I just got a call from the bureau. They let me know that PacCall wont be any help for a few days. Their lawyers are getting pissy about the thing with Alberto Spears and its going to be like organizing a three-ring circus to get any information from them until its all cleared up.

Yeah, thats no good. But really, I think for now were good. What we have in the phone records we already have is about all wed need, I think.

Yeah, until body number five pops up. He shook his head and then, mimicking Rachel from just a few minutes ago, looked down into the Harlem River. What about you? I saw your face when I started walking your way, just as you put your cell phone away. Looked like you got some pretty bad news yourself.

Did I?

Yeah. Everything okay?

She didnt answer right away because she could still feel the anger from Alexs call still boiling around inside of her. And if it came out when she spoke, there was no way she would be able to convince Jack that she was fine. So she left her response to a simple nod but even that seemed to be hostile, and she knew it.

Rachel. Level with me. He paused for a moment, and Rachel could all but see the gears grinding in his head as he tried to decide whether to keep his mouth shut or to go ahead and take that one extra step over the line. In the end, he decided to take the step. Somethings been up with you for the last few weeks. I noticed it during the last case and its eating at you now, too. You dont owe it to me to tell me, but I think you probably should share it.

It pissed her off because she knew he was right. She knew that sharing it with him would take a load off of her heart and it would even be a warm-up for when she had to drop the bomb at home. But at the same time, she knew that if she told him now, right in the middle of a case, it would ruin their work. All of their attention would go toward talking about it and that was the last thing they needed tight now…especially as it felt this case seemed to be more and more elusive with every new body.

No. Its personal and at the risk of sounding conceited, I dont see that its affecting my job performance.

But if you need someone to talk to, even if it might be personal, you can

Didnt we already go through this on the last case? I only need you as a backup and partner while were on the job. Thats it. Nothing else. Youre not my shrink, youre not a therapist, and right now, it feels like thats exactly what youre trying to do. So can you just let it go?