Lincolnshire

He had time, he went back to his hotel, freshened up and ate before he made his way back to the club, this time he was more familiar, he sat closer to the booth where the Jamaicans were so he could try and hear some of the conversation, the waitress came over to take his order

"What can I get you Sir?" she towered above him asking

"Tennessee on the rocks" he looked up smiling "Oh it's you" he frowned seeing Marcia standing in front of him "Hi"

"Hi" she smiled "Tennessee on the rocks?" she asked for confirmation before walking away

Sam sat wondering how she'd spoken to him so brash at her Grandma's house less than 4 hours ago and now pretended not to know him, maybe it was part of the job, she just had to be nice to everyone or something, his mind wondering until he heard the glass hit the table "Thank you" he smiled up at her, getting a smile back before she turned and waved that booty back at him, he sat watching it go off into the distance, wondering what it was about that ass and even more puzzling for him why he was attracted to a black girl, not that he had a problem with that, just that it had never happened before, maybe because nearly everyone in his area was white.

The next thing he knew the stage went dark, it was obvious the show was about to start a little later than the previous night but if the singer was serving then it would be, he smiled as he heard the familiar tune 'I just want you close, where you can stay forever, you can be sure, that it will only get better...' rang out but no one was on stage, it was still dark. Then there was the sound of rain and light flashed on and off around the stage showing women dancing, standing, laying in the rain as the voice sang out, finally she appeared 'When the rain is pouring down, and my heart is aching, you will always be around, this I know for certain' she sang smiling as water fell all over her, he smiled back because she was looking straight at him. 'No One' by Alycia Keys

The show was spectacular, the dancing was top class, those girls could move, but Sam's eyes couldn't leave the singer, he got up to head towards her as the song finished, stopping in his tracks as the crowd got rowdy for the Jamaican guys walking in, and suddenly his focus was back, his eye was on the one he'd heard being called Notes yesterday as he considered how he was going to approach them

"Don't do it" a voice spoke from behind him, he spun around to see who it was that knew him in the place, surprised to see a dripping wet Marica, her wet out of control hair covering half her face, make up thick and red and a sequined red dress clinging to every curve, see through in places

"Don't do what?" he looked down into her eyes asking, trying not to check her out in front of her face

"Don't get acquainted with those guys" she smiled looking across at the rowdy lot before moving off quickly

"Marcia" he shouted after her, she turned and smiled but carried on walking "Marcia" he stepped off and followed her across the dancefloor "I wanted to ask" he stopped short of falling into her as she stopped abruptly

"I'm not Marcia" she smiled

"Who are you now?" he looked down at her asking, his face confused

"My name's Mercedes, Mercy to My family and friends" she smiled

"And Marcia to your Grandma?"

"Do you know my Grandma?"

"Grandma Maggie right?"

"Right, but I really don't know you, and my name is Mercedes, you obviously met my twin sister Marcia at my Grandma's house" she giggled

"You're a twin" Sam rolled his eyes blushing "Sorry" he'd never thought of that he was about to get into it with her about lying

"I'm the nice twin" she rolled her eyes at him smiling "If you don't mind me asking, what business did you have with my Grandma?

"None really we got talking at your Uncle's café and I guess we just keep bumping into each other"

"That sounds like my Grandma alright" she laughed she carried on walking as she talked while he followed her

"So why shouldn't I get acquainted?" he nodded at the guys sitting in the booth as he spoke, as they moved closer to them

"Because you look like a sensible guy..."

"Sam, my names Sam and I need you to elaborate on sensible" he laughed "Can we go somewhere we can actually talk instead of shouting?" he looked at the sound system banging the reggae beats out

"I don't even know you" she stopped walking to look round at him

"I'm a friend of your Grandma's, surely that stands for something?" he grinned, showing off his cuteness

""I guess backstage would be alright" she finally smiled, stepping off towards that green door he'd seen so many couples go through "Don't worry you're safe" she grabbed his hand telling him "Just stick by me"

At the front of house there were all scantily dressed women, poles, waitresses; some topless and some not, but behind the green door they had nothing on, they were walking around holding conversations, smoking, it was like a main street in the middle of the day filled with naked people. Curtains on both side of the long wide corridor that seemed to go on forever, the noises and conversations coming back at him telling him what was happening behind the screen, he pulled back as a curtain opened as he walked past and a man marched out as if there was no one standing there "Sorry" he moved out the way closer to Mercedes as he jumped back

"Don't speak to them" she turned to tell him, eventually they came to a black door, he stood watching her pull a key out of her chest to open it before she stepped in and pulled him in with her, the door closed and all that noise seemed to disappear "This is my little piece of heaven" she smiled watching as he looked around what looked like a large closet, with rails of dresses, shoes and head gear hung all over the place

"Heaven?" he asked trying to grasp the similarities

"Yes" she smiled walking through the narrow clothes filled closet and turning a corner to reveal a bigger space, the first thing he saw was a dresser with mirror and lots of make up and stuff on it with a stool in front of it, to his left there was a purple leather expensive looking couch, with a throw over it and lots of cushions, to his right head mannequins with wigs on them, a fridge, table and two chairs. There was a bottle of wine on the table and a plate with some food in it and a coat hanging over one of the chairs "I just need to get out of this outfit, I'm starving" she smiled at him wondering off past the couch and into what he could only think was the bathroom. "So elaborate on sensible?" she came out asking some ten minutes later

He couldn't help but notice how natural she looked, her oversized jumper looking like a sack over her body, ripped denims so tight her legs bulged through the gaps asking to be touched, with flat slip on shoes and her natural hair tied back and hardly any make up finishing the look, obviously comfortable in her own skin, and he liked that "Yeah" he smiled as she beaconed for him to leave the stool and join her on the couch

"Do you want a drink or some food, or something?"

"I'd love a whisky he looked at the table"

"Tennessee on ice right?" she smiled walking towards the small fridge "Sensible" she smiled as she poured two glasses and walked back towards him "You look like you're professional, got plans for your life, had a comfortable upbringing, you don't need to be getting involved in their stuff"

"How did you know I wanted to get involved in their stuff?"

"So you don't?"

"Well yeah I do but..." he smiled at her calling him out "It's only because I'm looking for my brother" he took the drink she held out at him saying

"A brother?"

"Thanks" he smiled, wondering whey he hadn't told her his brother was dead "Yeah, he left home a few years ago, we haven't seen him for nearly a year and our parents are getting worried, I can't hear my Mom cry anymore"

"That's so sad, but you really don't want to get mixed up with those guys, I heard..." the two of them jumped at the sound of the knock on the door "That'll be my big brother, he collects me every night"

"Big brother as in" he filled his mouth with air and puffed his chest "Batter the crap out of me?"

"We're talking, there's nothing going on here" she laughed jumping up to go let him in "Just don't be friends with him" she turned to say before she disappeared back through the wardrobe, reappearing seconds later with one of the very tall, bricklayer built, dreadlocks guy he'd seen the night before calling Notes across the room, his face didn't look happy "This is Marco, Marco this is Sam"

"Mercy" Marco called giving her a disapproving look "What did I tell you about telling people my damn name?"

"He's no threat" she looked at Sam telling her brother "Anyway he knows Grandma" she told him cutting her eye

"I got you a taxi for tonight, I've got something to do"

"Fine" she huffed watching him stood checking Sam out "He'll take me home" she finally told him watching her brothers ears move in disapproval "I'll be fine" she smiled at Sam telling him

"She better get home" Marco told him, staring him out, Sam suddenly felt vulnerable sitting there open to anything her brother was going to throw at him, not taking his eyes off him as he waited for his next move, breathing when Marco finally turned to leave

"God that was scary" Sam smiled as they heard the door bang shut

"You do have a car?"

"Yeah, but I've been drinking" he threw the last of his drink down his throat and held his empty glass up

"We can do it between us" she laughed, grabbing her coat off the chair "Come on, we need to get out of here"

They made their way through the back door of the club out into the dark alley and walked around to the front, Mercedes smiling at the guards telling them everything was alright as Sam opened his car door, gave her the keys and watched her settle in before getting in himself. They drove along talking about, jobs, Sam admitted to being an Accountant, surprised that Mercedes was a Music Teacher in the day time, their aspirations; hers to start her own arts department for disadvantages children and how he would take over the family business and maybe expand, talking about family as in Mercedes twin sister and the tribulations she'd endured being a twin, Sam talked about his brother in the here and now and if he was honest it felt good to be smiling about things they'd done together, for the first time in a long time.

"You really do know my Grandma" she laughed when he stopped outside her house "I'll maybe see you again at the club"

"That's a definite maybe, I enjoyed the evening"

"Yeah naked girls usually do that for a man" she laughed

"I …. wasn't really talking about the show"

"Flattered" she giggled "I'll see you again then, thanks for the lift Sam" he smiled jumping out the car as he watched her open the door before turning to wave at him and close it

"Goodnight" he said to himself smiling at the ending to what he thought might have been a perfect night, he put his foot on the gas and left for his hotel, once in he lay thinking about the night, he'd made a friend but not just any friend the right friend, she was the sister of Marco a guy who knew Notes, one of who he suspected was one of his brothers gang members, surely he could find something out about his brother without them even knowing his agenda, he finally fell sleep with the outline of a plan for his next step in his head. His sleep was troubled; he'd actually dreamt about Mercedes or Marcia he couldn't make out which one was which, but one was his enemy and the other his lover and he didn't know how to tell them apart, he was living in constant fear of saying the wrong thing to the wrong one. He woke up sweating deciding that the best thing to do might be to focus on the task at hand, find Dan's baby girl and get the hell out of there, he'd already got enough on his plate with Paige and her shit.

Sunday 7th January

"Morning Mom" he smile answering the phone late morning

"Sam are you alright?" she asked "I wish you'd call more often you know how I am"

"I speak to you every other day" he laughed

"I know but it's seeing your face I miss" she giggled down the phone

"I'll be home in a day and then you can get sick of it all over again"

"Never"

"How's Dad?"

"He's fine, I think he's going to be smiling today, I think we can start moving Dan's things"

"That's fine but... could you leave some of his old toys and stuff so I can go through them when I get back, memories and stuff"

"Of course" she replied as they both took a moments silence "He lived how he wanted didn't he?"

"He did Mom we have to hold onto that, it was his choice"

"Anyway I just needed to hear your voice, you know how I am"

"I know, bye"

"We love you Son"

"You know I love you guys back but Mom... I'm getting much too old for all this love over the phone stuff" he laughed

"What you're too old to love your Mom?"

"Never" he laughed "I love you Mom" he rolled his eyes at her need for family traditions to stay fixed

"Bye son" she giggled closing the call

He'd jumped up refreshed this morning, actually it was well nearing afternoon, he needed to do some surveillance, find something out about Note's crew because if they were his brothers crew he wanted to know why they led his brother to his death. He ordered something to eat, had a shower and got dressed Grandma Maggie's family held the clues and surely Mercedes wasn't working today it was Sunday, he thought he could hang out with her and get some detail

Arlington Heights

Sam had changed his mind by the time he'd finally got to Arlington Heights he pulled up down the road and across the way from the house Grandma Maggie had told him about the previous day, he was going to do some investigating himself. An hour later the only thing moving was him, getting tired for watching nothing happen, somehow he'd expected clues to be jumping out at him from all handles but there was nothing, he decided he was going to follow his original plan and go see what he could get out of Mercedes instead

"Hi" he smiled when her face answered the door

"Hell not you again" she swung the door back at him almost hitting his face

"Marcia was it?" he asked trying to keep the smile on his face for this damn rude girl "Could I speak to Mercedes please?"

"Mercy?" she spun round to look at him "What would you want with Mercy?"

"Could I speak to her please?"

"Are you a Blue?"

"No"

"Mercy" Marcia called stood in the door looking at him "A white boy's here to see you" she turned at hearing her sister coming to the door "And please don't tell me this idiot is your damn plan"

"I see who I want to see, and he's not an idiot feisty" Mercedes told her watching as her sister walked away "Excuse her she's my opposite as I said last night"

"I thought we could hang out until it's time for you to go to work tonight, I don't really know anyone else around here"

"Oh" she looked around shocked but smiling "I'm sorry Sam today's my do everything day, I'm in the middle of my washing, marking, lesson planning and I've still to get my hair done for tonight, any Saturday and I would have loved to"

"It's fine, there was nothing set in stone"

"Oh I feel so bad, please ask me again any Saturday not Sunday, it's' my busiest day"

"I'll remember that, and I'll see you later maybe?"

"That's a definite maybe" she giggled at using his words back at him

Lincolnshire

Later that night he was back at the club waiting for her to make an entrance having not had any joy from watching those houses all day, there were more than twenty people passing through much too much for him to handle he needed a plan B. "Hi" he spun round smiling at the familiar voice

"Hi" he beamed

"What did you find to do all day?"

"People watch"

"Grandma said you were asking about a Jamaican squads in the area, I told you to keep away"

"I am"

"What by watching them all day, and if I saw you they did too"

"You saw me?"

"What are you up to?"

"I'm just interested" he smiled a false smile he was hoping she didn't analyse

"I have to go work now" she frowned at him taking a few steps away from him before stopping to look at him, that look told him she didn't believe him, he sat sulking inside, he was trying to make friends and lying at the same time "You can trust me you know" she told him when their eyes met again

"I do trust you" he smiled, her simile filled her face and warmed his heart

She went on stage, as usual the lights went down, the stage was quiet and then suddenly lights flashed as harmonies echoed around the room, then Mercedes was standing there moving to the grove and singing "Oh when you walk by every night, talking sweet and looking fine, I get kind of hectic inside, oh baby I'm so into you, darling if you only knew, all the things that flow through my mind, but it's just a ..." he smiled at the dancers dressed in shorts and T-shirts with ex-rated parts missing doing their thing and calling in the money too watching as Mercy raised the bar with the song and the girls grabbed in even more money as her sexy voice sang out "I'm in heaven, with my boyfriend, my laughing boyfriend.." from 'Fantasy' by Mariah Carey, his focus again on Mercedes as their eyes met, he had no real interest in what was happening on stage, except watching her, and it looked like she was focused on him too, his smile widened.

She left the stage and signalled for him to follow her through the green door, her brother was nowhere in site yet, he had time to carry the conversation on, somehow he knew she'd want to talk about that trust thing. She waited for him at the door grabbed his hand and led him through the green door to her dressing room "So this trust thing" she closed the door behind him saying slowly squeezing past him to walk through to the dressing room

"Okay it takes a bit of time, we've known each other for what, two days?" he followed her saying

"You knew my Grandma for less than half an hour and you trusted her" she poured him a drink as she spoke

"Yep"

"So..." she brought the drinks over to the couch and sat down, he watched her before sitting down himself "It's not like I'm asking you out or anything, that's not what I'm looking for here, I don't get to have many friends with my family being who they are, and I genuinely want to be friends"

"I can do friends, it's just going to take some time to get that trust thing going on, I'm not good at making friends"

"So we have that in common" she smiled

"And I guess my first friend confession is that I checked out your sisters butt the first time I saw her, before I knew you" he laughed

"I'm jealous" she laughed "Did you check mine out?"

"Well yeah, but no, because I thought I'd already checked it"

"So you like my sister?"

"I don't dislike her, I don't know her, but I don't like her like that either, I can tell you apart by the way you talk"

"We can both make that difficult if we want to, so don't trifle with us" she flicked her hair back off her shoulder and rested her head on the palm of her hand, her arm resting on the top of the couch "I guess I should take this off" she looked down at her costume before getting up "Back in a bit" she told him walking off towards the bathroom

Sam sat thinking about what to do next, she sounded genuine, he wanted to be genuine, and if he was honest with himself he was a bit isolated in his world, constantly having girlfriends to fill the gaps not having friends had left, and haphazardly getting rid of them when he tired of them, maybe a friendship was exactly what he needed, he could maybe tell her the truth about his life and leave Dan out of it for now until he felt more at ease. "This might sound childish" he smiled as she walked back into the room twenty minutes later, tonight she was dressed in some ripped at the knees purple denims and a purple crop top exposing her midriff "You look... Sorry" he diverted his eyes smiling

"You can complement my sisters butt and not my outfit?" she giggled

"You look nice" he smiled

"Why thank you kind Sir" she laughed doing a little pose "So what's childish?"

"I want us to be friends"

"Done" she grabbed the bottle of their favourite tipple and sat back on the couch smiling "So tell me about Sam" she crossed her legs on the couch and turned towards him ready to listen, pouring as they talked

Sam sat telling her about his childhood, how his parents moved around a lot for his Dad's jobs until his brother got to senior school and his Dad settled into their own Accounting business, his interest in the business that made him into a kind of nerd at school, college was no better and how now he was a successful Accountant with no friends and a passion for hiking. The relationships he'd had and some of the reasons he'd fell into them, his parents ambition for him and his aspirations for his future "So I'm not in a relationship at the moment and to be honest I'm looking to find myself before I get into all that again"

"Getting old?" she laughed knowingly

"Hey less of the old" he flashed the cushion at her laughing "So what's to know about Mercedes?" he asked watching as she poured more alcohol in their glasses

"Oh she's practically perfect in every way" she smiled

"Mary Poppins?"

"Shoot you caught me in a lie" she giggled, her hand resting for a second on his knee that was almost touching her crossed legs

Mercedes told him about the misfortune of her family how her Grandfather, the rock of the family was tragically killed in a mistaken identity shootout and how that rocked the family causing the men to became rogues, she was isolated because of what the people around her were capable of, and how it had eased up since they'd left Lincolnshire to live with their Grandma in Arlington Heights. How she'd always wanted to sing but, there were restrictions on how much she could do because of the family, the alternative being her gay Uncle, who runs the café in Riverwoods buying the club so she could live out at least some of her dream. How she loved her sister but sometimes she felt held back by her and her unconditional love for her Grandma "Men are not a problem for me, I'm not a virgin or anything but contrary to where I work, I don't throw it around either"

"You sound like you're trying to convince me" he laughed

"Damn cheek" she picked the cushion up and threw it at him laughing "Gosh look at the time, I'm late" she jumped up "Are you alright to drive?"

"That glass is still full" he pointed to the glass she'd been filling up all night nearly brimming over "I'm a driver, and you're a bad influence"

"Bad influence would be letting you fend for yourself out there with those women" she laughed

"Don't test me on it, but I reckon I could survive" he wiggled his eyebrows at her laughing as he got up

"Come on take me home and stop bragging" she grabbed his hand and walked through her wardrobe and out the back door, making the journey to his waiting car

Arlington Heights

Talking all the way to her home, they sat in the car exchanging contact details before saying bye "Thanks for a great night, or is that morning?" she looked out at the day breaking

"I think we could call that day" he laughed "Hold up" his face serious as he watched Marcia walking towards his car "Is she going to hit my car?" he asked as Mercedes turned to see her sister walking towards them

"Marcia" she jumped out the car and backed her sister off within seconds

"Is everything alright?" he asked through the still open passenger door

"It's fine Sam, just go" he couldn't drive off with the door open and Mercedes and her sister were in some sort of power struggle, so he tried to stretch across to shut it, it was too wide he had no choice but to get out to go round and shut it

"Where the fuck have you taken her?" Marcia shouted at him

"Nowhere we were at the club" he looked at her shocked she'd even asked him the question

"Doing what at the fucking club?" Marcia asked still being held back by Mercedes

"Marcia leave it, it's none of your damn business" Mercedes yelled at her

"I think you should listen to your sister" just flew out of Sam's mouth, suddenly Mercedes wasn't holding Marcia anymore, Marcia flew at him from the back, he wasn't even expecting it, he couldn't even see the reason for it, he held her hands as soon as he realised what was happening but her feet were going just as fast attacking his legs

"Marcia" Mercedes was screaming pulling at her sister clothes "Marcia" she screamed grabbing her around her neck to drag her away from him

"Girls" the familiar voice came from the doorstep, all three looked around to see Grandma Maggie standing looking at them disappointedly "Get inside" she added Sam stood watching as Mercedes let go of her sisters neck and the two walked into the house "Goodnight Sam" Grandma called watching as Sam waved and Mercedes signalled for him to call her.

Sam jumped in his car and made the journey back to the hotel, he could do nothing but laugh as he looked back on the events of the evening, he'd connected with Mercedes no doubt, they'd shared some stuff maybe they'd never shared with anyone else. They'd left the club thinking they knew things about each other but when she jumped out the car and grabbed hold of her sister that was lioness stuff. He smiled playing back in his head the whole attack thing, wondering how Marcia had got out of Mercedes grip in the first place, and chuckling out loud as he pictured that single arm chock she had on her sister that girl was going down, "Saved by her Grandma" he laughed, jumping out the car when he got to his hotel, ordered a bacon sandwich and tried to settle

Lincolnshire

Monday 8th January

He didn't know when he'd actually fell asleep but he woke up with a stiff neck and cramp in his left arm, ringing in his ear "Shit" he grabbed his phone knowing it was Paige "Hello" he woofed down the phone

"Sorry grumpy did I wake you?" Mercedes voice came to his ear

"Sorry I thought you were Mom" he lied

"And that's how you speak to your Mom?"

"No, the ringing woke me up, sorry, how can I help my new friend?" his voice had a smile in it

"I wanted to just apologise for what happened earlier, I did say she holds me back"

"It looked like you were holding her back to me" he laughed

"But seriously are you alright?"

"A few leg bruises I'm sure, but yeah I'm fine thanks"

"Listen I don't want to sound weird or anything but, I know my sister, so if you work the word chocolate into a sentence and I don't answer it with em… thunder, it's not me"

"What like I could really do with some chocolate?"

"Thunder" she giggled "Yeah that's exactly what I mean"

"Do you really think she'd go that far?"

"As I said I know my sister, just be careful"

"Thanks for defending me by the way"

"Well you know, friends are thin on the ground for me" she giggled "We could get that day together today if you're up for it, there's some vote or something going on at school?"

"Give me about 90 minutes and I'll be with you"

"I'm popping out just now but I should be back well before that, bye"

"Bye"

He came out the shower to the phone ringing again, he threw the towel on the bed and set his half wet naked body next to it "Hi Paige" he frowned this time he'd looked at the caller information

"Just checking in, are you alright?"

"I'm fine thanks, you?"

"I was with the others last night and they're talking about booking our trip later today and I just needed to confirm us"

"I don't think I'll find the time"

"It's nearly two weeks away, how do you know that?"

"I'll decide when I get back"

"But everyone wants to book now"

"When I get back Paige" he said sternly down the phone "You're holding me up, bye" she didn't even answer she just slammed the phone down, he knew she'd be calling back in a while, he'd already decided he wasn't answering it, he threw his phone down and set about getting dressed, grabbing himself a bacon and egg sandwich from the all day breakfast counter as he left the hotel

Arlington Heights

An hour and twenty five minutes later he was sitting outside Grandma Maggie's house, waiting for Mercedes to emerge he really didn't want to knock the door after Marcia's performance earlier "Sam" she opened the door smiling "Come on in I'm just unpacking the shopping" he took that as the coast being clear and made his way to the house, walking in the half open door shouting her name "I'm through here" the voice came back at him saying he followed the sound and ended up in the kitchen "I won't be a minute" she flipped around quickly saying

"Hi" he smiled at her back

"Hi" she turned quickly to say her hands and face rushing back to the task at hand "So what do we have planned for today?"

"Well as it's your neck of the woods I thought you could show me around, maybe get some lunch, talk some more and find something fun to do"

"Sounds like a plan" she smiled finally finishing the packing and giving him her full attention "I'll just let Grandma know we're gone" she stepped past him and left the kitchen, he stood looking at the gleaming cooker, the highly polished dining table, every cup, plate, pot in it's place, the polished lacquered oak wooden floor, just as he'd envisaged Grandma's house to be "Ready" she smiled leading him out the house

Sam watched her hurrying to the car, and smiled as she stood trying to open the door before he'd even unlocked it, that wasn't something Mercedes did, she waited for him to open the door, it was one of the first things he'd noticed about her, she liked to be treated like a lady "I guess we could go get some of that famous hot chocolate you talked about yesterday first" his eyes suspicious waiting for her reply

"Maybe later" she looked around telling him

"Marcia what are you playing at?"

"I'm Mercedes" she looked over the car into his eyes telling him

"I know you're not" he smiled

"Shit Mercy doesn't drink hot chocolate in the day" she hissed as they heard a car some to a standstill behind them

"What are you up to Marcia?" Mercy jumped out the car asking

"None of your damn business" she hissed back at her letting go of the car door and walking back inside

"I swear that girl" she walked up to Sam smiling "She's jealous and kind of protective of me"

"Really?" he asked sarcastically "So let's go get some hot chocolate"

"Thunder" she smiled at him "I absolutely hate hot chocolate during the day" she giggled "She could go on forever and I hate games" she looked back at her sister slamming the front door

"Come on I can't keep on getting caught out like that" he grabbed her hand, opened the car door for her, and made sure she was in before he got in and drove away, they stopped at a jewellery shop where he brought her a solid gold tiffany guitar trinket "That's something I used to love that I don't find the time to do much of anymore"

"You play the guitar, you must play something for me one day, this is so sweet" she hugged him saying "Thank you"

"I don't know about that, but now I can tell you different"

"I'll let you into a secret, but you have to swear I can keep the Tiffany"

"What?" Sam smiled

"The Tiffany" she looked down at her bracelet

"You can keep the Tiffany" he laughed

"My teeth are much straighter than hers" she laughed "And if she's acting me she has to laugh a lot"

"Thanks" he smiled "Can I get a refund on this trinket please?" he turned to the Sales Executive asking

"Sam" Mercedes frowned nudging him in the stomach as she spoke

"I'm joking" he rubbed his tummy telling her

They spent the day getting identical double hearted friend tattoo's just above their wrists, Sam put an M in his and Mercy put a S in hers; promising to share their troubles always, hopping on a tour bus for a few hours stopping off to get a late lunch, eventually heading to the local library to look up some ancestor of the Evans family "I need to get back" Mercedes smiled looking up at the clock "I really don't want the day to end, I've never really just hung out before, it's been great"

"I enjoyed it too" he smiled as they grabbed the books to put them back "We need to carry on this investigation soon"

"Soon?"

"Yeah I'm back to work tomorrow"

"Oh" she looked up at him, she'd actually forgotten that he'd got a business, family and everything back in Edgewater

"But I need to say sorry to Marcia first, I think I need to at least try and clear the air with her or we'll never get a break"

"Good luck with that" she laughed as they put the last book back and left the library "Something else we have in common" she smiled "Books were our best friends"

"I guess" he smiled as they got in the car, he watched her gracefully jump in, smiling at Marcia's thing earlier before getting in himself to drive towards her house, there was a silence none of them knew what to do with "Look it's less than an hour away, I can come visit every day if you want, I'm willing to work at this friendship you know that"

"We'll say what we want now, but what happens when we find partners, have families, friendships don't always last"

"But we're going to make our last aren't we?" he held his tattooed arm out

"Yeah" she smiled holding hers out too "You're out of luck with Marcia she's out, the car's gone"

"I'll do it in the morning before I leave"

"I'll see you tomorrow then before you go?"

"Of course" he smiled taking her hug without thinking "You'll see me tonight, your lift home remember?"

"Later" she got out the car and waved before walking across the yard and into the house

He sat watching her walking slowly like a lost puppy, he smiled knowing that was how he was going to feel tomorrow "Later" he whispered rolling his eyes, wondering how they'd managed to form such a bond in such short a time. It was a nice feeling having someone who'd got your back and having someone else's back to have, he could become very protective of this new friend of his.

Lincolnshire

He got back to the hotel, ate, freshened up and made his way across town to the club, doing his usual thing, anyone would have though he'd been coming to the place for years, she brought yet another smile to his face with the stage full of light tonight as she sung

'When ever I'm down, I call on you my friend, a helping hand you lend in my time of need...' he'd been thinking that earlier he sat wondering how she knew that enough to sing that song, the dancers were doing their usual thing, enticing punters to part with their money, the smile leaving his face as he watched Marco walk in with those guys again, he'd lost his focus and run out of time 'But you should know that, I got your back, it's automatic, so never hesitate to call cause I'm your sister and always for ya ….' she sung directly at him bringing his smile back as she shook her head telling him to leave it eventually finishing the song and indicating for him to meet her at the green door again. 'Best Friend' by Brandy

"You need to drop whatever it is you have going on with those guys, you'll get hurt" she told him as they walked through the indoor street of naked people he'd decided to call Naked Street

"I don't have anything..."

"Don't even start lying to me" she stopped and turned on him, her voice serious

"Sorry" he said quickly not expecting her tone

"I'd prefer you to say nothing than to lie"

"Okay" he looked around at the people listening to their conversation

"Mercedes" one of the dancers called after her "Sorry but if you want us to make money for your Uncle's ass you need to at least make the freaking music ex-rated"

"I make the music what I damn well want, it's your job to dance not tell me what to fucking do" she hissed back at the girl stepping off without saying a word to Sam, he followed her and watched as she threw the key on the table and went straight to the bathroom coming out in a ripped t-shirt and blue jeans "Can you take me home now please" she announced as she walked back into the room

"Sure" he jumped up, watched her grab the keys and they left walking all the way to the car before he spoke again "Mercy I'm sorry I tried to lie, I just don't want you involved in what's going on for me, and I wish I could open up about it, and one day I will I promise, but today's not that day"

"It's not even about that Sam" she half smiled "I'm becoming one of those friends I've always dreaded having, possessive, jealous, controlling, I don't want you involved with Marco and his people, he's my brother but they're not nice and I don't want to tell you what to do or anything, I hate myself for doing that, but once you get in on the shit they're into, you never get out and I think you're a nice guy and..."

"I promise you, I'm not getting into their whatever, on my life"

"So leave it alone then, I'm asking you as a friend who cares about you"

"Okay, for now I'll leave it" he felt he could make that promise he was going home for a few days later on "Come on lets get you home" he hugged her, letting her go and watching as she got in the car. They'd cleared some air, they'd had their first disagreement and dealt with it like adults even found a compromise, the conversation all the way home was easy again as they mulled over the events of the fantastic day they'd had and made plans for later that day before he went back home

"So I'll see you later" she smiled at him "I miss you already"

"Don't you'll make me cry" he smiled

"Don't joke" she hit his arm telling him

"I'm not, I'm a crier" he laughed, not wanting to tell her the only thing he couldn't cry about was his brothers death

"Me too" she giggled "Tell me we weren't meant to be the best of friends"

"We weren't meant to …" he laughed "We're perfect friends" hugging her "See you later" he said letting her go to get out of his car, sitting there while she made her way into the house before he drove off

Tuesday 9th January

Back to the hotel, it seemed like he'd been asleep minutes before it was time for him to get over to Mercy's place, he had some making up to do, and he'd promised Mercy he'd get there for lunch, he threw his belongings in his sack, booked out of the hotel and made for Mercy's house

""Hi" he smiled grabbing her arm to check he was talking to Mercy before he carried on "It's you"

"Yes it's me and the jumper's to hide that fact" she looked at her arm

"I was going to say, its boiling" he frowned at her choice of clothing for the hot day

"Well don't" she giggled "Come on in" she stepped to the side to let him walk past her "Are you going to deal with Marcia first?"

"After I say hello to Granma Maggie yeah" he followed her into the kitchen, his heart melting for the smile Grandma gave him "Grandma Maggie, great to see you again"

"Sam" she smiled "I apologise for my wayward granddaughters, especially Marcia she's a loose canon"

"She's protective of her family, I came to see her too actually"

"She's in the garden actually" Grandma turned to look outside as she spoke

"Excuse me I just need to..." he pointed at the door leading to the garden tucked behind the large dining table "Marcia" he called as he opened the door "Don't attack me I came to apologise" he held his hand up telling her

"For?"

"Whatever I said that upset you yesterday"

"So you don't even know what you did?"

"The only thing I can think is butting into the conversation between Mercy and you, I shouldn't have done it, it wasn't my place"

"Damn straight"

"And I didn't help the situation, I could see you were angry already and my sarcasm wasn't needed or necessary"

"Did Mercy give you the words to say?"

"No, why would she do that?" he asked his face puzzled "We're really good friends and I want to stay friends with her so I think it's better for me to try and get on with everyone she loves"

"What she told you she loves me?"

"She doesn't have to, I can tell she does, plus she's your twin sister"

"I don't like that she's your friend Sam, we've always done everything together and now you're coming in between us..."

"I'm not coming between you guys, I could never do that, she's your sister, I've never had a friend before neither of us have outside our families, it's new for us and it might seem a bit intrusive at the moment but I promise we'll be friends too, not best friends like Mercy and I but friends and when you find someone you'll be grateful that I helped you understand and even deal with some of this uncontrollable bond you guys have found yourselves with"

"We can control it"

"No you can't" he walked towards her telling her "And you should know it never breaks, it bends sometimes, and you can even make it disappear with the strongest will sometimes, but not forever it's always there, she'll always love you the most"

"Don't ever hurt her Sam, that's a warning"

"I'm in no position to do that" he smiled

"I beg to differ" she looked up at him with her Mercy eyes, he had to distract himself by looking at her teeth, they were so alike in looks "Oh" she looked past him through the glass door at a little boy standing there staring at them in the garden "Moses" she smiled bending down to his level as she walked towards the door "Mia's here with the baby" she turned to tell him as they walked back into the house

"Sam" Grandma smiled as they entered the room, he stood watching Marcia almost run past her Grandma to the dark skinned woman with perfectly placed makeup sitting on the longer of the three couches in the lounge "This is Mia my niece and her husband Patrick, they live in Rockford and this is Moses their eldest and that little one is Megan, called that because she is indeed a pearl among pearls" pride in her voice as she spoke

Sam walked over to Mia and Patrick to shake their hands before patting a maybe four year old Moses on the head and cooing at little Megan "How old is she?" he asked

"Nearly four months old" Mia replied smiling down at her baby

He'd wondered why the colour card hadn't been drawn even by Mercy's brother but now looking at a fully accepted Patrick with his black Irish descendant hair, name and accent he understood, they were already a blended family "She's beautiful" he said of the sleeping baby

"Lets get this lunch on the way, Sam's going home today" Grandma announced, he looked around shocked that the whole thing was set up because of him, he looked around the room for Mercy but she wasn't there so he followed everyone out thinking she must be in the kitchen

"Mercy" Grandma shouted as she walked across the hall to the kitchen

"She's not going to come down you know that" Marcia told her "You should have warned her, this isn't fair"

"She can't avoid her forever" Sam stood listening not wanting to get into the trap of putting his nose in their family business again they sat, ate and talked and all that time Mercy hadn't made an appearance, Sam was concerned, he just sat picking at the food and listening to the conversation

"Sam" he spun round at Mercy calling his name at the doorway "Have you finished?"

"Hello Mercedes" Mia shouted sarcastically, so much so Sam wanted to say something to defend his friend

"Yeah" he replied watching her roll her eyes at Mia "Can I be excused?" he looked at Grandma asking

"Of course, such lovely manners" she smiled

"Nice meeting you guys" he smiled as he shook Patrick's hand and hugged Marcia "Thank you for that delicious lunch" he hugged Grandma saying, before walking towards Mercy at the door "What happened?" he asked as he got to her

"Nothing can we just go?" she pulled him along with her leaving the house, he opened the car door and watched her get in she was shaking with anger, he got in drove a short distance to the local park, and stopped the car

"Come on lets walk it out" he went round and pulled her out the car, she didn't resist she got out and started walking, she was doing three steps to his one, making him smile for her version of power walking "So" he eventually said "Are we going to just walk or talk too?"

"I'm too angry" she huffed

"Usually when I'm angry I have..." he looked around the park finally seeing an ice cream counter "Ice cream" he smiled pulling her with him across the square over to the small shop "Two large ones please, with two chocolate sticks and lots of juice" he told the woman, pulling some change out of his pocket, they stood in silence waiting for their order "Come on over here" he carried the two cones across to an empty bench "So talk to me" he handed her the cone

"It's just family stuff"

"Which I'd like to help with"

"I told you before my Mom died when we were young"

"Yeah"

"Well I missed the bit that she died actually having Marcia and me, well me really I'm the youngest, I don't know why but I've always felt like that was my fault, maybe if she'd have only had one child, or even if I hadn't been so damn difficult to get out, I don't know, it's just the way I feel"

"That wasn't your fault" He hugged her telling her

"Inside I know that, and Grandma always said it skips a generation, so Mom would have died anyway" she wiped a tear from her eye "But by some fluke she had three of us before she left us, and we grew up being those kids you know, that everyone felt sorry for because our Dad was killed at a young age, the gang thing took him, and their Mom was taken so early, I'm fed up of the pity in people's eyes as they expect us to live Mom's life through ours"

"I expect you to live your life"

"I know you do" she smiled up at him her face full of tears "But it didn't miss a generation because just months ago my sister died"

"I'm so sorry Mercy" he hugged her to him not wanting to show her the pain in his eyes from recently losing his brother

"They didn't think Mom had it because she'd had her five years earlier and everything was fine, then my sister thought ours was the missed generation and got pregnant I guess, and well prophecy fulfilled itself, she passed"

"I'm so sorry Mercy" he held her, crying for the first time himself for his loss as well as hers

"And it kills me that Mia parades around the place with my sisters baby acting like she's her fucking child" she got up angry again "I can't even look at her I want to fucking kill her, we should have her not that bitch, she has children, Marcia and I may never have children and because she's in a 'Stable relationship" she hyphenated with her fingers "We lose out, I hate her"

"Mercy" he stood up and grabbed hold of her unsure what he was going to say to her for comfort just now, he hadn't even reached that part in his own grieving "I... don't know what to …" he got out before she lunged forward and kissed his lips, he pulled her in, there was so much emotion flowing through them it seemed like the perfect answer as they stood wrapped in each other

"Sam" she suddenly pulled away from him "I'm... sorry" she told him walking away

"Mercy it's alright" he shouted after her stepping off to follow her

"Sam, I just need to be alone right now" she told him when he caught up with her

"I'll take you home if that's what you want"

"It's just down here, I can get there on my own" she walked away from him fast, her walk quickly turning into a run as he stood watching her before looking back at the melted ice creams on the bench, he cleaned it up and went back to his car, opting to give her some time to calm down and see the funny side of what had just happened.

An hour was more than enough time he thought as he sat in his car staring at the people in the park, he took his phone out to make the call "Mercy" he called before he realised it had gone to message "Come on we can't leave things like this, pick the phone up and at least say bye" he left his message and put the phone down. "Mercy this is stupid, it was a kiss one kiss, it didn't mean anything other than you were hurting, answer the phone" he left his second message half an hour later, time was catching up with him he needed to be home soon. Sitting in the car for the afternoon reminded him he'd hardly had any sleep and the one thing he was certain of was that he was going nowhere before he spoke to Mercy, they weren't leaving things like this, their friendship meant something to him.

He booked into a local Hotel and got a few hours sleep before freshening up to make his way to the club, determined she was going to speak to him before he left for home, he'd informed his parents of the delay, jumped in his car with all his belongings and headed for Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire

Sam sat in his usual seat waiting for her to make an entrance, she wasn't going to have to signal to him tonight he was following her anyway, he knew the drill and he needed to make this thing between them right. The lights came up slow as the music started a voice came over the airways he knew wasn't Mercy but he sat listening anyway, she'd never mentioned doing her gigs with anyone else "Take a good look at it, look at it now, might be the last time you'll, have a go round, I'll let you touch it if you'd, like to go down" he smiled at the song choice maybe she wanted more than friends his eyes fixed on the stage waiting for their eyes to connect as the words to 'Red Light Special' by TLC came at him, they were a way into the songs when he realised she wasn't coming out, these were some of the dancers filling in for her, he sat kicking himself for not knowing she was going to pull something like that

Later the rush came through the door, he looked up and saw Marco coming towards him "Hey" he shouted thinking that was better than saying his name out there "Sorry I didn't know what to call you, I remember you balled Mercy out for saying your name" he smiled nervously at the guy with no smile

"Hey will do, what's your business?" Marco sat at the table with him asking "You get this because of Mercy nothing else, so don't expect any favours"

"She hasn't turned up for work tonight and I wondered if something was wrong"

"She's not here?" he asked looking up at the stage

"Three of the dancers were singing tonight" he just about got out before Marco was up walking towards the green door, Sam sat watching as people quickly exited the green door area, something was going on and he didn't have a clue what it was but what he'd said had started it all "Is everything... alright" he asked as Marco rushed past him towards some guys standing at the door, his phone to his ear, shouting at whoever was on the other side of it. Eventually the club was half empty and Marco appeared back at the table Sam was sat at

"When was the last time you saw her?"

"We were at the park this afternoon, she was upset and I tried to take her home but she ran off"

"When?"

"That was about 2pm"

"Has she called you?"

"I left about 4pm messaged on her phone but she didn't get back to me"

"And it didn't cross your mind to tell someone?"

"Tell someone what, that we argued and she walked away from me?"

"You argued?"

"Not really argued..."

"Come on Sam which is it?.. either you argued or you didn't"

"We didn't, she was upset, she kissed me, well we kissed each other, we'd agreed to be friends and I guess she felt she'd done something wrong and ran away" his face red at the confession

"Are you fucking bull shitting me?"

"No, that's what happened"

"Only Mercy doesn't have..." his eyes smiling at Sam's revelation

"We kissed, she kissed me and I kissed her back

"Something more is going on, what actually happened"

"I guess it started with Mia turning up at Grandma Maggie's with the baby..."

"Mia?" Marco gasped "She promised she wouldn't do that"

"It freaked Mercy out she was shouting, crying, talking about killing someone and then we kissed, more to calm her down than anything"

"She's been dealt a cruel hand, they both have, I guess Marcia took it better than Mercy did" Marco told him his head in his hands

"She told me about the generic thing, not being able to have babies and stuff, that's what she was talking about before she blew"

"Okay I know where she is" his head popped up telling Sam "Why didn't you tell me all this before" Marco took his phone out and instructed someone to make the visit to the family grave

"Bills" someone shouted across the club, minutes later "She's there, you going to get her?"

"Yeah" he smiled looking back at Sam "She's alright you want to come see her?"

"Yeah if she'll see me"

"Dude" he shouted over at the dark corner, they both knew someone was there but it was impossible to see his face "Watch the spot" Marco who he now knew was Bills told the man

"Seen" the voice came back as things at the club seemed to go back to normal and Sam and Marco left in their cars to go find Mercy

Arlington Heights

"Mercy" Marco gasped for seeing his sister safe and sound sitting on the purpose made bench, the graveyard full of urns was well cared for and floodlit though the night each Urn looking like it had been professionally cleaned on a daily basis with not even a leaf out of place

"Marco" she turned a bit shocked "What are you doing here?"

"You're frightening us half to death with your disappearing shit Mercy" he smiled "You know I can't lose another one of you girls"

"Sorry I..."

"Made a damn fool of yourself kissing some white boy and wanted to lick your damn wounds" he finished for her

"You saw him" she smiled

"Yes and he understands, you were upset and needed a hug and a kiss maybe" he chuckled "That's a new kind of Mercy for me, I'm not used to fluffy stuff with you"

"New to you, it's a fucking shock to me" she giggled "I feel such a fool, I wish I had the guts to apologise"

"He's here sitting in his car take your best shot, the guy needs to go home"

"He's here" she looked around at the car park, their eyes meeting without effort "God" she got up from the bench looking at him, watching as he got out the car and walked towards her "Sam" she broke down again crying

"It's alright" he walked towards her scraping her up in his arms and letting her cry uncontrollably "Was it really that bad?" he asked smiling when she giggled

"No it wasn't, but I'm sorry I feel like I've let us down"

"You didn't let us down, you let me into another part of your life, our friendship got stronger" he smiled at her looking up at him now

"Sorry I worried you guys" she looked between Marco and Sam "Weren't you supposed to be home already?" she tapped Sam's chest asking

"Yes but I couldn't contact you and I wasn't leaving without saying bye properly"

"Are you going tonight?"

"It'll be in the morning now" he smiled

"Lets go get a drink or something" she smiled

"I'll get back to work then shall I?" Marco asked laughing

"Sorry Marco, thanks for caring" she hugged him saying

"We'll always care" he hugged her back saying "Now go straight home, my hearts had enough"

"Straight home really?" she looked up at him wondering if he hadn't just heard her conversation with Sam

"You heard what I said yeah?" he looked at Sam asking, ignoring Mercy's conversation

"Yeah" Sam smiled nervously

"Scared, really?" she looked at Sam asking

"Have you seen the size of him, plus he's got a whole damn squad behind him" Sam laughed "Come on lets get you home" he grabbed her hand taking her to his car, Marco stood watching as he treated his sister like a princess opening the door for her making sure she was in and the grin on his face when he turned to wave at him

"Friend my ass" Marco shook his head walking back towards his car

"You're really taking me home?" she asked watching him drive that familiar route

"Damn straight" he laughed "He didn't specify anything about you being inside it though, I plan on talking the night away"

"Nice plan batman" she giggled crossing her legs on the seat as he drove

They got outside her house and talked about everything and anything, both noting the time but neither actually saying anything about it, not wanting this time to end. "Look at that" Mercy pointed up at a flock of birds descending on the church roof chirping at the morning "It's beautiful" she smiled "Every time I see a morning I'll remember this, us sitting here, birds on the church roof" she rested her head on his shoulder saying

"Every morning" Sam smiled, ready to relax, they sat watching the birds wake the village up

Their solace was finally brought to an end when Grandma Maggie appeared on the doorstep "Get inside child" she called across the front yard, forcing them to say a hurried goodbye, Sam promising to be back on Friday before speeding off.