Disclaimer: As much as I would LOVE to own all elements of blood ties. I don't. In fact, you're crazy for ever thinking I did. (eye roll) Get over yourself. Or me, as the case may be. ;)
Facing Consequences
She walked towards the door as quietly as possible. She had to be quiet… and she had to be quick. Two Q's, easy to remember. Quick and quiet. She turned the handle and also remembered that she must not be seen, that was imperative. Imperative, she knew what that meant.
"Imperative," she repeated out loud. The word bounced off her lips and gave an unfamiliar feeling, and then she remembered the two Q's. Quiet. She looked around. No one there so she was not seen. She opened the door and headed towards the far wall with the… the… the word escaped her. It didn't matter. The next thing was open. She selected a handle and pulled hard. That made noise. Too much noise. If she could not be quiet she had to be quick. Man, it had to be a man. It had to be this man. She looked at the face and took the knife from her bag. Take it. She had to take it. This she remembered, the incisions were simple. Copying. She could copy. She took the clear bag from her handbag and slid in the treasure, this was what she needed. He needed. Get out. Wait. Clean up. She took the wet wipes from her bag and wiped her hands, then she slid the… the… she still couldn't get that word. She slid it shut. Now, get out. That was the next order. Get out. She heard a noise and moved towards the door. Someone was there. What was the instruction for that? Use… use something. The door slowly opened. Some of that Southern charm! Southern charm. She couldn't remember what that meant. As it opened towards her she immediately got into the doorframe with the man. She intentionally slid past him, getting really close. The doorframe was small. Then she slowly licked her lips.
"Hi," She said when she was on the other side of the door. He gave her an inquisitive look. "I was just here to see Dr… Mohadevan. But she's not here so…" She flicked her hair and kept her bag close. Her voice sounded Southern. Maybe that was it. "Bye," she turned and began to walk off. She turned back and smiled. He was watching her. She carried on walking. Southern charm made her think of lots of words. What did it mean? It didn't matter. She had what she needed.
"There's a woman here who says she needs to see you," Coreen's perky voice flew through the office. Vicki raised her eyebrows at Coreen and looked purposely at the phone in her hand. She put her hand over the receiver.
"Tell her to get an appointment," Coreen left the room and Vicki's attention went back to her mother. She was talking about how Vicki really needed a husband, or a man, of any kind. Coreen walked back into the room.
"Vicki, your 6 O'clock is here." Coreen said smiling as she walked back into the room. Vicki rolled her eyes but was thankful for the excuse. There were limits on what one person could stand and her's were less than most.
"Mom, I completely agree but now, I have an appointment – yes, you've said, and now I have to do some more – I have a feeling Mike doesn't care at the moment - I'll remember that. Love you. Bye." Vicki sat up straight and pushed up her glasses. "Ok, bring her in."
"Good. She looks kind of worried." Coreen replied and soon returned with a woman who had her top cut too low and her eyebrows too high. Looks worried? Vicki wondered if she could look anything but surprised.
"Hello, Ms Nelson. My daughter's missing. She didn't turn up at our yoga class and I just knew something was wrong. She's never missed a session of that mother daughter bonding." Vicki drummed her fingers on the desk for a moment.
"Mrs…?" Vicki knew her assumption was correct, she caught sight of the massive rock on her finger. Maybe her mom would like this woman for her daughter, married, attends parental yoga classes, has kids. She almost definitely doesn't work. Sounds perfect. If only she were looking for a mom.
"Mrs Lafette." She replied crisply.
"Have you contacted the police?" Vicky asked. Case solved with the simple clicking of 911.
"Yes, but they wouldn't do anything. She hasn't been gone long enough," Mrs Lafette replied crisply.
"How long has she been missing?"
"Just over three hours," Vicki sighed internally. Waste. Of. Time.
"Have you called round all her friends? Maybe she has a new boyfriend? Or gotten carried away with work? It's likely she'll just turn up and you'll be wasting your money and my time."
"I've called them all and she tells me everything. Please, just look into this. I have enough money for your time and it would really calm me down." Mrs Lafette almost showed some emotion on her face. Almost.
"Ok, I'll need her name –" Vicki said while grabbing a pen from the drawer.
"Fifi." Fifi Lafette? Vicki barely managed to contain a laugh. She had the urge to ask Mrs Lafette if she had tried going into the yard and shouting "Fifi, come home," or, even better, tried a high-pitched whistle and some treats. Wait. She didn't actually mean a dog did she? That would be weird but over the past year she'd certainly seen weirder. That was one thing to be thankful for, Vicki thought, that this case was normal since Henry wasn't around to help. Wouldn't be around to help. Henry… Vicki glanced at the window, sunset. Henry would be waking up around now; he was still in Toronto at the moment but not for long. She turned her attention back to Mrs Lafette.
"Full name –"
"Fiona May,"
"And her contact details, names of friends, boyfriends, present and past."
"You should call Mike," Coreen said for the fifth time that evening.
"Coreen." Said Vicki in her 'I have no patience for you' voice. "I'm busy." She said placing another X beside the last name on the list. None of them had seen Fiona.
"I know, which is why you should take a break, do something else. I have an idea, why don't you call Mike?" Vicki took off her glasses and rubbed the place they once were with her eyes closed. She was getting a headache.
"Remember when I told you I specialise in avoidance? I still do. He probably wouldn't answer the phone anyway." She opened her eyes then replaced her glasses. They really didn't make much difference anymore. Partying with Asteroth was getting more and more attractive but she knew she could never do it. It's only a pair of eyes. Hah. Only.
"But how will you know unless you call him?"
"Why don't you check with your psychic? I'll wait here for you, promise."
"Vicki," Coreen said imploringly.
"Fine. But I'm going over. I'll be back, this won't take long." Vicki grabbed her coat and slipped her keys into her bag while she called a taxi. They were making a mint out of her but what could she do? They were a hell of a lot quicker than Toronto busses.
As the Taxi pulled up outside Mike's apartment building Vicki felt she may have made the wrong decision.
"Can you wait? I won't be long," She asked as she left the taxi. The driver muttered something about keeping his meter running, as she'd expected. Taxi drivers show kindness? Never. She knocked on the door.
"Mike?" And knocked again. He was being a baby. He was definitely in. It wasn't like he had a job to go to. Which was her fault, and probably the reason for his childishness. Calling would have been easier but he wouldn't have answered. Gotta love caller ID. Vicki took out her key and slid it home into the lock. Slightly hypocritical, she knew, he gave hers back to her when they were dealing with the incubus. She slowly pushed open the door.
"I don't have a job for you to get me fired from. You can leave," He sounded bitter. Bitter and pissed.
"Come on, Mike. You're not fired, your suspended," she said as she closed the door behind her and replaced her key. Never know when it might be useful.
"Yeah, pending formal dismissal. Eight years of my life Vick, eight years." He took a swig from his beer bottle. God, he'd come so far. They'd come so far, mostly together. It was weird to think they'd both be out of the force. Something she never saw coming.
"I know how you feel," She said slowly. She didn't know what else to say.
"No, no you don't. You had a choice. You chose to leave. I didn't choose. You made my choice for me, you made all my choices for me."
"I chose? I did not choose-" Vicki stopped herself. She didn't want to be having this argument with him. She sat on the arm of his sofa. "I'm sorry Mike,"
"Too late," He took a long gulp of beer. "Too late…"
"Well, what can I do?"
"Leave. I'm not ready to forgive you yet. Just go."
Vicki nodded and walked towards the door. She'd tried and Coreen would finally shut up.
"Bye, Mike." She said as she closed the door.
Vicki opened the door to her office. Back to looking for Fiona. She'd been missing for five hours now, probably enough time for a body to turn up at the morgue, if she wasn't just at a pool party somewhere.
"That was quick," Coreen chirped at Vicki as she stepped inside the doorway.
"That's because he wouldn't talk to me,"
"Well, at least you tried. Henry's up and probably fed by now anyway, you can –"
"Coreen, don't."
"What?"
"Just don't." Coreen started to say something else and she probably would have continued if the phone hadn't interrupted her. She made an annoyed noise as she turned to answer it while Vicki made her escape.
"Vicki, it's Dr Mohadevan. For you." Coreen said to Vicki's back, fleeing into her office. Coward, she thought as Vicki picked up the phone.
"Hello, Rajani" Vicki said into the phone.
"Hello, Vicki, you sound surprised."
"I am, you don't generally call me."
"I don't do I? Well, I need some help. Someone stole something from the morgue, and I have a feeling it's right up your alley." Vicki gave the air in front of her a suspicious look. She didn't like her alley at the moment and was wondering what exactly was up there with her.
"Go up two floors and you'll easily find a police officer to work the case. Why me?"
"Someone stole a face, off a corpse. I don't think the police would be willing to search all eventualities."
"But I am?"
"You and that friend of yours, yes. Will you help me?" Henry… There were constant reminders tonight but she had to get along without him at some point. It's not as if she could call the local Vampire agency and get another one sent over. And this could just be a creep. She didn't need Henry to function. She was fine without him before. Although, that was before the demon marks but she would have to survive without him. So she might as well start now. Vicki remembered she was still holding the phone and replied.
"Of course. When was it stolen? Do you have the hall security tape from the time?" Vicki wondered. That would help a lot.
"Yes, would you like to come down and see it?"
"I'll be there in ten."
"Bye,"
"Bye," Said Vicki and put down the phone. She grabbed her coat and went to leave again. Out as soon as she was in, all the better to avoid Coreen.
"Where are you going?" Vicki stopped walking and rolled her eyes. It was like being at home again.
"Out." She intoned. Ok, maybe too moody teenager. "Police station. To do Rajani a favour. You can leave when you like, remember to lock up."
"While your out, you can visit Henry." Coreen smiled endearingly at her. Vicki smiled back.
"I've had enough doors slammed in my face this evening, thanks." And with that, Vicki left the room.
After reading generalness:
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