Chasing Shadows

by C Paradee

  "March 18th. Ashley, you and I need to get together and plan a shower for her. I thought January might be a good time to do it."

  Due to their various schedules, Megan didn't get a chance to see her sisters very often and the idea of helping plan Taylor's shower really appealed to her. With a warm smile lighting up her face, she said, "Ok. That’ll be fun."

  Charles took a sip of his coffee and asked, "What about you Megan? Have you been dating anyone?"

  How did I know this would come up? Dating anyone… hum… not really, I’m already taken. Leaving her thoughts behind, Megan said, "No, I’m not dating anyone."

  Charles looked pointedly at his daughter, and said, "You’re not getting any younger. If you wait too much longer all the suitable young men will be gone."

  Barbara looked at her daughter. She was so attractive. She just didn’t understand why the men weren’t flocking after her. The problem was she just spent too much time at work to go out and enjoy herself.

  "You know Megan your father has a point. You really should spend more time socially and less at your job. If you don’t go out you can’t meet people."

  Megan took a deep breath. She wasn’t in the mood for this conversation right now. There had been too much happening in her life lately, and it wasn’t over. Her partner had put her life on the line last night so that their own lives could return to normal and she just didn’t want to play this particular game with her parents right now. With those thoughts in mind, she decided to put an end to the topic.

  Looking her father in the eyes, she said, "I am very happy with my life the way it is. So can we please talk about something else?"

  Charles was angered by what he perceived as a disrespectful remark from his daughter.

  "You don’t run this house, and it would behoove you to listen to your mother and me on this. I expect you to show a little respect, and when I’m ready to change the subject, I will."

  "Charles," Barbara said, hoping to avoid a potential showdown, "If she doesn’t want to talk about this right now…"

  Charles was not about to be deterred. "Well when are we going to talk about it? She hardly ever comes over. I think this is as good a time as any."

  Megan looked sadly from one parent to the other. This just didn’t make any sense. They were talking about her like she wasn’t even in the room. Standing up, Megan said, "I’m going to go now. Thanks for dinner. It was great…"

  Rising to his feet, Charles said, "And just where do you think you’re going? I want to know when you’re going to start acting like a Donnovan? It’s bad enough you have that public servant job, so the least you can do is marry into our class of people."

  Charles paused, unsuccessfully trying to calm down. "I know it’s not because there aren’t plenty of eligible young men interested in you. I introduced you to Eric and Jeffrey at the last party we had. They both asked you out, and you turned them down."

  The stress of the last week had taken its toll and Megan's eyes began flashing, and her temper flared. Words fell freely from her mouth before she could stop them. "I already met someone. She’s a wonderful woman that I love more than I ever thought was possible."

  Megan realized what she’d said when she saw the shocked expressions on her parents’ faces. I wanted to tell them, but not like this, and not today. Resigning herself to the explosion she knew was coming, she met her father’s widened eyes.

  "You’re telling me you’re a Lesbian? You like women?" Charles sputtered incredulously.

  Looking at Barbara, he said, "What did we do wrong?"

  Megan looked at her father, and said, "Dad, it's not about that. It’s about love."

  Shifting her gaze back and forth between her parents, Megan continued, hoping she could help them understand her feelings, "I am happier than I’ve ever been. When I met her, I knew there was something special about her. I never felt that way about anyone before."

  Barbara didn’t know what to say. Her daughter’s face softened when she talked about her feelings. This was just such a shock.

  Charles still couldn't believe his ears. "You’re going to disgrace the entire family. How could you do this to us?"

  "No I’m not, Dad. You are respected and liked in the community. That’s not going to change, and besides, how would any of your associates know anyway?" Megan said, reasonably.

  Barbara thought about the few conversations she'd had with Megan lately. Some of the things her daughter had said, now made more sense. She just hadn't been paying attention. "It’s that FBI agent, isn’t it?"

  Megan looked at her mother, and said, "Yes Mom. She really is great. You’d like her."

  Charles' face began to turn red, anger replacing the shock. "You are wrong. I will not allow you to disgrace the family like this. Until you come to your senses, you are not welcome in this house anymore."

  "Charles," Barbara said, warningly. "Megan, he doesn’t mean that."

  Megan felt her stomach tighten, and fought to control her emotions. Looking at her mother, she said, "I hoped you might understand."

  Turning to look at her angry father, she said, "I’m sorry you feel that way," and then she turned and walked to the side door, letting herself out.

  Barbara tried to follow, but Charles grabbed her arm and stopped her. "I meant what I said."

  Barbara glared at her husband. "Charles you’re wrong. She’s our daughter."

  Charles met his wife's eyes unflinchingly. "This is my house, and I will not allow her to disgrace it with her deviant behavior."

  Megan got into her car very depressed. It shouldn’t have come to this. She knew she should have reined in her temper, but they would have had to know sooner or later anyway. Tony was too important to her. But she’d never expected her father to ban her from the house.

  Putting the car into gear and pulling into the street, Megan was unaware of the tears falling down her face until she had to pull over, no longer able to see clearly. A little while later, her tears in check, she pulled back onto the road and began driving across town.

  Megan turned the car toward the place she had always found solace, the shores of Lake Erie. It was still light out and the beach was not crowded, but populated enough to be safe. Megan parked the car, and walked along the beach, the ever present shells crunching under her feet. Leaving the beach in favor of one of the docks, she began walking across the warped, uneven boards, passing all the people that were fishing. When she got to the end of the dock, she stood for a moment looking out over the lake, before sitting down on the hard surface near the end.

  The tears started again, and she let them flow unchecked. Mostly she felt so incredibly sad. She longed for the comforting feel of Tony’s arm around her. She knew her father could be very intolerant, but she’d just had not expected that reaction. Megan had always justified his actions by convincing herself, that in his own way, he was looking out for her. After today, she could no longer pretend that was true.

  Megan stayed until the moon was visible and the other patrons began leaving before she finally got up and walked back to her car. A brief smile appeared when she remembered that Tony was off tomorrow.

  Megan thought back to her conversation with Tony that afternoon, before she had followed her over to David's house. Her partner had insisted she go to Ashley's house until she got home from work, and had a chance to check out the apartment. Tony had assured her that she would be home by midnight, but to call first, just to make sure she was there.

  Looking at her watch, Megan sighed. It was 10pm. She loved her sister dearly, but she just didn't want to see her tonight. Ashley had known she was having dinner with their parents' and would want to know how it went, and she just didn't want to talk about it. Her emotions were still too raw. The only person she wanted to see was Tony.

  Sitting in the car, lightly drumming her fingers on the wheel, she decided to go home. She knew Tony would be mad, but with the new lock and alarm system installed, it should be safe enough. Megan really didn't think Sherma
n would come to the apartment any way. If he wanted to confront Tony in the apartment, he could already have done so.

  * * *

  Sherman was leaning against the vanity waiting for someone to get home. The closet door was already open so he could quickly and quietly move into it. He had known the girlfriend would be at her parents' house, and Tony would be working evenings from information he had gleaned from the tapes. He didn’t even bother checking for a tape today. After last night, it was obvious she knew about the bugs.

  His thoughts turned to his target. He acknowledged a grudging respect for her. The sting operation had been cleverly set up and executed. It would have trapped anyone less skilled than he was. He chuckled softly. I never even suspected it was a setup.

  The faint noise had attracted the attention of the kittens and they wandered back to the bedroom, looking at the strange man curiously. He had chased them out of the room once and they were leery of him, and poised for flight. Sherman stood up and stomped his foot down hard on the floor, frightening both kittens and grinning coldly when they ran. They come back again and I just might take some target practice.

  Shifting the car into gear, Megan pulled out of the parking area and drove the short distance to the apartment. Parking in her usual spot, she took the elevator to the fourth floor. Punching in the numbers to open the electronic lock, she entered the apartment and was greeted by two meowing kittens. Stepping around them, she walked over to the alarm and deactivated it. Stooping down to pet the kittens, she smiled at the loud purrs.

  "Did you two miss me? I missed you." Glancing around, Megan asked the kittens, "What did you two get in to while I was gone?"

  Huggy and Velcro continued rubbing up against her legs and purring contentedly. Chuckling, Megan said, "Guess I’d better go look around."

  Standing up, she walked into the dining room and then to the living room, dodging the kittens who were accompanying her. Everything looked fine. Megan walked down the hall glancing in the bathroom, surprised that the door was open. She thought she’d closed it when she left. One time of cleaning up toilet paper strewn all over the apartment was enough for anyone. At least she’d gotten lucky and they hadn’t attacked the new roll.

  As Megan was closing the door, Huggy ran into the bathroom and jumped up on the toilet seat. "Oh no you don’t," Megan said, and lifted the kitten up carrying her out of the bathroom and closing the door.

  Setting Huggy down, Megan walked over to the balcony. Opening the sliding glass door, she stepped outside and walked to the railing. The warm breeze felt good, and Megan looked up at the sky. The moon and stars were already visible, but tonight she took little joy in the sight.

  Megan just wanted it to be time for Tony to get home. She bent down and absently stroked the soft fur of the two kittens that had joined her on the balcony.

  Megan thought back over the events that had transpired at her parents’ house. She had done a lot of soul searching at the beach, and felt she had done the right thing by telling her parents about her and Tony. She did acknowledge she could have handled it better, but the outcome would probably have been the same.

  It wouldn’t do any good to dwell on it, but she really hadn’t wanted to estrange her parents either. Why is everything so complicated? Megan knew there was no obvious answer to that question the moment it crossed her mind. She also knew that she was not willing to sacrifice the love she had found by living a lie, just to please her family.

  Tony was the most important person in her life. She was her best friend, confidant, lover, and partner. Her life would not be complete without her. The love and happiness she’d found was not something she was willing to let go of, nor did she want to. In time, maybe she could help her parents to understand that.

  Suddenly uneasy, Megan turned around and looked back into the apartment. Goose bumps had formed on her arms and the hair on the back of her neck was standing up. She’d felt for a moment like she was being watched. Shaking off the sudden chill, she decided she was probably just overreacting to all the stress of the evening.

  Sherman barely ducked his head back into the hallway in time. He’d only been watching her for a minute when she suddenly turned around. He’d have to be more careful. He didn’t want to reveal his presence yet.

  Walking back inside, Megan closed and latched the balcony door. Even though she remembered locking the door when she got home, Megan walked over to the door and double-checked the lock. It was bolted. Her overactive imagination was obviously at work here. The door had been locked when she got home and the alarm had been set. No one could have gotten in. But still uneasy, she walked down the hall and looked into both bedrooms, before returning to the one they shared.

  Megan sat on the bed. It would be another hour at least before Tony got home. She might as well take a shower while she was waiting for her partner to get off. The warm soothing water would help relax her. Taking her nightshirt off the hook on the door, she walked down the hall to the bathroom quickly entering and closing the door so the kittens couldn’t run in.

  Megan took a towel out of the linen cupboard and turned on the shower, adjusting the water. Undressing, she stepped into the shower and let the warm water cascade over her. She felt some of the tension begin to melt away.

  Sherman opened the closet door. He was extremely glad they were louvered. It allowed him to see part of the room and enabled him to hear better. He’d always had high energy, and staying out of sight in the closet was very confining.

  Grinning, knowing she couldn’t hear him, Sherman stepped into the hallway and looked at the bathroom door.

  Megan turned off the shower and pulled the curtain simultaneously letting out a blood-curdling scream when she realized someone was standing there.

  Tony jumped, startled when her partner screamed, and quickly moved forward wrapping her arms around her.

  "What’s wrong? It’s only me. I knocked on the door first so you would hear me." Tony said, trying to comfort her shaken partner.

  She'd been surprised to see Megan's car in the garage and figured something must be wrong since she had come home instead of going to Ashley's house like they'd agreed on.

  Megan felt her thundering heart begin to slow. "Sorry. I’ve been a little jumpy tonight. I didn’t hear you knock and you’re really early," Megan said, clinging tightly to her partner, so relieved that her words came in a rush.

  Tony continued to hold her partner, waiting for her breathing to return to normal. Megan, much calmer, looked up into the concerned blue eyes gazing at her. Smiling ruefully, and releasing her partner, she said, "Oh look. I’ve gotten you all wet."

  Tony picked up the towel and handed it to Megan. "Here you go. I’ll go make us something to drink. Want some tea?"

  Megan took the towel, still relieved to see her, and smiled.. "That would be great."

  But Tony’s keen hearing had picked up a background noise when Megan screamed. That, combined with the fact that her partner was jumpy put Tony in a very dangerous mode. She knew the kittens could have made the noise she heard, but she wasn’t taking any chances.

  Putting her finger up to her lips signaling for quiet, she waited for Megan to towel off and put her sleeping shirt on. Tony pointed toward the kitchen and waited until her partner walked down the hall and disappeared into the doorway.

  Tony had set her gun down on the toilet tank when she entered the bathroom. For some reason she had wanted to keep it near. The thought crossed her mind that it was a good thing she had. Picking up the gun and flipping the safety off, she began walking very slowly and quietly down the hall, hairpin reflexes ready to react at the slightest provocation.

  Sherman cursed silently. He had been surprised to hear the apartment door open knowing Tony wasn’t due home yet, and had moved back into the bedroom. Just when he was backing into the closet, a piercing scream had penetrated the air. Startled, he bumped his head on the doorframe.

  He stood in the closet with his gun in his hand, listening for any sound
that might indicate he’d been heard. Sherman still preferred the element of surprise, and would rather wait until Tony had settled in. The chances of her having her gun near then would be slim. He had already looked around the apartment and hadn’t seen any weapons. This led him to believe that she probably only had the weapons she carried on her person.

  Megan walked into the kitchen, her heart pounding painfully. Tony thought he was in the apartment. The idea that someone could be in the apartment… or was in the apartment gave her the creeps. The thought that maybe someone had been watching her, caused a chill to course through her.

  Her sudden chill turned to fear for her partner. Please be careful. The metamorphosis her partner had gone through was still imprinted on her mind, and she still found it amazing that the aura surrounding her partner changed instantaneously the moment she sensed danger. But that didn't diminish the fear she felt for her. If this guy was in the apartment, he had the advantage. Tony would have no idea where he was and what if she didn't see him until it was too late?

  Standing just inside the kitchen, Megan strained her ears listening for anything that would let her know what was happening. She didn't want to get in Tony's way, but she had to see what was going on. She would be ready if Tony needed her help. Poking her head around the doorway, she took a quick look down the hallway.

  Tony kept her back at the wall walking sideways to present the smallest possible target. She knew he was in the apartment. Her body was screaming warnings. Once she had gotten over the shock of Megan screaming and the odd sound had registered in her mind, her body had reacted instinctively and all her fine tuned senses kicked into gear.

  Arriving at the bedroom doorway, she took a quick look inside before pulling her head back, not wanting to give her assailant a target. Quickly kneeling, her weight supported on one knee, she trained her eyes on the space under the bed.

  Thankful for the light cast by the lamp, she could make out no unnatural shadows. Standing, she took a step through the doorway her back against the open door.