Devils & Gods 10/12
Title: Devils & Gods
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Pairing: Nikki & Nora
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora are not mine, but it kinda feels like they are. The characters from the pilot aren't either. BUT - there's a whole lot of original ones that are in this little story so...*yay* for me.
A/N: It’s too early for thoughts…
Ch. 10 - Stuck It In
I lace my fingers together and rest my hands on top of my head. Crime scene techs whiz about and the only thing I can hear, above the chatter, the tow trucks grinding gears, traffic and radio chatter is the thudding in my chest.
It hammers away. Threatens to bust free and runaway.
I pace along the sidewalk just off to the side of where the mangled remains of Bruce are being processed. Bamby’s barking orders. Ann…I’m not sure where she’s at….
I can’t…
I close my eyes and crouch down.
I need to keep it together.
My breath hitches, shortens.
Things get fuzzier. Voices more distant.
I need to focus.
Where are they?
Did they go to a hospital?
Did someone drive them?
Nikki’s and Jill’s phones go straight to voicemail.
What happened? She wouldn’t have just left the car like that.
I need to calm down.
My nostrils flair as I take in a steadying breath. I focus on the breathing. Benny always says it’s the best way to bring your mind to the present and sharpen the awareness. I can do this.
One, in.
One, out.
Two, in.
Two, out.
Three, in.
Three, out.
Four, in.
Four, out.
Five, in.
Five, out.
One, in…
I repeat the pattern a few times. With each repetition my heartbeat ebbs, slowing marginally. Allowing me to at least trample down the panic.
I can do this. This isn’t the first crisis I’ve been in. I’m trained for this shit.
What do I need to do?
I quiet the million things that come to me in that instance and focus on the one…what the hell happened?
The only way I’m going to be able to figure that out is to find my spine and go look at Bruce.
I can do that.
I think.
I rise from my crouched position, my knees cracking as I straighten them out. Opening my eyes, the scene is still the same. A few police cruisers, an S.C.U. van, Frankie and an unmarked…
Then Bruce, mangled, savaged, torn.
The Cayenne is jammed against a near splintered telephone pole. The thick wood is split where the roof of Bruce is jammed against it.
The passenger side is smashed in. Clearly, that’s where the point of impact occurred. The back passenger door is lying on the ground. The front is bent near in half.
It was a high speed collision that should have sent them in a tailspin, but the tire marks…
I shake my head as I look at the thick black markings…
I swear it looks like they were pushed.
I breathe in and out again, using that to keep me together.
I approach my car, Nikki’s, our car with stuttering steps.
“Nora,” Ann’s voice comes up behind me. I feel her hand on my arm. “Don’t…”
“Don’t what?” I snap at her and spin around. “Don’t go look?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t…” Her features give nothing away. “Are you okay?”
I mirror her expression and shrug. “I could ask you the same thing.”
“Bamby’s processing, we really shouldn’t…” she trails off and looks behind me.
“Ann, I swear if you let those words come out of your mouth…”
She holds her hand up, stopping my words. “I wasn’t - I don’t…I’m not sure what I’m feeling right now.”
Her honesty rocks me back on my heels.
“I just want to see…have you?” I swallow and push down the burning at the back of my throat.
She shakes her head.
“Come on. We need to keep it together, Flemming.” I hope the use of her last name keeps her with me. I’m still pissed about last night, but…
She nods and I go back to staring at the car.
We approach together, sidestepping a few markers from the processing team.
I don’t get right up to it to see…the interior is in bad shape, not as bad as the body…
My stomach pitches…there’s blood smeared in the interior. Along the driver’s side door. The once cream colored panel is rusty brown. There’s a bloody hand print smeared along the dash. A small puddle is congealing on the middle console.
“Flemming, Delaney, over here!” John barks behind us.
My feet feel heavy as we turn around and trudge his way. Each step feeling like it’s taking me further from where I need to go. Wherever that is.
Spencer and Bamby are hunched over the back of Frankie. John steps between them and us. His fingers snap in front of both our faces and he barks again, “Keep it together, both of you.” His tone is solid.
It grounds me unexpectedly.
I can do this.
I straighten up and put my hands on my hips.
Ann rises a little next to me and we both nod. “We’re good,” I say and meet his eyes to convey that fact.
He searches my face and then Ann’s before nodding. “Okay.” He crooks a finger and motions us towards his daughters. “Bamby found this in the glove compartment. It’s addressed to both of you.”
Spencer looks at us before picking up an evidence bag with a piece of paper inside. Ann’s grasp tremors for a fraction of a second before she takes hold and pulls it towards us.
Ann holds it out so that both of us can read:
Dear Special Agent Flemming and Detective Delaney,
I’m unsure of how this letter will find you. I’ll assume not well given the circumstances of your car, detective. Never the less, I’ll take the time to state the obvious, your partners are with me, relatively unharmed save for the wounds sustained in the crash.
Dennis was fun to toy with for awhile, but things have devolved far past my liking. Due to certain developments, I’ve had to…punt…I think is the correct verbiage. In order to facilitate a proper end to my plans, I’ve come up with a solution that should be agreeable to both of yours sensibilities and mine.
I’m willing, at this point to offer a trade. You both surrender yourselves to me and I will release the two women currently under my…care. At twenty-one-hundred hours, you two will wait for me at 3001 Tchoupitoulas Street. It will be under surveillance. You will come alone. You will come unarmed. You will drive your car, detective, I think you call it, Frankie, and you will wait. After I have secured the both of you, Director Malone will be given the coordinance to your partners’ location. Any deviation from that which I’ve outlined above will result in immeasurable suffering for Detective Beaumont and Mrs. Flemming.
Soon.
“Are you suicidal?” John bellows as he watches the silent exchange between Ann and me.
It’s not really even a choice.
It’s a trade I’d make repeatedly.
Ann feels the exact same way. It’s pointless to double check when the answer will never change.
Ann hands him back the evidence bag with the letter and shrugs at him. Her lips stay closed, pressed together. No doubt thinking logistics like I am.
“I’m serious you two. You can’t…” John tries to assert.
Ann steps up and jams a finger in his chest. She hisses, “Don’t you even fucking go there with me, John. Don’t you fucking dare. You wouldn’t hesitate if it were Becca or your kids. So shut your mouth partner before you say something dumb and I lay you out.”
His mouth snaps shut. His jaw bunches. A vein along his neck pops and throbs.
“We’re doing this,” Ann states with a finality that leaves him without words.
“You may,” Dan’s voice breaks through the little bubble the three of us were in. My head snaps in the direction of his voice. “Nora’s being pulled from the case.”
“Like hell!” I snap at him, not even thinking about what’s coming out of my mouth. I didn’t even know he was here.
Dan’s arms fold across his chest and he tries to stare me down.
He’s fucking crazy.
“If you think for one second, I’m letting you go through with this you’ve lost your mind, Delaney.” His posture, his voice tells me that he’s made up his mind.
I don’t really give a shit.
“This isn’t open for discussion,” he says with a finality that’s laughable.
My snicker misses the filter that I can usually keep in place. “There’s no way I’m not doing this,” I say with just the same authority as he’s said no. “This isn’t open for discussion.” I turn to Ann and nod her way. “We need to come up with a plan.”
“He said he’d get in touch with John.” Ann shrugs. “Right now, we’ve no choice but to think he’ll keep his word.”
I nod. She’s right.
“What if he doesn’t?” John questions.
Ann and I glance at each other, then she at her watch and she shrugs again, resigned. “It’s up to you to find them. You’ve got a little over five hours to figure out where he’s holding my wife and Nikki and get them to safety.”
John’s hands perch on his hips, looking between the two of us. The only acknowledgement of his acceptance is a slight tip of his chin.
“What the hell didn’t you understand, Delaney!” Dan muscles around John and steps in front of me. “There’s no way you’re doing this.”
Folding my arms across my chest, I challenge, “Do you think you’re going to stop me?”
“You’re damn well right I will.” He mirrors my position.
He may have some height and weight on me, but I’m faster.
“Good fucking luck, Dan. I’m going to make the trade.” My voice is flat, but forceful. He needs to see this isn’t s rash decision. It’s not even a decision.
“Nora you can’t trust him!”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. It buys Nikki and Jill time.”
He throws his hands up in the air and tries to be the voice of reason, “You don’t even know if they’re alive still!”
One, two, three…I silently count. He’s right. I don’t know for certain, but…I think I’d feel it. She’s alive. I know she is.
I shake my head. “I don’t know she’s not either.”
“You do this,” he tries to play a trump card, “you do this, detective and you lose your job. Am I making myself clear?”
Really?
After everything...
My eyes flutter shut and I shake my head. My right hand ghosts over my badge. My index finger runs along the embossed seal and badge number. It’s really not a choice.
I reach down and unclip the gold badge that’s been on my hip for most of my career. I turn it over in my hand and open my eyes. I meet his gaze and hold my badge out towards him. “Consider this my resignation, then, Lieutenant Harney.” His hands stay where they’re at so I make it easy for him. I tuck the badge into the breast pocket of his blue button up. “I resign effective immediately.”
“Nora,” he pleads.
“Look, Dan,” I say and poke at his chest. “You don’t seem to understand that this isn’t a choice for me. It’s Nikki over it all. Over the department. Over my job. Over you.” I remove my finger and run my hand through my hair. “She’s worth it all a thousand times over. She’s my partner at work and in life.” I shake my head and pull at my hair at the same time. “You’ve lost this round, Harney. Go home. This doesn’t involve the N.O.P.D.”
Dan’s mouth drops open as he starts to protest, John interrupts him, “She’s right, Dan. This is a Federal investigation. The N.O.P.D. can see themselves out of it. If we’re no longer welcome at the precinct, I’ll go with you to collect the things we have there.”
I can’t resist one last dig, “So with all due respect, sir, fuck off.”
Dan’s mouth claps shut. He spins on his heel and stalks off, barking at a few uniforms standing around.
“John, that job offer still stand?” I ask, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of my mouth.
Fuck Dan and fuck the department.
He nods. “The badges I left with you. Those were legit.”
I thought as much.
I sigh and head over to the passenger side of my car. I stick my upper half through the open window and pop the glove compartment. Buried underneath napkins, condiments, a black box and the registration and insurance card are two thin leather wallets. I pick them both up and right myself. I open one and see Nikki’s department I.D. photo staring back at me. She’s a bit younger in this one than in the one that she currently has, but it’s still my Nikki. I smile and pocket it. The other one is me. I flip it open to reveal the thin gold badge and fit the holder between my hip and pants.
The badge takes the spot of the one I just relinquished.
“Ann, what’s the game plan?” I ask my friend and current partner.
She grins. “Well, Agent Delaney, we need to get it together and regroup.” She winks at me and I feel my world right itself just a little.
This is going to work out.
We’re going to be fine and we’ll get Nikki and Jill back.
The neighborhood that’s our designated drop point is quiet. It’s mainly businesses, car places or tire shops. All of them are closed at eight-thirty at night. There’s the occasional car that drives past, but other than that, it’s the crickets and the gentle rumble of Frankie’s engine that keeps us company. After we left the scene of the wreck, we went back to the station and collected the case files.
Surprisingly enough, I didn’t get approached by anyone. Either the uni’s were too scared to talk or they just didn’t know what to make of the scene that Dan and I caused.
From there, we regrouped at home. We worked through a series of contingencies that we could live with. A back up plan and then John left to get started on trying to find out where Nikki and Jill are being held.
Bamby and Spencer left shortly after that to help their father prepare for Plan B.
That left Ann and I to get ready for tonight.
We showered, dressed and sat at the kitchen table to get everything else together. Ann and I have been sitting for nearly an hour. If he’s watching, he’ll know that we haven’t moved. We’ve sat and waited.
There’s not much else to do.
But with nine approaching and Ann and I in this weird…
I’m still pissed at her.
For her to think that I could…with Dan…
“You’re an ass,” I hiss into the quiet interior of my car.
Ann’s head whips my way and I jam a finger at her. “You know, I thought I’d just be able to go and do this with you, but…” I drum my fingers along the steering wheel. “I’m fucking still pissed at you even when we’re getting ready to…”
“N…”
“Shut up, Ann,” I snap at her. “You’re unbelievable. I mean I get it. John’s your partner. You have to trust him…” I shake my head. If she were… “If you were anyone else, you know?” I turn on the bench seat, prop my arm on the seat and use my hand to cradle my head. “Dan took me out about two months ago and handed me the paperwork that I tossed at you last night. I didn’t know he did it.”
I lick my lips and look around. “I didn’t really…it was an opportunity that I didn’t think was open for me. With Nikki and me out at work, things haven’t been bad. Easier in some regards, but…” I turn back to Ann and see her studying me. “You know cops. The rumors, the speculation and chatter. There’s a few, more than I probably know, that think our asses were saved because of who Nikki’s father is. Because she has money.”
“Nora,” I let her get my name out, but stop her with an upturned hand.
“Do you know what really saved our jobs?” I ask her knowing that she doesn’t. She shakes her head. “Nikki’s aunt had a standing roll in the hay with one of our superiors. She threatened to call him on the carpet.” I snort, it’s derisive and harsh. “That girl, Ann…you have no idea the risks she’s taken for me.”
“I’m sorry,” she says earnestly.
I shrug. I know she is. “She barely talks to her aunt, uncle and cousins. The only family she really has is her dad and Darius. Darius’ meemaw, she’s taken both of us in, but…” The next words catch in my throat and I cough. “The promotion it meant a lot. A chance to…I just want to take care of her, Ann. Give her what she deserves. The new title would mean a bump in pay and more opportunity…she deserves that and so much…”
“She loves you, Nora, what makes you think that she wants more than what you’ve already given her?” Ann asks, but she doesn’t get it.
“It’s not about what she wants, it’s what I want to give her,” I answer her. “I want to be able to provide for her and I know…Casey says that I need to get my head out of my ass and get rid of some of those traditional ideas about…”
I look up at the ceiling. This is actually damn near impossible to get out. It’d be easier… I reach over and pop open the glove compartment. Probably not the best place to keep this, but…oh well. I grab the little black box and pull it out of the glove compartment. I put it in Ann’s lap and explain, “Don’t be mad, but Jill helped. She uh, she helped with the design.”
I watch her open the box and point to the Lucinda cut engagement ring Jill and I decided on. The setting has two accent stones in a platinum band. “Remember, right before her birthday, she said she had to go to New York for a few days?”
“Yeah, she met with her agent…”
“And she also picked this up for me,” I admit.
Ann let’s lose a shuddery breath, “Wow. I’m kicking my wife’s ass for not telling me.”
The bark of laughter is sudden and loud. Ann’s joke breaks away the anger I was holding on to.
“Yeah,” I say and wipe a tear from the corner of my eye. “She did good though.”
“So…” Ann lets it trail off and closes the Tiffany and Company box. She places it back in my hand and grins. “Marriage, eh, Delaney?”
I duck my head and nod. “I…” I look up and meet my first girlfriend’s twinkling blue eyes. “I think it’s time I make an honest woman out of her.” My lips quirk into a lopsided smile.
Ann’s arms shoot out and pulls me into her side. She kisses my cheek, my temple and the corner of my mouth. “You’re going to have your hands full,” she jibes.
I snicker. “I know.”
“If we weren’t getting ready to give ourselves over to a sociopath, babe, I’d so take you out to celebrate,” she says and tweaks my nose.
I roll my eyes. “Well, I need to get the girl to safety before I propose. Oh, yeah, and find a new job.”
“You have one. We can work logistics later. Y’know after we get out of this mess,” Ann grins at me. It’s the same grin she flashed sixteen years ago that caused me to go get that cup of coffee with her. That smile she’s sending me changed my life.
“It’s almost nine,” I note and look at the digital display of the stereo.
We both look around and see nothing but empty streets. I toss the box back in the glove compartment and close it.
“All’s quiet on the western front,” Ann mumbles. “All I want is one clean hit, Nora.”
“You and me both, hon. You and me both,” I agree.
I drum my fingers along the dashboard and perk up. We have a decent view of the area.
We look towards each other and shake our heads. “Let’s give it some time,” Ann says evenly.
I nod as the time on the display ticks to nine p.m.
I open my mouth to ask her to check her phone, but the back window shatters, swallowing my words.
We spin around as the car fills with smoke.
“Ann!” I choke out and watch a wave of darkness close in around us.
Next>>>
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Pairing: Nikki & Nora
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora are not mine, but it kinda feels like they are. The characters from the pilot aren't either. BUT - there's a whole lot of original ones that are in this little story so...*yay* for me.
A/N: It’s too early for thoughts…
Ch. 10 - Stuck It In
I lace my fingers together and rest my hands on top of my head. Crime scene techs whiz about and the only thing I can hear, above the chatter, the tow trucks grinding gears, traffic and radio chatter is the thudding in my chest.
It hammers away. Threatens to bust free and runaway.
I pace along the sidewalk just off to the side of where the mangled remains of Bruce are being processed. Bamby’s barking orders. Ann…I’m not sure where she’s at….
I can’t…
I close my eyes and crouch down.
I need to keep it together.
My breath hitches, shortens.
Things get fuzzier. Voices more distant.
I need to focus.
Where are they?
Did they go to a hospital?
Did someone drive them?
Nikki’s and Jill’s phones go straight to voicemail.
What happened? She wouldn’t have just left the car like that.
I need to calm down.
My nostrils flair as I take in a steadying breath. I focus on the breathing. Benny always says it’s the best way to bring your mind to the present and sharpen the awareness. I can do this.
One, in.
One, out.
Two, in.
Two, out.
Three, in.
Three, out.
Four, in.
Four, out.
Five, in.
Five, out.
One, in…
I repeat the pattern a few times. With each repetition my heartbeat ebbs, slowing marginally. Allowing me to at least trample down the panic.
I can do this. This isn’t the first crisis I’ve been in. I’m trained for this shit.
What do I need to do?
I quiet the million things that come to me in that instance and focus on the one…what the hell happened?
The only way I’m going to be able to figure that out is to find my spine and go look at Bruce.
I can do that.
I think.
I rise from my crouched position, my knees cracking as I straighten them out. Opening my eyes, the scene is still the same. A few police cruisers, an S.C.U. van, Frankie and an unmarked…
Then Bruce, mangled, savaged, torn.
The Cayenne is jammed against a near splintered telephone pole. The thick wood is split where the roof of Bruce is jammed against it.
The passenger side is smashed in. Clearly, that’s where the point of impact occurred. The back passenger door is lying on the ground. The front is bent near in half.
It was a high speed collision that should have sent them in a tailspin, but the tire marks…
I shake my head as I look at the thick black markings…
I swear it looks like they were pushed.
I breathe in and out again, using that to keep me together.
I approach my car, Nikki’s, our car with stuttering steps.
“Nora,” Ann’s voice comes up behind me. I feel her hand on my arm. “Don’t…”
“Don’t what?” I snap at her and spin around. “Don’t go look?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t…” Her features give nothing away. “Are you okay?”
I mirror her expression and shrug. “I could ask you the same thing.”
“Bamby’s processing, we really shouldn’t…” she trails off and looks behind me.
“Ann, I swear if you let those words come out of your mouth…”
She holds her hand up, stopping my words. “I wasn’t - I don’t…I’m not sure what I’m feeling right now.”
Her honesty rocks me back on my heels.
“I just want to see…have you?” I swallow and push down the burning at the back of my throat.
She shakes her head.
“Come on. We need to keep it together, Flemming.” I hope the use of her last name keeps her with me. I’m still pissed about last night, but…
She nods and I go back to staring at the car.
We approach together, sidestepping a few markers from the processing team.
I don’t get right up to it to see…the interior is in bad shape, not as bad as the body…
My stomach pitches…there’s blood smeared in the interior. Along the driver’s side door. The once cream colored panel is rusty brown. There’s a bloody hand print smeared along the dash. A small puddle is congealing on the middle console.
“Flemming, Delaney, over here!” John barks behind us.
My feet feel heavy as we turn around and trudge his way. Each step feeling like it’s taking me further from where I need to go. Wherever that is.
Spencer and Bamby are hunched over the back of Frankie. John steps between them and us. His fingers snap in front of both our faces and he barks again, “Keep it together, both of you.” His tone is solid.
It grounds me unexpectedly.
I can do this.
I straighten up and put my hands on my hips.
Ann rises a little next to me and we both nod. “We’re good,” I say and meet his eyes to convey that fact.
He searches my face and then Ann’s before nodding. “Okay.” He crooks a finger and motions us towards his daughters. “Bamby found this in the glove compartment. It’s addressed to both of you.”
Spencer looks at us before picking up an evidence bag with a piece of paper inside. Ann’s grasp tremors for a fraction of a second before she takes hold and pulls it towards us.
Ann holds it out so that both of us can read:
Dear Special Agent Flemming and Detective Delaney,
I’m unsure of how this letter will find you. I’ll assume not well given the circumstances of your car, detective. Never the less, I’ll take the time to state the obvious, your partners are with me, relatively unharmed save for the wounds sustained in the crash.
Dennis was fun to toy with for awhile, but things have devolved far past my liking. Due to certain developments, I’ve had to…punt…I think is the correct verbiage. In order to facilitate a proper end to my plans, I’ve come up with a solution that should be agreeable to both of yours sensibilities and mine.
I’m willing, at this point to offer a trade. You both surrender yourselves to me and I will release the two women currently under my…care. At twenty-one-hundred hours, you two will wait for me at 3001 Tchoupitoulas Street. It will be under surveillance. You will come alone. You will come unarmed. You will drive your car, detective, I think you call it, Frankie, and you will wait. After I have secured the both of you, Director Malone will be given the coordinance to your partners’ location. Any deviation from that which I’ve outlined above will result in immeasurable suffering for Detective Beaumont and Mrs. Flemming.
Soon.
“Are you suicidal?” John bellows as he watches the silent exchange between Ann and me.
It’s not really even a choice.
It’s a trade I’d make repeatedly.
Ann feels the exact same way. It’s pointless to double check when the answer will never change.
Ann hands him back the evidence bag with the letter and shrugs at him. Her lips stay closed, pressed together. No doubt thinking logistics like I am.
“I’m serious you two. You can’t…” John tries to assert.
Ann steps up and jams a finger in his chest. She hisses, “Don’t you even fucking go there with me, John. Don’t you fucking dare. You wouldn’t hesitate if it were Becca or your kids. So shut your mouth partner before you say something dumb and I lay you out.”
His mouth snaps shut. His jaw bunches. A vein along his neck pops and throbs.
“We’re doing this,” Ann states with a finality that leaves him without words.
“You may,” Dan’s voice breaks through the little bubble the three of us were in. My head snaps in the direction of his voice. “Nora’s being pulled from the case.”
“Like hell!” I snap at him, not even thinking about what’s coming out of my mouth. I didn’t even know he was here.
Dan’s arms fold across his chest and he tries to stare me down.
He’s fucking crazy.
“If you think for one second, I’m letting you go through with this you’ve lost your mind, Delaney.” His posture, his voice tells me that he’s made up his mind.
I don’t really give a shit.
“This isn’t open for discussion,” he says with a finality that’s laughable.
My snicker misses the filter that I can usually keep in place. “There’s no way I’m not doing this,” I say with just the same authority as he’s said no. “This isn’t open for discussion.” I turn to Ann and nod her way. “We need to come up with a plan.”
“He said he’d get in touch with John.” Ann shrugs. “Right now, we’ve no choice but to think he’ll keep his word.”
I nod. She’s right.
“What if he doesn’t?” John questions.
Ann and I glance at each other, then she at her watch and she shrugs again, resigned. “It’s up to you to find them. You’ve got a little over five hours to figure out where he’s holding my wife and Nikki and get them to safety.”
John’s hands perch on his hips, looking between the two of us. The only acknowledgement of his acceptance is a slight tip of his chin.
“What the hell didn’t you understand, Delaney!” Dan muscles around John and steps in front of me. “There’s no way you’re doing this.”
Folding my arms across my chest, I challenge, “Do you think you’re going to stop me?”
“You’re damn well right I will.” He mirrors my position.
He may have some height and weight on me, but I’m faster.
“Good fucking luck, Dan. I’m going to make the trade.” My voice is flat, but forceful. He needs to see this isn’t s rash decision. It’s not even a decision.
“Nora you can’t trust him!”
I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. It buys Nikki and Jill time.”
He throws his hands up in the air and tries to be the voice of reason, “You don’t even know if they’re alive still!”
One, two, three…I silently count. He’s right. I don’t know for certain, but…I think I’d feel it. She’s alive. I know she is.
I shake my head. “I don’t know she’s not either.”
“You do this,” he tries to play a trump card, “you do this, detective and you lose your job. Am I making myself clear?”
Really?
After everything...
My eyes flutter shut and I shake my head. My right hand ghosts over my badge. My index finger runs along the embossed seal and badge number. It’s really not a choice.
I reach down and unclip the gold badge that’s been on my hip for most of my career. I turn it over in my hand and open my eyes. I meet his gaze and hold my badge out towards him. “Consider this my resignation, then, Lieutenant Harney.” His hands stay where they’re at so I make it easy for him. I tuck the badge into the breast pocket of his blue button up. “I resign effective immediately.”
“Nora,” he pleads.
“Look, Dan,” I say and poke at his chest. “You don’t seem to understand that this isn’t a choice for me. It’s Nikki over it all. Over the department. Over my job. Over you.” I remove my finger and run my hand through my hair. “She’s worth it all a thousand times over. She’s my partner at work and in life.” I shake my head and pull at my hair at the same time. “You’ve lost this round, Harney. Go home. This doesn’t involve the N.O.P.D.”
Dan’s mouth drops open as he starts to protest, John interrupts him, “She’s right, Dan. This is a Federal investigation. The N.O.P.D. can see themselves out of it. If we’re no longer welcome at the precinct, I’ll go with you to collect the things we have there.”
I can’t resist one last dig, “So with all due respect, sir, fuck off.”
Dan’s mouth claps shut. He spins on his heel and stalks off, barking at a few uniforms standing around.
“John, that job offer still stand?” I ask, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of my mouth.
Fuck Dan and fuck the department.
He nods. “The badges I left with you. Those were legit.”
I thought as much.
I sigh and head over to the passenger side of my car. I stick my upper half through the open window and pop the glove compartment. Buried underneath napkins, condiments, a black box and the registration and insurance card are two thin leather wallets. I pick them both up and right myself. I open one and see Nikki’s department I.D. photo staring back at me. She’s a bit younger in this one than in the one that she currently has, but it’s still my Nikki. I smile and pocket it. The other one is me. I flip it open to reveal the thin gold badge and fit the holder between my hip and pants.
The badge takes the spot of the one I just relinquished.
“Ann, what’s the game plan?” I ask my friend and current partner.
She grins. “Well, Agent Delaney, we need to get it together and regroup.” She winks at me and I feel my world right itself just a little.
This is going to work out.
We’re going to be fine and we’ll get Nikki and Jill back.
The neighborhood that’s our designated drop point is quiet. It’s mainly businesses, car places or tire shops. All of them are closed at eight-thirty at night. There’s the occasional car that drives past, but other than that, it’s the crickets and the gentle rumble of Frankie’s engine that keeps us company. After we left the scene of the wreck, we went back to the station and collected the case files.
Surprisingly enough, I didn’t get approached by anyone. Either the uni’s were too scared to talk or they just didn’t know what to make of the scene that Dan and I caused.
From there, we regrouped at home. We worked through a series of contingencies that we could live with. A back up plan and then John left to get started on trying to find out where Nikki and Jill are being held.
Bamby and Spencer left shortly after that to help their father prepare for Plan B.
That left Ann and I to get ready for tonight.
We showered, dressed and sat at the kitchen table to get everything else together. Ann and I have been sitting for nearly an hour. If he’s watching, he’ll know that we haven’t moved. We’ve sat and waited.
There’s not much else to do.
But with nine approaching and Ann and I in this weird…
I’m still pissed at her.
For her to think that I could…with Dan…
“You’re an ass,” I hiss into the quiet interior of my car.
Ann’s head whips my way and I jam a finger at her. “You know, I thought I’d just be able to go and do this with you, but…” I drum my fingers along the steering wheel. “I’m fucking still pissed at you even when we’re getting ready to…”
“N…”
“Shut up, Ann,” I snap at her. “You’re unbelievable. I mean I get it. John’s your partner. You have to trust him…” I shake my head. If she were… “If you were anyone else, you know?” I turn on the bench seat, prop my arm on the seat and use my hand to cradle my head. “Dan took me out about two months ago and handed me the paperwork that I tossed at you last night. I didn’t know he did it.”
I lick my lips and look around. “I didn’t really…it was an opportunity that I didn’t think was open for me. With Nikki and me out at work, things haven’t been bad. Easier in some regards, but…” I turn back to Ann and see her studying me. “You know cops. The rumors, the speculation and chatter. There’s a few, more than I probably know, that think our asses were saved because of who Nikki’s father is. Because she has money.”
“Nora,” I let her get my name out, but stop her with an upturned hand.
“Do you know what really saved our jobs?” I ask her knowing that she doesn’t. She shakes her head. “Nikki’s aunt had a standing roll in the hay with one of our superiors. She threatened to call him on the carpet.” I snort, it’s derisive and harsh. “That girl, Ann…you have no idea the risks she’s taken for me.”
“I’m sorry,” she says earnestly.
I shrug. I know she is. “She barely talks to her aunt, uncle and cousins. The only family she really has is her dad and Darius. Darius’ meemaw, she’s taken both of us in, but…” The next words catch in my throat and I cough. “The promotion it meant a lot. A chance to…I just want to take care of her, Ann. Give her what she deserves. The new title would mean a bump in pay and more opportunity…she deserves that and so much…”
“She loves you, Nora, what makes you think that she wants more than what you’ve already given her?” Ann asks, but she doesn’t get it.
“It’s not about what she wants, it’s what I want to give her,” I answer her. “I want to be able to provide for her and I know…Casey says that I need to get my head out of my ass and get rid of some of those traditional ideas about…”
I look up at the ceiling. This is actually damn near impossible to get out. It’d be easier… I reach over and pop open the glove compartment. Probably not the best place to keep this, but…oh well. I grab the little black box and pull it out of the glove compartment. I put it in Ann’s lap and explain, “Don’t be mad, but Jill helped. She uh, she helped with the design.”
I watch her open the box and point to the Lucinda cut engagement ring Jill and I decided on. The setting has two accent stones in a platinum band. “Remember, right before her birthday, she said she had to go to New York for a few days?”
“Yeah, she met with her agent…”
“And she also picked this up for me,” I admit.
Ann let’s lose a shuddery breath, “Wow. I’m kicking my wife’s ass for not telling me.”
The bark of laughter is sudden and loud. Ann’s joke breaks away the anger I was holding on to.
“Yeah,” I say and wipe a tear from the corner of my eye. “She did good though.”
“So…” Ann lets it trail off and closes the Tiffany and Company box. She places it back in my hand and grins. “Marriage, eh, Delaney?”
I duck my head and nod. “I…” I look up and meet my first girlfriend’s twinkling blue eyes. “I think it’s time I make an honest woman out of her.” My lips quirk into a lopsided smile.
Ann’s arms shoot out and pulls me into her side. She kisses my cheek, my temple and the corner of my mouth. “You’re going to have your hands full,” she jibes.
I snicker. “I know.”
“If we weren’t getting ready to give ourselves over to a sociopath, babe, I’d so take you out to celebrate,” she says and tweaks my nose.
I roll my eyes. “Well, I need to get the girl to safety before I propose. Oh, yeah, and find a new job.”
“You have one. We can work logistics later. Y’know after we get out of this mess,” Ann grins at me. It’s the same grin she flashed sixteen years ago that caused me to go get that cup of coffee with her. That smile she’s sending me changed my life.
“It’s almost nine,” I note and look at the digital display of the stereo.
We both look around and see nothing but empty streets. I toss the box back in the glove compartment and close it.
“All’s quiet on the western front,” Ann mumbles. “All I want is one clean hit, Nora.”
“You and me both, hon. You and me both,” I agree.
I drum my fingers along the dashboard and perk up. We have a decent view of the area.
We look towards each other and shake our heads. “Let’s give it some time,” Ann says evenly.
I nod as the time on the display ticks to nine p.m.
I open my mouth to ask her to check her phone, but the back window shatters, swallowing my words.
We spin around as the car fills with smoke.
“Ann!” I choke out and watch a wave of darkness close in around us.
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