This story is set during Season 3/4 of due South. I hope you enjoy reading it. All comments welcome. Thank you kindly!
Bittersweet Justice
CHAPTER 1.
"I'm telling you, Fraser, she smiled at me. Twice." Ray tipped the last of his packet of chocolate coated candies into the cup of coffee that he'd been looking forward to ever since he'd arrived back at his apartment. "What does that mean? And you sure I can't get you something more interesting than, er, water?"
"Water is fine, thank you kindly." Fraser sipped at the tall glass and suddenly realised how thirsty he was. It had been a long, difficult day and he and Ray were looking forward to a pizza and a hockey game to unwind. "You're positive you don't know this woman?"
"Nope," Ray shrugged. "Pretty sure I'd remember if I'd met her before."
"Did you return the gesture?"
"Y'mean did I smile back at her like some creepy weirdo?" asked Ray, raising his eyebrows questioningly.
"It would have been the polite thing to do," Fraser pointed out. "Not in a creepy weirdo way, of course, but out of courtesy."
"Yeah, well, I don't dance with courtesy quite like you, buddy," replied Ray, pointing a finger at his friend. "Besides, no girl in this city smiles at you for no reason. She's after something, I'm telling you Fraser. She has a motive, I just have to figure out what it is."
"You believe there was a motive behind her friendly smile?" asked Fraser incredulously. "If you don't mind me saying, Ray, that's an incredibly cynical viewpoint."
"That's me, Fraser," shrugged Ray. "And I'm not falling for her…I mean, falling for it."
Fraser's eyes narrowed at Ray's Freudian slip.
Ray glanced at the Mountie and then quickly looked away in embarrassment. "Don't," he said.
"Don't what, exactly?"
"Don't say whatever it was you were thinking, OK?" Ray got up from the sofa and crossed to the window.
"Right you are," nodded Fraser, slightly puzzled.
Ray spun round. "I just can't risk it right now, Fraser. I can't. I know it's d-u-m dumb, but that's how it is. And I don't need an Inuit story from you about how the bear and the tiger learned to move on from some kind of fishing related heartbreak, or whatever, OK? Just drop it. She's just a girl who I guess has an apartment in this building and maybe she likes me, or maybe she's part Canadian so she just thinks being polite is normal, but either way nothing is going to happen between us."
"There are no tigers in the Territories, Ray."
"You know what I mean," snapped Ray.
Fraser slowly drew his thumbnail across his left eyebrow as he pondered the conversation. "I'm sorry, Ray, but I don't."
Ray sighed and returned to his seat on the couch. "Stella," he said quietly.
"Oh."
Diefenbaker, who had been dozing at Fraser's feet, lifted his head and whined.
"Yeah, even the wolf knows what I'm talking about," nodded Ray. "You saw what a screw up I was with Luanne Russell," he continued. "I'm just too damaged to figure out women now." He tapped his right temple with his forefinger. "And say this girl does like me, she won't once she gets to know me so if she smiles at me again I'm gonna ignore her. Simple as that. Avoids all that messy, heartbreaky stuff further down the line."
"I see."
"No you don't."
Fraser moistened his lower lip with his tongue. It wasn't strictly true. His heart had been broken too and that situation had been far messier than Ray's divorce so he was well aware of the need to protect oneself from any more pain, but he couldn't reconcile that with Ray's actions towards an innocent stranger. Before Fraser could say anything there was a knock at the door.
Diefenbaker barked.
This had better be the pizza…I've had two dog biscuits since lunchtime. Two. And after I risked my life taking down that human who was trying to kill the other human this afternoon. Two measly dog biscuits. Ingrate…
He glanced at Fraser and wondered, not for the first time, exactly why he stayed with the strange human.
Oh yes…he needs me…
Ray leapt up and grabbed his wallet from the side before opening the door. "If you've forgotten the pineapple again this time I'll…" he began, but then he trailed off. "Oh…hi," he said.
Fraser glanced up at the change of tone in Ray's voice. He was surprised to see a woman at the door instead of the pizza delivery driver. She looked about thirty five years old with shoulder length mousey brown hair and green eyes. She was dressed smartly in a navy blue skirt and a pink blouse which clung to her curves. From Ray's reactions Fraser assumed this was the woman they'd just been talking about.
"Hi," said the woman. "Look, I'm really sorry to bother you, but…" she glanced nervously over her shoulder before continuing. "You're a cop, right?" she asked.
"Yeah," nodded Ray, suspiciously.
"Oh, sorry, I'm Carrie-Ann," smiled the woman.
"Ray," replied Ray, curtly.
Fraser got to his feet and walked over to join them. "Constable Benton Fraser, RCMP," he introduced himself. "I first came to Chicago on the trail…"
"Not now, Fraser," snapped Ray.
"Sorry, Ray," nodded Fraser. Then he looked at Carrie-Ann with concern. "Are you in need of police help?" he asked.
Carrie-Ann shrugged. "I don't know…maybe…" she replied.
Fraser glanced at Ray and widened his eyes, hoping his friend would understand the gesture and invite the woman in.
Ray ignored him for a moment.
Why is she here? Is she stalking me? Has she been listening to our conversation this whole time? What does she want with me? God…she has beautiful eyes…
Fraser was still staring at him and Ray couldn't take the awkward silence any longer. "Er, come in," he muttered and stood aside as Carrie-Ann stepped through the doorway.
"Thank you," she smiled. "It's probably nothing and I'm really sorry to bother you, but I've seen you a few times in the hall and I saw your badge so I knew you were a cop and…"
"How can we be of assistance?" Fraser urged, keen to move things along.
"It's my grandmother," Carrie-Ann explained. "She lives downstairs, apartment eight. She's old and getting sick, but she can still look after herself with my help. I try to visit every day, but it's not easy with work. I came straight here from the office tonight, but she's not answering her door. I have a key, but I can't find it, I guess I left it in my other purse."
"And you'd like our assistance to gain entry to the apartment?" Fraser queried.
"Please," nodded Carrie-Ann. "I'm kinda worried about her. She knew I was coming. She never goes out on her own. "
"Do you have ID?" asked Ray, folding his arms across his chest.
Fraser frowned at him. "Is that really necessary?" he asked.
"It's alright," smiled Carrie-Ann. "I understand, I could be anyone. Here, I have these." She rummaged in her purse and produced various documents with her name, photograph and address on them.
Ray scanned down the information and handed them back. "OK," he said. "Let's go." He quickly slung his holster around his shoulders and checked his gun.
"Oh," Carrie-Ann brought her hand to her mouth nervously as she spoke. "Do…do you think that will be necessary?"
"Just a precaution," replied Ray, glancing at Fraser. "Y'never know."
Carrie-Ann nodded and led Ray and Fraser to her grandmother's apartment. She knocked on the door loudly. "Gran!" she called out. "Gran! It's Carrie! Are you in there?"
They waited a few seconds, but there was no reply. Ray tried the door handle but it wouldn't budge.
"Stand aside, ma'am," said Fraser and Carrie-Ann watched as he and Ray got into position and followed their well-rehearsed procedure.
"Chicago PD!" yelled Ray as Fraser kicked the door open. Ray stepped inside first, gun drawn, with Fraser at his shoulder. "Oh jeez." Ray's heart fell at the sight that greeted them.
Fraser spun around in an attempt to stop Carrie-Ann seeing it too, but it was too late.
The body of an elderly lady lay in the middle of the floor. A pool of blood had formed at her side and it was obvious from her skin colour that she was dead. A walking frame was next to her, tipped onto its side and the pieces of a smashed teacup were scattered nearby.
Fraser gently turned Carrie-Ann around by the shoulders and walked her out into the hall. "I'm so sorry," he said, gently.
Carrie-Ann couldn't speak. Her face was pale and she was physically shaking.
"Is there anyone I can call for you?" asked Fraser. "Friend? Family member?"
Carrie-Ann shook her head slowly.
"We will do everything we can to help you," Fraser continued, reassuringly.
Carrie-Ann nodded as the tears finally began to flow down her face.
Fraser heard Ray on his phone reporting the incident and within minutes the building was crawling with people. The neighbours across the hall were shocked by what had happened and they kindly offered to sit with Carrie-Ann and made her a cup of herbal tea at Fraser's suggestion.
"Definitely a homicide," Ray announced as Fraser finally joined him. "Looks like a single stab wound."
"Well I guess you don't need me after all," interjected the young assistant Medical Examiner who had been studying the body.
His sarcasm was not appreciated and Ray was about to snap a reply, but Fraser managed to stop him. "On the contrary, Mr Corelli," he said quickly. "Detective Vecchio and I would never underestimate the value of a full and thorough autopsy report."
"Yeah, well, I'm a field guy," replied the young man. "I like to be where the action is. I leave the boring lab stuff to the old guy."
Ray almost had to physically bite his tongue to avoid reacting to Corelli's disrespectful manner.
Fraser remained resolutely calm, as always. "If you are referring to Dr Gustafson then I think you'll find that his expertise in the boring lab stuff, as you put it, is second to none," he began. "And he would probably appreciate it if you refrain from contaminating the evidence any further," he added, nodding towards the camera which was swinging from Corelli's neck and dragging across the body.
Corelli quickly realised his mistake and sat upright, looking sheepishly away from Fraser and Ray.
Ray turned, shaking his head. "Who kills an old granny, Fraser?" He asked sadly. "See how frail she was? If you wanted to rob the place she wasn't gonna stop you."
"It wasn't a robbery," stated Fraser.
Ray nodded, deciding to ask his buddy later how he could be so sure of that fact already.
"How's Carrie-Ann holding up?" he asked instead.
"As well as can be expected," replied Fraser.
"I guess I should take her statement," sighed Ray. "I feel bad, y'know, about what I said earlier. The smiling thing, I mean."
"You weren't to know any of this was going to happen," Fraser pointed out.
"No, but I still…" Ray trailed off. "Oh jeez, buddy, I need to, er, I need to get over Stella. I have to, or…" he trailed off again.
"Ray, we have a murder to solve," Fraser reminded him. "Let's make that our first priority."
xXxXxXx
An hour later Fraser was sitting at Ray's desk at the police station scanning through some background information on Carrie-Ann's grandmother, Thelma Hoffman. There was nothing of note, certainly nothing that would constitute a motive for murder. Fraser glanced over his shoulder towards Lieutenant Welsh's office where Ray was talking to his superior officer. Carrie-Ann was in Interview Room One going over her statement with the help of a support officer. She remained, understandably, devastated at the death of her grandmother, particularly in such violent circumstances.
Fraser lifted his head at the sound of the door swinging open. A smile crept across his face as he saw who had entered the squad room. He got to his feet. "To what do we owe this pleasure?" he asked.
Elaine Besbriss stood in the doorway and smiled back. "Hi Fraser," she said. "I was just…I was just passing so I thought I'd stop by and see how things were going around here."
Fraser walked across to her. "Things are going…well, pretty much as they always were," he replied, tugging at his earlobe.
Elaine stared at him for a moment. He looked almost exactly the same as he had the last time she'd seen him. His hair was a little longer, perhaps, but that was all. His broad shoulders still filled out his red tunic perfectly, his slightly lopsided smile still filled her heart with joy and his blue eyes still pierced her soul.
"I'm glad to hear it," she said.
When she'd graduated from the Academy and got a placement at the Two Five, Elaine had promised everyone at the Two Seven that she would visit regularly, but as time had passed she'd found it easier to stay away. She'd resigned herself to the fact that nothing was ever going to happen between her and Fraser and, just as she'd anticipated, now she was back here, looking into his eyes, the feelings of disappointment had come flooding back and were almost overwhelming.
Elaine glanced around the squad room. "Busy," she noted.
"Homicide investigation," explained Fraser. "Ray and I discovered a body in his apartment building this evening. An eighty six year old female."
"Oh no," said Elaine, sadly, all selfish thoughts suddenly pushed aside.
"Hey, Besbriss!" The booming voice of Jack Huey interrupted her contemplation. "Long time no see."
"Hi Jack," Elaine answered, turning to the sound of the voice. "Just had to make sure you guys haven't been getting into any trouble since I left."
"Trouble? Me?" grinned Jack, warmly. "I leave all the trouble to Vecchio," he added with a wink.
Fraser watched the exchange with a growing feeling of concern. There was something different about Elaine and he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"May I get you a coffee?" he offered. "Francesca has recently procured a cappuccino machine."
Elaine laughed. "I can't blame her, the coffee here always tasted like mud." Her laughter faded. "Thanks, but I should, um, I should get going."
"But you only just got here?" replied Fraser in surprise. "I'm sure Ray would like to say hello. He shouldn't be too much longer."
"No…no, really, Fraser, I…" Elaine stopped and let out a slow sigh. "I don't even know why I came here tonight. I thought…I thought…" but her voice cracked and she had to stop talking. She couldn't really explain herself anyway, she realised.
Fraser put a gentle hand on her shoulder and guided her to a quiet corner of the room.
Elaine couldn't help but gasp at how easily Fraser had reached out to her physically. It wasn't the hug she'd always dreamed of, but it was more than she'd ever experienced from him before.
Maybe he has changed after all…just a little…
"Elaine," began Fraser in a low voice. "Please accept my apologies if this seems a little forward," he continued, "but, is there something wrong?"
Elaine smiled. "I almost forgot how perceptive you are," she whispered. "And, yes," she confirmed. She knew there was no use trying to lie to him. "But, it's OK. It's just something I have to work through on my own. I'll be fine. "
Fraser's eyes narrowed, unconvinced by her assurances.
"Really," she insisted. "I'm sorry, I didn't come here for help. I just wanted to see this place again. I thought it might make me feel better."
"Has it?" asked Fraser.
Elaine's smile broadened. "Yes," she replied. "Yes it has. Very much."
Fraser nodded in approval. "Well, if you, um…that is, if there's anything…what I'm trying to say is…"
"Thank you," Elaine interrupted him before his embarrassment began to eat him from the inside. "If I ever need help, you'll be the first person I call."
Fraser watched as she walked out of the squad room. Elaine Besbriss had been invaluable on countless occasions when he and the real Ray Vecchio had got themselves embroiled in one kind of problem or another. If she was in any kind of trouble now, Fraser resolved to return the favour, whether she asked for his help or not.
