This chapter is possibly the worst one (in my opinion) but I wanted it written and out of the way because I have half of the next chapter written and I love the scenes that are coming up and I just wanted to get there faster. Definitely more Bellarke next chapter - I promise. I hope you enjoy it anyway and as always review, fav or follow if you want to make my day! x
Bellamy and Raven were absorbed in watching the CCTV footage when Nathan and Finn arrived back at the precinct. The black and white footage on the screen clearly showed a packed bar, with the four staff behind the bar run off their feet meeting the demands of their clients. Raven had spotted Roma in the crowd but had yet to see anyone stay by her side for any period of time but they still had another couple of hours' worth of footage to watch.
Whilst Bellamy and Raven were involved in the CCTV watching, Finn was on the phone to Mountain Medical to see what information he could gleam and Nathan was attempting to obtain a warrant to access more of the medical files – especially of those on the list with Roma and Clarke's names. Both of the boys had been a little taken aback when they had been told that one of their own might be in danger too. Bellamy had reassured them that Clarke was fine and Raven had piled on with telling them that she had taken charge of Clarke's protection. That was enough to reassure Finn and Nathan – Raven was not only a complete computer wizard, she also had amazing hand-to-hand combat scores and a shooting score almost as high as Nathan and Bellamy's.
'There he is!' Raven exclaimed. 'Gotcha!'
Bellamy laughed slightly at her enthusiasm, 'you want to come help me pick him up?'
'Well, of course. I've already got the warrant sorted so once we get an address we can go.'
Raven extracted a clear image (as clear as the footage would allow her to get) of John Murphy's face and imported it into the facial recognition software. The program ran various measurements and equations, attempting to match the image they had to one on a driving licence, passport or something similar.
Several minutes later the computer pinged in with a result.
'We've got an address. Let's go get him boss!'
'Since when do you call me boss?' Bellamy asked, raising a single eyebrow at her.
'That was my mistake. Get your ass sorted and let's go!' Raven amended, already moving out the door.
'She's got you so whipped,' Nathan called out as Bellamy followed behind her.
Bellamy's raised middle finger was the last thing out of the door as Nathan laughed at the crude gesture.
Soon after Raven and Bellamy had left, Finn and Nathan were also on their way out of the door; a newly printed warrant in hand.
They drove to the outskirts of the city to find the Mountain Medical building. The pair reached the glass doors, which breezed open and permitted them into the air conditioned, marble reception. The redheaded woman at the desk informed them that the head of the company, Mr Cage, would be out to speak with them shortly. She then asked, in her slightly ethereal voice, if she could get them anything to drink. Both men declined.
Soon enough a tall, well-dressed man appeared from a side corridor and moved purposefully towards them.
'Mr Cage,' he said, shaking Nathan and then Finn's hands firmly. 'How can I help you gentlemen today?'
'Mr Cage, we are here concerning a murder inquiry that involved a woman involved in one of your trials. We were wondering if you could tell us a bit more about the project and the list of names that were featured in the file,' said Finn.
'Can I ask which of the projects you are inquiring about?'
Nathan nodded, 'the name of the file was 'Description and Applications of the Prototype (Blue Alpha-Helical A), including Prospective Donors, in respect to Patient 0-78B1L'.'
'Ah, unfortunately the prospective donors are protected under a doctor patient confidentiality contract. I cannot reveal any of their identities to you unless you have a specific warrant and have spoken to our lawyer about the injunction placed to protect their identities,' Cage said in a way which made Finn think he was smirking inside.
'Well, sir, we have a warrant here and with respect, this concerns the murder of a young woman which may be connected to this company,' Nathan said, a slight hint of ice in his tone.
'Be that as it may, we have a duty to protect the identities of our patients.' Cage was definitely smirking now, 'Surely you can understand that?'
'Of course sir, that's not a problem. We will return with another warrant soon,' said Finn, shaking Cage's hand again. 'Thank for the help Mr Cage.'
Nathan quickly shook Cage's hand before the pair turned away and left the building.
'What an ass,' Nathan huffed once they were out of earshot.
'Can't disagree with you there, mate,' Finn replied, as the pair slid back into the car again.
Raven and Bellamy had already picked up Murphy, who seemed willing to co-operate (especially with Raven who obviously tickled his fancy), and were on their way back to the station with old rock music blaring from the speakers. Raven was driving, weaving in and out of lanes making impressive time on the short drive.
Arriving back at the precinct they let Murphy out of the back of the car and led him into the station. His head swiveled around, absorbing everything he could in the short distance from the front door to the interrogation room; clearly he was interested in the goings on of the office. Once they had Murphy settled in the room, Bellamy set Raven to get Clarke so they could run a DNA test on him.
Bellamy settled himself in the seat across the table from Murphy, keeping his eyes fixed on the younger man. Murphy (who'd already told them not to call him John) had long scraggly black hair and a greyish complexion. He also had a permanent half smirk on his face – although it was slowly fading under Bellamy's intense stare.
'Can we get started or…' Murphy started.
Bellamy held up his hand, interrupting Murphy's speech. 'We'll get started as soon as out pathologist has taken a DNA sample from you, just so that we aren't interrupted once we begin.'
As if on cue, Clarke entered the room DNA swab kit in hand.
The instant Murphy spotted her he sat up in his chair, 'Jesus, where do you find all of these women?'
Bellamy ignored him and Clarke rolled her eyes, unscrewing the top of the swab.
'Open your mouth please,' she asked politely. Murphy complied.
'Once I'm found innocent of this rubbish, how about you and I get some dinner?' Murphy said, wiggling his eyebrows at Clarke.
'Thanks for the offer but I don't think you could handle all this,' Clarke replied cheekily before turning to leave the room. Bellamy's mouth gaped slightly open at her remark; she'd never been quite so forward before. Clarke spotted his expression and gave him a wide smile before closing the door behind her.
Reminding himself where he was Bellamy moved his gaze back to Murphy, ignoring the questioning look the other man was giving him.
'Let's start nice and easy then: how did you know Roma?'
'I didn't really know her,' Murphy said as he dragged his hand through his hair. 'I'd met her a couple of times at The Grounders but that's it. She seemed cool.'
Bellamy noted that down, 'Fine. When and where did you last see her?'
'Tuesday night in the bar.'
'Did you kill her?'
Murphy choked. 'What, no! Of course I didn't,' he spluttered.
'Just thought I should check,' Bellamy smirked.
The interview continued for a short while longer before Bellamy's mobile vibrated in his pocked. Opening up the message he saw it was from Clarke.
The message read: 'Murphy DNA match to skin under Roma's fingernails.'
Looking back up to the boy across the table, Bellamy narrowed his eyes.
'Can you explain why your skin was found under the victim's nails?'
Murphy swallowed, 'Well, erm, things got a bit heated between us at the bar.'
'What kind of heated? Did you argue? Did you hurt her?' Bellamy demanded.
'No! No, I mean, we were kissing and making out and we got into it and she scratched my back and yeah,' Murphy avoided Bellamy's gaze, a deep red blush appearing along his cheekbones.
Bellamy cleared his throat, 'is there anyone who can confirm that?'
'I'm sure the waitress who walked in on us would back up my story,' Murphy drawled, relaxing back in his seat.
After a few more questions, Bellamy wrapped up the interview and released Murphy on the basis that he would not leave the city.
Finishing for the night, Clarke switched off the lights in the lab and took the lift up to meet Raven. Waving a quick goodbye to Nathan and Bellamy, who were both still at their desks, the girls linked arms and exited through the front door.
'I think there are a bunch of movies and a couple of pizzas with our names on them for tonight,' Raven said to Clarke as she reversed out of the parking space. 'We need a proper girl's night.'
'I assume by movies you mean Die Hard and Drive?' Clarke laughed at Raven's enthusiastic nodding. 'That sounds perfect to me. We need to stop of at mine first so I can grab some stuff and then pizza!'
The rest of the journey to Clarke's flat passed quickly; the car was filled with the off key but enthusiastic voices of the women.
When the girls arrived outside Clarke's building, Clarke jumped out of the car and promised Raven she'd be back in five minutes.
'I'm going to time you!' Raven shouted after her, laughing as she did so.
Clarke opened her buildings door and ran up the flight of stairs which lead to her floor. Reaching her own front door she scrambled in her bag for her keys. She was so absorbed in her frantic search that she didn't notice the man walking towards her.
Just as she heard the footsteps and began to turn round the man thrust his hand out towards her, something glinted silver in his hand. Just before he lunged forward the man said something like, 'you don't help my dad live, you don't get to live', but Clarke couldn't make out the exact words of the nonsensical statement.
She managed to swing her bag between her and the attacker but she still felt the sharp sting as the weapon stabbed into the flesh above her hip. Crying out Clarke stumbled back as the man withdrew the knife and went for her again. Seizing her only chance Clarke scrambled to reach the ski mask which covered the man's face. He grabbed one of her wrists and plunged the knife into her abdomen again. Clarke screamed out and fell back, taking a handful of the man's hair with her as she stumbled to the ground.
'Clarke! Are you okay?' Raven's desperate shout echoed up the stairwell.
'Raven!' Clarke replied desperately as her attacked jumped off the landing, landing on the grass a floor below.
'Shit, fuck, shit,' Raven gasped. 'What do I do Clarke?'
'Just get back-up. The knife's still in me so it'll slow the bleeding,' Clarke said as she grasped Raven's hand.
Raven reached into her pocket and dialed 999, quickly explaining the situation to the dispatch worker. Clarke's eyes fluttered as more crimson blood seeped out of her stomach.
Soon enough the sounds of sirens, reached the women's ears and Clarke let her eyes drift shut. All she could feel now was the sharp pain in her stomach and the desperate grasp that Raven had on her hand.
Clarke woke up with a start, a sharp pain rippled across her stomach as she tried to sit up. Raven was immediately at her side easing a hand across the back of her shoulders, helping support Clarke's weight.
'Hey, hey. Take it easy, Clarke.' Raven said with a watery smile on her face. 'Luckily nothing vital was hit so the surgery you had was minor but the surgeon said to take it easy for a couple of days and I can't believe it, there was so much blood and Clarke, I thought I'd lost you.'
Clarke turned gently and hugged the other woman tightly, 'you won't get rid of me that easily.'
'I'd certainly hope not, Princess,' came a deep voice from the corner of the room.
'I wish I could get rid of you that easily,' Clarke smirked at Bellamy, releasing Raven from the hug.
'After I carried you to the ambulance? You cut me deep Clarke,' Bellamy's eyes crinkled into smile. 'You were nicer when you were asleep.'
Clarke laughed lightly, wincing when the movement pulled on her stitches. 'How long was I out for?'
Raven answered, 'a couple of hours. That's all.'
'So there's still time for movie and pizza night?' Clarke asked hopefully, she wanted out of this too white room.
'Unfortunately not. Jaha has put you under personal protection and apparently I'm not qualified to do that and my flat isn't cleared for it so you've been assigned somewhere else,' Raven said with a small sigh, not catching Clarke's eye.
'Who's my protection officer then? Where am I going to stay?'
'I am, Princess,' Bellamy spoke up. 'You're coming home with me.'