by Robin Hicks
The door closed and Laney leaned against it and dropped her head. She saw the hurt look on Randi's face and felt bad for being the cause of it. 'Shit Jacobs, a bit green aren't we?'
Chapter Thirty Two
"Ha! That's 10 to 5 now Price." Koty grinned after making the basket with the small Nerf basketball they had set up on the wall behind Koty's desk.
"All tall people can play basketball better." He pouted as he missed yet another shot as it bounced off the desk chair.
Koty snorted. "Jason, you are the same height I am I'm just better than you face it."
"Maybe it's a dyke thing then." He grinned knowing Koty wouldn't take offense to his gentle joking.
"Go to work loser I hear the Captain calling you."
"Later Shaquille O'Neal!"
Koty laughed and watched him walk out the door just as Laney was walking in. She was just getting ready to tease her about Saturday night when she noticed the dour look on her friends face.
"Morning Laney, you alright?"
Laney starred for a moment then she smiled. "Yeah fine."
Koty saw the smile but knew it wasn't real because it never reached her partners eyes. Laney always had a certain sparkle in her eyes when she smiled and that spark was missing. She left her chair and went to perch on the side of the detectives' desk.
"Talk to me Jacobs. What's going on and don't feed me no bullshit, we're too good of friends for that."
Laney scrubbed both of her hands over her face to try and rub off the flush rising from her neck to the top of her cheeks succeeding only in making it worse. When she lifted her head to face Koty there was a definite sheen in her eyes.
"Whoa, Laney what's up?" Koty grabbed her chair and pulled it beside Laney's then placed her hand on her shoulder. Whatever this was, it was really bothering her friend.
"I think maybe I messed up."
"What do you mean by messed up?' Koty noticed the woeful look on her friends face. "Doe's this have anything to do with Randi?"
"Umm yeah. I um…shit…I slept with her Koty."
It took everything Koty had not to smile but she knew this was obviously something that was really eating at her friend so she bucked up to try and at least sound like an adult.
"Wow. So you are thinking maybe it was a mistake?'
"Yes. NO! I mean God Koty, it was the most incredible thing that has ever happened to me I think. I treated her like shit the next day though and now I'm too damn immature and embarrassed to call her to apologize.
"She didn't do anything wrong, I guess I just have issues with this new little green monster that I've suddenly acquired. My mind starts to wonder and I think was this just a kick for her? You know, something like 'I conquered the straight woman' so time to move on. I know I hurt her feelings when she was leaving my house but…I don't know the rules here Koty. It's all happened so fast for me my head is spinning."
"Laney, there are no rules here. If it feels like its going too fast then maybe you should just take a couple steps back but don't turn from it completely if your heart is telling you differently.
"Maybe you should both take a moment to decide if this is something ya'll really want. For the record though, I think she is genuinely interested. Why don't you call her and tell her what you are felling?"
'I can't. Not yet anyway cause I don't know what to say. Do you think I'm being stupid?"
"Hell no, I know this is all new to you and I think until you know for sure if this is what you want you shouldn't lead her on. Neither one of you deserve that. Now, why don't we shake this sad shit, put on our butch faces and go to see what the Captain has in store for us today?"
"You're right. My brain feels like it is getting ready to have puppies and I know I am thinking this to death. Maybe he will send us to Tasmania or something. That would take my mind off of it…"
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
It wasn't Tasmania but it was a very bazaar case where apparently out on Potters Rd, there was a certain spot people would get to around 2:00am and their car would suddenly stall. As they would try to turn the engine over, two men in ski masks would show up at their windows with a gun and demand them to get out of the car so they could steal it.
So far there were two Jaguars, three BMW's and one Lexus SUV. All were new vehicles purchased with in the last three months in Virginia Beach. As of yet they didn't have a whole lot to go on.
Captain Riggs leaned against the generic metal desk and folded his arms across his large chest. "So far nobody has been hurt. Pushed around a little but that's it so maybe it will stay that way until we can catch these assholes. One man said he thought one of the guys sounded kind of young, maybe even a little scared."
"So the Blues have no leads yet at all? Anyone else around the neighborhood complaining about anything weird going on?" Koty asked as she looked across at Laney.
"We haven't heard any yet. Got some of the boys going around asking questions about it though. Maybe we'll hear something today.
"Wait a minute," Koty said as she tried to recall an article she read somewhere about engine stalling devices that some officers in England or somewhere like that were using. Some kind of Police transmitter with a coded signal that could stall engines to avoid a high speed chase.
On request by an Officer, the Department would radio him the current signal coding for a particular make (model, year) of vehicle, which would expire an hour later.
Koty explained what she had read, at least as much as she could remember. It had stayed in the back of her mind because she thought that this device could save many lives in high speed chases that ended fatally.
"Maybe somebody got their hands on such a device. That's something we might want to look into. I know it might sound crazy but if nobody else is having a problem somebody is doing something somewhere in that area."
"Silvers you might be onto something there. How come I've never heard of it?"
"You normally can't get that kind of information from reading Spider Man comic books Capt."
"Hey…I read other things as well. I read the Bass Pro magazine."
"Like I said… Anyway, I'll try to remember where I found that article and we can check online. We also may want to check with the surrounding cities as well maybe someone else might be having the same problem."
"Alright you guys see what you can find out. Lomaz and Jenkins, you two need to head out to Pembroke Elementary School. Could have a stalker out there. Just go talk to the Principal and she will fill you in. Let me know what everyone finds out…"
"You know Silvers; I think I read that same article or one just like it. What if it's some Cop using it?" Laney said as she stood up and stretched her back.
"I'd rather not think that but we need to look everywhere. Let's grab our jackets and go to Potters Rd. I want to take a look around and maybe talk to a few people myself."
"Alright but it's your turn to buy Starbucks."
"I bought it yesterday." Koty protested as she slid her jacket over her broad shoulders.
"Silvers, we didn't work yesterday."
Koty paused. "Oh yeah…Hey, we didn't work Saturday either so that means it's your turn Jacobs." Koty drew her friends name out.
"Fine, let's go. Hey is that my phone ringing? Laney asked as they were walking out the door."
"Probably but they'll leave a message, lead on."
Chapter Thirty Three
"Shit!" Randi yelled as she slammed the phone down. "What the hell happened? I know she felt something." Randi plopped down on the loveseat and threw her head back against the big cushion. She didn't think that Laney was just satisfying her curiosity but at this point she wasn't really sure. She didn't know what to think, she didn't know what to do.
Everything about the detective was opposite of what she had always been attracted to. She normally like red heads, she did like them too tall but she most definitely didn't like cops. She was a little more muscular than she was use to. Why was this one woman so different from all of the other
s?
Randi didn't consider herself an expert with women or love but she had been with a few and felt she had at least some experience with them. The only thing she knew to be true was that the tall detective made her respond like no other. Made her feel like she was on top of the world. Made her experience a release that she thought she might actually die from.
Laney. Brunette not red headed. Muscular, AND a cop to boot. Shit, what was her life coming to? Why did she suddenly feel so out of control, so lost? She had tried to call the Detective several times but all she was able to get was the answering machine and she liked answering machines about as much as she liked root canals.
Well, at least with root canals you were able to get a shot to numb the pain. Was there some kind of shot she could ask her doctor to give her to numb it all? No, she knew there was nothing.
She decided that she would just go to the Police station tomorrow and confront her. Yeah, that was exactly what she would do. Not in front of the other officers of course but she would make her talk to her if it was the last thing she would do.
Right this minute though, first things came first. And right this minute that first thing was ice cream. Ice cream had always been a drug of her choice when the world just wasn't agreeing with her.
"Double Fudge Chocolate Chip with Hershey's chocolate syrup squirted on top just to add to the chocolate."
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
Sitting alone at her desk with nobody in the small precinct office Laney was alone with her thoughts. She sometimes really loved this time in the morning before anyone else came in. It was when she did some of her best thinking. Because of this thinking she didn't hear the door opening until she heard the voice.
"Morning Laney."
She froze thinking that this morning really wasn't the time for this. Maybe no morning would be but there was no use in trying to ignore it because she knew it wouldn't go away.
Laney turned with what she hoped was a pleasant enough smile to fool the world. "Good morning Richard, I hope you aren't here to give me a lot of grief because let me tell you, today is not the day."
Her ex husband slowly approached her to show he meant no harm. "I'm not here to give you grief and I'm not here to pick a fight. I am here to say that I am sorry. Sorry for everything that I have done to you and all of the trouble that I caused you. I truly never meant that to happen."
Laney stared at him for a long moment. She had always been able to read Richard even when they had first married. At this moment she didn't see any malice, but wasn't sure if she could fully trust her own judgment. Look where it had gotten her with Randi.
"What do you want Richard I really do have a lot on my plate today and don't have enough hours in the day as it is."
"I'm serious Laney, I am only here to say I'm sorry. I know I can't change what happened and I don't even know if I am grown up enough to even try. I do know that what I did to you was totally wrong. I want you to know if there is anything in this world I can do for you I will.
"If you are happy here then that is great. If you want to hang around with cops, gay people, green people, gypsies or aliens that's ok with me. I don't really care as long as you are happy. I know it took me a long time to figure this out but I feel better about myself knowing I'm not truly a lost cause."
Laney starred at him some more then put her hand on his shoulder. "Richard, have you been smoking pot again?"
Though the Lawyer laughed, he had the ability to blush a little one of the things that had attracted her to him in the beginning. "Sweetheart, you know I haven't done that in years. Although it would probably mellow me out some."
"You used to be quite charming when you got high Richard."
"Yeah well…Seriously though I really just want you happy. Take care of yourself Darling and do call me if there is anything I can do for you. I won't keep you because I know you are busy and I have to be in Richmond in two hours for a meeting."
He pulled Laney into a slight hug then leaned down to give her a light but lingering kiss. "I better go before that Partner of yours comes in and kicks my ass. Bye Babe."
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
"I will not back away, I will not back away." Randi kept repeating to herself in a whisper so nobody could hear her as she followed a Detective showing her where Laney's office was but got called away. Holding her breath she reached for the door and let out a heavy sigh. "Ok, I'm ready."
She opened the door just in time to see a very well built and handsome man lean into Laney and kiss her. She watched also as Laney kissed him back. 'What the FUCK?'
With a desperate gasp, she finally got her feet moving enough to tear her away from the door and the sight of Laney kissing someone else. And that someone else, being a man. "Fuck fuck fuck!!'
She left the door at not quite a run but not quite a walk either. She tried desperately to not bring attention to herself as she made a hasty retreat out the main door.
Koty watched as the young shop owner practically ran her over in her haste to leave. She doubted the woman even saw her and she could have sworn she saw tears in her eyes.
"Shit. Laney." The detective made a bee line towards their tiny office when she was once again nearly run over by a man coming around the corner.
"Scuse me the man said as he side stepped and looked upon her face. He stopped short and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Detective Silvers. I apologize for being such an ass the last time we met. Take care of my ex wife will you?" Then he stepped around her and left.
"What the Hell?" Was everyone a little more crazy this morning than normal? Was it going to be a full moon tonight or what? Shaking her head, the tall Detective walked through the door to find Laney sitting on the edge of her desk reading some files.
"Hey Laney… Everything ok?"
Laney looked up with a question on her face. "Huh? Yeah why?"
"Just saw your Ex Husband out in the hall and he apologized to me for being such an asshole."
"Yeah? He came and apologized to me as well and told me if I need anything to let him know. I don't trust him as far as I can throw him but I've always been pretty good at judging him and I didn't see any ulterior motive but I have been wrong before about him."
"Well for what its worth I didn't get any bad vibes from him but you know him better than me so just don't let your guard down."
Koty waited a moment before she spoke again. "So what was up with Randi?"
Laney slowly stood from her desk. "What do you mean what was up with Randi, how should I know?"
"Well, she damn near ran me over trying to run out the door. She didn't even see me."
"What was she doing here Koty?"
"Don't know that's what I was asking you? Whatever it was she left here crying."
Laney felt as though she had been punched in the gut by a prize fighter, the color was slowly draining from her face. 'Why didn't she come to me if something was wrong?'
"Damn if I'm not going to find out." She said as her long legs carried her quickly through the door with Koty right behind her figuring she would be there for her friend.
Chapter Thirty Four
"Hey Detective Jacobs?" Laney turned to see a younger Detective walking towards her coming from an office off to the right of theirs.
"Hi Savage what's up?"
"Did the lady find you? I was showing her to your office but got called away so I told her just to go on in."
"What lady was that?" Laney said getting an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Some real pretty blonde, kind of short. Didn't get her name though sorry."
"How did she seem to you Savage was she upset or anything?"
"Uh no. She was full of smiles, bright green eyes and very talkative. If you ask me I'd say she was on top of the moon."
"Then why…" Laney stopped mid sentence as a realization came to her. "Oh Shit!" She said as she pushed back through the office door to go plop in her chair with her head in her hands.
"Laney, what's going o
n?" Koty asked as she sat on the edge of the Detectives desk. She wondered for a minute if Laney was going to answer her.
"When Richard was getting ready to leave he kissed me goodbye and I let him. It didn't mean anything but just that but to anyone looking it might have looked like I was kissing him back." 'Fuck. I wonder what is going through her head?"
"Oh boy." Koty sighed. "So you think she may have walked in just in time to see the kiss but didn't stick around to find out anything else?"
"I don't know but what else could it be? Savage said she was just fine when she was getting ready to come in here and you said she most definitely wasn't when you saw her. That's the only thing it could be.
"I guess I will have to try and talk to her later. I have a Captain coming over from the 17th who says he may have some info on the stolen cars." Laney looked down at what Koty was holding in her hands. "Please tell me one of those are for me."
Koty handed off one of the Starbuck coffee's she had been holding onto when she first came into the precinct. "Oh yeah, sorry."
"Ooh Silvers, you are so my hero right now. You better hurry and drink yours or I might take it too."
"Mine is almost empty but after we talk to your guy we can stop for another on our way to Bridgewood. The Perps got a gold Escalade last night and I want to talk to the woman who owned it."
"Your on, hopefully this Captain can give us something we can use."
"Hopefully I can." Came a low rumble of a voice from behind them. Both Detectives turned to see a large mountain of a black man come through the door.
"Ladies I am Captain Haggen. I think I might have something you can use."
"Captain I'm Detective Laney Jacobs and this is my partner Detective Koty Silvers." They all shook hands and Laney told him to have a seat at her desk.
"Detective Silvers I've heard of you. My wife works for the EMT squad that got you to the hospital when you were pulled out of that fire. She recognized your name.