by Gerri Hill
“Yes. You’re damn lucky they all carried pieces or you’d have Internal Affairs all over your ass.”
“Like I stopped long enough to ask.”
“I know. Anyway, it’ll go down as a clean shoot. Don’t worry about that. I’m more interested in how you managed to find them and Narcotics didn’t. It just doesn’t make sense.”
“Actually, it makes perfect sense,” Tori said. “Sanchez Gomez felt he was set up. The drug sting was supposed to go unobserved. He’d been told as much.”
“What the hell are you suggesting?”
“Detective Kennedy said that Sanchez Gomez had two men on the inside. He felt one had betrayed his trust. He wanted to know which of the two tipped us off.”
“Come on, Hunter. You want me to believe he had men on the inside that could keep him so well informed that he’s managed to avoid Narcotics for three goddamn years?”
“Yes, I do. When you’ve got the lead investigator on your payroll, that wouldn’t be hard. Toss in someone in the Mayor’s office and you’ve got it made.”
Travis leaned forward. “You’ve got names?”
“Yes. Mabry and Jenkins.”
“Captain Mabry?”
“Yes.”
“Goddamn pansy-assed Jenkins?”
Tori allowed a hint of a smile. “Yes.”
“Shit. And Kennedy will confirm this?”
“Yes. She told me that Sanchez Gomez referred to one of them as a traitor, and he wanted to know which one had tipped us off.”
Travis shook his head. “Well, I’ve got to notify Internal Affairs about this.” He started to rise, but Tori grabbed his arm.
“Wait a minute. Don’t you think we need to get some evidence before you notify the brass and everybody starts covering their ass?”
“This is the procedure, Hunter. I’m fairly certain you don’t know the meaning of that word.”
“Fuck the procedure. Don’t you think the Mayor’s office will be the first one notified? Jenkins will be covering his ass so deep we’ll never dig him out.”
Travis looked to Malone, then back to Hunter. “Who else knows about this?”
“Just us and Kennedy.”
Detective Travis stared at her for the longest moment, then down at his notes. “This goes against my better judgment, Hunter, but you may be right. The problem is, how do we investigate someone as high up as Captain Mabry without arousing suspicion? Jesus, not to mention Jenkins.”
“What about the DA’s office?”
“Not without Internal Affairs being involved.”
“Then CIU has to do it. You guys have the power, right? That’s what you keep telling us anyway,” Tori said.
“I’ll see what I can do. But Jenkins has his hand in CIU. It’ll have to be very discreet,” he said. “I’m going to need a statement from Kennedy. Is she up to it?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. God, I hate days like this.” He stood. “My Captain is going to have my ass if nothing checks out.”
“How are you holding up?” Amy asked.
“Surprisingly, I feel okay,” Samantha said. She left the window and sat beside Amy on the sofa. It had been easier giving her statement than she would have thought. The nightmare was fading somewhat and if not for the bruises and her aching muscles, she could almost think it was all a bad dream. But it wasn’t. She had been kidnapped, assaulted and… raped. She didn’t want it to be true, but it was. But she felt so disconnected from the person who had been tied to that bed. She kept telling herself that it wasn’t a sexual rape. They had only wanted information from her. They were simply using a form of torture on her. And she had survived it. They hadn’t. Thanks to Tori.
“You know, you’ve got to talk to Robert sometime. He’s called three times.”
“Why is he doing this, Amy?”
“Because he cares about you.”
“Technically, I broke up with him. Why does he act like we’re still a couple?”
“What do you want me to say? He loves you and he still wants you to be a couple. I guess he doesn’t believe that you really want to end things. Hell, I don’t know. It’s not like I’m an expert in relationships.”
“If I tell you something, you won’t freak out?”
Amy’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. You slept with her?”
Sam smiled. “Well, yes, we slept together, Amy.”
“You know what I mean. On the boat?”
“No.” Sam wrapped her arms around herself and looked away. “Last night, when she was holding me, for the first time, I fell asleep with someone not wishing I was alone.”
“What do you mean?”
“With others, with Robert, sleeping was always so… personal. I didn’t want to share that with them. I actually hated sharing my bed with him. That sounds so awful, but I always wished I were alone. I didn’t want to wake up with him.”
“You were practically living together.”
“No, not really. Weekends, sure. I didn’t really have a reason not to stay with him. I could never understand why I felt that way, Amy. But last night, when she was holding me… and this morning… I’m sorry, I know you don’t want to hear this.”
“Samantha, I do want to hear it. I want to understand what you feel for this woman.”
“When I’m with her, I feel… happy. It’s like, there’s this light that goes on inside me when she’s around.”
“Are you… are you falling in love with her?”
“I think I may be,” Sam whispered, meeting Amy’s eyes.
“But you still haven’t talked to her about this?”
“No.”
Amy reached out and took her hand. “Are you sure about this, Samantha? I mean, maybe…”
“I know you don’t understand this, Amy. I told you, I’m not sure I understand it myself.”
“Well, she’s definitely attractive. I mean, that body, God. I nearly fainted when she stood there in nothing but her T-shirt.”
“Try sleeping next to that body,” Sam said quietly. She wouldn’t admit this to Amy, but Tori’s body excited her more than anyone she’d ever met. She was powerful, yet soft. Muscular, yet feminine. Then she smiled. Tori would probably be offended by that description.
“Samantha, you should tell Robert. Until you do, he’s going to continue thinking that he has a chance.”
“I can’t tell him that, Amy. He would never understand. He wouldn’t believe me. I mean, after two years, he’s not going to believe that I’m gay.”
“Do you really think you are?”
Sam stared at Amy, unafraid to meet her eyes. “Yes, I do. I want her, Amy.”
“Okay. But just promise me one thing. Before you do anything, say anything, please be certain of that. I don’t want you to rush into anything just because she’s… attractive to you. Don’t screw up your life if it’s not for certain, Samantha.”
“I know, Amy.”
“And like you said, you’ve not even talked to her about this.”
“No.” But there was something about the way Tori looked at her. Her eyes were always so gentle on her, so different than they were with anyone else. There was a light tapping on the door and they both looked up. “It’s going to be Robert,” Amy warned. “You want me to leave?”
“Are you kidding? No, don’t you dare.” Amy got up, opening the door to a smiling Robert. He greeted Amy with a quick hug, then walked into the room, bending to kiss Samantha’s cheek. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’ve not been sick, Robert,” she said lightly. “I feel fine.”
“Well, I’ve come to take you to dinner. I’m sure you’re sick of being stuck inside all day.” Sam met Amy’s eyes across the room. He just didn’t have a clue. “Robert, I don’t feel up to going out.”
“Samantha, you need to get out. You can’t hide in here forever.” Sam stared at him, speechless. It was Amy who spoke up. “Robert, you’re out of line. She was assaulted, just yesterday. I doubt she feels like mingling with
people.”
“I’m just trying to help. It won’t do her any good to stay closed up in here. The sooner she gets back out there, the better it’ll be.”
“Why are you speaking as if I’m not in the room?” Sam asked.
“I’m not going out to dinner, Robert. In fact, why are you here?”
“I care about you. I’m trying to help you.”
“Robert, please, I don’t want this kind of help from you.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, looking from Samantha to Amy. “What do you want me to do? Just stay away? Just pretend that I don’t love you? Pretend that we’ve not been a couple for two goddamn years?”
“Why does this have to be about you, Robert? What about what I want?” Amy shifted uncomfortably, then retreated to the kitchen to give them some privacy. “I can’t just shut it off like you can, Samantha. I’m sorry. This is such a shock, you know. One minute we’re fine, and the next, you tell me that you don’t want me in your life anymore. How the hell am I supposed to act?”
“I don’t know, Robert. I only know how I feel. And you’ve got to stop this. Give it some time, Robert.”
“Time? You think that’s going to make me feel better?”
“What do you want me to say to you, Robert? I’m truly sorry, I am.”
He stared at her for the longest moment, then turned away. “Okay. I’m sorry, Samantha. I’ve been acting like a lovesick teenager, I guess. You’re right. I need to give it some time. I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said.
“I’m going to be fine, Robert. And thank you for caring.”
He nodded. “Okay. Will you promise you’ll call me and let me know how you are? I mean, maybe we could get dinner one night.”
“I’ll call you, Robert. I promise.”
He nodded again. “Well, tell Amy I’ll see her around, okay?”
“I will.”
He hesitated, taking one step toward her, and Sam was afraid he was going to kiss her. But he finally turned and left without another word. When the door closed, Sam glanced toward the kitchen.
“You can come out now, Amy. I think it’s safe,” she called.
The swinging door to the kitchen popped open and Amy stuck her head out, looking around.
“What did he say?”
Sam smiled. “As if you weren’t listening at the door the whole time.”
“I was not. Do you want something to drink? Are you hungry?”
“I think… a beer,” she said. “I am hungry, but I want to wait until Tori gets here.”
“Are you sure she’s coming? I mean, she hasn’t called at all today,” Amy reminded her.
No, she hadn’t called. Sam wondered what she’d been up to all day. But she would come, Sam didn’t doubt that. “She’ll be here. She told me she would.”
Amy had just handed Sam her beer when a loud banging sounded on the door.
“Hey guys, it’s me.”
Sam smiled, but it was Amy who opened the door. Tori stood there with two boxes of pizza and a six-pack of beer.
“Thanks.” She walked in and smiled at Sam. “Hungry?”
“Very.”
“Good.” She handed the beer to Amy and placed the pizzas on the low table in front of the sofa. Then she squatted down next to Sam. “How was it today?”
“Okay. They came and took a statement.”
“Yeah. Travis freaked out when I told him.” At Sam’s raised eyebrows, she explained. “Detective Travis from CIU. He was the guy that showed up late, wanting a statement.”
“I remember.” Sam reached out and lifted the hair away from Tori’s forehead, looking at her stitches. “Still hurt?”
“No.”
Then Sam frowned. “What about the ones on your side? I forgot about them.”
Tori stood up. “The damn nurse poked around them last night. She said to leave them in another couple of days. Apparently, my swim yesterday didn’t do them much good.”
“About that, how did you get out? And don’t say you’re part fish,” Sam teased.
Amy watched them from the kitchen, smiling at their interaction. It was so different from what she’d seen with Robert in the past. There was a playfulness between them that never had been there with Robert.
“I have long arms.”
“And?”
Tori put her arms behind her back, demonstrating much as she had done with Travis. “I pulled my knees to my chest, slipped my hands under my feet and brought them to the front.”
“And all without drowning. My, you are good.”
“I’m very good,” Tori said and raised her eyebrows mischievously.
Sam laughed, then turned serious as Tori stared at her. “What?”
“It’s so good to hear you laugh,” Tori said quietly. She walked over and sat down, taking Sam’s hand. “You’re going to be okay, right?”
“It might take me a little while to get back to normal, but I’m going to be fine, Tori.”
“Yes, I think you will. Because you’re strong that way. I tried to imagine how I would be reacting if it were me, and I don’t think I could hold up like this. I think I would…”
“Retreat again?” Sam guessed.
“Maybe. Probably.”
“No, you wouldn’t. Because I wouldn’t let you.”
Tori squeezed Sam’s hand. “I’ve got some really good news. Lab results came back on their blood tests.”
Sam smiled. “Yeah? Negative?”
“Negative. No HIV.”
“Thank God.” She reached out and hugged Tori. “That’s fabulous.”
“Yeah, it is.”
Amy finally pushed away from the door, walking over with a beer for Tori and a handful of napkins. “I should probably be going,” she said.
“No. You haven’t eaten,” Sam said.
“Please stay, Amy,” Tori offered.
“Depends. What kind you got?” she asked with a smile.
“Two of everything. Pick off what you don’t like and put it on mine.”
Tori sat down on the floor and opened both boxes. They all grabbed a piece, groaning at the first bite. It was the only thing any of them had eaten all day.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Detective,” Amy said around a mouthful.
“Oh? From Sam? Or nasty rumors?”
Amy grinned. “Samantha too, but mostly nasty rumors,” she admitted.
“Well, they’re mostly true.”
“They are not, and you know it,” Sam said. “Even Dr. Peterson, the profiler, asked me if it was true that you’d pushed your partner out of a three-story window. And he works for the department.”
Tori only shrugged. “Rumors are rumors. And it’s not like I have a lot of friends on the force who can vouch for me.”
“Is it true you punched out a Captain for botching up a warrant that caused someone to walk?” Amy asked.
“No, of course not. It was a Lieutenant.”
“Are you serious?” Sam asked. “And you still had a job?”
“I got suspended for a week.”
“You are amazing,” Sam murmured. “And again, that’s not a compliment.”
“Oh, Sam, I’m much better now. I’ve been told you’re a good influence on me. Even Sikes said I was nearly bearable.”
“He said that?”
“That I was bearable?”
“That I was a good influence on you,” Sam said.
“Yeah, he did.”
“Hmm, imagine that. What are we going to do if people actually start liking you?”
Tori smiled. “I have no idea.”
Amy drank from her beer, watching as they watched each other. Maybe they hadn’t talked about it, but there was some very real chemistry going on here. Again, she noticed how different the interaction was with Tori as compared to Robert. She had been out with Samantha and Robert on numerous occasions, and she never once witnessed the teasing banter between them that Samantha seemed to enjoy with Tori. And Samantha had been right. It was almost a
s if a lightbulb had gone on as soon as Tori walked in the room.
“Listen, you guys, I’m going to call it a night,” Amy said. “Thank you for the pizza, Tori. It was nice to finally meet you.”
“No problem. Nice to meet you, too.”
Sam walked with Amy to the door and hugged her. “Thank you for staying with me today. I really needed that, Amy. I appreciate it.”
“What about tomorrow?”
“I’ll be okay. I’ve got an appointment, anyway.”
“The shrink?”
“Yeah.”
Amy motioned to Tori, who was still eating. “She’s staying, right?”
“Yes.”
“She’s cute as hell,” Amy whispered.
Sam blushed. “Yes, I know.”
“Not at all like I imagined.”
Sam rolled her eyes.
“Call me tomorrow, okay?”
“I will. Drive carefully.”
Sam closed and locked the door, then turned to Tori. She was still on the floor, leaning back against the sofa. A beer bottle was shoved between her legs. Sam pulled her eyes away, resuming her position on the sofa, not far from Tori.
“She’s nice.”
“Yes, she is.”
“So what were you whispering about?”
Sam blushed. “She said you were cute as hell.”
Tori grinned. “She did, huh?”
“Don’t get a big head.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Then Tori raised an eyebrow. “So, how are you really?”
“If I don’t think about it, I’m fine,” Sam admitted. “It seems almost like a dream.” Sam looked away. “But I know it’s not.”
“You have an appointment tomorrow, right? You want me to take you?”
“Thank you, but I think I need to be able to do this by myself. If I can’t leave the house without being afraid, I won’t be much use to you out on the street.”
Tori nodded. “You know Malone won’t let you back until she clears you.”
“I know. That’s why I want to go alone. I don’t want to be out long. Besides, we’ve got a case.”