Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of Haven. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Wow! Thank you all so much for the amazing feedback you've been giving me with this story. You have no idea how much it is appreciated! I enjoy writing very much, but the reviews really do give me that extra spark of inspiration.
I am a detail gal. In many cases, the details are given to enhance the setting/mood of the story or to add information about character backgrounds so that we better understand the motivations of our favorite characters and how they get from point A to point B. Likewise, I also throw hints out there in the details. The prophesy Lady Cassandra gave just before she died was a biggie as far as hints go, along with the images Audrey saw when she briefly blacked out. Oh, and the details also stem from the fact that I'm long-winded, but you already know that if you're still reading this note. ;)
But seriously, thank you for reading the story. As always, feedback/theorizing/critiquing are cherished.
Part Three: "Epic Fails and Loathing Captain & Tennille"
"This puts a damper on things," Dr. Julia Carr muttered to herself as she opened the eyelids of the obviously dead fortune teller to examine her eyes. If her mother were still living, she probably would have joked about whether the woman saw her death coming. As it was, it was tough enough not to feel like the spirit of Eleanor Carr was being channeled. For all the years of unsolicited advice her mother was prone to giving, Julia couldn't help but hear her mother's commentary loud and clear, albeit in her imagination.
When Julia received the call from dispatch about the fortune teller's death, she had just shown up at the fun fest with aspirations of a nice, normal evening and was supposed to meet Charlie Clare, a nice, normal date. So much for that.
Days like this made Julia hate her job. She had chosen the medical profession out of a sense of hopeful idealism. She believed she could make a difference. At the moment, she wasn't sure what kind of difference she was making. She certainly had never planned on being a medical examiner, and the temporary gig was a perfect reminder of why. Of course, examining the corpse of a middle-aged woman was far less disturbing than her previous case a few days earlier: examining the remains of a man whose bones suddenly turned to mush. "Acute onset osteoporosis" was the official classification given on the death certificate. Sugar coated as usual, it seemed to be the modus operandi for the Haven Medical Examiner. Because the truth—the truth would incite a panic. Julia wondered how many times her mother had covered the truth. Naturally, it begged the bigger question. Why had Eleanor Carr insisted on spending her years in a place so prone to the peculiar? And what was it about Haven that attracted weirdness?
Julia turned her attention back to the matter at hand. No signs of any violence on the woman's body, she noted. She looked to the two EMTs who stood an arm's throw away in the fortune teller's opulent tent. She nodded at them, and they began the work of bagging the body of the deceased.
Removing her latex gloves, Julia turned to Nathan and Audrey. "I'll need a statement. What can you tell me?"
Audrey was accustomed to being able to disconnect herself from the ugliness of her job, but as she tried to tell Julia what had happened, she found herself unable to form a coherent sentence. "We were talking, and she suddenly said that something was wrong…" Audrey faltered. She had no idea of what happened next other than hearing the woman saying things that made her go cold, feeling disconnected from her surroundings, and experiencing … what? … visions? Hallucinations?
Nathan caught the look of uncertainty on his partner's face and seamlessly stepped in, recounting the events with precision that came with a decade on the job. "We encountered Nancy Smith, also known as Lady Cassandra, at approximately 3:50 p.m. She had fallen on the street and was suffering from shortness of breath. We came to her assistance. Officer Parker and I wanted to call an ambulance. Ms. Smith declined. At her request, we brought her here where she appeared to recover. We conversed for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. Suddenly, Lady Cassandra gripped Officer Parker's wrist, said something was wrong, spoke cryptically, began to convulse, and then slumped in her chair. I placed a call for an ambulance, but she was already dead."
His eyes locked on Audrey, who mouthed 'Thank you' to him.
Julia made notations on a legal pad. "And what time did you place the call?"
Nathan pulled his cell phone from his pocket and looked at the call log. "4:23 p.m."
"So that would have placed her time of death in that vicinity," Julia commented adding to her notes. She looked up from her pad and studied Audrey who seemed far more affected by this stranger's death than Julia would have expected from her friend. Audrey hugged her arms to her body in a defensive posture, and that was when Julia noticed something else.
"Talk about giving new meaning to a death grip," Julia commented casting her eyes on the angry bruises that had formed on Audrey's hand. She looked to Nathan. "You said the deceased spoke 'cryptically'?"
Nathan and Audrey exchanged a glance, a look that was not lost on Julia. "Come on. You've done this enough. You know the rules."
"She said she knew Lucy Ripley," Audrey supplied quietly. "And she seemed to know things about me."
"Really?" Julia marveled, momentarily dropping her hat as medical examiner and reacting to her friend's news. "Were you able to find out anything before she died?"
"When Lady Cassandra grabbed Audrey, she was speaking in riddles." Nathan paused, weighing his words and whether he should say them. Knowing his partner, she was not going to be happy, but he needed to make sure she was truly okay. And after hearing how she faltered when trying to recount the events, he didn't know what choice he had. "Audrey blacked out."
Julia pursed her lips. Of course. Nothing was cut and dry in Haven. Normal? Dare to dream.
"How long?" Julia asked as she moved to examine Audrey, who shot a 'Thanks for throwing me under the bus' look at Nathan.
"Maybe 15 or 20 seconds." It sure as hell felt longer to him, though.
Audrey tried to wave off her doctor-friend. "No, I'm fine."
"Audrey…," Nathan's voice held a warning.
"Look, I can feel when I'm sick, and I'm not sick. Could you do me a favor and try to be a little less helpful? " As soon as the words flew from Audrey's mouth, she regretted them. Hurt flashed in Nathan's eyes before his expression hardened.
Audrey rubbed her forehead. What kind of crappy friend was she? Even her word choice—feel—made her wish she could kick her own ass. She truly hadn't meant it as a slight to Nathan's inability to feel, but how else was he supposed to take it? He had been hearing nasty comments the better part of his life. Could she be any more insensitive? Epic fail. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the way it sounded." She groaned in frustration. "I'm not good at this letting someone look out for me thing, and I know you're just trying to help."
"It's fine, Parker." His posture relaxed, and Audrey felt herself respond in kind, though she still wished she had a nice, big REWIND button that she could push.
"At least let me take your vitals," Julia said soothingly.
"What about her?" Audrey asked indicating the body of Lady Cassandra who was being wheeled out on the gurney by the paramedics.
"She's not in a hurry." Julia grimaced, realizing that was something her mother would have said. "Wow. That was extremely inappropriate. I won't know for sure until I get her back to the M.E.'s office, but from the broken capillaries in her eyes, I'd say she stroked out." She held up a small flashlight and shone it into Audrey's eyes. "Mmmm. Pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light. Good sign."
"So are we done?" Audrey asked.
"I still don't like the fact you lost consciousness," Julia replied, slipping the flashlight back into her medical bag.
Audrey nearly snorted. "It wasn't really my first choice either."
"Well, the good news is you're going to live. The bad news is I think you'd better not drive for twenty-four hours or so, just to be safe."
"Probably good advice in general," Nathan commented with the slightest uptick of his mouth. "Think the rental agencies would agree with me."
Audrey rolled her eyes, but a part of her was relieved that Nathan was picking on her driving abilities. That had to be a good sign.
"I'll get her home," Nathan promised Julia.
"And make sure she takes it easy. Oh, and eats something other than cupcakes," Julia instructed. "I may have some questions later. If I do, I'll give you a call. Audrey, I'll check in with you later and see how you're doing."
"I really am fine," Audrey protested mildly.
Julia patted her arm. "Don't be so reluctant to let your friends look out for you. Just means we care."
Audrey nodded.
"See you soon," Julia promised before heading out of the tent, medical bag in hand.
Alone in the tent, Nathan and Audrey looked at each other. "You didn't tell Julia that I saw things when I was unconscious."
Nathan's brows lifted. "Did you want me to?"
"God no."
"'Cause if looks could kill…"
"You are still mad."
"I'm…not." Nathan pressed his lips together and shook his head slightly. "I just don't want you taking chances with your life."
And then it hit her. He hadn't been upset with her because she had off-handedly commented that she could feel if she was sick. Nathan had been upset because he was worried about her.
The lump that formed in Audrey's throat surprised her. She didn't have much experience with friendship, but she couldn't help but think that the powers that be must have been making it up to her because Nathan Wuornos was, without a doubt, the best man she'd ever known.
"Nathan, I really am sorry."
"Let it go. We're fine."
Audrey remained silent.
"You trust me?" he asked.
"Yes." Without hesitation.
"Then trust that." He shifted gears. "So Lady Cassandra was able to tell us quite a bit. Good jumping off point."
Audrey cleared her throat. "Trust but verify."
"Yep." His eyes swept around their surroundings. "Just to rule out the possibilities, while we're here…"
"We should look for hallucinogens," Audrey finished, their minds on the same wavelength. "I don't know whether I'd be pissed off or relieved if we do find something."
Nathan pulled out latex gloves from a bag in the pocket of his jacket and handed her a pair. The two started on opposite sides of the tent, looking under cushions, examining a variety of incense and incense burners, and opening drawers of the furniture.
"Have any evidence bags in there?" Audrey asked looking across the room at her partner.
Nathan pulled some from his pocket.
"Always prepared. My own personal boy scout."
"I was never a boy scout," Nathan replied, amused.
The inflection in his voice made Audrey pause and look at him sideways. There was a story there. And for as much as she wanted to unravel her own mystery, she enjoyed unraveling the mystery of Nathan Wuornos. He was a private person, so each new piece of information she garnered felt like a small triumph. She wanted to ask him more about it, but they had a job to do, so it would have to wait for now.
"What did you find?" Nathan handed her the bags, their fingers brushing as he did. That slight touch felt tantalizing, even through the latex gloves, but she seemed completely oblivious to the contact.
"I thought I'd take in a sample of this incense. In some cultures, incense is made from powerful psychotropics. Makes for a more potent vision quest, I presume. So just in case…" Opening a bag, she continued, "You know, I still don't understand why everything is such a big secret around here. I mean, this woman I didn't even know was willing to tell me more than people I do know."
Nathan could hear the frustration in her voice. Audrey was right. Everywhere she turned, people were throwing up roadblocks when it came to giving information about Lucy Ripley. No one ever was what he or she truly seemed. Himself included.
Guilt crept in on Nathan. Hadn't she just told him that she trusted him? There had been no hesitation in her voice, not even for a moment. And while he didn't have cut-and-dry answers about Lucy, he wondered if he held another piece of the puzzle. He needed to tell her, had needed to for almost two months, but the longer he waited, the more difficult it became. And it never seemed like the right time. It wasn't, after all, something that one casually mentioned. Brought in Gary Tomlinson for questions. How do pancakes sound to you? Filed the report the chief asked for. I haven't felt anything for years, but I do feel you. No, it wasn't that simple. Nothing ever was.
"Lady Cassandra didn't have anything to lose," Nathan observed. He did.
"And you think that's why everyone is so secretive?"
Nathan walked to the table centered in the tent. Yes. "Got no idea. You'd have to ask them."
"I have," she replied pressing together the zipper grips of the evidence bag.
He had to tell her. But not now. Not like this.
Nathan lifted the cloth that covered the table, looking for anything suspect. What he did find were special-effect buttons on the underbelly of the table that Lady Cassandra could utilize in the middle of a reading, if she so chose. "Quite the set up."
He pressed a button, and suddenly a breeze swept through the tent, blowing the curtains. It gave the interior of the tent an eerie ambiance. He pressed another button and a moaning sound filled the air. Another button caused the lights in the tent to flicker.
Audrey was impressed. "Couldn't you just see something like this in the interrogation room at the station? We could have so much fun with it."
"She didn't use them with us," Nathan remarked. "Goes in her favor, don't you think?"
"Definitely."
Nathan let the table covering fall back into place. It was then that he noticed the flask Lady Cassandra had been nursing was on the floor near the table. "Should send this to Bangor. Have toxicology run a screen on it."
After a few more minutes of scrutinizing the contents of the tent, the partners were ready to depart.
"We're going to have to file a report about what happened here and make sure her next-of-kin is informed."
Audrey looked up at Nathan, her eyes wide with exaggerated innocence. "More paperwork. Good thing you're such a team player."
The blue Ford Bronco rattled to a stop outside of Over the Way Bed and Breakfast. Audrey had been mostly quiet on the way home. Paperwork was an ongoing joke between them, but there was no way to make it pleasant to notify next-of-kin that a loved one was dead. As they had been about to depart Lady Cassandra's tent, Jethro Smythe, the overseer of the traveling carnival approached them, having heard about the EMTs carrying off a body bag. He had been distraught to learn of Lady Cassandra's sudden death, and immediately Audrey realized that the two had been more than business associates.
"You okay?" Nathan asked shaking her from her thoughts. The sun had set some time ago, but the streetlights provided enough light that Nathan could see the tenseness of her posture and the set of her jaw. She was mulling, much as she had been off and on for days.
"Can't get her out of my mind. Usually I can just push it aside, be detached…" her voice trailed off.
"It's understandable. She told you more than anyone's been able to."
"All I have are more questions."
"We'll figure it out," Nathan assured her.
Audrey nodded and found the familiar door handle of the truck. "Thanks for the ride."
"Anytime."
Nathan watched as she opened the door and slid out of the vehicle. She closed the door and began her short trek along the sidewalk to her room. He waited, as he always did, to make sure she got inside safely. Once she disappeared into the room she rented, and he saw the lights go on behind the blinds, he had planned to leave. Yet for some reason, he sat there, unable to make himself turn the ignition of the truck.
She had sounded almost defeated. Was it Lady Cassandra? Or was this about whatever had been going on with her for several days? Ever since she had helped James Garrick reconnect with his family, she had been far more subdued than the firecracker he was accustomed to. But that had turned out—well, happily wasn't the right word exactly—but Audrey helped provide the Garrick family with closure and cleared James's reputation.
So what had changed?
Nathan removed the key from the starter, exited the Bronco, and followed the path she had taken. Standing outside her door, he knocked. When she opened the door, he was surprised to see that she had already changed into yoga pants and a tank top, had her hair pulled up in a careless ponytail, and had a cupcake in hand.
"Oh, hey. Come in." She stepped aside, allowing him entrance, and closed the door behind him.
The room was small but served its purpose as a temporary residence. Not that she spent much waking time there anyway. Two plush chairs were nestled in the corner of the room, along with a coffee table, which was stacked high with books. A full-size bed took up a fair chunk of the space. The small nightstands were also covered with books. A small kitchenette dominated the wall opposite the bed.
Nathan had been inside the room Audrey rented at the bed and breakfast only once—when her blanket had literally cocooned her thanks to a boy who brought to life what he dreamed. That, like so many of the cases they had tackled together, had been interesting to say the least.
Audrey looked at Nathan with confusion. "Wow, it's been…minutes…since we've seen each other."
"Yeah. Wanted to make sure you weren't getting mauled by a blanket or something."
Audrey couldn't help the smile that spread across her features. Nathan could joke with such a straight face. It made her wonder what kind of poker player he'd be.
Knowing Nathan, she shouldn't have been surprised that he was back, not after what had happened earlier with Lady Cassandra and with how up-and-down she had been in her moods. On the other hand, wouldn't most sane men have wanted to avoid that? "You here to try to keep me out of trouble?"
"That would be a fool's errand."
"Look, I'm going to stay home and behave. I promise."
Nathan glanced toward her kitchenette. "You have anything other than cupcakes here?"
"Not so much." Audrey looked down at the dessert she held. "Want one?"
"Not so much," he echoed taking the cupcake from her hand and setting it on the counter.
She objected with a mild, "Hey!" but he ignored it.
"C'mon."
"What? Look, I'm fine. I'm just going to follow up on some of the leads we got today. By telephone," she added the last part quickly.
"You're not getting anyone from Haven on the phone tonight. They're all at the fun fest. Besides, I promised Julia you'd eat something other than cupcakes. So let's go."
"You're bossy, Wuornos."
"Must be rubbing off on me, Parker."
Her hands went to her hips. "I am not bossy."
"No? How about Lorraine's Diner, a week ago?"
She could see the laughter and challenge in his eyes. "I am not bossy. I am specific. They got my order wrong last time."
"For a minute, I thought the waitress was going to invite you back to the kitchen to make lunch yourself."
Audrey moved to the bed and sat on the edge, her fuzzy-slippered feet dangling off the side. "At least I would've done it right," she defended.
"Come with me."
"It may have escaped your notice that I'm not exactly dressed for going out."
Oh, Nathan had definitely noticed. He would have to be dead not to look at her and appreciate the contrast of the snug black tank top against her creamy skin. Or the way tendrils of blond hair fell from her ponytail and curled along the curve of her neck. Or the fact that her slippers had floppy bunny ears on them.
"Where we're going, you can come as you are. I'll even let you pick the radio station in the truck."
She hesitated for a moment, weighing the desire to run through what she'd learned and try to make sense of it in solitude versus wanting to escape from the craziness of her existence for the night with Nathan. "With an offer like that, what girl could refuse?"
"Just so we're clear that the choice of radio stations is a one-time offer."
"Watch it, buster. You can't go qualifying it now, putting term limits on control of the radio."
"It's my radio," Nathan argued tossing Audrey her jacket.
"And I'm the bossy one?" She slid off the bed and pulled it on. "Okay. Compromise." She raised her hands in mock surrender. "As long as there's no Captain & Tennille, we're on." Her nose wrinkled in disgust. "I absolutely loathe Captain & Tennille."
to be continued...