Disclaimer: Don't own Death Sentence or any of the characters associated with the movie and the novel it was based on. Anyone else you see is mine.
A/N: It only took me about four months to get this first chapter finished. Writing pages and pages of text with different approaches, trying to figure out what was going wrong. I almost decided to can the whole thing, but many late nights and thought diarrhea made me realize that my fascination with Billy and Lady (OC from The Sweets one-shot) hadn't left me yet. So I tried again, and in about three days I had this beginning. I'm not sure that I'm completely happy with how it turned out, but it's a start and that's better then nothing.
At the moment I don't have a beta for any of my DS fics, so please let me know about any glaring mistakes. And feedback is always love.
Chapter 1
October 2001
She wasn't the kind of girl that missed much. Couldn't afford to living where she did and surrounded by the kind of people she knew.
Despite this, when it all went down, she didn't see it coming.
One second she was standing at the bus stop watching as Perry lifted up his shirt to show off his new ink work, a portrait of his daughter, and his teeth were bright in the poor light from the street lamp. Then death came for him in the form of a late model Crown Victoria and a single barrel shot gun.
She didn't remember the first shot. But she did remember the screaming.
Perry's smile faltered as he tried to take air into lungs that were suddenly riddled with holes. She reached out to steady him as he bowed over, but a blur of movement out the corner of her eye caught her attention. She turned her head just in time to see Chuey throw his entire body at her. The world titled dizzily as another shot rung out. Her feet left the ground and she tried to brace herself. But his weight came down on her and it was too heavy. Something in her left wrist pulled with a sharp twist and she cried out, grinding the side of her face into the cold cement as she tried to curl into herself.
He rolled off her and got to his feet, didn't even spare her a second glance as he pulled his pistol from the back of his jeans and started returning fire. Perry was still standing somehow. And even over the guns and the screaming, the sound of the bubbling wheeze coming from his mouth was agonizingly loud. He looked down at her, moaned something that could have been anything, before crumpling face first to the ground.
She squeezed her eyes shut after that. Thought about how less then ten minutes ago she and Precious had been sharing a blunt and hauling ass across six blocks so they wouldn't miss the bus. Now her friend was yelling herself hoarse and Perry was probably taking his last breath and Chuey's gun was no match for the scattering buckshot of a shotgun and-
A screech of tires and one last pop from the pistol and it was all over. She cracked open her eyes but stayed down. Chuey was hunched over, hands on his knees and breathing hard as he watched the car speed down the street and around a corner.
"Fuck!"
The smell of burnt rubber and gun powder was heavy in the air. It coated the back of her throat as she attempted to get up. But she forgot about her wrist and went back down again with a yelp of pain.
"Shit, Lady." She felt his hands on her shoulders before he rolled her over to get a better look. "You alright, kid? You get hit?"
"No. Just my wrist." She said and let him pull her up into a sitting position. Precious scrambled over, eyes big and still wet from crying.
"You sure? You're covered in blood."
She looked down at herself, realizing for the first time that her white coat was splattered in red. She hurried to remove it and Precious reached out to help when she fumbled the buttons with her one good hand. The autumn air bit at her skin as she pulled the ruined material off, but her work uniform was clean.
"I'm alright, P." She gulped, pushing her friend's hands away. "It's not mine."
Something in her stomached lurched as the faint sound of sirens filled the air. Chuey muttered in Spanish as he dropped his empty gun and got on his knees to turn Perry over. There was blood everywhere, soaking through his tan leather jacket and pooling onto the sidewalk under him. She could see right away that he was gone but something compelled her to reach over and check for a pulse anyway.
Chuey cleared his throat, "Is he-"
"Yeah."
She crossed herself. Chuey did the same. Precious sniffed loudly before grabbing her discarded coat and throwing it over his body, hiding the gaping hole in his chest from view. The sirens in the distance were getting louder and Chuey looked around nervously.
"I gotta go. Can't be here when the cops show up." He picked up his gun, thumbing the slid stop so it snapped back into place before stuffing in into the back of his pants. "Gotta tell Darley what happened. Fucking Fairburn's looking for a war."
Precious got to her feet and held out a hand to help her up. Chuey gave them both an indecisive look, like he didn't want to leave them alone.
"We'll be alright. Take his stash and get the hell out of here." She urged. He nodded, reached down into Perry's pockets to pull out a roll of money and a handful of tiny, plastic bags.
"You two know the drill. You don't know who was shooting. You don't know why. Don't tell 'em a thing that leads back to the RB." He frowned, looking over his shoulder when someone poked their head out the doorway of the apartment building behind him.
"You got that?" He demanded when he turned back around.
"Of course." Precious answered. "Now get out of here."
One last uncertain glance and he turned on his heel and started to run, pushing past curious onlookers that were coming out now that the bullets had stopped flying.
Precious took in a deep breath. "Jesus! I mean, what the fuck?" She ran shaky fingers through her hair.
"I don't know P."
She could still taste gun smoke in the back of her throat and there was something wet running down her forehead. She reached up to wipe it away and her hand came back covered in blood that wasn't hers. Her stomach gave a final, violent flip and she ended up puking into a nearby trash bin.
The next hour was a blur of flashing lights and twenty questions. They parked Precious in the back seat of a squad car with a blanket and a cup of coffee. She could see her from her own seat in an ambulance as the EMT wrapped her wrist and tried to get all the sidewalk grit out of the scrap on her cheek. The officer speaking to her friend had a tenseness to his stance and shoulders that screamed frustration. It was obvious whatever she was saying wasn't giving them much to go by.
"Here's some Ibuprofen for the swelling and an aspirin for the pain." The EMT said while handing her a bottled water and a cup with three pills. "It's just a bad sprain, but you still may want to get a brace to wear for a few days."
"Thanks." She said as she tried to twist of the bottle cap. "Could you give me a hand here?"
"Oh yeah. Sorry." He gave her a sheepish grin as he opened the bottle. "I'm sure they'll want to take your statement now. You feel up for that?"
She shrugged as she swallowed the pills down with a huge swig of water. "I'm good."
He hoped down to the pavement below and made his way over to an older guy in a long coat. She watched them wearily as they talked quietly for a few seconds before the coat made his way over to her with a grim face.
"I'm Sergeant Detective Bernard." He said as he pulled out a pad and pen. "You're friend over there tells me your name is Jeanne."
"Yeah." Shivering slightly, she crossed her arms over her chest to try to ward off the breeze that was blowing through the open doors. "Jeanne Auguste. But everybody calls me Ladybug."
"Look, Miss Auguste, your friend gave us the same bull shit everyone else in this neighborhood does. 'I saw nothing and I heard nothing.' Now I can't do my job and catch the kids who killed your friend if you don't tell me anything." He paused and leaned in a little closer, brows angled down towards his nose. "That is you friend the coroner is looking over, right? The one with his chest blown out?"
She frowned, not falling for his attempt to get a rise out of her. "He's just some corner pusher that would chill with me and Precious when we had to catch the late bus."
"So he was a dealer then?"
"I don't know. He was always hanging around the block, talking to people who pulled up. I just assumed that's what he was doing." She sighed. "Look, I don't know who was shooting at us or why. All I know is that Perry got hit and that other guy shoved me down. Saved my life too. 'Cause that second shot would have been me."
"Yeah, about that other guy. You got a name for him. A description maybe?"
"Something Spanish. Like Chico or Chavez. I've only met him once or twice. Perry usually worked alone. He took off once the car peeled out."
"And the car. Did you see anyone inside? Get a color or a license number?"
"A chocolate color, maybe. Older car." She shivered again. "Are we done now? I'm cold, I'm hurt, and covered in a dead man's blood. I'd really like to go home."
He pressed his lips together before slapping the leather notepad close. "Sure thing. But if you remember anything at all you give me a call. Doesn't matter what time."
She took the card he pulled out of a pocket and made a show of looking it over.
"You got a phone on you so I can call a cab?" She asked.
"Don't worry about that, kid. You just go sit with with Miss Anderson. I'll send an officer to escort you two home."
She eased out of the ambulance and made her way through the bustling badges and crime scene members as they collected evidence and talked to witnesses. Precious was standing outside the squad car when she walked up, a cigarette hanging from her lips and a steaming cup in her hand.
"You look like shit, you know that right?"
Her voice sounded a little rough and Lady wanted to tell her to put the cigarette out but she grabbed the cup from her instead. "Shut up."
"Just saying." She blew out a puff of smoke that quickly dissolved into the air around her head. "Guess who's driving us home."
"Who?"
Precious grinned. "Our very own Officer Natasha Wallis."
"Oh, this night just keeps getting better." She shook her head before climbing into the back of the car. Precious followed behind her a few seconds later, smelling like menthol and smoke as she tossed her the discarded blanket.
"So this is pretty big, huh?" She asked, looking over at her with serious eyes. "This thing with Fairburn?"
She took a sip from the coffee. "Yeah. They've been hurting ever since Bones pushed into their territory with ice. I guess they're looking to get their corners back."
She humphed and settled down into her seat. They fell into a comfortable silence, both gazing out the open door a the commotion surrounding them. Lady kept her ears trained on the voices coming out of the radio in the front seat, translating the codes in her head. It was mostly the usual stuff, domestic disputes, noise disturbances, and drunks. But one in particular made her pert up.
"This is Fox 113. I've got a 8 Ida of a possible suspect in the West Ninth Street shooting."
"Shit." She groaned, leaning her head back on to the uncomfortable seat.
"What's the matter?"
"I think they picked up Chuey." She pressed her fingers between her eyes, feeling the beginning of a headache forming. "He never made it to Darley's."
"So who's gonna tell him what happened? If they did pick him up, they're gonna send him straight to county. And with that gun and all that crank on him..."
"I know." She said. "I'm gonna have to tell somebody. Maybe my brother is at his place. You think I can convince Natasha to drop me off there?"
"Don't know, but you're about to find out. She's walking over right now."
She turned her head to see the older woman stop next to the car and lean down to look at them. "Hey Precious. Ladybug. Long time no see."
"Sup Officer Wallis? How's the whole badge and gun thing going?" Precious asked, the sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"It's going good. I'm about to take the Career Review Board exam to make detective." She narrowed her eyes a little. "How's school? Are you still going to be able to graduate with the rest of your class? Last time I saw your mother she said you might have to go to summer school."
Precious sniffed and jutted out her jaw. "That woman talks to much. And what I do in school is no business of yours."
"Sure." She chuckled at little. "How about you Lady? The EMT said you wouldn't need a x-ray, but I can take you to over to Boston Medical just to make sure."
"No I'm good." She gave her a week smile. "Actually, I was wondering if you could drop me off a Bodies."
Natasha sighed. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"You know I can't go home like this. My mom is probably up right now getting ready for her shift at the bakery. If she sees me like this she'll lock me in the apartment until I'm thirty. Would even go as far to home school me."
"Ladybug-"
"Please."
She looked her over for a few seconds and Lady could almost see her thoughts turning in her head. "You know something, don't you?"
"Everything I know I told that detective."
Natasha frowned. "Street justice doesn't work. All it does it get more people killed. Tell me who's gunning for the RB and let the cops take care of it."
Lady locked eyes with her. "I don't know who it is."
"Fine." Natasha stood up and slapped the roof before shutting the back door hard enough to make the car shake.
Precious snorted. "I think you made her angry."
She shrugged and leaned against the window. "She'll live."
It wasn't a long ride, but it was quiet and after giving her the address she drifted off and didn't wake up until Precious jabbed in her side with her elbow.
"Nice place your brother has. I see he's moving up in the world." Natasha said as they pulled up in front of the run down brick building. Lady sat up, tilting her head to ease the ache in her neck.
"You want to let me out, or do I live in here now?"
She saw Natasha roll her eyes in her reflection in the rearview mirror as she cut off the engine and climbed out the car.
"I'll call you tomorrow, P." She said as her door was opened.
"Sure. And take care of yourself. Your really do look like shit."
"Screw you." She replied, smirking a little as she slid out into the chilly night air. Natasha stood beside her and she raised a brow at her while reaching in her pants pocket to pull out her keys.
"Well, thanks for the ride. Guess I'll see you around."
"For your sake, I really hope not." She replied.
"Night, officer. Good luck on that test."
Not waiting around for a response, she cut across the sparse grass and made her way into the building. Taking the stairs two at a time she arrived at the second floor, which wasn't as well lit as the first but was blessedly empty as she made her way down the hall to her brothers apartment. There had been too many times in the past that she had to skirt around drunks and thugs with twitchy hands.
There was a piece of paper taped to the door and she shook her head when she read the word 'eviction' printed out in bold letters.
"Idiot." She muttered as she slid the proper key in the lock and tried to turn it. When it wouldn't budge she tried again. Letting out a frustrated growl, she banged her fist against the wood before rested her forehead against it.
"Fucking A." She huffed before pushing away and heading back down the hall. There was a pay phone across the street and she had just enough change for one call. As soon as she walked outside goosebumps popped up on her exposed skin. Stuffing her hands under her arm pits, she jogged across the pavement to the phone. She fished the change out of her pocket and shoved it into the slot, dialing her brother's cell phone number with with fingers that were quickly becoming numb before turning around to watch the street behind her.
"Come on, Bodie." She muttered. But after the fourth ring she pressed down on the hook switch and collected the coins from the return slot.
"Damn it!" She put the money back in, hesitating only a second before pressing a different number into the keypad. It rang twice this time before a husky, irritated voice answered.
"Who the fuck is this?"
"Billy!" She shifted to see the street again. "I need your help. I'm at Bodie's and he's been kicked out again. I tried to call him but he's not answering and things are all messed up and my damn key won't work-"
"Hey, slow the fuck down and take a breath, Lady." He ordered and she bit her bottom lip, suppressing the urge to snap back at him. Instead she did as he said and inhaled deeply. Once she collected herself she started over again.
"I need to talk to you." She told him, slower this time. "Some shit happened and Perry's dead. But I don't have a ride and I can't go home like I am."
"Go back inside and wait for me to honk. I should be there in about ten."
"Yeah. Okay. But hurry up. It's freezing out here."
He said something that sounded like a name she wouldn't appreciate being called before the line went dead. She pulled the phone from her ear, frowning down at it before hanging it up. Crossing the street again, she hovered in the doorway of the complex building, watching every car that went by and chewing on her bottom lip to the point it was raw. She wasn't an impatient person by nature, but being tired down to her bones was quickly changing that. The adrenaline rush from earlier had drained her of all reserves and the few minutes of sleep she'd gotten hadn't helped much. So she stood there, counting down the seconds in her head, secure in the fact that he would be there in less time then what he'd said. Because when it came to reading speed limit signs, Billy was just plain blind.
She'd just gotten into the 300s when she saw a white van stop abruptly at the curb. A loud blast from the horn got her moving and caused some nearby dogs the start barking. She made her way to the passenger door, pulled it open and hauled herself in, barely getting the door closed before they were speeding off.
"Thanks." She said and grabbed her seat belt. Billy grunted around his cigarette and stopped sharply at a red light. She could feel him looking at her and she started to speak but cut herself off when he reached over and grabbed her chin in one hand.
"The fuck happened to you?" He turned her face to the side to get a better look at the bandage.
"Got into it with a sidewalk." She said and pulled away, rubbing at her cheek self-consciously. "I lost, obviously."
He blew smoke out of the corner of his mouth as the light changed. "You're shaking like you need a fix. Grab that jacket in the back and put in on."
She rolled her eyes at him as she unbuckled herself and shuffled into the back, trying to keep her feet under her as he made a wide turn.
"What's with the rape van, Billy?" She asked once she'd grabbed the worn leather and pulled it on, shoving the sleeves up so her hands were free.
"Figured since I was picking up underage tail, I might as well go all out."
She huffed, sliding back into the seat and nuzzling into the collar of the jacket. "So if I look hard enough, I'll find the wine coolers and camera?"
"And the duck tape if I decide I don't want to play nice."
She laughed a little, the first time since her evening went to hell, and saw him smirk out the corner of her eye.
"Bodie has the Mustang. He had some business to take care of. Probably why he didn't answer his phone."
She nodded. "That business wouldn't have anything to do with Fairburn, would it?"
"Should it?"
"Seeing as how they're the ones that put Perry in a body bag, I think so."
He glanced at her, pulling his finished smoke from between his lips and tossing the butt out the open window. "Why don't you take it from the beginning, Ladybug. 'Cause you're busted up to hell and one of my boys is dead, and I have not fucking clue what's going on."
So she told him, starting from when she and Precious got off of work and ending with Wallis giving her the third degree before dropping her off. He didn't say anything as she talked, just kept his eyes on the road. But she did notice his clenched jaw, and the seemingly permanent frown of his deepening. When she was done he pulled out another cigarette.
"You sure it was Mack's ride?"
"Late 80s Ford. Custom slate gray paint job." She shrugged. "I'd know that car anywhere."
They drove into the parking lot of his apartment complex and he found a spot under a blown out street light.
"Looks like I do have some business with Fairburn." He said as he threw the van into park and turned off the engine.
She swallowed before getting out of the car, not waiting for him as he dug a bag out the back. She didn't like it when he got that look. The one that spoke of hunger and hunting. It always lead to things that would keep her up at night, stomach twisting in knots with worry for a bunch of boys that were pretty much family. She crossed the parking lot and waited at the bottom of the metal stairs that lead to his door.
"You're staying here tonight." He told her when he caught up. She followed him up and he unlocked the door, kicking it shut behind him before tossing the duffle onto the breakfast bar. The place smelled like stale smoke, weed, and teenaged boy. She saw Joe sitting in the living room, wearing nothing but a wife beater and boxers with a bottle of beer between his feet and a game controller in his hands.
"Hey, Lady." He greeted her, his eyes never leaving the television screen as his thumbs moved furiously.
"Sup?" She mumbled, easing down onto the couch next to him with a tired sigh. Billy disappeared down the hall into his bedroom, returning a few minutes later with a bundle of clothes and a towel draped over his shoulder.
"Here." He said as he tossed them down next to her. "Take a shower and get some sleep. You can have my bed."
She blinked at him as he grabbed the bag off the counter and fished his keys out his back pocket. "Where are you going?"
"Don't worry about it." He said.
"Billy-"
"I need my jacket back."
She sucked in a frustrated breath before pulling it off and tossing it at his feet. "Tell my brother to call me when you see him. And that he's a idiot for getting evicted again."
Gathering up the clothes and towel and ignoring the curse he threw at her back, she shut herself in the bathroom. She didn't bother to look in the mirror, just turned on the taps and stripped down. The water felt perfect enough that she was able to ignore the mold growing in the corners of the tub and the fact there was no shampoo. She made do with half a bar of Irish Springs though, and by the time all the suds where out of her hair she was practically asleep on her feet.
She dried off as best as she could with one hand before rewrapping her wrist and pulling on the clean clothes. The shirt came down almost to her knees and hung off one shoulder while the sweats had to be rolled over at the waist a few times. But they were warm and comfortable so she didn't fuss.
When she finally crawled under Billy's flannel sheets the alarm on the night stand said it was almost four. She closed her eyes, glad the night, or morning, or whatever was finally over. Down the hall Joe started yelling at the TV and she groaned while pulling a pillow over her head. Even with the racket, it didn't take long for the familiar smell of burnt tobacco and cologne to lull her to sleep.
