Heavy Lies the Crown 3/9
Dec. 8th, 2011 07:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whedonistTitle: Heavy Lies the Crown
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Rating: All over R – some parts more racy than others & some parts way less.
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora along with all the other character’s from the pilot do not belong to me. They belong to Nancylee Myatt and others that I don’t know, but if in the off chance they want to get together for a chat I’m here. Then we can discuss why the excs at the T.V. station didn’t pick up the series and perhaps whap them about the face with a dead carp. It’s a just punishment for the crime. =0)
A/N I have nothing incredibly insightful to add this morning. Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Yule or whatever you happen to celebrate is on the way and let’s face it, no one has huge chunks of time. But I’m chipping away at the story that follows this one so…I think we’re not in horrible shape. Take care everyone! – Thanks, 1SB.
Ch. 3 – Back & Forth
The layout of the bank is standard. The branch is relatively small, four teller windows off to the left of the entrance. The right of the office is a set of offices, three total, with two additional workstations in between the offices. A small sitting area set immediately to the right of the entrance while straight ahead is an island for customers to fill out slips for deposits and withdrawals before getting in line for a teller.
The time stamp on the video reads ten-thirty-two and twenty-six seconds on Tuesday morning. The bank was hit yesterday. Georgia and I watch as three people enter, guns already drawn and demand control of the bank. Every move the trio make is deliberate and swift. The leader of the group, or at least who I think to be the leader, seems to know who is in charge of what parts of the bank. One man is drawn out of an office and forced to let two of the suspects into the back.
The security feed follows them to the back of the bank and into a large open vault. Their faces are obscured by black masks. The witness accounts say they were opaque. Georgia and I are thinking they’re probably made from the same material as those masks you get at Halloween. The ones that let you see out, but no one can see in.
One of the gunmen pulls a cloth bag from its position tucked behind the waistband of his black cargo pants. Quickly, he fills it with a several rows of stacked cash and signals to his partner. The two lead the branch manager back into the waiting area and just as quickly as they entered the building, they leave. The time stamp on the video as they exit reads ten-thirty-six and fourteen seconds.
Georgia reaches out and presses stop on the video player.
The whole thing took less than four minutes.
My initial assessment of the video is perfect.
They’re assault was damn near surgical.
Sighing, I run a hand through my hair and scratch my scalp. I sort of wish that I was back with Benny this week trying to clean up the assault/homicide. Unfortunately, Jesse was rotated over to Benny and Dom is in court most of this week.
“What do you think?” Georgia asks as she leans back in her own chair and rubs her eyes.
“We’ve ruled out employees?” I ask thinking that given what we’ve seen, a bank employee or a previous bank employee would make the most sense.
“We did and to bring you up to speed there was a similar robbery over in Lefitte about four months ago. We haven’t been officially assigned to the case, but I’ve started making headway with the detective, Roger Pideaux, assigned to the case,” Georgia fills me in.
I sit up at this bit of news and raise an eyebrow. This changes things a little.
“What I think is that this one,” she points to the screen, “wasn’t their first. With what the reports say, I don’t think the hit in Lefitte was the first either.”
“So Pideaux is willing to play with us and have we started a search for prior robberies?”
“Yes, he is and yes, I have…” she trails off.
“Lemme guess, S.S.U. is bogged down and is having trouble getting us what we need?” I purse my lips.
“It isn’t high on their priority list right now,” Georgia gripes.
Nodding, I grab my cell phone from the inside of my jacket pocket and dial a familiar number. I hold up a finger to Georgia and smile as Luke picks the phone up, “Delaney.”
“Luke,” I purr, “It’s your favorite detective.”
“Now, Nikki,” Luke sighs, but I can hear the smile in his voice, “You can’t be my favorite, I gotta keep a special place for that woman you’ve been stuck partnered with for more time than anyone should…”
“Oh, hush you, you know you like me better than her,” I tuck my arm underneath the one holding the phone to my ear.
“You won’t tell her?”
“I may hold my tongue if you can do me a favor,” I hear him groan and then ask, “Det. Georgia Sartre, from our unit, put in a request. If you can get that filled for me, on the sooner side of the day, it would curry some favor your way.”
“Hmm, hang on and lemme see what tickets are waiting to be assigned.” I listen in and hear him quickly type.
It’s funny; Nora’s cousins on the force are an interesting bunch and so much like their cousins. Luke’s temperament is very similar to Nora’s and so are his looks, shaggy blonde hair and green eyes. I had the pleasure of meeting Luke and his brother, Joseph, at a Delaney family picnic that Nora nearly had a panic attack at.
He doesn’t know about us, but that’s okay. I was the one that’s kept the cat in the bag with the rest of her family. I’m not looking for, nor does Nora need, a situation like the one my aunt’s created. The few conversations I’ve had with her extended family tell me that it wouldn’t go over well.
Patrick and Chris haven’t been looked on too kindly.
No one in the Delaney family but Nora, Bobby and Nancy are talking to Patrick and Chris. Luke hasn’t gone out of his way too, but he hasn’t been as accepting as I thought he would be.
“All right, Ms. Beaumont, this may take some time. Det. Sartre looks to have gone through ViCap and N.C.I.C. already. Probably means it’s not in the national systems and you know how ours are…” Luke teases.
“I know. Anything you can do will be appreciated,” I say sincerely.
“I’ll have the files over to you, if I find anything, before the end of today. I need to get started so you take care and say hello to that cousin of mine.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks again, Luke.” I smile up at Georgia and offer her a wink.
I get an eye roll in return.
Luke disconnects and I drop my phone back in my pocket. “We’ll have more later today.”
Six hours. Three cups of coffee. One sub-par deli sandwich.
The counts on my day are not going as well as I would like. I glance up at the active case board and sigh.
Five open cases.
And let’s not forget, nine files of previous robberies that match similar M.O.’s over the past five years.
I’m ignoring the single case of heartburn as it seems to be the least of my problems right now. Georgia doesn’t seem to be fairing any better though so…
I suppose we’ll soldier on together.
I prop my head in my hands, looking over at Nora’s empty desk. If she were here, I’m sure I’d find the motivation towards a better disposition…
She’d give me a little smile or a quiet promise for later tonight to provide proper motivation. I think the only thing Georgia would promise me is a swift kick in the rear end.
“Beaumont,” Georgia barks snapping me out of my sulk. She points to my phone on my desk.
I snatch it up and answer, “Beaumont.”
“Nikki,” Jen’s voice sounds harried, “I swear by all the saints I can name, if you don’t do something about that aunt and cousin of yours, I’m liable to take a bridge…with them tied up in the back seat.”
An eyebrow lifts and I say, “Jen that seems rather drastic. Would you care to explain to me why you’re contemplating double homicide?”
“Do you know how many phone calls I’ve fielded over the past three days asking if you’ve confirmed for the dinner party on Thursday night? Nikki, there’s little I wouldn’t do for you, but if that witch of a woman you call an aunt insinuates one more time…”
“Hey,” I cut into her rant and rub my forehead. “Don’t let her get to you. This whole situation is…”
“I understand, Nikki, for you and for Nora. I just…I was always told that if you don’t have anything nice to say, not to say anything at all, but I swear I’m about to gnaw my tongue off keepin’ silent.”
I roll back in my chair, stand up and head for an interview room to finish off this conversation. Once the door’s shut, I commiserate, “I know, Jen. I came out to that woman nearly ten years ago and yet…I know she’s a lot to deal with. The most we’ve talked since Logan’s death has been at society functions and even then…”
“I know, Nikki. I was there. Conversation was tense to say the least. I was talkin’ to your daddy the other day and he said it’s created more than its fair share of problems.” I hear the office chatter quiet on her end and assume she went to her office. “I’m just venting. I’ll field what I can for you.”
“I know and you shouldn’t have to.” I lean against the wall and rest my head. “My uncle and daddy haven’t been right since. Odd as it may seem, I don’t think it’s so much my orientation as it is my refusal to play by The Society’s rules and expectations. I’m slumming it in her opinion.”
Jen lets out a bark of laughter. “Nikki you haven’t played by the rules since I’ve known you that shouldn’t be a surprise for your family.”
“Hmm, true, but you went to Wellesley, you have a degree, you have an acceptable job for someone in our position. I, on the other hand, work a blue collar job whose annual salary is the equivalent of a quarter of the interest I make on my trust fund. I live in a condo with a woman who comes from a working class background and would only set foot in a finishing school to arrest someone,” I remind her.
“I see,” she says.
“My aunt doesn’t see that Nora’s the best thing to happen to me in…she’s the best thing to ever happen to me and I’m making a difference above picking out plants and donating money to various charities.” I close my eyes and thump my head off the wall. “Look, when you talk to her next time…”
“…In an hour…”
“When you talk to her, tell her I’ll be there. Put me down as plus one,” I direct her and pry my eyes open.
“Nora going to come?” she asks.
“No, she’s in Virginia with some friends, but I’ll drag someone with me.”
“All right. I’ll make the arrangements,” she agrees.
“I need to get going, but thanks Jen for…pretty much everything. I don’t know how we would have made it through the past year without you.” I push off the wall and head towards my desk welcoming the sounds of the station.
“I need something to do with my time, Nik. For what it’s worth, I think Nora’s been good for you too.”
“So,” I say settling against the back of the tub, “I’m going to proposition you and before you shoot me down, sugga, I want you to seriously consider it.”
“Hmm,” my Nora hums and asks, “Is this going to be like that time you dragged me to Atlanta and made me have sex with you in the hotel pool?”
My lips bloom into a full grin as I remember that particular trip. A function for the foundation took me to Atlanta for a weekend a few months back and I dragged Nora with me. She buckled under the pressure of that particular request when I ditched the bikini and jumped in the rooftop pool naked as the day as I born. I gently remind her, “If I remember baby, you didn’t seem to mind it too much when you had me pressed up against the side of that pool.”
“I most certainly did not and if I recall correctly, you vowed to not to do that again when the hotel maintenance guy nearly caught us,” she reminds me and I can’t help but blush.
“I’d do it again,” I let her in on that little piece of information and amend, “and if you could reproduce the way you made me cum, I’d even disregard the maintenance man catching us.”
“Nikki,” Nora growls playfully.
“In fact, Nora dear, I may even overlook my daddy walking in on us…”
She clears her throat and an image of her giving that annoyed frown as her eyes sparkle float in front of me. It’s quite sad that I tease her most times just to get that look.
“You wanted to ask me something,” she huffs.
“Right,” I drawl, pulling my mind from the gutter for a minute while I ask, “Let’s quit our jobs and travel.”
“Eh?”
I slip into the tub further so that the suds hit the bottom of my chin and answer her, “I don’t want to deal with my family, so I propose that we, you and me, my little Peppermint Paddy, forgo our careers, abscond with Joyelle and sail around the world. We could saunter around the deck in bikinis drinking the best scotch we can find while working on our full body tans. What do you think?” I ask seriously.
Nora doesn’t miss a beat and she demands, “What did she do now?” I wince at her less than impressed tone.
I sigh.
“Nothing yet, she’s been giving Jen fits and I have that dinner on Thursday night, which I need to find a date for.” My free hand rubs the creases on my forehead. “Honestly, I think I’m a bit cranky and fed up with it all.”
“Nik, I know this isn’t what you need, but I swear I will make that woman suffer is she doesn’t stop.” I listen to her shift around and know that I’m probably not going to like what she’s about to say, “She’s your family and while you won’t find a person who thinks family is as important as I do, I’m willing to make an exception in this case.”
“Nora, I know…”
“No, Nikki, you don’t know,” she snips at me and I frown a bit more. “Look at it this way, if it were Terry, carrying on and fussing, if he were taking every available opportunity to take pot shots at me, what would you do? How would that make you feel?”
My mouth opens and closes in a lame response to her questions.
“You’d confront him and tell him to fuck off…”
“I would,” I admit, “but, Terry can’t complicate our lives in the way Peggy Beaumont can.”
“So what do we do? Tell me what you want me to do and I will, Nikki. I’m just tired of her getting to you.”
The headache that was starting to subside begins anew and I huff. I don’t have an answer for her. So I try to lighten the mood, “Run away with me?” I chew on my lower lip and just listen to her breathe.
“How about a more realistic option?” she finally responds.
I shrug. “I don’t know.”
“So, then we just sort of soldier on,” she says and the defeat I hear in her words matches my mood.
“Yes, ma’am, I suppose we do.” I could say we come clean at work and let the chips fall where they may, but…
I can’t. I think that Nora’s more ready for that than I am. I don’t want to leave S.C.U. and I don’t want her to either. As much as that would solve some of our problems, it won’t make them all go away. I don’t know what effect that would have on our colleagues and I know for damn sure Dan would catch holy hell.
“We have options, Nikki,” Nora says gently, “They aren’t the best, but…” she falters, “…things are different than they were when we first got together. I’m different. I think, that if you want…”
“No,” I put a stop to her words, “for as much crap as I’ve given you, Nora,” I shut my eyes and admit to her, “I’m not ready for those repercussions. Not being able to work with you would have me reconsidering my position at the N.O.P.D. all together. I love my job and I love you. I love working with you and it makes my job easier. It makes me better at my job.”
“I know, Nikki, me too, but if Peggy presses this…”
“She hasn’t yet…”
“But, that could change. You’ve been very careful around her…” she presses.
“I don’t honestly think she would do something that could jeopardize the family,” I try to reason.
“Do we?” she asks.
“Do we what?” I ask trying to follow her train of thought.
“Jeopardize the family? Are you and I together that much of a liability?” she replies.
“People could talk. With my daddy, I could honestly say that some would think we broke the rules because of my position, but sugga, we are not a liability. Our situation can present a challenge, but I don’t think it’s anything…”
“Don’t lie, Nik.”
I swallow and wonder how this conversation got so off track.
“Look, can we just…talk about this another time?” I nearly beg. I don’t want this to be our conversation tonight. I wanted fun, playful, maybe a repeat of a few days ago when we relieved a bit of tension together.
“I’m sorry,” she apologizes, “we can argue about this another time.” She gives me this short bark of harsh laughter and I shake my head. “Who you gonna take to the dinner?”
My lips purse in thought and I answer, “No clue. I was thinking I’d either drag Patrick or Bobby. What do you think?”
“Take Patrick. He’s the house husband; maybe getting him out will be good.”
“Good idea. I’ll call him tomorrow. So,” I say trying for another topic change, “are you alone?”
“Nikki…” she growls at me and then answers my question. God love her.
Next>>>
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Rating: All over R – some parts more racy than others & some parts way less.
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora along with all the other character’s from the pilot do not belong to me. They belong to Nancylee Myatt and others that I don’t know, but if in the off chance they want to get together for a chat I’m here. Then we can discuss why the excs at the T.V. station didn’t pick up the series and perhaps whap them about the face with a dead carp. It’s a just punishment for the crime. =0)
A/N I have nothing incredibly insightful to add this morning. Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Yule or whatever you happen to celebrate is on the way and let’s face it, no one has huge chunks of time. But I’m chipping away at the story that follows this one so…I think we’re not in horrible shape. Take care everyone! – Thanks, 1SB.
The layout of the bank is standard. The branch is relatively small, four teller windows off to the left of the entrance. The right of the office is a set of offices, three total, with two additional workstations in between the offices. A small sitting area set immediately to the right of the entrance while straight ahead is an island for customers to fill out slips for deposits and withdrawals before getting in line for a teller.
The time stamp on the video reads ten-thirty-two and twenty-six seconds on Tuesday morning. The bank was hit yesterday. Georgia and I watch as three people enter, guns already drawn and demand control of the bank. Every move the trio make is deliberate and swift. The leader of the group, or at least who I think to be the leader, seems to know who is in charge of what parts of the bank. One man is drawn out of an office and forced to let two of the suspects into the back.
The security feed follows them to the back of the bank and into a large open vault. Their faces are obscured by black masks. The witness accounts say they were opaque. Georgia and I are thinking they’re probably made from the same material as those masks you get at Halloween. The ones that let you see out, but no one can see in.
One of the gunmen pulls a cloth bag from its position tucked behind the waistband of his black cargo pants. Quickly, he fills it with a several rows of stacked cash and signals to his partner. The two lead the branch manager back into the waiting area and just as quickly as they entered the building, they leave. The time stamp on the video as they exit reads ten-thirty-six and fourteen seconds.
Georgia reaches out and presses stop on the video player.
The whole thing took less than four minutes.
My initial assessment of the video is perfect.
They’re assault was damn near surgical.
Sighing, I run a hand through my hair and scratch my scalp. I sort of wish that I was back with Benny this week trying to clean up the assault/homicide. Unfortunately, Jesse was rotated over to Benny and Dom is in court most of this week.
“What do you think?” Georgia asks as she leans back in her own chair and rubs her eyes.
“We’ve ruled out employees?” I ask thinking that given what we’ve seen, a bank employee or a previous bank employee would make the most sense.
“We did and to bring you up to speed there was a similar robbery over in Lefitte about four months ago. We haven’t been officially assigned to the case, but I’ve started making headway with the detective, Roger Pideaux, assigned to the case,” Georgia fills me in.
I sit up at this bit of news and raise an eyebrow. This changes things a little.
“What I think is that this one,” she points to the screen, “wasn’t their first. With what the reports say, I don’t think the hit in Lefitte was the first either.”
“So Pideaux is willing to play with us and have we started a search for prior robberies?”
“Yes, he is and yes, I have…” she trails off.
“Lemme guess, S.S.U. is bogged down and is having trouble getting us what we need?” I purse my lips.
“It isn’t high on their priority list right now,” Georgia gripes.
Nodding, I grab my cell phone from the inside of my jacket pocket and dial a familiar number. I hold up a finger to Georgia and smile as Luke picks the phone up, “Delaney.”
“Luke,” I purr, “It’s your favorite detective.”
“Now, Nikki,” Luke sighs, but I can hear the smile in his voice, “You can’t be my favorite, I gotta keep a special place for that woman you’ve been stuck partnered with for more time than anyone should…”
“Oh, hush you, you know you like me better than her,” I tuck my arm underneath the one holding the phone to my ear.
“You won’t tell her?”
“I may hold my tongue if you can do me a favor,” I hear him groan and then ask, “Det. Georgia Sartre, from our unit, put in a request. If you can get that filled for me, on the sooner side of the day, it would curry some favor your way.”
“Hmm, hang on and lemme see what tickets are waiting to be assigned.” I listen in and hear him quickly type.
It’s funny; Nora’s cousins on the force are an interesting bunch and so much like their cousins. Luke’s temperament is very similar to Nora’s and so are his looks, shaggy blonde hair and green eyes. I had the pleasure of meeting Luke and his brother, Joseph, at a Delaney family picnic that Nora nearly had a panic attack at.
He doesn’t know about us, but that’s okay. I was the one that’s kept the cat in the bag with the rest of her family. I’m not looking for, nor does Nora need, a situation like the one my aunt’s created. The few conversations I’ve had with her extended family tell me that it wouldn’t go over well.
Patrick and Chris haven’t been looked on too kindly.
No one in the Delaney family but Nora, Bobby and Nancy are talking to Patrick and Chris. Luke hasn’t gone out of his way too, but he hasn’t been as accepting as I thought he would be.
“All right, Ms. Beaumont, this may take some time. Det. Sartre looks to have gone through ViCap and N.C.I.C. already. Probably means it’s not in the national systems and you know how ours are…” Luke teases.
“I know. Anything you can do will be appreciated,” I say sincerely.
“I’ll have the files over to you, if I find anything, before the end of today. I need to get started so you take care and say hello to that cousin of mine.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks again, Luke.” I smile up at Georgia and offer her a wink.
I get an eye roll in return.
Luke disconnects and I drop my phone back in my pocket. “We’ll have more later today.”
Six hours. Three cups of coffee. One sub-par deli sandwich.
The counts on my day are not going as well as I would like. I glance up at the active case board and sigh.
Five open cases.
And let’s not forget, nine files of previous robberies that match similar M.O.’s over the past five years.
I’m ignoring the single case of heartburn as it seems to be the least of my problems right now. Georgia doesn’t seem to be fairing any better though so…
I suppose we’ll soldier on together.
I prop my head in my hands, looking over at Nora’s empty desk. If she were here, I’m sure I’d find the motivation towards a better disposition…
She’d give me a little smile or a quiet promise for later tonight to provide proper motivation. I think the only thing Georgia would promise me is a swift kick in the rear end.
“Beaumont,” Georgia barks snapping me out of my sulk. She points to my phone on my desk.
I snatch it up and answer, “Beaumont.”
“Nikki,” Jen’s voice sounds harried, “I swear by all the saints I can name, if you don’t do something about that aunt and cousin of yours, I’m liable to take a bridge…with them tied up in the back seat.”
An eyebrow lifts and I say, “Jen that seems rather drastic. Would you care to explain to me why you’re contemplating double homicide?”
“Do you know how many phone calls I’ve fielded over the past three days asking if you’ve confirmed for the dinner party on Thursday night? Nikki, there’s little I wouldn’t do for you, but if that witch of a woman you call an aunt insinuates one more time…”
“Hey,” I cut into her rant and rub my forehead. “Don’t let her get to you. This whole situation is…”
“I understand, Nikki, for you and for Nora. I just…I was always told that if you don’t have anything nice to say, not to say anything at all, but I swear I’m about to gnaw my tongue off keepin’ silent.”
I roll back in my chair, stand up and head for an interview room to finish off this conversation. Once the door’s shut, I commiserate, “I know, Jen. I came out to that woman nearly ten years ago and yet…I know she’s a lot to deal with. The most we’ve talked since Logan’s death has been at society functions and even then…”
“I know, Nikki. I was there. Conversation was tense to say the least. I was talkin’ to your daddy the other day and he said it’s created more than its fair share of problems.” I hear the office chatter quiet on her end and assume she went to her office. “I’m just venting. I’ll field what I can for you.”
“I know and you shouldn’t have to.” I lean against the wall and rest my head. “My uncle and daddy haven’t been right since. Odd as it may seem, I don’t think it’s so much my orientation as it is my refusal to play by The Society’s rules and expectations. I’m slumming it in her opinion.”
Jen lets out a bark of laughter. “Nikki you haven’t played by the rules since I’ve known you that shouldn’t be a surprise for your family.”
“Hmm, true, but you went to Wellesley, you have a degree, you have an acceptable job for someone in our position. I, on the other hand, work a blue collar job whose annual salary is the equivalent of a quarter of the interest I make on my trust fund. I live in a condo with a woman who comes from a working class background and would only set foot in a finishing school to arrest someone,” I remind her.
“I see,” she says.
“My aunt doesn’t see that Nora’s the best thing to happen to me in…she’s the best thing to ever happen to me and I’m making a difference above picking out plants and donating money to various charities.” I close my eyes and thump my head off the wall. “Look, when you talk to her next time…”
“…In an hour…”
“When you talk to her, tell her I’ll be there. Put me down as plus one,” I direct her and pry my eyes open.
“Nora going to come?” she asks.
“No, she’s in Virginia with some friends, but I’ll drag someone with me.”
“All right. I’ll make the arrangements,” she agrees.
“I need to get going, but thanks Jen for…pretty much everything. I don’t know how we would have made it through the past year without you.” I push off the wall and head towards my desk welcoming the sounds of the station.
“I need something to do with my time, Nik. For what it’s worth, I think Nora’s been good for you too.”
“So,” I say settling against the back of the tub, “I’m going to proposition you and before you shoot me down, sugga, I want you to seriously consider it.”
“Hmm,” my Nora hums and asks, “Is this going to be like that time you dragged me to Atlanta and made me have sex with you in the hotel pool?”
My lips bloom into a full grin as I remember that particular trip. A function for the foundation took me to Atlanta for a weekend a few months back and I dragged Nora with me. She buckled under the pressure of that particular request when I ditched the bikini and jumped in the rooftop pool naked as the day as I born. I gently remind her, “If I remember baby, you didn’t seem to mind it too much when you had me pressed up against the side of that pool.”
“I most certainly did not and if I recall correctly, you vowed to not to do that again when the hotel maintenance guy nearly caught us,” she reminds me and I can’t help but blush.
“I’d do it again,” I let her in on that little piece of information and amend, “and if you could reproduce the way you made me cum, I’d even disregard the maintenance man catching us.”
“Nikki,” Nora growls playfully.
“In fact, Nora dear, I may even overlook my daddy walking in on us…”
She clears her throat and an image of her giving that annoyed frown as her eyes sparkle float in front of me. It’s quite sad that I tease her most times just to get that look.
“You wanted to ask me something,” she huffs.
“Right,” I drawl, pulling my mind from the gutter for a minute while I ask, “Let’s quit our jobs and travel.”
“Eh?”
I slip into the tub further so that the suds hit the bottom of my chin and answer her, “I don’t want to deal with my family, so I propose that we, you and me, my little Peppermint Paddy, forgo our careers, abscond with Joyelle and sail around the world. We could saunter around the deck in bikinis drinking the best scotch we can find while working on our full body tans. What do you think?” I ask seriously.
Nora doesn’t miss a beat and she demands, “What did she do now?” I wince at her less than impressed tone.
I sigh.
“Nothing yet, she’s been giving Jen fits and I have that dinner on Thursday night, which I need to find a date for.” My free hand rubs the creases on my forehead. “Honestly, I think I’m a bit cranky and fed up with it all.”
“Nik, I know this isn’t what you need, but I swear I will make that woman suffer is she doesn’t stop.” I listen to her shift around and know that I’m probably not going to like what she’s about to say, “She’s your family and while you won’t find a person who thinks family is as important as I do, I’m willing to make an exception in this case.”
“Nora, I know…”
“No, Nikki, you don’t know,” she snips at me and I frown a bit more. “Look at it this way, if it were Terry, carrying on and fussing, if he were taking every available opportunity to take pot shots at me, what would you do? How would that make you feel?”
My mouth opens and closes in a lame response to her questions.
“You’d confront him and tell him to fuck off…”
“I would,” I admit, “but, Terry can’t complicate our lives in the way Peggy Beaumont can.”
“So what do we do? Tell me what you want me to do and I will, Nikki. I’m just tired of her getting to you.”
The headache that was starting to subside begins anew and I huff. I don’t have an answer for her. So I try to lighten the mood, “Run away with me?” I chew on my lower lip and just listen to her breathe.
“How about a more realistic option?” she finally responds.
I shrug. “I don’t know.”
“So, then we just sort of soldier on,” she says and the defeat I hear in her words matches my mood.
“Yes, ma’am, I suppose we do.” I could say we come clean at work and let the chips fall where they may, but…
I can’t. I think that Nora’s more ready for that than I am. I don’t want to leave S.C.U. and I don’t want her to either. As much as that would solve some of our problems, it won’t make them all go away. I don’t know what effect that would have on our colleagues and I know for damn sure Dan would catch holy hell.
“We have options, Nikki,” Nora says gently, “They aren’t the best, but…” she falters, “…things are different than they were when we first got together. I’m different. I think, that if you want…”
“No,” I put a stop to her words, “for as much crap as I’ve given you, Nora,” I shut my eyes and admit to her, “I’m not ready for those repercussions. Not being able to work with you would have me reconsidering my position at the N.O.P.D. all together. I love my job and I love you. I love working with you and it makes my job easier. It makes me better at my job.”
“I know, Nikki, me too, but if Peggy presses this…”
“She hasn’t yet…”
“But, that could change. You’ve been very careful around her…” she presses.
“I don’t honestly think she would do something that could jeopardize the family,” I try to reason.
“Do we?” she asks.
“Do we what?” I ask trying to follow her train of thought.
“Jeopardize the family? Are you and I together that much of a liability?” she replies.
“People could talk. With my daddy, I could honestly say that some would think we broke the rules because of my position, but sugga, we are not a liability. Our situation can present a challenge, but I don’t think it’s anything…”
“Don’t lie, Nik.”
I swallow and wonder how this conversation got so off track.
“Look, can we just…talk about this another time?” I nearly beg. I don’t want this to be our conversation tonight. I wanted fun, playful, maybe a repeat of a few days ago when we relieved a bit of tension together.
“I’m sorry,” she apologizes, “we can argue about this another time.” She gives me this short bark of harsh laughter and I shake my head. “Who you gonna take to the dinner?”
My lips purse in thought and I answer, “No clue. I was thinking I’d either drag Patrick or Bobby. What do you think?”
“Take Patrick. He’s the house husband; maybe getting him out will be good.”
“Good idea. I’ll call him tomorrow. So,” I say trying for another topic change, “are you alone?”
“Nikki…” she growls at me and then answers my question. God love her.
Next>>>
