Cut and Run 1 - Cut and Run

grumbled as he flopped down on the end of the bed to pull his boots on.
    "Apparently, she feels the same.” Zane fell silent as they finished getting dressed. “She said I shouldn't trust you,” he finally stated. “That you're trouble. That you only look out for yourself."
    "She's right,” Ty agreed in a clipped voice as he finished buttoning his shirt and carefully smoothed it down. “Where are we meeting her?"
    Zane slid into his holster with a wince and a grimace. “Chinatown. We should be able to hoof it."
    "Fucking great."
    * * * *
    "Zane Garrett,” the tall, svelte woman said as she stood from the small table in the Chinese restaurant. “Almost a year is too long."
    He easily accepted her embrace, barely keeping himself from flinching. “Gorgeous as always, Serena,” he greeted before kissing her cheek lightly. She was, too, with the face of an angel and blonde hair to match. Too bad it didn't fit her innate personality. Because Ty was right; she really was a raging bitch if you didn't live up to her standards.
    Serena smiled brilliantly. “Flatterer.” She turned to sit back down. “Grady,” she greeted curtly in the barest acknowledgment of Ty's presence.
    "Miss Scott,” Ty responded as he pulled out the chair opposite her and slid into it. His tone was surprisingly more civil than it usually was.
    Zane's eyes flickered between them as he sat down, wondering about the past between them Ty had mentioned. “I wish we could have met under better circumstances, Serena,” he said to the woman.
    "Yes, well, if you'd come to New York more often, it wouldn't be such a problem,” she said, propping her elegant chin on one palm. “It's been too long without a visit."
    Zane's lips quirked into a smile. “What can you tell me about the murders?"
    Serena sighed. “Straight to business, huh? I miss the old you, Zane,” she said, glancing at Ty. “Did you read up on the serial?"
    Ty rolled his eyes and glanced around for a server. He raised his hand and got the attention of a woman passing by as the other two talked. She came over, smiling at him, and he gestured for her to come closer. When she bent over next to him he turned his head and whispered into her ear, “I'm going to need something highly alcoholic that looks like water."
    She remained motionless for a moment, then she straightened back up and smiled at him again. “Wednesday Night Special, yes, sir,” she said to him softly before turning away. Ty watched her walk away, smiling in appreciation of her discretion and then returned his attention to the table.
    "We've formed some opinions of our own,” Zane was telling Serena, though he watched Ty's exchange with the waitress distractedly. “We'd like to hear yours, though."
    "You show me yours,” Serena invited with a flirtatious smirk.
    "You first, dear,” Zane responded in the same tone.
    Serena smiled warmly at Zane before giving Ty another unsavory glance.
    "Look, we'll get business out of the way then I'll leave you two to it. Deal?” Ty offered as he met her eyes.
    "Why Special Agent Grady, I didn't realize you had the ability to be reasonable and gracious,” Serena observed sarcastically.
    "I don't,” Ty grunted. “Call it self-preservation,” he offered.
    "Fair enough,” Serena said in her liquid-honey voice as she favored Zane with another look. “What is it exactly that you want to know?"
    "Well, first of all, why is the NYPD being such a pain in the ass?” Zane asked.
    "Turf wars, of course,” Serena said, rolling her eyes. “You know all about that ... don't you, Ty?"
    Ty looked up from the empty water glass he had been examining and stared at her, not responding otherwise.
    Zane looked between them and wondered if this had been such a good idea after all. “Serena, behave,” he said lowly. She turned light, calculating eyes on him for a long moment, and Zane knew what she was doing. A day ago he would have almost looked forward to Serena and Ty going at it like he knew they were about to do.
    She waited another long moment and then smiled. “Since you asked nicely,” she said finally.
    "Give us a basic profile on the serial, please,” Zane requested, noting that Ty was still holding his tongue.
    Ty glanced at Zane and narrowed his eyes. He didn't know why they were here, and he didn't think they needed to be dealing with this woman. She couldn't tell them anything they didn't already know, and she was a pain in the ass to be around. Ty and Serena could go