A/N: Disclaimer for entire story. If you recognize them, they belong to Numb3rs and CBS. If not, the characters are mine as is the story. Reviews feed the muse, which helps complete the story which I hope will ultimately contain lots of Colby-sex.

The Hidden Woman

Chapter 1

The phone for the downstairs bellman rang. It was one of her days to write so she was slightly annoyed at the intrusion. Picking up the phone she tried to sound pleasant. She knew the guys would not have called her it hadn't been important.

"Hello?" Her deep voice still had a hint of irritation and some curiosity.

"Ms. Bennington. I 'm sorry to bother you, but I have two FBI men down here who would like to speak with you."

"Have you checked their badges thoroughly?"

"Yes, m'am. Should I send them up with Billy?"

"Yes, thank you Sam."

Ophelia checked herself in the mirror. She had very little makeup on since she had not been expecting visitors and her hair pulled back in a ponytail. She quickly pulled her thick wavy blond hair out of the ponytail and brushed it out till it gleamed. She quickly brushed her teeth, checked her tank top and low riding blue jeans, sighing feeling these were hardly the clothes to greet the FBI in, but maybe something a teenager would wear. Oh well, it was too late now. She quickly glossed her lips as the elevator dinged and was ready when there was a knock on the door.

She sighed nervously and went to answer the door. Both men easily flashed their badges, possibly responding to her nervous look, maybe because of something the guards had said. At any rate, she was polite and invited them in.

"I'm Colby Granger and this is my partner David Sinclair. We'd like to ask you a few questions."

"Ok, I've never been interviewed by the FBI so pardon my nervousness. Would you like something to drink? Soda, coffee, tea, water?" Her voice was seduction itself and Colby could feel himself responding to her. When she opened the door, all that blond hair, glowing bare skin, and midnight blue eyes he thought he had been hit in the stomach he almost doubled over. How is that for detached professionalism? He could not even find his voice to answer her simple question.

David answered for them both, "Ice water would be great. It's pretty warm out there."

She smiled and went to get them ice water. "I haven't been outside all day except to take my kids to school so I don't really know. Today is my writing day, so I never go out on those days. Now, how can I help you?" She place two tall glasses filled with ice on the table in front of them and two bottles of water." They both thanked her and Colby asked the first question.

"Do you know a Larry Sorrington?"

"Of course, we dated occasionally. At one time, he was often my escort to fundraising balls. Why?"

"I am sorry to let you know but he was killed this morning."

Ophelia teared up but did not cry. Her voice was shaky when she asked, "How? Why? Was it an accident? I suppose not since the FBI wouldn't be investigating an accident."

"No m'am." Colby was embarrassingly taken with her, and was trying to be as professional as possible. "He was murdered in his office. His papers were gone through as well as his computer."

"Murdered? He was an accountant. A very good one I suppose given how much money he seemed to have, but still an accountant. Who kills an accountant?" She was genuinely confused, and a little concerned that somehow this might end up affecting her and her family. She had liked Larry well enough but things had not ended well and she surprised herself at how unconcerned she was with his death. It was very confusing and the two FBI Agents must have read her confusion.

David jumped in. "You said he seemed to have a lot of money. Why do you say that?"

"We hadn't dated very long, maybe we went out about ten times. I met him about three months ago. But when we did go out he would take me to very pricey restaurants, he drove an expensive car, wore expensive clothes. At the charity balls, he would also make very large donations. We never talked about money, so I never really knew whether it was all for real or for my benefit. Unfortunately, that happens. Men seem to be more interested in my money then in me. One reason we only dated occasionally. The last time we went out he tried to soft sell me on letting him manage my money instead of my current arrangements. I turned him down flat, and I'm afraid not very nicely. After that I refused all dates requested even though he continued to be persistent. He even asked to borrow money, a rather large sum of money. After that phone conversation I blocked all his calls and he was never allowed to approach me. I go everywhere with a body guard."

"How much did he ask to borrow? And do you know what it was for?"

"He wanted to borrow half a million dollars. I have no idea what it was for. I got the impression he owed people money, but I think it was the desperation in his voice that makes me think that."

"Was he ever here when you weren't here? Did he have any access to your computers or financial papers?"

"Except for my housekeeper and obviously my children, no one is ever here when I am not. I don't even allow maintenance when the Penthouse is empty. So no, no one has access to my computer. I have a password as well as an RDS encryption on it. My books are on the computer. I have almost no financial information on there because I have a private attorney and CPA that handles everything for me, including paying bills. My children have an old computer for them to play games on, but it is to slow to store anything on it. Everything on my computer gets copied to disc and put in a safe every night."

"How old are your children?"

Ophelia laughed, "Four and six, I hardly think they have started on their life of crime already."

Both men laughed, and Colby stayed seated even as he said, "I guess that is all the questions we have. Here is my card, including cell phone, if you think of anything else." He handed her card intentionally touching her hand as he passed it to her. Both of them looked at each other's eyes and were shocked at the jolt that went through them. She withdrew her hand quickly, looking almost frightened by the intensity of the shock she had just felt. She walked both men to the door and elevator since they could not get out without her key, wished them good luck on their case and apologized for not being able to help more.

They left and she toyed with the card from Colby Granger. Interesting, but she had long ago taken herself off the market. Ever since her husband died in the plane crash three years ago leaving her with a baby and a toddler, she had decided she would live a life of celibacy. Her life was busy with children and her writing and teaching, she needed nothing more, at least most of the time. She had no interest in men, and tended to only go out when it was a necessity such as a gala or when her mania overtook her and she needed to enjoy the company of a man. Men might cross her threshold to pick her up, but there had never been one to cross at the end of a date… ever. She was attending fewer and fewer galas as her anxiety levels increase and the bombardment of people, their feelings and thoughts just ended up making her ill. And her writing had become more and more her outlet for her manic behavior rather than men. Men only wanted two things from her, her body or her money, neither of which she was inclined to share.

The two men rode initially in silence in the elevator. Then David spoke up, "You believe her?"

Colby looked straight ahead pausing and assessing, then looking at David. "Every word. I'm not sure she would know how to lie."

"Me too. She's not involved. But I do think that you Granger have lost your heart to her already."

"No way. She's way too uptown for me. I'm just a poor boy from no-place Idaho. But God, is she stunning or what? And she was in jeans and a tank top, not even a bra."

"That's what makes me thing you aren't so far out of her league as you think. She is pretty casual, very nice and polite, no sign of arrogance or snottiness. She was just nice. Not something we encounter every day. Who knows, Granger? You've pulled a rabbit out of your hat before."

Hit that review button!