Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Murder at the Olin Part 5 - Good Neighbours

Vincent DiAntoni had been more than usually happy when his father announced he would be spending the weekend in Vancouver with some new girlfriend. His father wasn't usually around, and when he was, it was argument after argument. But it only happened when his father was drunk ... which was about 90% of the time. But Vincent was glad to have the house to himself, as his gut was in knots ever since he's opened that bag at the laundromat.

He remembered a couple weeks back when the moving trucks has moved a lady into the apartment above them. As it turned out, she was a cop, which automatically made Vincent nervous as his father hated cops for many reasons, probably not the least of reasons being his neglect and occasional abuse of his fourteen year old son.

But now, Vincent needed to drop off this bag of ... really shady stuff. He had showered and put on clean jeans and a long sleeved baseball shirt. He kept his clothes and apartment clean ... like his mother would have. But she was dead now, and his father Gino wouldn't or couldn't be bothered.

Once dressed, Vincent took the bag out of its hiding place, never once having considered asking his father what to do. He took a deep breath and hefted the bag, leaving his apartment and taking the stairs to the second floor. Taking another deep breath, he lifted his hand and knocked.

Darcy was sleeping in, which she rarely did. Last night's stakeout had been an emotionally heavy one. She was dreaming again and thrashing fitfully. It was always the same dream, reliving the horror of that one fateful night in Afghanistan. She had been called in to get some refugees out by chopper and had landed it in what was once a school field beside a school turned shelter. As some other peacekeepers ran in she and two others held cover between the chopper and the building. It was open, to open and the whole team was twitchy. Just as they were bringing the first family out a shot rang out from the edge of the field. The snipers had been perfectly camouflaged in the trees. Darcy heard her commander yell "Fire on the trees!" and they emptied their rounds. Four snipers dropped out and fell dead to the ground. She and another soldier ran to check the tree line before the refugees were moving again. It seemed clear. Darcy stopped beside one of the fallen snipers. This was one she hit with her fire. She couldn't tell if it was a male or a female but the headscarf had loosened. She pulled out her flashlight and shone it as she gave a little tug on the scarf and then gasped. He was barely more than a child, tall for his age maybe but no more than 14. He had a sweet smooth face and beautiful brown eyes with long lashes. The eyes were still open but empty of life and his jaw was slack, blood on his lips and teeth indicated he had coughed some up and suffered before he left the world. Darcy shot straight up in bed and then the sobbing started. It came from a deep place inside her like a wound that would never close. She curled into a ball on her bed and let it take her instead of fighting it like she used to. Her counselor had told her this was part of the healing. She hated every minute of it. Cried out and raw from her core she started to rise from the bed, only to hear knocking at her door. She stumbled to the door and looked through the peephole. Darcy was decent in pajama pants and an old tshirt but it was that kid from the second floor, just who she wanted to run into after her flashback dream, another tall for his age 14 year old with big brown eyes. She sighed and opened the door, putting on a smile "Hello?" He was holding a duffel bag and looking nervous.

Vincent bit his lip when the door opened and it was obvious to him that this woman had been asleep. Waking his father was always a disaster. He gulped audibly, still clutching the duffel. "Um .... sorry if I woke you. Officer. I just ... yea ... I ... I found this in the laundromat and .... um ... " he curses himself for his nervousness.


Darcy softened at his nervousness "It's OK. I should be up anyways. Come in. Let's take a look on the kitchen table.......Vincent right? You can call me Darcy." She had heard his name, heard a man, who she assumed was the kid’s father, scream it at him from the floor below unfortunately.

Vincent nodded slightly. "Yea ... I'm Vincent. DiAntoni." he comes in cautiously, looking around as all curious kids do. Of course the kitchen is right off the front door. "OK, so I was doing the laundry, like always. And I went across the street for hot chocolate and a snack while the clothes dry. I came back and I'm putting the dry clothes i the basket and .. I was sort of on auto-pilot, right?" he rambles as he sets the bag on the table. "And I go in this drier and realize that the clothes aren't mine and my Dad's and this bag is in it. I mean, I opened it and when I saw this, I was like holy shit and I just took it home. I mean some kid might have found it instead of me." he says as if he is some forty year old citizen instead of a kid himself. He withdraws his hands and looks at the bag.


Darcy listens to Vincent, starting to look fascinated by his maturity at 14, and nods along while she reaches to unzip the bag after he sets it down. She starts to speak as she unzips but then halts and stares at the contents wide eyed "Auto pilot on laundry at your aaaa..........Oh.......my god!" She steps back now in cop mode "Vincent, did you handle any of this stuff? This is evidence. I need to get my gloves....."


Vincent shakes his head. "No way ... I mean no way ma'am. Officer. I opened it and saw the gun and closed it." he holds up both of his hands as if proving he didn't touch it. "Wait ... evidence?" he arches his brows wondering if he'd missed something. Then he remembers hearing about the dead guy in the trees and his eyes widen.


Darcy walks to a bureau by the front door with her work stuff and puts on a pair of latex gloves. She picks through the bag finding a black ski mask and clothing, an assault rifle, a switchblade and a handgun. She examines the handgun and nods to herself. This was likely the weapon that killed Roy Carver. She looks up at Vincent "Good job kid. Why didn't you take this to the station or call it into the tips line? You could still probably get the cash reward for the tip." As she talks she walks back to the bureau and picks up her work cell.

Vincent stares at the weapons and then looks up when he is spoken to. "My father hates cops, so I just ... I mean I saw you in uniform so I thought it would be okay to turn it into you." he blinks at the mention of a reward. "Well, I did it so no kid would find it and shoot themselves, but I won't say no to money. I'm saving to move out, if I can." the last few words sound doubtful.

Darcy holds up a finger as she makes a call. Reporting this is time sensitive and she can talk to Vincent after. She walks to the bedroom to be discreet and calls it into the station. A car is dispatched to pick up the evidence,


She comes back into the room "Hates cops hey? At least I know which door not to knock on if I need a cup of flour from a neighbour. How old are you Vincent?"


Vincent looks around the place while she is gone, feeling decidedly nervous. When she comes back and poses her question, he shrugs. "Well, you can ... my Dad's gone most of the time and when he isn't he's in his room, if he isn't giving me a hard time." he shrugs again. "I'm fourteen. A ... music student at the Academy." he pauses, always hesitant about saying what instrument he plays.



Darcy's apartment is spotlessly clean. She has photographic prints mounted on the wall that look like pictures from a National Geographic spread on the middle east and others from remote parts of Canada, glaciers from the Arctic, glorious waterfalls and sheer cliff faces, all taken from what would have to be a view in the air. There are also framed photographs of her family around. Her father by a fighter plane in his uniform from when he was younger, her parents at a table holding champagne at their 25th anniversary, A few groups of four shots from different eras revealing that Darcy has a twin sister. In one picture Darcy is in her army uniform, going off on her first tour. Her sister Marianne clings to her in a strappy little dress and heels like she's trying to drag her away from leaving. Their parents standing behind them both looking like their hearts are full of pride.

Darcy chuckles and then says with a look of dawning "The harp? Is that you? You're really good!"



Once she comes back, Vincent boldly stands and wanders into her living room, looking at all of the pictures until she mentions the harp. Then he turns red. "Thanks. My mother taught me at first ... She got me into the Academy ... I've been on the waiting list since I was ten." he sounds n between pride and shame. "Dad says it's a girl's instrument, so that makes me .. I dunno .. gay I guess." his eyes drop to the floor. She's probably heard his father yelling at him about being a real man and the like.

Darcy sighs. What a horrible father this kid has to have, She looks kindly at Vincent "You have a gift Vincent. There are no girls or boys instruments. And gay should never be an insult, ever. Don't let anyone take away your joy. I love hearing you play. And you're at the right school from what I hear." She notices where his gaze was and gestures at a picture of a bustling market "That's the Sarposha Bazaar in Kandahar City. It was the most interesting place in Afghanistan. You could almost forget there was a war going on....and they had music every day. Nothing like harps, mostly lutes and lyres, but still lovely to hear when you're haggling over the price of figs."

Vincent simply shrugs. "I don't think I'm gay. I've been with girls." he 'defends' himself. "I like playing ... and I'm glad you like it too." he perks up at the picture. "War must be pretty bad. I play the lyre too. Miss Woll ... she teaches strings ... she has me doing both." he shrugs. "I'm supposed to play at the Winter Festival?" he says it like he doesn't exactly know what that is, which is possible, since he is new to town, just like she is. "My lyre is hidden, tho. Don't tell my Dad I have it, please. It cost me two thousand bucks. My father won't destroy the harp, because it was my mother's, and her mothers and back through who knows how long. I make extra money ... or I used to playing on the streets in Toronto. I probably will in Vancouver once we're settled in."


Darcy laughs "Hey I wasn't assuming anything about your love life kid." More seriously she asks "How long ago did you lose your mom? If you don't mind my asking."


Vincent blushes. "Just saying is all." he sobers. "She died a couple years ago. She had brain cancer. Before she died, she took me to the bank and started me a bank account. I guess she knew what I was in for with my Dad." he shrugs. "Five thousand dollars. I spent two on the lyre. It's an antique. Celtic." he sounds proud of himself. "I restored it myself and it sounds pretty sweet!" he sighs. "I have some left. Sometimes I dip into it for extra money if my Dad's real bad, but I'm getting the two thousand back slowly." he sounds very proud of himself.

Frances Sharp walks up the stairs to the third floor and stops in front of Lynch's door. Curious she gives a knock.


Darcy looks pained at his story and is about to say something in reply when she hears the knock. She gives Vincent a little comforting pat on the shoulder instead and walks by him to the door and opens it. She smiles at Francis "Sharp, Hi. come on in. This is my neighbour Vincent. He turned in this bag this morning to me." She looks towards her kitchen table.


Vincent almost starts when the knock comes, but when Frank is let in he smiles. "Hey Miss Sharp." he lifts a hand to her.

Frank raises her brows. "Hey Vincent." she looks at Darcy. "I teach the keyboards and music history at the Academy." she pulls out some gloves and moves to the table. "Right. I'll get this downstairs as soon as I get back." she looks at Vincent. "Good job, kid. I'd say tell your Dad hello, but ..."

Vincent chuckles. "Yea ... well .. He's in Vancouver this weekend, so ... that's probably why you haven't seen much of him." he shrugs it off.

Frank nods and claps him on the shoulder. "Well, that's probably for the best." she glances at Darcy with a knowing look, as if she is glad to see him with a responsible adult. She then grabs the bag and heads for the door. "Lynch, I'll see you later and Vincent, I'll see you in class." and she's gone.


Darcy smiles at Frank as she efficiently deals with the bag and heads out "See you Sharp, and thanks." She turns back to Vincent "Small world. Smaller town. Must be a music thing." She had heard the bit about Frank knowing his father and made some predictions as to why in her head from the tone of it. Darcy looks around her kitchen and opens the fridge with a frown. she skipped grocery shopping yesterday when she got send out on that stakeout. There's still a walnut burger in there but.....she looks at the kid "Hey you want to go grab some breakfast kid? I'll buy. I just need to change."


Vincent nods. "Yea. In Toronto it was like nobody knows nobody, but here ... everybody knows everything. But Miss Sharp makes history fun. Told me there is a male harpist I should listen to, so I might get his album." he looks at the fridge. "I never had a burger. I went in to try the fries and they're really good but the lady is kinda weird. Like the nice lady talking to herself in the middle of the street weird." he chuckles, thinking about Rain. "Sure. Food sounds good. But it IS a small town. You might have people thinking we're dating." he teases, since she knows about his love life.


Darcy rolls her eyes and laughs "Yeah I think we're safe. They might think I'm your aunt or something. I'm too old to be your date." She gives Vincent a very pedantic pat on the head look and adds "The Sprouts lady is interesting for sure, in a good way as far as I can tell. She makes a mean tahini too. How bout that Breakfast Nook place? I feel like something fried with eggs."



Vincent chuckles. "Aunt Darcy?" he rolls it around and shrugs. "That works too. What's a tahini?" but hearing about the Breakfast Nook his eyes brighten. "Ohhhh WAFFLES!" and he bounces on his feet, acting more like 14 than he has yet. "But I'm warning ya. I can eat."


Darcy chuckles "I'd be worried if you couldn't at your age. Give me a sec and I'll tell you about tahini as we walk there." She disappears to her room again and quickly throws on black jeans, a bra, a fresh shirt and socks and a green hoodie. She runs her hand through her hair looking at it in the dresser mirror and just shrugs and stuffs it under a black baseball cap that says CFB Trenton with a graphic of a small fighter plane. She breezes through the main room again and pops into the bathroom to pee, splash water on her face, slap on deodorant and give her teeth a quick brush. This all takes her a total of 3 and a half minutes. Picking up her slip on style sneakers and stepping into them she says "OK to food!"

Vincent takes the time to look at more pictures, but she comes back fast. "WOW ... you're fast." he smiles and hops to it, leaving with her. "Food!"


Darcy locks up and heads down the stairs and out the door. It's misty outside but not quite a full rain, one of those days where your skin and clothes just feel damp all day. She walks at a quick pace but not her fastest and starts talking as they make their way "Tahini is a sesame seed paste. It's in hummus, giving that nutty flavour. You can make it into a sauce with garlic and parsley for things like falafel. Some middle eastern desserts even use it as a base for fudge like sweets. Have you ever heard of Halva? That's a sesame based Jewish delicacy. I'm not Jewish, but it's delicious."


Vincent pulls the hood of his hoodie up as they hit the mist. He looks at her as if she's speaking Greek. "I'm Italian and Irish ... never heard of ANY of that, but it sounds good." he is a stomach with legs.



As they reach the restaurant, Darcy respectfully takes off her hat. Her hair is a bit of a mess but she doesn't look like she's worried about it. She spots an empty booth and doesn't see a host or hostess type. There's no one else waiting so she head juts at it and then sidles into a bench, placing her hat on the table against the wall. "My ancestry's part Irish too, the Lynch side. Maternal side is French Canadian, bit of Metis and Scottish. But my Dad will tell anyone who listens that the Irish saved the world, possibly with potatoes or beer. His argument falters when we bring up the blight of course." she laughs.



Vincent watches her and lowers his hood as well. He sits with her, glad they are near the kitchen window. The cook inside smiles and waves at them. "My mother only told me that the Irish made beautiful music. And my Dad .... well ... he isn't real culturally knowledgeable. I kinda think I am lucky I know I was born in Canada." he grins. "You mean the potato blight, right?"



Darcy smiles at the cook too and then nods "Yeah that's the one alright. Canada is a pretty awesome place to be. Is your Dad Italian...or descended from? Do you speak it? The only thing I ever learned in Gaelic was Kiss my ass. Hog Mohoney...in case you're wondering." she jokes. A waitress comes and fills their cups with coffee and passes them menus. Darcy thanks her and opens her menu.

Vincent smiles and then laughs. "I only know how to swear, but I can do it in Italian and Gaelic." He takes his menu and again sort of mirrors Darcy by thanking the waitress, as if it isn't something he's done much. He opens it. "I kind of forgot my manners ... these last couple years. Sorry."


Darcy smiles and teases him "They don't have waffles to go out and eat in Toronto so you could practice? Pretty big city for no waffles. Wow it must be a change living here. I've only ever been in small town Canada and the big cities have all been through the military. Air force brat as a kid. We moved all over but tiny little towns mostly. I did my police academy training in Vancouver though. I think I hate the place now.....god the traffic just crawls everywhere and how many Starbucks does one city need? Seriously...."


Vincent chuckles. "I don't go out to eat now that mom's dead, unless I take myself. But it IS a big change here. I didn't sleep real well the first week. I almost kept the television on all night for some noise." he looks at her. "Really? I don't know if I would do well in the military. Cities are loud compared. It's funny the closest they have to Starbucks here is Sigh. They have good coffee and all, but I really like going to Perkatory ... the name is great! I get all over doing chores after school." he arches his brows and reads a description from the menu. "Three plate sized buttermilk pancakes and three plate sized sausage patties." he bites his lip, as if he's seen the woman he knows he will one day marry.


Darcy runs her finger over the eggy breakfast options, deciding and saying "I like that Perkatory place too. They understand what coffee is." She looks up and holds up her cup "This." she sips for emphasis "is coffee, not bad. I'm really a Timmy's person like my Dad. Mom and Mari are Starbucks freaks. They keep sending me cards for it even though I told them there isn't one here. I keep pawning them off on coworkers going to the mainland." She looks amused by his three plate finds "We need to photograph that if it's what they advertise. I think you're drooling kid." The waitress returns and Darcy says "I'll have the Sunshine Special, eggs over easy, whole wheat toast please." She looks across to Vincent waiting for him to go next.


Vincent blushes a little bit. "I like Starbucks seasonal stuff. I have to get the pumpkin spice latte just because." he laughs a little at the comment about his drool. He looks at the waitress. "I'll have the Triple Sausage Pancakes, plus the scrambled eggs and an orange juice and ..." he glances at Darcy as if hoping for approval. "Coffee?"


Darcy nods, laughing "All good yep." The waitress walks away and she replies to his Starbucks seasonal defense "I won't hold it against you, and I might pass you a card later." Darcy feels her phone vibrate in her pocket and pulls it out "Sorry about this.....oh god...OK really sorry but I have to take this...and it's Facetime.....ugh..." She holds out her phone and presses the button with an awkward smile "Hi Mari."

A little squeal comes out of the phone followed by "You're finally there. I've been texting you Darc! Guess what guess what guess what?!!"

Darcy gives a little wince and forces out "Whaaat?"

"I'm closing my shop for Thanksgiving Sunday AND Monday and Mom and Dad are driving here Saturday. Then we can all come SEE you! You got a pull out couch right? You should probably give Mom and Dad your bed though...you know his back...but we can bunk in on that together.....Darc....what have you done with your hair? Aren't you using that product I sent you?"

Darcy sits and listens as her sister talks a mile a minute. She looks apologetically at Vincent.


Vincent only has time to say "Cool." when her phone interrupts them. He listens, while trying to be polite and look like he isn't listening. Instead he sips the coffee the waitress brings him, and then adds sugar and creamer to it.

Darcy nods along and tries to interject but Marianne is a runaway train right now and just keeps talking.

"So I HAVE to tell you, I found the best gynecologist in West Van. Warms the instruments, nice and quick. Great little nail place next door and a Starbucks so I got a nice mani pedi and a latte after the pry and scrape dance. Have you had a pap? You know what they say...even nuns can get cervical cancer Darc..."

At this Darcy bursts into the ramble "Marianne! I am in a restaurant....with a friend...a younger MALE friend!"

Marianne gasps and then giggles "Ohmygod you bitch. And you just let me talk about my vajayay. Sorry...younger male friend..." she keeps giggling and says "Turn me around so I can see him."

Darcy's face is flushed and she sighs and turns her phone "Mari this is Vincent, my neighbour. He's fourteen so behave please."

On the screen is an exact copy of Darcy only with more makeup including dramatic red lipstick and wearing a beige figure hugging woolen dress that she rather falls out of at the bust. Her hair is longer and perfectly styled to fall around her face with a bit of a soft curl at the ends. She waggles her fingers at Vincent from inside the phone.


Vincent was innocently drinking his coffee when talk of vaginas got his COMPLETE attention. He blushes and then goes for another shade of red when he is introduced. "Um ... hi ...." he waves awkwardly back. He starts to actively watch their meals prepared, completely overwhelmed by this woman.

Darcy turns the phone back around and can't help but laugh "Alright that's enough of that. I guess I better buy a turkey soon then. Text me and tell me what ferry you'll all be on so I can meet you OK?"

Marianne yells out "Bye Vincent!" in a singsong voice and then says "OK then. Can you clear me a witty bitty space in your closet?"

Darcy snorts "I own 4 dresses and two coats. That's all that's in there aside from my uniform stuff. There's lots of space. Talk to you later Mari."

Marianne gives another small squeal and says "Ta ta then!"

Darcy slides her phone onto the table and slumps in the booth letting her head roll back onto the back cushion tiredly "I'm so sorry you had to be subjected to that..." she says with an awkward laugh.

Vincent looks back at her when it seems the coast is clear. "That was ... your sister? Is she a twin or ...." he's trying to process. "And they're coming to Alexandra for Thanksgiving? Man, I forgot about that."

Darcy leans her head forward "Yep we grew in the same womb at the same time. Hard to believe I know. I kinda wish my family would have forgotten about it. My parents are pretty harmless though. They retired to Cold Lake Alberta, Dad's last air force post. I think he's a little bored though, He started seeing one of those party plan pyramidy cleaning product lines. It's kind of annoying. My mom reads the news of the weird in tabloids like it’s the real news. Can be a bit of a trip when she starts talking about aliens or the batboy. He died you know...I mean if he ever existed."

 Vincent listens, eventually putting an elbow on the table and leaning his head against his hand, fascinated. "No, it sounds cool." he raises his brows. "So .... Robin is dead?" he asks, more or less deadpan. The food arrives and he takes the elbow off the table. "Dad is going to have a long weekend ...." he looks at his plate which is four inches high with pancakes and sausage patties. He smiles and reaches for the butter..

Darcy smirks "Good one." and sees the food and poises to take a pic of his after they're both on the table and she's thanked the waitress "Those are epic." After she snaps she says "You're welcome to come up and eat turkey with us, even your dad if he'd do it. As you can see my family is NOT shy."

Vincent pauses with the syrup as she snaps a picture. "This is gonna be GREAT!" he predicts and once it is safe he drowns the pile in syrup and cuts it into wedges. "No." he says, curtly to her offer and then sighs. "My plan is to get my father drunk and keep him that way. Or he'll spend the whole thing pounding my face into a wall ... unless this girlfriend is hot enough to warrant another weekend. My Dad kind of .. uses em up pretty fast." he begins to dig into his meal, making steady work, pausing after two wedges to inhale the eggs and down half the orange juice.

Darcy works hard not to visibly react with the horror she feels about how his father treats him. She feels suddenly self conscious for ever complaining about her family at all. They were odd people yes, but never unkind or abusive to anyone. She closes her eyes momentarily and then says resolutely "OK, whatever works. But you know where we are...if you need a little escape." She looks at him with absolute sincerity about that.


Vincent pauses between wedges. "I might .... I mean your sister is kinda scary but .... if I can get Dad passed out I'll come over." he picks up the coffee cup and lifts it. "I could play my lyre for you? Or even pack up Igor and bring him down to play." he offers. "Sort of sing for my supper?"


Darcy smiles now. She barely knew this kid but already wanted to support him and help where she could. "We won't make young sing to be fed but we'd love to hear you play if you want to share music with us. Igor is the harp? Can you lift it alone?"


Vincent smiles. "I'd like to play. And yes. My .. um ... great, great, great ... maybe great grandmother? Might have missed a great ... it was HER harp first and she was in love with some Russian and he bought it for her and died ... probably killed ... probably romantic I guess. ANyway ... he's heavy ... but I can manage to get him up there I think. I'm big for my age." he sits up straighter .. he does look closer to 18 than he actually is. Then he sighs and licks at a pancake. "OK ... I could use some help." he confesses in a near whisper.


Darcy digs into her eggs and mixes them with the hash browns nodding "Modesty is a good thing kid. That is kind of sweet with the name. I'm happy to take an end of Igor to get him up the stairs. Guess they'll never fix the elevator in our building eh?" She starts eating her own breakfast with gusto now too.

Vincent chuckles. "Probably not. I heard the town runs completely on solar power. Imagine THAT?" he settles in and soon is almost done and showing no signs of getting full.


Darcy nods, her mouth still full from her last bite. After chewing and swallowing she sips her coffee and says "I actually think it's pretty cool. I know we have gas and vehicle rations. I feel pretty lucky every time I take the chopper up. I'm a helicopter pilot mostly, though more groundwork with the cops than in the military."



Vincent nods through a couple more wedges. "There's a gas station, but my Dad was saying they rob the average citizen blind with car and parking permits." he rolls his eyes. "Where's to drive in this town? It's so small ... and those golf carts all over the place are so cool. But mostly it seems like walking and biking, which is fine by me." he bites his lip. "Helicopter pilot? WOW! Was the military cool?" he wonders, entering the home stretch.


Darcy is near the end of her breakfast too and thinks on how to answer him "There are cool aspects of it, and not so cool. I like the parts when I feel like we can help people, serve Canada's peacekeeping mission and whatnot. It's a tough life though. The training is a lot of good self discipline...and I love....LOVE to fly. So that part drew me in."



Vincent finishes his meal and nods, sitting back. He's eaten all of it. "I don't know if I'd want to join the military. College, definitely, though. Much as I like it, I can't make a living out of what I love .... "


Darcy pushes her plate away "You might Vincent. People do, and you're great at it. Maybe ask some other musicians how it all happens? Not that I'm not all for the college plan." The waitress comes by to collect the plates and Darcy says "One bill please," and points at herself as to who it should come to.


Vincent grins. "You remind me of my mom." he says softly. "Encouraging and all. Maybe I will. But college too ... fall back plan. Maybe work with kids like me or something." he watches the bill placement. "Thanks. It was great and I'll make it up to you somehow." he promises.


Darcy shakes her head but is inwardly touched that she reminds the kid of his mom "I've been getting free harp concerts in my apartment. No need to make up, Aunt Darcy's treat." she jokes as she takes the machine from the waitress and does debit at the table. As the waitress thanks them and leaves Darcy says "I think whatever you do, you'll do awesome Vincent. I have to run some errands today but we'll hang out again I'm sure soon. And I'm serious about Thanksgiving. It might be a bit of comic relief even."


Vincent nods and then laughs. "Changing your mind about passing me off as your barely legal boyfriend? AUNT Darcy?" he teases and then. "Your sister is ... wow. I now know more about vaginas than I think I am supposed to know at ANY age." he grins. "But have a great day."


Darcy face palms before she gets up to leave with a wave. Her mission to help keep a youth on the right path thwarted by Marianne's gynecological ramblings, Aunt Darcy fail.



Sprouts RP Scene - Vegans vs Carnivores!


Here's a little break from the Murder at the Olin series for anyone who needs a bit of humour and lightness. The aura lady Rain March has open a little vegan health food restaurant in Alexandra. People either love it or they don't. Thank you to Crystal, Hikari and Oshi for their words in this fun little scene. I write Quentin Tyrell. This is how Crystal introduced it to post in our Google group:


A smoke soaked carnivore wanders into the new vegan restaurant in Alexandra .....


Hikari Horatio walks in looking a bit tired from the day and the duties he is charged with he looks around smile 'namaste ' he says softly.

Rain March polishes the counter, keeping the place above and beyond clean. A man walks in and she beams at him, recognizing him from the park by town hall. "Namaste!" she greets him eagerly. "Welcome. What can I get you?"

Hikari Horatio beam ..looking up at the menu scanning it 'what you recommend for regaining energy ' he say softly 'I don't think I've had ze honor of coming here .. ' he say softly

Rain March considers. "Nothing here will tire you out like a turkey dinner." she considers. "Try the grilled cheese and an energy drink." she advises. That should perk you right up.

Oshi.Shikigami @login.greatcanadiangrid.ca:8002: DO you have anything with tofu and sweet black bean paste? Perhaps a little carob too?

Rain March double checks the menu at Oshi's request. "Maybe the black bean and avocado?" she suggests

Oshi.Shikigami @login.greatcanadiangrid.ca:8002: How about organic soy sauce? or teriyaki? to go with it? Don't want it too seet, you know. Oshi smiles.

Hikari Horatio smiles 'zat sound Magific" he say soflty 'ill take zat zank you : he say softly smile ; 'and make it to go please.

Rain March considers. "I can add that for a dollar extra." she tells Oshi. To Kari she nods. "Coming right up." and smiles at the newcomer as if he is a long lost friend

Oshi.Shikigami @login.greatcanadiangrid.ca:8002: Sounds great! Oshi seems to mumble softly to herself, Now where di I see that bait shop? She fishes out her money and gives it to Rain.

Hikari Horatio smiles softly 'ello ms Oshi. ' he say softly ans he waits his turn patiently

Quentin Tyrell saunters up and nods at the smiling woman as he finishes a cigarette outside, reading the menu through the window. When he's about halfway down the list he looks a little weirded out by the selection.

Rain March takes Oshi's money, but with a frown. "The bait shop is by the water." she replies, tightly. "I will have your orders in a minute." and she heads into the kitchen.

Oshi.Shikigami @login.greatcanadiangrid.ca:8002: Monsure Horatio - san, Oshi tries her best "French" And smiles It is good to see you again. So happy to see. Oshi looks pensive a moment but continues to smile.

Hikari Horatio smiles 'how are you today .. he says soflty "tres bon" he say clapping at her attempt ..'how are you .. it good to see you too " he smiles

Quentin Tyrell drops his butt and steps on it to extinguish it and then steps in, glancing at the other patrons and looking at the menu again like it's in a language he's never seen.

Rain March is able to get the orders up quickly. She comes out with them. "Here you are." she begins cheerfully enough, then recoils in a sort of horror as Quentin walks in and up to the counter. She coughs twice. “Um ... can I help you? her nose wrinkles as if she smells the cigarette off of him.

Oshi.Shikigami @login.greatcanadiangrid.ca:8002: Hikari, so, in your well studied and scholarly opinion, was Mari Antoinette really as clueless and crass as most history records her, or was she more ignorant of the life of the masses, or perhaps something else? Oshi quarries, and seems to be asking a serious question.

Hikari Horatio smiles 'oh so sorry i musta have had my mind wander off ';he say soflt ' but Oui im have so much teaching her.. its not chore with her 'he say laugh as he recieves his food 'Merci 'he say sofht
Hikari Horatio: he nodds 'I zink so too 'he laughs about the last bit

Quentin Tyrell is oblivious to the reaction to his smoke stink. He looks at the woman in desperation "I think I want a taco....what the hell is tahini.....and is there anything with meat?" He's clearly from a very meat and potatoes life with food.

Rain March looks at the newcomer. "No meat here, but I can get you a taco anyway." she can tell meat eaters and this boy is one. "Try it and if you don't like it ... no charge, alright?" she offers and turns, taking a couple of oranges and begins to make him a drink. "This is orange and ginger with a little wheatgrass. Not bad, if I do say so myself. Now I will make your taco." and she vanishes into the kitchen before he can protest.

Oshi.Shikigami @login.greatcanadiangrid.ca:8002: Well, when Tatsu gets back here, we should see about a "learning adventure" that could take us to Quebec, and see historical sites, museums, recreated villages, and local customs. I think it sounds like fun?

Hikari Horatio nods 'zat could be arrange.. well have to plan that when she does get back.. 'he smiles looks around stifling a laugh at Quentin.

Quentin Tyrell picks up the drink and looks at it like it's a cup of poison. He addresses the other patrons "She say this was grass juice with fuckin oranges and shit?" He takes a sip and his eyes go wide and then he sputters a bit and winces at it "Man....this is nasty...."

Rain March returns from the kitchen in time for the timely review. "OK, no charge." she purses her lips. "Take a bit of this ... and be HONEST, sir." cause she makes a hell of a phone fish taco.

Hikari Horatio stifles a laugh 'its not for everyone .. 'he say soflty ' and nods in a sorta good bye ' Zank you very much .. but i have a lesson to tutor "

Rain March waves. "Come back soon professor! Your aura is always welcome!"

Oshi.Shikigami @login.greatcanadiangrid.ca:8002: Well Thank you very much for the lovely food, Oshi bows. And so good to have met you again, But I need to catch the last ferry out. So I need to go. Goodbye.

Quentin Tyrell steps forward taking the taco in his big hand. He takes a cautious bite and chews and then chews some more. He looks at Rain with an awkward closed mouthed smile and keeps chewing for another few seconds before saying "S'chewy....really fuckin chewy. What the hell am I eating lady?"

Rain March giggles as the taco goes over better. "Fried tofu with lettuce and tomato and some lime juice and zest for a little kick." she tells him. "But its nice isn't it? Goes over REAL well in California."

Quentin Tyrell moves the taco to his other hand and fumbles for his wallet one handed. It's on a chain so he kind of props it on the counter and wiggles out a card muttering "Ain't got no bacon in California..." under his breath and then forcedly smiling and saying "OK what'do I owe you?"

Rain March chuckles. "Three, twenty five." she tells him as he struggles with his wallet. "And they have bacon in California, but this is a vegan place. Pure and natural foods and, in my opinion, better for you." one thing shes learned is not to shove veganism onto people. They got it or they didn't.

Quentin Tyrell taps his card on the machine and nods vaguely. The transaction goes through and he leans forward after putting his wallet away "Right. Well I'll see ya then...thanks for the...." he looks down at it like he can barely call it this but spits out the word "Taco." with some effort as he heads for the door. He hasn't taken another bite of it.

Rain March smiles and watches him go. She placed the trash can tot he right of the door so people could be polite on their way to the pizza joint.

Quentin Tyrell ditches the taco in the closest trash can and heads into the pizza place next door ordering a meat lovers special like it was his last salvation.

Murder at the Olin Part 4 - Stakeout

*****WARNING*****This blog post contains graphic sexual content and sexual violence. Reader discretion is advised.
_________________________________________________________________________________



Darcy approaches Sam Wright's desk and stands tall in front of it, not quite at attention but near it "Officer Wright. We've been given a new assignment."


Sam signs off on a report just as Darcy Lynch appears beside his desk. He puts it on the basket and looks at her curiously. "Sure thing. Where are we going?" he wonders, although he figures they are on the murder. Small town; small force.


Darcy chuckles and eases into a more casual stance "To spend a night in the Olin, room 7. Don't get too excited... it's a stakeout." Darcy has shown that she jokes with co-workers but stays entirely formal around the chief. She adds on "You need to be in casual clothes. I'll meet you back here shortly after I make the switch."


Sam winces. "How'd I know that was coming?" he asks no one in particular. "Alright .... " he stands and looks at her. "Let's go home and change. I'll get the car and pick you up." he pauses. "Where do you live, anyway?" he pulls out his phone and sends a text for a friends car.


Darcy smiles "That would be great. I live in that tall apartment buildings over the pizza place and Sprouts."


Sam nods. "The Carter .. gotcha. I'll go pack a few things and meet you there in ... half an hour?" he has to let Alex know and make sure he had everything as well as pack some books ... this might be a good excuse to study all shift.


Darcy nods "Ok, meet me at the Sprouts place then. I was going to grab some take out since they don't have kitchens in the Olin." She heads off to fast walk home and grab her own supplies. Darcy will bring one change of clothes, a yoga mat, an iPad which also serves as her e-reader, some herbal tea and dry snacks such as apples, almonds and nori sheets as well as her own reusable water bottle and travel mug. She chooses a pair of faded black army style cargo pants and a grey mid sleeve waffle henley with socks and sneakers, suited to both sitting and waiting as well as offering an easy range of motion if she should need to step up for a physical confrontation with the man they're waiting for. It dawns on her that Kevlar might be wise, since it was a shooting, so she makes a mental note to mention that to Sam.


Although Sam didn't say anything at the time, he made a mental note of someone willingly going to Sprouts. He headed home himself and found a civilian car parked out front. Peering through the window, he noted the keys were already in the ignition. Life on Alexandra Island. He went into the house and tossed two large law books into his duffel. Then he showered and changed into a sweat suit and practical running shoes, in case it went that way. Going back down to the kitchen he told Alex what was going on and that he expected to be home at the usual time, if nothing happened and making no promises if the guy showed and he had to question him. The car was still out front and untouched when he left the house and he got in and drove straight to Sprouts ... literally. He parked between a red Mercedes and the Sprouts golf cart. He hopped out and went inside.



Rain March looked up from the counter when the door opened. Seeing Sam she moved forward to greet him. Unlike most in town, she did not stop a save distance to feel his aura. She'd felt it many times before. Now she hugged him long and hard, beaming.


Darcy came into Sprouts to place her take out order and happened upon Rain hugging Sam like he was a long lost relative. She meekly hung back and smiled. Clearly the two were acquainted. Rain was always over friendly in a way that was both wonderful and intimidating. Darcy liked the woman but was slow to get close to people in general and always responded with reserved polite replies. And she definitely enjoyed the food.


Sam chuckled as he was hugged. Hey Rain. Always good to see you." he let her go and a few seconds later, she let him go. He moved to the counter. "Let me have a cheeseburger and the sweet potato fries. Plus a large one of your lemonades. I'll need a receipt this time."



Rain saw Darcy come in and waved as she went back to the counter to help Sam. "Cheeseburger and the sweet potato fries." she repeated. "You aren't fasting with Alex?" she knew she shouldn't be frowning, but in his way Sam was quite lax on his diet. "Just a second Darcy." she always called the woman Darcy in civilian clothes and Officer when she was in uniform. Just seemed respectful to her.


Darcy nodded, looking patient and smiling a little before aligning beside Sam "Seems like you're a regular here Wright." She casually watched Rain work and waited her turn.


Sam turns and smiles to see Darcy behind him. "Oh.. well ... this is as close to kosher as it gets around here, really. And my brother had some ... dietary issues ... so ... yea. Rain takes care of our every need." he grins. "You ... vegan?" he wonders, casually.

Rain moves to the back and prepares Sam's order.


Darcy shrugs "Not strictly vegan but if I want my body to run well, I need to fuel it properly. Are you vegan because of Judaism? The whole meat milk thing?" She noted the mention of the brother.


Sam shakes his head while he shrugs. "I'm Jewish and on an island where Kosher is an unknown concept .... it's that, cook for myself, go to the mainland or break Kosher. I DO break kosher more than I like to admit to my mother, but ...." he motions around the place. "I take it where I can get it. Oh thanks Rain..." he takes his bag, pays, gets his receipt and motions for Darcy to go ahead.



Rain smiles as she rings Sam up. Then she turns to Darcy, looking expectant.


Darcy listened to Sam's challenges with food and religion and then saw Rain looking at her and stepped forward to place her order "I'm kind of packing up for two meals on a long shift so I'll have a black beans and avocado burrito and a walnut burger. Could I get a juice too? Carrot apple ginger please?"


Sam listens to the order and offers. "They do deliver you know. And the food still shows up hot raced in golf carts." he chuckles, not mentioning that was his plan for later.

Rain nods at the order and then conforms Sam's words. "The food will keep till supper, but you can always order it then. The fresher the better." she seems to coax.



Darcy thinks and then shakes her head. The less attention they draw to the room the better on the first day. "I'll take it all now. Let's keep it simple." She had staked out war lords in dumpsters, camel stalls and cold wet ditches with nothing but odorless protein bars and a water canteen. THIS was luxury.



Sam shrugged, even though he understood the point. He'd see. They had a shift change at midnight, so he wasn't too concerned. "Suit yourself. Catch you later." the little bit of secrecy they could use, he wanted to use. And as Rain didn't know, he didn't want her thinking anything. He left the eatery and sat in the car.

Rain waves to Sam as he leaves. "Be a couple minutes is all." her eatery was never crowded, but she wasn't in the business to make a profit. It was about giving options to people like her brother Coyote and her friend Alex Wright.


Darcy nodded to Sam "Later Wright." and turned her head back to Rain "No problem, thanks." She absently studied the menu as Rain cooked going over the fact she knew in her head about Room 9. It pained her to think of the woman suffering next door, waiting for a potentially violent partner to return.

Rain went into the back room and spent about ten minutes getting the order complete. Then she bagged it and brought it out, giving the price with a smile and simply awaiting her payment.


Darcy pulls out her bank card and inserts it in the card reader and then starts tapping on the pin pad. She adds a 15% tip to the total and smiles as the pinpad says it's approved. She removes the card and smiles politely at Rain "Thanks again."


Rain watches the transaction and winces slightly. "Oh ... " but she isn't fast enough. "I don't accept tips here." she tells the woman. "I should probably put up a sign. My workers ... well when I have some ... will be paid a fair wage so as not to need tips. It's just ... tipping is too unfair and antiquated." then she smiles. "Have a nice day and come on back."



Darcy nods "I'll respect your wishes on that and just tell you how much I appreciate what you put into this wonderful food. But take it this one time since I didn't know the etiquette here. You have a good day too."

Rain beams even brighter than usual. "That's better than money!" she proclaims. "Thank you." and she waves her out of the shop.

In the car, Sam looks behind him wondering if Rain is tying Darcy up with her chatter.

Darcy dashes to the car and tosses her old army pack into the backseat before settling into the front with her food "Sorry, ready now,: She clicks her seat belt in and balances the food on her lap like it's too precious to put in the back. She's holding the juice and takes a sip and then looks pleased with it.



Sam has tossed his own food bag in the back with his own duffel. "No problem. I've known Rain since she came to town and she will talk to you until you beg her to talk. Who knew you could overdose on positive personality." he laughs and throws the car in gear, being already buckled up. He drives the long way around all of the townhouses, past the school then past the Chief's house and turns on second at Sigh. "She's my brothers ... best friend." it seems he sought a word and settled on 'best'.



Darcy doesn't blink at this as many of her best friends from years of military service are and have been men. Sure there are women who serve but the ratio of men to women soldiers is still predominantly male. Even before her military training and career she was easily one of the guys, being more comfortable playing hockey at the local outdoor rink after school than hanging with the clique of girls her sister tried to drag her into. As they drove she casually asked "So you and your brother are close then? What's his name again?" Being a homebody, she hadn't really gotten to know the towns folk well and Alex was a bit of one too.


Sam passes the cop shop and then onto water. "We were for a while until my parents split up. Then Mom took me to New York, Dad kept Alex ... my brother." he blows out a breath. "Not ideal. Then my Dad took off and ... I came here to take care of Alex .. he's barely legal. Twenty-one."


Darcy looks confused as to why a 21 year old would need care but then compassionate "Is he...OK...your brother? It sounds complicated. My sister needs saving from herself but that's not the same as care." she chuckles a bit.


Sam drive down into the Bottoms and into the parking lot of the Olin. "Hold that thought." he gets out of the car to get their room key, coming back with it a minute later and grabbing his bag. He is silent until they get in Room 7.


Darcy follows Sam's lead, trudging silently behind him. Her senses engage. She smells the take out she carries, a hint of a cigarette, an ammonia based cleaning product and the scent of old wood and wall paper mixed with musty carpet. She hears a television on tuned into some sort of sports match, boxing or wrestling. Another TV from downstairs blasts a news station.The walkway to the rooms is slanted from wood rot in the beams and the shift of time. The railings are rickety and the one at the far end by room 8 is hanging off kilter like it's ready to fall with not much effort. A car door shuts on an old beater of a car further down the parking lot and a grey bearded man gets out wearing a baseball cap and worn out baggy clothes. He's rail thin and looks spaced out. The man lights up a joint as he steps under where she and Sam are walking. He coughs as he enters one of the lower rooms. A waft of pot smoke reaches her nostrils before the door closes. His name was Floyd Langer and they'd already interviewed him, too eternally stoned to know about anything that happened upstairs, also completely harmless. They reach their door and she waits for Sam with the key. Once they're in she looks around, taking in the whole room.


Sam opens the door and steps in. The room is dark and a little moldy. Not condemn-able, but not a five star place ... more like two stars given generously and half a star given by someone honest. He sighs and sets his book bag down, followed by his food. "Every now and again, I hate this job." he murmurs and goes into the bathroom to turn on a light. He blinks and sighs again. Not dirty, but far from spotless. "My brother....." he turns from the door and realizes there is only one bed, but they aren't spending the night. "Is very sensitive. Allergies and sensitivities. Dust, mold, pollen, foods .. you name it. My parents I think did their best but I think it broke them up. He got picked on in school ... and I stepped in to protect my brother. But when my parents broke up and split us kids down the middle ... he was on his own." he sighs again. "I mean . this room would kill Alex ... and I know it. Maybe with this nose ... I can sniff out things better. Anyway ... Rain coming to town has been a lifesaver. Now he has someone else who doesn't think he's just insane." he pulls out his books .. thick law books .. one covering criminal law and one covering environmental law, as if he is studying to become BOTH kinds of lawyer.


Darcy listens, tossing her pack on the only chair in the room "That sounds pretty intense. Can he work? I mean I can't imagine being so limited. The poor guy." She chuckles a bit about his comment on his nose. She'd noticed of course but never would have mentioned it. Her straw gurgles as she sucks back the last of her juice. She finds a small garbage can in the room that was clearly not emptied from the previous guests and awkwardly sets it down on the heap inside. Afterwards, she shrugs - she's seen worse. At least there's a toilet in range. She sits down on the end of the bed and unwraps her burrito, noticing Sam's books "Law student?" she half asks half comments.


Sam opens his bag and pulls out a fry. After eating it, he nods. "Oh yea .. he repairs bikes. Now, if this was Vancouver he wouldn't have much business, but here ... he t do it AND I think he is working on learning to repair the electric scooters ... of which the town has like three times as many .. mostly thanks to Rain and a little because of me." he demurs. "The town was always big on solar energy, mostly because some winters the island can get cut off." he nods at the books. "Well ... I am a little torn on what I want to do. Because of Alex, I am very interested in environmental issues. But I could probably be a decent prosecutor for Alexandra." he shrugs. "My mother is ... well she's a New York Jew ... so she wants me in criminal law for the money and prestige ... a defense attorney, of course." he blows out a breath. "But this is Alexandra ... I might get away with both."


Darcy eats a quarter of her burrito as she nods along and then swallows and replies "That Justice of the Peace guy lives in my building, next door. He doesn't know my name but I've seen his picture in the news. We've nodded but not really conversed. He's a pretty quiet neighbour. So I know about the local court. Be nice to stay here after you finish the degree for Alex right?"


Sam snorts. "Lucius." he sighs. "He's ... good. But I think he's crooked. I know he seems to spend a lot of time off island, and his car doesn't fit his job." he narrows his eyes and pulls out his burger. "Then again, he tried to prosecute me a couple of times as a kid, so I'm probably biased." he admits.


Darcy gestures with her burrito "The Mercedes right? I wondered about that." She chews another bite and swallows and then teases Sam "What were you some kinda bad kid or something?"


 Sam nods and takes a bite of his burger and swallows. "Yup. Rich car. But nothing in Alexandra is really rich and he has to live here to have his position." he grins. "I told you, I used to stand up for my baby brother. Got into several fights. A couple of the older kids sort of kept me from .. well probably getting myself killed." he grins. "Chief Brate was one of them."

Darcy finishes her burrito and watches him as he talks and then says "Wow. That's an interesting history there."


Sam laughs and drinks deeply. "Well, it's a small town. The natives all know each other. The Chief is five years older than me, but all that means is he probably remembers when I started school. Well a lot of the kids probably do. I was kosher .. Jewish ... so there were certain things I couldn't eat ... and then there were certain things Alex couldn't eat because of his allergies and whatnot. We ... were the school freaks in the normal part of the school. In other words .. non musical. The musical kids were special."

A little light of recognition seems to go off in Darcy's head and then she says "Oh yeah your school here as all about the music eh? That's high pressure if you're not that way inclined. I grew up in small town military base Canadiana. It was all about sports and lucky for me I played. My sister was pretty bored a lot of the time until she got a bit older and bored became looking for trouble."

Sam shrugs. "Well not ALL about music, but it is music that pays the bills in the tuition for those students. Island kids, like me and Brate, we got a regular education. Some sports. Brate was track. I can barely run a tab." he grins. "Anyway ... ours is an interesting town. I'm guessing Brate filled you in on the history of this hotel?" he sighs, finishing his burger and settling in over his fries. "Hardly American Horror Story ... no vampires or anything like that but ... hell this whole island is strange." he bites a fry, chews and swallows. "But its still ... parts of Alexandra are good." it's hard to say if he means more is bad, or if he's trying not to scare her.


Darcy can't help but laugh "Well it's not horrible here because I've seen horrible but yeah the history of this hotel is pretty The Shining. I have to be honest, I'm not sure I believe it."

Sam looks at her mildly. "If I had seen war, open and brash .. I'd probably think the same." he shrugs. "It is hard to believe. But we need to have this conversation in a year or so. When you've been here a year and see how peaceful it is ten months out of the year." he finishes his fries and slurps the last of his drink. "It's like ... I don't know ... I live here and have been away in New York and come back. I forgot what autumn was like here." he shrugs. "At least it doesn't snow, right?" he smiles and looks at the door tot he 'suite' as if hoping it will open with their quarry.


"Fair enough." Darcy concedes and then follows his gaze "Do you think the girlfriend is even home? I don't hear anything at all next door yet."


Sam turns from the door to the wall. "Faint television." he murmurs. "I'm going to check room 9. Make up some story about the neighbor keeping me and my beautiful girlfriend awake." he motions to the door. "Cover me?" he means it to sound like a statement, but it comes out more as a question.


Darcy snorts "Gee thanks." and follows him out the door and down the exterior balcony hall to room 9.

Sam chuckles and shrugs. He passes Room 8 and stops at the door to Room 9, where he can hear the television clearly. He knocks three times.

Tom looks up from the nook of Heather's neck where he had been nuzzling her after their collapse. They had only just finished making love a few minutes ago. He was still wearing a full condom that was starting to become shriveled and feel unpleasant as things shrank back into a relaxed state. As the third knock came he cringed and muttered "Cover up...I'll go check..." intending to only open the door a crack with the chain on. Tom peered carefully through the curtains once his boxers were on, exhaling when it wasn't Ken but what looked like a man and a woman. Once he opened the door slightly he said "Sorry man I was sleeping...can I help you?"

Heather covered herself, her heart in her throat. She knew in her soul it was Ken and he was going to kill them both. Part of her is glad it will be over and her last moments were comforted by Tom. Despite herself, she begins to cry. Tom didn't deserve what that man got in the bathroom next door.

Sam begins with "Sorry to bother you, man but ..." and then he hears the crying and moves his head. In the shadows he sees a feminine shape and realizes he may have interrupted something. But he is thinking of something Kitty said about her new friend and the guy in the room next door, which she found incredibly romantic ... "Shit. Heather? I'm a friend of Kitty Carmichael's. One of her boyfriends." he doesn't want to introduce himself as a police officer and hopes the woman, who is crying a bit, calms.



Darcy stood slightly behind Sam and listened, her badge in her hand but not flashing it. When she heard the crying she frowned but then when Sam introduced himself as one of Kitty Carmichael's boyfriends she stared at the back of his head like he suddenly had three of them.

Tom saw past Sam to Officer Lynch, recognizing her, but then gave Sam the same look from the front before cracking a little grin. "A'righ get in but give us a sec b'y. We're a bit indisposed." He pushes the door closed to remove the chain and then opens it quickly "In...we can't be leavin this open now." Tom grabs two of his t-shirts and hands one to Heather "It's Ok it's not...." He looks at the two who he figures both to be police with relief. Tom has a high level of trust in the law.



Sam nods and enters when possible, immediately turning back to the door. "Please dress Heather." he says, softly.

Heather blinks away tears. "Kitty? Kitty's cop? Oh .. thank God." and for a few seconds she sobs in relief. "She told me about you. Its okay, Tom." she begins to dress quickly. And then she freezes. "What's wrong? Oh God, is he here already? I thought I had another hour at least." she knew she was cutting it closer than close. Her fear is in her voice.



Darcy politely doesn't watch Heather dress but looks at the far wall of the room "We haven't seen him yet... your...um...boyfriend?" Darcy wondered to herself if everyone had two or more in this town. Her sister would love it here. She backtracks after and apologizes, unsure of the full story "Sorry, none of my business. But the man from room 8, we need to ask him questions. You could be out....instead of here...if that feels safer Heather."

Tom puts his arms around Heather protectively as she gets upset again "It's Ok, you're safe." At Darcy's words he nods "Just go out. Go to Kitty's or Megan's.... stay out of Ken's way."



Sam sighs. and then turns his attention to Tom and Heather. "We are only here to question him, Heather." he tells her. "But if he has hit you, or harmed you in any way, we can arrest him for Domestic Violence. Put him away. But it HAS to come from YOU, Heather. You're the only one who can press charges." he prays she will not do what he thinks she will do ... lie outright ... but he's spoken to too many cops who have heard the lie and seen abusers go free.

Heather blinks and looks at Tom as Sam speaks. She finishes dressing in what she arrived in and clears her throat. "I .. better get back." she whispers. "Grab a shower before Ken gets back." she stands and heads for the door, not touching Tom. Maneuvering around all of them. "He ... doesn't .. beat me. It's ... not like that...." she reaches the door and opens it ... and she flees .. running only one door down, entering and slamming the door behind her and heading straight for the shower.



Darcy sighs into the space Heather just vanished from "If he does anything to her tonight we'll be on him. Maybe we should leave someone on watch after we talk to him for awhile."

Tom reached for Heather but too slow to catch her. The look on his face was agony as she left. He turned on the cops "If I've seen bruises on her, can I report him? But you have to promise to protect her first. She can’t leave him. She’s too scared of what he’ll do."



Sam looks at Darcy and sighs himself. "We have no reason." his voice is resigned anger. "He doesn't beat her. Her words." he turns to Tom. "Unfortunately, no." he sighs. "Bruises can come from anywhere .. a woman slipping in a shower can leave the same bruise as a fist. I'm sorry. She would ultimately have to testify." he turns to the door. "Stay inside and don't some out ... until we're gone or you have to go to work, please." he opens the door and scans the street. Now would be a BAD time for this ass to show up. "Let's go back. Hopefully he'll be back in the hour." he heads back, saving his next comment for when the door to their room is closed. "Call me a bad cop, but I hope he makes us kill him. Some lawyer I'll be, eh?" he sighs and sits on the bed, listening tot he sound of a movie and a shower in the room that Heather is in. "Listen .... about me and Kitty and ... her other boyfriends ...." he offers.



Darcy gave Tom a sympathetic look before nodding and following Sam. Tom shut the door after them and then leaned against trying to control his breathing. Once in the room Darcy agreed "It's Ok, I hope so too... The look on her face..." She smiled a bit at Sam's words about Kitty "Listen you're consenting adults... You don't have to explain..."


Sam sighs. "If you ever blame Kitty ... blame ME first. I actually turned her into the free creature she is now." he laughs and expects she may too to look at him .. short and a nose the size of Vancouver. "Ask Kitty. She'll be glad to spill." he winks and sighs as the sound of the shower stops. Then he sighs. "My parents hated each other in the end I think. But he never hit her. She was maybe the worst ... calling him unstable. But in the end ... she took me and left Alex. Women? For all of it, I think she knew Alex wouldn't survive a week in New York." he was quiet for a moment. "She's lying for him. Tom, I mean."


Darcy laughed a bit about Kitty and then narrowed her eyes suspiciously "Don't you mean Ken? I feel like Tom's her support system..as odd as it all is."


Sam shrugs. "No, I mean Tom. I bet Heather thinks Ken will kill any man she is with that isn't him." he hears a hair dryer fire up. "This Ken guy may not be our man, but he's one of those ass holes ... I know that is unprofessional, but .."


Darcy nods "I agree. But we have to wait him out. A guy like that is bound to slip up in some way. Maybe even a big way if he's our guy."

Ken has been tipped off that the cops were at the Olin earlier in the week. He didn't know about right now though but he was being extra cautious. His normal drop off happened a few blocks away and he walked in from behind the Olin, stopping at the laundromat first. He looked around carefully as he entered and stashed a duffel bag under a pile of random abandoned clothes in a machine with an out of order sign on it. It was his usual work bag containing a black ski mask and clothing, an assault rifle a switchblade and a handgun. Then he walked towards the staircase, his boots making their usual clank against the metal stairs as he ascended them.


Sam nods. "I just hope he isn't slipping with Heather. I hear she's really a nice lady ... caught up in a bad relationship." he heads for the bathroom for a pee.

Heather checks herself in the mirror. She looks a little tired, but to her eye she looks as she always has. Ever since ... that night ... she has tried to look near perfect for Ken out of pure unadulterated fear of him. Inhaling deeply she moves into the main room and sits on the bed to watch the mindless television.


Darcy sighs sadly "Yeah I know..." She starts to pull her iPad out of her pack when she hears footsteps on the stairs that then start to move down the exterior hallway. "Wright!" she hisses in a loud whisper and bolts to flank the window so she can look through it discreetly sideways.

Ken pulls his room key out of his pocket at room 6 and jingles it in gait with his step and then it slips from his hand and hits the floor "Fuck...." he mutters and kicks at some leaves and trash looking for it, his boot scuffing on the wood. He's in easy view of Darcy now.


Sam is finishing up when he hears Darcy call out. He flushes and tucks in, but opens the door before he washes his hands. He sees a shadow move by as he dries them, he looks at Darcy curiously as if to ask is that our boy?

Heather hears the keys and closes her eyes, taking in a deep breath, as a nervous actress may before going onstage. In a way, she is just that.


Darcy sees Sam come out and nods at him and then head gestures to the door before bursting through it to get to Ken. She puts on a fake polite smile and says "Oh excuse me there Mister. Are you one of the occupants of room 8?"

Ken stiffens up and turns, key in hand and then looks Darcy up and down with a bit of a sly grin "Well...depends why you're asking."


Sam sees the silent gestures and moves to the door. He notes that Darcy steps out and away from the door before she speaks to Ken and he braces himself in case he needs to run after him.

Heather hears the key and then the voice of Darcy, the female cop and her heart stops and then crawls up into her throat.


Darcy keeps smiling and pulls her badge from her pocket "I know this thing can be a conversation changer but I'm here on an official capacity. Alexandra PD. I just have a few questions Mr....you're the only name we haven't gotten in this place." She knows his name is Ken but doesn't want Heather to face any more hardships by using it.

Ken looks at the badge and back up to Heather's face licking his lips and then biting them "Attractive cops in this town then. Am I being questioned for something Officer? I'm just getting home from work out of town so I might not have a lot to tell you. Oh and it's Ken Hall. I didn't catch your name, unless I was just too distracted by those beautiful blue eyes you've got." His voice is loud enough for both Heather and Sam to hear it all.

Sam remains standing in the doorway of their room, silent but ready to move if he needs to. He hears the guy, who sounds like a charmer ... but in a way ... that's no surprise.

Heather can hardly breathe as Darcy announces that she is a cop. She turns her eyes to the television and stares, not seeing a thing.

Vincent DiAntoni crosses the street from Perkatory to the laundromat, pulling a red wagon behind him. It's always been easier than hauling all those clothes on a bike, which he doesn't own anyway. He gets his clothes out of the dryer and shoves them in their baskets. Opening another, he realizes it isn't his or his father's clothes. But he spots something. He pulls out a bag and, curious as all fourteen year old boys are, unzips it and looks inside. "Holy SHIT!" he exclaims softly at the contents. He looks around, as if expecting to see someone and sets the bag on top of the laundry baskets, uses the bungee cords he has with him to secure it all and, much faster than he normally would, takes it all back home. He can decide what to do later, but he can't leave the bag just laying there.


Tom had noticed activity outside at the key dropping and swearing and silently opened his window. He had clicked off his TV after the cops left and was now squatting under the open window with his head tilted up listening intently. His hands balled into fists when he heard Ken flirting with the lady officer like a slimey asshat.

Darcy drops her smile and deadpans "My name is Officer. Officer Lynch. Everyone in the area is being asked the same questions." She pulls a small police photo from her back pocket of a balding middle aged man with a ruddy face and dark hair "Have you seen this man before?"

Ken chuckles at Darcy's apparent rejection of his compliment and then looks at the photo with an absolute poker face "No, can't say I have. What did he do?"

Darcy keeps holding the photo between them, a tactic for humanizing the victim "I wish I could ask him. We found his body in the woods, clean as anything except for two shots right through him. His name was Roy Carver. Still not ringing any bells? He might have been shot in this area even."

Ken's composure is perfect. He even looks saddened by the news "I'm sorry to hear that.....Officer. I have heard this can be a rough neighbourhood that way. I'm out of town a lot though with my work."


Sam is deeply annoyed at this cool cucumber. But he sets his own poker face and steps out as well. "What work might that be, Mr. Hall?" he asks, casually, bringing out his own badge. "Officer Wright." he doesn't try and make himself bigger. He knows a tough guy act only makes guys his size look insecure, and he is anything but.


Tom quietly shifts from a squat to a kneel, still listening. He too was curious what Ken would say he did for a living, given what Heather had alluded to.

Darcy steps to the side to give Sam room to step right in and folds her arms, waiting for Ken's answer to Sam's question.

Ken looks almost amused by the shorter man's appearance and glances into room 7 "How many cops are stashed in there? It's like a clown car...." He eyes Officer Wright's build and quips "I guess they need you to bring the donuts eh?" He runs a hand through his hair and gives the female officer an almost preening look, answering her to the male's question as if he doesn't exist now "I work for ProForm Construction. It's contract work, mostly on the mainland. I'm a welder."


Sam has no reaction whatsoever to Ken's taunts. He got better in school. He pulls a notebook and pen out of his pocket and writes the information down. "So, you were welding between ten and midnight the night before we ran our canvass?" he forms it as a question, but he knows that sometimes construction happened late at night.

Heather is trying desperately not to hear, but she can. Eyebrows raised, she mouths 'welder' at the television in disbelief.


Tom smiles now thinking "Try and talk your way out of that one ye bastard."

Darcy exhales derisively and then looks over at Sam in solidarity with his new question.

Ken doesn't even falter and and moves his hand from the back of his hair down around the front of his neck and lets it rest over his heart earnestly "Well I suspect you coppers keep some pretty crazy hours too. My sympathies. When I'm on a job at 6 am in North Van, I tend to check in somewhere local for the night so I'm bright eyed. Last week I got lucky and a buddy I was working with put me up. I really do hope you find the culprit though."


Sam nods and makes a couple more notes. "It would be alright to check this out with your buddy, of course. I just need his name and phone number." again is is hardly a legitimate question ... more an order. "Shouldn't take us more than the rest of the day to check your whereabouts." he even puts a touch of apology for even suspecting that a good law abiding welder would need to be double checked. "Now ... why Alexandra?" he goes on, sounding genuinely curious. "I mean I think it's a great place, but I'm a biased native here. I never understood why people would want to live on our little island."

Heather stares at the television, her hands clasped under her chin, almost unaware that she is praying her name doesn't come up and that she isn't questioned ... again.


 Tom glared through the wall now in the direction of Ken's voice. How could anyone be so good at lying? He had to get Heather away from this asshole.

Darcy was skeptical as Ken spoke but kept her face impassive enough that it didn't show.

Ken was still smooth as silk and smiled "Sure. I have nothing to hide. Carter Pearson. 1632 Chesterfield Avenue, Suite 4. 604-539-4964. Great guy Carter but not always fast at returning his calls." Ken laughs like he's joking with old friends "Know what I mean. We've all got that buddy." He pointedly winks at the female officer despite her absolute disinterest in his charms.


Sam nods while writing the information down. "Yea ... but when you need them, they're always there for ya." he agrees. He makes mental note that his question about why Alexandra was not answered, but ignores it for now. It was really just small talk. Looking over his notes, he looks up at Ken. "Well, that's about all I have Mr Hall." he says. "Do you have anything else, Officer Lynch?"

Heather breathes a sigh of relief when Sam ends his questioning.


Tom closes his eyes and curses to himself. Ken had done well, too well. They were going to leave. They were going to leave Heather alone with this horrible violent man.

Darcy shakes her head "No I'm finished. Thank you for your cooperation Mr. Hall. We'll just be next door compiling our report if you think of anything you may have forgotten." Her statement is a bait as well as a way to let him know the walls have ears, at least until the end of their shift.

Ken grins "I'll definitely keep that in mind Officer Lynch." He practically leers at her as he adds "Even though you're almost too pretty to be a cop." Darcy remains still and calm as if waiting out a pesky wasp and doesn't give him the satisfaction of reacting in any way.


Sam nods his farewell and goes back in the room, immediately sitting on the bed and pulling out his laptop. Grumbling to himself in Yiddish, he boots it up and immediately runs Ken's name. As the info pulls up, he sets his pad on the bed. "Wanna call the best friend ever?" he says, in a semi low voice, as he isn't up for professionalism. He feels like he needs a shower and can only imagine how Darcy feels.

Heather knows what is coming and turns, knowing Ken will expect to see her smiling as if she is Mrs Cleaver waiting on Ward to come home.

Tom takes some comfort from the officers staying in room 7. He knows they can't stop everything though if it doesn't sound like Heather is in trouble and he's heard enough to know what she does to play along and stay alive. Tom clicks the TV back on and turns it up in anticipation. His window is still open so it's really blaring.

Darcy doesn't say any kind of goodbye to Ken and just turns and walks back into room 7. She is vaguely aware of what Sam is doing and saying but heads for the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face and then holding a towel to it for a moment.

Ken steps into room 8 with a smile that doesn't meet his cold eyes "Hey Baby. I hope those cops didn't give you a hard time. I think I sweet talked them outta here once they're done writing." He pulls Heather to her feet a little roughly but to an untrained eye it could be playful "Did you miss me?"


Sam runs Ken's record and groans to himself. He glances at the bathroom door, but says nothing to her, but his eyes move to the wall separating their room from Kens and sighs.

Heather was going to stand before she was pulled up. "No." she says in a voice slightly louder than her normal. It's not shaking. She smiles at him. "You know I did, baby." she looks up at him, noting the coldness in his eyes. "Always." she is hoping he will only let her go. Maybe his trip was long and he is bound to be tired. But they cops have probably started his ego and fear ... which means ... he's going to want things she doesn't ever want to give him again.


Tom watches the match on and roots for a boxer he likes without cheering. There's no cheer in it. However he does picture Ken's face taking every punch the guy doles out.

Darcy hangs the towel neatly and steps out from the bathroom trying to ignore the wall and the room next door somewhat and focus on reports. She's pretty sure Sam is running Ken's name for a record so she sits down near him and asks quietly "Anything?"

Ken had noticed the loud TV but didn't bang or yell today. Instead he just laughs "Jesus that guy next door really needs to get laid eh?" He grabs Heather around the waist now and kisses her roughly on the mouth before murmuring "Not like us..." in her ear. He steers her to the wall between 8 and 7 and presses her against it starting to kiss her neck, more affection that he usually offers.


Sam looks at the screen. "Breaking and entering .. assault. He did six months. Arrested for sexual assault a couple times, but in both cases the charges were dropped. The victims refused to testify. Ex-girlfriend in Ontario has a restraining order against him." he sighs deeply. "In other words, nothing. Old charges. For all we know, he's turned over a new leaf and is in this dump to save money while he houses the homeless someplace." he snorts and then glances up at a slight bump on the wall between their room and Ken's.

Heather is actually rather happy that at least he hasn't put her on the bed. She also knew that was because, this time, he wasn't putting on a show for Tom. This was for the cops next door. "Not like us." she agrees with a smile she hopes is not a grimace. She wraps a leg around him, her short dress riding up. "Oh!" she makes herself giggle. "Someone missed ME." she knows how thin the walls are but hopes the cops understand why she is acting the way she is acting. But ... after watching Ken kill a man ... how could they understand. To the cops in the room, she is probably nothing but a slut.


Tom hears a giggle and winces. He goes to the little fridge and grabs a beer, cracking it and downing half in one sip.

Darcy sighs at the record "He probably just got better at covering his tracks." She keeps her eyes on the screen even though she's aware of the bump. She hears the giggle too but doesn't acknowledge it, pretending to reread what she already knows.

Ken eats up Heather's act, getting instantly hard and grinding against her with an enthusiastic moan. He bumps her into the wall a little harder and says not quietly "I'm going to give it to you baby....I'm going to give it to you nice and hard...." His hand slides up her thigh under her little dress and goes right under the leg of her panties and grips her bare ass.


Sam nods. "Try that number he gave us." he taps his notepad. He hears Ken speaking and bites his lip, but seems to be listening to the goings on in the next room.

Heather feels him and presses against him. "Yea, baby." she feels his hand on her ass and knows what is coming for her. Three hours ago she was wet as spring. Now she doesn't dare think of Tom, lest she make a crucial mis-speak. "Give it to me." she isn't a talker ... not that Ken knows that. Usually she is very quiet. Her banter is straight out of porn movies.


Tom hears talking but can't make out the words over the TV. He knows the deal though and turns it up a bit more, downing his beer and heading for another. Without thinking he slams the fridge shut loudly.

Darcy rolls her eyes and mutters "For fucks sakes..." and writes down the number, taking her work cell to the far corner of the room to call.

Ken steps back and looks at Heather with absolute lust. He walks to the bedside table and grabs the condoms and lube, vaguely hearing a slam from next door. He undoes his jeans and lets them drop, stepping out of them, and the briefs that follow. He yanks off his shirt and throws it aside and puts on a condom and starts lubing it up. "Take off your clothes." He demands. A little louder he says "I want to bend you over and fuck your from behind."


Sam pulls himself onto the bed and leans against the wall, listening with arched eyebrows.

Heather watches Ken, but when he tells her to take off her clothes, the dress is already half off. She shimmies out of her panties all sexy like and smiles at him before she turns to face the wall. The smile vanishes instantly as she bends over, her legs spread, giving him a nice view of what he thinks is his. "Oh, yea, baby!" she tries to sound eager, as she grips the desk and waits.


Tom goes through his second beer as fast as the first and grabs at a third bottle. He plans to drown it all out. He can't actually hear as much of it but his imagination races with the worst possible scenarios and he's barely fighting the urge to just storm in and beat the living shit out of Ken for even touching Heather at all.

Darcy listens to the  very generic message on the number Ken gave them and doesn't bother leaving one herself and then turns around and sees Sam and looks at him with absolute horror, her jaw dropping a bit. Was he into this?

Ken doesn't waste a minute before he's slamming into Heather and moaning and grunting. At one point he says in a low and quiet voice "Tell me how good my cock feels in you.....nice and loud baby..."


Sam folds his arms and continues to listen. He barely spares Darcy a glance, taking a stab in the dark as to her thoughts. But he isn't aroused himself and while he hopes she isn't noticing that much, he is also hoping she IS noticing.

Heather cries out as the lube covered cock enters her. She holds onto the desk for dear life, glad he can't see her face. She fights tears, knowing Tom may be able to hear her. But she knows she can't ignore Ken, and doesn't dare disobey him. "Oh, baby ... yes .. feels so fucking good." she cries out loudly, but she isn't screaming. "Give it to me, baby. Oh fuck yea!"


Tom hears Heather's voice and rips through the last of beer number three. He hasn't eaten much today and he stumbles as he reaches for number 4, his eyes welling with tears. Why couldn’t they just be together? Why this horrible situation she had to be trapped in? He'd do anything to get her out, anything at all. Beer 4 was sliding down his throat now, dulling the pain ever so slightly as awareness started to shift away from reality.

Darcy shudders at what she hears through the wall with absolute disgust and then walks up to Sam and gives him a little smack upside the head. She just can't help herself. Afterwards she mouths "What the hell?"

Ken has as little stamina as he does real charm and starts to feel himself close to the edge "Tell me you're there baby....I'm gonna cum...." And with that he grips her hard enough to bruise her and thrusts hard enough to crash the desk into the wall that she's holding onto crying out loudly in what sounds like a cross between pleasure and rage.


Sam flinches and his hand goes to the area of his head that she smacked. "She's faking." he whispers. And holds up five fingers like he will explain in five minutes.


Heather begins to moan and groan, more glad than ever before that Ken was so quick on the trigger. "Oh baby, I'm cumming!" she holds the last word and bucks against him, about as close to orgasm as Canada is to Pluto. It's almost over and she's survived.


Tom finally drowns at beer 5 and a half and is slowly passing out on the floor, TV still blaring beside him. As the room dims for him his face is wet with tears and he mumbles "Heather I'm sorry....so sorry...I love you...." and then drifts out cold.

Darcy looks at the wall and gives a conceding nod but then screws up her face like she's just eaten something vile and sour. God the poor girl.

Ken pulls out of her unceremoniously and slaps her on the ass "We still got it baby." He walks to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. When he looks in the mirror he sees the circles under his eyes and their redness. The work he's been doing has not gone well lately. Too many mistakes, the body in the woods found, and now the cops. Sex can hardly even take the edge off the stress anymore.

Sam clenches his jaw at the finale and shakes his head, his fists clenching at his sides.

Heather takes a moment, panting ... getting her breath back and trying to NOT cry. She gets herself under control and stands, turning to the bed and reaching for her dress. "Yea, baby. You’re always great." she lies and wishes she had the guts to kill him herself. Or at least scream for the cops in the next room.

Darcy sits down and exhales quietly, relieved it's over for both the girlfriend and she and Sam listening. She just sits quietly, unsure what to say after that and stares at a random stain on the carpet.

Ken runs the shower and steps into it, letting the warm water just wash over him for a long time.

Sam hears the shower and gets up, moving to the television and turning it on at a medium high volume. He moves to Darcy. "You, OK Lynch?" he asks her softly. "I wanted to hear if she was really into it or faking. She's faking .... probably to keep Prince Charming from doing anything ... painful." he clenches his jaw again.

Heather dresses and sits on the bed, going back to her program. She sighs and thinks again ... maybe she could leave him .. maybe he wouldn't care. But she is too afraid he will. She is more property than girlfriend now.


Darcy looks deeply disturbed by it and shakes her head slowly saying "Yeah..it’s just messed up. I've met warlords and terrorists and that guy has issues by my standards. We can't make her ask us for help or report...as much as we'd like. But she's clearly a kept woman living in her own hell. I guess at least she has the other guy...but that's almost worse." Her voice is quiet enough and the TV is covering them anyway.


Sam nods. "It's not aggravated rape. But it's rape, in my book." he sighs and reaches for the criminal textbook. "She is right next door to a man who clearly adores her. Cath ... Kitty ... she says it's a mess. Now I know what she meant. But Ken has no warrants ... and no major things on his record. I'm not saying he isn't the shooter but ... right now we have nothing on him. Did you get in touch with his alibi?"

Heather keeps watching the show .. it is totally mindless and she wants nothing more than to be able to shower again. She feels filthy. She lays back and closes her eyes and falls asleep without wanting to.

Darcy sighs "I got a machine but I dunno even know if it's the real deal. We'll have to send someone out to check the address later."

Hours later Ken shakes Heather awake with a panicked look on his face "Get up. I need you to relocate something for me. In the laundromat there's a machine that's been out of order the whole time we've been here. Someone abandoned their stuff in it. Dig through the clothes and you'll find my duffel bag. I need you to take it to a better hiding spot....there's a little groove in the wall at the back of that nightclub. There's some old piping in front of it. Stuff it in the groove. Do it now. The cops just left. I've been listening..."


Heather was groggy when she was shaken awake. Blinking she got up and rubbed her eyes. The panic in Ken's voice told her this bag probably held trouble, as opposed to welding .. stuff. "Sure ..." she agrees, as if she had a choice. She tossed on jeans and a t-shirt and sneakers without socks and left the room, down the stairs and around to the laundromat. She found the dryer and opened it. There were dry clothes in it, just as Ken said there would be, but no bag. She felt under the clothes, glad they were dry at least, but still nothing. She began to feel her own kind of panic and went through a third time, even taking out several of the items of clothing, then putting them back. She took a deep breath and wanted more than anything to stop at Perkatory for a soothing chocolate drink. But she went straight back to the hotel, and, once the door was closed, she faced Ken, who would surely see her empty hands. "I couldn't find it." and part of her braced for fury.


Ken looked like he was going to charge at Heather as soon as she explained but then his eyes darted to the wall between their room and 7. His expression changed from fury to terror. "They're fuckin playing me...those cops already had it.....I need to get out of here Heather. Stay here. I'll come back for you. I promise." Ken grabbed another backpack and started shoving clothes into it. He walked to the bathroom and grabbed a few toiletries and stuffed them on top. The sun was just about to start coming up and the first ferry would leave within the hour. Ken was edgy and didn't offer Heather a proper good bye, He pulled his phone from his pocket and started dialing as he left room 8, like he feared it was bugged.

Once he was out on the balcony he walked towards room 9 talking on the phone "Carter, we fucked man. I've been made....they have my gear man. I duuno man...the god damn cops. They've been all over this place......no I gave them the other number....don't worry....... How the fuck can I do the job with you tomorrow? I don't have any fuckin gear..........Colin....Colin has a piece for me....better be good......yeah yeah I can get the rest. No no we need to hit them all in reverse. I can't be here next week after this..........k we'll do here last....then I'll grab Heather and blow this fuckin shithole. Meet me at the car park......bring the piece...."

Tom was slowly coming to on the floor of his room to the sound of Ken's voice in his head. Fuck, the guy was in his dreams now.....no he was at the window...talking on his phone. Tom listened for a moment and then tuned into the nature of the conversation and had an idea. He crawled silently across the floor and carefully picked his own phone off the bedside table. He crawled to the window and set his phone to record, holding it out just below eye level. The channel the fights were on had gone to static so there was a slight hum. Tom hoped it would still catch enough to have something to offer the police.

Ken seemed to be wrapping up and saying goodbye. He clicked the phone and then his boots could be heard as his footfalls got farther down the hall and hit the staircase. Tom slid down the wall clutching his phone to his chest. Finally, he had something on Ken. He just hoped it was enough to save Heather so they could be free of Ken Hall forever.









Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Murder at the Olin Part 3 - Autumn in Alexandra

Mertyl Payne looked up when the door to the Alexandra Police Station opened and Dr Susan McKinney walked in. "Good afternoon, Dr McKinney." she spoke in her most professional voice, but Mertyl's voice was naturally loud. Naturally VERY loud. Apparently many compared it to a scream, even when she was TRYING to be quiet.



Susan suppressed a groan as the voice bored into her head. "Afternoon, Mert. Is the Chief in? I have something for him. Official."



Before Mert could answer the door to Chief Adum Brate's office opened and he stuck his head out. "Come on in, Dr. McKinney." he glanced past Mert. "Lynch, in my office. And thanks Mert." then he vanished back into his office, leaving the door open so that the Doctor and new officer could come on in. He sat himself on his desk and leaned back, maintaining a casual look about him.



Susan walked into the office and seated herself, suppressing a giggle and rubbing her ear, as if she were in pain.



Darcy Lynch snapped to attention and stepped up from her seat at one of the office computers "Yes Sir." she said with obedient efficiency. It was still her first month in the Alexandra PD and she was still eager to make a very good impression. She walked briskly to to office giving Mert a brief nod as she passed and greeting Susan formally after following her in "Doctor McKinney."




Susan nodded at the new officer. "Officer Lynch." she pulled the file out of her soft briefcase ... really a messenger/medical bag and handed it over to Adum. "And we kick off Autumn with Roy Carter. His autopsy results were just faxed to me. I cancelled my one o'clock and came right over." she leans back and waits on Adum to read a little before she goes on. "Pretty simple. I already established that the victim had been dead only a few hours at the time Elmo Swanson's Pomsky found him. The coroner already knew that is was Mimi who was ripping at his fingers. You already know the body was not killed where Elmo and Mimi found it and the coroner confirmed. There were indeed two shots to the back. The body was cleaned before it was dumped."



Adum looks over the technical jargon with a sigh. "I hate autumn." he murmurs, taking the pieces of paper. In many ways he is glad he doesn't have a window to daydream out of. "So ... what does this tell us, Lynch?" the new officer was no student, but he was still 'feeling her out' as it were. She was already proving to be good, and he was pretty glad that she was already proving reliable.



Darcy stood straight with her hands clasped behind her back and looked between her Chief and the Doctor "The victim was shot by someone he didn't expect, since he didn't have time to turn, at close range since the shots were precisely lethal. The crime occurred in a residence or a hotel or motel because of the access to water for cleaning. It was tap water. not ocean right?" She turns slightly towards Susan. looking for confirmation.




Susan looks at the new cop with arched eyebrows. "Right." she stares up at her and then over at Adum, questioningly. This new girl reminds her a bit of Josh Greene, who was ex military and a bit stiff ... but Josh had been on a month long vacation, so he and this Darcy would not have met yet.



Adum shrugs, then nods. "And that morning was spent interviewing everyone in the damn Olin. Wright and Lynch interviewed anyone found in their rooms and Sharp canvassed out front." he looks at Darcy. "Anyone pop out at you? Let's go over that again." he only knew of two people staying at the Olin ... Megan's new friend and his own ... apparently secretly connected, although he had not shared that with anyone.



Darcy has no hesitation "Room 8. Heather Ruby. She was very nervous. Apparently she lives with a boyfriend who we have not been able to interview. She says he goes out of town a lot but the timing is suspicious."



 Susan listens as they devolve into boring police procedural. Before Adum can answer, she stands. "If you two need anything, please let me know. I have patients." and she will head for the door if neither has anything they need her for.



Adum glances at Susan. "Thank you, Dr. McKinney. We will contact you if we have any further questions." he stands and opens the door for her, always the gentleman. Then he closes it and leans on it, glad of the excuse to calm his own heart. "Do you think this Heather Ruby is a suspect, accomplice, covering for the boyfriend ... what?" he asks as he moves back to sit behind his desk.


Darcy had nodded at the doctor as she left "Good Day Doctor." She shifted so her stance was fulling facing the Chief again and replied to him "My guess is accomplice or witness to something. She's no killer. Just a gut feeling Chief. She seems shell shocked by whatever happened. I've seen every kind of PSTD in the field and she wears hers like a badge."




Adum keeps his face blank as he listens to her. "Do she may have seen something. There have been rumors that she may be the victim of domestic abuse. Could be either or both." its less a question than anything. "Of course, no one heard gunshots at the Olin. At that place you couldn't get a witness to a sunrise." he strokes his chin and leans back, not liking this. "Hell of a start to the season." he growls softly.



 Darcy looks confused, being newer in town "Season Sir? Crime is seasonal on this island?" She's kind of joking but cautiously.



 Adum sighs, unaware he'd spoken so loudly. "Actually ... yes." he tells her. "More than eighty percent of our violent crimes happen between September the first and December the first." he admits. "I suppose one example is that, so far this year we've had a single murder. At the Olin. Back in the spring. Man beat his wife, who later died of her injuries. Since September the first we've had this murder, two felony assaults, one rape, one attempted rape, and a drowning. Four of these happened at the Olin." he looks a little ashamed. "And we have over a month to go." he considers telling her about the legends that the Olin is a cursed place. In the Autumn ... he believes it more than any time of the year.



 Darcy contemplates this "Huh....usually there is a spike before winter in cold places. You know jail has better food than the streets, but it doesn't hit those deep freeze temperature here that goes with that. What's with the Olin specifically?"



Adum doesn't argue. "Well, we also have no homeless whatsoever. First, we aren't really set up for that, as the only ways to get here are by water or air. Add to that that there a couple of people in this town who would take anyone who had no home here and take them over to Town Hall and help them apply for aid and, in the meantime take them into their own home." he lifts his hands. "ZIlpha .. Miss Z is one of them. My home is the local cat shelter. Cats don't have to buy ferry tickets and for some reason the ferry seems to unintentionally drop off cats on a regular basis." then he pauses. Then he recites, as if he long ago memorized some kind of seriously messed up tourist flier. "The Olin Motel, built, owned and operated by Gerald Olin, was the first motel on Alexandra. The inn housed families as they waited for their homes and stores to be built elsewhere on the island. During the first winter … one of Alexandra’s harshest … two separate families in two separate rooms were found dead. One family seemed to have committed some kind of mass suicide; including the children. In the other room a father took time to torture his family before killing them, and then himself. Gerald Olin himself died in his own hotel, years later, committing suicide in one of the rooms." he stops and shrugs. "At least that's the history. In Alexandra, by the way, Halloween is banned. Pretty much always but definitely since it became such a commercial success. There's never been trick-or-treating or any f that stuff allowed on this island." he sits back and watches her for a response.



It is known that Darcy has a military background and has seen war zones in Syria and Afghanistan, been on strike teams to get hostages out of mass shootings and clean up tasks forces for drug and prostitution dens but she still does a slight eyebrow raise at the notion of one place being so cursed. To her violence is random in location, even if it's constant in humanity at large. She nods slowly and says thoughtfully "I see Sir."



 Adum shrugs. "Alexandra history. Fascinating." he takes in a deep breath. "Back on track. Could Heather be reacting to alleged domestic violence or possibly what she saw?" he asks, always happy NOT to talk about Alexandra's history.



Darcy nods "Valid theory. Course that makes the boyfriend more of a suspect. If he's prone to violence."



Adum considers. "Well, there is no proof of domestic violence. Accusations. No proof. Either way ... we need to bring the boyfriend in for questioning for this murder anyway. Take Sam and see if he's in ... if he isn't..." he pauses, considering. "I suppose we can simply wait for him to show up and bring him in. Then we'll ask our questions and see where it goes from there."



Darcy agrees "If the girlfriend's still there, he's coming back But let's keep a tail on her too."



Adum nods, slowly. "Absolutely. But nothing too obvious. I don't want the boyfriend to bolt when he sees a cop car at the Olin .. so one of the few civilian cars in town." Alexandra statute limits driving of gasoline powered cars down by limiting them to high ranking city personnel or those willing to pay huge permit fees.





Darcy clearly understands "We could schedule plainclothes walk bys even Sir...or rent room 7..."



 Adum considers it. "I ... hesitate to rent room 7, but .... " he sighs deeply. "You're right. That may be the only way. He's been too slippery." he nods slowly.



 Darcy sighs "You'll have to pick some unknown faces for the rental fake. Unfortunately they know some of us now from the investigation."



 Adum chuckles. "There ARE no unknown faces in Alexandra. Not even you. But I CAN suggest to Olin management that they need to cooperate with us for a little while, have restaurants deliver food, to avoid my officers having to leave the room and change shifts when there is little to no traffic. We've done this before, and it is no fun. But in a town this small being the face no one recognizes is getting a LOT of attention."



 Darcy meets Adum's gaze "Understood." She stands ready to receive either orders or dismissal.


Adum offers her a nod. "Go and get Sam ... Wright. The two of you change into civvies and then go to the Olin. I'll call ahead for you. I'll see to it you're relieved at midnight, if the suspect doesn't show up before then. Dismissed."