Subject: 97-TheModelMurders


I had a friend pass away this summer whom I had originally planned on
dedicating the other story I'm working on to her memory...  However,
that one is taking far longer to get out (although that is turning
into a good thing) than anticipated...  So instead I'm dedicating this
one to her.

Margaret was a retired doctor when I first met her and her husband
through a hiking & mountaineering club when I was 12.  They were both
older than my grandparents, but were borth very young at heart.  That
was around the time that my mom was, as it's since turned out,
misdiagnosed as terminally ill, but we didn't know it was a wrong
diagnosis atthe time...  Margaret and Hugh Neave took me under their
wing so to speak, and became family to me...  When they found out that
I did a little writing of poetry and short stories, but was too shy to
share them with anyone, they began to encourage me...  They were the
first Margaret in particular was the one who encouraged me to share my
writing...  Because of her encouragement, I actually entered a couple
of pieces of my poetry into a compitition which resulted in one of
them being included in an anthology somewhere.  And another submission
resulted in me being selected to represent our school at an author's
conference... 

There are a million more things that I could say about either or both
of them, but suffice it to say that I don't think I'd be writing today
if it hadn't been for their encouragement when I was younger...

So in the memory of Dr. Margaret Shirley Neave (1910 - 1997) and her
husband Hugh who predeceased her in 1988, I dedicate the Model
Murders.  They will always be remembered and cherished by me.

---<---<---<@

This is a story that is a serious Nick & Tracy solving a case with a
lot of fluff thrown in to balance the serious stuff... If you like N+N
&/or T+V you should like this one...  Also quite a bit with Reese if 
you like him...  
Spoilers:  -Let No Man Tear Assunder  -Fever.  

  -Micki 
     (October 8, 1997)

(98/07/19 - ADDENDUM: permission for Mel or FTP site to archive, or for
any member of T+Vpack or DP's.  Anyone else, please ask first.)

---<---<---<@

Natalie laughed as Nick opened the lift door. "We really should do that
more often, Nick.  You seemd to enjoy yourself, and I know *you*," she
tapped him lightly on his chest with the back of her hand, "were a big
hit.  Although I'm sure Joyce has decided you're my boyfriend.  Her niece
kept eyeing you, you know.  And a couple of times I heard Joyce tell her
you were already taken."  Natalie laughed and threw her coat onto the end
of the sofa.  "Be right back, Nick."

As Nick saw her heading for the bathroom, he smiled and in a completely
straight face said "We should go to more retirement parties, Nat?  Why?"

Natalie stopped a moment, then shock her head, not bothering to reply to
that...  Instead she thought about her friend who had just retired.
Considering who it was, there was no way she would have gone without a
date since the woman was more of a matchmaker than Schank's widow, so she
had dragged Nick along.

Joyce was a doctor whom Natalie had come to really respect while she was 
an intern.  Joyce knew Nat's interest was to be a coroner.  So she
encouraged Natalie to use any kinds of test or other diagnostic tools that
were available.  "I encourage the interns around here to talk *with* their
patients.  But you need to listen *to* yours.  Your patients won't be able
to tell you a thing... verbally.  A gunshot wound to the head is a
gunshot wound to the head...  But that's where you get to do the real
detective work...  you have to figure out if it was a suicide or a 
homicide.  They won't be able to speak to you...  but if you listen to
them, they'll still be able to tell you...  you have to learn a bedside
manner suitable for *your* patients."  When Natalie had questioned her,
she had explained that she couldn't just look at the obvious... like
looking at a living patient, and listening for subtle clues.  A cold that
won't go away... can be anything from exactly what it seems to be, to
allergies, to a cronic weekness in the immune system making the patient
suseptible to everything...  She went back to talking about a shooting
victim.  "Gunshot to the temple.  Gun in hand. Suicide or murder?" When  
Natalie had said suicide, she had said "Why?  because the victim was
holding the gun?  Was that the gun that the bullet was shot from?  Was the
victim left or right handed, and was the gun in the correct hand for them
to use it?  Were they shot point blank range, or was it further away and
someone trying to set it up to look like something it isn't?  Your patient
has a story to tell you.  You need to discern what all the components of
their story are.  Just like I need to listen to what my patients verbally
tell me.  If I miss them saying something is cronic or recurrent, that can
screw up my diagnosis.  If you miss something yours can tell you, someone
might get away with murder.  Or someone else could get charged with
something they didn't do."  Natalie had taken that lecture to heart.
"That's where you get to do the real detective work" she'd said... Natalie
had come to believe that.  She also believed she was a better coroner for
that lecture.

As she came back, Nick was standing by his answering machine, with the
remote in his hand.  "I just decided to check my machine before we start
the movie.  Looks like 2 messages..."  Nick picked up a pen and a piece of
paper, and then hit the button...

"Oh... Sorry, I must have misdialed.  That doesn't sound like Judy and
Christine Johnson's place.  Sorry."  Then the telltale click before the
next beep and the next message played.

A voice that sounded rather like it belonged to a middle aged man spoke.
"Hello.  I'm calling for Nick Knight on behalf of the Norston Home.  There
was a ticket in out raffle purchased in your name.  You've been drawn for
one of the second prizes.  Please phone between 8am and noon and ask for
Trevor.  He'll need to ask some info of you to verify you're the right
person if you don't have your raffle stub saved.  If you do, he'll need
to get the number from you on that.  He can explain about what you've won
to you." Natalie could hear that a number was being spoken, but she wasn't
close enough to make out what the number was... "Congratulations, Mr.
Knight!"

Natalie watched as Nick went into the kitchen, and pulled out a small box
with a bunch of ticket stubs in it, and began to sort through them.
"What's this, Nick?"

"Oh... I saw who the raffle tickets were supporting when Stan had them at
work.  He volunteers with them when he can.  They helped one of his 
nephews a while back.  Anyway, I like the charity, so I bought 20...  I
didn't expect to win, I just figured it was for a good cause...  I put my
name on one of them, but after filling it in once, I decided I'd rather
see you benefit if it won, so I put the rest of them in your name... Guess
it didn't make much difference though..."  Nick smiled as he handed Nat a
ticket stub on which he'd pencilled `mine'.

Natalie read over the prize list... grand prize: a trip for 2 to Florida
(airfare, motels, dinners, and $5000).  1st prize: a Jeep.  2nd prize: 1
of 2 weekends at a local health spa. 3rd prize: 1 of 3 dinners for two
(Natalie recognized the name of the restaurant, but had never gone to it
as it was one of Toronto's most prestigious restaurants and as such was
well out of her budget). 4th prize: 1 of 5 video collections of 10 videos
of your choice.  "Hoping for the last prize, eh Nick?"

"I wasn't 'hoping' for any of the prizes, Nat..."  He looked over and saw
her smiling at him, "but I figured the only thing on there useful to me
was the videos."  Nick started grinning from ear to ear, as an idea came
to him.

"What?  You're up to something, Nick.  What are you up to?"

"Nothing.  Come watch the movie."  Nick sat on the sofa, and reached out
patting it, indicating Nat should come and sit down.

Natalie sat down next to him on the sofa, and Nick hit the play button on
his remote.  Natalie was taking a drink from her bottle of Coke when the
first glimpse of bodies staked on poles came on screen.  Nick watched
Natalie shudder, and then she slid over and crawled under his arm to lean
against his shoulder.  "I don't get *why* you and half the women I've ever
heard talking about this movie think it's so romantic...  It obviously
upsets you.  So why watch it, Nat?"

"First off, Nick, think about my reaction to it... where'd I end up?  the
horror of it is part of the draw.  Made me scoot over and start cuddling
you, right?"  Natalie didn't wait for an answer.  "Besides, Bram Stoker's
Dracula is a classic.  It's got a theme, Nick.  Ever noticed the bottom of
the video box?  It says right on it `love never dies'.  And *that* is
romantic.  Now shut up and watch the movie with me."  Natalie playfully
cuffed Nick on his chest, as she grinned up at him, then snuggled a little
tighter against him and turned her attention towards his big screen tv
once more.

----

"Natalie..."

She looked up at him slightly disoriented.  "What?"

"You fell asleep part way through your movie...  I know how much you like
it, so I figured if you were tired enough to fall asleep during it, then
you needed the sleep...  I have a phone call to make now, remember?  So I
need to get up.  But you can stay.  I'd rather you stayed today anyway if
you're this tired.  I hate to think of you driving home in this state..."

Natalie nodded.  "Okay.  I'll stay."  She watched Nick walk over to where
he'd put the notepad he'd transcribed the number onto, then back to the
telephone with it.  She observed his grin as he dialed the number and
asked for Trevor.  But in her sleepy condition, she didn't notice it was
mischievious...

"Yeah, I'm Nick Knight.... Umm, I have it here. The number on the stub is
10458 C....  Yup....  Well, actually, that prize isn't something I'd be
able to use.  I was actually wondering if the prize is transferable?..."

Natalie heard his voice drop to almost a whisper and then Nick continued.

"Well, I don't have any family...  would my, umm, girlfriend be considered
family?..."  

Natalie started grinning...  she was a little more awake now, and hearing
that she'd put together *what* Nick was up to, the schemer!  Natalie
sighed, and snuggled back down into the blanket that Nick had wrapped
around her sometime during the movie after she'd fallen asleep.  Let him
think she was sleepier than she really was...  Maybe she'd hear him say
other interesting things...

Nick looked over at Natalie, half asleep on the sofa, and smiled.  "Her
info?  Oh, sure. Umm, my girlfriend's name? That would be Natalie... Dr.
Natalie Lambert."

Nat listened intently as Nick gave them her phone number, then arranged to
pick up the packet himself, so he could give it to her.

----

"Thanks for the ride down, Nick!  It wasn't necessary, but it was nice."
Tracy climbed out of the back of the caddy, and stood on the sidewalk
waiting for Nat to get out.

"I'm still not sure what exactly they mean by pampered, Nick.  I'll wait
til *after* the weekend to thank you..."  Natalie looked at Nick, trying
to keep the grin from showing...  It wasn't working...

Nick leaned over, and gave her a kiss on the cheek.  Then as she was
getting out of the car, he said "You two have fun, okay?  I'll come pick
you guys up Sunday night at 9."  He looked at the 2 of them, and then
added "I'm not sure which of you to tell to keep the other in line...  I'm
not sure which of you is more likely to get into mischief!" He waved, and
then watched them walk into the spa for the weekend...  Nick sighed...
He'd used to prefer working alone...  now though, with both of them gone
for a couple of days, he actually thought he might be a little lonely...

While Nick was sitting at home and playing his piano before going in to
work, Natalie and Tracy were getting themselves registered and settled
into their room for the weekend...  Then they went to an aquasize class.
After the pool, there was a little party for everyone, and they decided to
go to it...  Nat and Tracy had both expected there to be a lot more women
than men at the spa, but while Natalie had expected a lot more older
women, Tracy had expected it to be more of a so-called 'fat-farm' where
the 2 of them would be quite out of place...  They were both quite
surprised by the diversity of people there...  18 to 68, scrawny to very
obese, and almost an equal mix of men and women...  almost...  While they
did enjoy mixing and dancing with the men at the party, neither of them
had intentions of using the spa as a 'meat market'...  they both had their
own interests in that regard...  By the time the party began to turn into
a singles club, they both decided that they were going to head off to bed,
to be ready for a full day tomorrow.

Saturday morning, about 8am, they had a large, healthy breakfast.  After
this, they went to the sunbeds for a little while.  The rest of their day
was filled with aerobics, aquacizing and working with a trainer to develop
a personal workout routine geared to individual lifestyle, interests and
budget.  They had a light lunch midday somewhere...  By the time dinner
was to be served, at 6:30, they were both quite hungry.  After dinner they
had the evening to themselves, for freetime activities.  Nat and Trace 
went and did some more swimming, and enjoyed use of the hot tubs, before
deciding to go and try out the mud baths...  Both of them were curious
about them, but each one would finger the other as to who's idea it really
was to try them out.  The rooms each had 2 mud tubs, sunk into the tiled
floor.  There was a stand up shower in one corner as well, where they
could go clean the mud off afterwards, and a panel that could be reached
from either tub that was covered with clear plastic so it could be wiped
down, but by pressing different buttons on the panel would play different
selections of romantic or relaxation music.  As they each lay back
relaxing, they discussed what they would get done the next day, since 
Sunday would be the makeover day....

----

Nick was standing in Reese's office.  Reese had called him in, so Nick was
expecting either a lecture about something done wrong, or some sort of
assignment that didn't require him having a partner.  He was quite 
surprised when Reese started asking him personal things.

"I've been your captain now for how long, Knight?  And I still know very
little about you."

"I think anything you need is in my files, Captain."

"Maybe anyting I *need* is, but that doesn't tell me anything.  I've
noticed how morose you looked last night, and again tonight.  I've seen
you work without Tracy so I know that's not the reason.  Hell, most of the
time someone ought to sit you two down and explain what the word 'partner'
means to you both...  But if you working alone isn't why you look so 
forlorn, well, I'd have to guess that it's because Dr. Lambert is away for
the weekend.  So tell me, how'd you and the Doctor meet?"

Nick gave his standard answer that he and Natalie had worked out so long
ago.

Reese nodded.  "Good.  So how long have you and she been friends, Knight?"

Nick wasn't sure if his captain meant friends, or if he meant *friends* in
that way of speaking so well mastered by schoolkids everywhere when they
ask someone if they *like* someone else...  He decided to give an answer
that could cover both bases, he hoped.  "Well, when we first met, we hit
it off pretty well... Since then... yes, we have gotten to be closer
friends, but it's just happened slowly over time.  I don't think it's
something you can say exactly *when* it happened.  It just did."

Just as Reese was about to reply or ask another question, someone knocked
on his office door, and then opened it quickly.  "Sorry to interupt,
Captain.  But we've got a call in of a body found, so I figured you should
know.  We've got a couple of cars responding.  A woman.  Apparently found
in a pool of bloody water."

Reese asked the fellow where, and was given an address.  When the officer
left and closed the door he turned back to Nick, "Where were we,
Knight?... Wait a minute, You look absolutely chalky white.  What's the
matter?"

"That address...  It's where I dropped Natalie and Tracy off on Friday
night."

"Christ! That's just what I need.  Grab your coat, Knight.  Let's go make
sure they're okay."

----

As soon as they stepped out from the Caddy, Nick went over to one of the
other officers who'd gotten there first.  He was currently questioning
whomever had found the woman.  

"Where's the body, John?"  Nick put his hand on the other officer's
shoulder.

"I thought it was our case... What's up?"  Then he saw Reese racing over
not too far behind Knight, and shook his head, and pointed them in the
right dirrection.

As soon as the two men got to the scene, they were both immediately struck
by the the gore.  Nick could never admit it to anyone, but he knew the
scent of both women's blood, and knew without checking the body that this
wasn't either of them.  Reese, however, without benefit of vapiricly
enhanced senses, had to go over and take a look.  "It's not either of 'em,
Knight.  We can relax about that."  

Another officer had just come in and had a perplexed look on his face
when he saw Knight and Reese there, until he heard that comment.  "Not
someone you know, I take it?"

Reese shook his head.  "You don't know how glad I am of that, either."

The officer obviously needed to speak to the Captain, so Nick called out
"I'm going to go find them."  And left the room before Reese or anyone
else could stop him.

Nick went up to one of the staff, so designated by the uniform t-shirts
they wore, and asked how he'd find out where 2 of their guests were.  The
fellow pointed him towards a woman at a desk.  Nick went and spoke to her,
and after whammying her, was given both the guest room number that had
been assigned to the two ladies, as well as the room number for the
facility they had registered to use that evening.  Nick never thought to
ask what was in that room, however.

----

Tracy and Natalie were each lying back in their respective tubs, enjoying
the warmth of it against their skin, but still not too convinced of the
purported health value of batheing in mud...

"I dunno Nat.  I think I'll probably forego the pedicure tomorrow.  But I
think maybe I'll get something done with my hair.  I've had my hair like
this for a long time, so maybe it's time for a change.  But I think I'll
take advantage of the facial and manicure.  I just do not see any point in
a pedicure though."  Tracy sat up, reaching for the panel to choose 
another selection of relaxation music.

"I will.  I'll get the facial, the manicure, and the pedicure.  If I do
anything with the salon, it wouldn't be anything permanent.  It took me
too long to get my hair to a length where I'm happy with it.  No way I'm
going to do anything permanent to it."

"Well, I bet they have the temporary colourings...  Ever think of anything
like that?  They wash out after I think about 10 washes, and I bet it
would probably get Nick's interest...  if for no other reason than it's
different...  Guys seem to like that...  Hey, they even have a body
piercing studio here.  Maybe you should do something wild like get a
nipple pierce or something..."  Tracy was grinning from ear to ear at the
shocked expression that crossed Natalie's face at that suggestion, when
the door suddenly burst open, despite having been locked.

Both women looked up, and both simultaniously exclaimed "Nick!"  But as
Tracy slid as far under the mud as she could, Natalie sat up.  

"Oh, umm, sorry... I..." Nick turned away from Tracy, and stood looking
at his Natalie... "I just wanted to be sure that you two were okay.
That's all."  Nick suddenly realized that Natalie wasn't wearing anything,
and although the mud kept him from actually seeing any of her naked body,
he was finding it a rather distracting thought, not that he really minded,
of course.

Natalie sat up more, and could now see how red and embarased Tracy was.
Tracy was also giving her a peculiar look.  "Any reason why we wouldn't
be?"  She looked over at Tracy, and asked "What?  Okay, so it's just mud.
It's still thick enough that even sitting up I'm more covered than I would
be with a swim suit.  Besides, it's just Nick."

"`Just Nick' may be fine for you, Natalie...  but NOT for me...  I'm
staying under as long as he's here!"  

Nick knew Tracy was blushing deeply... he could smell it... Nick continued
to face Natalie... "Ordinarily I wouldn't have come over like this, but
under the circumstances...  well, I wanted to be the one to talk to you.
I need to ask you if you were at the pool this evening at all, either of
you?"  In spite of trying hard to keep his attention on the questions he
needed to ask them, he found that his gaze had dropped from Natalie's face
to her torso...  ~If someone didn't know it were mud, he decided, it would
look rather like a reddish-brown tube top.~

Natalie answered, "Yes.  but we left about an hour ago.  We decided to
come try the mud baths out.  Why?  Has something happened?"  She saw
Nick's eyes drop lower and smiled...  ~Maybe this'll actually be something
that he'd like to check out sometime,~ she thought absently.

"Yeah.  A murder in the pool.  Since you're already here, Nat, they'll
probably ask you to take over with the body, *if* they're sure you're not
a witness or anything.  So, if you've been here for the last hour, did you
hear anything?"

Tracy was sitting forward now, hunching down to keep her chest under the
mud.  "No.  They've got these rooms soundproofed, and they have these neat
little panels so you can select what music you want piped in, if you want
music at all.  We haven't heard anything..."  a stray thought crossed her
mind ~How come she's the lucky one?  It would have been much better had
Vachon come rushing in.~  And she blushed even deeper as she register that
thought.

"No, Nick, Trace is right.  From in here with the door closed, you could
have a stampede of wild elephants going on in the hall outside the door
and not know.  Sorry.  But we can't help... that way."

Just then there was a knock on the almost closed door, and Reese stuck his
head in.  "Sorry to intrude.  I wanted to see if Nick found you.  We were
worried about you."  Reese noted slightly amused that Natalie had been
sitting up until he stuck his head in.  You couldn't see anything through
the mud but the reaction was as if you could.  Soon as she saw him stick
his head in, she slid under the mud in a way that just left her face and
the ball cap which she had her hair tucked under visible.  

As Tracy saw Reese poke his head in, she looked over at Natalie and 
mumbled sarcastically under her breath "Great!  Let's just invite the
whole damn precinct in here!"

Nick had still been rather distracted by Natalie's mud-covered bosom when
Reese had poked his head in and Natalie had slid under the mud, ensuring
her coverage.  As Nick lifted his head he actually heard Tracy's little
comment.  Nick stood up, and strode over to the door.  "They were in here
when it happened, and didn't hear a thing.  These rooms are soundproof."

Reese looked over at Natalie, "Dr. Evans is on tonight, but he's already
on another call out to a multi-vehicle accident.  If you want it, since
you guys aren't witnesses, the case is yours.  Up to you."

Natalie looked over at Reese.  "Would Nick and Trace have the case too?"

"Possibly.  Depends on the load of the two who got it.  if it's less than
these two, I can't switch them.  But if it's more, I can."  Reese looked 
at Nick.  "You know who's on this one yet?"

Nick answered "John and Brady."

Reese nodded.  "Not any more.  They have to prepare for trial.  Guess you
3 are on the job." He looked pointedly at Nick.  "They're fine, Knight.
but they're not going to get out of there with you hovering.  C'mon."  He
looked back at the ladies.  "We'll wait for you down by the pool."

----

As Natalie and Tracy were enroute to join the others at the scene, Tracy
overheard one of the other officers comment to his partner "Ahhh... The
coroner Lambert's here.  That explains why Knight was so antsy til he saw
the body.  And young Vetter explains Reese.  If they were here, well,
that..." by then the women had passed out of earshot, and as much as Tracy
was curious as to what else he was going to say, she knew she didn't have
time for it...  

As they entered the pool area, Trace whispered to Natalie "You know, we've
both got reps... Mine of course is because of who my dad is...  And yours,
well, whether they are right or not doesn't matter.  Everyone seems to
think you and Nick are..." Tracy crossed her fingers and held them up so
Nat could see.  As they walked towards where the body had been pulled to
and was lying covered on the deck, Tracy reached out and grabbed Natalie's
elbow.  "So, are you?"

"You said yourself them being right doesn't matter.  What do you think?"
Natalie bent down to pull the plastic away from the victim.  "Hey Trace,
wasn't she with that group that was talking about a photoshoot at dinner?"

"Yeah, she was.  I wonder if they're models? She certainly had the look
for it.  It's a real shame.  And I think you are avoiding answering my
question...  And I also think that you don't give someone who's just a
casual friend this kind of a prize..."

"Might be something to check into.  I know she was with that group.  Maybe
they can tell you something.  And it seems like you buy into the rumours
yourself..."

"So, tell me I'm wrong."  Tracy stood up, and waited to see if Natalie
would say anything more.  When she didn't, she leaned over Natalie's
shoulder "I knew it...  Anyway, I'll go find her friends and see what we
can come up with.  Catch ya later."

As soon as Tracy went to leave, Reese walked over to her while Nick walked
over to Natalie...  "I am sorry about barging in on you guys...  I really
was just worried."

"Yeah, well, it's not me you embarrassed, it's your partner.  She's the
one you need to appologize to."

"I will.  So, anything besides the obvious?  We can see the mutilation and
the stabs to the body.  Can you tell which happened first?"

"Since she was in the water, not here I can't.  My guess though would be
stabbed first, and then mutilated in some sort of frenzy.  It doesn't look
like it was done for any reason than to disfigure her.  And that isn't
something someone would just let get done to them... Nope.  I'd have to
bet that she was knocked out first...  When I get her back to the morgue I
can check for a blow that might have done it.  And get a full toxicology 
report.  But she doesn't look like she had a chance to fight."

"Natalie?"

When she looked up at him He continued.  "After the body's on it's way to
your office, why don't you go and get your stuff packed up.  Since you've
taken the case, I don't think you are going to have a chance to finish
your weekend here.  My car's outside.  I can take you to drop your stuff
off and then take you to work."

"Don't forget Tracy.  I'll grab her stuff too."

"Nat?"

Natalie looked over at him, "humm?"

"I'm glad you're okay.  I'm going to go catch up with Tracy now."  Nick
looked like he wanted to say something more, but wasn't sure how or what.

"I know, Nick." Natalie leaned over and whispered "I missed you too."
Then she cuffed him lightly.  "Now get to work.  The Captain is going to
wonder what he's paying you for if you don't do something useful soon.
Now go.  I'll see you out at the car in a little bit."

Captain Reese saw that little exchange between Nick and Natalie.  He had
to admire the doctor.  A lot of people would have found out about the
horror that had occured, and professional or no, off duty would have a lot
worse of a reaction than she did.  She always seemed so professional no
matter what was thrown at her.  And she was the one who was pushing Knight
to go and do what he should be...  He thought to himself 'good for you,
Doctor.'

----

After doing the autopsy and toxicology, Natalie found that she had been
right about being knocked out.  The victim had received a knock-out blow
to the back of the head.  Although in truth, the victim likely would have
died within a short time of her murder.  Whether it was self administered
or something slipped to her she couldn't determine since it was found in
the victims stomach, but the woman had recently ingested, a large quantity
of cocaine that had been cut with strychnine. Either way, she was dead. 

Natalie had stopped over at the precinct to drop off some papers for
Captain Reese on another case, and of course she stopped and chatted with
Nick and Tracy.

She was still there when a phone call came in for them..  There was another
model's body discovered with similar mutilations.  Even though it was
another precinct's jurisdiction, they thought Nick and Tracy may want in
on it.

Then Natalie's pager beeped, and an address came up.  It was the same
location that Nick and Trace had just been invited to...

----

As the 3 of them walked into the old warehouse, their senses were suddenly
confronted by what seemed to be some tropical paradise...  And dispite
being nighttime, it seemed like midday on the sets...  There were a bunch
of people milling around, in varying clothing.  Some were obviously
models, wearing swimsuits.  Some had some sort of robe or other coverup,
but most of the models were casually walking around as if they really were
on some beach on a tropical island paradise...  Most of the models
were women, although there were a few men around, and Nick noticed rather
amusedly that the ones who kept garnering Tracy's attention seemed to bear
some resemblance to a conquistador that Trace didn't realize both of them
knew...  He elbowed Natalie gently, and nodded in the direction of first
Tracy and then the subject of her appraising eye.

"See something you like, Trace?" Natalie whispered quietly, knowing full
well that Nick would be able to hear both her question and the reply, if
she got one.

Tracy blushed deeply.  "Oh... uhhh... Yeah...  But don't tell Nick though.
I'd be way too embarrassed if he found out."

Natalie just nodded, then she bent down to examine the body.  

This one had been found in a bathroom.  When the blood started to seep out
from under the door, someone went to investigate, expecting a practical
joke.  They found this horror instead.  Another young model, again a
knock-out blow, which was obvious this time since it had caused a pretty
large bruise to begin to form, prior to her death.  Then the vicious stab
wounds, and this girl had had both of her breast mutilated in much the
same fashion as the previous victim...  The girls hadn't worked for the
same agency or known each other so far as anyone knew.  At this point it
looked to Tracy and Nick as if the only connection was that they were both
female, both models, and both wearing swimsuits at the time of their
murder.  At least as far as they could determine prior to Natalie okaying 
the body's removal.  

----

After the autopsy and toxicology, this girl was clean as a whistle.  She
was young, and it appeared that she had likely never done any drugs or 
smoked anything.  There was absolutely nothing to be learned from her
body, other than the facts of the M.O. being the same, and the
observations noticed at the crime scene: females, models, swimsuits.
There seemed to be nothing more to go on...  The only potentially
useful thing that Natalie had was the report back from a hair found in the
washroom.  It had managed to get caught in the lock on the stall, which
was where it was supposed that the murdered hid.  As to if it was the
murderer's or not, that was unknown.  What they did know was that it was
not the victim's hair.

----

It was Monday the week later when they received another call for a
murdered model.  Nick stopped at Reese's office before they left for the
scene to let him know.  "If the M.O. looks to be the same, I'd guess we're
looking for one suspect in the cases, Captain."

"It sure smells of a serial.  You're probably right, Knight."  He looked
out at Tracy standing by the desk, her coat on and Nick's in hand waiting
quietly but impatiently for her partner.  "Go on.  Get outta here, Knight.
Your partner is waiting for you.  Just keep me informed."

After Nick left the office, he added to himself "Like that'll ever happen.
It'll be a cold day in hell before anyone ever keeps me informed of
anything."

----

Tracy and Nick walked toward the body.  Natalie was already there when
they arrived.  Nick waved to her as the officer first on the scene came up
to him.  "Knight.  You guys got this one I assume?"

Nick smiled slightly, and nodded.

"Before you go over there, there's something you should know.  I was
talking with them.  The other models and such who were here, I mean.  This
was a private booking.  Everyone here is models, or other people involved
in the photoshoots.  Or their guests.  This was a private party, a wrap-up
party of sorts.  They all think that for it to have happened here, it has
to be someone inside... or close enough to someone who is as to be above
suspiscion."

Nick mentioned this to Tracy.  As they went through and questioned the
others who were there when the woman was killed in the locker room of the
facility, They found out that everyone who was supposed to be there was
accounted for at the time of the murder.  But the recurrent theme from
those who made any observations to either detective was 'it can't be one
of us because we were all in the pool and hot tub.  The only person who
left was Sandra, and only because she had to go take her insulin.  When
she didn't come back out some of us got worried.  So a small group broke
off and went to check.  They were the ones who found her.  But it has to
be someone close enough to hear the plans for things.  So it's got to be
someone we know.'

----

Later that night after they were back at the precinct, Nick and Tracy were
discussing the common belief that it had to be someone close to the goings
on in the business.  Reese saw them, and called them in to his office.  "A
few minutes before you got back in, Natalie called.  Said she'd just
gotten back to the morgue, and had thought about something after she'd
left you two at the scene.  She has no idea as to if it's relevant or not,
but asked ne to let you know when you got in.  She said it was 8 days
between the first and second, and another 8 days between the second and
third.  Her own guess at this time would be either irrelevant or a forced
pattern to throw us off, since nothing else indicates any sort of
ritualistic pattern.  I tend to agree, from the reports I've seen.  But
it's something not to rule out yet..."

"You're probably right on that, Cap." Tracy said, then she fidgetted.
"The others who found this girl...  They have some ideas...  They might
just be right, Cap."  Tracy looked down at the floor.

"Okay.  You two into my office.  I want to know what you've come up with."
Reese pointedly closed the door after they entered, indicating they were
free to speak whatever was on their minds.

Nick primarily sat back, allowing Tracy to do most of the talking.  While
he agreed with her just as stongly, *she* was the one who was having a
hard time dealing with the situation.  He watched as Tracy told their
captain how the body appeared to have had the same M.O., about the
similarities, and how the other models felt that it was probably someone
inside.  "It can't be someone really close to the action, Cap, otherwise
the lack of their presence when we've been investigating after would have
been noticed.  But it has to be someone close enough that the models will
either talk to him or her, or talk about things in front of him or her.
But there hasn't been anyone unaccounted for at any of the murders, so he
must be leaving the scene right away before it's been discovered."  Tracy
shifted in her seat, and added as an after thought, "Or She.  This is just
so unfair. We have got to catch this person.  But whoever this person is,
they don't seem to be leaving anything at the scene.  I don't think we're
going to catch this creep unless we're there when it happens."  Tracy
sighed.

Nick shuddered.  He didn't like the idea of putting one of their own
inside on something like this.  There didn't seem to be any way of
ensuring who the perp would go after, and to Nick that meant that there
was no way of ensuring that the others wouldn't get a false sense of
security because of knowing they had a cop there, and possibly doing
something to either provoke or possibly give it away.  The trouble was
that he too could see no other way of catching this psycho unless they had
someone inside.  When Reese asked him if he agreed with Tracy on this, he
had to reluctantly concur.

Reese told them he had some calls to make and see what he could arrange.
"Stick around.  After I get something set up, I'll let you know the
details." Reese got up, walked over to his door, and opened it.  "I think
you can find something to occupy yourselves with for a few minutes."  He
headed over to the water cooler. "I'll be damned. It actually worked for
once. " Reese took his cup and headed back into the office.  "I'll call
you back in shortly."

Nick walked over to his desk and picked up his phone.  He figured this was
a good chance to call Nat. See if anything new or surprising had turned up
since getting back to the morgue.  He was still on the phone with her when
Reese called them both from his office doorway nearly half and hour later.

When they got behind closed doors, Reese spoke.  "I don't want to bring in
anyone I'd normally put undercover.  I spoke to Sam in Vice, and he was
afraid that some of the models or the others might recognize the vice
cops.  He suggested I put you two in there, since the only people who'll
know who you really are will be people we've already ruled out as
suspects.  Then if someone who does know who you are sees anything, they
won't be afraid to approach you like they might if they happened to know
the cops in there were vice squad."

Nick stood up.  "Wait a minute, Captain.  With my condition, I can't go
out in daylight.  I really don't know how much use I'd be there."  Nick's
face had furrowed, and he had begun to pace.  "And I'm sure you wouldn't
want Tracy there without a partner."

Tracy looked slightly puzzled, as if she either couldn't follow what was
being said, or couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Already taken care of, Knight.  So far the murders have all been at
night, and there has been nothing to indicate any change is expected.  I
spoke to your father, Tracy.  He agrees with us on the reasons for putting
you two in there.  Says he doesn't expect us to babysit you Tracy.  He
knows you know what being a cop is about.  It's just the rest of us that
tend to worry too much about what he's going to think.  And I'm as guilty
of it as the next guy.  But he said to go ahead and put you there if I'd
be doing that if it were anyone else.  I would.  So I am.  As of now, you
guys are exclusively on this case.  I'll spread your other cases among the
other officers, and as far as anyone knows, you're on leave.  I still want
to be kept informed, of course.  But I want you two to play the part.  I
called the agent from the first girl, and she said that she was more than
willing to help out.  She's going to make sure that you guys are where the
action is.  I asked her if she thought the the models who know who you
really are would give it away.  She doesn't think they will.  She said
that some of her models are having a party tomorrow night at her home.
It's a little remote, and it's only going to be her crew.  Some of them
know who you are and some don't.  But she thinks it would be a good way to
test if they figure out you're undercover and blow it or not.  She said
they're not any smarter or dumber than those employed through other 
agencies.  So I told her you guys would be at her party tomorrow night."
Reese handed each of them a paper with an address.  "She said to tell you
to bring dates.  Everyone else will be.  I assumed you'd want to bring Dr.
Lambert, Knight.  I took the liberty of calling her supervisor and
arranging for her to be 'off' tomorrow night to go to the party with you."  

Tracy smiled as Nick squirmed.  She could tell he felt like he was in the
hot seat.  As they stood up, Reese added "Oh, she said she has a big hot
tub.  The party will probably will end up out there."  Reese opened the
door preventing either of them from arguing.

"Now this is certainly going to be interesting," Tracy mused.  Nick just
looked at her and groaned.  He looked like he had a really bad headache.

~I'm sure Nick won't say anything, so next time I see Natalie I'll have to
remember to tell her what Reese said...  I know he calls Nick by his last
name, but it still sounded cute, like Dr. Lambert-Knight...  I wonder if
Nick even caught it...  If they ever do get married I wonder if she'll do 
that hyphenated name thing~  Tracy smiled at Nick as she grabbed her coat
and purse.

----

Natalie heard the door open and looked up from where she was working on
her patient.  Her supervisor was standing in the doorway.  Natalie reached
out and turned off her recorder.  "What's up?  I don't usually see you
come down here."

"Well, your *friend* Detective Knight is apparently going undercover
tomorrow."

Natalie noticed the way he said friend, and mentally sighed...  As much as
she wished it were more, she doubted she'd ever be able to convince
Nick...  And yet, that was what everyone they knew seemed to believe.

"Whatever it is that he's doing, he needs to bring a date.  Reese just
called down and wants me to ok you going along.  I wasn't too pleased on
short notice, but he assures me this is an attempt to prevent our
department having more to do...  so I've reluctantly agreed.  He said to
tell you to make sure you touch base with Detective Knight tonight so that
he can fill you in on the details.  I am not exactly sure what is going
on, Natalie.  But I want you to remember that you're there for cover for
your boyfriend who's undercover.  Don't forget that.  If anything starts
to go wrong, look after your own hide.  I don't want you to end up in 
something you can't get out of and wind up on your own slab.  Got it?"

Natalie sighed.  "Got it.  I'll look after myself.  Don't worry."

"Make sure you do.  Not only are you an excelent coroner, but you would be
doubly hard to replace since you're the only person I've had in *years*
who actually prefers the graveyard shift...  If the damn cops want someone
undercover with him, they should bloody-well send another cop..  You aren't
trained for this sort of thing.  They are...  Don't try and play hero for
God's sake, Natalie!"  He huffed, and then turned to leave.  Then he
sighed and turned back to her "I've called Dr. Evans and asked him to come
in tomorrow night.  He asked if you were sick.  He found it quite funny
when I said you were on loan tomorrow night to the cops...  I leave you to
your work now." He walked out, and pulled the door closed behind himself.

Natalie sighed.  Whatever was happening, she couldn't think what it may
be.  She knew Reese was a real stickler about outsiders getting involved
at the best of times, and especially if anything was potentially
dangerous, so she figured he wasn't expecting any trouble otherwise he'd
be insisting on keeping her out of it.  So it had to be to help establish
Nick's cover, whatever that was...  Natalie picked up the phone, and
punched in the number for Nick's cel.  When he answered she arranged to
meet with him at the loft after work.

----

It was 5pm when Natalie sat up and stretched the sleep from her body.  She
was still not quite fully awake, and was absently wondering where Sidney
was, until she heard Nick's voice drifting down to her.  It wasn't
anything he was actually saying to her, but rather, it sounded like he
might well be singing in the shower...  Natalie smiled, now fully aware of
her surroundings and thought to herself ~now this is a side of Nick I've
never seen before, and I've known him how long now?~  She decided she had
to find out for sure. She had to use the bathroom anyways.  That would be
a good excuse to go in and find out...  ~Besides, with the way he was
staring at me when I was in that mud bath, I don't think he has any right
to complain if I sneak in.  A little turn about's fair play!~  So she
climbed the stairs to the loft, and pushed the door which had been
slightly ajar open enough to peek in.  Nick was definitely in the shower,
and definitely singing, although the language wasn't known to Natalie.
Unless maybe it was an archaic dialect of something...  Natalie smiled and
slipped into the room.  It was practically a sauna in there.  She did what
she needed to do, and then when the singing stopped, she grinned and
spoke.  "I'm going to flush... if that changes your water temp you better
be ready to jump."  

As Nick exclaimed "Nat!", she did flush, and then she heard more coments
that sounded remarkably like swearing, in spite of not recognizing the
words, or in some cases the tongue.  Finally he turned off the water and
opened the tub door enough to reach for his towel.  After pulling it in 
with him, a moment later he stepped out, soggy, but with his towel wrapped
neatly and seemingly securily around his waist.  "I thought you were still
asleep, Nat." 

She was standing there wearing one of Nick's baggy t-shirts as a nighty
in a steamy room as he climbed out clad in his towel.  Natalie figured
with the way his shirt was trying to cling to her, he was probably better
covered than she.  "I just woke up.  I figured if you were in the shower
proper you wouldn't mind me doing what I needed to."  Natalie decided to
change the topic before he asked for any explanations beyond what she was
prepared to give.  "I heard you singing, Nick. What was it?"

Nick was putting a valiant effort into not noticing how his t-shirt was
clinging to Natalie in the steamy room.  "Oh, something that came to mind
as I was thinking about tonight. I was actually just trying to remember
the words and melody.  When I was a young boy my mother would sing it to
me when I was scared or nervous or worried.  I hadn't thought about it in 
a very long time."

Natalie noticed his attention, and subconsciously stood a little
straighter, which of course thrust her chest forward a little.  Maybe it
was distracting for her too, but if she was actually managing to be
distracting for him, then that was a good thing...  It meant that he was
actually interested in her.  Natalie smiled at Nick. "I'm sure there'll be
nothing to worry about tonight, Nick.  It'll be fine.  I'll go back down
and get my stuff.  It was actually a good thing I left my bags here after
going to the spa.  That way even my swimsuit was here."  She reached out
and squeezed Nick's arm, wishing she were brave enough to just let her
hand drop and then grab his towel...  She thought about trying it and
making a mad dash taking it with her...  But she didn't want to push
things too fast and scare him off, so she decided against it. Then she
went and opened the door a left quickly, so as not to let all on his steam
escape with her.  By the time that Nick came downstairs a few minutes
later, Natalie had already dressed.

----

Nick and Natalie were sitting in front of Tracy's appartment waiting for
her to come down, when a man pulled up on a motorcycle behind them.  When
he removed his helmet, they both recognized Vachon.  "Must be Tracy's
date." Nick said quietly to Nat.

"Like that's a surprise."  She grinned at Nick.  "Shh...  they're both
walking over from different directions." Natalie placed her finger to her
lip, and Nick just smiled at her.
     
"Hey Vachon!" Then Tracy saw the caddy with Nick and Natalie inside.  She
waved.  "Hey guys!"  She turned towards Vachon.  "I think you've met my
partner Nick before.  I think.  But I doubt that you'd have ever met his,
umm, girlfriend?  This is Dr. Natalie Lambert.  And this," she grabbed
Vachon's arm, "is my friend, Vachon. Unless he wants you to call him by
his first name for some reason.  Then it's Javier."  She looked around,
and saw an extra helmet secured to the back of his bike, which was
unusual.  "So are we all riding in the car, or are we going out on the
bike?"

Vachon looked at Nick and Natalie, a slight smile playing across his face.
"Nice to 'meet' you two.  It's a nice evening Trace.  Unless you'd rather
not, I think I'd prefer to take the bike out.  He looked at Nick and Nat,
then grinned...  Up to you and your friends though."

Tracy just said something that with her back to the car might have been
'nice!' as she pulled the 2nd helmet free and began to put it on.  

Vachon looked over at the car, and said quietly "I'll follow you, Knight.
Probably best since I don't know where we're going."  He turned and headed
over to join Tracy at his bike.  

As Nick and Natalie watched them getting on the bike, Nat asked "So you
think Tracy heard him call you Knight?  Or do you think she noticed?"

Nick just grinned.  "If she did, I don't think that she cares!"

The address they were headed for was in Grimsby, almost an hours drive
away.  They headed west out of Toronto, taking first the Gardiner
Expressway, then Queen Elizabeth Way heading in the direction of Niagara.
Once over the Skyway Bridge, Nick took Hwy 20 in Stoney Creek.  At every
turn, Natalie would look back to make sure that Vachon and Tracy were
still following.  When she saw that they were going south up the
Escarpment, Natalie exclaimed "Hey. I know where we are, a bit.  When I
was in med school a sort-of boyfriend lived out here.  His parents had
some property overlooking the lake.  He brought me out here to meet them
once.  We came this way.  This here is Ridge Road, isn't it?"

As Nick was now driving east along the same, he agreed.  Then he asked "So
what's a sort-of boyfriend?"

She looked at Nick.  "I liked him.  He liked me.  But their were reasons
that he and I couldn't be more than just friends..  And everyone else just
assumed it was more than it was.  Oohhh Boy!  Does that sound familiar..."
Then she turned and pointed out a big house on a couple of acres, as they
passed it.  "I'm not sure, but I think that's the one I've been to before.
They're all nice out here.  Some pretty scenery too."

"I know... this is the Niagara Wine country."  Nick smiled.  "Hey, this
looks like the place."  He turned into a driveway, and looked back.  Tracy
and Vachon were not too far behind.

----

As they pulled into the driveway, there were already a number of other
vehicles parked.  As Tracy and Vachon climbed off the bike and they got
out of the car, Natalie said "I think we're a little late, Nick."

"Actually, that was the idea, so that when we ring the bell, she can
introduce us whatever way she wants to, but so that she is introducing us
to them as models, and you two," he gestured to both Nat beside him and
then Vachon next to Tracy, "as our dates, or something..." 

Tracy reached out and grabbed for Vachon's hand.  "This is going to be a
lot of playing it as we go along.  But if you're supposed to be my
boyfriend, then lets act like it, okay?"

Vachon smiled, but instead of taking Tracy's hand, he put his hand 
possessively over her shoulder.  "I can do that." was his only reply.

As they walked towards the door, Nick reached out and took Natalie's hand.

After they rang the bell, a girl who looked to be about 15 answered the
door.  "Hi!" she greated them eagerly.  "Are you guys my mom's new models
she was telling everyone about?"  

Tracy answered that they were, and the girl laughed.  "You guys are late.
You already missed dinner.  But there's still desert left and everone is
out on the patio out back.  I'll bet you had a hard time finding the right
road and got lost for a while?"  She smiled when Natalie said that was her
fault.  "Not really.  The streetlight out there keeps dying, except when
they come to fix it, and then they say there's nothing to fix.  It was
probably out again.  I'll take your coats if you like.  Mom's got coffee
and tea in here if you decide you want any.  Otherwise, I think
everything's outside.  Oh, and since you haven't been out here before,
I'll show you where the bathrooms are.  I have to go in and get to my
homework right away, so that way you won't have to ask later."  She
pointed out the hallway, and said it was the last door on the left.  Then
she led them out to the patio.  "Hey Mom, your last guests are here!"  She
turned back to the newcomers.  "Nice meeting you."  Then she went back
inside the house.

"Hey everyone, I told you about having gotten two new models?  Well,
they've arrived.  I'd like to introduce Nick and Tracy to you, and their
guests."  All 4 of the party noticed a number of the guests raise an
eybrow, or show some other facial expression of surprise, but no one said
anything. She turned towards Natalie.  "I assume you're Nick's girlfriend
I've heard mentioned.  What would your name be?"  Natalie smiled, and told
her, and was promptly introduced to everyone as well.  Then she turned to
Vachon, "And you would be?"

Vachon smiled and blinked. "Just call me Vachon."

----

They had been at the party for about an hour.  One person had winked them,
but whether that was because he was trying to pick up Nat or Trace, or
because he was letting them know he'd figured it out, they didn't know.
One of the models asked her if she had her hot tub still, and when their
hostess said she did and asked them if they wanted to move out to it, the
general consensus was they did...  Several of them headed inside to go to
the the washroom, so Nick, Natalie, and Tracy all decided to follow suit.
Natalie and Tracy decided to go in together, and save a little bit of
time that way.  It also gave tham a chance to speak quietly.  

While they were speaking in hushed tones under the sound of the fan about
the fellow who had winked, Nick asked one of the others if there was
someplace they could change...  The fellow laughed and said "Yeah, if you
want to.  Out by the pool and hot tub."  Then he grabbed a beer and headed
back outside.

Natalie and Tracy came out of the bathroom wearing their swimsuits.  Tracy
had on a black racer styled t-back onepiece, and Natalie had on a 2-piece,
emerald green in colour, with a t-shirt on over it.  Nick smiled at the
ladies.  "Actually, that probably wasn't necessary, since i've been told
there is a change room here.  But since I've never been out here before
either, I think I'll do the same."  He went in after they exited and
closed the door.  It was only a short moment later when he exited, wearing
a pair of Jade baggy-legged trunks that looked like they could easily pass
for a pair of summer shorts.

Tracy looked at him and laughed...  "You two look like you colour
coordinated...  You do look good together though."  Then they left and
headed back outside.

Once back on the porch, people were milling, waiting for those who'd gone
in to the can to finish... Then everyone headed out in a group...  Once
they got out to the hot tub most of them went into the little change rooms
where there were hooks on the walls where they could leave things...

Natalie, Nick, and Tracy were the first to climb in, since they were
already wearing their swimsuits...  While they were waiting for the rest
to come out, Tracy who was sitting beside Natalie, leaned forward.  "Oh,
hey, did Nick tell you what Reese said last night?"  She whispered.  When
Natalie shook her head, and Nick just looked puzzled, she went on, "Oh,
well, you know how he calls Nick by his last name most of the time?"  

"I've noticed that."

"Well, I know that is all he was meaning, but the way he said it, it
sounded different..."  Tracy looked over to ensure no one had come out
yet to overhear, but she still kept her voice down to a whisper.  "When he
told us that he'd called to talk to your boss, he said something to
Nick about assuming he'd want to bring you.  But refering to you he called
you Dr. Lambert and of course he called him 'Knight'.  So the way he said
it, it sounded like one of those hyphenated names...  it sounded like you
guys were married or something with the way he said Dr. Lambert, Knight.
It sounded more like Lambert-Knight."  But before Natalie or Nick had a
chance to respond to this, the door to one of the change rooms opened.

As people started coming out from the change rooms, Nick realized why the
fellow had laughed...  3/4 of the guys were coming out naked, and probably
about 1/2 of the women.  Of the rest of the women, probably nearly 1/2
again had on bikini bottoms and no top, and several seemed to just have on
t-shirts, with nothing on under... It seemed that no one besides them and
their hostess wore a swimsuit.  Vachon came out from the changeroom
wearing just his jeans...  When he got to the hot tub, he undid his jeans,
letting them fall and stepped out of them, and climbed into the hot tub
beside Tracy...  Natalie had *never* seen Tracy blush so hard...  Natalie
was sitting on the other side of Tracy, so when he leaned in to whisper to
her, she was able to hear.  His comment to her was simply "When in
Rome..." followed by a slight shrug.

The party didn't digress any further...  Tracy was afraid that it would
turn into an orgy, but it didn't.  There were a few people who would end
up sitting on someones lap for a while, but if anything *else* was going
on, they were being discreet enough about it that no one could tell... 

Tracy turned bright red when Vachon lifted her onto his lap for a while...
She had almost finished blushing when their hostess' daughter came out in
a pair of shorts and a light grey t-shirt, and climbed into the hot tub
next to Nick.  Tracy was concerned since she had no idea about this girls
age, and as far as she could tell, this girl had a crush on Nick...  After
a few minutes, Nick pulled Nat onto his lap, and Natalie started talking
with the girl.  The girl was obviously disapointed that Nick had chosen
Nat, but she covered it quite well.  

Natalie found out she had guessed right, earlier. The girls was 15. 
Natalie asked her if it bothered her that some people were naked, and the
girl answered "No.  Mom didn't used to let me come out when she had
her parties, until she found out I already had a boyfriend and knew what a
guy looked like.  That was last fall." She leaned over to whisper, and
beconed Natalie to lean down.  "That was after she found my pills on my
dresser one day.  She asked me a bunch of questions and decided that it
was no point in keeping me away from the parties anymore.  She doesn't
have them often, though.  Maybe 2 or 3 a summer only.  Hey - do you like
to swim?  We have a pool too."

Soon there were an equal number of people in the hot tub and the pool, and
peopled traipsed between them without seeming to care what they or others
were or were not wearing...  Several of the people wearing T-shirts lost
them throughout the evening, including Natalie...  Of course, she was one
of the few who had something on under hers...

By the time the party began to disipate and people began to aim out,
Natalie was quite tired...  She was also quite pleased with the evening,
since in that freespirited environment, Nick had actually threatened to
undo her top...  When she had assured Nick that in spite of the neck
strap, it was actually snug enough in the top to stay up and that the neck
straps were removable so it could be worn without them, Nick had actually
untied and then removed them.  Then at one point Nick had actually put his
hand on her breast while she was sitting on his lap in the hot tub.  His
index finger had lazily caught at the top of the bandeau and pushed ever
so slightly underneath the fabric, and one of his other fingers lightly
brushed her through the fabric.  He had started to pull his hand away
since his touch had been unintentional, but when she had leaned her head
back against his cheek and wasn't upset, he actually left it there for a
few minutes...  ~maybe I should see about investing in a hot tub if he'll
relax like this~ she smiled at her own thought...  

As they were heading out the door, their hostess stopped them.  "I want
you to call me tomorrow around dinnertime, Nick.  I want to set something
up with you."  She reached out and shook Natalie's and then Vachon's hand.
"It was really nice to have met you both.  Have a good night, and drive
safely..."  She waved, and then shut the door.

Once they were safely out of earshot, Tracy asked "So are we regrouping at
your place, Nick, for any reason?  Or should I just meet you there
tomorrow around sundown?"

"Tomorrow.  I think we're all pretty tired now."  Nick watched and Nat
waved as they saw Tracy climb on the bike behind Vachon and then take off.

As Nick and Nat were driving back, Natalie scooted over beside him.  "Did
you notice Tracy observing every time Vachon got into or out of the hot
tub or pool?  I think she was definitely admiring the packaging, Nick."

"I know.  So did he.  Evertime he'd do that her heart would race...
There's no way he could have missed it...  He was doing that deliberately
to... tease?"

Natalie didn't answer right away, and Nick looked over.  Nat had almost
fallen asleep against him.  "If you had done that, mine would have been.
you've got some nice packaging yourself."  was her sleepy reply.

Nick smiled.  He knew that were Nat not so sleepy, she'd never admit
something like that...  At least not that way.  After a few minutes, her
rythmic breathing told Nick that she had fallen asleep against him...  It
was not something he minded...

----

Nick watched Natalie as she zipped open the body-bag that was on her
table.  He seemed to have that far away look in his eyes again...

After a moment, however, he seemed to come out of it himself, and Natalie
smiled at him as he refocused on her.  "So... How are you enjoying the
life of a model, Nick?"

"I think Tracy is liking it."  Nick shock his head.  "I dunno.  It's just
not my thing.  I'm finding it rather boring mostly."  Nick smiled
mischieviously.  "How about coming over for movies tonight, Nat?  We could
spend some time together before I have to head for work tomorrow..."

"Tomorrow?  As in daytime?"

Nick nodded.

"How are you managing that?"

"With your help, I hope..."  When Nick saw Natalie's confussion evident in
her expression, he explained, "The photo shoot itself is at an indoor
location set up to look like it's outdoors.  But tomorrow if he holds true
to the 8 day thing, will be the day.  So far as *our agent* knows, there
is no photo shoots happening tomorrow night, so she figured if we could
get there for the day one...  It's a long shot, but it's all we have.  I
was hoping you would be willing to drive the caddy over.  Apparently they
have a parking garage with underground pedway connecting it to the
building the shoot is in...  If you will, I can ride in the trunk.
Otherwise I'll need to wrap up and try to race.  You're off tomorrow
night aren't you?"

"Yes."  Natalie looked at Nick, smiling but shaking her head a little bit.
"On both counts."

Nick now looked puzzled.

"Yes, I'll drive you over, and Yes I'm off tomorrow night."

"So what about the movie?"

"Then make it on 3 counts."

Nick smiled.  "OK.  I'll see you later.  Thanks Nat."  He turned to leave,
then stopped as he was about to pass Natalie.  He reached out and put his
hand on her arm.  "I mean that.  Thank you."  Were anyone watching it
would have looked as if Nick was about to try and kiss the doctor, but
instead after a very brief but awkward moment, she seemed to pull away
from him.  She grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze, before telling him
to take off since she had work to do.

----

Natalie had driven the caddy down from the loft to where the afternoon
photoshoot was.  Nick had riden in the trunk.  Natalie's apartment keys
had fallen from her jacket pocket when she went to get into the car.  When
she had reached under the seat to retreive them, her fingers had first
grabbed onto what turned out to be an unmarked cassette tape.  Nick was
just about to climb into the trunk when Natalie pulled it out...  When he
looked at it, he knew where it had come from.  "Nat... please don't play
it loudly...  and *NEVER* admit to anyone this happened...  but play it
quietly, would ya?"

"Sure, Nick.  Why?" 

"Schanke kept insisting I was hiding it on him.  He left it in my car one
day and never found it despite repeated searches...  He never did tell me
what it was....  I think it's Polka though...  that'd kill me!  But it
was Schanke's.  I'd like to listen to it once, even if it is polka music.
See why it was so important to him to get it back...  Then maybe I'll take
it to Myra."

"Sure.  Will you be able to hear it from the trunk?"

Nick nodded.  "If it isn't polka, you can turn it up.  Or if it's
something interesting."  He had already climbed into the trunk, so he
pulled the trunk lid down and secured it.

After Natalie had exited from Nick's garage, she popped the cassette in
and turned it on.  

Jennie's young voice floated into the car, in a message to her father.
"Hi Daddy!  Mommy said today was your birthday.  I couldn't go get you
anything, cause I dint find out until now, and Mommy's cooking so we can't
go out.  But I wanted to do something nice for you.  I know you only like 
that kind of accordion music that your uncle used to play.  But I don't
know how to play that cuz I'm not that far in my lessons yet.  But I think
it was really nice of you to let me have your old one from when you were a
kid for my lessons.  This is for you daddy.  I'm doing this on your old
one you gave me."  The strained sound of HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU was played
on the accordion...  Not well, but well enough that it was unmistakable
what the song was, in spite of the fact that the song was never really
meant for that instrument.  And she had sung the song as well...  "I hope
you have a good day at work Daddy.  I love you.  Bye!"

Natalie rewound the cassette.  Knowing that Nick could hear, she said
"Wow.  That was really sweet.  How old do you think Jennie was when she
made it for him?  It looks like it may have seen a lot of use."

By then Natalie was pulling into the other garage.  When she parked the
car, she announced "We're here."

After Nick had climbed out from the trunk, he took the casssette and stuck
it in the glove compartment so it wouldn't get lost - again.  "I'll want
to stop by and give it to Myra and Jennie...  Maybe we can do that on the
way home this evening, since it'll be dark by the time we're done here...
Have you ever met her, Nat?"

"Myra and Jennie?  Yes.  Only the one time though, at his funeral.  I
really felt badly for Jennie then.  She seemed to be trying so hard not to
cry...  I don't really know either of them...  Like them both but don't
actually know them."  Natalie reached out for Nick's hand.  "So, can I
tag along, do you think?  Or would it be better off if I dissappear for a
little while and come back later?"

"I don't know...  But why don't you come on in, and we'll see who we can
find out from, ok?"  Nick pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her
waist...  He also noticed how much that little act made her smile.  She
was positively glowing.

On their way inside Natalie asked "So do you know what this photoshoot is
for?"

Nick just shook his head indicating he did not.

----

"Hey guys!  I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten!"  Tracy called
across the room as they entered...  She came over to meet them.

"How long have you been here, Tracy?"

"About 45 minutes...  but I wanted to come early and," she looked around
to see if anyone was within earshot.  Deciding they weren't, she lowered
her voice and finished "check things out.  I didn't find anything out of
the ordinary though."

Natalie interjected "Have you heard what the shoot is for?"

Tracy rolled her eyes.  "Yeah."  She sighed.  "One of the AIDS societies
is doing a poster campaign for posters that'll go up in busses, on
bilboards, stuff like that.  I think it's a national campaign.  Anyway,
there are us and about 4 other people and we're going to have our images
plastered all over busses and billboards promoting AIDS awareness... and
prevention."  She looked straight at Nick.  "The way they are talking I
think they want some ads that are just individual people, and some in
pairs...  So chances are some of those ads are going to have *us*
plastered all over them going on about prevention...  If those go out
locally, we'll never hear then end of it at work!"

Natalie was trying hard not to laugh.  She was thinking about the fact
that it was rather recently that a dose of HIV infected blood had *saved*
Nick's life...  And him doing an AIDS prevention ad struck something funny
in her...

"Natalie!  If you're already laughing at the thought of it, how do you
think the others will treat us if they do end up seen here!!!"  Tracy
looked a little miffed...

Natalie had looked at Nick...  "Sorry..." she giggled, and headed off to
the bathroom.

By the time that she got herself pulled back together and returned, Tracy
and Nick were over with the other models being looked at to see who looked
best paired up with whom for the ads...  Tracy's worst fears came true:
they did pair her up with Nick...  So in adition to a bunch of photos
taken of all of the models individually, and some of them all 'partying'
as a group, There were a whole bunch taken of the pairs as well: girls
sitting on the guys laps, walking along 'a path' in front of 'a pond',
dancing, sitting on the side of a bed with what looked like some motel
sign 'beyong the window' with the guys in just jeans and the women
in just t-shirts.  All this done on an indoor set, and the same pics done
with each 'couple'.  They wanted to see who'd look best for different
shots when all was said and done...

After they were done and Nick and Tracy had each headed to where they
could change back into their own clothing, Natalie had gone to ask how
extensive this campaign was.  She was told that yes it was nation wide,
but "with an emphasis on the larger urban centers"

"Like Toronto?"

"Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver.  Most of the capitals and a lot of other
large towns and cities..."  He looked at Natalie.  "Why?"

"Just wondering..."

"Wondering if your family will see your boyfriend, eh?"

"Something like that."  Natalie figured no matter what she said, he'd
figure it that way.  So why argue it... ~Besides, it's nice hearing Nick
being refered to as my boyfriend~ she thought.

Natalie saw Tracy come out.  She decided not to say anything about what
she'd been told.  Better not to panic her when it couldn't be changed..
Instead she walked up to her, and gave her a quick hug.  "That was good.
You guys looked good out there.  But anyway, I need to do something with
Nick, so call me tomorrow ok?  Maybe we can do the coffee thing sometime."

Nick walked out then in time to hear this, and Tracy say she would.  Then
his partner took off for the door...

"It's dark now.  We could swing by Myra's now and then head home."

"Sounds good, Nick."

----

They were in the car on the way back to the loft from Myra's, when a call
came over the radio.  "81Kilo - are you available?"  Natalie looked over
at Nick, who shrugged as he reached for the mike.

"81kilo - I'm here but I'm on leave.  What did you need?"

"Captain wants you to phone him - right now."

"Tell him I don't have my cel with me.  I'll stop at the first pay phone
though.  81kilo - out."

"That was odd..."  Natalie's pager beeped.  "Looks like we both have calls
to make."

Nick pulled into a gas station which had 2 pay phones, and they each
proceeded to make their calls...  When the both had climbed back into the
caddy, both of them announced "Got another one."  Then both said "You
too?"  Then they couldn't help but laugh, if only for a moment.  

"Let's go.  Tracy's already enroute."

----

The scene they had been called to was another private party.  Like the
Monday a week before, it too was a private wrap-up party for a finished
photoshoot and had been happening at another rented swimming pool.  But
tonight's was on Tuesday, and as Tracy walked over to join Nick and
Natalie she commented "Looks like the 8 day cycle could still potentially
be a factor."

The victim this time was a young male, about 21.  He had decided to go
into the sauna, which was beside the pool.  He was not a swimwear model,
however.  He had a gorgeously sculpted look to his body.  Not like a body
builder or anything, just a naturally defined and shaped body that was
rather striking...  At least he had before he was murdered.  He had
specialized in modelling 'tattoos and body pierces', although he also did
clothing and underwear ads. With his perfect skin and the fact that he
seemed to have no hair on his torso, business or magazines that cater to
the body art crowd would have him come in and do the temp tattoos on him
for photographic ads and the like... But his body was far from perfect
after the killer had finished with him.  Mis chest was as badly mutilated
at those of the female victims had been.

Nick and Tracy checked things out at the scene, but there was nothing
useful to them there...  It was just like at the other scenes, except that
this time the victim was male.

Tracy noticed that a few of the models whom they had previously
encountered while 'under cover' were quite surprised to see that Nick and
Tracy were actually cops...  Although one of them seemed more interested
in the fact that Natalie was the coroner...  Tracy thought that she had
seen the girl talking to Natalie once before.

----

Another week had rolled around...  Nothing new was garnered from the
latest body...  The only difference being that this one was not a
female...  Nick and Tracy had been to a 2 night 'shoot' during the week,
while Natalie was continuing with her work...  The 2nd of those 2 nights
Nick had told Natalie afterwards that Vachon had come to watch.  One of
the more experienced models had laughed and told both Nick and Tracy that
that was the mark of a new model...  That once the novelty wears off you
don't really bother to bring friends or family to the shoots, unless it's
something unusual like someone from out of town and they are only in town
for that day...  She had laughed and told Tracy "Don't worry.  You're 
still new enough that it'll likely take another couple of months before
you stop bringing people down.  We all go through it." Then she had
laughed as she had walked away...

Nick had used this as a lead in... "You still have Wednesday nights off
normally, right?"  When Natalie nodded, he continued, "So, why don't you
come to the photoshoot on Wednesday evening.  It'd just prove to the rest
of them that I'm a normal 'new' model for whom the novelty hasn't worn off
yet...  Maybe we could do the movie thing later?"

Natalie laughed.  "I dunno, Nick.  your last one as I recall was winter
coats for a seasonal catalogue...  I'm just not interested in a preview of
the latest fashions in coats..."

"Actually, Nat, this one is actually for a swimwear catalogue...  It'll
all be swimwear so far as I know...  But it'll be the 8th day, so if you
can, i'd love for you to come down...  That way we've got a place to leave
our guns and stuff that is safe but still easily accessible...  Just in
case we have any better luck this time than we did last time..."

Natalie thought about the idea of seeing Nick in *hopefully* a variety of
skimpy swimwear...  She forced a frown...  "Alright, Nick."  Natalie
sighed as if she were really put out, "I'll come down and look after your
stuff for you guys...  You've twisted my arm."  She tried really hard to
maintain the frown, but when Nick looked like he was about to tell her it
was ok not to if she didn't want to, she smiled...  Then she leaned in and
whispered "Shhh...  don't tell how easy it was to twist my arm..."  She
kissed him on the cheek...

Nick relaxed...  "So are you coming to the loft for the day, Nat?  We
could leave together from there."

Natalie turned around, shaking her head...  When she turned back to face
Nick, she grinned...  "You know which one is my locker, right Nick?"

"Yes."

"So, go open it."

Nick went to Natalie's locker, and twisted the combination, then opened 
the locker.  Inside was an overnight bag, full.  Nick picked it up and
carried it back.  He looked at Natalie and held it up.

Natalie slipped into a stage whisper just to make Nick laugh, since they
were the only living souls in the room. "Actually, Nick...  I kinda hoped
you would stop by and ask...  I packed it just in case."

Nick smiled at her.  "I'll take it with me now if you want.  I can come
and pick you up after work?"

Nat smiled and nodded.  "I should get back at it for now.  But yes,
that would be fine, Nick."

As she watched the door close after Nick left she thought absently ~With
how often I end up leaving my car here when he comes to pick me up, it's
not much wonder that they all think he's my boyfriend.~ 

----

After Nick had picked her up and taken her to the loft, she left him on
the sofa watching tv while she went to shower.  When she came out, Nick
had fallen asleep on the sofa.  Natalie went to the closet and pulled out
her favorite blanket for wrapping in when she stayed over, and headed
downstairs...  Natalie knew that Nick would never do this while
he was awake, but when he was half asleep, he just might.  Natalie knew
the risk she was taking, but decided it was worth it.  She made sure
everything was turned off and the blinds closed and such, so that it was
safe to go to sleep for the better part of the day.  Then she climbed onto
the sofa partly beside and partly on top of Nick, cuddled against him, and
pulled the blanked over both of them.  She pressed her lips against the
side of his face, and whispered "Sweet Dreams, Love." against his cheek.

Nick sleepily wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her more on top of
himself, then shifted his body a bit into a more comfortable possition,
before mumbling something groggily, that may well have been "You too,
Nat."  Then Natalie drifted off in his arms.

----

"Nat..."  

She looked up from her desk in time to see Schanke waving and as he turned
to leave, he said "You won't for get to tell my partner now, will ya?"

"No.  Why would I do that, Sckank?"  Natalie waved back at him as he left.

"Nat...."

She looked up, and was in a big canopy bed.  Nick was beside her smiling
at her "So how is my lovely bride this fair morning?"

Natalie smiled hugely as she looked at him "I'm fine... But when did we
get married?"

Natalie woke up to Nick's laughter rocking her...  "What?  Oh..  Hello...
Nick..."  She wrapped her arms tightly around him.

"Those must have been some interesting dreams you were having, Nat."  As
he held her he stroked her hair, and the thought crept into his mind ~if I
thought I could do this every day and not be putting Natalie at risk, I'd
ask her to move in today...  But I know she'd only end up dead or like me,
so No...  But I'm damn well going to enjoy it today while I can!~

Natalie looked at him cuddling her and smiled.  "I don't remember
dreaming, Nick."  She sounded tired still, but awake.  "What made you
think I was dreaming?"

"First you were talking to Schanke.  you asked him why you'd do something.
Then when I tried again to wake you, you asked me when we got married."
Nick wanted desperately to ask her if those feelings were real, if she
really loved him *that* much, but was afraid to...  He wasn't sure if he
hoped for himself she'd say yes, or hoped for her she'd say no.  He
decided not to ask at all.

Natalie blushed slightly.  "I remember that one... You were a prince and
we had a canopy bed, and you were trying to wake me up."  She blushed a
little more as she completely woke up and realized there was no easy way
out of this discussion.  "In my dream you called me your bride."  Natalie
bushed her face against Nick's chest, knowing that he'd still know how
embarrassed she was, but still trying to hide it anyways.

Nick carassed her hair.  "Well, I hope you enjoyed it..."  He leaned down
and kissed the top of her head.  "I have a photoshoot, remember, and you
were going to come with me...  We have to get ready...  He kissed the top
of her hair once more, and began to disentangle himself.

---- 

Natalie was standing to the back, staying out of the way...  This shoot
was for a swimwear catalogue for a company that *only* sells swimwear... 
They had 2 male models and 4 female models for tonight, and tomorrow
during the day they were planning to actually do some outside shots with
another bunch of models, weather permitting of course...  But just because
the weather forcaster promissed it would be lovely didn't mean it
necessarily would be.  Natalie had seen one of the racks of swimwear that
got rolled into the dressing room the guys had, as well as one that had
gotten rolled into the women's... Natalie thought there might just some
truth to the saying about dental floss and bandaids with some of them...
She felt sorry for Tracy, knowing how easliy embarassed the poor girl
got...  She was NOT going to like this!  Nick came out then, in a pair of
traditional baggy styled ones first, as did the other man.  As they came
out, Nick waved at Natalie...  She was holding his gym-bag, but in it
was Nick and Tracy's police equipment:  guns, handcuffs, radio and a few
other things. 

Nick came over and started chatting with Nat while they were waiting for
the women to come out.  As the first of them did, Nat saw that it was one
of the skimpier suits...  Next came Tracy and another girl both similarly
attired.  As they came out towards the set, the other girl yelled across
the set "Hey Carl, we need make-up over here!"  Natalie was watching this
past Nick as they continued to chat.  She noticed how incredibly
embarrassed Tracy looked as the make up man came over to join them.
Natalie couldn't hear what was being said, But Tracy looked absolutely
ready to die of her embarassment...  Natalie saw the other girl say
something to the older greying man who'd come over.  Then she saw him turn
her around, looking at her from all angles.  Natalie poked Nick, and
pointed...  They watched as the man turned Tracy towards the lighting,
which meant that she was also facing them.  Then he took some makeup and
began applying it at the top of her bikini bottoms... Natalie whispered to
Nick "Hey! Looks like she *does* have a tattoo hidden away somewhere."

Nick grinned.  "Think she had it then, or do you think she got it since?
She did know a lot about them as I recall."

"Yeah, she even recognized who's handiwork it was on that girl's hip."
Natalie focussed hard.  "Can you tell what it is she's got, Nick?  I
can't."  As she watched Nick focusing on Tracy she added "It is recent.
She didn't have it when we were atthe spa."

Nick looked intently...  "It's a colourful little butterfly I think... in
red, blue, orange, and purple."  Nick smiled, and looked at Nat.  "It 
looks rather pretty, actually."  Nick grinned as that earned him a cuff...

----

Natalie was getting tired... She'd been there with Nick since
midafternoon.  They hadn't had much chance to chat, really, and while she
was definitely enjoying the view of him in all sorts of various swimwear,
especially some of the barely there ones, she also knew that they'd be
done soon, and she was looking forward to it being over...  She wanted
nothing more than to swing home and check on Sidney and spend a little
time with him, before going over to Nick's for a movie.  That was unless
she could convince him to watch it at her place.

Natalie watched absently as one of the other girls went to run and answer
a phone call, and bounced out of her top.  She seemed not to care as she
tucked herself back into the practically non-existant thing and kept on
going, completely unfased... ~good thing that wasn't Trace that happened
to.  She'd absolutely die.~ Natalie thought to herself...

She watched as Nick sat on the edge of a hot tub, in a very skimpy
swimsuit, and poured a bucket of water over the head of a girl in the hot
tub.  From where they had the camera, you couldn't tell that the only
water in it was a few inches at the bottom, just enough to fill up the
pail for another shot.  ~I wish I were her~ Natalie thought, ~at least
she's getting to spend some fun time with him.  Trouble is, she probably
isn't even enjoying it, since she does this all the time anyways...
Nick's just another guy to her...~  Natalie sighed.  Then she got up,
deciding to go to the washroom.

As she opened the door, she heard movement in there.  It didn't sound
right to her, so she called out "Is someone in here?"  She knew there was,
but she got no reply...  Natalie went on a gut feeling.  She yelled
"NICK!"

As soon as she had, the door was torn from her hands and she was pushed
fiercely out of the way as a lean, muscular woman ran past.  Natalie saw
both Nick and Tracy (who was holding one hand over chest, hanging on
tightly to her swimsuit top) begin to give chase from a different
direction.  Natalie angled towards them opening the bag, and pulled out
their guns.  Nick had made sure that they were both loaded and ready to
use, but that the safety's were on.  As they met up Nick and Tracy each
grabbed a gun.  Natalie continued following behind them, but far enough
back as to be out of the way...  She was sure Vachon was going to wish
he'd been here, seeing Tracy runnning in that little thing...  But Natalie
was seeing Nick running in damp racers that were smaller than anything
she'd ever seen...  She didn't know that they made mens swim trunks that
little...  Trouble was she didn't have time to enjoy it right now, so she
was trying to commit the images to memory for later...  

Natalie caught up with them just outside the door to the parking lot.
Nick had his gun trained on the woman whom Tracy had knocked to the
ground, when the woman squirmed and twisted, pulling Tracy's top away.
Tracy squeeked and made a grab for her top, but the woman used that moment
of her being distracted to grab Tracy's gun.  She turned towards Nick, and
squeezed the trigger.  Since she had never fired a gun before, the
unexpected recoil and her holding it one handed made the shot go high...
But Nick wasn't taking any chances.  He fired his own weapon, hitting her
squarely in the right shoulder, causing her to scream, drop the gun, and
sink to the ground grabing her wound.  

By the time that Nick had kicked Tracy's gun away from her reach, Tracy
had acquired Natalie's silk jacket, which she had on backwards since it
had no way of fastening. Natalie brought the bag over to Nick, and he
grabbed a pair of handcuffs from it which he proceeded to put around the
woman's wrists, while Tracy grabbed the radio, and called it in and
requested an ambulance.  When Tracy turned around, she saw that most of
the other models and crew had congregated at the door, and were watching
the proceedings with great interest.  Natalie was attending to the woman's
shoulder, which was bleeding profusely from both the entry and exit
wounds.  It was only a short time until the ambulance arrived as did
several other officers, and Captain Reese showed up with someone from I.A.
Everything seemed to go so quickly then.  Reese was the one to notice that
the bullet from Nick's gun, after passing through her shoulder, had
changed it's angle slightly, continuing at an downwards angle, and passing
through the trunk of Nick's caddy before imbedding itself in the wall
beyond the car.  Nick was rather unpleased with this development, since
that meant that he's have to have the two holes repaired before he could
end up in the trunk during the day again for any reason.  And although it
didn't happen often, he liked having that option as an emergency
measure... 

----

Nick and Tracy had been interviewed by the fellows from I.A.  They were
now sitting in Reese's office waiting while the two I.A. officers
interviewed Natalie to be sure that the shooting happened the way that
they had been told.  

The office door was left open while Reese went out to get a drink of
water... One of the guys who had used to banter with Schanke and Nick
stuck his into the room.  "Hey Knight!  Saw you at the scene last night...
That was some show you were putting on for her..."  Nick looked at him
blankly.  "For Lambert... Christ, don't tell me after how hard the
schank-man tried to encourage you two, one sight of your partner here and
you've forgotten her already!  No wonder Don was always trying to push you
two...  I didn't realize just how fickle you are or how much encouragment
you must need.  Don'll be turning over in his grave." He grinned at the 
two of them as Reese came back in.  "Later Knight."

Reese closed the door.  They say they'll be done with Natalie in about 15
minutes.  I checked."  He looked at Tracy.  "I don't know if anyone will
actually say anything to you about it, Tracy, but word has gotten 'round
about you wearing Natalie's jacket last night when we started arriving,
and people have figured out why.  I have heard of several 'best guesses'
as to why you didn't have a top on, all of which have been wrong...  But
that isn't going to stop the rumours.  Not til it goes to trial with Miss 
Wattson, and the facts come out.  So you may possibly have to put up with
some ribbing around here for a while, depending on how tactless the people
around here are."

"Too late, Cap.  I'm already starting to hear about it.  Although Eric was
teasing Nick rather than me."  Tracy forced a smile.  "Anyway, I'm tough.
I can take it."  She looked pointedly at the Captain, "Besides, Nick's
been a real gentleman about the whole thing.  He hasn't said a word... At 
least not about THAT."

They talked together for a few minutes about the perp.  She was a
hairdresser who had wanted to be a model but didn't have the right figure
for it and wasn't tall enough.  She was still continuing to refuse to
speak to Nick or Tracy, but whenever Reese was around without them she
repeatedly explain it, and ask him "You can understand that?  Can't you?" 

Then Tracy said "Umm, Is there any reason for me to stick around, Cap?  I
have a friend coming to pick me up, and he should be here anytime."

Nick looked at her, grinning.  

"What?  Just because he came to a few things with me as my boyfriend,
Nick, doesn't mean he is...  He was just helping me out..."

"Riiight..."

"Come on, Nick, he's not my type.  Besides, if I started seeing him or
anyone like him, my dad would have a fit..."

"Isn't that half the attraction, Trace?"

"Nick!  He *was* just helping me out!"

"Like you were telling us the truth when you said you didn't have"  Nick
was silenced by Tracy's hand across his mouth.

"Shut up!  I'm not getting into this again.  You and Natalie were teasing
me earlier tonight because I lied to you about *that*, except I didn't!  I
really did get it after.  And I don't want to talk about it here!  My dad
could decide to walk in anytime.  I know it's not too likely, but it could
happen, and I don't want to have to explain it to him!"  She stood up.
"I'll phone you later to find out what's happened, Okay?"  She wasn't
waiting for a response.  "Can I go now, Captain?"

Captain Reese nodded, and stood up.  But before he could get to the door
Tracy had opened it and was gone.

"So what was that about, Knight?"

"She has a friend that her father wouldn't approve of.  She doesn't know
that I slightly knew him before they were friends.  I wouldn't say that
he's a friend of mine... an acquaintance though."

"So why would her father be upset?  Does this guy have a record?"

"No.  But by the way he dresses you'd expect him to.  Like I said, I don't
know him well.  But I do know him well enough that I'd trust him with my
life... Despite his appearance and the crowds he hangs with, he's a really
decent guy.  It's just that he looks like someone you'd expect to see in a
biker gang."

"And that's her boyfriend?"

"Despite my teasing her, I think they are just friends.  I know that she's
his type - I know one of his previous girlfriends...  but Tracy is too
torn between what she wants and what she knows her father expects of her."
Nick looked at the floor.  "But even if they do end up together, it
wouldn't be a problem.  He's a softy - dressing and acting the biker is
just to look tough.  I doubt that they will be more than friends, but I
think that both of them could do a lot worse."  ~What are you saying,
Nick!  That Tracy should pick up with a blood sucking monster like
yourself for a relationship?  You know full well that could only end up in
her turning into one of you as well!~  Nick chided himself.

"Well, just keep your eyes on the guy.  We don't need her father breathing
down our necks about her boyfriends."  Reese turned in time to Natalie
coming towards the office.  He came around and opened the door.

"You ok, Doctor?  Normally it is just officers that have to go through an
I.A. questioning..."

"I'm fine, Captain.  But as soon as they know what action if any they are
taking, I just want to head home or to the loft.  Someplace I can relax
and unwind.  They actually asked me if Nick fired first and when I said
no, but that it was very close together, one of 'em actually accused me of
lying to protect Nick.  Boy, was I mad.  I told him in no uncertain terms
what I thought of him and his insinuations, and where he could shove his
bloody allegations...  And you know what?  That damn creep laughed.  He
was just trying to goad me into making a mistake or changing my story or
something that *if* I had been lying, I might have done from the
pressure...  The jerk!  But when he laughed I realized what he was doing.
Then as he'd try a new way of trying to make me 'change my story' I'd
quote to him the name of the technique he was using from my psychology
classes...  He gave up.  When they told me I could come back out I said to
him, that the reason he wasn't going to get me to change what happened was
because I *was* telling him the truth."  Natalie clenched her hand into a
fist.  "But I could easily kill something right about now...  Get rid of
some frustration..."  Natalie saw a folded up baggie that must have been a
left over from Reese's lunch.  She reached over and picked it up.
"This'll do."  She inflated the baggie, and twisted the base of it to seal
in the air, before she slammed it into her other hand. popping it loudly.
Even with the door closed, most everyone in the vicinity looked up and
towards the office... 

Nick put his hands on her shoulders. He could feel the tension in them.
"Feel any better, Nat?"

Natalie nodded, as Reese's phone rang, and he picked it up and listened to
the verdict of the I.A. officer on the other end.

When he hung up, Reese said "That was Dawson.  He said that there will be
nothing further against you, Knight.  They believe you fired in self
defense, and they see no reason for any sort of reprimand or other action.
They did say that you probably should take a couple days off, and they
suggested you do the same, Doctor.  They said they put you through a lot
in there and that they could tell how stressed you were when you left.
Just for your own sake they think you probably could use it.  Dawson said
to wait for a few minutes here.  He didn't say why."

Natalie sighed.  "Then I'm at least going to go to the washroom while we
wait."  She stood up and headed out of the captain's office.

By the time she got back, Reese had gotten a call from Natalie's
supervisor.  He was actually on the phone when she came back in.  He asked
to speak to her and when she took the phone, he said that because of what
had happened and the call that he'd received from IA, he was giving
Natalie the next 2 nights off.  He told her he was glad that she hadn't
been hurt, but that next time they want someone to "go in as that
detective's girl," they had better get a cop.  Then he wanted to speak to
Reese again.

Reese put the call on hold, and told them to go.  He didn't want to see
them for the rest of the night, or for 2 more days.  Then he closed the
door and went back to his call.

----

Vachon was waiting outside the building for Tracy when she came out.  She
climbed onto the back of his bike, and they zoomed off towards the church.

Once they were there, Tracy sat on his sofa, and fidgetted...

"What's wrong, Trace?"

"It's Nick and Natalie. They think I'm lying to them and I'm not."

"About?"

"Remember how I was asking you before about tattoos, and stuff?  Well, the
reason I was asking was because I was thinking about getting one.  Then we
had a case where one of the victims had a really nice piece on her hip,
that was done by the guy you were recommending.  Well, about 3 weeks ago,
I got brave enough and I went and got one.  But that was well after that
case where we'd had that victim with one of his tattoos.  Well, anyway, at
that time, when I told Nick and Natalie that I knew who had done the
tattoo and a little bit about the design, Nick started looking at me like
I had one hidden.  I told him right out that I didn't.  But I also didn't
bother to tell him I was thinking about it. I didn't think it was any of
his business.  Well, with one of the swimsuits I had to wear for that
assignment, you could see part of it, and they both noticed the make up
guy covering it.  So now last night and tonight before we had to go for
those stupid I.A. interviews, they were both teasing me about it and
saying I was lying.  I wasn't but they don't believe me."

"They were teasing about the tattoo.  Were they teasing about the lying
too?"  Vachon reached down and rubbed her shoulders, feeling the tension
in them.

"I don't think so.  I think they really believe it."

"Tracy?"  Vachon sat down beside her, and put his arm over her shoulder,
pulling her to lean against him.

"What?"

"Which one did you decide on?"

"Which what?"

"Which design did you get?"  Vachon inhaled deaply of the scent of Tracy's
hair.  It was something he knew he could never dislike.

"The butterfly."

"Nice..."  Vachon was enjoying cuddling her as much as she seemed to need
it.  "If you don't mind, I'd like to see it.  I think the one you were
looking at would be very pretty on you."

Tracy huffed.  "Vachon..."  Then she looked at him, and realized that he
wasn't trying to tease her.  He did really think it would be pretty.  She
sighed again.  "just don't tease me about it, please?  I'm getting enough
of that from Nick and Natalie."  She blushed brightly as she undid the
zipper on her jeans, and wiggled them down a little ways since she was
still sitting.  Then she swung her legs up onto the sofa, and lied back so
that her body was across Vachon's lap, and she could look up into his
face.  She reached down and pushed the elastic waistband of her panties
down til it was just at the top of her hair.  "Think you should be able to
see it now."

She looked up into Vachon's face.  "It's really nice, Trace.  It does suit
you."  He traced the outline of it with his little finger, making Tracy
shiver.  "And it really is beautiful on you."  Tracy smiled at that as she
closed her eyes, allowing him to examine the tattoo a little more closely
and let his hands do a little exploring of their own.  

----

Natalie and Nick were sitting on the sofa, enjoying their 'enforced' days
off together... 

Natalie looked at Nick, and said innocently "I think I'm going to miss
seeing you guys as models."

Nick looked at her rather puzzled.  "Why?"

Natalie smiled.  "I just think maybe it was good for you.  I don't think
I've ever seen you as relaxed as you were at the agent's party.  You're
always so serious lately.  It was really nice to see you relax like that."
She stood up and moved over closer, but instead of sitting next to him,
she sat on his lap, much as she had been that evening in the hot tub.

Nick shifted.  "We were told to play the part, Natalie.  I was."

Natalie tried not to let herself get embarrased or otherwise distracted.
She knew it was a dangerous game that she was now playing.  "It's just not
as comfortable cuddling this way on the sofa. is it?"

Nick smiled a smile that looked mostly rueful but slightly thankful as
well, and shook his head.

Natalie smiled, and pulled her t-shirt off, so she was wearing her bra and
her sweatpants.  Then she leaned back against Nick before he had a chance
to complain too much.  

Nick looked at Natalie and asked "Why are you doing this, Nat?  You know
this "

"Is dangerous for me? Yes Nick, I know you believe that.  But I also know
what I want, and one of the things I want is for you to feel comfortable
and relaxed.  I've never seen you like that before.  I liked it.  And it's
good for you."  Natalie grinned.  "Tell me you didn't enjoy it at the
party..."

"I would have enjoyed it more if that young girl hadn't come out."

"Really?  I thought that in your time a girl her age was considered a
woman already and probably already married."

"Well, that was a long time ago.  I have changed with the times, at least
in that regard."

"So are you saying you didn't enjoy hot tubbing?"

"No. Just"

"Good.  Then come with me."  Natalie didn't let Nick finish whatever he
had been going to say.  Instead she stood up, and took his hand, pulling
him to stand beside her.  "Come." she whispered, leading him towards the
far corner of his loft where there was a small room.  "I did something
today while you were asleep."

Nick opened the door to the room.  Inside was a small hot tub, sized for
about 4 people.  It wasn't hooked up yet.  But it was one of the so called
portable ones that don't require any permanent installations.  "I bought
this today.  Well, I put the downpayment on it, and then it's monthly for
18 months.  I hope you'll use it too, but I didn't have room for it at my
place.  We can set it up and give it a try.  I figured in here would be
best so it's out of the way, but still someplace safe so you can use it
too."

Nick looked at Natalie and shook his head.

"What?  you don't like?  I can't set it up here?  What?"

"It's fine in here Nat.  You really want us to have this?"

Natalie thought ~US -he said *us* to have this~.  But instead as she
nodded she said "Yes.  I like it.  I think with us both having stressful
jobs this is something we can both probably use and enjoy.  I just don't
have room for it at my place."

"Okay - then lets get it set up.  It's just wasting space like this."  He
picked up the directions to get it ready for use, and began to read them
over.

----

They had gotten it set up, water in it and circulating.  Nick had asked
Natalie if she wanted the honour of using it first since she had purchased
it.  She had said no, that since he had done most of the setting up
himself, he had earned it.  In truth that was just a ruse.  She was just
waiting for Nick to have had enough time to be in it and relaxing.  She
had noted that he hadn't taken his trunks in with him.  She looked at the
clock.  He'd been inside for just over 5 minutes.  Natalie went upstairs
to the linen closet and grabbed 2 towels.  She took one and after pulling
off her sweats, panties and bra, wrapped it around herself.  Then she took
the other one in hand and went downstairs to the 'tub room'.  She opened
it slowly and peeked inside.  She saw Nick's clothes piled on one of the
boxes, then when she entered the room quietly, she saw him lying back in
the tub, obviously enjoying it's effects.  His eyes were closed, and had
it been anyone other than Nick she would have thought them sleeping.

The thought came across her mind briefly ~Do you really want to go through
with this, Lambert?  It's a big risk.~  Natalie chided herself mentally.
She knew what she wanted.  And he was sitting relaxing in the tub before
her.  She smiled as she stepped around to the far side of the tub, and set
both towels on a box just out of reach.  Then she sat on the side of the
tub and slid gently into it.  After she was seated across form Nick she
smiled and spoke "I thought you might want a towel.  I put it with mine."

---<---<---<@

end of part 11 & end of story...  I hope you liked it...
Thanks for reading!
  -Micki