by N. M. Brown
“I remember. He wanted to talk to you about Liam Knight.” Echo winced as her back spasmed from the lacerations. “You did send him to Lizzy in the first place if I remember correctly.”
Sydney swallowed hard and looked down at her feet in shame. “Yes, I always felt bad about that. And now he’s a suspect and she’s….” Tears started to fall to the floor. Echo just looked at her disgusted. “And I’m so ashamed about speaking so poorly about you. We’re co-workers, I should have never said what I did.” Pulling out a tissue, Sydney wiped at a tear. “I feel so bad that you’re here, now locked up, possibly facing prison time…” She hiccupped.
“I’m not going to prison.” Echo stated, rolling her eyes. But all Sydney did was give her a pitiful laugh, like you do a child when they ‘know’ they’re getting a giant chocolate house for Christmas.
“The drugs Echo.” She explained to her, like Echo wasn’t aware of her charges. “They were found in their systems and they were killed because of you. You helped the killer, even if you didn’t know it. I don’t think you’ll get out of this.” Sydney didn’t seem upset over the notion. “I doubt even Archer and his band of lawyers could help. I asked you know, but he waved me off dismissively, like you weren’t worth the time.” She babbled on. “And I thought by now he would have posted your bail, but well, you know how he is with money.” She joked.
Echo just shook her head and sat back down on the bench. Her back screamed at every movement and she couldn’t help but wince. But half of the pain was over Sydney’s words. Archer was stingy with money, he was Greed after all, but had he really not considered posting her bail. Echo felt the anger boil in her blood. Baring her teeth at Sydney, she decided she was done playing pleasant.
“If you want me to appease your guilt Sydney, feel appeased. I don’t give a shit what you told the police. It’s given them nothing on me and I’ll be out soon enough. I didn’t need you or Archer to post my bail. I’m not some damsel in distress. Just fuck off and stop fretting. I don’t need your pity.” Echo lowered her eyes at the woman one last time and allowed her voice to hollow until it was void of all emotion, “Oh, and touch my clothes again, I will skin you alive and wear you as a pelt.”
Fear rocketed up Sydney’s spine and she clamped it down with a frown. Echo wasn’t sure how she would reply to that, but she was saved from whatever stupid remark Sydney had concocted, when a gruff voice spoke in surprise down the hall.
“Miss Summers?” And just like that, Echo knew why Sydney had dress like a hooker from Fifth Street. Blushing hard and straightening her gaping top, Sydney smiled brightly at Detective McQueen as he rolled into view. “What are you doing here?” He asked, eyes flicking to Echo in her cage. She was surprised to see him wince as he took in her arms and swollen face. Internally she laughed, wait until he sees her back, then he’d wince.
Sydney’s smile faded slightly, but it didn’t stop her. Shooting out her hand, Sydney shook the Detectives, holding on a little longer than needed. “You wanted me remember?” Echo didn’t miss her choice of wording and snorted hard. “A kind officer asked me to drop by to answer some questions. I was told they were about Liam Night. It sounded like I could be of some help. I hope he’s ok?” she pried.
Abruptly, McQueen was clearing his throat, uncomfortable. Sydney might happily think it was because of her, but Echo could tell the difference. She’d seen McQueen be uncomfortable enough times while she spoke naughty nothings in his ear to know this was a different kind of mood. This was all work and professional embarrassment. Not lust. If Sydney thought she could steal the holy Detectives heart, she’d have to pry it from Echo’s cold, dead fingers.
“Ah, I’m sorry Miss Summer’s I- “
“Oh please.” Sydney gave him a playful, lingering slap on his forearm. “Call me Sydney.”
“Ah, its ah-… It’s best to keep things professional, Miss Summers.” McQueen corrected. “We needed to speak to you about him, yes, however circumstances have change and though your eagerness to help is admirable, we unfortunately don’t need to speak to you as we did before.” Echo was impressed. Not only did the Detective not fumble over his words, he looked genially sorry and sounded very professional. Sydney however, looked like she would cry again.
“Oh,” she breathed “Well, at least I could see Echo again.” She smiled over her shoulder though the bars while Echo just gave her a blank stare. “I didn’t know when I’d see her again with the charges and such. Will she face much prison time?”
“Actually…” McQueen turned to Echo and didn’t smile. He looked like he was holding back a lot of rage and Echo could sense it. It was like a warm breeze sliding over his skin on a cool day. “I wanted to personally apologies for the situation you found yourself in Ms. Headly. It is not the standard we keep here at this station and it-…” McQueen seemed to bite his tongue, trying to find the correct wording. “And it is disgusting that you fell victim to such a man.”
“Apology accepted Queenie.” Echo’s eyes flashed with desire. “I always liked a man who could admit when they’ve done wrong. It’s like they’re on their knees.” She lowered a hand to her abdomen, caressing her breast as she went down. “It makes me feel all warm inside.” Now Echo’s face might be puffy, and she might have looked like she’d been dragged through a bush, but words were as deadly as a body.
“Ah, Ramirez!” McQueen coughed on some spit and dragged his eyes away. Coming around the corner, Officer Ramirez held a small collection of keys and a slight tinkle could be heard as he approached. Passing them over with a nod, he examined Sydney’s attire before quickly dismissing her. Echo however had stopped paying attention to him. Her eyes were glued hungrily to the keys he’d passed to McQueen. “Due to last night’s events, we are under the obligation to release you.” He swung open the door and stepped aside, allowing her to freely march out the cell. Or hobbled because her back screamed with every step.
“But-… The charges?” Sydney whispered, hand clutching her little bag hard.
“We believe that the charges against Echo, though found in their seriousness, can be passed with a severer warning. Officer Rocher’s attack has made the station accountable to prisoner negligence and police battery. We also believe that despite Ms. Headly’s involvement with the victim’s she was not working with the killer.”
Sydney looked stunned and swung her head back and forth from McQueen to Echo, to McQueen like a slow game of ping-pong. Echo, however, grinned devilishly, “So, I’m free to go?” she asked.
McQueen smiled at her though he looked tired. Echo wondered what had happened to him in the past twenty-four hours. Last she’d seen of him, he was calling her a rapist and a coward, then he was giving her the cold shoulder and hardened cop routine at his desk… now, he was smiles and politeness. Things seemed to have flipped around very quickly.
As she watched McQueen, waiting for the other shoe to drop, she didn’t expect two skinny arms flung around her neck and stifling perfumed thrown down into her lungs. A rough growl crawled out of Echo's throat as she shoved Sydney away, causing her back to spasm. “Get off me!” Echo snapped gripping the jail bars for support, though it was only for a second. Weakness could be found everywhere, she wouldn’t show hers.
“Sorry. Sorry.” Sydney straitened herself but still look pleased as punch. “You’re free Echo. That’s amazing. I thought you’d never come back to the House, but this is great. Archer will be so pleased.”
Ignoring her, Echo steeled her gaze at McQueen, venom coating her tongue as she spoke. “What’s the catch?”
“What makes you think there’s a catch?” McQueen tried to remain calm, but Echo could read the guilt in his eyes.
“Because you dragged me to your desk before you found out about Liam. Because when Hale came in, he said you could deal with me, suggesting there’s something going on. And until Benny attacked me, you hated my guts. Now you’re being pleasant. So, sue me if I think that something is up, and you want something from me.” Echo
narrowed her eyes, daring McQueen to deny it. “No one is ever nice unless they want something.”
He shuffled on his feet “We should really speak at my desk, not here.”
“No. Now.” Echo demanded.
“Echo…” McQueen’s voice was tired and strained. The pasty look of exhaustion had clouded his skin again and there was a deep look of horror in his eyes he couldn’t shake. The bright eyes bushy tailed Detective that had sauntered into the House but a few days ago had be lost. But Echo didn’t budge.
Sighing, he signalled to Ramirez who, like a trained professional, smiled down at Sydney, bowing slightly at the waste and extending an arm down the hall like a gentleman. “Miss Summers let me escort you out.”
“But I-,” She protested.
“I really must insist.”
With a single glance at Echo, Sydney strode down the corridor, head held high and heels clicking on the tiled floor. Once the hall was silent, only the gentle whirl of the heating system could be heard, McQueen broke down. Shoulders hunched forward, one hand pinched the bridge of his nose, while the other grasped his hip in a death grip. He breathed heavily, in-and-out of his mouth before speaking.
“Echo…” His voice was thick, and Echo felt her body been drawn to him, even as she raised her defences. He chuckled but it was almost a sob, “The body count has risen. Liam Night was found dead last night, stuffed in a locker. The killer transformed Lizzy’s… business room into a murder pad. I can’t say any details, but right now we have two leads. The House and Lizzy.” Echo didn’t bother reacting, so McQueen ploughed on. “She’s currently recovering in hospital but she frantic and erratic, she-… she’s not making sense. The only sense we can get is you. Your name.” Again, Echo just waited for the other shoe to drop. “We wouldn’t ask-… hell we wouldn’t have even let you within two streets of Lizzy if this wasn’t the only avenue we had left.” McQueen breathed, his face pleading and eyes glassy. “Please Echo. Come to the hospital with me and speak with Lizzy?”
Echo puckered her lips and thought it over. It took her but a second. “No.”
“No?” Taunt with shock McQueen raised his hands as if to shake her. Maybe it was his good nature, maybe it was her injuries, but he refrained. “Why the hell not?” His voice was raised no longer caring who heard.
“Because I don’t want to.” Echo spat like it was obvious. She made a move towards the exit back down the dim corridor, but he grabbed her arm and spun her back round.
“Because you don’t fucking want to?! Are you serious!” he growled in her face. “This woman is dying in the hospital and her only comfort, for whatever universe defying reason, is you and you can’t be asked to see her!” McQueen's Irish accent was coming out thicker and stronger than she’d ever heard, his anger making him lose any control. “People are dying; being murdered maybe as we speak. You could do something about it and you just don’t care!”
“Yep. I don’t care.” Echo replied, feeling her back bone growing stronger word by word. She was the manipulator. She worked people, not the other way around. She wasn’t about to be let out of this cell, after she took a beating for her freedom and then to be expected to help the bastards in return.
“All you have to do is talk to her and then leave. Damn it, you don’t even need to ask questions. I’ll ask. You just need to be there!” He screamed in her face, using his height to tower over her, his musky cologne, now faint and days old still caught her off guard.
“Need to be there? The rapist bitch I am needs to be there at the side of the woman she said was better off dead? I need to see the woman you think I raped?” She let out an ugly laugh. “Yes, you’re right. I should go see her, right?” Echo didn’t wait for McQueen to reply. Her wicked, barbed tongue lashed out in force.“You don’t get to shun me, blame me, hate me and then ride in here like a shining knight, pretending all is well and ask me for a favour!” Slamming a sharp nailed finger into his chest Echo rode on her anger feeling it burn in her veins. She’d wanted to make him take a step back, but his stubborn streak wouldn’t let him, so they just ended up close, toe to toe. “You don’t get my help just because you think you deserve it. After the hell your department has put me through, you’re lucky I'm not suing you for every paper-clip and pen pot you own!” Spinning on her heels, Echo stormed out, hair flashing behind her. If McQueen had anything else to say, Echo didn’t give him a chance to say it.
Out amongst the sea of desks, Echo spotted Sydney sat quietly on her own and whatever bravo the girl had had before was gone. Back was the meek little bar tender. “Good, your still here. Let’s go.” Snapping her head up and stumbling to her feet, Sydney looked bewildered but stood firm between Echo and the exit, her eyes flicking behind her.
“We’re… we’re going? I thought they wanted something?” Sydney fluttered.
“No. Home. You’re taking me home.” Echo shoved past, moving outside the station and onto the street. Sydney followed, tripping over her own feet to catch up, while the Detective stood in the doorway and watched.
“If they lady wants to go home, I would take her home Miss Summers.” Flat and low, McQueen gave no emotion in his voice, so much so it sent a shiver down Echo's spine.
“But don’t you need her help?” Sydney questioned McQueen, before looking at Echo who had turned back to return the levelled gaze McQueen was throwing at her. “It would be rude not to help Echo. They just let you go. It’s the right thing to help.”
Death in her gaze, Echo looked into Sydney’s pale honey eyes; the bland, flat colour had never been striking. She looked at the meek, ordinary little girl and bared her teeth. “No. And if you keep pushing it I’ll take your car and make you fucking walk home.”
“But Echo, it’s ok to take the time to think about it.” Sydney kept going, smiling as if she could soften Echo resolve with her words. “People don’t always know what’s best for them and I think- … I think helping the Detectives would be good for yo- “
“Good for me?” Echo spat, face ablaze with anger. “Is that what you thought when your stupid blabber mouth ran away with the glory of turning me in to the police. Did you think it would be good for me?” Echo threw out a fake laugh. “Hells above you’re stupid Sydney. A stupid little mouse trapped in the wheel of humanity. So desperate for love, affection, beauty… Is that what you thought you’d get while you pined after Samantha like a dying dog? Is that what you hoped when you smooched up to Archer? When you mooned after Twi? That when they finally paid you some attention, it would be for the best, lead on to greatness and your happily ever after?”
Sydney was livid, and with her anger came hot tears rolling down her face. “Is it so hard to believe I could want a perfect ending? That I might deserve something better?” she asked.
Echo smiled, electricity running through her skin as she realised she needed this. The rush of beating someone down, stripping the fake facade and showing their true insides. Power over people, that was her rush. In the passing years the rush had not been the same. Not since Adin died. But this was what it was to feel alive again. Power to control, power to bend and most importantly the power to break.
“Why would you deserve anything better than the other bland people that slog through their life? Why would you think you deserved Samantha? Twilight? Mara? The House? Word of advice Syd’s don’t aim above your bench mark. Go find a boring accountant, or a desperate musician; they’re more your speed. Your vanity and self-worth are far too high.”
“I think that’s enough Echo.” McQueen spoke from the side of them, but when had Echo ever done what she was told.
“You know he didn’t care right?” Echo whispered at Sydney ignoring McQueen. In those moments, it was just the two women. “You know Archer didn’t care if you stayed in the House or not? You’re the barmaid. What chaos the club would be in without me and with the cops banging at the door every five minutes…? Archer would have needed you on top form, around for any and every moment.” Echo trace her hand down the side
of Sydney’s face, but she flinched away, tear pouring freely now. “You just needed a little incentive to keep you around. I for one, am disappointed all it took was my clothes. I would have held out for a lot more.” Echo laughed as the colour drained from Sydney’s face and the truth struck home. “You’re nothing to them. Just a quick fix replacement, easily discarded and worth nothing.”
“You don’t know that.” Sydney protested. “You don’t know them. You don’t know... Sam said… They said when we were…” The last words weren’t even a whispered as Sydney denied the truth. “I can have it all…”
“Sam? What did Sam say Sydney? That you could have it all??” Echo smiled cruelly. “I know them better than you do Sydney. I know Sam can’t love. She doesn’t want to. No one means anything to her. You mean nothing to her.” Echo let the seed settle before she threw some fertilizer on it. “Hurts, doesn’t it, when they use you like that? Does it feel good, knowing you’re a dress ornament to them? Does it hurt knowing you see yourself in a fairer light than anyone else does?” Echo’s voice carried down the front step as Sydney fled down them, the rapid slap of her heels trailing behind her. “Does it feel good to know you’re nothing?”