�Came for a job of any kind,� Jenai said. �But I can�t dance yet unfortunately.�
�Your brace is off.�
�But I got a few weeks of rehab too.�
�Oh.�
�Hopefully by Christmas I can dance again.�
�I hope so too. This place is strange without you.� Jenai nodded.
�Is Alex around?�
�He�s up in the office with Howie.�
�Thanks.�
�Anytime.� Jenai walked away and went upstairs to Alexander�s office. She knocked on the door and they looked.
�Hey, guys,� Jenai said.
�Hey, JJ,� Alexander and Howard said.
�How�s it going?� Jenai asked. �How�s business?�
�Business is good as always,� Alexander replied. �Customers miss ya though.� Jenai grinned.
�Are you coming back anytime soon?� Howard wanted to know.
�That�s why I�m here,� Jenai said.
�Oh,� Alexander said. �When can ya start?�
�Tomorrow I guess,� Jenai began, �but I can�t dance yet. I was hoping you could give me a waitressing job or bartending job or something until I can dance again.�
�I could make ya a waitress,� Alexander stated. �It�s been busy lately.�
�That�ll do,� Jenai said. �As long as I�m here.�
�Where else would ya want to be?� Howard asked.
�A tropical island drinking margarita�s all night,� Jenai replied and they laughed. �And making love on the beach under the stars.� She smiled.
�Sounds tempting,� Alexander said.
�Very tempting,� Howard added.
�Yes it does,� Jenai agreed. �But I got to go.�
�Alright,� Alexander said. �We�ll see ya tomorrow then.�
�Okie dokie,� Jenai said walking out. She went to g back downstairs, as Emilie was coming up. �Hey, Em.�
�Hey,� Emilie said. �I thought you said that cute Nick guy you were with was an exec from NYC on vacation?� Jenai looked at her. �He�s a cop. I remember seeing him when�and he�s downstairs with your brother now.�
�So I lied, big deal.�
�Why?�
�Because you would�ve just went on and on about how I hate cops and Nick already heard it all.�
�Oh; you could�ve just said so.�
�Well I didn�t alright.� She walked downstairs just to be stopped by Kevin and Nickolas. �What?�
�When did you see Callen last?� Kevin questioned and Jenai looked at him strange.
�The night before she was found,� Jenai answered. �I already told you.�
�We got an eyewitness that put you at her apartment building the night before she was found,� Nickolas said. �They said they seen you with someone and you were stuffing something, that looked like a body, into a car trunk.�
�And what time was that?� Jenai asked.
�About 3:30 a.m.� Kevin replied.
�Jakob picked me up at three a.m. after I got off work and went back to his place where I fell asleep,� Jenai stated. �His neighbor was sitting in the hallway when we went in.�
�What time was that?� Nickolas asked.
�Going on four I believe,� Jenai said. �We stopped at Stefano�s to get a quick bite and went to the apartment right after.� They looked at her.
�What time did you leave Stefano�s?� Kevin wanted to know.
�I don�t remember,� Jenai said. �I was tired and hungry.�
�If ya don�t come up with a tight alibi we�re going to have to charge ya with first degree murder,� Nickolas pointed out. �And I don�t want to be the one to do that. I don�t think the Sarge does either.� Jenai didn�t say anything. �C�mon, JJ, where were ya the night Callen was murdered?�
�I told you,� Jenai snapped holding back her tears. �I was with Jakob. Go ask Stefano and Jakob�s neighbor in 5D; I'm sure they�ll vouch for us.� She stormed off.
�Jenai!� Kevin yelled, as she went out the door.
�I don�t think she did it, Sarge,� Nickolas said.
�Neither do I, Nick, but we have an eyewitness that puts her at the apartment.�
�The eyewitness seems fishy too. Why would he come to us when everyone knows you �closed� the case? And everyone knows Stevens is handling it. Something doesn�t seem right.� Kevin looked at him. �The guy seemed nervous during it all.�
�You have good detective skills, Rookie.�
�Thanks.�
�So don�t let your feelings for Jenai blind side ya.� Nickolas didn�t say anything. �Don�t mix business with pleasure alright?�
�Of course not.�
�JJ can really work her way into a guy�s life and confuse them. You have to be careful with her.� Nickolas nodded. �She has her sights on you and I don�t want her to confuse my best detective.�
�I�m already confused when it comes to her.�
�But don�t let it control you.�
�No, sir.�
�Let�s go talk to Stefano and 5D.� Nickolas nodded and they left.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�JJ and Jakob got here about 3:15 a.m.,� Stefano said. �They ordered a big thing of Fettuccini and then left.�
�What time was that?� Nickolas questioned.
�Probably about 3:37,� Stefano answered. �I made them a fresh batch and we stood here talking until it was done.�
�They didn�t leave and then come back?� Kevin asked.
�No, sir,� Stefano said. �JJ was saying how tired she was the whole time and Jakob and I were talking about the Yankees game the night before.�
�Ok,� Kevin said. �Thanks a lot, Stefano.�
�Anytime, Sergeant,� Stefano said and Kevin and Nickolas walked away.
�No one can be in two different places at the same time, Sarge,� Nickolas pointed out. �This eyewitness is a crack if ya want my opinion.�
�He�s working for someone and trying to frame Jenai. I don�t know where else to look. No on has seen Detective Fatone since the day after the Michaels� murder. His family has declared him missing.� He sighed. �We�re at a dead end, Carter.�
�Maybe not exactly.�
�What do ya mean?�
�Well the time Miller came by the hotel the other week with the bandage on his hand, JJ suggested he was in on it.� Kevin looked at him interested. �JJ remembered shoving the letter opener through the guy�s right hand and that�s the same hand the dog bit Dan�s hand. We all thought she was crazy, but now I don�t think so.�
�But why Miller? What would he have to gain in all this?� Nickolas shrugged. �It doesn�t make sense.�
�No it doesn�t.�
�Let�s get back to the station and try to figure this out.�
�Could it wait?�
�Why?�
�I promised JJ I�d take her to the movies and pick her up at 7:30; it�s already six.� Kevin raised an eyebrow. �I�ll put the blame on you if she accuses me of anything.� Kevin sighed. �Don�t you want to spend time with your beautiful wife on Friday night? Take her out dancing or something to celebrate your coming child.�
�You do have a point.�
�Good; I�ll see ya later.� Nickolas walked off.
�First thing Monday morning, Carter!� Nickolas continued walking and Kevin shook his head.
CHAPTER 30
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