Chapter 1 - All That Jazz

The club was in full swing. Hot Jazz music was blasting from the band and their instruments. This was where I was supposed to meet Julie. As I waited for her to show, I watched the stage. The lights dimmed and music slowed as a woman rose from beneath the stage.

The spotlight landed on the famous Calliope Torres, better known as Callie. Sure the gal had a nice act and a killer voice, but the real crowd pleaser was her body. Those curves, that skin like caramel, and the muscled legs that went on for miles. I'll tell ya, what I wouldn't give for a night with her.

Suddenly Julie decided to show, effectively interrupting my lusty thoughts of the woman performing on that stage.

"Hey, babe, let's go."

"I thought we were gonna stick around to meet your friend, Callie, after the show!" I protest and she tugs my sleeve, pulling me towards the door. She gives the stage a wary look before tugging at me again.

"Don't worry 'bout it, we'll do it another night. Callie and I are tight. You'll meet her." She gives the club another sweeping look before grabbing out coats and pulling us out into the cool night air of the streets of Chicago.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Julie and I lay in bed together after a long night. One of my records in playing softly in the background and the familiar tune reminds me of something that's been on my mind lately.

"Hey, Jules, doncha think it's 'bout time we made plans... about us. You know its been 'bout a month. And I know 'cause it was the same night you said we'd meet your friend, Callie, but then she got arrested for pluggin' her husband and his mistress."

Julie gets up suddenly and throws a robe on before heading into the bathroom. When she emerges once more there is a deafening silence as she starts to re-dress herself.

"Jules?"

She gives me a hard shoulder check on her way past me to her coat.

"Julie?"

"Wake up, Arizona! It's never going to happen!"

"What? But… but you said—"

"Face it, Ari. It's not going to work out for two women like us. This ain't Europe! We had some fun…let's just leave it at that!"

"Come on Jules, we can work this out—" I grab for her arm, trying to make her stay. Sure Julie wouldn't be my first choice for a partner, but who else have I got?

"No, Arizona!" Julie yells as she pulls out of my grip and makes for the door. "Now why don't you change those sheets before your hubby gets home." She sneers. "And another thing, I never knew Callie Torres. I just said that to get you in bed!"

I watch from somewhere outside of my body as my hands frantically search my bureau drawer. I don't know what's come over me, but as my palm makes contact with cool metal everything spirals out of control.

Three loud bangs echoing throughout the room bring me back to my senses. The last few minutes are a hazy blur that left me with a spinning head. All I know is that Julie is lying on the ground, and there's a pistol in my hand.

"Shit."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cameras flash, taking in the crime scene. A sheet has been draped over the now chilled body. Charles is sat on our bed talking to the cops as I pace nervously in the corner.

"And where did you get the weapon, Mr. Percy?"

"I keep a gun in the top drawer, 'case there's an emergency. And I would say this was an emergency! A stranger comes in here hollerin' and making a fuss. A man's first instinct is to protect his family."

"Of course." The cop seems to be buying it so Charles continues.

"She musta been on somethin' 'cause I've never seen a woman act so crazily. When she started going for Ari here I panicked and grabbed the gun. It was self-defense I tell ya!"

"Alright, Mr. Percy, just sign here and we'll take care of all this." He turns and gives orders to have a drug screen of the body. "Thank you for your co-operation." The cop says with a smile, turning back to us. But just when I think I got off—

"Hold on. I'd like to get a few questions in here."

—DA Stark burst into the room.

"You. You. Over there." He says pointing to Charles and I and motioning for us to stand over by the body of my, well, now ex-girlfriend.

"From the top."

"Well, like I told the kind officer over there…" Charles started.

Charles Percy may not have been the brightest or the best in bed, but he sure was loyal. Though I much prefer the company of a beautiful woman, if I'm stuck with a husband I'm glad it's Charles.

"Let's see here. Name of the deceased: Julie Anderson." Stark deadpans, looking through Jule's purse.

"Wait. Julie Anderson? That can't be. My wife knows her." Charles answers in shock.

Shit!

"We has lunch with her and her husband last month."

Shut up you dummy!

"You told me she was some crazy woman looking for a hit. Came into the house screamin' at you!" He turns towards me accusingly.

"You mean she was already dead when you came home?" Stark begins to question angrily.

"She told me some bullshit story about how a druggie knew I was a doctor and came in lookin' for some drugs!"

No, Charles, no!

"I see some empty needles and start askin' questions! She tells me once they took a hit they started getting all crazy and she had to defend herself. Tells me to say I did it so I'd look like some goddamn hero!"

Some loyal husband!

"What a sap I was!"

"You idiot! You go rattin' on me, like that! Some fine husband you are! Shoulda known you could never be an actual man!" I scream forgetting for a second exactly who is present in the room.

"You lied to me, Arizona!"

"Look, it's true, I shot her, but it was self-defense. She really was acting like a lunatic. She was on somethin', I promise! Just check the drug screen!" I defend my self, turning to Stark. With a stone face he replies.

"To my understanding, this 'druggie' has come lookin' for a hit four times a week for the last month." He moves towards the door and comes back followed by our neighbor, Erica Hahn.

"Yup, that's her. Those two have been causin' a ruckus in these apartments for the last month." Erica confirms, glancing at Julie's blue face.

"Thank you." She leaves as Stark turns back towards me. "Your story's crap, so how about we try this one. You and Mrs. Anderson here had a fun thing going on the side. You found out about her leavin' her husband and going to Europe to be with her other gal and shot her."

"Other gal?" I'm shocked, Julie wouldn't.

"I already talked to the husband. Turns out he knew about both of his wife's girlfriends."

"That bitch! She was cheatin' on me and planning to run away with her!" Forgetting myself for another moment I scream, "I killed her! And I'd kill her again if I had the chance!"

"Once was enough. Take her away, boys!"

Cameras once again start flashing as I'm put in cuffs and hauled outside. Reporters are shouting questions at me, and I'm dizzy from all the tugging and flashes of bright, white light.

"Hey, you. Take this down." Stark yells at a reporter. "District Attorney Stark says this is a hanggin' case. I'm goin' to the jury tomorrow."

Hangin'?

"Take her down to the Cook County Jail!" Stark barks.

"Hangin'?" I yell as the car pulls away from the crowd.