WMC DAY FIC
Title: Cindy Turns Thirty
Author: qbeck
Fandom: Women's Murder Club
Pairing: Lindsay/Cindy
Rating: NC-17: for language and sexual content
Summary: Lindsay wants to do something special for Cindy’s birthday, but things don’t go exactly as planned.
Disclaimers: Characters owned by James Patterson. I’m borrowing them for WMC day.
A/N: Story written in one night some time ago but never posted. Decided WMC was a good occasion to make it public. It’s somewhat corny and a little lame, but I believe still enjoyable for a L/C fan ;) Also don’t believe everything you read. I played around with some historical facts.
HALL OF JUSTICE, Jill’s office. Jill and Claire are going over the latter’s testimony for an upcoming trial. There’s a knock at the door. Both woman turn toward the sound as Lindsay enters carrying a large brown shopping bag.
“Jill, do you have a minute?” She asks. “Oh, hey Claire. I’m glad you’re here, too.” She adds after noticing her friend. “Sorry. Am I interrupting you guys?”
“We were prepping for court,” Jill admits. “But we could use a break.” Claire nods in agreement.
“What’s in the bag?” Claire leans over trying to peek in the package.
“Cindy’s birthday present. I just picked it up.” Lindsay reaches in and pulls out a stunning burgundy leather briefcase, adorned with the initials C.T in silver.
Jill whistles. “Nice”
“You really think so?”
“Absolutely. It’s gorgeous.”
Somewhat relieved, Lindsay still senses some hesitation on her friend’s part.
“But...”
Claire and Jill look at each other then back at Lindsay.
“Don’t get us wrong Sweetie, it’s beautiful,” Claire assures her.
“It’d be perfect for say…your friend the D.A. It’s just…”
“Not really romantic.” Lindsay sighs, finishing Jill’s thought.
“It’s more something a parent or grandparent would get her.” Claire offers.
Lindsay shakes her head and slumps down on the last unoccupied chair in the room. “You guys are right I blew it. I just have no idea what to get her. Nothing seems perfect enough. Thirty is a special birthday, and she is pretty special.” Lindsay adds the last part under her breath.
“Her birthday’s not for a few days yet. You can still come up with something spectacular.”
“Jill’s right. There’s still time. Nobody knows her better than you do, honey.” Claire says sympathetically. “You just have to think like Cindy.”
“Right.” Jill agrees.
Lindsay looks at her two friends, arching her eyebrow. “Think like Cindy.” Lindsay is not convinced she can. She lets out a long breath. “Alright. I’ll come up with something better. Now I just have to figure out what to do with this.” She holds up the briefcase. “I can’t return it because of the engraving. Not that I wanna make this about money, but it set me back almost three hundred dollars. Remind me again why I’m friends with you two?”
“Because we always tell it like it is.”
“And because Claire and I are gonna buy it from you and give it to Cindy.”
“We are?” Claire turns to Jill then back to Lindsay. “We are.” She repeats.
“Problem solved.” Jill smiles quite happy with herself.
“Yeah, except for the one where I have no birthday gift for my girlfriend.”
Later that night. Cindy is sitting in bed, typing away on her laptop, surrounded by sheets of paper. Lindsay stops in the doorway and admires the scene for a moment.
She smiles at the display in front of her. She is overcome by gratitude that this is what she gets to come home to. She can’t think of any words that would adequately express what she is feeling, what she feels on a daily basis, let alone think of a gift that would be worthy of Cindy.
Sensing Lindsay’s presence, Cindy looks up. “Hey, sorry for the mess.” She smiles sheepishly. “Let me get these out of the way.”
“What are you working on?” Lindsay joins her on the bed. They get under the covers.
“I’m researching Alcatraz lore. Next months is the 150th anniversary of the paper and we’re doing different historical pieces. I knew there were a lot of myths and legends and many of them of a paranormal nature, but I had no idea to what extent.”
“Alcatraz, ghost stories. That’s you’re bedtime reading material?”
“Well yeah. It’s fascinating.”
Lindsay Laughs. “You are a weirdo.”
“But a cute one, right?”
Lindsay leans in and kisses her softly. “Adorable. So my adorable weirdo, any thoughts on what you wanna do for your birthday.”
“Oh. I thought we’d just have dinner, maybe Suzie’s. You, me and the girls.”
“Nothing else you want?”
“I already have everything I want.” Cindy moves closer and slides her arm around Lindsay’s waist and pulls her in.
“There’s really nothing you wish for?”
“Hm…maybe my gorgeous girlfriend, wearing nothing but a red bow?”
“Let me amend my earlier statement. You are a weirdo and a perv.”
They laugh. Lindsay wraps her arms around Cindy. Draws her near. They kiss passionately. They make love, and later fall asleep in each other’s arms.
At Suzie’s, Lindsay, Cindy, Claire and Jill are enjoying after dinner drinks as Cindy starts opening her birthday gifts.
“Wow! Thank you guys. It’s amazing.” Cindy exclaims sincerely as she takes the briefcase out of a colorful box. “Really, thanks I love it.”
“You’re welcome, honey. Somebody with exquisite taste help pick it out for us.” Jill winks at Lindsay.
“A toast!” Claire raises her glass. “To Cindy! Welcome to the Grown-ups Club.”
“To Cindy!”
“So now that I’m thirty I’m a grown-up. Does that mean no more kid jokes?”
“I wouldn’t count on that.” Jill replies.
“Ah man.” Cindy crosses her arms and pouts exaggeratedly.
“Adorable.” Lindsay kisses her.
“Alright, Linds. Your turn.”
Lindsay looks at her watch. “Right it is time for my gift, but I’m afraid for that, we are going to have to wish you ladies a good evening and make our way out. Cindy and I are going on a field trip.”
Cindy perks up. “What? Where?”
“That’s a surprise.” Lindsay continues. She gets up puts a few twenty dollar bills on the table and extends her hand to Cindy. “Let’s go.”
“What is this place?” Cindy asks as they both get out of Lindsay’s car. Lindsay walks around the vehicle and leans next to Cindy against the passenger side door.
“Years ago before the Hall of Justice was constructed, this building housed the San Francisco police department for a while.”
“How come I didn’t know about that.” Cindy scans the two-story building.
“Before construction was finished on the Hall, the old police station was destroyed in the earthquake. Since this place was one of the few public places to have survived, authorities moved everything here, temporarily until the new building was ready. This had been the place where they achieved cold cases and evidence related to them.”
“What is it now?”
“After the Hall was completed, it went back to being the cold-cases achieve. Some of those cases date back to the gold rush era.”
“Amazing” Cindy looks at building like she has just discovered the Holy Grail. “I still don’t understand what we are doing here. You working on a cold case?”
“Not exactly. We usually can’t access this place in the evening…you know budget cuts, no security guard, not enough staff, there’s usually only one person working here. I suppose they figure no one would be interested in hundred-year old cases. Anyway, I called in a few favors and got us an all access pass.”
Cindy turns to her, a puzzled look on her face. “You mean we can read any case file look at any evidence we want?”
“Yes, we’ll have the whole place to ourselves. In there you’ll find Alcatraz information you can’t get on Wiki or Google.”
“That’s fantastic!!”
“Happy birthday, Baby”
“Thank you, so much.” Cindy raises her self on her toes and kisses Lindsay.
Lindsay wants to make it last longer, but she stops her self and pulls back when she spots a car driving up. “Ah, there she is.”
They both make their way to the vehicle immobilized near the front door.
“Hey Marcy!” Lindsay shakes the woman’s hand. “This is Cindy.”
“Nice to meet you, Cindy. I understand this is a special day for you.”
“It sure hasn’t disappointed so far.”
“Marcy is in charge of this place. Thanks again for coming out here at night.”
“No problem. So, as I told Lindsay you can walk around, look at, read anything you want; just make sure you put everything back after you’re done.”
Cindy nods emphatically, “Or course.”
“I have an office on the first floor by the entrance. I’ll catch up on paper work, and try to stay out of your way. And if you need copies, let me know I can make some for you.”
“Thank you, this is great.” Cindy smiles broadly.
The three of them walk in. Marcy punches in the security code and turns on the lights.
“Here is my office, there’s a bathroom down the hall way. Cases are filed chronologically, starting on the second floor. Lindsay mentioned you might want look at Alcatraz files, you’ll find them upstairs. The more recent cases, which would be around 1970’s like your Zodiac files, those are in the basement. Also in the basement, you’ll find evidence rooms. Here.” Marcy hands Lindsay pass key.
“That’s about it. If you have any questions, I’ll be in here. Come find me when you’re ready to leave.”
“Wow this is amazing, thank you again, so much for trusting us with this.”
“Me and Lindsay go back a long way. Did she tell you she introduced me to my husband?” Cindy shakes her head no. “Anyway, I owe your girlfriend a lot. I’m happy I’m able to repay her.”
On the second floor, Lindsay and Cindy have found a table on which they have several files open and sprawled out and are looking at old pictures of crime scene.
“Isn’t interesting how some things in crime fighting have changed over the years while some have remained exactly the same?” Cindy asks, staring at an old photo.
“What do you mean?”
“Like how forensics science has evolved from fingerprints to being able to map an individual entire genetic history with a drop of blood. But if you look at these crime photos, they say so much.” Cindy pushes the picture in front of Lindsay. “Even from a seventy-year old murder. Look at this guy, you can practically read the terror into his eyes. He totally knew his killer.”
“You’re right.”
Lindsay turns her head, watches Cindy quietly as she flips through more crime scene photo of an era gone by. Sensing Lindsay’s eyes on her she looks up. “What?”
“Nothing…just you are-“
“Such a weirdo?”
“No. completely adorable.”
Cindy sighs and rolls her eyes, but lets Lindsay’s lips touch hers in a sweet prolonged kiss.”
“So, you’re honestly having a good time?”
“Are you kidding? I have practically the entire San Francisco crime history at my fingertips. I’m having a great time! Best birthday ever.”
Lindsay smiles, genuinely relieved.
Behind the Archives building, a van pulls up near the door. The driver comes out and walks around to the rear. Mid-twenties, he is scrawny and wearing a baseball cap. A second man exits the vehicle. Over a black t-shirt, he is wearing plaid shirt with the sleeves cut off. He joins his partner at the back of the van. Standing next to him there is a visible weight discrepancy. Plaid shirt guy is definitely fatter than the other one. Together they open the door a third man is revealed. He gets out but not before grabbing a metal tool box. The other two are dwarfed by is substantial stature.
“C’mon Mitch security panel is over here.” The tiny one says.
The giant silently walks over to the building and starts working on deactivating the security system.
“You sure this is gonna work?”
“Yes! Goddammit, Frankie. How many more times are you gonna ask me the same fucking question? I been casing this place for weeks. Trust me, no one knows this building or what’s in it better than I do. Now, go back to the van and get the fucking bags.”
Frankie does as he is told.
“How we doing, Mitch?”
“One more wire and the phone, internet connection and the alarm will be off. This is a pretty shitty system. I wouldn’t install this to protect my fucking dog house.”
“Lucky for us the City is run by idiots, who’d sooner cut public building security budget, than lose their expense accounts.”
“There you go, Trey.”
Trey looks at Frankie handing him the bags. “Just keep’em with you until I ask for them.” He lets out an exasperated breath and rolls his eyes.
“Fine!” Frankie sneers and clenches his jaw
“I’m in.” Mitch announces.
“Alright let’s go over the plan. Frankie and me are gonna go in, find the evidence room get the stuff and come back out. Mitch you stay by the van and wait for us. Easy as that. Like taking candy from baby.”
“You better be right, Trey says”
“I am will ya quit worrying so fucking much, already.”
“I did ten after getting caught on a job that was also supposed to be like taking candy from a baby. So you’ll excuse me if I’m skeptical.”
“Trust me this‘ll be the easiest 3.2 mil you’ll ever do.”
“It’ll be the only 3.2 mil I ever do, cause after that I’m done. I’m getting my old lady and we’re retiring to Cancun.”
“Alright, then. To retirement! Now let’s do this.”
They open the door slowly, but immediately notice the lights are on. Frankie looks angrily at Trey. “I thought you said this place is empty at night.”
“It is I swear. I’m sure there’s an explanation. Wait here a sec.”
Trey walks back the few steps to the outside and calls Mitch over. “When you were playing around in the panel, did you see if the lights were on some kinda timer?”
“Yeah, think so.”
“The lights are on inside.”
Mitch thinks about it for a sec. “If timer is de-programmed then the lights would automatically come on.”
“Alright, thanks. Hang tight. We’ll be out with the money in a few.”
Trey walks back inside the building and catches up to Frankie.
“So?”
“Everything’s cool. There’s nobody here. There’s an office at the front. The keys to all the evidence rooms are in there. We just need to find it and then we’ll have our dough.”
They walk down the hall that leads them to the entrance hall. Trey halts when he hears something.
“What?” Frankie whispers.
“Shhh.”
“Shit!” Trey spots Marcy crossing the hall on her way to her office. “What the fuck is she doing here?”
“Who?”
“Her.” Trey points in front of him.
“You said nobody was here at night.”
“Nobody is, usually. Fuck! Fuck! She wasn’t supposed to be here.”
Frankie drops one of the bags. Marcy hears the sound, and doubles back.
“Lindsay? You down here?”
Frankie takes something out of his coat pocket.
“What the hell is that?”
“Insurance.”
“Are you fucking crazy? Who told you to bring a gun?”
On the second floor, Cindy and Lindsay are beginning to put the Alcaraz file back together, taking care to replace every page and photo in the way they found them.
“Wow this article is gonna rock. Thanks again for bringing me here.”
“You’re so welcome, but you’re article would have rocked regardless.”
Cindy turns to Lindsay and gives the look that always turns her insides into jelly, and then picks up a small stack off the table. “I guess I’m gonna go see if Marcy can make copies of these for me.”
“Okay, I’ll finish placing those back on the shelves and then I’ll catch up with you.”
“Cool”
Cindy turns to walk away, but Lindsay holds her by the belt loop. Cindy swivels around, and smiles at Lindsay pointing to her lips. Cindy obliges the request, then is free to be on her way.
As she approaches the top of the stares, Cindy is surprised by the sound of voices; she hears at least two male voices. She doesn’t yet understand the exact words they are saying, but judging by the tone, no one down there is a happy camper. She hopes Marcy isn’t getting reprimanded for letting Lindsay and her inside the building after office hours. She slows downs and threads carefully as she reaches the top step. The voices are getting louder. She can now make out part of the conversation; angry words, blaming, and a lot of cussing. Her heart starts pounding faster. Her palms are sweaty. She crouches down and as quietly as she can, makes her way down a few steps, until she can see the lobby while at the same time remain hidden. Through the handrail bars she observes the scene. Cindy can now identify where the voices come from. Two man; thugs really, how does Marcy know them, she wonders. The smaller of the two seems very agitated, yelling and cursing at the big one. The big one meanwhile looks ready to snap him in two.
“What the hell is going on?” Cindy mutters.
When the scrawny one steps aside, Cindy gasps, but quickly covers her mouth. Her breathing accelerates. Oh God! Marcy is lying on the floor, motionless. Cindy spies, what appears to be blood dripping from her temple. Get up! Get Lindsay. She mentally orders herself, but she can’t seem to move. She stares down frozen.
“Shut the fuck up, Trey! I’m in charge, now! ” Until that moment, the big one hasn’t said much. His yell, however, startles Cindy and snaps her out of her paralysis. Very cautiously she starts to back up the stairs. She keeps an eye on the scene below until it disappears completely. She stands up and starts walking down the hall toward the place she and Lindsay were so happily occupying a minute ago. As soon as she feels it is safe to do so, she picks up her pace.
Lindsay is placing the last of the folders back in its spot when Cindy enters the room. She closes the door and leans on it. She is still. Her breathing is shallow and quick. With a concerned look on her face, Lindsay steps closer.
“Cindy, what’s wrong? You’re as white as a sheet.”
She doesn’t answer. Lindsay puts one hand on Cindy’s shoulder and with the other one, she gently touches her cheek.
“Cindy, honey. What happened?”
Cindy rambles an explanation.
“People…two men. In the lobby. They’re looking for …oh God…Marcy I don’t think she is but…she’s not moving…”
“Cindy, look at me. Take a deep breath.”
Cindy follows the suggestion.
“Okay. Now, what did you see?”
“When I got to the stairs I heard voices. I hid my self and I saw two guys. They must be early thirties. They were fighting...well more like one of them was yelling at the other. He was yelling at the one who had the gun. They’re looking for something, and were not expecting anyone to be here.”
“What about Marcy?” Lindsay husks soothingly. Cindy is still visibly trembling. She shakes her head.
“I don’t know. She was on the floor. There was blood on the side of her head.”
Cindy sounds desperate, and tears up. “I couldn’t tell if she was alive or…” She can’t get the word out. She’s just met the woman, but she liked her immediately. The thought of her life ending so tragically, shakes Cindy to her very core. Lindsay pulls her in a tight embrace.
“It’s gonna be okay.” Lindsay hopes she sounds convincing enough.
She releases Cindy, and then bends down to retrieve her backup gun; the small .38 pistol she straps to her ankle. Observing her, Cindy wipes her eyes.
“Thank God for your police paranoia.” She cracks, in an effort to regain her composure.
“I prefer to think of it as my boy-scout-always prepared-ness.”
Cindy smiles halfheartedly.
“Okay. I’m gonna check things out.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“No! You stay here. Lock the door and don’t open it until I come get you.”
“Linds.”
“Cindy, I mean it. Besides I need you to get a hold of Jacobi or Tom and tell’em what’s going on.”
“Okay. Be careful.”
Lindsay steps closer and kisses Cindy on the top of her head. “Always.” She whispers. Next she opens the door slowly, surveys the area. “Lock the door.” She instructs one more time before exiting.
…To Be Continued…
PART II
With her gun drawn, Lindsay makes her way slowly down the stairs. She surveys the scene in front of her. Just like Cindy said there are two men, only one of which appears to be armed. Painfully she notices Marcy on the floor. About to reach the last step, she assesses the situation. The big guy, the one with the gun, has his back turned to her, which gives her the edge. However when she makes her move the smaller guy will see her. She mustn’t give him time to warn his cohort. She thinks for a second, there isn’t a lot of time to spare, Cindy is trapped upstairs, and Marcy is on the floor bleeding. If Marcy is alive, she is badly hurt and needs medical attention. She takes another look at the big guy. He’s holding the gun in his right hand alongside his leg. Only one thing to do.
Lindsay steps onto the marble ground, and swiftly moves towards the intruder resting the muzzle of her pistol against the guy’s head.
“Don’t move.”
“What the fu-?”
Lindsay grabs his gun.
“Let go.” She orders.
When he doesn’t obey, she presses her own harder on the guy’s skull. He releases his weapon. Lindsay takes it and secures it between the small of her back and her pant waist.
“Get over there.” She barks as she pushes him towards his partner. While keeping an eye on them, she bends down and puts two fingers on Marcy’s neck. She is relieved to feel a pulse. It’s faint, but it’s there. She rises up again.
“Listen, Lady it was an accident, we got lost, and wanted directions. When she saw us I guess she got scared …” Trey is scrambling for a story.
“Save it.” Lindsay shuts him up. “What are you looking for in here?”
They stay mute.
“What’s with the bags?”
“Okay, okay.” Trey starts again. “We can cut you in. There’s plenty to go around.”
“Shut the fuck up you moron! I told you you’re not in charge anymore.”
“She’s pointing a gun at our fucking heads; I’m just trying to get us out of here alive.”
“You wouldn’t have to, if you didn’t do a half-assed job to start with. For all I know she’s your bitch and your plan all along was to off me and Mitch and keep all bonds.”
“What!? Are you brain-dead?”
“Hey! Dumb and Dumber!” Lindsay shouts. “Nobody’s keeping anything. You’re escapade stops here.”
“She’s not Trey’s girl. She’s a cop.”
Upstairs Cindy is pacing scrolling her Blackberry impatiently, trying to find Tom Hogan’s number. She had no luck reaching Jacobi, could only leave a message on his voice mail.
“Ah finally there it is.”
Before she can it call, the phone beeps intrusively. “Battery low, of course.” She pushes the button. Unfortunately, she gets another out-going message instead of a live voice. “Tom, it’s Cindy. I’m with Lindsay, and we’re at…I don’t even know where we are I didn’t pay attention. Lindsay took me to an old San Francisco achieves building, the one the police used before the hall was completed. Anyway, something is going down. Two guys broke in and at least one of them is armed. Send help.”
Beep, beep. She hears the cell, again.
“Hurry!” Cindy hangs up.
“Maybe, Jill or Claire.” She thinks aloud. Claire goes straight to voicemail. She doesn’t leave a message, afraid battery juice is running low. She tries Jill.
“Hey, Cindy! Why aren’t you celebrating with your girl? She do something wrong?” Jill says teasingly.”
“What? No, no.”
“Then why are you calling is it-.”
“Jill just shut up, a second! Linds and I are in trouble.”
“What’s happening?” Jill asks, very seriously now.”
“Do you know where Lindsay took me?”
Silence
“Jill? Jill!....Dammit!!!”
The phone is dead. Cindy closes her eyes and hopes someone has understood her.
In the lobby, Lindsay is still keeping Trey and Frankie at bay, trying to negotiate a safe exit for all concerned.
“She looks like a cop to me.” A voice coming from her right says.
Lindsay turns her head slowly, while holding her gun pointed at the two men in front of her. A huge guy - six feet four, two-hundred and eighty pounds, she estimates quickly - aiming a shot gun at her, he is standing about two meters away.
“Jesus, am I the only one who didn’t bring a gun?” Trey complains
Frankie turns to him with a look of contempt.
“What are you two fuck-ups, doing? I thought this was supposed to take a couple of minutes. I been waiting forever out there”
“Well, as you can see we ran into a little snag.” Frankie snarls back.
Mitch steps closer to Lindsay and disarms her. Her mind starts going a mile a minute. Rattling thoughts, one after the other; how to get out of this situation. Situation she feels greatly responsible for. Of course, part of her knows she could in no way have predicted this turn of event, but still, they wouldn’t be here had it not been for her.
Frankie approaches her, too. He retrieves his gun.
“Thanks, bitch.”
“Trey! Go in there.” Mitch points to Marcy’s office. “Get a chair and something to tie her with.”
“You were right. I am a cop. And just before I came down here I called for back-up. In a minute this whole building will be surrounded. The only way you can get out of this is if you all stop this train right here.”
“I think you’re bluffing,” Frankie gets in her face. “Ain’t, no other pigs comin’.”
Trey brings the chair and sets it down next to Lindsay.
“Sit.” Mitch orders her. “Tie her down.”
Trey steps behind, and using the extension cord he took from Marcy’s office binds Lindsay’s wrist behind her.
“Ow! Easy.”
“Sorry.” Trey says under his breath.
“Okay, now you two take the bags and get those bonds, so we can get outta here. I’ll stay here and watch her.”
When Trey and Frankie have left the room, Lindsay resumes her negotiation tactics. That’s all she has; that, and the hope that Cindy has reached help.
“I wasn’t bluffing. The Police are on their way.”
“We’ll be gone by the time they get here.” Mitch stares in silence for a second then adds with a smirk, “Or we’ll all die in a shooting bloodbath.” He opens his coat and reveals his arsenal: two revolvers and a 9mm Beretta.
Cindy is wearing a hole on the floor. She keeps looking at her watch. Lindsay has been gone too long. Something is not right. She checks her phone again, but she knows it’s useless. She needs a plan.
Bang!
Cindy jumps. “Jesus!” It’s an all too familiar sound that resonates through the building. Immediately her thoughts take her to the most painful scenario. She shakes it out of her head. She can’t go there. She can’t stay here either. She runs to the door, unlocks it, peeks out and checks both sides before going ahead. On her way to the staircase, she stops briefly to grab something from the wall. It’ll have to do.
Frankie has blown the lock off the evidence room door.
“Make more noise why don’t you?”
“We would have been all night waiting for you to find the right key.”
“I was so sure there was a pass key on this ring.”
“Yeah, just like everything else you’ve been so sure of in this fucked up plan of yours. Alright let’s get in there and find our retirement fund.”
She really didn’t think about this a lot. There wasn’t really any time, though, so now improvisation and luck are her best allies. Cindy looks around but can’t see the two men from before. She spots Lindsay but her relief is short-lived. She is looking at the barrel of a shot gun, the guy holding it is new to Cindy, and he is gigantic. Cindy moves slowly but surely towards her target. Lindsay sees her approaching. They both must be extremely careful not to alert the goon. Cindy gauges the distance and as soon as she feels confident enough, takes a quiet deep breath, and raises her weapon above her head. She only has one shot. She has to make it count. The fire extinguisher must weigh about ten pounds. Cindy holds it up for a second, and then lets it fall and hit the base of the guy’s neck with all the force she can muster.
He jerks forward an inch, and growls. Slowly he turns around. Cindy is now facing him. She backs away, shaking. He stretches one arm in front of him in an attempt to grab her. Cindy barely avoids him. Unexpectedly, he lets go of his gun. His eyes roll to the back of his head, and he drops to the ground like a three-hundred pound sack of brick. Cindy walks around him quickly and reaches Lindsay.
“Oh God! Linds, are you okay?” Cindy unties her as fast as she can. “I was going out of my mind. Then I heard a gun shot…”
“I’m okay.” She stands up, rubbing her wrists.
Cindy wraps her in a crushing hug. Lindsay hugs her back. “I’m okay.” She repeats soothingly. “But I thought I told you to stay put.”
“Really? You’re gonna yell at me now?”
“No, I just wanna say, I love you for never listening to me.” She winks. “Okay, we better move. The shot you heard came from downstairs the other two went to get some bonds. Did you get a hold of anybody?” Lindsay asks, as she’s opening Mitch’s coat to look for her gun.
“Only voicemail. I left messages, but then my phone died.”
“Alright, let’s hope one got through.”
“What about Marcy? Is she…?”
“No, no. She’s alive. They knocked her out pretty hard, but she should be fine. We need to get her to a hospital, though.”
“I’ll try the phone in her office.” Cindy runs in, only to come out a moment later.
“No dial tone.”
“They must have cut the line when they by-passed the security system.” Lindsay concludes. “If we move fast we can get her to my car. You’ll drive her to the hospital while I take care of this here.”
“No!” Cindy shouts. “I’m not leaving you alone here without back up. No way!”
“Cindy we don’t have time to argue about this. The other two we’ll be back any minute.”
“Where the fuck did she come from?”
Lindsay and Cindy turn around. Trey, holding two filled bags, and Frankie are standing across from them. Frankie points his gun at Cindy.
“Drop it bitch. Or she dies!”
“I think she has time to shoot you before you shoot me.”
“Trey, get the shot gun.”
Trey sets the bags on the floor and moves towards Mitch’s discarded weapon, but Cindy is faster. She kicks it to the other side just before Trey has his hand on it. However he’s gotten close enough to grab Cindy and pull her in Frankie’s direction. Trey walks across the room and picks up the shot gun. He then gathers up the bags.
Clenching her jaw, Lindsay continues to point her gun at Frankie. She looks for a clear shot, put he is hiding behind Cindy using her as a shield.
“Let her go!” She barks. “And you two can walk out of here with your money. Nobody else has to get hurt.”
“We will, maybe, probably. We’ll release her when we’re on the other side of the border.” Slowly they back away towards the hallway that will lead them to the rear exit and their get away van. “Meanwhile, I think we’ll keep her as insurance. She might even be fun entertainment.” Frankie strokes Cindy’s cheek with the muzzle of his gun.”
“You know, asshole, as soon as you escape, I’m coming after and hunting you like the animal you are. And if you hurt her, I’m gonna kill.
“Well, good luck with that.”
Trey and Frankie are almost halfway to the back door. When a voice coming through a loud speaker, crackles from outside.
“This is the San Francisco police! The building is surrounded. Come out with your hands up.” Red and blue flashes of light shine through the front window.
“Fuck it! I’m done.” Trey puts the gun and the canvas bags down raises his hands above his head and heads to the front door.
“Fuck you Trey! Trey come back here! You dragged me into this fucked up plan and you think you gonna walk away, and sell me out? I told you I been to prison, and I ain’t going back. Never!”
Frankie fires. Trey falls to the floor. Blood starts oozing immediately. Frankie fires at Lindsay next, but she ducks out of the way avoiding the bullet.
“Fuck!” Frankie accelerates towards the rears dragging Cindy with him.
He stops suddenly, then starts moving forward. On the way, he drops his weapon to the floor. Puzzled, Lindsay frowns, but her expression quickly morphs into a smile when she spots Jacobi pushing Frankie.
Cindy breaks free of her would-be kidnapper’s hold and runs into Lindsay’s arms.
Two days later, Lindsay comes home, after dinner, having given the last details of her statement. She walks directly to the bedroom. She finds Cindy, wearing pink boxers and a white camisole, sitting on the bed, once again typing furiously on her laptop. She stares silently for a moment.
“I don’t think I’ll ever tire of that image.”
“Huh?” Cindy looks up pushing back her glasses.”
Lindsay smiles. “How’s the article coming?”
“Great. My editor loves all the old stuff especially those rare inside pictures of the cells.” She glances at the clock radio. “You’re home kinda late. Everything go okay?”
“Yeah we’re done. My part anyway. They’ll talk to you tomorrow, and as soon as she’s up to it, Marcy’ll give her statement.”
“How is she?”
“Better. Doctor says she could be out in a week or so.”
“Thank God. I don’t know if I could have forgiven myself if…”
“Cindy, don’t go there. It all turned out fine. Freaky coincidence that those guys chose that night.”
“I know. What’s going to happen to the bonds?”
“I have no idea. First they have to figure out who they belong to. There are already half a dozen lawyers involved, so who knows how long that’s going to take.”
Cindy nods. “I wish some of it could go to Marcy for all the pain it cost her.”
“Yeah. Do you plan on working much longer?”
“No, just one more paragraph, then I’ll put everything away.”
“Okay. I’m just taking a quick shower then I’ll join you.”
“Good. Looking forward to it.” She smiles broadly.
Leaning against the headboard, Cindy is resting her eyes while waiting for Lindsay to come back.
“Is this what you had in mind?”
Cindy opens her eyes and sits up. She swallows hard; mumbles something like ‘yes’. She is quite speechless. Lindsay is standing in the door way, hair not completely dry, wearing nothing but a red satin ribbon. The sash is draped across her body covering one of her breast but nothing else.
“I’ll take your silence as a sign of approval.”
Cindy nods emphatically, her arousal immediate. Lindsay is literally breathtaking.
She advances slowly towards the bed. “I figured; Cindy turns thirty, she deserves at least one thing she wished for.”
“Happy birthday to me.” Cindy finally manages to say in a husked voice.
Once she reaches the edge of the bed, Lindsay lets the sash fall to the floor. She puts one knee down on the mattress, and then, on all four, she proceeds to crawl to Cindy. She approaches her like a lioness ready to pounce on her prey.
Cindy’s breathing quickens. She feels her heart against her ribcage and delightfully painful throbs between her legs. Lindsay is on top now, straddling while holding on to the headboard, her arms stretching on each side of Cindy, essentially trapping her. Not that Cindy wants to escape. Anticipation feels her body. Lindsay starts attacking her mouth. Sucking and licking. Lindsay is setting the game plan, but Cindy isn’t totally passive. She grabs a handful of dark damp hair and pulls Lindsay closer, deepening the kiss. She lets her other hand roam freely on Lindsay’s back and then slowly brings it to the front. She moves it up to cup Lindsay’s right breast, teasing her nipple with her thumb. Suddenly Lindsay pulls back, lets go of the head board, and brings her hands to Cindy’s waist. Expertly, she removes Cindy’s top. She looks, admiringly.
“You’re so beautiful.” She husks.
Cindy leans forward for more of the kiss, but Lindsay backs up, and smiles mischievously. She grabs Cindy’s thighs and pulls her down gently. Cindy looks up as Lindsay lowers herself and closes the gap between them, eyes dark with lust and want. Being the object of Lindsay’s desire is the most exciting thing Cindy has ever felt. Lindsay brushes hair away from Cindy’s face and tenderly kisses her cheek, then her jaw line, moving leisurely to her neck. Cindy turns, allowing Lindsay more access. She takes full advantage, kissing and licking her way down to Cindy’s chest. Lindsay takes care of a nipple craving attention, while her left hand makes its way south. She glides her hand down Cindy’s abdomen, barely touching skin, triggering happy shivers under her fingertips. She reaches the boundary of fabric, she slips past it. Her fingers are met with unmistakable evidence of craving. Cindy’s breath catches. Lindsay smiles against her breast. As always, when they make love, they find the perfect rhythm. Cindy’s hips seamlessly following Lindsay delicate probing.
Lindsay resumes her journey down Cindy’s body leaving wet kiss along the way. Meanwhile, accelerating the movements of her fingers. Cindy grabs fists full of bed sheets, and digs head into the pillow. A moment later, with absolute ease, Lindsay removes the last piece of clothing covering Cindy and discards it carelessly.
Lindsay sits on her heels between Cindy’s legs. She strokes them softly. Unabashedly, Cindy spreads her knees apart revealing glistening beauty. Lindsay’s breath is now taken away. She stares in awe. Her excitement is visible and she can also sense it between her own legs. Lindsay can’t resist for long, she bends down and starts greedily delighting in the feast before her. Cindy squirms under her. Lindsay runs her hands up and down Cindy’s sides, managing to relax her while her tongue explores relentlessly every part of Cindy’s center. Cindy reaches down to meet Lindsay’s hand. She locks their fingers together and squeezes while a moan escapes her throat.
After a moment, Lindsay crawls back up and joins Cindy, who is trying to catch her breath, on the pillow. She kisses her temple. Cindy turns to face her.
“Thank you.” She whispers.
“Believe me it was my pleasure.
Cindy kisses her sweetly. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Now give me a minute to recuperate, and then I can thank you properly.” Cindy wiggles her eyebrows.
Lindsay laughs. “Alright. Looking forward to it.
THE END