The alarming buzz of the phone made Natalie jump from her light sleep.Her eyes could not be trusted to see who was calling so she answered it harshly.

"Did I wake you up?"

Ford's soft voice made her laugh to herself.She forgot that he gave him a very important task.

"I'm a light sleeper,don't worry.What do you have for me,cherie?"

"Ok,so that coroner of yours...''

"James Rattlefield,yes"

"He is clean.No debt,no affair,no illegitimmate child,to resume this ,nothing that Rick Thompson can dig up.My theory is that the Chief might know something we don't."

"So you are suggesting that Mr.Thompson blackmailed Chief to blackmail Rattlefield?''

"Something like that."

"Brilliant,Ford.Good job.I'm proud of you!Thanks"

"I also sent to printing today's newspapper."

Natalie laughed softly and responded

"My great assistant.You are my pride and joy.Let me know how it sells later,ok?I have a tiny trip to the Station to make.I will update you with a piece until midnight."

"Yes Boss,take care."

"You too,Ford..."

Natalie lingered a bit after the phone call ended.What a good friend was Ford still managed to amaze her.Maybe he needed her as much as she needed him,but still he always took care of her,he was always punctual and alert.He was going to be a great journalist when he'll get the opportunity to rise up from the mud and dust that were surrounding Morning Globe.

She got up from the side of the bed,took a fast shower and shouted at Sonia not knowing if she was sleeping or in the kithchen making a cup of that terrible coffee of hers.

"Sonia!!!I need new clothes please.So you know,I'll just let myself wander in your little closet."

She didn't wait for an answer before running intro Sonia's messy wardrobe.Her clothes were once well sorted but now everything was just a huge pile of expensive cloths bought many years ago.Natalie stood in front of that hangers and wondered not what will fit her,but more what would fit Haven's dreams.The thought of meeting him today,going out at an interogation with him made her shiver like a school girl.She wanted to be perfect for him.She wanted him to worship her more that he already did.

Natale's fantasy was intrerrupted by Sonia's harsh breath.Natalie turned looking surprised and met the little,squinted eyes that were piercing her like a mother that caught her daughter stealing her clothes.

"You can take everything.Just don't ruin them.You have a tendency to ruin my clothes."

As Sonia was leaving Natalie thought that everything this people did for her was too much.What if she coud never repay them?What does she do for them?She would do anything for them,she would die for them,she would live for them.....

She took a lace top admiring the fabric while reaching to a plain pair of pants.This will do with her black shoes and that terrible orange bag.Haven will adore that green lace on her

She went in the kithcen,pretended to drink a bit from the coffee that Sonia made,kissed her cheek and said excited

"I'm heading to the Station.I will give you a new article tonight.OK?"

"Yes.Be careful,Nat.You are going into the lion's den."

"I know,but they don't know that I'm a badass tigress."

Sonia laughed silly while slurping from her coffee cup,then waved at Natalie,that probably didn't see her because she was already walking out of her house like a mad deer that was running from the hunter.

Natalie reached for her phone and caled her god-like detective,

"Morning,cherie.I'm coming to you,you know?"

Haven faint giggle made her realise that he wasn't alone in his office,so she continued.

"Ok.I get it.Detective Tremblay is surrounded.I'm heading to the station,see you there."

"Ok."

The sound of his voice made her heart flutter and dance like a mechanical doll.She continued her walk wiht a big silly smile on her face until she stopped at a nearby Starbucks to take a little muffin for her own Muffin Man just as she promised.

Natalie reached the station shortly after and entered like she owned that place.Her heels clicked onto the marble floors until she reached Haven's office.He was alone,so that was a bliss for her,she could tease him a little bit before going deep into hard work.

"Morning,cherie''she said while aproaching him to  give him a litlle peck on the lips.

"Hi,Nat."

His cheek turned a bit pink when he laid eyes on her.Damn,what would he do for this woman.He took short glimpses at her while trying to get over his shyness and go to her.

"You brought me a muffin."

"Of course I did.It was a scout's girl promise for my very very handsome detective.But now....I have work to do and this work implies a certain dirty Chief"Natalie whispered while laughing.

"The door at the end of he hallway.He's drinking his coffee so you have 15 minutes or so before the phones start buzzing like crazy here."

"15 minues is a delight.I will return to you then ,my darling"

Natalie began heading to the Chief's door with a lump in her throath.After all Kenny Smith was a powerful and intimidating man.His rough features and black eyes plunge into anyone's soul making them to spill their dirtiest secrets,but she was a spitfire too.He would not tame her.

She knocked lightly on the door before she heard a strong voice before the wodden door.

"Yes,come in."

She entered softly like a little mouse ,but quickly regained her confidence and charm 

"Hello,Kenny.Long time,no see."

"If you are here to snatch the Thompson story I assure that I am not giving you shit.You can leave now."

"Oh my,Kenny.How presumptious of you..."

"The why are you here?"

His tone was cold and strong making her lose her pace for a second.

"It is very rude to presume that I don't have this story already.Really,you know me,I'm good.I already know this,Kenny....I actually came for a different story."

"And that is?"

"Well...Once upon a time it was a report and this report had missing details about Tania Melinsky and those details were covered by a great coroner."Natalie circled Kenny's desk and then leaned against one of his desk corners in such way that her top lifted just a little bit to show some skin attracting Kenny's curious look."The thing is this coroner is very clean which make me think that you have something to do with it."

"The report is confidential and none of you accusation are relevant."

"Maybe,but you know,I don't know what will be more relevant tomorrow:your affair with that beautiful woman that happens to be the Senator's wife or the fact that you have harrassment complaints covered up from all the female employees at this Station?"

"Are you blackmailing me?"Kenny screamed  while getting agressivly up.Everyone at the station probably heard that scream.Haves was most likely somewhere near boiling with rage.

"Oh,Kenny,Thompson is not the only one that knows things in this town and I know how to write ten times better that anyone at Chicago Post.So you either tell Ratllefield to come clean about how Tania really died or you can be delighted by a great article about how you can't keep it in those freshly ironed pants."

Kenny was taken aback by her sudden change of tone.She was agressive and bossy and he knew Clemonte did not bluff about this.

"Why do you need it?"

"Maybe I'm trying to find the truth,no ulterior reasons"

"There is no truth in this shit.That Thompson kid kills his girlfriend and daddy pulls the strings to get him out."

"Isn't it too evident to be him?Did you think that maybe he was framed?"

"Wait a minute...You are defending him???Are you heliping him?"

"Maybe.Ï suggest you call Rattlefield fast.I don't have all day."

"Why do you help him?After all he did to you in this city?"

The fact that this was true made her rethink her strategy for a few seconds.Almost everyone knew about her,about her shame,about her disgrace.She felt minuscule and weak but she will not let Chief break her.She is here with buissness not to lament her broken life.

"I'm helping someone that I believe is framed for a monstrous murder"

"Does Haven know you still love him?"Kenny laughed like a sly fox while reaching for the phone to make a call.

"I don't love him"

Kenny smirked at her trembling eyes,then shouted at the phone

"James,I'm sending a babe to your playground.You can tell her everything about that redhead on your table,ok?'

The phone call lasted for a few more minutes,but Natalie couldn't hear what James responded,she just heard Kenny softly saying "It's ok,it would have blown out sometimes anyways."

"You can go and I don't want to see you here again.I'm tired of you fucking journalist blackmailing me.You don't have the right to judge my life."

"I don't,but I have the power to make Chicago judge you.You and I know this town isvery good at it.Bye,Kenny.See you soon" Natalie waved and blew a cheeky kiss at the angry man in front of her before leaving.

Haven was standing near the door like a rabid dog,his eyes were darkened with rage

"Why did he shout at you?"

"He just didn't expect blackmail again.It's ok,calm down.Let's go at the coroner."

They both walked in silence until they reached a strong metalic door.Natalie shouted Rattlefield's name when the click of the door was heard.They were gretted by a short,fat man with messy hair and a face furrowed by fatigue.His little green eyes were surrounded by big dark circles that made his eyes look sunk into his skull.

"Your name is...?"He asked with a rusty voice while going througn some files

"Natalie Clemonte,joutnalist at the Morning Globe."

"Well,Haven,quite a catch here."he ascertained while handing a file to Natalie.

"Can I take a seat here?"she asked politely and Rattlefield just pointed at a crooked chair.

Haven was disturbed by the smell of sanitizer and rubbing alcohol.He excused himself while going near the cracked window and avoided looking too much at all the organized mess in that lab.

Everyone stayed in silence,while Natalie read the report.Rattlefield thoughtfully analysed the women that intruted his lab with her audacity to dig up their secrets.

Haven hoped that Natalie would finish so that he could get out of that room that made him feel small and out of breath.He never liked coming there that's why he always asked someone else to retrieve the reports.

"So..."Natalie slowly said"What do you think,Dr.Rattefield?Your personal opinion,please."

Rattlefield was taked aback by this request ad his eyes widened a bit as he tried to find an answer to her strange question.

"You read the report,everything is there..."

"No,I want to hear your version,you are the only one capable of telling me what he saw there."

"Fine."

"You can start"

"She was dead already when the killer or someone else cut her carothids.It was wierd,like the killer had a change in his killing style."

"What do you mean?"

"The stab in the abdomen was made in a fit of rage,powerfull enough to make a lot of damage in Tania's body,she would have died very fast from that blow.Then the carothids are cut elegant,methodical.Who did this knew what he was doing but also I think he was rushed by something,they are not the cleanest cuts."

"Right handed killer?"

"Yes."

"Signs of combat on her body?"

"You know,you just read about them..."

"I work with both my eyes and ears.So please go on..."

"She had some bruises on her wrists,like someone grabbed her,they were quite fresh,maybe made just before she was killed and some post scratches on her back,most likely made when the killer ripped her clothes and I think she was dragged in the position we found her."

"Time of death?"

"Around midnight."

"Let's talk about the hidden details now.Pregnancy?"

"3-4 months old.No recent signs of rape or forced intercourse."

"Anything suspicious at the toxicology?"

"No,not at all.No drugs,no alcohol,nothing that would raise my suspicion there.She most eat something with shrimps that night but unless that jothing unusual."

"Let's talk about another thing.The most important I think."

"The murder weapon?Yes,a letter knife,very sharp.It would explain all the lacerations and the stab."

"It was full with fingerprints,Simon's..."

"Too full if you ask me.It's like someone glued his fingers onto that blade,but it's quite obvious he used that knife."

"Did you take blood test for Simon?''"

"A lot of ecstasy combined with sleeping pills and some alcohol.A deadly combination,but the doses were not that big in order the explain the black out theory.He could've still be alert before fainting there.I can't give you some clear answer here,he could've taken them after he killed her,anything is possible"

"Do you think he did it?"

"Miss Clemonte I'm sorry but you are asking me to be subjective.I don't work like this and neither should you..."

"Just a friendly opinion."

"He might have killed her,everything points there,but he could also be masterfully framed.I don't know.I'm just a coroner I told you what I am sure of already."

"Thank you.I'm sorry for disturbing you and I'm sorry that Kenny is blackmailing you."

"He isn't.I just...owe him a lot.....he helped me when no one did..."

"Ok.I am done here.You helped me a lot.."

Natalie didn't push for more information,she realised that Kenny was using Rattlefield's guilt and debt to save his own corrupt ass.Haven reached the door quickly taking along the way Natalie's hand in order to get her out of there

"Bye James,Thank you"she managed to seak while being dragged by Haven

"Hey,don't be so rude.He just helped us."

"I don't like it there"

"Why did you came with me then?"

"I just....I don't want something to happed to you...."

Natalie smirked happy about his answer,she playfully pushed his shoulder teasing him

"Come on Mr Detective,didn't know you have a soft spot for me...and also didn't think you would be scared of some corpses."

"I'm not scared of them.I just hate the feeling that room has.It shrinks my heart all this death."

Natalie laughed loudly,her voice rumbling through the empty hallways.

"And still you are a homocide detective"

"You know I love toxic situantions."

She grabbed his arm and carrased his crumpled black shirt and his dry elbow.She then whispered at him in a low seductive voice:

"Would you let Thelma guide you through the Drunken Bear Bar,Haven?"

"Always,anythnig for a moment with Thelma"he giggled 

"Let's go then Detective!We have some witnesses to talk to."