"For what?" George asked. Not expecting this response.

"Threatening you a lot. It's just the way I am." Ashley shrugged a little. She was a violent cop.

"I'm not afraid to admit that I killed people back in New York. If that's what your saying." George quickly replied.

"Alright. I..." Ashley trailed off. She didn't like talking about previous partners especially ones that she saw die or she had to killed.

"Alright then." George stayed quiet and arrived at the destination.

"Let's go." Ashley got out of the cruiser. She smoothed out her dress.

"Sounds good." George climbed out of the car. "Alright."

Ashley knocked. "Malone, it's Dowell." Suddenly the door opened to reveal a teenager about 5'9".

"Who are you sir?" George put on his sunglasses.

The boy looked at him. "Malone, Raymond Malone." Ashley interrupted. "No time. Where are we talking?" Ashley looked at him sternly and walked into the apartment. "Nice to see you too, Ash." Raymond looked feverishly at her.

"Just answer some questions and we'll be on our way." George entered the house without hesitation.

"Answer them honestly!" Ashley was right to the point. "No lies like you." Raymond was trying to make her angry. "I know what really happened to your last partner." Raymond looked straight at George. "But I don't think he would like to know."

"I maybe I would." George rose the gun. "I probably had way more training then him. And I'm not afraid to kill someone."

"Apparently, neither is she." Raymond smirked in her direction. "Isn't it true?" Ashley wasn't going to talk. Her eyes burned into Raymond's skull.

"I don't care what she did. Now answer some questions! NOW!" George pushed him back onto a couch.

Ashley looked at George. He wasn't concerned and she was going to leave it as that. "Where were you 2 nights ago?" Raymond looked at her. "Studying for my math exam." He was cunning. "Anybody confirm it?" Ashley angrily gritted her teeth.

"I actually pulled up some records before I left. They speak for themselves. Just in short... they tell me you lie! Read em!" George flopped down the files.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Raymond eased out the words. "Look, answer or I'll shoot you." Ashley was furious. "Like your last partner?" Raymond inquired

"Shut up! If your trying to get me angry at her it's not working." George rose his gun. "Now answer."

"Aren't you a little curious what happened?" Raymond grew anxious. He didn't expect him to react like that.

"Answer me." George took off the safety. "NOW!"

"Fine, I was at an alcohol deal. Some girl hit it good. Wine." Raymond backed into the chair. He was extremely scared.

"Who sent you there? And who did you meet?"

"Alex Malone." Ashley didn't need an answer from him. "He met with Donna Pertech."

"How did you know this?" George became curious of who she really was.

"Alex Malone's our victim. Donna Pertech is a major acohol dealer. Put the pieces together." Ashley started to walk out

"There could be other dealers you know. Besides I want his answer. Not yours." George looked sharply at Raymond.

"She's right." Raymond looked at George uninterested. "Seems all you need is your partner to answer your questions."

"Shut up." George punched him in the face. He stormed out.

Ashley followed behind in shock. She did know alot, and she knew he would ask questions later.

George angrily entered the car. "Grr..."

Ashley got in the passenger side. She stay as quiet as she could. Then something hit her. "Sorry about Raymond."

George stayed silent. They rode back to the Police Station.

Ashley got out immediately and went to her father. Maybe he could patch something together.

George drove off. He wanted revenge on Raymond.

"Ashley." Sam was behind his desk shuffling through reports. "Dad." Ashley stood leaning against the door post. Both were obviously distant.

"He's gonna tell me what she did. And then I kill him." George got out quickly and knocked on the door.

Raymond answered. "Oh it's you." He led George in the apartment. "Curious?"

"Just let me ask the questions! How did the partner die?"

"She shot him." Raymond didn't actually know the whole story.

"Hmm... I didn't expect that. Sadly the same will be with you!" George quickly shot him. Then walked out quickly.

Ashley and Sam shared the information each had gathered. Sam realized the lacerations were from a whip, but from a man. Ashley shared all the info she had on Alex and Raymond.

George drove away. He knew what had to be done. He was going to go A.W.O.L.

Ashley, in curiosity, walked out and asked if anyone had seen George. She started to grow fond of him.

"Maybe I should just act like nothing happened." George drove back to the station.

Ashley noticed when George came back. "Hey." She sounded a little excited.

"Hey." George was sounding really laid back.

"So where did you go?" Ashley was curious. She did care about him.

"Just to get some coffee." George gave her one.

"Oh thanks." Ashley remember how mad he was at Raymond. "Hey, I'm really sorry about Ray. Trust me, nothing will happen like what happened to my old pattern." She took the coffee.

"That's good to know." George drove off with her. "So where we going next?"

"To see Donna. Apparently she and Alex were a little more than 'buisness partners.'" Ashley thought about what her dad said.

"I see." George drove to the address. "Okay." George stepped out.

Ashley followed explaining Donna's and Alex's affair.

"Okay I get it." George knocked on the door.

"Just clarifying." Donna answered the door. She was a fairly tall woman in her thirties.

"Hello. We've come to ask you a few questions."

"Alex?" Donna already knew. It didn't take long for news to travel. "Ashley, glad to see you."

"I guess no introductions then." George walked in.

"Donna, Alex was found dead, which I'm sure you're aware, and there were some marks that were suspicious." Ashley pulled some pictures out. "Yes, I know there were marks." Donna was the last one to really see him.

"Hmmm..." George reviewed the photos.

"Those lacerations came from a whip, and knowing your previous affairs I can only assume." Ashley went straight into asking about. "Is this because I always have sadistic lovers?"

George sat there in silence. He was just going to let them talk each other out.

"Of course." Ashley looked sternly at Donna. Donna averted her gaze to George. "He's yummy. Good partner choice."

George didn't hear anything. He just put his sunglasses on and turned his head slightly left into the wind coming in from the window.

"Was Alex with anyone else?" Ashley ignored the thought. "Yeah, Gerad Rachinello." Donna figured Alex had a deal with Ashley. "Why a Rachinello?"

George looked up at Donna.

"Did you not hear?" Donna looked at Ashley. "No." Ashley was curious.

George looked back down. He didn't know what was going on.

Ashley grabbed her arms. "You're under arrest for runnig alcohol."

"Oh I see." George got up and helped.

"Alex was trying to merge the families." Donna barely noticed. "Only Alex." Ashley walked Donna to the cruiser.

George followed them. He got in the drivers seat.

Ashley shoved Donna in the back seat then got into the passenger seat.

"We got her!" George smirked with excitement.

"There's more." Ashley knew this was only the beginning.

"Well let's get our next lead." George looked for a clock. "Look at the time though."

"It's late." Ashley looked back at Donna. Donna noticed she still wore her engagement ring. "He's gone." Donna hushed her voice a little

"What do we do with her?" George asked.

"Lock her up and go to the hotel/" Ashley could think of much more.

"Okay I'll go lock her up." George stopped on front of the jail and directed her to her cell.

Ashley followed messing with her ring.

"Here's your cell mam." George began locking it.

Donna was off in another world. "Do you know why she keept the ring?"

"Huh?" George finished locking it.

Donna looked at him. "Do you not know you're partner?"

"Stay quiet." George walked away. He wasn't going to let people change his opinion about his partner.

Ashley looked around for George. She was curious where he was. When she found him, "Hey, after this, we need to get to the hotel."

"Okay." George got into the car.

Ashley got on the passenger side. She was tired.

George rode back to the hotel. He opened Ashley's door for her as a gentlemen.

"Thank you." Ashley proceded to walk to her room.

George room expired. "Can I sleep in yours?"

"I guess." Ashley remembered when she let a male partner sleep in her room. "Don't touch me in here." Ashley opened the door.

"I won't." George assured.

"Good." Ashley didn't trust people after that

George murmured to himself. He thought she was crazy. He was probably right. George laid down on the couch.

Ashley went to take a shower. She needed it.

George began dozing off.

When Ashley was finished, she dried off, stuck on a random t-shirt, and wandered toward her bed. She was sluggish at a time like this.