(Click photo for larger image)
ForevaXena's FanFic . . .
Fate
by HLKaia
Disclaimers:
This is my first posted uber
story. The main characters have a
striking resemblance to a certain pair that are near and dear to all of our
hearts but the story and situations are completely mine.
No infringement is meant.
Love/Sex: This is an alternative fiction story. It depicts a loving relationship between to consenting adult women. If that’s not your forte I suggest you read something else.
Language: I’m a potty mouth, I admit it! And therefore a few of my characters have that tendency. If this disturbs you, read no further!
Violence: Most assuredly there will be some. After all, one of the characters is an ex-bounty hunter and I’m sure there will be some related in this story sooner or later. I’ll try not to be too graphic but you never know what the scene may need.
Acknowledgements:
This
is for my loving partner who always said I could do this!
She’s been nagging me for years to put something out there and let
others read what I write. So this
is for her. Also, to my supporting
best friend, Ty-guy who kept telling me I could do this and just to get on with
it!
Ash slowly lowered
the phone and flipped it closed. She
let it fall to her lap with a sigh as she rested her head against the steering
wheel, her heart fighting a furious but futile battle with her head.
I should drive over there and see her.
Her heart was in firm agreement but her rage was keeping the plea at
bay not wanting to give up its stranglehold on her conviction.
She banged her fist on the dashboard in frustration. She knew she should keep away from Rachel’s.
They were probably safe there since the cops had whisked them away from
the scene. She was hoping that
since it had frustrated her ability to find them; that it also frustrated the
hell out of whoever was trying to hurt Lauren.
The hospital was a madhouse and so was the campus.
I doubt the idiots that tried this would be able to find out anything if
I couldn’t, she reassured herself. Plus
I can always call and check in. Make
sure everything is all right and let Lauren know that I’m thinking of her. She ground her teeth at the compromise but couldn’t
think of anything better.
She stared out into the drizzle trying to decide what to do next.
I need to figure out if it’s Judith behind this and the best place
to do that is on the street. Someone
out there knows something. I just
need to convince them to tell me, she surmised her eyes narrowing
dangerously. Her mind started
cataloguing all the sleazy spots she used to stalk for information as she
started the truck. Won’t they
just be so surprised to see me? An evil grin graced her lips as she put the
truck in gear and headed towards one of her favorite old haunts.
**************************
Detective Frank Morrison rocked back in his chair and let out a disgusted
snort as Miss Judith Sinclair disappeared behind the closing door of the
conference room. His partner, Detective Joel Dodd, turned from closing the
door and gave him a questioning look.
“That woman is not right in the head and if she’s telling the truth
then I’m the King of England,” Morrison stated as he let his chair thump
back upright and folded his arms on the table in front of him.
“What? Why do you think that?” Dodd asked as he walked back over
to the table and took a seat. He
began gathering the loose papers from the interview and stacking them neatly in
front of him.
Morrison snorted. “Her
eyes.”
“What about them?” Dodd asked raising his eyes from the now neat
file.
“Do you pay attention at all?” Morrison asked glaring at his rookie
partner.
Dodd fought the urge to roll his eyes.
He knew Morrison didn’t mean anything by his gruff tone.
That’s just the way he was. He’d
only been partnered with the 20 year veteran for a couple of months now, but he
had heard all there was to know about Frank ‘the nose’ Morrison from anyone
who could corner him in the precinct. Most
were friendly warnings but a few thought that Morrison was off his rocker and
told Dodd to watch his ass. He sat
back in his chair and smoothed out his face to one of polite interest as he met
the cobalt blue eyes of his partner. “Yeah,
I pay attention. She seemed like
the typical stressed out partner of a victim of a violent crime.
I didn’t see anything to make me think she’s crazy.
A bit cold maybe, but not crazy.”
Morrison rocked back in his chair, deep in thought.
“No, she’s hiding something. I
could see it in her eyes.”
“What could she be hiding?” Dodd asked patiently eyeing the older
detective.
Morrison shrugged. “That’s
what we’re going to find out, my boy. Did
you see the way she stiffened when I mentioned the other two women present when
Reid got shot?”
“Yeah.” Dodd nodded. “That
was a bit odd. What do you think
that’s about? Think Reid was
maybe cheating on her or something?”
“Don’t know,” Morrison replied his brows furrowed in thought as he
rubbed his mustache. “Miss Sinclair seemed surprised to find out that Reid was
shot here in town. As far as she
knew, Reid was supposedly out of town on location for her new video.
We need to contact Reid’s assistant and find out what that’s all
about.”
Dodd pulled out a notebook and dutifully began jotting notes.
“Wonder what she was doing on the campus?
Seems weird for her to be out and about without some kind of security.”
“Hmmm, true. But then I
don’t think Reid’s face is well enough known yet to need too much security.
Now after the Grammies that’s probably going to change.”
Morrison closed his eyes and began sorting the data they had so far
collected.
Dodd sat back and waited. He
knew better than to interrupt Morrison when he went into his “thinking”
pose, which consisted of closing his eyes, rocking back in his chair, and
rubbing his mustache like it was going to come off.
Dodd admired the older detective and he personally thought he could learn
a lot from him. Even his worse
skeptics had to admit that Morrison got results.
Whether that was through his “hunches” or just good police work was
yet to be seen.
“I think we need to interview the other two… what were there names,
Dodd?” Morrison asked, snapping his fingers.
Dodd flipped through his notes and replied, “Lauren O’Shea and Rachel
Barrett.”
“Right. Maybe they’ll have more information for us.”
“It’s possible, but the officers’ reports from the hospital look
pretty complete,” Dodd said doubtfully. He
really didn’t want to go back over ground that was already covered.
He’d rather focus on new data. Morrison’s
eyes cracked open and leveled a glare at him.
Dodd squirmed, but his jaw clenched stubbornly.
“Do you really think it’s not necessary to question the only other
potential witnesses of the crime? You
willing to just take the reports at face value?
Nothing more you can think of to ask?”
Morrison asked in a deceptively mild voice.
“I just think our time could be better spent focusing on new ground.
Not what has already been covered,” Dodd argued.
Morrison let his chair thump upright and he folded his hands before him
on the table. “I see. Well,
Joel, that’s why I’m the senior detective and you’re the rookie.”
Morrison held up his hand to keep Dodd from interrupting.
“I think there’s more to learn from those two and therefore we’re
going to question them again, right?”
Dodd glared at his partner, but finally gave a minute nod in agreement.
“Good. Do we know where they’re at?” Morrison asked sitting back
in his chair.
Dodd sifted through the notes in front of him and finally found the
information Morrison wanted. “Says
here that O’Shea rents a loft above the Richards’ Gallery on the hill and
Barrett has an apartment about 6 blocks from campus.
Where do you want to start?” Dodd asked, glancing up at his partner.
“Hmm.” Morrison stroked his mustache as he contemplated the options.
“I think we’ll start with the O’Shea girl.
From the reports it seemed she was a bit more shaken up than the other.
Maybe she has something more to tell us.
We’ll head over there first thing in the morning.
Tonight I’m going to run a background check on Judith Sinclair and see
what pops up.”
“You really think that’s necessary?” Dodd asked as he collected the
papers once more placing them in the file and stood.
Morrison climbed to his feet and stretched.
“Yeah, I do. I want you to
go over the police reports from the campus.
See if anyone else saw anything. I
hate to depend on eye witnesses but that seems to be all we really have.” Dodd nodded as he followed Morrison towards the door. “We
also need to call Reid’s people and find out what we can about why she may
have been here in Seattle instead of where she was supposed to be according to
Sinclair.”
Morrison paused and Dodd turned to him questioningly.
“What?”
“See how Reid’s people feel about Sinclair,” Morrison replied as he
pulled open the conference room door and waved Dodd through.
“I have a feeling they’re not overly impressed by her.”
“Think so, huh?” Dodd asked with a smile. He didn’t think the woman could be as devious as his
partner seemed to think. She was
attractive, intelligent, and well put together.
She had seemed genuinely upset about her lover having been shot, but if
Morrison had some idea in his head, there was no way to talk him out of it until
he’d followed it to its end.
“Be subtle, Joel. I don’t
want anything to get back to Sinclair,” Morrison warned as he led the way down
the hallway.
Joel rolled his eyes but nodded. “You
got it.”
“Good. Let’s get out of
here and get some sleep,” Morrison suggested.
“Sounds like a plan to me. I’m
beat,” Dodd agreed.
The two detectives stepped into the elevator each lost in their own
thoughts about the case.
*********************************
Judith was in a white-hot fury, but the only outward sign was the staccato
sound of her heels as she made her way back to Alexi’s room.
She nodded politely to the policeman on guard and quickly made her way
into the room, closing the door behind her.
She leaned against the closed door, closed her eyes, and fought for some
semblance of calm. The last thing she needed was for some busybody to go telling
the detectives she was upset after their little interrogation.
She opened her eyes letting them fall on her somnolent lover.
What were you doing, Alexi dear?
Why did you meet that scrawny bitch, Lauren?
Hmmm? She made her way to the side of Alexi’s bed and
sat down, taking Alexi’s cool hand in hers.
Why didn’t you come home? Her
eyes narrowed as she studied the slack face of her lover. Or did you?
Judith leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Alexi’s hand.
You never know who might be watching, she thought absently as her
mind whirled with the possible implications of Alexi meeting with Lauren.
She hadn’t heard
from Roy in awhile and she wondered if this disaster was his or his idiot
brother’s fault. And were you
seen, you fools? She ground her
teeth in frustration.
They could implicate you, Judith, a soft voice reminded her.
I know that! The fools!
But was it them? Judith asked the inner voice in anger.
Who else? Do you really think
it was just some crazy on the campus who just happened to be there and just
happened to shoot at them? I’m
sure hitting Alexi was an accident, but… the voice calmly explained.
True. Judith
couldn’t argue with the logic. The
possibility of it being random was thin to nonexistent when you knew all the
facts. Her eyes narrowed and went
cold as an image of the men responsible for this fiasco came to the forefront.
I better get to them before the cops do.
That’s the least of your worries.
Judith stiffened. What
do you mean?
What
did Alexi tell Lauren, hmmm? And
why did she go looking for her? the
voice asked calmly.
Lauren!
That bitch! This is all her
fault! Judith screamed at the voice. She’s
ruining everything! Why couldn’t
she just die? Her
grip on Alexi’s hand tightened as her mouth twisted into a snarl.
She glared down at Alexi. And
you… you betrayed me.
Judith was pulled out of her thoughts as the door opened.
She whirled, angry at the interference to glare at the unsuspecting
nurse.
The nurse stopped short and smiled weakly.
“I’m sorry, Miss Sinclair. I…
I need to take some blood and check her vitals,” the nurse explained
nervously.
Judith fought back her anger and smoothed out
her features. “No, no, I’m
sorry,” Judith apologized, lowering her head and wiping at her eyes.
“It’s the strain. I guess it’s starting to get to me.”
The nurse walked towards the bed and set her
tray down opposite of Judith. “I
understand. It’s a hard thing to
see a loved one like this,” she said compassionately as she went through the
motions of drawing blood. “But
she really is doing well even if she doesn’t look it.”
“Yes, that’s what the doctors keep telling
me, but it’s still so hard to see her like this,” Judith replied letting a
touch of strain color her words.
“I know, but don’t worry. She’ll be
fine,” the nurse reassured her as she packed up her equipment. “The doctors probably won’t be in again until morning.
I’m sure they’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Why don’t you go home and get some sleep?”
Judith fought down the urge to yell at the annoying woman.
“No, I don’t want to leave her.
I’ll just sleep in the chair if I get too tired.”
“Okay, dear,” the nurse replied as she
quietly left the room.
Judith smirked at the ease in which she fooled
the nurse. Idiot, she
thought with contempt.
There
is one potential benefit of all this, the
voice suggested.
Judith perked up. Oh?
What would that be?
It
will bring Ash from wherever she took off to, the
voice stated.
Judith felt a surge of heat course through her
at the mention of her beloved’s name. Yes,
Ash. Where are you, my darling?
Beware,
Judith! the
voice scolded making Judith start in surprise.
What?
Judith growled, angered by the interruption of
her fantasy of being in Ash’s arms once more.
Ash
is a dangerous woman and she cares for this Lauren.
You better hope she doesn’t figure out the connection between them and
you, the
voice stated matter of factly.
Cares
for her? Cares for her? Judith screamed mentally.
She loves me! She does! And as
soon as the stupid scrawny bitch is out of the way, she’ll come crawling back
to me! You’ll see!
I’ll take care of the boys and no one will ever be able to connect them
to me! No one!
And then I’ll take care of dear Lauren!
Ash will be oh so sad and I’ll be there to pick up the pieces.
To comfort her in her time of need.
She’ll be so thankful and realize she truly loves me!
Not that stupid little chit.
Judith cocked her head waiting for a reply, but the voice prudently did
not argue with her. She smiled as
she leaned back in her chair. She
gently stroked Alexi’s hand as she began planning the demise of her hired help
and Lauren. Then she’d just have to bring Ash back to where she belonged-- in
her arms.
**********************************
Rico stumbled out of the back door of the bar.
He turned and glared at the closed door and gave it the finger. “Bastards! I’ll
show you!” he shouted in a slurred voice as he staggered back into the dank
alleyway. “I’ll show you,” he
muttered as he glared up at the drizzling sky and pulled up his collar.
He brought up his beer and took another long swig as he staggered down
the alley. He stumbled to a stop,
shaking the now empty bottle. “Damn,”
he swore as he turned and threw the bottle against the brick wall of the alley.
He cocked his head in appreciation to the sound of breaking glass.
He paused undecided. Should
he go back into the bar and the possible ribbing of his so-called friends to get
another beer or go on home? His
brow furrowed as he thought about it. “Naaah,
I got me a bottle of Wild Turkey back home,” he grunted as he staggered down
the alley.
“Hello, Rico.”
Rico froze at the sound of the velvet voice issuing from the darkness. He swayed drunkenly as he leaned forward and peered through
the gloom. “Who the fuck’s
there?” he demanded, letting his hand slide to his coat pocket. He grinned as the comforting feel of his switchblade slid
into his hand.
“Now, now, Rico. Is that
any way to greet an old friend?”
Rico squinted into the darkness trying to pinpoint the source of the
voice. His alcohol fogged mind attempted to puzzle out what the hell
was going on. Friend?
What the hell?
But that voice… he knew that voice, didn’t he?
A gap toothed grin spread across his features as he pieced it together.
“Wolf? Is that you?”
He chuckled as he relaxed knowing he had figured it out.
“I’m not afraid of you! You’ve
gone soft. Heard you couldn’t
take it no more and went running with your tail tucked between those lovely
thighs.”
“Is that so?”
Rico whirled as the voice emanated from behind him.
He gripped his knife and tried to reassure himself that this wolf had no
teeth. The last time he had heard
that same velvet wrapped steel voice was 5 years ago in this same alley, but
that was then and this is now! Bolstered
by alcohol and his certainty that she couldn’t hack it anymore he yelled,
“Come on! Show yourself!
I ain’t got time for this shit.”
“Rico, Rico, Rico. Tsk tsk. Believing
in rumors,” the voice scolded from the darkness.
Rico swallowed nervously and pulled out his knife flipping the blade
open. He staggered back and held
his knife out. “What do you
want?”
“Information,” the voiced purred.
Rico spun once more, trying to pinpoint her.
“What kind of information?” he asked his voice breaking.
“Why don’t you put down the knife and we’ll discuss it?”
Rico gripped the knife tighter and shook his head.
“No. You come out here
where I can see you and we’ll see what I can tell you.”
A bone-chilling laugh, a sharp agonizing pain in his wrist, and Rico
found himself flat on his back in the garbage strewn alley staring up into the
rain. He grabbed his wrist and cradled it to his chest as he swept
his eyes back and forth trying to figure out where the hell she had come from.
“Still think I’ve lost my edge, Rico?”
Rico gulped as a dark lithe figure garbed in a duster stepped out of the
shadows and stood over him. The
rain ran off her black Stetson to drip on his face.
He quickly shook his head. “No,
no, Wolf. You still got it.” His eyes rolled wildly trying to locate his knife.
He spotted it to his left and lay back waiting for the opportunity to
grab it.
“Good. I have a couple of
questions for you.”
Rico nodded as he eyed the knife. “Sure,
sure, whatever you want to know. Just
ask.”
“There was a shooting on campus today.
You know anything about that?”
“Shooting?” Rico asked surprised.
“Why would I know anything about that?”
Rico let his hand slide slowly out towards the knife.
“Because it wasn’t an accident,” she replied as her booted foot
came down on his outstretched hand causing Rico to yelp.
“Now is that anyway to act? I’m
just asking a few simple questions here.”
Rico bit back the pain and fought to lie still.
He knew better than to struggle. He
prayed he could get out of this with nothing more than a couple of broken
fingers. “What?
What do you want to know?” he whined thumping his head against the cold
concrete.
“Do you know anything about the shooting at the university?”
Rico shook his head. “No! I don’t know nothing about that!
All I heard was some dyke singer got herself plugged.”
“Is that all?” Ash asked in a low deadly voice.
Rico nodded. “Yeah!
I swear.”
“What’s the news on the street?
Anyone taking responsibility?”
Rico swallowed the panic as he struggled to think of something, anything
to tell this she demon so she’d leave him alone.
“N-no… no one’s saying they did it,” he cried and felt relief as
the boot lessened the pressure on his hand.
“All I know is that someone fucked up bad and the Garbacik family is
looking for information too. That’s
all I know! I swear it!”
Ash stepped back releasing Rico’s hand in the process.
“Garbacik? What’s their
interest in this?” she asked more to herself than Rico.
“I don’t know, Wolf. Truly
I don’t. But they’ve been
asking around,” Rico said as he rolled to a sitting position, clutching his
injured hand to his chest.
Ash rocked back on her heels as she thought about it.
“Who’s on the street for them?”
“I… I…” he stammered. Ash
turned and pierced him with a cold stare and he shrank from the controlled rage
roiling in their depths. “I think
it’s Remi and Johnny T. I heard
they hang out over by the wharf these days.
I’m sure they could tell you more.”
Ash nodded. She spun on her
heel and disappeared once more into the gloom like a phantom.
Rico stared at the place she disappeared for a long time as he clutched
his broken hand to his chest, praying she wouldn’t come back. “I’d hate to
be you guys when she catches up with you,” he muttered as he pulled himself to
his feet. He leaned over and
picking up his blade shoved it back into his pocket.
“I better let Jake know that the Wolf is on the prowl,” he said with
a decisive nod, he turned and headed back towards the bar from whence he came.
***********************************
Sheila sat quietly and watched her lover with amusement.
Lu had a white knuckled grip on the steering wheel and had refused to say
more than two words to her for the entire drive.
Her lover was not happy that she had invited herself along, but there was
no way she was going to stay back in Portland and worry.
“Lu, I think you need to take a right up here,” Sheila commented.
Lu grunted but dutifully turned on her blinker.
Sheila leaned forward and peered out the windshield into the dismal
overcast morning. The rain was
coming down in sheets and she was half afraid that Lu couldn’t see a blessed
thing because she sure couldn’t. She
had only been to Louis and Benson’s twice before and she was hoping Lu
remembered the way, since they had to take a couple of detours due to
construction.
“Lu?”
“What?” Lu grunted as she squinted out the windshield.
“Did you call them to let them know we were coming?” Sheila asked
turning to face her lover more directly.
“Yeah, but no one was home. I—”
“What?” Sheila
interrupted in astonishment. Lu glared at her before quickly turning her
attention back to the rain swept street. Sheila
blushed. “Sorry.
Go on.”
“Like I was saying, I tried to reach them, but got the damn machine,”
Lu said as she changed lanes with a muffled curse for stupid drivers.
“So, I left a message telling them we would be arriving this morning.
Hopefully, they’ll have more information for us.”
“Oh.” Sheila sighed as
she sat back in her seat thoughtfully.
“What?”
She shrugged. “Did you
bring your cell phone?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“I thought I’d give the boys a call and let them know when to expect
us,” Sheila explained.
“It’s in the glove box.”
“Why’s it in there?” Sheila
asked as she leaned forward and popped upon the compartment.
“Why don’t you have it plugged in?
What if someone was trying to reach us?”
Lu rolled her eyes, but kept quiet; knowing that saying anything
wouldn’t do any good.
Sheila pulled out the phone and turned it on.
She glanced at the display and grimaced when she saw the telltale flash
of messages waiting. “See?”
She held the phone out towards Lu. Lu
glanced at it and shrugged noncommittally.
“Told you. I hope it
wasn’t anything important.” Sheila
dialed the number to receive the messages and sat back to listen.
Lu shook her head. She
frowned thoughtfully as she tried to remember where the turn was that would take
them to the gallery. Damn
road construction! Why are they
always tearing shit up?she
groused as she read the street signs as she drove past them.
“There’s one here from Benson,” Sheila informed her pulling her out
of her thoughts.
Lu sighed, knowing Sheila was going to harp on this until the cows came
home.
“Benson says they’re home. He
called around 9.” Sheila glanced
at her watch. “Its almost 10, so
we should be all right. Want me to
give them a call and get directions?”
Lu gave her an evil look that Sheila blithely ignored.
She finally acquiesced with a wave of her hand.
“Fine.”
Sheila grinned at her victory and quickly dialed the number Benson had
left on the message. The phone was
picked up on the third ring with a baritone voice answering.
“Benson?”
Lu swore under her breath as she changed lanes once again and tried to
listen to what Sheila was saying to Benson as she steered the car through the
quagmire of traffic.
“Yes, we’re here. I
think we’re lost,” Sheila said into the phone.
Lu gritted her teeth, but said nothing.
“Hmmm? No, it’s the
construction. I think we got turned
around somewhere,” Sheila explained.
Lu turned a corner and decided it would just be easier to find a place to
park and wait for Benson to give them directions from where they were.
She was loath to admit to Sheila that they were lost, but she was too
damn frustrated to deal with it anymore. She
quickly pulled into a bank parking lot, and finding a convenient spot, parked
the car.
She leaned back and listened to Sheila explain to Benson where they were
and jot down notes in her neat hand on a notebook she had pulled out of her bag.
She wasn’t happy when Sheila had invited herself along on this little
trip, but now she was thankful she was here.
Not that she would tell Sheila that.
She’d never hear the end of it. But
with her here in town, at least she knew where she was and that she was safe.
Hopefully
I can talk her into going over to Rachel’s and watching over Lauren.
Maybe she can keep Lauren from running off and doing something stupid, she thought.
I need to go find Ash and I doubt she’s somewhere that I’d feel
comfortable bringing Sheila to. She
felt her anger resurface at the stupidity of her wayward friend. What
the hell are you thinking, Ash? Why
can’t you just let the cops handle it? Her mind happily answered that question, because
the cops don’t know the whole story. Damn.
“Lu?”
Lu started and turned to Sheila. “Huh?”
Sheila eyed her for a moment before replying, “I got the directions.
Head out of here and take a left. We’re only about 2 miles away.
You were on the right track.”
“Thought so,” Lu grumbled under her breath as she backed up the car.
“What was that, dear?”
“Nothing,” Lu said gruffly. She
pulled out of the parking lot and tried not to grind her teeth as Sheila gave
her directions.
********************************
“Benson? Was that the
door?” Louis asked as he rounded
the corner into the living room.
Benson folded his paper and stood. “Yes.
It must be Lu and Sheila.”
“I’ll go into the kitchen and get something for us all to drink,”
Louis announced, turning towards the kitchen.
“It’s miserable out there and I’m sure they could both use some
refreshment.”
Benson smiled fondly as he watched his lover scurry to the kitchen.
“Always the hostess,” he said with a chuckle. He strode across the living room and pulled open the front
door to come face to face with two women he hadn’t seen in almost a year.
Sheila looked up from shaking off her umbrella with a smile as Lu stood
with her arms crossed over her chest looking grumpy. “Hey!
Come on in.” He waved them forward.
“How was the drive?”
“Hi, Benson,” Sheila greeted with a warm smile as she stepped across
the threshold and gave the large man a hug.
“Hi. Drive was fine except
for the damn construction,” Lu said as she entered the apartment and offered
her hand to Benson.
Benson tucked Sheila up beside him and clasped Lu’s hand for a firm
handshake. “Yeah, it’s a real
pain in the ass. Go ahead and hang
up your stuff here.” He pointed
to a brass coat stand. “Louis just got it and is mighty proud of it.”
“Where’s Louis?” Sheila asked glancing around the apartment as she
slid out of her coat that Benson gallantly took and hung up for her.
Sheila smiled in thanks.
“In the kitchen playing host,” Benson answered with a wink.
Sheila grinned and extricating herself from Benson’s gentle hold said,
“I think I’ll go join him.”
“Okay,” Benson replied.
Benson and Lu watched silently as Sheila walked across the living room
and disappeared into the kitchen.
“Was that wise?” Lu asked raising an eyebrow in question.
Benson turned to her and shrugged. “Probably
not, but Louis will get over it.”
Lu grinned and Benson laughed.
“Why don’t we sit down?” Benson suggested waving towards the couch.
“Sure,” Lu agreed and followed him.
Benson settled on one end of the couch as Lu took the chair.
Benson studied her discretely as they got comfortable.
She
looks tired. I think too much has happened in the last week for anyone’s
comfort. “So…
why you all here exactly?” Benson opened as he leaned back into the couch.
“Well to put it frankly, because your cousin is being a dumbass,” Lu
said with a shake of her head.
Benson’s eyebrows shot up at that.
“Oh? What do you mean?”
“You talk to her?”
“No. Not recently. Why?”
“Because she’s decided to go out and try and track down the bastard
who shot at Lauren.” Lu held up a
hand to forestall Benson from interrupting.
“I talked to her briefly last night.
I barely got a word in edgewise before she hung up!
She didn’t even give me the chance to tell her where Lauren was staying
or why.”
“Rachel said that Lauren talked to her last night,” Benson informed
her.
“She did?” Benson
nodded. “When did you find this out?”
“When I took Rachel to get her car this morning,” Benson explained.
“They were whisked away by the cops yesterday and I told her I’d take
her over there to get it this morning.”
“And Lauren?”
“She stayed at Rachel’s. She
was still asleep when I picked Rachel up and Rachel said that she doubted
she’d be up before noon.” Benson
shook his head sorrowfully. “Guess
she had a pretty rough night.”
“I can imagine.” Lu
sighed and rubbed her temples fighting back the headache that was determined to
split her head in two. “Did you
find out what Ash had to say?”
Benson shrugged. “Not
really, but Rachel was madder than hell.” Lu’s eyebrows rose in question.
“Lauren was pretty upset when Ash told her she wouldn’t come over and
see her.”
Lu snorted. “See?
What’d I tell you? Dumbass.”
Benson chuckled. “Well, I
guess she has her reasons. Rachel
said that Ash told Lauren she didn’t want to lead anyone to her.”
Lu shook her head hating to admit that she couldn’t find anything wrong
with Ash’s motives. “Well,
I’m going to go out and find her. The
two of us are going to have a long talk about her behavior.”
“I think I’ll join you,” Benson said thoughtfully.
“What?” Lu asked sitting up straight in astonishment.
“I think I’ll go along with you.
There are a few things I’d like to say to my cousin,” Benson replied
his blue eyes hooded.
“I don’t think—“
Lu was interrupted by Louis and Sheila’s return.
“Here we go,” Louis said as he set down a laden tray.
“Some hot coffee for us and a nice herbal tea for our little expectant
mother.” He winked at Sheila as
he helped her get settled on the couch and handed her the tea.
“I threw together some sandwiches too.”
Benson and Lu glanced at one another and then they both shrugged as they
reached out and took the offered refreshments.
“What have you two been talking about?” Sheila asked as she blew on
her tea to cool it.
“Yes. Do tell,” Louis
said as he took his cup and sat down next to Benson.
Benson unconsciously draped his arm across his lover’s shoulder and
kissed his temple making Louis smile.
“Just trying to figure out what the hell Ash is up to,” Lu said
around a mouthful of sandwich. “These
are great, Louis. Thanks.”
Louis beamed. “More than
welcome.”
“Has anyone talked to her?” Sheila asked glancing between the two
men.
“Lauren talked to her briefly last night.
I think that’s about it,” Benson said.
Lu frowned as she tried to think of some way to talk Sheila into going
over to Rachel’s. She had to get
out on the street and start hunting for Ash and she couldn’t do that
effectively with Sheila with her. She’d
be too busy worrying about her and not be able to concentrate on the job at
hand. She glanced at Benson and had
to concede that having the large man as backup wasn’t such a bad idea.
She wasn’t sure what he was capable of, but his size alone would
probably intimidate the hell out of most of the scumbags she’d have to talk
to.
“Well, I think I need to go over to Rachel’s and see how she’s
doing,” Sheila said startling the hell out of Lu.
“You do?” Lu asked in surprise.
Sheila nodded. “Yes, I do.
She’s probably feeling pretty out of sorts right about now; and God
only knows what she must be thinking about Ash!”
“That’s true,” Louis agreed with a sniff.
“Personally I think it reprehensible that Ash hasn’t gone to see her.
I thought she cared about her.”
“Louis,” Benson admonished.
“What?” Louis asked unrepentant.
“I don’t care if she is your cousin, Benson.
The way she’s acting is stupid and cruel.”
“She’s afraid she’ll lead them to Lauren,” Lu explained.
Louis waved off the explanation. “Lauren
needs her to be there and she’s not. That’s
the bottom line. I don’t care
what excuse you give it.”
Lu glanced at Benson for help, but he just shrugged.
She sighed. “Well, Benson
and I were just saying how we think it would be a good idea if the two of us go
out and track her down. I have some
information for her and I want to get to her before she goes off half cocked and
does something really stupid.”
Benson nodded. “I think
Lu’s got the right idea.” He turned to Sheila.
“Why don’t we drop you off over at Rachel’s and you can take care
of Lauren while we go out and try and find our wayward Ash?”
Sheila looked to her lover and Lu nodded her agreement.
“Okay.” She sighed.
“I think that may be the best plan.”
“And what am I supposed to do?” Louis asked in irritation.
“You, my love, need to stay here and hold down the fort,” Benson
replied with a grin. “In case Ash
calls or shows up here.” He shook
his head at his cousin’s stubborn refusal to let anyone help.
“I wonder where the hell she’s staying?”
“Probably in her truck,” Lu supplied with a disgusted grunt.
“Her truck?” Louis asked wide-eyed.
“Yep,” Lu confirmed.
“That’s just crazy,” Louis said.
“Have—“ Benson was cut off by someone knocking at the door.
They all turned to look at it and then at one another.
“You expecting anyone?” Lu asked softly.
Benson shook his head. “No.”
“Well, let’s see who it is,” Louis said as he stood and headed for
the door.
The three turned to watch as Louis opened the door.
“Mr. Richards?”
“Yes?” Louis said.
Lu craned her neck trying to see around the door but couldn’t see who
was there. “Damn,” she
muttered. “Can you see who it is
from where you’re at Ben?”
Benson leaned over the couch and looked.
“Looks like cops,” he said quietly.
“Think they’re looking for Lauren?” Sheila asked.
“Probably,” Benson replied.
Their hushed conversation was cut short as Louis closed the door and
returned.
“What was that all about?” Benson asked.
“Detective Morrison was looking for Lauren and came here when no one
answered Lauren’s door,” Louis supplied as he regained his seat.
“What did you tell him?” Lu asked.
“That she was staying with Rachel.”
“And?” Benson prompted.
“Did you see his badge?” Lu added suspiciously.
Louis sighed in irritation. “Yes
and I gave him the address. What’s
wrong with you people?”
Sheila laughed. “They’re
just being paranoid, Louis.”
“Can’t be too careful,” Lu said defensively.
“It wouldn’t be the first time someone has pretended to be a cop to
find out where their target was.”
Louis paled. “You don’t
think--?”
“No,” Benson quickly reassured.
“No. I think they were on
the level. I’ve seen Morrison
before and that was him at the door.”
Louis patted his chest in relief. “Thank
God.”
“Well, let’s get this show on the road,” Lu said standing and
offering her hand to Sheila which she happily accepted.
“Sounds like a plan,” Benson agreed and after giving Louis a kiss,
stood.
“Will I be able to reach you?” Louis asked as he followed them to the
door.
“I got my cell,” Lu said as she grabbed her and Sheila’s coats.
She held Sheila’s out for her to allow her to slip into it.
“Yeah, if you’d keep the damn thing on,” Sheila scolded look over
her shoulder at her lover.
“I will,” Lu grumbled looking down to button her own jacket trying in
vain to hide the blush she felt creeping up her neck.
Benson and Louis laughed. Lu
shrugged sheepishly.
“Okay then.
I’ll expect regular updates,” Louis said as he released Benson and
gave him a gentle shove towards the door.
“Me too,” Sheila agreed.
Lu rolled her eyes and Benson said, “I’ll make sure of it.”
“You do that, Benson,” Sheila said with a laugh as she followed them
out the door. “Which car are we
taking?”
Lu looked over to Benson and he shrugged his indifference.
“Might as well just take ours,” Lu said.
“Good. Then I don’t have
to try and drag my bags out and into Benson’s,” Sheila said happily.
Lu rolled her eyes and Benson bit back a laugh at his friend’s
behavior. “Well with the rain, I think that’s for the best.”
“True,” Sheila agreed. She
stopped suddenly and Benson just about ran her over.
He quickly sidestepped and gave her a questioning look.
“Sorry.”
“No problem. Why’d you
stop?” Benson asked regaining his balance.
“Are you going to fit?” Sheila asked looking Benson up and down
doubtfully.
Benson roared with laughter. Sheila
stepped back wide-eyed and looked to Lu for an explanation.
Lu grinned. “If Benson can
fold himself into a Honda hatchback I don’t think he’ll have any problem
getting into our car, dear.”
“Honda hatchback?” Sheila asked puzzled.
“That’s what Louis drove when we first got together,” Benson
explained wiping the tears from his eyes. “I
thought Lu’s eyes were going to pop out of her head the first time we drove up
in it and I climbed out.”
“Climbed out? More like fell out!”
Lu retorted as she opened the door to the parking lot.
Benson laughed. “True.
It was a tight fit.”
“When was this?” Sheila asked glancing outside and grimacing at the
sight of the downpour.
“Oh just before you two hooked up I think,” Benson replied.
“Let me go get the car. No
reason for all of us to get drenched,” Lu offered pulling up her collar.
“You want the umbrella?” Sheila asked.
“Nah. I’ll just make a
run for it.”
“Okay,” Sheila replied.
Lu dashed out into the rain and ran towards their car.
“That was nice of her,” Benson commented.
“She does tend to surprise me on more than one occasion,” Sheila
replied. “So tell me about this Honda?”
Benson laughed and leaned back against the door jam prepared to regale
Sheila about the similarities between sardine cans and small Japanese imports as
they waited for Lu to return.
********************************
Rachel flopped down on the couch with a sigh and clicked on the
television. She groaned as yet another rerun blared out and she quickly
switched it back off. Lauren had
gone to lie down after the police had left and she was left to her own devices
to entertain herself.
“Guess I could study,” she said aloud.
She giggled. “Yeah right. Like that’s going to happen.”
The intercom buzzed and she turned to stare at it with consternation.
“Never fails,” she said as she pulled herself out of the comfortable
confines of the couch. “As soon
as I get comfortable that damn thing buzzes.
Wonder who the hell is here now? Probably
just Dan buzzing me to let him in because he forgot his damn keys again,” she
grumbled as she stomped over to the intercom and depressed the talk button.
“Yeah?”
“Rachel?”
Rachel blinked in surprise at the sound of Benson’s voice emanating
from the box. “Benson?
What are you doing here?”
“Buzz us in and I’ll let you know.
We’re getting soaked out here.”
“Oh, sorry,” Rachel apologized as she hit the entrance button and
heard the entry buzz through the speaker.
“We’ll be right up.”
“Okay. See you then,”
Rachel replied. She turned and
started back across the apartment then stopped dead.
“Wait a minute! Did he say
‘we’? Who the hell is we?”
She shook her head puzzled as she leaned against the couch back and
waited for Benson to arrive.
She began to fidget as she listened for the
elevator to stop on her floor. She
wanted to answer the door before they rang the bell so that they wouldn’t wake
up Lauren. “Yeah, if she managed
to finally get to sleep that is,” she said cocking her head as she thought she
heard the sound of the elevator. She
walked over to the front door, opened it, and peered down the hallway.
The elevator door opened and Benson strode out
with Lu and Sheila in his wake. Rachel
gaped in surprise. “What the heck
are they doing here?”
Benson spotted her and waved.
She automatically raised her hand and waved back.
“Hey, Rachel.
It’s raining cats and dogs out there,” Benson said as he came abreast
of her.
“You look like a drowned rat,” Rachel
managed to say her eyes not leaving the sight of the two women behind him.
Benson glanced over his shoulder and blushed.
“Oh, sorry. Lu and Sheila
came over from Spokane this morning.”
“I can see that,” Rachel said.
“Hi, Rachel.
Hope we’re not intruding,” the small oriental woman said with a
smile.
Rachel smiled in return recognizing the petite
woman’s voice as belonging to Sheila, which meant that the tall menacing one
must be her partner Lu. “No, not
really. It’s been grand central
station around here today. Come on
in, but keep your voices down. Lauren
is lying down and hopefully sleeping.”
They nodded in agreement and quietly followed
Rachel into the apartment.
“So… why are you guys here?” Rachel
asked.
Sheila jabbed her elbow into Lu’s stomach
before she could spout off some sarcastic remark. Lu glared at her, but snapped her mouth shut.
“We wanted to see how Lauren and you are doing.
Being shot at isn’t an every day occurrence and we thought you could
use the support.”
Rachel looked between Rachel and Lu
suspiciously. “Okay,” she said
drawing the word out. She turned to
Benson. “Want to tell me why
they’re really here instead of the kindergarten version?”
Benson chuckled. “Well she told you half of it.”
“And the other half?” Rachel asked as she
sank down on the couch with a sigh.
“The other half is me finding Ash before she
does something really stupid,” Lu growled.
Sheila glared at her, but she was beyond the point of caring.
“What?” Rachel asked sitting up in
surprise.
“Lu!” Sheila admonished.
“You’re going to scare the poor girl to death.”
“By telling her Ash is going to be a dumbass?
How is that going to scare her?” Lu retorted throwing her hands up in
exasperation.
“Everybody just calm down,” Benson ordered
in a hushed voice. “Lu, Sheila,
take a seat.”
Sheila obeyed without comment and took a seat
on the loveseat. She patted the
cushion next to her and met Lu’s stormy gray eyes with a gentle plea.
Lu grumbled but dutifully took the seat next to her.
Sheila patted her thigh comfortingly and Lu managed to pull a smile out
of somewhere. She wrapped her arm around her wife’s shoulder in a silent
apology. Sheila sighed and leaned
against the warm body of her lover.
“Okay. First
things first,” Benson said leaning forward and clasping his hands between his
knees. “Have the cops been here
yet, Rachel?”
“Yeah. They
left about ten minutes before you all got here,” Rachel answered.
“What did they want?” Lu asked intrigued.
Rachel shrugged. “They just wanted to know if Lauren or I knew Alexi.
If either of us had” --she brought her fingers up in the sign for
quotation marks—“relations with her.”
Benson’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
He looked to Lu and Sheila and saw the same shocked expressions on their
faces. “Why would he want to know
that?”
“Don’t know.
Guess they’re trying to figure out why Alexi was on campus.
And meeting a lover seemed a good bet,” Rachel explained.
“Shit,” Lu groaned.
“What, honey?” Sheila asked seeing the
thoughtful look on Lu’s face.
“They’re looking for a motive.
I think they might be trying to make this shooting into a crime of
passion. Wonder what led them down
that trail?” Lu replied.
“Well that’s just stupid!” Rachel blurted out in disgust. “Neither of us is sleeping with Alexi! Neither of us had even met her until last