Flack Meets His Dream

Chapter 1

Detective Don Flack was working a homicide and possible attempted homicide Uptown Manhattan. Isabella Atherton and her date for the evening were heading in for the Art Museum Auction, a big charity moneymaker that anybody who was anybody attended. They were on their way up to the building when some unknown man came up behind her date and shot him point blank in the head, blowing brains, blood, and skull particles all over the place, including Isabella Atherton. Surprisingly, after a short bit of shock hysterics that ended by the time Don and CSI arrived on the scene, she was calm and dignified as one would expect from the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in New York, maybe even the country.

Don was interviewing her from the back of the ambulance. The coroner was looking over the body of Ashton Whitiker, her date from a well to do family, but nothing in her league. She watched numbly fascinated by what the CSI team was doing. When a man named Dr. Sheldon Hawkes came up to her and asked if he could comb out the items from hair and take her coat from her to take the 'trace' off of it as well, she silently agreed.

She looked slightly scared at the doctor, "Dr. what is in my hair and my coat? I don't have a mirror."

Both Sheldon and Flack looked at each other, and back at her. Figuring Flack had more time to develop at least some rapport with Isabella, he went to respond to her question. "Ms. Atherton, you have blood spatter, bone pieces and…"

"And brains right? I have parts of Ashton's head on my head and clothing, and my coat as well. Fuck."

Both men were surprised at the declarative and stepped back. Dr. Hawkes spoke up, "I'm really sorry m'am. But if I can get as much as possible, then some little fragment may help us to catch the killer."

"Fine, can you get this out of my hair and off my body while I finish my interview with Det. Flack? I will go home and change, someone can follow me if you need to, and you can take all my clothing if it will help. If there is a way for you to trap stuff in the shower to get whatever you miss, you can do that too. I don't care. I want whoever did this to Ashton caught. And of course, I want to make sure he doesn't come after me."

"Ms. Atherton…"

"Please Det. Flack, for the last time call me Isabella, or Isa, or Bella. I answer to all three names or nicknames. I insist, really." Even as tired, cranky, and shocked as she was, she still was aware of her surroundings, including Det. Flack. His jet black hair with his ocean blue eyes made him stand out from so many who currently surrounded her. His voice was kind and his face was completely open. He displayed no artifice or arrogance towards her, only genuine caring and kindness. She wondered if he was always this way. He struck her immediately as a player, but her guard was down and she was vulnerable.

Don blushed slightly, unusual for him speaking to a beautiful woman, but she was amazing. She had red hair that fell to her waist; it was thick and a naturally curly and wavy texture that made him want to just bury his hands in it. She had perfect emerald green eyes, a peaches and cream complexion that didn't look like she wore much makeup except to strongly emphasize her eyes and her lips. They were ruby red, and despite everything she had been through, her lips were still red and shiny. How did she do that? He refocused his attention after a gentle nudge by Hawkes.

"Ok, Isabella. Did you hear this man say anything to you? Either of you?"

"He had on the black ski mask, so it was hard to understand. But it was something like 'you can't have her. She's mine.' The voice was very warped sounding, like it had been done on a computer."

"Have you had any threats, break-ins, phone calls, letters?"

"Sure, I get stuff like that all the time. I have since high school. Letters I save in a box just in case I need them later. All my phone calls are taped. I only answer calls when I know who they are. Break-ins, not since I moved into the penthouse, but I pay for security, have a full alarm system, and you need a special key to get up the elevator. Threats, sure I get threats, but they come in letter form or phone calls. You think this was about me, don't you?" She tried to ignore the fine comb working its way through her hair, collecting what was left of Ashton's body.

"Given what you heard this guy say, it is a strong possibility. What other events have you been to with Ashton and how many do you usually attend?"

"Ashton and I weren't dating. It was more of an arrangement. We just attended this gala sort of thing together because it was convenient. Do you know how hard it is to meet a straight decent guy in this town? He felt the same way. Most women Ashton met were strictly after his body and his money, neither of which he was inclined to share with just any bimbo. I try to limit myself to only 6 galas a year. Sometimes Ashton would get me to go to more. I find them a chore, and would rather write my check from afar than schmooze with the rich and infamous."

Hawkes laughed quietly, "Now you are one of the rich and infamous."

"Ha. Not funny, Dr. I have spent most of my life out of the limelight, and sure as hell try to avoid infamy. What kind of doctor are you anyway?"

"Medical Examiner. Now I work in the forensics lab, and help out in the ME's office as they need me."

"So combing blood and brains out of a girl's hair is your job?"

"Among other things." He laughed lightly with her. Her mood was definitely improving.

"Hawkes, can we get her home now? She is probably ready for that shower and to get out of these clothes, not to mention since you took her coat she is probably freezing." As Flack said that he took his warm black cashmere coat off and wrapped it around her. She was swamped in it, but at least she was warm. She gave him a very kind, even loving smile, which sent his heart in a pitter patter of beats. He smiled back at her blushing again. She loved that blush and would bet not many girls had ever seen it.

"My car and driver are at the end of the block. We can take that."

"No Isabella, you have to stay with me, so we'll go in my car. Your driver can follow us home."

Soon they got arrangements all squared away and Flack, Hawkes, and Isabella headed for her townhome. They were greatly impressed even with the lobby with gold leaf and mahogany walls and furniture. They entered the mirrored and mahogany walled elevator where she inserted her special key which took them to the top floor directly, no stops. Flack and Hawkes both were awed that other than a brief look at the damage she never once looked in the mirrors all the way to the 20th floor. They stepped into a small hallway and ultimately entered her penthouse through two huge doors. Her apartment was completely outfitted with dark mahogany furniture and mostly white fabric. The floors were a dark and polished cherry with periodic throw rugs arranged strategically. It was stunning.

"Can I get you guys a drink? You probably won't want a drink, but water, soda?"

"I'll take a coke or diet anything."

"Me too." It had already been a long night and would probably be even longer.

Flack wandered around looking at photographs, while he heard her get glasses and ice. Then he heard a scream, and both men came running. Isabella was backed against the opposite counter staring at the goat's head sitting in the fridge. It had what appeared to be a bullet through the back of his head, just like Ashton. They started looking at the scene, Hawkes ran for his camera, while Isabella vomited violently in the sink. She was shaking by the time she was done, and Flack very sweetly gave her a wet kitchen towel for her face and neck.

She breathlessly whispered, "Thank you. You seem like a very kind man." She went to hold his hand for comfort for a few minutes and he let her.

"Dr. Hawkes, do you think you could set up whatever you need to in the shower if you are going to collect anything else? I'd like to shower now."

"I think if I can just collect your clothing, we'll be good. You take a shower. Here are some bags for you to put your clothing in. I'll take care of this crime scene while you take care of yourself."

She responded to him in a shaky voice, "Thank you. Don, would you mind checking the room, closet, and bathroom to make sure there aren't any surprises?" Without thinking about it, she had switched from Det. Flack to Don. She hadn't even realized it, but he did and it made him feel warm inside. He squeezed her hand gently, and left to check out the other rooms. He wasn't exactly sure where the Master bedroom was, so he just cleared the whole Penthouse. He checked out the master, and while there wasn't any goat's head, there was what looked like seminal fluid on the bed and writing in blood on the mirror."

"Hawkes! You need to come in here. Bring you kit. Bella, you stay put baby ok? I don't want you in here."

Isabella didn't respond. After so many shocks tonight, she was overwhelmed. She didn't even want to know what was in there. But she did desperately want a shower. And then they would leave. She would take a suite at the Trump Towers and be done with it. She sat on the mahogany colored leather sofa covering her shivering body with Don's coat. Even through her shocked fugue, she had heard the 'baby' in his address and she was absurdly pleased with that tiny bit of endearment. It probably meant nothing to him. He was from NY she could tell, probably Queens. But she already liked him. Funny mojo going on tonight.

When Don came out to check on her, he found her silently sitting on the couch staring at nothing but shivering hard enough to shake her teeth loose. "Hawkes! Come here. Hurry, she's shaking like crazy." Don wrapped her in his coat even tighter and rubbed her up and down.

Hawkes came rushing out from the master bedroom and checked her pulse and temperature. "She's getting shocky, Don. We need to warm her up. Man, this would be a good time for Stella to be here. We can't do this."

"What is it we have to do, Hawkes? Tell me what we have to do. I'll do it."

"She needs to get in a really warm shower, hot even, but not enough to burn her. We still have to preserve the evidence, all her clothes in separate bags, but she needs to get warmed up."

"There is a second room and shower over there. Don can come with me and I'll hand my clothes to him to put in your bags. The shower will be hot by the time I get undressed. When you cleared the house, did you check in there?" She was barely understandable as her teeth were chattering so hard.

"Yeah. It's all good." He picked her up still wrapped in his coat and carried her and the bags to the bathroom. She stood there shivering while he turned the water on really hot. She started pulling her clothes off right in front of him, but hung his coat up nicely. He tried to leave the room so she could get undressed, but once she started her urgency increased. He picked up every item and stuffed it in a bag. Finally she was naked, with her back to him, and turned sideways not caring that he was there, or maybe not minding that he was there. She stepped her shivering body into the hot shower and started to bath herself. With something between relief and regret, he left the bathroom, but let her know he was leaving.

"Don?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for staying with me. Can you do what I'd like to think would be my last favor to ask of you tonight, but suspect it won't be?"

"You can ask whatever you want of me, Bella."

"Somehow I doubt that, but that discussion is for perhaps another day. Can you get me some jeans and a shirt from my closet? I need a bra and panties too. I prefer low rider jeans. Do you know what those are?"

"Yeah I know."

"Somehow I knew you would. I'll need a thong to wear with those, ok?"

"You know you're killing me here, Bella."

"I think there has been enough killing for me tonight, but I do appreciate the sentiment. You aren't going to disappoint me and tell me you are married or involved with someone are you?"

"I would never want to disappoint you. I'm very straight, and very single. Good?"

"And you seem very decent too. Where have you been my whole life?" She laughingly said.

"Downtown in Queen's baby. Nothin' uptown about this boy. I'll go get your clothes before I'm not so decent and decide to climb in there with you. You smell delicious."

She gave him a sultry laugh as he walked out the door with all the bags and his coat which he feared they would keep along with the other evidence. But as he thought about it, and the glimpses of Bella's naked body, and her subtle and not so subtle flirting, losing his coat was worth it.