by C Paradee
Megan blinked to clear her eyes and began to speak, "You didn't kill your brothers. They were accidentally killed in a random act of violence because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time." As Tony began to interrupt, Megan placed her fingers against her mouth, saying, "Ssh. You need to listen to what I have to say." Tightening her hold on Tony, she continued, "You cannot blame yourself for something you had no control over. You didn't know your brothers hadn't gone back to the cabin," she paused, softening her voice, "no matter how much we may want to, we can't control fate. You never led your brothers to danger. It found them." Megan captured her partner's eyes, and looking deeply into them, she continued, "Nothing can change what happened." Megan's voice was filled with a quiet certainty, and she finished, "But it wasn't your fault. Quit blaming yourself. Just let it go."
Maybe it was what the woman-child that had been buried along with the memories in Tony's mind for so long needed to hear and never had, or maybe it was just the conviction she heard in her partner's voice, but as the words caressed her troubled mind, Tony wanted to believe them. Tears are often a catharsis and Tony's fell freely. She finally mourned her brothers, and her lost innocence and took the first tentative steps out of a cloud of darkness that night. It would be a slow process, especially in so troubled a soul, but with love guiding her the healing could begin. Cradled in Megan's arms, the emotionally drained woman fell into an exhausted sleep.
Megan thought about what Tony had told her. She could understand what had happened between her and her mother. Perhaps the worst fate a mother can suffer is to outlive her children. And to lose two children so violently would have been devastating to any parent. Tony's mother had been unable to see the grief shared by her daughter because of her own. Thirty seconds of mindless violence on a warm summer afternoon had destroyed a family. Megan knew there would be no closure for Tony until she saw her mother. But until she was ready to, Megan would be there for her, to help guide her out of the dark shroud of guilt she had carried for far too long. Megan also understood the deep level of trust Tony had placed in her to have bared her soul. And she would guard it, and protect it at any cost
Tony woke up the next morning, feeling more peace than she had known in a long time. Looking at Megan, she became so aware of her love for her it almost overwhelmed her. But she also realized something else. I need her. I REALLY need her. It was a startling revelation for someone who had decided never to love or need anyone years before. She didn't know when or how the change had come about, but she couldn't even begin to imagine life without Megan now
Tony and Megan walked along the shores of Lake Erie, their hands intertwined, watching the waves crash over the breakers.
"It's really nice here," Tony said loving the sound of the crashing waves
"Yeah. I've always like to come to the beach. Sometimes when I was going to college and I needed a quiet place to come, just to get away from all the pressure, it's where I came. I guess that's the reason I moved so close to it."
"I'm glad you did. It's kind of interesting that you picked such a friendly place." Megan knew Tony was referring to the large population of people in this particular suburb, who, like themselves, enjoyed alternative lifestyles. Tony had never cared one way or the other what people thought of her, well except for Megan, but she didn't want Megan to be uncomfortable and it was nice to blend in once in a while
"Well, that part was unintentional," Megan replied. "I just liked the apartment and it was close to the lake. The other part is just kind of coincidence. But a good coincidence, I think," she said, smiling at Tony
Relaxing after returning from the beach, Tony and Megan were watching a National Geographic special on TV
"Aw, isn't that one cute? Look at those big eyes," Megan said
"Yeah. It is kind of cute. I wonder what it is?"
The announcer answered the question for them calling the tiny dog a Brussels Griffon
Did you ever have a dog when you were a kid?" asked Megan, looking up at Tony
"Yeah. We had a part Lab dog called Vido. We had a lot of fun with him," Tony responded, "what about you?"
"No. Dad wouldn't let us have pets. He said they were too unsanitary. We always wanted one though. Every time I rescued a puppy or kitten off the street he took it down to the shelter. So I finally gave up," Megan replied
"You rescued puppies and kittens too? I thought Mom was going to kill me for bringing home all the critters I did. Baby birds, kittens, and once a skunk. She was pretty mad about that one. But it was only a baby." Tony continued, "If you could have had any kind of dog you wanted, what would you have picked?"
"Oh, I think... um... maybe a cocker spaniel. They're kind of cute. What about you?"
"Definitely a Rottweiler," Tony responded
"Tony! Aren't they mean?"
"Nope. That's a common misconception because of what some of the idiot owners do to them. If you treat them right, they're just big loveable teddy bears."
"Oh... kinda like you," Megan said watching her partner closely
"MEGAN! I am NOT a big lovable teddy bear! Give me a break!" Tony sputtered with an incredulous look on her face, the image of a brown and white bear with a goofy smile and button eyes floating through her mind
Megan smiled to herself and thought, gotcha. "I don't know... I think you're pretty lovable," Megan said and watched Tony's face turn a pretty shade of red before leaning over and rescuing her with a kiss
They had finally caught a break. One of the informants Tony had interviewed had provided information on a drug dealer that specialized in *unusual* products on the street. His claim to fame was that he could get anything anyone wanted. Brian shook his head bemused. Tony's unusual interrogation technique had paid off once again. He had the fleeting thought of how nice it would be to have her as a permanent part of the team.
Walking across the squad room, he sent out two of the task force members to try to locate the drug dealer. He operated on the near east side. Walking over to the pop machine, he bought two coke's, taking one back to Tony
"Hey Tony, if you ever consider leaving the FBI you got a job here if ya want it," he said handing her the coke."
Smiling over at Brian, Tony said, "Thanks Brian. I'll keep that in mind. But I think I'm a little old for the police academy."
"Not too old, just too advanced. You'd probably just embarrass the instructors," Brian grinned over at her
"The man has a sense of humor," she jibed back. " I just hope this pans out. We could use a break."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. The brass have been on my ass since the last victim," he replied
Later, the two task force members appeared with the drug dealer handcuffed between them. The information provided had been solid and the drug dealer was actually at a meet when accosted by the police officers. They took him to one of the interview rooms
"He's all yours," Brian said to Tony
"Let's let him sit for a while and worry. Since we got him on a legit bust, it'll soften him up. Besides, he has no idea why we really want to talk to him. Do we offer him a deal if it's worth our while?"
"Yeah. That coke he was selling was small time stuff," Brian said. "If it'll give us a break on the Shadow case it'd be worth it."
An hour later, Tony made her way to the interview room while Brian ensconced himself behind the two way glass. Brian watched the tall woman with interest. She walked into the room and looked at the lowlife sitting in the chair. Moving to the chair across the table from him, she sat down. With an even expression she just sat there watching him. As he grew increasingly uncomfortable, he began shifting around in his chair. Finally, unable to tolerate the implacable woman sitting across from him, he sneered, "If you got nothing to say, why don't you get out of here? I ain't gonna tell ya nothing anyway. I want a lawyer."
Tony's expression changed and a feral smile appeared. "Let's see... possession, selling, plus your priors... um... what's that good for ten to fifteen? I can call you a lawyer, no pr
oblem. It's a done deal, you got a ticket straight back to the joint. Got your things packed?"
Tony paused watching the man across from her. His bravado was becoming unraveled a little at a time. "A lawyer can't do anything for you. But I might be able to. Now, do you still want a lawyer?"
Looking at her suspiciously, he asked, "What do you want?"
"I heard you been selling some little vials on the street. I want to know where you been getting them from and who you've been selling them to," Tony asked, her expression callous.
Tony noticed a slight change in the demeanor of the dealer sitting across from her. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Tony mused, so we do have the right guy. Ok, let’s play. "Ya know Reg, I don't believe you. I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. Now we can stop playing games or I will call that lawyer for you."
"What's in it for me?" the dealer parleyed back
"It depends. If you give up the buyer and who you're getting it from, I'll put in a good word with the prosecutor for you."
"Fuck that. That ain't good enough," he said crossing him arms staring defiantly at her
"Oh, I think it's better than you deserve," Tony said, pale blue eyes glaring and her smile feral. Walking around the table, she leaned over and whispered a few words in to his ear, and then walked away and leaned against the wall
Brian watched in amazement in the observation room. Whatever she had said to the dealer had caused him to become very pale and he literally started spilling his guts
"I been getting it from some doctor at City Hospital. He needs money. So he gets me what I ask for. The dude been buying it, I don't know who he is. We meet in the warehouse district by the Flats. I only sold to him twice," Reg spit out
"What's he look like?"
"Like any guy. About tall as you. Got brown hair and a beard and mustache," Reg answered.
"Reg... you going to make me ask you every single thing? Now tell me about him," Tony growled back
"He was wearing jeans and a sports shirt both times. He sets up the meets for midnight and then he always gets there early, before me. He don't talk street. He bought three the first time and five the second time. Ain't nothing else to tell."
"Now tell me about the doctor you've been getting the stuff from?" Tony asked, still leaning against the wall. Once Tony had all the information she felt she could get from Reg, she left the interview room
Brian grinned at her and said, "You're good. But I really wanna know what you whispered to him?" Tony just shrugged, quirk a smile at him, and said, "Sorry, trade secret." Brian just rolled his eyes
Megan began to feel restless. All her autopsy reports were pending until the lab results returned, and the city had been quiet. She was glad the Shadow killer had also taken a break. She wondered if it was because of the newspaper article Mark had written. He had done an excellent job of portraying the killer as a bona fide lunatic. If that article didn't lure him out, nothing would.
Megan's thoughts turned to Dwayne. She hardly ever saw him anymore. Not that she minded, but it seemed a little strange. At one time she just thought he had a temper and would never resort to violence, but now she wasn't so sure. She had seen a look he had given her yesterday when he thought she wasn't looking. Megan had not told Tony. She was afraid of what Tony might do. Megan still wanted to believe he just had a bad temper and would not resort to anything more than the looks of hatred he seemed especially fond of giving her.
* * *
The next couple of days passed quietly with no new developments in the case. Tony and Megan had settled into a comfortable routine. Tony continued driving Megan to work, so Megan took the opportunity to get some warranty work done on her car. In this case it was a toggle switch for switching the air bags on or off
"Will you just take it easy?" Megan said, her hands on Tony's arms. " You can't go every single place I do. That's why I got the cellular phone."
Tony knew Megan was right, but that didn't stop the concern she felt about Megan going out alone at night. "It would make me feel a lot better if I went with you," Tony said. "I'll just sit here and worry about you."
Megan hugged Tony, "You don't need to worry. There will be cops all over the place. Who could possibly bother me there and besides you can't enter the crime scene anyway, so what are you going to do, sit in the car?"
"I don't mind waiting in the car."
Megan looked up at the tall woman's worry etched face. She was so over protective. There had been no problems for the last week, and Megan felt perhaps the attack against her had been random after all. Going out at night was part of her job. Tony was just going to have to understand that
"Tony..."
"Ok, but I want you to call me before you leave the crime scene so I can wait for you downstairs," Tony said, not at all happy with the outcome of this conversation
Megan pulled her head down for a kiss. "I will, and don't worry. It's ok, really. And the sooner I leave the sooner I can get back," Megan said, smiling
"I know," Tony said. After getting off the elevator, Tony walked with Megan to the car. She opened the door, reached in and switched on the kill switch under the dash, and then handed Megan the car keys. "Don't forget to call before you leave."
"Ok. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Megan drove to the crime scene going over what little she knew. The victim had been found on the near west side stabbed to death. Apparently the police were also questioning the possibility of a rape attempt
Megan got out of the car and followed the flashing lights cutting a path through the darkness as she was approaching the crime scene. Flashing her badge, she was led to the victim. Megan looked at the victim and then looked away quickly. Taking a deep breath, she forced her mind to find the clinical detachment she had to have in order to proceed. Megan was having difficulty with that tonight. This was so brutal. How could anyone do this. This wasn't just the result of cold blooded killing. This was the result of insane rage. Finally, corralling the revulsion and swallowing down the nausea this act of atrocity had sparked, she began her examination
Tony waited impatiently for Megan to call. She had been gone for over an hour. Tony knew an hour wasn't very long but she just couldn't stop worrying. She wished for an end to the Shadow case. The idea that the victims were remarkably similar in appearance to Megan was one she had not shared with her partner. But she hadn't planned on Megan taking off by herself either. Tony turned on the TV and flipped through the channels before turning it off again. Walking over to the stereo, she turned it on. Music usually relaxed her. Not tonight, though. She had a bad feeling she couldn't shake. Tony trusted her instincts, but she also realized she was very over protective of Megan and wondered if she was just over-reacting. Starting as the phone rang, Tony quickly answered, "Hello."
"Hi," Megan said, "we should be done here in a few minutes, so I should be home in around 20 minutes or so."
"You be careful. I'll wait by the elevator," Tony replied relieved at the sound of Megan's voice.
Tony still couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that had come over her and she decided to go down to the garage now instead of waiting. Stepping out of the elevator she moved to a dark area and leaned easily against the wall. Most of the tenants were already home, so she didn't expect to see anyone. For ten minutes she casually scanned the garage looking for anything out of place
As her eyes turned toward the garage entrance, her peripheral vision glimpsed a quickly moving shadow near the row of cars by the door. All her senses were engaged as she felt rather than saw the other presence. Knowing she wasn't visible unless someone was within 3 feet of her, she began scrutinizing the rows of cars near the entrance slowly. Her eyes moved slowly over each car, and down each row. There, in the third row, fifth car over, was an unnatural shadow. She riveted her eyes to the spot, her whole body tensing as she waited for the shadow to move. Tony didn't have to wait long. The shadowed figure began moving stealthily from row to row, eve
r closer to the elevator entrance. Moving deeper in the shadows, she watched the figure approach. She was now able to make out the shape of a man, roughly her height, with a medium build. He stopped and bent down, hidden from view one row over from the elevator, which Tony wryly noted, was also one row over from Megan's parking spot.
Tony thought over her options. Megan was due back any minute now. Obviously the man wasn't here for a social visit. She had been unable to get a good look at him, but he loosely fit the description of the man who had attacked Megan. Yet to roust him now would prove nothing because no crime had been committed. Cursing the lack of foresight that had caused her to leave her gun upstairs she began moving very slowly along the wall, intending to be within striking distance once his intentions became clear
Headlights illuminated the walls of the garage as the familiar Buick pulled in and rolled into the parking place near the elevator. Megan got out of the car, locked it with the keypad, and quickly looked around before making her way to the elevator. Tony was supposed to be waiting for her and even though she didn't like to admit it, she was a little nervous. But her nervousness quickly gave way to concern. It wasn't like Tony not to be here waiting for her. Well maybe she fell asleep. That thought didn't bring her much comfort, though, because she had talked to her not even 20 minutes ago
Megan's mind barely had time to register a body hurtling toward her while simultaneously recognizing it as Tony when she was practically knocked over by a forceful shove. Struggling to maintain her balance, her heart almost stopped at the sight before her
Tony saw the man pop up from behind the car and begin a sprint toward Megan. Without conscious thought she propelled her body forward shoving Megan back placing herself between them. Settling comfortably in to the role of predator, every muscle tense, she waited for him to make the next move
The sudden movement had caused the man to stop and when he entered the light, Tony recognized Dwayne. The thought flickered through her mind that he looked like something ripped from the screen of a horror movie. Standing in front of her, he was covered with blood and waving a knife around. When she saw the maniacal gleam in his eyes Tony realized Dwayne had gone over the edge