Summer Dreams
Shoving her black hair off her forehead Kate sighed moving on. Lifting her heavy bags her eyes cast around the space. People went everywhere, some weary travelers, others busy townies. Looking around once more she still didn't see him anywhere. With a sigh she reached into her backpack and pulled out her music. Three Doors Down sang to her as she made her way to the cab circle and found an empty one. The ride was full of hills and stop lights; the scenery was pretty, but didn't effect her. Kate was too tired to ohh and awe over the buildings and views. The cabby made polite conversation as he drove. She ignored him for most part, until one stop light.
"It's pretty strange around here with all these weird killings and such." He shook his head. " But then again this is a big city." The light changed and he moved forward. " So where are you from?"
Kate looked at him, he appeared harmless enough so she answered. " Detroit." His smile didn't change as he nodded.
"So you're a big city girl huh?" The cabby made his way to the curb. " Here's your stop, enjoy your stay."
"I'll try."
Kate stood on the curb and stared at the building as the car left. There was nothing that separated it from the others. It was done in the same style and even the same color, she still hesitated. As she stood in the warm of the early morning her injuries started to ache again. Pushing aside the pain she decided it was all in her head and realized she just didn't want to see him.
Heaving a sigh that caused her to flinch in pain she picked up her bags and went inside. Kate slowly climbed the steps and stopped at his apartment. A dark brown door marked as Door 467, with a brass knocker in a plain setting. Tucking her music away she knocked; there was no response from inside, reaching into her pocket Kate withdrew a key and unlocked the door.
Pushing it in she coughed at the stench of old beer, dust and stale air that met her. Heavy dark curtains kept back the light, with thin needles of it peeking around the edges. Dumping her bags on the floor she kicked the door closed and looked around. Things hadn't really changed since she was last here, almost a decade ago. As she entered the living room Kate paused; work boots hung over the edge of a green couch. Arms in a plaid shirt were thrown over his eyes and didn't hide the obvious fact. Two days of not shaving showed on his face. Beer cans and a whiskey bottle lay on the floor near him.
Kate sighed heavily with disappointment. If this was anything to go by, things would never change for her. This scene was exact scene at home and exactly like what she had left in Detroit. Picking up a pillow from a nearby armchair, she threw it at his face. The man jolted from his sleep and snorted in a few times. She didn't really expect him to beat the shit out of her for it. If there was one thing different about him it was that he would never hurt her.
"Hello Frank." Kate said coolly, crossing her arms and watching him sit up. " Nice to know you're doing well."
He leaned against the back of the couch; looking at her for a long time. Blinking like he was having trouble to see straight. " What are you doing here?"
"Summer vacation." Kate motioned to the pile of unopened letters. " I wrote you twice that I was coming. I even emailed you yesterday about it."
Frank looked at her and sighed; " I've been really busy these days." It was an obvious lie as he rubbed his eyes, " How long are you staying for?"
"I don't know yet." Kate said dryly as she shoved off the wall heading into the kitchen. " It looks like you need a hand."
"No." Frank stood and staggered his way to the kitchen. " I have been behind in cleaning that's all."
Kate looked at the piles of take out boxes and bags, the remains of pizza and Chinese food. There were unwashed dishes and beer cans laying around. Her gaze moved from the trash to the man across from her. Frank didn't look much better then his place; she wondered what had driven him to this. But decided she knew and didn't really want to hear the answer.
"You want to unpack?" Frank asked waving at the other side of the room. " I have a spare room. "
"Thanks, can you spare a shower?" Kate grabbed her bags, she paused and looked at him. " It's okay that I am here right?"
Frank shrugged, " There's not much I can do about it. Just keep out of the way and don't ask questions."
Kate smiled slightly, "Fair enough."
The warm water and the scent of her shampoo helped her to relax. Her five week old wounds were healing up and they still hurt. Gently she ran her hands over her ribs and thigh, under the water proof bandaging she could feel the mending bones. On her thigh was the knife wound it was closing up. slowly Kate shoved away any thoughts and let her senses revel in the sweet smells.
"Kate, I have to go into work." Frank shouted through the door. " There's the number for pizza on the fridge. Money is with it order when you want. I should be home around midnight, maybe one."
She listened and sighed, things didn't change. " Alright."
He spoke roughly, " See you later."
A few minutes later the door closed and silence stretched out. Kate leaned her forehead against the wet wall. With the shower needling her skin she became aware of the body she owned. Pain was nesting in the base of her spine like a black snake waiting to strike. The warm water reminded her of how tired she was, Kate turned it off and took a few seconds to just stand still. Her mind was still trying to catch up with the last few days and weeks. Her muscles were hurting and she was beyond exhausted. Pulling aside the curtain, she made her way to the bedroom and flopped down. Not bothering to dry off or get dressed she just breathed in the sheets and closed her eyes. Sunlight Laundry detergent welcomed her pulling her into a world of black nightmares and bloody dreams.
******
Frank leaned back in his chair he rubbed his eyes and felt the stress. The room around him was filled with the usual sounds and voices. But he didn't recognize the faces. Perhaps he had taken his break for too long or maybe things had just changed really fast.
"Frank," Sonny tossed him the file, " You look a little dazed, sure your okay to be back?"
"Yeah, I just have to get used to things again." He grabbed the pale envelope and looked through it. " A repeat offender."
Sonny smiled and crossed his arms. " This perp has more then a record Frank."
As he read the pages following the report, he saw that Sonny was right. " From this it sounds like he has sworn revenge."
"Revenge against you buddy." Sonny sighed and sat on the corner of Frank's desk. His face blank as a slate." Perhaps you should stay home a little longer."
"No can do, my niece arrived this morning I have to make a good impression." A frown touched Franks lips and he shook his head. " I didn't even know she was coming."
A look of surprise came over Sonny's face, " I didn't even know you had family."
Frank sighed and nodded slightly, he leaned back and rubbed his neck. " My brother never got married, but he got stuck with a kid. Her name is Kate DeWinter, she is about 19 now."
"Where did she come from?"
"I don't know the last time I heard from Carl he was living in Texas. But that was two years ago. Before that, it was Atlanta. He never was good at staying in one place." Frank sat up and slowly came to his feet. " Kate is a total stranger to me I just hope we get along okay. She says it's just for the summer."
Sonny saw the sad look in his partners eyes. " You think it will be for longer?"
"In the little that I know her she has never liked travelling around. Besides, she looked beat up and a worn out. That is never a good sign."
Both men stood and pulled on their coats, " What are you going to do about it?" Sonny asked as they made their way to his car.
"I don't know yet. Heck there maybe nothing to deal with." Frank unlocked his door and slid inside. Sonny got in and started the engine. " I just hope she can take living with me."
With a look over at his partner, Sonny wondered if Frank would make it through another day. Without asking, he drove into the traffic and made his way to Julian's place.
Shoving her black hair off her forehead Kate sighed moving on. Lifting her heavy bags her eyes cast around the space. People went everywhere, some weary travelers, others busy townies. Looking around once more she still didn't see him anywhere. With a sigh she reached into her backpack and pulled out her music. Three Doors Down sang to her as she made her way to the cab circle and found an empty one. The ride was full of hills and stop lights; the scenery was pretty, but didn't effect her. Kate was too tired to ohh and awe over the buildings and views. The cabby made polite conversation as he drove. She ignored him for most part, until one stop light.
"It's pretty strange around here with all these weird killings and such." He shook his head. " But then again this is a big city." The light changed and he moved forward. " So where are you from?"
Kate looked at him, he appeared harmless enough so she answered. " Detroit." His smile didn't change as he nodded.
"So you're a big city girl huh?" The cabby made his way to the curb. " Here's your stop, enjoy your stay."
"I'll try."
Kate stood on the curb and stared at the building as the car left. There was nothing that separated it from the others. It was done in the same style and even the same color, she still hesitated. As she stood in the warm of the early morning her injuries started to ache again. Pushing aside the pain she decided it was all in her head and realized she just didn't want to see him.
Heaving a sigh that caused her to flinch in pain she picked up her bags and went inside. Kate slowly climbed the steps and stopped at his apartment. A dark brown door marked as Door 467, with a brass knocker in a plain setting. Tucking her music away she knocked; there was no response from inside, reaching into her pocket Kate withdrew a key and unlocked the door.
Pushing it in she coughed at the stench of old beer, dust and stale air that met her. Heavy dark curtains kept back the light, with thin needles of it peeking around the edges. Dumping her bags on the floor she kicked the door closed and looked around. Things hadn't really changed since she was last here, almost a decade ago. As she entered the living room Kate paused; work boots hung over the edge of a green couch. Arms in a plaid shirt were thrown over his eyes and didn't hide the obvious fact. Two days of not shaving showed on his face. Beer cans and a whiskey bottle lay on the floor near him.
Kate sighed heavily with disappointment. If this was anything to go by, things would never change for her. This scene was exact scene at home and exactly like what she had left in Detroit. Picking up a pillow from a nearby armchair, she threw it at his face. The man jolted from his sleep and snorted in a few times. She didn't really expect him to beat the shit out of her for it. If there was one thing different about him it was that he would never hurt her.
"Hello Frank." Kate said coolly, crossing her arms and watching him sit up. " Nice to know you're doing well."
He leaned against the back of the couch; looking at her for a long time. Blinking like he was having trouble to see straight. " What are you doing here?"
"Summer vacation." Kate motioned to the pile of unopened letters. " I wrote you twice that I was coming. I even emailed you yesterday about it."
Frank looked at her and sighed; " I've been really busy these days." It was an obvious lie as he rubbed his eyes, " How long are you staying for?"
"I don't know yet." Kate said dryly as she shoved off the wall heading into the kitchen. " It looks like you need a hand."
"No." Frank stood and staggered his way to the kitchen. " I have been behind in cleaning that's all."
Kate looked at the piles of take out boxes and bags, the remains of pizza and Chinese food. There were unwashed dishes and beer cans laying around. Her gaze moved from the trash to the man across from her. Frank didn't look much better then his place; she wondered what had driven him to this. But decided she knew and didn't really want to hear the answer.
"You want to unpack?" Frank asked waving at the other side of the room. " I have a spare room. "
"Thanks, can you spare a shower?" Kate grabbed her bags, she paused and looked at him. " It's okay that I am here right?"
Frank shrugged, " There's not much I can do about it. Just keep out of the way and don't ask questions."
Kate smiled slightly, "Fair enough."
The warm water and the scent of her shampoo helped her to relax. Her five week old wounds were healing up and they still hurt. Gently she ran her hands over her ribs and thigh, under the water proof bandaging she could feel the mending bones. On her thigh was the knife wound it was closing up. slowly Kate shoved away any thoughts and let her senses revel in the sweet smells.
"Kate, I have to go into work." Frank shouted through the door. " There's the number for pizza on the fridge. Money is with it order when you want. I should be home around midnight, maybe one."
She listened and sighed, things didn't change. " Alright."
He spoke roughly, " See you later."
A few minutes later the door closed and silence stretched out. Kate leaned her forehead against the wet wall. With the shower needling her skin she became aware of the body she owned. Pain was nesting in the base of her spine like a black snake waiting to strike. The warm water reminded her of how tired she was, Kate turned it off and took a few seconds to just stand still. Her mind was still trying to catch up with the last few days and weeks. Her muscles were hurting and she was beyond exhausted. Pulling aside the curtain, she made her way to the bedroom and flopped down. Not bothering to dry off or get dressed she just breathed in the sheets and closed her eyes. Sunlight Laundry detergent welcomed her pulling her into a world of black nightmares and bloody dreams.
******
Frank leaned back in his chair he rubbed his eyes and felt the stress. The room around him was filled with the usual sounds and voices. But he didn't recognize the faces. Perhaps he had taken his break for too long or maybe things had just changed really fast.
"Frank," Sonny tossed him the file, " You look a little dazed, sure your okay to be back?"
"Yeah, I just have to get used to things again." He grabbed the pale envelope and looked through it. " A repeat offender."
Sonny smiled and crossed his arms. " This perp has more then a record Frank."
As he read the pages following the report, he saw that Sonny was right. " From this it sounds like he has sworn revenge."
"Revenge against you buddy." Sonny sighed and sat on the corner of Frank's desk. His face blank as a slate." Perhaps you should stay home a little longer."
"No can do, my niece arrived this morning I have to make a good impression." A frown touched Franks lips and he shook his head. " I didn't even know she was coming."
A look of surprise came over Sonny's face, " I didn't even know you had family."
Frank sighed and nodded slightly, he leaned back and rubbed his neck. " My brother never got married, but he got stuck with a kid. Her name is Kate DeWinter, she is about 19 now."
"Where did she come from?"
"I don't know the last time I heard from Carl he was living in Texas. But that was two years ago. Before that, it was Atlanta. He never was good at staying in one place." Frank sat up and slowly came to his feet. " Kate is a total stranger to me I just hope we get along okay. She says it's just for the summer."
Sonny saw the sad look in his partners eyes. " You think it will be for longer?"
"In the little that I know her she has never liked travelling around. Besides, she looked beat up and a worn out. That is never a good sign."
Both men stood and pulled on their coats, " What are you going to do about it?" Sonny asked as they made their way to his car.
"I don't know yet. Heck there maybe nothing to deal with." Frank unlocked his door and slid inside. Sonny got in and started the engine. " I just hope she can take living with me."
With a look over at his partner, Sonny wondered if Frank would make it through another day. Without asking, he drove into the traffic and made his way to Julian's place.