Then Came You

Chapter 1 - The Call

"Hello agent Chris LaSalle"

"Hello agent LaSalle, this is Raymond Isler. May I speak with agent Pride?"

"I'm sorry Isler. King is out of the office at the moment. Can I put you in his voicemail or is there something that I can assist you with?"

"Could you ask him to get back to me today? Oh and LaSalle. I ran into 'Sundance' last week" he says as he chuckles.

"How is Percy" LaSalle responds with laughter?

"Well, she really likes her job but I know she's having some challenges in getting integrated into her new D.C. life. She was unable to tell me any place that she has been or new acquaintances Quite frankly I don't think that she has let go of New Orleans yet."

"You must be mistaken. Percy couldn't wait to get out of here" Chris quickly responds.

"Well maybe it's not the City."

Silence

"Yeah, maybe it's a person" Isler adds.

More silence.

"Look LaSalle. You don't have to say a word. I always suspect there was more than a partnership between you too. You were too much in synch, finishing each other talking points, how you conducted your sweeps and the looks you exchanged. I'll help you out here. Grab a pen. Here's Percy's unlisted number at her condo. I'll leave it up to you. Thanks for your help."

"Good Bye" Chris answers in a reserved voice as he lays down the receiver.

"LaSalle, LaSalle? Christopher" Tammy nearly yells!

"What?"

"Where were you?

"I was just thinking."

"Hey Pride needs us to go down to NOPD and look at an arrest record."

Later in the SUV

"Chris?"

"Yeah."

"You look distracted."

"Well, sort of. I was just thinking".

"About?"

"Isler called while King was out and left a message. He mentioned that he had run into Percy a few weeks ago."

"And?"

Just made me wonder."

"About?"

"About how she's doing. If she likes her job."

"If she misses us" Tammy interjects?

"Yeah that too."

"And you LaSalle" she asks as he looks exasperated. "Never mind. Your face says it all."

"Oh" LaSalle exclaims trying to look nonchalant!

"Be honest Christopher. We both kind of lost it when our girl left. I went 'out there' and you retreated."

"Look we're here. Let's get this sucker" Chris says to diver the vein of the conversation.

Later in the squad room

"Christopher I need to see you in the conference room."

"What is it King?"

I called Isler back. Washington is trying to document some of the assets of the American mercenaries in Eastern Europe. Isler thought that you might be valuable in providing information and an assessment of what is going on. You will be temporarily assigned to his Task Force for six to eight weeks. You will need to report in four weeks. So get your travel and room arrangement completed.

LaSalle quickly realized that he now had a legitimate reason to call Percy.

"Hey Percy, Chris LaSalle here."

"Hey Country Mouse. How are you? Is this more bad news" she asked with fear in her voice.

"No City Mouse. Everything is fine here. I called because I have to be in D. C. in a few weeks and I wondered if we could meet for dinner or drinks while I am there."

"Well, you would need to text me when you get in. If I don't respond within a few hours that would mean that I'm unavailable. Hey, do you know where you will be staying?"

"I haven't got that far yet. Any suggestions?"

"Say, I have an extra bedroom here. Why don't you just stay here and you will have access to a kitchen and a work out center. I don't live far from a police station that has a full gym and running track. I don't know if I will be here but I can leave a key at the Concierge desk and they will give you a parking pass."

"Sonja that's really nice of you. That will give us a lot of time to catch up. Can you e-mail me the information?" It only took a few moments for that classic LaSalle smile to reappear.