investigate. [[tag to Kerai, Gabriel, Alice, and John. Also Harvey Dent if he'd like to meet her.]]

[5thcolumnfed]

Erica has three different stops to make today: The Ribbon, a security place, and a candy store. It sounds like the beginning of a terrible joke, but the only joke so far is that no one she’s talked to knows anything about this Belvedere character. It’s like he doesn’t exist, or he only exists when he wants to, and she can see why no one else has

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[yippiekiyaymf]

John notices Erica come in. He also notices the aspirin grab. See, this is why he didn't want to be in the office away from everyone; these little clues are important. He walks over to her desk with a cup of water to wash the aspirin down.

"That's not the sign of a successful day of investigating."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"I'm glad you did." He looked over at her. "I would have worried," he said, quietly, not to be overheard.

[5thcolumnfed]

"I know," she murmurs softly. "Can you stay tonight?" she asks just as quietly, looking up at him.

[yippiekiyaymf]

He nodded, with a tiny little smile -- totally deniable if anyone was spying.

"You ready to go now, or did you want to get some notes down first." John could go either way.

[5thcolumnfed]

It takes her all of a minute to write down the little new information she gathered. "Ready, boss," she says with a soft smirk. She's ready to walk through the doors and be off duty just for the simple act of being able to hold his hand.

[yippiekiyaymf]

With his own little smirk, again totally deniable.

"Ready Detective Evans." John locked his desk, pocketed the key, and waited by the door for her.

[5thcolumnfed]

She first puts Theodora back in her rightful place on John's shelf, then walks through the door with him. As soon as they're clear of the building, she grabs John's hand, sighing very contently. Like doing that makes everything right.

"How were things on your end today?"

[yippiekiyaymf]

"I only shared your frustration second hand -- sort of a contact low. On the other hand, I have ten times the paperwork." He sighed, rubbing his free hand over his face.

[5thcolumnfed]

"I can always help if you want," she offers. "Unless this catacomb angle goes anywhere. Maybe we'll finally catch a break."

Switching from business to pleasure, Erica squeezes his hand. "What's for dinner, McClane?"

[yippiekiyaymf]

"Well, that's a good question. Want to eat out? Or in?" He looked at her, just because it was so good to look at her. He smiled, and swung their joined hands a little.

[5thcolumnfed]

"Hmmmm...I'd really like to be home and comfortable," she admits. "I haven't been able to shake this headache all day. Is room service okay?"

[yippiekiyaymf]

"I'll give you an neck rub when we get in. Room service is fine." John liked the idea of staying in too, just the two of them, nice and quiet.

[5thcolumnfed]

Once they get to the hotel, Erica leans against him in the elevator and smiles a little.

"You left something in my room that I've kind of...claimed."

[yippiekiyaymf]

"And what would that be?" He smiled, because he like that idea...as long as it wasn't his toothbrush, and that for her sake.

[5thcolumnfed]

"You'll see," she says coyly.

Letting them into her room, she stops with him in the doorway.

"I got something for you, too." The table by the door holds a key, and she holds it up for him.

[yippiekiyaymf]

He smiles, it mostly lives in his eyes, warming and deepening them, but some trickles down to lift the corners of his mouth.

"Well, would you look at that. Why with this...I could get in any old time I wanted to."