Sincerely, B. Foxtrotter: A NYPD Crime Novel

Chapter Three: Encounter

Michael walks up to Persia's desk and stands there impatiently until he clears his throat and she looks up. " You got ice? My wrist is hurting like.."

Persia glances him over and then looks at his slightly swollen wrist. " Yeah, I'll go grab some. What happened?"

" I slipped and fell on the ice," Michael lies through his teeth.

Not surprisingly, it wasn't hard for him to.

"Gosh dang! It hurts. I hope it's not broken. That would be icing on the cake today!"

Michael grabs the ice rather harshly from Persia and walks back to his office. He walks in and Jenkins is sitting there. Michael does his best to conceal his wrist but Jenkins eyes widen as he gently grabs Michael's forearm.

" Fox. Jeez. What happened?"

Michael sits down, the ice under his wrist. It was starting to bruise and it looked like it might be sprained or worse, broken.

" I'm fine. Some idiot grabbed me and I slipped and fell on the steps''

Jenkins raises an eyebrow. " Some idiot? Fox."

Fox sighs and winces slightly. Liam had a strong grip, jeez. He might have to get it checked out later, he thought.

" Fine. It was Liam ''

Jenkins's eyes got so wide they might have fallen off if Michael hadn't told him to can it right then and there.

" Liam? Liam Barrett?"

" Yes. As I was coming back from the coffee shop, Rachel called but that's another story. Anyway, I ran into him yet again and I decided to give him a piece of my mind"

Jenkins jaw drops. " Fox. You didn't. What did you say?"

Michael sighs and rolls his eyes, embarrassed to say anything at all.

" Basically I told him I knew he was hiding something and I was going to find out what it was. And before I knew it, he had my wrist and pinned it behind my back. And as a kicker, he slipped me, and here we are now," Michael gestures to his wrist as he adjusts the ice wincing as the cool bag rubs against his skin.

" Fox. Buddy. You know I like you, but you can't keep doing stupid stuff like this. Next time, you might not get by"

Michael fingers the edge of his desk, knowing Jenkins is right.

" You're right. I know. I just... I'm a detective, Jenk. It's my job to investigate people who are shady and sneaky. It's hard for me to turn off that light in me"

Jenkins nods sympathetically. He then looks at Michael's face. He looks to be in a lot of pain and Jenk couldn't remember the last time Michael had looked in that much pain. Jenkins stands up definitively.

" We're going to the clinic. Come on Fox"

Michael shakes his head but Jenkins gives a stare that makes Michael feel frightened. Jenkins opens the door as Michael walks through unwillingly. Jenkins closes the door with a smile. As they close the door, there is a creak heard and Liam steps out of the closet.

" What a baby," he mumbles to himself.

Liam then opens the door and walks to the elevator. He presses a button and adjusts his suit and tie.

" Mr. Fox. Mr. Fox. What a bad fox you are"

The doors close.

____________________

Michael and Jenk leave the clinic and get in the car. " I have no idea why you brought me here, Jenk. Doc says my wrist is just slightly sprained. I'm fine" Jenk starts the car and looks at Michael holding his wrist.

" Yeah? Then mind explaining why you're still holding on to it?" Michael immediately lets go of his wrist and looks out the window. They are silent the rest of the way back.

___________________

Michael walks into his office to find Liam and Chief standing there. He hesitantly walks in whilst still lightly holding his wrist. He tried to hide it at first and then realized the situation couldn't be helped.

" Hey Fox"

Michael sets himself down in his chair. The chief watched him with a slight stare.

" You okay? What happened to your wrist?"

Michael glances at Liam who gives him a smirk. Liam knew Michael couldn't and wouldn't tell the chief. Boy, did he have the chief wrapped around his finger? Well everyone else didn't know what Liam was, only Michael, so he guessed the situation wasn't that questionable.

" I.. slipped and fell on the ice outside. Doctor says it's a minor sprain and it will be healed in less than a few weeks"

Michael swears that he could see Liam's face fall. Maybe he wasn't as bad as Michael made him out to be.

"What do you need, Chief?"

Michael slides his bag next to him as he tries to avoid eye contact with Liam.

" I just wanted to check-in and see how you are, which we have already established. Have a good day Fox. I'll leave Liam to tell the rest"

Garcia leaves the room as Liam pushes off his spot leaning against the cabinet. He takes a deep breath before he begins what seems to be a long speech.

" So it's no secret that we hate each other, Fox. I think you're a jerk and you think I'm a criminal. All's fair in love and war, amirite?"

Michael doesn't even crack a smile as Liam rubs his hands together softly.

" Anyway, Chief assigned us both a big murder case and we have an appointment with the medical examiner to look at the body and go over details in an hour. Be there, got it?"

Liam opens the door before Michael stands up and stops him.

" Wait! We're working side by side?"

Liam turns around and nods.

" Yeah. Chief thought it would be good for our nonexistent friendship. 'Course, he doesn't know that it doesn't exist. Let's keep it that way shall we? M.E. One hour, Fox"

Liam slams the door and Michael listens to his footsteps down the hall as he thumps his head rhythmically on his desk.

Could this day get any worse?

____________________

Liam shrugs his jacket off as he walks into the local bar and orders a gin and then takes it to a table. He stands up after a while and leans against the wood beam separating him and another man. " Is it done?"

" Yes, faxed 'em to your copier''

Liam sips his drink and nods as he then tenses, thinking about what the man said.

" Which copier?"

" The one at the 14th. Why L?"

Liam almost crushes his glass against the force of his fist. He grabs the end of the man's jacket and drags him into the nearby alley.

" Why in the hell would you fax the transfer to the copier at the 14th? You're gonna get our cover blown, you git!"

The man stands at Liam's eye level.

" Take it or leave it L. I did what you asked. You can't deny that. I won't be to blame and you can't argue with that. Technically you're not top gun yet little tiger"

Liam throws a punch at the guy's face and he falls to the ground. Liam pours the rest of his gin on him and throws the glass against the wall.

" Oh shoot. Knocked him unconscious. Oh well. See ya A. I hope the Feds pick you up. Oh wait, that can't happen"

Liam shrugs back on his jacket which had been hanging loosely in his hand. He adjusts his black belt and looks behind him as he hops the fence and disappears into the night.