aaron said and they all laughed, but Jenai and Nickolas.
�Go ahead and think I�m crazy if ya want,� Jenai said. �Laugh at me all ya want and do whatever, but Dan�s in on it.�
�No he�s not,� Justin said. �He�s too smart to mess with you, because he knows you can kick his ass.�
�Oh I forgot yet again,� Jenai started, �I�m just some stupid stripper who knows nothing. You guys are the smart ones and I�m just the cute little brunette along for the ride. Well I don�t need any of you.� She walked out of the room.
�She�s such a drama queen,� Summer said.
�Yeah,� Dannika agreed. �I think she does it for attention.�
�I don�t need to be a drama queen to get attention,� Jenai interrupted and they looked. �I don�t need to be around people like you.� She got her suitcases. �You guys can�t stand me; Kevin can�t stand me, hell no one probably can. I make one suggestion of who this psychotic might be and I�m over-reacting and crazy.� She put her stuff in her suitcases.
�Where are you going?� Nickolas asked.
�Anywhere you guys aren�t,� Jenai replied continuing to fill her suitcases and Nickolas slammed them shut and she jumped. �What are you doing?�
�You are not going anywhere.�
�Don�t tell me what I can and can�t do, Detective. I am a mature adult and can take care of myself.�
�Plus you�re my responsibility and I�m not letting you go anywhere.�
She grinned. �You�re cute.� He smiled. �But not that cute. You can�t stop me from leaving here or anywhere.�
�Oh yes I can.�
�No you can�t.� She went to walk out again and Nickolas grabbed her and pulled out his handcuffs. �What are you doing?� He cuffed her to the headboard on the bed and looked at her. �What the hell is this? What are you doing?� Nickolas motioned the others out and started following behind. �Detective, don�t do this to me, please!� She started crying and tried to get her hands free. �Nick, please uncuff me!� He walked out. �Nickolas! Please!� He closed the door. �Please, Nick! Justin! Kevin! Anyone! Get me out of these!� She continued crying and screaming, but no one came.
CHAPTER 27
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