Picture Perfect

Chapter 33

"Morris, I need to see you in my office." The captain said as he passed our desk.
"What about me Capt?" Hayley asked.
"Just Morris."
I just shrugged, I didn't know what to think. This was definitely not how I wanted to start my week. I had a fairly relaxing weekend. Bash spent most of it with me playing with Cain. I was amused to find out Cain enjoyed sleeping right above my head, on my hair. But that was the weekend and I was at work now.
"Are you okay Ash?" Hayley asked looking concerned, probably because I hadn't moved or said anything yet.
I shook my head, clearing the cob webs and said, "Yeah, of course."
"Okay." Hayley responded, eyeing me curiously. "Well you probably shouldn't keep the Capt waiting."
"True." I nodded and got up. "I'll fill you in soon. Hopefully this doesn't take too long." I may have seemed out of it to Hayley but that wasn't exactly what was going on. My mind was going a mile a minute trying to figure out why the captain wanted to see just me. My mind first went to Bash but I had just left him happily eating breakfast with Aaron, what could happen in a half an hour? Unfortunately, I knew some horrible answers to that question. I wondered if it had anything to do with my parents or Kayla. Maybe something happened to one of them. The only thing that made sense was that it had something to do with my family because anything else he would want to talk to both Hayley and I.
"Ashlee. Close the door and have a seat." The captain said with I reached the door.
"Is everything okay Capt?" I asked actually feeling scared about this meeting.
"I wanted to let you know the latest on the Daniels case."
"Okay." I said skeptically.
"We have an ID on the woman found in the bedroom." He stated then looked directly in my eyes. "It was Clare Lennox."
My eyes went wide and I looked away from him. I tried to keep my expression neutral but one look back up at the captain told me I was failing miserable.
"I know this makes this case all the more personal for you Ash." He said, stating the obvious. "Will this be a problem for you?"
I still wasn't sure what to say. It seemed crazy to me that I was just thinking about Clare a couple nights ago yet I had seen her at a crime scene and not recognized her.
"Are you okay Ash?" The captain asked, obviously concerned by my silence.
"I think so," I said. I could hear my voice was shaky. "When was she released?"
The captain looked down at a file and said, "I guess that explains why I didn't recognize her at the scene."
"In all seriousness Ashlee, is this going to be a problem?"
I paused for a few moments like I was seriously considering this question even though I knew my answer immediately after he asked the first and the second. "No Captain, I see no problem."
"Good." The captain said. "Now please don't be offended or pissed off by what I have to say next."
"I'm not gonna like this, am I?"
"Okay here's the deal, on paper Hayley is going to be lead detective on the Daniel's case, possibly all the family murder cases. I'm listing Jameson as her partner and on paper you are now with Jones. Any official things for this case cannot have your name anywhere near it, no exceptions." He said very officially then added, "I am smart enough to know I can't keep you away from these cases but we can't let higher ups know you're still on it either."
I just shrugged, "I don't think this is all necessary but whatever you say Capt. You didn't have an issue earlier so I don't get why you do now."
"Don't insult me Ash. Your personal involvement in the Daniels case was already questionable before one of your ex's was identified as the mystery woman murdered in the Daniel's bedroom."
    Even though I tried, I couldn't hide the surprise on my face. I thought I had been so good at keeping Clare and I's involvement a secret. Guess I'm not as good as I thought.
    "Yeah, I remember who Clare Lennox was Ash. I may be jumping the gun but I don't want that fact to bite us in the ass when we finally catch this guy."
    I nodded half heartedly, "I understand Capt. Is there anything else?" Honestly I was just telling him what he wanted to hear. This official, unofficial kicking me off the case thing was completely unnecessary. But when I looked the Captain in the eye he did not seem amused by my response.
    "Look Morris, by all rights you should have been off the case when you identified the Daniels family but I let you stay on. Now if you don't play by my rules here we could both get fired or worse demoted to patrol. You may not mind but I'm too damn old to be back on the street." The captain said, his anger growing and face reddening with each syllable.
    "Okay, I get it Captain. Your rules!"
    "Thank you, now you'll need to fill Ms. Dutton in on all of this too." He added.
    "You mean tell her I'm officially not involved yet I'm still working the case?" I had to ask because I wasn't sure how much he wanted me to disclose.
    "That and your prior relationship with Clare. She's gotta know everything, lawyers don't like surprises."
    "Yes, but some lawyers like ethics. That could cause a problem with the arrangement you've decided." I pointed out.
    He considered what I said for a few moments then added, "True, she may want to handle this situation differently than I've decided to, be ready for that Ash."
    "Yes Captain." I said as I got up and left his office. Boy, this day was just starting off on a great note.