#rwoc

Pink: Pink was raised by a Caramel Lizard, hence how she knows how to leap. She saved Blue’s life after a risky trip to the Sunken Pier and the two have been hanging out since. After waking up one day, the two end up falling into the Western Intake System, leaving them in unfamiliar lands.

Blue: Blue is small and scrawny, often choosing to avoid fighting. Blue had tried to stay out of Pink’s way, until being saved from falling to his death. Since that day, Blue has been sticking around with Pink, even after falling into the Western Intake system.

She gets up from her desk, thankful to stretch her legs for a bit, and curiously takes the package from him. "Thanks, Andrew."

"Any progress with the witness?"

"No, not yet," Alex sighs. "Any other calls for me?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle."

"What would I do without you?"

"Drown in paperwork, probably," Andrew chuckles. "Can I do anything else? Maybe get you a coffee?"

"That would be amazing. I could really use a break," Olivia interjects.

"Coming right up."

Olivia stands up, stretching her muscles and groaning in pain. "I'm too old for this," she jokes and Alex just laughs in response.

"So... what have you got there, Counselor? I assume it's not related to our case," Olivia asks, pointing to the package.

"I'm afraid this won't help," Alex replies, grinning as she obviously recognizes the handwriting.

"So, you don't want to open it?"

"Aren't you curious, Detective?" Alex laughs.

"To be honest, I am. Kind of comes with the job, you know," Olivia shrugs. "And I could really use some distraction here."

Alex nods in understanding. She unwraps the package, revealing an elegant black box with a brand name embossed in shiny silver. She runs her fingers over the smooth surface, tracing the letters with a barely hidden smile before carefully opening the lid. The inside is lined with black velvet, and a single beautiful flower blossom sits within, the brightly colored petals contrasting the velvet beautifully.

Olivia furrows her brows. "Flowers?"

"A Flower Detective. Singular," Alex quips. "A Strelitzia blossom to be exact."

"Stre... ok yeah... Still... a pretty unusual way to deliver a flower," Olivia remarks.

Alex shakes her head, smiling. "If it were only the flower, I would agree." With that, she lifts the flower, and Olivia spots a beautiful silver necklace nestled inside the velvet bed. The necklace is a cascade of silver spheres, gradually increasing and then decreasing in size, a delicate chain threaded through them to create a fluid cascading effect.

"Wow," she exclaims. "That's beautiful, Alex."

"It really is," Alex says quietly, her voice suddenly full of emotion as her eyes wander from the necklace back to the flower in her hand. Her fingers delicately trace the intricate design of the necklace, and she can’t help but smile at the thoughtfulness behind the gift.

"Who sent it, Alex? Is there a card? Does the flower mean anything to you?" Olivia's curiosity is piqued, and she leans in closer, eager for details.

"Yes, the flower means something to me." She smiles lovingly, slowly twirling the flower between her fingers. "No need for a card. I know who sent it."

"Oh... okay," Olivia says, drawing out the words to give Alex the opportunity to elaborate, but she stays silent.

"So... do you want me to help you put it on?"

"Not now. I'll save it for a special occasion."

"Got something particular in mind? A hot date, maybe?" Olivia teases.

Alex places the flower back in the box and closes the lid with a grin. "Maybe..."

Olivia leans forward, clearly not satisfied with the vague answer. "Alex, come on. Give me something to work with. Who's the mystery person? Is it someone I know?"

Alex chuckles, shaking her head. “Wouldn't you like to know.”

“Do they by any chance drive a Mercedes?”

"Nice try, Detective," Alex replies, her tone light but firm, a small smile on her lips. “Can we please drop the subject now?” She leans back, crossing her arms, clearly not planning to give anything away. There's a playful glint in her eyes, showing she’s more amused than annoyed by Olivia’s questioning.

Olivia sighs dramatically, throwing her hands up in mock defeat. "Fine, keep your secrets. But don't think for a second I'm done with this.”

Before Alex can respond, Andrew returns, balancing a tray with three steaming cups of coffee. "Here you go, ladies. Freshly brewed and just what you need."

"Thanks, Andrew," Alex says, gratefully accepting her cup.

"You're a lifesaver," Olivia adds, taking a sip and closing her eyes in appreciation. "Perfect timing, too. I was just about to resort to interrogation tactics."

Andrew gives Alex a questioning look, but she just waves it off.

“Anything else I can do for you?” he asks.

“No, we’re good for now, Andrew.”

As he leaves, Olivia gives Alex a knowing look. "This isn't over, Counselor. I'll be watching you."

Alex just laughs, raising her coffee cup in a mock toast. "To mysteries and the detectives who love them."

Olivia clinks her cup against Alex's, grinning. "I'll drink to that."

"She looks stunning," Olivia whispers, unable to contain her admiration. Fin nods in agreement. "She does… and she's pissed. Brace yourself." Alex glares. "What do we have here?" "You really didn't have to dress up for us, Alex," Olivia jokes, trying to lighten the mood. Fin chimes in, "Nice ride, Cabot." Alex smiles. "Thank you." Looking over at Olivia, she adds, "The driver's nice too, if that's what you want to know." Olivia's eyes widen, caught off guard. Before she can muster an answer, Alex cuts her off, "I can see you've had your eye on the driver's seat since I got here. If you're done, maybe we can talk about the case, please. I don't want to stay out here forever."

Fin and Olivia quickly fill her in on the details. In the end, they all agree to take the suspect back into custody and keep him there overnight, giving them enough time to get a search warrant and gather evidence.

Alex looks at her watch and sighs. "We're keeping you from something?" Olivia teases, a playful grin on her lips. "Just from getting home. You caught me right before dessert," Alex replies with a hint of amusement. "Dessert, huh?" Olivia raises an eyebrow, but Alex brushes off the comment and turns to Fin. "Okay, are we clear?" she asks for confirmation. "Yeah, I think so. Thanks for coming, Counselor. We can take it from here," Fin reassures her. "We'll call you in the morning when we have all the information sorted." "In the morning, waht time?" Alex inquires, her tone tinged with skepticism. "Around 8, maybe," Fin answers, a note of apology in his voice. "Sorry to ruin your Sunday." "Mhm. I'll expect your call at 8 then," Alex says, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Should we expect someone else to answer?" Olivia teases, earning a another glare from Alex that quickly turns into a grin. "I'm a big girl, detective, and certainly capable of answering the phone properly." Adjusting her coat Alex then bids them farewell and heads out into the night.

As Alex leaves, Olivia and Fin can't help but steal a glance as she approaches the sleek black Mercedes. It looks like something out of a movie, its glossy exterior shimmering under the streetlights. In one smooth motion, Alex opens the door and slides into the passenger seat. The interior light flicks on, but the angle is all wrong, still blocking their view of the driver.

After exchanging a quick glance, the two detectives make their way back to their own car in silence, the unspoken questions about the mysterious Mercedes driver put aside for the time being.

...to be continued