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Entry tags:
Devils & Gods 8/12
Title: Devils & Gods
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Pairing: Nikki & Nora
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora are not mine, but it kinda feels like they are. The characters from the pilot aren't either. BUT - there's a whole lot of original ones that are in this little story so...*yay* for me.
Author’s Note: It’s early, cup one of 20 is still half full…
Ch. 8 – Skeptical Heart
“He’s got an endgame, Ann,” John says absently. I take my eyes away from the road and give him a quick once over.
His shoulders are pinned back against the seat, the black button-up looks rumpled and he’s staring out the side window. His profile tells me that something’s bugging him. Which is funny, ‘cause there’s a list that I think everyone has right now. We’re all equally annoyed.
“What’s up?” I ask as I direct my attention back to the road to try and get us over to Nikki and Nora’s to meet Darius.
“You think this is coincidence? Darius signing for a package that’s addressed to the four of you, Nora’s mother doing the same and Lucy and Travis having to go back to Virginia to pick up the one that was sent to Mr. and Mrs. Ness?” his tone’s just this side of sarcastic. “It’s good damn thing Jill called her parents and Lee to keep an eye out.”
I roll my eyes. “No, I don’t, but the attitude you’re giving me doesn’t warrant an appropriate response to being toyed with by this shithead.” I signal left and wait at the light to turn onto their street. I chew my lower lip and wait on him to fill in the blanks. “Honestly, John…this isn’t the worst of what we’ve had to deal with…”
“I know, but I still I don’t like it. I mean I really don’t fucking like this.” I raise an eyebrow at him and his arms fold across his chest. “You know what I miss?”
“What?” I ask despite the rhetorical question.
“When I worked in the counter intelligence field, I at least knew what to expect.” His hand rises and he ticks off with his fingers, “I knew I was going to get shot at, people couldn’t be trusted and that more than likely, people would die.”
My brow furrows as I can’t help but snicker, “And that’s different from what we do now, because?”
His lips purse. “The difference is that it was just me getting shot at.” He jabs a finger at his chest. “It was me that was taking the licks.” He shakes his head and grunts, “I had less to worry about.”
“Don’t be an ass,” I snip back at him. “It’s what we fucking do. You think I didn’t know what I signed on for when I went to the academy or applied to the B.A.U.?”
“No,” he mutters and runs a hand through his hair.
The light changes and I make my turn and rumble up the street to pull up to the curb.
He doesn’t speak again until I kill the engine. “My issue is that even though you knew and I know that, I still don’t like a shithead gunning for my team. I never really cared or thought about anyone coming after me. I expect it. It’s different when they come after family.”
“John…” I try to stop from going down this road.
“Fuck with me, it’s good. I make sure I end it, but he’s hitting below the belt and I get it’s not supposed to be personal, but…” He jabs a finger in my direction, “You go and make me like you and not just see you as an agent and work partner.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. Smiling, I take his pointer finger in my closed fist and playfully shove it back in his chest. “Glad to know you care.”
“Yeah, fuck you too, Flemming. I’m serious. This piece of shit’s got me more nervous than I care to admit.” He settles his hands in his lap and looks at the apartment building. “How are Nikki and Nora?”
“Eh?” I ask.
“They solid?” he asks again turning back to me. “And close your mouth, you look ridiculous.”
I frown and shut my mouth. He usually doesn’t take me by surprise. I can usually follow his thought process, but the jump in topics has completely thrown me. “Uh, good…”
“I’m serious, Ann. Are they solid?” he persists and now, I’m literally scratching my head.
“Okay, now I’m really fucking lost. John, what’s up?” I repeat my first question to him since we started this asinine conversation.
He licks his lips and shakes his head. “I’m just…” His hands shoot up, palms exposed and he says, “You know what? I’m just going to stay out of it. It’s not my relationship and sometimes you read things wrong and…”
A litany of thoughts, one question is formed and then I shoot it down before I even have time to process it. I finally settle on the idea that he’s seen something to warrant these questions and this behavior. “What have you seen?” My tone leaves no room for him to dodge the question.
He knows this and his hands drop. “I went to get Nora for the meeting earlier today, the one that kind of cut lunch short and she was in the office with her lieu. Are they close?”
I shrug. “They were partners for a few years before he was promoted. He’s been a good friend to Nikki and Nora since they started seeing each other,” I answer honestly.
“So he and Nora never…”
“She’s a lesbian, John.” I smack his shoulder and grumble, “Jesus, what’s wrong with you?”
“Why do you think her orientation precludes her from having sex with a man?” he grumbles right back.
“There’s a lot wrong with that question and honestly, it doesn’t, but the last guy she slept with was the boyfriend she dumped right before she started seeing me!”
“Look, don’t get pissy. You asked, I’m trying to answer your question. I went to get her and her and Harney looked way more than friendly.”
I can’t believe this. “Seriously, John.”
He sighs and his features soften. “I’m just going by what I saw, partner. I wouldn’t ask the question if I didn’t see something that…”
“Show me,” I demand and scramble from the car. I run around the front end of Frankie, yank the door open and pull a flustered John from the passenger side. “You think you saw something. I want to know what.”
He rolls his eyes but complies. “I just poked my head around the door and they were together,” he takes hold of my arms right above my elbows and pulls me against him, “like this, they were talking I couldn’t really make out what they were saying, but it looked kinda intense.”
Pulling away, I shake my head. “You probably just came in at the wrong time.” I stalk up the walk way towards the back door. “Look, Nora would have told me if anything was wrong or she had done some stupid shit like get involved with Dan and cheat on Nikki.” I spin right back around to him, jam a finger in his chest and snarl, “Whatever you thought you saw...just…no.”
I turn on my heel and hit the door. He’s fucking lost his mind.
“You two ready?” I direct my question towards the telephone unit that has us conferenced in with Lucy and Travis back at Quantico.
“We are,” Lucy’s voice comes through loud and clear. “We had to break a few laws getting there and back here at a decent time, but…tell Jill we’re sorry.”
“What did you two do?” Jill asks from behind me. She’s been my shadow ever since her parents called us to let us know they had a package, suspiciously like the one Nora and Nikki fetched from Nancy Delaney’s house and like the one that John and I picked up from their home. Then there was the one that was at the station when we all got back. That one Jill signed for.
I cut a look to John who’s eyeing up the three boxes we have on the conference room table. His feet are planted a shoulder length apart and his arms are folded across his chest. The shirtsleeves are bunched and strained against his arms. He missed his calling as a Hollywood security. He probably would have done better and been safer running a P.I. business in LaLa Land then returning to Washington and catching criminals. Despite his craziness earlier, he refocused as soon as we met Darius and brought the box back to the precinct.
“We may have used a chopper and landed in your parents’ back yard. Nice by the way. Your mom says to say ‘hi’ and that Ann, you, and I quote, ‘better take care of my baby,’ and Jill, you, and I quote, ‘better take care of my baby.’ I can see where Jill gets the crazy,” Travis fills in. “Mrs. Ness is kind of scary in that ‘intense, happy, threatening kind of way.”
“The neighbors are going to have a field day with that,” Jill groans. She stabs a finger in my ribs and hisses, “If I have to deal with Mrs. Metzbaum’s snide little comments about us being too good for them and how ‘it’s a shame the neighborhood’s gone to pot by those drug using, depraved, hoity-toity homosexuals’, I will not be held liable for my actions.”
I roll my eyes and pull her to me. I press my lips to her temple to try to soothe her and say, “I’m sure it’ll be fine. Your mom can blame me and say it was a ‘government’ thing and not a ‘Hollywood’ thing or a ‘homosexual’ thing. I swear that old bat’s caused more grief. She was ancient when we were in high school. I guess Satan’s minions don’t die.”
“Baby, don’t be stupid. That woman’ll stay alive just to spite me,” she grumbles and nuzzles into my side.
“All right,” Nikki interrupts us. “I know we’re all close here and all, I just really want to open up these stupid boxes, so…”
“Fine, fine,” Jill waves her off and goes back to standing against the wall.
I look at John and he nods. Nora’s next to me as we stand in front of the two boxes. John is opposite us with the third. All are on a similar plastic sheet that I dumped the envelope found at the hotel room on. Spencer and Bamby will be taking the photographs as we open the boxes.
We’ve already had a member from the bomb squad run a quick analysis to tell us they’re clean. The x-ray machines didn’t reveal anything except packing material and something flat, non-metal buried an inch and three-quarters from the top. I guess it’s now or never.
Nora flips open the razor I gave her and I do the same with mine. John follows our actions across from us and he says, “On my mark.” He looks at Nora and then at me. I give him a slight dip of my chin. He nods back. “Go.”
With gloved hands we slit the tape down the middle and along the sides. I pull the flaps open and set my razor down before reaching in and feeling around. I don’t have to go far. My hands are only half buried in the Styrofoam peanuts before they hit something covered in plastic.
Nora’s must have as well because she starts to feel around before her hands reveal themselves clutching a thick freezer bag. John and I lock eyes and we pull out our own items. They’re similar that much is clear. I push the box off to the side and lay the item down.
It’s somewhat soft. It has a little give and it’s thick. There’s something on the reverse side so I flip it over and see it’s a stack of polaroids. The top picture shows me the frightened features of Margret Talbert. A chill courses up my spine. Goosebumps explode along my arms.
I drop the bag. Cover my mouth with the back of my hand and try to keep it together.
“Lucy,” I choke out.
“Oh, just…that’s fucking gross!” Lucy bellows through the intercom.
I feel Jill behind me and before I know it, she takes off. The conference room doors banging open.
Nikki’s the first one to react and puts a hand on my shoulder before tearing off after my wife.
Fuck.
“Flemming!” John barks. I meet his steady gaze and find some footing. Closing my eyes, I count to ten.
When I open them, I nod and release the lungful of air that I was holding. I’m good.
Mostly.
“Nora,” John checks on my friend.
“Didn’t want lunch anyhow,” she gripes and turns the bag over in her hands.
“Agreed,” Travis snaps through the intercom.
Acid burns up through my esophagus. I swallow and wince.
“Let’s open these up,” John directs and I step back to my spot next to the table.
I pick up the dropped bag and pull the seal apart. The smell is familiar. That’s the first thing I notice. It smells like diluted formaldehyde. I reach in, grab the pictures, the other item in the bag and pull them out. Setting the bag to the side, next to the box. I take the pictures and place them above the other contents of the bag.
I quickly fan through the pictures. They tell me what I already know. They’re a chronological telling of Talbert’s last days alive. They start with just close ups of her frightened, terror filled features. Then progress. Strips of skin freshly removed. Some healing. Some while the skin is being removed and her mouth is forever caught in a scream of pain and terror.
I drop the stack of pictures to the side and look at the other item.
The stitching is impeccable. The only thing that gives it away is the coloring of the material used to hold the strips together. It’s thick and black and nauseating. Against the white plastic evidence sheet, Talbert’s face, devoid of form and emotion sets.
I reach out and take the snifter full of amber colored liquid and settle down on the wooden lounger next to Nora. Their balcony that sits off the sitting room by their bedroom is a nice place for a lot of things. At one in the morning, it’s a nice little escape to provide the sleeping occupants some respite from those of us that can’t seem to close ours.
Nora’s head is resting against the padded back of the chair. The glass in her hand is swirled causing the few ice cubes inside to rattle around. “Jill okay?” she asks quietly, mindful of her sleeping partner not too far away.
“Yeah, I made her take two xani’s to get her to calm down,” I whisper back. I look over and see a blanket, much like the one Nora has draped across her legs sitting off to my right. I reach out and settle it over my legs to mirror my friend.
The table in front of us has some paperwork, folded in thirds. In the low lighting I can’t really make anything out on the note pad Nora has with her so I just set my drink on top next to the paperwork and settle back down, willing some type of peace to come my way.
John’s words from earlier roll around, rattling the calm that may be able to take hold. Instead, despite having faces mailed to us, despite dealing with this bitch of case, the only thing I can really concentrate on is the conversation with John about Nora and Dan.
I know Nora. I know her like I do Jill. Like Lee and like I know myself. It’s not in her D.N.A…
But then there was Tommy and the way we got together, it all sort of…
Meeting Nora hit me like a ton of bricks. I don’t think she ever really got that. I know I blindsided her. She was the only person that I felt a connection too. She lit me up and I’m thankful that she spent the time with me that she did.
The rapidity of our relationship and how she handled Tommy was probably the only sore spot. I couldn’t control it and neither could she. Of course, it’s not like I didn’t encourage her actions. He was a dick. And I’d have been all for her not fucking up a good thing with her boyfriend, but the one time we met…
I really just wanted to beat his face in…I can say with sixty-percent certainty that it was born not out of jealousy, but out of the clear understanding that he wasn’t good enough to lick the bottom of Nora’s shoes, let alone share her bed.
I reach out, grab my drink and take a healthy sip. The bourbon trickles down my throat, burning a warm comfort through the pit of my stomach. “Nor,” I whisper quietly and try to scoot my chair closer to her. Her eyes pop open and she tilts her head my way. Her right hand reaches out and helps pull my chair closer to her.
“Thanks,” I say and rest my head on her shoulder.
“No problem.”
“Becca should be able to get us a little more leeway for tomorrow,” I inform her knowing that Becca will do her best to get us some help with the victims’ families.
“John’s wife?” she asks and pushes her hand under my blanket to rest her hand on the inside of my high. If it were anyone else, I’d break their fingers. Nora’s always gotten a free pass.
The action just pulls us a little closer, warming both of us against the chill of the night.
“Yeah,” I tell her. “I told you about John’s little rough patch with her?” She shakes her head so I give her the rundown, “Becca was working too much, John was working too much. They went through a separation; actually they were working on reconciling when we were at the premiere. Long story short, she quit her job at the hospital and is working at the State Department now as an advisor.”
“Huh, didn’t know that. John always seemed really solid,” Nora murmurs.
“They are, were, just hit a rough spot and didn’t know what to do about it. John’s been a little different since. Way more protective of his personal relationships and has taken an interest in the personal relationships of the people he deems worthy.” I snicker. That’s an understatement, but whatever. “He doesn’t like people fucking up good things. Gotten really good at calling me on my shit when I’m being an ass. He does the same to Jill too…”
“Turn about’s fair play?” she jibes.
“Yeah, I guess.” I pull her hand free off my thigh and lace our fingers together. I bring the hand up and press a kiss to her knuckles. “So,” I mumble against her skin, “I have to ask, is there something going on with you and Dan?” Predictably, she yanks her hand away and I soldier on, “Nora, I don’t want to betray any confidences, but you…if there is something, that’s pretty shitty of you to do to Nikki, why wouldn’t you tell me and it’s fucking stupid.” I sit up and set my glass down. My legs swing left and I sit on the edge of the chair. “John saw you and Dan in his office and asked me. I just…”
Nora shakes her head and it’s then that I realize that if I were anyone else I’d probably be nursing a black eye or be soaked in the alcohol Nora still has in her hand.
She controls the shake of her hand though and manages to slide her drink on the table. She reaches out for the stack of papers, stands and tosses them at me. They hit my knee and land with a soft ‘whump’ by my feet. Saying absolutely nothing, she strides back inside. The door to the balcony rattling behind her.
I hang my head in my hands and look down at the papers. The top is all I really need to see. It reads, “Notice of Intent to Promote.”
Reaching down, I pick them up and scan the top page. It’s a letter to Nora telling her that her commanding officer put in a requisition to have her promoted. She has until October first to decide on what she wants to do…
Next>>>
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Pairing: Nikki & Nora
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora are not mine, but it kinda feels like they are. The characters from the pilot aren't either. BUT - there's a whole lot of original ones that are in this little story so...*yay* for me.
Author’s Note: It’s early, cup one of 20 is still half full…
“He’s got an endgame, Ann,” John says absently. I take my eyes away from the road and give him a quick once over.
His shoulders are pinned back against the seat, the black button-up looks rumpled and he’s staring out the side window. His profile tells me that something’s bugging him. Which is funny, ‘cause there’s a list that I think everyone has right now. We’re all equally annoyed.
“What’s up?” I ask as I direct my attention back to the road to try and get us over to Nikki and Nora’s to meet Darius.
“You think this is coincidence? Darius signing for a package that’s addressed to the four of you, Nora’s mother doing the same and Lucy and Travis having to go back to Virginia to pick up the one that was sent to Mr. and Mrs. Ness?” his tone’s just this side of sarcastic. “It’s good damn thing Jill called her parents and Lee to keep an eye out.”
I roll my eyes. “No, I don’t, but the attitude you’re giving me doesn’t warrant an appropriate response to being toyed with by this shithead.” I signal left and wait at the light to turn onto their street. I chew my lower lip and wait on him to fill in the blanks. “Honestly, John…this isn’t the worst of what we’ve had to deal with…”
“I know, but I still I don’t like it. I mean I really don’t fucking like this.” I raise an eyebrow at him and his arms fold across his chest. “You know what I miss?”
“What?” I ask despite the rhetorical question.
“When I worked in the counter intelligence field, I at least knew what to expect.” His hand rises and he ticks off with his fingers, “I knew I was going to get shot at, people couldn’t be trusted and that more than likely, people would die.”
My brow furrows as I can’t help but snicker, “And that’s different from what we do now, because?”
His lips purse. “The difference is that it was just me getting shot at.” He jabs a finger at his chest. “It was me that was taking the licks.” He shakes his head and grunts, “I had less to worry about.”
“Don’t be an ass,” I snip back at him. “It’s what we fucking do. You think I didn’t know what I signed on for when I went to the academy or applied to the B.A.U.?”
“No,” he mutters and runs a hand through his hair.
The light changes and I make my turn and rumble up the street to pull up to the curb.
He doesn’t speak again until I kill the engine. “My issue is that even though you knew and I know that, I still don’t like a shithead gunning for my team. I never really cared or thought about anyone coming after me. I expect it. It’s different when they come after family.”
“John…” I try to stop from going down this road.
“Fuck with me, it’s good. I make sure I end it, but he’s hitting below the belt and I get it’s not supposed to be personal, but…” He jabs a finger in my direction, “You go and make me like you and not just see you as an agent and work partner.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. Smiling, I take his pointer finger in my closed fist and playfully shove it back in his chest. “Glad to know you care.”
“Yeah, fuck you too, Flemming. I’m serious. This piece of shit’s got me more nervous than I care to admit.” He settles his hands in his lap and looks at the apartment building. “How are Nikki and Nora?”
“Eh?” I ask.
“They solid?” he asks again turning back to me. “And close your mouth, you look ridiculous.”
I frown and shut my mouth. He usually doesn’t take me by surprise. I can usually follow his thought process, but the jump in topics has completely thrown me. “Uh, good…”
“I’m serious, Ann. Are they solid?” he persists and now, I’m literally scratching my head.
“Okay, now I’m really fucking lost. John, what’s up?” I repeat my first question to him since we started this asinine conversation.
He licks his lips and shakes his head. “I’m just…” His hands shoot up, palms exposed and he says, “You know what? I’m just going to stay out of it. It’s not my relationship and sometimes you read things wrong and…”
A litany of thoughts, one question is formed and then I shoot it down before I even have time to process it. I finally settle on the idea that he’s seen something to warrant these questions and this behavior. “What have you seen?” My tone leaves no room for him to dodge the question.
He knows this and his hands drop. “I went to get Nora for the meeting earlier today, the one that kind of cut lunch short and she was in the office with her lieu. Are they close?”
I shrug. “They were partners for a few years before he was promoted. He’s been a good friend to Nikki and Nora since they started seeing each other,” I answer honestly.
“So he and Nora never…”
“She’s a lesbian, John.” I smack his shoulder and grumble, “Jesus, what’s wrong with you?”
“Why do you think her orientation precludes her from having sex with a man?” he grumbles right back.
“There’s a lot wrong with that question and honestly, it doesn’t, but the last guy she slept with was the boyfriend she dumped right before she started seeing me!”
“Look, don’t get pissy. You asked, I’m trying to answer your question. I went to get her and her and Harney looked way more than friendly.”
I can’t believe this. “Seriously, John.”
He sighs and his features soften. “I’m just going by what I saw, partner. I wouldn’t ask the question if I didn’t see something that…”
“Show me,” I demand and scramble from the car. I run around the front end of Frankie, yank the door open and pull a flustered John from the passenger side. “You think you saw something. I want to know what.”
He rolls his eyes but complies. “I just poked my head around the door and they were together,” he takes hold of my arms right above my elbows and pulls me against him, “like this, they were talking I couldn’t really make out what they were saying, but it looked kinda intense.”
Pulling away, I shake my head. “You probably just came in at the wrong time.” I stalk up the walk way towards the back door. “Look, Nora would have told me if anything was wrong or she had done some stupid shit like get involved with Dan and cheat on Nikki.” I spin right back around to him, jam a finger in his chest and snarl, “Whatever you thought you saw...just…no.”
I turn on my heel and hit the door. He’s fucking lost his mind.
“You two ready?” I direct my question towards the telephone unit that has us conferenced in with Lucy and Travis back at Quantico.
“We are,” Lucy’s voice comes through loud and clear. “We had to break a few laws getting there and back here at a decent time, but…tell Jill we’re sorry.”
“What did you two do?” Jill asks from behind me. She’s been my shadow ever since her parents called us to let us know they had a package, suspiciously like the one Nora and Nikki fetched from Nancy Delaney’s house and like the one that John and I picked up from their home. Then there was the one that was at the station when we all got back. That one Jill signed for.
I cut a look to John who’s eyeing up the three boxes we have on the conference room table. His feet are planted a shoulder length apart and his arms are folded across his chest. The shirtsleeves are bunched and strained against his arms. He missed his calling as a Hollywood security. He probably would have done better and been safer running a P.I. business in LaLa Land then returning to Washington and catching criminals. Despite his craziness earlier, he refocused as soon as we met Darius and brought the box back to the precinct.
“We may have used a chopper and landed in your parents’ back yard. Nice by the way. Your mom says to say ‘hi’ and that Ann, you, and I quote, ‘better take care of my baby,’ and Jill, you, and I quote, ‘better take care of my baby.’ I can see where Jill gets the crazy,” Travis fills in. “Mrs. Ness is kind of scary in that ‘intense, happy, threatening kind of way.”
“The neighbors are going to have a field day with that,” Jill groans. She stabs a finger in my ribs and hisses, “If I have to deal with Mrs. Metzbaum’s snide little comments about us being too good for them and how ‘it’s a shame the neighborhood’s gone to pot by those drug using, depraved, hoity-toity homosexuals’, I will not be held liable for my actions.”
I roll my eyes and pull her to me. I press my lips to her temple to try to soothe her and say, “I’m sure it’ll be fine. Your mom can blame me and say it was a ‘government’ thing and not a ‘Hollywood’ thing or a ‘homosexual’ thing. I swear that old bat’s caused more grief. She was ancient when we were in high school. I guess Satan’s minions don’t die.”
“Baby, don’t be stupid. That woman’ll stay alive just to spite me,” she grumbles and nuzzles into my side.
“All right,” Nikki interrupts us. “I know we’re all close here and all, I just really want to open up these stupid boxes, so…”
“Fine, fine,” Jill waves her off and goes back to standing against the wall.
I look at John and he nods. Nora’s next to me as we stand in front of the two boxes. John is opposite us with the third. All are on a similar plastic sheet that I dumped the envelope found at the hotel room on. Spencer and Bamby will be taking the photographs as we open the boxes.
We’ve already had a member from the bomb squad run a quick analysis to tell us they’re clean. The x-ray machines didn’t reveal anything except packing material and something flat, non-metal buried an inch and three-quarters from the top. I guess it’s now or never.
Nora flips open the razor I gave her and I do the same with mine. John follows our actions across from us and he says, “On my mark.” He looks at Nora and then at me. I give him a slight dip of my chin. He nods back. “Go.”
With gloved hands we slit the tape down the middle and along the sides. I pull the flaps open and set my razor down before reaching in and feeling around. I don’t have to go far. My hands are only half buried in the Styrofoam peanuts before they hit something covered in plastic.
Nora’s must have as well because she starts to feel around before her hands reveal themselves clutching a thick freezer bag. John and I lock eyes and we pull out our own items. They’re similar that much is clear. I push the box off to the side and lay the item down.
It’s somewhat soft. It has a little give and it’s thick. There’s something on the reverse side so I flip it over and see it’s a stack of polaroids. The top picture shows me the frightened features of Margret Talbert. A chill courses up my spine. Goosebumps explode along my arms.
I drop the bag. Cover my mouth with the back of my hand and try to keep it together.
“Lucy,” I choke out.
“Oh, just…that’s fucking gross!” Lucy bellows through the intercom.
I feel Jill behind me and before I know it, she takes off. The conference room doors banging open.
Nikki’s the first one to react and puts a hand on my shoulder before tearing off after my wife.
Fuck.
“Flemming!” John barks. I meet his steady gaze and find some footing. Closing my eyes, I count to ten.
When I open them, I nod and release the lungful of air that I was holding. I’m good.
Mostly.
“Nora,” John checks on my friend.
“Didn’t want lunch anyhow,” she gripes and turns the bag over in her hands.
“Agreed,” Travis snaps through the intercom.
Acid burns up through my esophagus. I swallow and wince.
“Let’s open these up,” John directs and I step back to my spot next to the table.
I pick up the dropped bag and pull the seal apart. The smell is familiar. That’s the first thing I notice. It smells like diluted formaldehyde. I reach in, grab the pictures, the other item in the bag and pull them out. Setting the bag to the side, next to the box. I take the pictures and place them above the other contents of the bag.
I quickly fan through the pictures. They tell me what I already know. They’re a chronological telling of Talbert’s last days alive. They start with just close ups of her frightened, terror filled features. Then progress. Strips of skin freshly removed. Some healing. Some while the skin is being removed and her mouth is forever caught in a scream of pain and terror.
I drop the stack of pictures to the side and look at the other item.
The stitching is impeccable. The only thing that gives it away is the coloring of the material used to hold the strips together. It’s thick and black and nauseating. Against the white plastic evidence sheet, Talbert’s face, devoid of form and emotion sets.
I reach out and take the snifter full of amber colored liquid and settle down on the wooden lounger next to Nora. Their balcony that sits off the sitting room by their bedroom is a nice place for a lot of things. At one in the morning, it’s a nice little escape to provide the sleeping occupants some respite from those of us that can’t seem to close ours.
Nora’s head is resting against the padded back of the chair. The glass in her hand is swirled causing the few ice cubes inside to rattle around. “Jill okay?” she asks quietly, mindful of her sleeping partner not too far away.
“Yeah, I made her take two xani’s to get her to calm down,” I whisper back. I look over and see a blanket, much like the one Nora has draped across her legs sitting off to my right. I reach out and settle it over my legs to mirror my friend.
The table in front of us has some paperwork, folded in thirds. In the low lighting I can’t really make anything out on the note pad Nora has with her so I just set my drink on top next to the paperwork and settle back down, willing some type of peace to come my way.
John’s words from earlier roll around, rattling the calm that may be able to take hold. Instead, despite having faces mailed to us, despite dealing with this bitch of case, the only thing I can really concentrate on is the conversation with John about Nora and Dan.
I know Nora. I know her like I do Jill. Like Lee and like I know myself. It’s not in her D.N.A…
But then there was Tommy and the way we got together, it all sort of…
Meeting Nora hit me like a ton of bricks. I don’t think she ever really got that. I know I blindsided her. She was the only person that I felt a connection too. She lit me up and I’m thankful that she spent the time with me that she did.
The rapidity of our relationship and how she handled Tommy was probably the only sore spot. I couldn’t control it and neither could she. Of course, it’s not like I didn’t encourage her actions. He was a dick. And I’d have been all for her not fucking up a good thing with her boyfriend, but the one time we met…
I really just wanted to beat his face in…I can say with sixty-percent certainty that it was born not out of jealousy, but out of the clear understanding that he wasn’t good enough to lick the bottom of Nora’s shoes, let alone share her bed.
I reach out, grab my drink and take a healthy sip. The bourbon trickles down my throat, burning a warm comfort through the pit of my stomach. “Nor,” I whisper quietly and try to scoot my chair closer to her. Her eyes pop open and she tilts her head my way. Her right hand reaches out and helps pull my chair closer to her.
“Thanks,” I say and rest my head on her shoulder.
“No problem.”
“Becca should be able to get us a little more leeway for tomorrow,” I inform her knowing that Becca will do her best to get us some help with the victims’ families.
“John’s wife?” she asks and pushes her hand under my blanket to rest her hand on the inside of my high. If it were anyone else, I’d break their fingers. Nora’s always gotten a free pass.
The action just pulls us a little closer, warming both of us against the chill of the night.
“Yeah,” I tell her. “I told you about John’s little rough patch with her?” She shakes her head so I give her the rundown, “Becca was working too much, John was working too much. They went through a separation; actually they were working on reconciling when we were at the premiere. Long story short, she quit her job at the hospital and is working at the State Department now as an advisor.”
“Huh, didn’t know that. John always seemed really solid,” Nora murmurs.
“They are, were, just hit a rough spot and didn’t know what to do about it. John’s been a little different since. Way more protective of his personal relationships and has taken an interest in the personal relationships of the people he deems worthy.” I snicker. That’s an understatement, but whatever. “He doesn’t like people fucking up good things. Gotten really good at calling me on my shit when I’m being an ass. He does the same to Jill too…”
“Turn about’s fair play?” she jibes.
“Yeah, I guess.” I pull her hand free off my thigh and lace our fingers together. I bring the hand up and press a kiss to her knuckles. “So,” I mumble against her skin, “I have to ask, is there something going on with you and Dan?” Predictably, she yanks her hand away and I soldier on, “Nora, I don’t want to betray any confidences, but you…if there is something, that’s pretty shitty of you to do to Nikki, why wouldn’t you tell me and it’s fucking stupid.” I sit up and set my glass down. My legs swing left and I sit on the edge of the chair. “John saw you and Dan in his office and asked me. I just…”
Nora shakes her head and it’s then that I realize that if I were anyone else I’d probably be nursing a black eye or be soaked in the alcohol Nora still has in her hand.
She controls the shake of her hand though and manages to slide her drink on the table. She reaches out for the stack of papers, stands and tosses them at me. They hit my knee and land with a soft ‘whump’ by my feet. Saying absolutely nothing, she strides back inside. The door to the balcony rattling behind her.
I hang my head in my hands and look down at the papers. The top is all I really need to see. It reads, “Notice of Intent to Promote.”
Reaching down, I pick them up and scan the top page. It’s a letter to Nora telling her that her commanding officer put in a requisition to have her promoted. She has until October first to decide on what she wants to do…
Next>>>
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Hmm...that is going to be a tough choice. :( Nora and Nikki working together only works while they are of equal rank.
Waiting for more :)
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Nora showed great control in not hitting Ann. Dan just had to do something really sweet and stupid and I am wondering what Nora is going to do?
Have a couple of days off and I get to catch up on my reading and movie watching! :) Been so busy and tired that I have gone a week without reading my stories. :(
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