Sorry it's been a while, but here are two chapters not just one and this chpt is quite long!
AJ5
Chapter 4.
Kelly stood in Cate's kitchen drinking a cup of coffee whilst reading over the headlines of the newspaper as Cate finished getting dressed for the day. From Cate's bedroom Kelly could hear a lot of thumping and movement, after a while Kelly got bored of waiting and went through to the bedroom to find out what was taking so long.
'What are you doing?' Kelly asked as she saw her rifling through several pair of boots, sneakers and other shoes.
'I'm trying to find the pair to this!' Cate said holding up a tan leather cowboy boot.
'Weren't you wearing those yesterday?' Kelly asked confused, sure that her sister was wearing them the day before.
'No they're different, aha! Here it is.' Cate happily called pulling the mate of the boot in her hand from under several other shoes and boots. Sitting on the end of her bed Cate pulled her boots on pulling the leg of her blue jeans over them making sure they fell right not flipped up anywhere. 'Good, all ready to go.' Cate smiled looking to her sister who was smirking. 'What?'
'They look exactly the same.' Kelly said laughing a little as she did. Cate looked to her boots then her sister again rolling her eyes.
'They're different, the stitching pattern is different.' Cate defended as she walked out of her room passed Kelly.
'Right, of course it is.' Kelly teased 'What are you doing now?' Kelly asked as Cate took the wooden box from the cupboard she had placed it in the night before.
'Putting this in a safer place.' Cate explained as she opened a smaller cupboard at the end of the lounge, which contained a small safe. Putting in the code Cate opened the safe door and placed the box, gun inside, into the safe closing the door locking it again. Kelly watched a little disappointed Cate wasn't taking it with her. 'I don't need it with me Kel.' Cate said seeing her sister's expression.
'I just wish you'd at least carry it with you, for protection at least.'
'I'm going to see Marcus, Kelly and unless a kitten or little poodle decides to jump up to my ankle and bite me I don't think I'll need my gun for that.'
'In our line of work Cate you never know when you might need your gun.' Kelly warned in all seriousness.
'I know our line of work just as well as you do, I didn't always carry a gun with me Kelly. I only ever took when I thought I might actually need it with me. I don't need it so it's best it stays locked up here, out of harm's way.' Cate took her leather jacket from its hanging place by the side of her front door grabbing her car keys from the small bowl they were in by the door also she opened the door to leave. 'Come on, I'll drop you off at the office on my way to see Marcus.' Cate offered.
'You're not stopping at the office first? Charlie won't like that.' Kelly warned as she took her purse and jacket from where she left it hanging over the kitchen stool and headed for the front door.
'He'll get over it.' Cate said as she ushered her sister out of the bungalow shutting and locking the door after them.
'Cate.' Kelly began to warn in her best big sister scolding voice.
'What?' Cate asked exasperated already with the conversation. Kelly sighed heavily and let it go.
'Never mind let's just get going, I suppose I'd better not be late.' Kelly gave in as they got into the black Mustang. 'You don't even know if Marcus is there.' Kelly said as Cate backed the car out onto the road.
'Well I know where to look for him if he isn't there.' Cate said as she drove. Kelly looked over to her sister with a look of doubt. 'I've known Marcus for years Kel, if he's off somewhere licking his wounds I'll find him.' Cate smirked. After their fifteen minute drive Cate pulled up in front of the agency for Kelly to get out.
'Call us later, let us know how you get on.' Kelly said as she leaned down to Cate's driver side window which was open.
'I will, I will.'
'And don't forget the shooting range later with Kris.' Kelly reminded Cate who rolled her eyes as she nodded.
'Yes I'll meet you here later, I promise.' Cate said as Kelly moved away from the car so Cate could drive on. Shaking her head Kelly walked into the agency for her morning meeting with the rest of the team. Cate drove on Marcus's veterinary clinic shaking her head and sighing. 'Ok, let's see what Marcus can tell me about Julie.'
Cate arrived at the clinic parking in the space she always used at the back of the building. Entering in she found the clinic as busy as ever with dog's whimpering and barking and cats hissing and meowing.
'Caitlin!' A woman's voice called out, Cate turned to look for the voice and smiled when she saw the little old woman sat behind the reception desk.
'Hi Daisy.' Cate smiled and waved to her.
'Go on through honey.' Daisy said waving Cate to go through to Marcus' office. Knocking as she entered the room Cate walked in not finding who she hoped though.
'I'm sorry, I was looking for Marcus.' Cate said as a pretty brunette woman looked up from where she sat behind Marcus's desk going through paper work.
'That's alright. Marcus isn't here though, can I help at all?'
'Do you know where Marcus is, I'm sorry I don't know your name.' Cate said before she continued on asking questions.
'It's Tasha, I'm a friend of Marcus's.' Tasha said as she stood up from behind the desk holding her hand out across it which Cate accepted shaking it.
'I see, I'm Cate, an old friend of his. So the two of you are good friends?' Cate asked going the long way around to ask how close the pair were.
'Marcus let me come here after I graduated; he took me under his wing so to speak. He called me a few weeks ago and asked if I'd look after his patients whilst he went out of town for a while.'
'Right, so you haven't actually seen Marcus yourself then?'
'No, is he in some kind of trouble or something?' Tasha asked a look of concern crossing her face.
'I don't think so, it's just that I really need to talk to him about someone.' Cate explained without explaining too much.
'About Julie?' Tasha asked with a knowing nod as she sat back down again indicating for Cate to take the seat opposite her.
'You know Julie?'
'No, but Marcus had told me about her in letters and when we spoke over the phone we he asked me to come here. He told me they had broken up, poor Marcus, he was so upset about it.' Tasha explained whilst Cate sat listening and nodding her head knowing how upset Marcus would be. 'I would have liked to have been there for him but he was gone before I arrived.'
'So you and Marcus have a history together then?'
'Only a working one, he's really not my type.' Tasha smiled leaning across the desk at Cate biting her lower lip slightly. Cate caught on pretty quickly as she leaned back in her chair.
'I see, well then, any ideas where he went off to?' Cate asked changing the subject slightly.
'Not a one, sorry, you could try asking Daisy though, she knows everything.' Tasha suggested still with a wide smile on her face as Cate got up from her seat and headed for the door.
'That I think I will do, thanks for all your help.' Cate smiled to Tasha as she opened the door to leave.
'Anytime, you need anything else just give me a call!' Tasha called out after Cate who was on her way out to the reception desk to find Daisy, smiling and shaking her head to herself. What a morning.
'Daisy.' Cate called the old woman's name as she walked up behind her. Daisy turned in her swivel seat, that looked like she needed a foot stool to get up into, held open her arms with a wide smile for Cate. Cate moved straight into Daisy's open arms for a big hug from the woman.
'Hi honey, how you been?' Daisy asked still squeezing Cate tight.
'I'm good Daisy. How's things here, all ok?' Cate asked as she stepped out of Daisy's embrace.
'Business is always good.' Daisy smiled as Marcus's dog Hermes popped up from under the counter desk, Cate knelt down to the golden retriever making a big fuss of the old hound.
'So where's that boss of yours then?' Cate asked looking up at Daisy.
'Not sure honey, he took off just after the break up with Julie, how's she doing by the way? It's been in the papers you know.' Daisy said a sad worried expression on her face.
'Julie's being Julie, strong and stubborn, we'll get her out of this, don't worry.' Cate smiled reassuringly. 'Did he take his hiking gear?'
'Maybe honey, you'd best check the garage, you know where the keys are right?' Cate nodded to Daisy as she noticed a woman approach the reception desk with her cat, pointing to her Daisy turned to deal with the lady and the patient. Grabbing the keys from the hook under the counter by the receptions private entrance door Cate headed to the back of the clinic where the inner door to the garage was. Going in Cate flicked on the lights, the garage was as tidy as everything else was in Marcus's place. A place for everything and everything its place, Cate thought to herself, walking over to the shelving where he kept his hiking gear Cate found that it was all missing.
'Looks like you've gone walk about Marcus.' Cate sighed as she turned and walked back out of the garage, switching the lights off and locking the door again as she went. Putting the keys back on the hook Cate waved her goodbyes to Daisy as she headed back out to her car, starting the engine and pulling out of the car park Cate took to the road heading out to where she knew Marcus would be hiking. Cate picked up the car phone thinking it would be best to let the others know where she was going. After a few rings the phone at the agency was picked up.
'Townsend Associates.' Bosley's gruff voice came over the phone.
'Hi Bos, it's Cate.'
'Hold on a minute Cate, I'll put you on speaker.' Bosley said as the line clicked from phone to speaker.
'What did you find out?' Kris's voice asked.
'Well I found out that Marcus isn't at the clinic.'
'Where is he?' Kelly asked.
'He's out hiking, I know where so I'm headed there next, up in the forest.' Cate explained. 'There's a trail up there he uses all the time.'
'Want one of us to meet you there?' Kelly asked concerned. Cate smirked to herself a little.
'No, thanks, I'll be fine.'
'What else did you find out?' Kris asked.
'Well I know that he left shortly after Julie broke up with him and that the vet that has taken over from him didn't see him when she arrived.'
'She?' Kris questioned, Cate knew where Kris's train of thought was going, the same place hers had.
'Yeah, well the other thing I discovered is that should I still be single in the next ten years or so I know I've got options.' Cate laughed to herself.
'What?' Kris and Kelly asked confused together.
'Never mind, I'll explain later.' Cate laughed.
'At the range?' Kris pushed.
'Yeah sure, speak to you later.' Cate said as she hung up her phone before she got caught in that conversation again.
Kelly and Kris looked to one another as the line went dead.
'Well at least she said she'd be there.' Kelly offered to Kris who looked annoyed.
'There's saying and then there's showing Kel. Cate may say she'll be there but that doesn't mean she'll be there.'
'Have a little faith Kris.' Kelly smiled at Kris as she returned her attention back to the file in her lap. Kris sighed as she got up and went to the bar for another cup of coffee.
Cate drove into a parking space surrounded by other cars with people holding maps and packing their backpacks ready to hit the trails. Cate got out of her car locking it moving round to the trunk of her car she opened it taking out her drinking flask she kept stored there with other gear. Heading for the entrance of the trails Cate stopped at the information and map point where a drinking fountain stood, filling her flask Cate then carried on to find her friend. Walking through the trail Cate enjoyed the serene surrounding of nature the peace it brought her, it was like being back with Scotty and her friends in Colorado. After an hour of hiking Cate came to the area she knew she would find Marcus in, a top peak looking over L.A. the best view you could ask for. It didn't take Cate long to find him Marcus had set up camp and was sat out on a flat rock looking out at the sights in front of him.
'How long you going to stay up here?' Cate asked once she was close enough.
'When did you get back?' Marcus asked without turning to look at her.
'Yesterday. I went to see Julie.' Cate said putting Julie's name right out into the open straight away, no time to pussy foot around and Cate wasn't one for doing that anyway. Marcus turned to Cate, he looked terrible, like he hadn't slept in days.
'How is she?' He simply asked.
'Considering where she is and what's going on, she's fine. Stubborn but fine.' Cate explained as she moved closer to Marcus sitting down a little way away from him on the ground. 'She told me that she uh, broke up with you Marcus.'
'Yeah, that she did.' Marcus said unhappily smiling out to the view.
'When Marcus, when did this all happen?'
'About a week ago.'
'A week ago!' Cate said surprised. 'At the time she was attacked?'
'The day after actually, I was meant to be taking her out for a meal but she wasn't feeling up to it so instead I brought the meal to her and we had dinner, I thought everything was fine then she ended it.' Marcus explained. Cate watched her friend, he was leaving something out and Cate knew it, she could read Marcus like a book.
'What happened before then Marc?' Cate pressed. Marcus looked to Cate, he laughed a little to himself, he didn't know why he even tried to hide things from Cate, she was far too good to not know he was holding something back.
'She didn't tell you did she?' Marcus asked shaking his head as he did.
'Tell me what?'
'Of course she didn't, I don't even know why I'm surprised.' Marcus laughed standing up and going into his tent, coming back out again within moments. He handed Cate a small box, Cate looked at it surprised, guessing what the small velvet black box would contain. Opening it she found what she thought she would a gorgeous engagement ring.
'I asked her to marry me.' Marcus said standing in front of her. For the first time since the pair of friends could remember Cate was speechless.
Cate left Marcus and went back to her car; it felt like it took her less time to get back to her car than it did to reach Marcus, the amount of thoughts that were running through Cate's mind made the time disappear. Cate got into her car and sat there for a few moments still shocked by what she had learned. Marcus had proposed, proposed marriage and Julie turned him down and broke up with him all in one fell swoop.
'And all on the night Michaels was murdered.' Cate said to herself as she picked up her car phone.
'Townsend Associates.' Kelly answered the phone in her best business toned voice.
'Kel it's me.' Cate replied.
'Hey, what's wrong you're sounding serious, did you find Marcus, is he ok?' Kelly asked reeling off questions left, right and centre.
'He's fine Kelly, he's packing up his camp gear as we speak. Are you all at the office?' Cate asked not wanting to tell her the news over the phone.
'Yeah, Bos just stepped out to get lunch should be back in about ten minutes or so.' Kelly explained.
'Alright I'll get back there as soon as I can, shouldn't take more than an hour.'
'Big news?' Kelly asked trying to gauge what they were to be told.
'Oh yeah, big news better get Charlie on the phone for a conference call when I get in.'
'Alright Cate, we'll see you soon. Drive safe.'
'Will do, bye.' Cate hung up the phone as she started the engine of her car and then pulled out of the car park back onto the road heading back to the office, this should be an interesting conversation.
'That was Cate?' Kris asked entering in into the office from the outside reception hall.
'Yeah, she's on her way here has some news for us.' Kelly explained as she fidgeted with a pencil in her hands.
'Big news?'
'It would seem so; she sounded a little on edge about it.' Kelly looked concerned.
'What is it Kelly?' Kris asked taking a seat in one of the armchairs in front of Bosley's desk Kelly was sat behind, some settings even in the new office hadn't changed.
'What if Marcus had nothing but bad news for Cate, something that could put Julie in more trouble than she is in now?'
'What if it's good news of sorts anyway?'
'Well if it is I want to hear it.' Both Angels looked quickly to the female voice that had waltzed into the room. 'Kris, Kelly nice to see you both again.' Annabelle smiled nodding to both Angels.
'Annabelle!' Kris bounded out of her seat throwing her arms around Annabelle's neck. 'It's so good to see you, how are you?' Kris asked as she backed away taking hold of her hands as she did, the two women stood facing each other as Kelly stayed seated in Bosley's chair.
'I'm great thanks Kris, I'm so pleased to see you're doing ok, I heard about the shooting you were injured in. Scary stuff.' Annabelle said, heartfelt looking at Kris who bowed her head down and looked away to Kelly who smiled at Kris a supporting smile.
'Yeah that it was.' Kelly said remembering all too well visiting Kris in the hospital after she was shot. 'Looks like the Agent life agrees with you Anna.' Kelly smiled looking Annabelle up and down in her grey fitted pant suit.
'It's not a bad gig.' Annabelle smiled as she took a seat on one of the sofas with Kris. 'So where's Cate?'
'She was following a lead and is on her way here now.' Kris explained.
'But she might not be here for an hour yet.' Kelly said hoping that Annabelle might take the subtle hint and leave.
'Well that's ok, I can wait, if you don't mind?' Annabelle asked although there was no way she was leaving until she had heard what Cate had to say.
'Mind, of course we don't mind.' Kris said as she turned to Kelly her eyes widening with a look saying to Kelly what do we do now? Kelly continued to play nice with Annabelle.
'So what's the latest on Julie's case, anything new that might get her out of jail?' Kelly asked hopefully.
'Cate told you I was working the case huh? Well I'm afraid not guy's everything right now still points to Julie and she's not helping herself by staying quiet.'
'That we know.' Kris said sighing patting the palm of her hand onto her thigh as she said it.
'Ladies, lunch is served.' Bosley sounded as he entered into the office again.
'Great thanks Bos and we have company.' Kelly said as she helped hand out sandwiches and bags of potato chips. Bosley looked over to see Annabelle smiling broadly at him and giving him a small wave.
'Hi Bosley.' She said as Bosley walked over to her bending down slightly to hug her.
'Well hello, it's great to see you again Anna and I hear you're working Julie's case?'
'Good news travels fast.' Annabelle said with a small smile.
'Well I don't know about good news, but it was a surprise to hear, we didn't realize you were back in L.A.' Bosley said as he sat opposite Annabelle on the second sofa.
'Bos, we need to call Charlie, Cate's on her way in she has some news to share with us all.' Kelly explained looking sideways to Annabelle who was showing more interest in the drink Kris had handed her.
'I see.' Bosley said catching on.
'And I want in on that.' Annabelle said without looking at them. 'I meant what I said to Cate; whatever you all find out I want to know about it too.' She said looking up this time to the rest of the room.
'Well I had best call Charlie; make him aware of what's going on.' Bosely said as he walked to his desk, Kelly got up giving him back his chair and moved to sit onto the couch opposite Kris and Annabelle.
'So how has life been as a federal agent?' Kelly asked acting as though she was interested, she didn't like the forceful way in which Annabelle was getting information from them.
'Not bad at all, it's certainly a lot different from the police force!' Annabelle said laughing, which Kris joined in on.
'I bet it is, a bit like how different it is being an Angel is comparison to a police officer.' Kris said handing Kelly the sandwich roll Bosley had got for her.
'So you've been able to work some interesting cases?' Kelly asked keeping the conversation up whilst Bosley spoke with Charlie. The three women continued talking as they waited for Cate to arrive.
Kelly looked to her watch starting to wonder where her sister had gotten to when Cate walked into the main room spinning her car keys on her right index finger, she was obviously lost in thought as he came in, Cate didn't even notice Annabelle as she passed her taking a seat in one of the arm chairs in front of Bosley's desk.
'Hey little sister look who stopped by for a visit.' Kelly said bringing Cate out of her own thoughts and into the room. Looking up Cate saw Annabelle and quickly smiled before she allowed herself to scowl.
'Annabelle, social call is it?' Cate asked as Kris got up heading to the bar to get Cate and herself a drink.
'It was and then I heard you have some new information involving Julie's case so I just had to stay to hear what it was.'
'Of course you did.' Cate smiled sitting forward slightly as Kris handed her a glass of coca cola.
'So what's the news?' Kris asked taking her seat again by the side of Annabelle.
'Wait let me get Charlie on the line.' Bosley said quickly grabbing the phone and punching in Charlie's number.
'How was Marcus?' Kelly asked in a quiet caring tone. Cate ran her hand around the back of her neck rubbing it trying to move some of the tension growing there.
'He's been better.' Cate simply said shrugging.
'Alright Charlie, Cate's here now.' Bosley said as he hit the button for the speaker button.
'Hello Angels, Annabelle, nice to have you with us.' Charlie's clear voice came through the small plastic box.
'Hi Charlie, nice to hear your voice again.' Annabelle replied a wide smile spreading across her face.
'So Cate, what have you got to tell us?' Charlie said turning the spotlight back to Cate.
'I've got Julie's alibi.'
'You've what!?' Both Kris and Kelly said together looking to one another and then Cate in disbelief.
'I found out from Marcus where Julie was the night Michaels was murdered and it wasn't by Julie's fair hand.' Cate smiled looking aimlessly down to the carpet recalling in her mind's eye the conversation she had had with Marcus.
'So Julie was with Marcus, well, why didn't she just tell us that?' Kris asked confused by why her friend would hide such information.
'I'm not absolutely sure Kris, but I have a good idea.' Cate began to explain. 'That night Marcus had an entire romantic evening set out for them, it was just after she was attacked. Towards the end of the evening Marcus had worked up the courage to do what had been thinking of for a while.'
'Which was?' Bosley asked.
'He asked Julie to marry him.' Cate answered. Her fellow Angels and Bosley fell back into their seats blown away by what they had heard. Cate laughed a little at them recognizing the thoughts they must be having and wondering if that was how she had looked after Marcus had told her. 'Unfortunately Marcus didn't get the answer he wanted as Julie ended the relationship.'
'And you say this all happened at the time Michaels was shot?' Charlie asked.
'As far as I'm aware Charlie, Marcus is known for his time keeping. We know from reports that Michaels was shot between ten and eleven pm. Marcus said he didn't leave Julie until after midnight, there's no way she could have done it.'
'Where is Marcus now Cate?' Charlie asked. Looking at her watch Cate answered.
'He should be at Julie's lawyers office by now Charlie or at least very close to it. I told him to go directly there first before the police.'
'Good thinking.' Kelly said. 'We wouldn't want Marcus or his statement going missing for any length of time.'
'I doubt that would have happened.' Annabelle spoke up finally. 'Well if you'll all excuse me I had better go and report this myself.' Annabelle stood up from the sofa and exited calling out her goodbyes as she left. Once gone the Angels, Bosley and Charlie were able to relax and talk some more.
'Was there anything else Cate?' Charlie asked.
'No Charlie, that was all and quite frankly it was enough. I think you'd better get on the phone to Julie's lawyer and get her out of that jail.' Cate suggested with urgency.
'You're right Cate and that is exactly what I am going to do now, I'll call you all later with an update.' Charlie said signing off.
Kris stood up and began to pace up and down the length of the sofa she was seated on.
'I don't understand why she didn't tell us this, is she really so ashamed or embarrassed not to tell us something that can save her life?' Kris asked the room.
'Who knows Kris, this past month or two have been hard on her, losing a friend, being attacked and then to be accused of murder.' Kelly said running through Julie's recent troubles.
'But not tell us something that is so important as this is, I just don't get it.' Kris stopped and scratched the top of her head as she thought.
'Well neither do I but I certainly intend to ask her when we get her out of that jail.' Cate said standing and walking around and behind the sofa her sister was seated on.
'We shall all find out in time.' Kelly said making peace in the room. 'So what was this you were saying when you called from the vets office about having options?' Kelly asked smirking slightly as she turned to look at her sister. Cate laughed as she walked around to the end of the sofa closest to the window.
'Well…' Before Cate could finish what she about to say gunfire sounded as the window shattered. Cate turned and stood still as bullets continued to be fired into the room, Kelly and Bosley dived for the floor keeping as low as possible.
'Caitlin!' Kelly called out as her sister didn't move. 'Caitlin get down!' Cate began to turn to her sister when Kris dived into her a flying tackle sending them both crashing to the floor, sound rushed back through Cate's ears as she hit the floor, Kris by the side of her. She heard the screeching of car tyres and someone yelling 'Cop killer!!' as they sped away.
'Is everyone alright?' Bosley called out as hr got up from behind his desk.
'Yeah fine.' Kelly answered first as she got up to her feet carefully stepping over shards of glass on the floor moving over to where Kris and Cate lay on the floor. 'Kris, Cate?' She asked as she helped Kris get up.
'I'm fine.' Kris said holding her hand out to Cate who took it pulling herself up. 'Cate?'
'Fine, thanks.' Cate replied nodding to Kris who may have just saved her life, again.
'You sure?' Kelly asked concerned. 'You looked a little…'
'Ow!' Kris yelped in pain, both Cate and Kelly turned their attention to her.
'What is it?' Cate asked Kris who was cradling her left forearm.
'Looks like I fell on some glass.' Kris grimaced as blood began to seep through her light blue blouse sleeve.
'Let's take a look at it Kris.' Kelly said sitting Kris down on the couch.
'I'll grab the first aid kit.' Bosley said.
'Cate can you grab me one of the small bar towels.' Kelly asked as she unbuttoned Kris cuff and gently rolled back the sleeve to reveal the wound. Cate did as she was asked and grabbed a clean towel from behind the bar and handed it to Kelly who laid it across Kris's lap.
'What's the damage?' Cate asked as she watched her sister tenderly care for their friend.
'It's not very deep, doesn't need any stitches so that saves us a trip to the emergency room.' Kelly smiled up to Kris who had been quiet throughout Kelly checking her arm.
'Is everyone alright?!' Annabelle called out as she rushed back in to the room.
'We thought you'd left.' Kris said as Bosley came back into the room handing Kelly the first aid kit.
'I was parked round back making some notes of what Cate had said when I heard the gunfire. Are you alright?' Annabelle explained and asked as she came round and knelt beside Kelly who was now beginning to clean Kris's arm.
'She'll be just fine. Come on Kris, let's go clean this up properly.' Kelly said wrapping Kris's arm with the bar towel helping Kris up and leading her out of the main room to the bathroom.
'I've called it in so the police should be here soon.' Annabelle said to Cate and Bosley, Cate nodded not really listening as she watched Kris and Kelly leave the room.
'Did you see anything?' Bosely asked as the pair of them walked out of the office to go outside to see the damage and look for any clues. Cate looked around her at the amount of damage that had been done. Shards of glass lay all over the floor, Cate bent down to see it all.
'Don't go picking any of that up.' Kelly warned as she came back in to the room.
'I wasn't going to, the police are on their way.' Cate said still squatting down on the floor she turned to look at Kelly. 'Annabelle called them from her car. How's Kris?'
'I'm fine.' Kris said in a tone that was a little more chipper than Cate expected.
'Are you sure, don't you think you ought to go down to the ER just in case.' Cate said as she stood up again slipping her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. Kris walked over to Cate placing her hand on Cate's arm.
'Honestly Cate, I'm fine, it really isn't very deep at all, it's practically stopped bleeding now any way, right Kel?' Kris assured as she whipped her head round to Kelly.
'Right, it's fine Cate, trust me.' Kelly smiled; Cate simply nodded and turned her attention back to the room moving away from Kris. Kris and Kelly looked to one another a shared concerned look between them.
'So now we're being shot at.' Cate said as she walked up to the shattered window looking out she saw Annabelle and Bosley walking around looking for clues.
'Wouldn't be the first time.' Kris said.
'Or the last.' Kelly added. 'We're not exactly people's favourite private detectives right now. With the press, a lot of people know that Julie works here, it's been a little difficult.' Kelly explained.
'You mean this has happened before?' Cate asked spinning round quickly, looking at both Kris and Kelly with an angry look on her face.
'No not this exactly but we've all been receiving threats and been yelled at when we're walking down the street. But that should all stop now.' Kelly explained as she leaned again Bosley's desk.
'Right, with Marcus's statement of where Julie was she should be released soon and her name cleared.'
'Well, she'll be released anyway.' Kelly said folding her arms across her chest as she thought.
'What do you mean Kel?' Kris asked sitting on the arm of the sofa.
'Just because we have Marcus's word and Julie's when she admits it doesn't mean the police and their lawyers won't still try to find some way to pin it on Julie.' Kelly explained, the room fell silent as the Angels all thought on this, their silence only disturbed when sirens sounded and ended at the front of the office building and the police came in with Bosley and Annabelle.
After an hour the police left, as did Annabelle, leaving the Angels and Bosley with the job of cleaning up the mess left behind.
'Well they were less than useless.' Cate said as she put on a pair of gloves to start picking up the larger pieces of broken glass.
'No witnesses Cate and we didn't see anything, it's not much for anyone to go on.' Kelly pointed out. Cate sighed as she looked to her sister.
'Yeah, I guess so.'
'Alright Charlie, we'll keep you informed.' Bosley said as he hung up the phone on his desk.
'What did Charlie have to say?' Kris asked from her seat in the armchair at the front of Bosley's desk. Both Kelly and Cate had told her to leave the clean up to them.
'He has given me the strict orders of sending you all home. He'll call in a cleaning crew to come and fix all of this.' Bosley said as he gestured to the room. 'So go on, get out of here. I'll wait for the cleaning crew.'
'Did he say anything about Julie being released?' Kris asked.
'He said he would call you once it had all been arranged.' Bosley replied. 'Now, get going.' Bosley said ordering the Angels out of the room. The three Angels picked up their jackets and bags and headed for the door calling out their goodbyes to Bosley as they went home.
'Well, why don't we take Kris home first and then go from there.' Kelly suggested as they got outside to their cars.
'I'm really ok you guys; you don't need to babysit me. I'm pretty sure I can drive myself home.'
'I'm sure you can but why don't you let me do it and shut up about it.' Kelly ordered pushing Kris to the passenger side of her Cobra taking the keys from Kris as she walked past her. 'Meet you there?' Kelly asked her sister as Cate stood watching them.
'Yeah sure.' Cate said with a small smile. All getting into their cars Kelly pulled out first followed by Cate.
'She froze.' Kelly said calmly to Kris as she checked her rear view mirror seeing her sister wasn't too far behind them.
'I noticed.' Kris replied looking out to the road.
'I'm worried.' Kelly quietly said.
'I know, me too.' Kris said turning to look at Kelly who kept her eyes to the road. After a short drive the Angels all arrived at Kris's beach house, now fully repaired after the fire that caused some serious damage and had nearly taken both Kris and Jill's life with it.
'Well come on in then, I know you're not going anywhere anytime soon.' Kris laughed as she walked up the steps to the side entrance door.
'We just want to make sure you're ok that's all.' Kelly said smiling as she followed after her.
'And maybe have a little dinner too?' Kris asked looking over her shoulder to Kelly and Cate who followed quietly after them.
'Well if that's an offer of a free meal I would say we're on board for that right Cate?' Kelly asked turning to her sister as they entered into the beach house. Cate looked around the remodeled room, not much had really changed, it just looked a little fresher.
'Place looks great Kris.' Cate commented as she headed to the back doors that led out on to the decking.
'Yeah Jill and I were both happy with the outcome.' Kris smiled looking around the room as well. 'Open up the doors Cate, let some light and air in.' Cate did as Kris asked and stepped out on to the decking as she did so, leaning on the railing as she did looking out to the ocean watching people surf and have fun on the beach. Kris and Kelly tossed their jackets and bags down on to the armchair in the corner of Kris's living room, Kelly looked out to her sister Kris followed her look and nudged Kelly to go on outside as she went to the kitchen and began to busy herself.
'What's on your mind?' Kelly asked as she stood next to Cate leaning onto the railing as well. Cate looked to her sister.
'All sorts.' Cate said as she stood straight and walked behind her older sister and headed down the steps to the beach, Kelly slowly followed after her.
'What kind of all sorts?' Kelly asked then thinking to herself that, that sounded odd.
'I froze and Kris got hurt.' Cate opened with.
'She's alright Cate, it really is just a scratch.' Kelly said as she caught up alongside of her sister. Cate looked to Kelly a look telling her not to make light of the situation.
'She could have been hurt a lot worse than that, killed even.'
'So could you have been.' Kelly countered.
'I know.' Cate said quietly as she stopped and looked out to the ocean. 'It's too dangerous Kelly.'
'What is?'
'Me doing this, being a part of this team.'
'Cate…'
'No listen to me.' Cate interrupted Kelly; she had to speak before Kelly could stop her or make her change her mind. 'Today just proves to me what I was worried about. I can't do this anymore Kel, the simple sound of gunfire and I'm frozen to the spot.'
'It was just a bad day Cate, whoever it was surprised us.'
'And they always will take us by surprise Kelly, it's rare that we are notified before being shot at. It's not safe for me to be around you all when things like that happen.'
'But Cate, you'll work through this, we'll help you, I'll help you. We could go and speak to someone about it.' Kelly started reeling off ideas of how to keep Cate on the team with her. Cate took a gentle hold of Kelly's upper arms to make her stop talking.
'I've made up my mind Kelly, once we get Julie out of this I'm leaving the agency.' Kelly hung her head and looked away from Cate to the ocean doing her very best not to get any further upset or cry.
'Bette will be happy.' Kelly said without emotion.
'Yeah, she may even start to talk to me again.' Cate said watching her sister, Kelly turned to Cate standing at her full height which was about half an inch, not even that taller than Cate.
'I don't want you to do this.' Kelly defiantly said. Cate smiled to Kelly, tilting her head to one side.
'I know you don't but it's not your decision to make it's mine and I've made it. You know I don't want to be anywhere near my own gun or any other for that matter and that 's no use to any of you. It's better for me to do this. Kelly, I can't go with you, Kris or Julie into whatever case and not trust that I can watch your back properly without the fear that I'll freeze up again. You're all far too important to me, especially you.' Cate said as she wiped away the single tear that escaped, rolling down Kelly's cheek.
'Hey you two!' Kris called out from the decking of her house. 'There's nothing in my cupboards, we'll have to order in!' Cate laughed as she waved back to Kris who promptly turned and went back into her living room.
'Those Munroe's and their food.' Cate laughed to herself.
'What about Kris, are you going to tell her?' Kelly asked looking up to where Kris had been standing.
'No, not until this is all over. It's bad enough us two knowing, if Kris and Julie know we'll never be able to concentrate on finding Michael's murderer.'
'Is that really fair to them, especially Kris?'
'I won't be talked or guilted out of this Kelly, my mind is made up. You know I'm as stubborn as you are.'
'So what will you do instead, go to the motel, the ranch back to Mustang with the family?' Kelly asked her tone starting to turn to anger.
'I haven't thought that far yet Kel.'
'Have you really thought about it at all?' Kelly asked as she turned and stormed off back to the beach house. Cate sighed heavily and started after her, she had to tell her sister at least, she couldn't keep everything bottled up inside, not this time. As the sisters reached the beach house they heard Kris answer the telephone.
'Alright Charlie, we're on our way.' Kelly looked to Cate confused, Cate in return shrugged her shoulders.
'What's going on?' Kelly asked.
'Come on, we need to get to the prison now.' Kris said in a hurried manner. Kelly and Cate rushed up the stairs to meet Kris.
'Why what's going on?' Cate asked again.
'Julie's being released now, we can go and collect her.' Kris answered a smile beaming across her face. Cate and Kelly walked through the house with Kris locking up as they went rushing out to their cars.
'Jump in, I'll drive.' Cate said.
'When did you last speak with Jill?' Kris asked a little nervous almost of getting in the car with Cate.
'About a month ago, why?' Kris breathed a sigh of relief.
'Nothing, never mind, let's getting going.' Kris beamed as she got into the car, Kelly in the back Kris up front next to Cate.
'But when we did speak she did explain about this new technique she had been trying out with her driving.' Cate smiled wickedly to Kris as she slammed the car into gear, Kris yelled out as Cate spun the car round heading towards the prison to collect their friend. After a thrill ride of a drive the three Angels arrived at the prison they had visited the day before, Bosley was waiting for them in the car park.
'Hey Bos, where's the lawyer?' Kris asked as she got out of the car.
'Iain's inside sorting out all of the paperwork, I said I'd wait out here for you three.' Bosley said smiling. 'Everything alright Kelly?' Bosley looked to Kelly who looked a little green around the gills.
'I'm going to be having words with that older sister of yours.' Kelly sternly said to Kris as she took some deep breaths.
'Right after I have.' Kris said as she put her arm around Kelly's shoulders sympathetically.
'It wasn't that bad a drive.' Cate smiled wickedly at her sister and best friend who both swatted at her missing.
'Come on, let's get Julie out of here.' Bosley laughed to himself watching the Angels and there banter. Just as Bosley turned to walk in to the building, holding the door for the Angels, Iain came rushing out looking flustered.
'Iain, what's wrong?' Bosley asked taking a hold of the man's arm.
'They can't find her.' Iain said in a form of shock.
'Can't find who, Julie?' Kelly asked suddenly feeling much better from the urgency of the man's tone.
'Right, they don't have her in the low security section we had her put into for her safety.'
'Where is she then?' Kris asked stepping up to the man trying to get him to give a straight answer.
'They moved her to the central prison cells.' Iain said loosening his collar.
'You mean with all the dangerous criminals, many of whom we have put there!' Kris said barging past him, Cate not far behind her.
'Bosley, we need to get to her now.' Kelly ordered.
'Right, Iain, come on you're getting us through the door.' Bosley grabbed the lawyer pushing him back through to the wardens office.
'Look, I'm telling you like I told your lawyer friend, she's not here in this wing, she's been moved to the main cells, we had our orders.' The officer explained.
'Look we don't care about your orders, we have a notice here from a judge a court order to release Julie Rogers, now get us through there before we get that judge on the phone and have you all out of a job.' Kris threatened pointing to all of the officers sat around in the office.
'Alright ladies, alright please come this way, I will take you to where Miss Rogers is.' An older woman said as she opened the locked barred door. Just as Kris and Cate crossed over the threshold of the door an alarm sounded and officers began rushing down the corridor behind the older officer.
'What does that alarm mean?' Cate asked dreading the answer.
'There's a fight going on.' The warden answered. Kris and Cate looked to one another and then bolted after the officers they had watched run by earlier.
'Kelly, call Charlie tell him what's going on!' Kris yelled back as she and Cate disappeared around a corner.
'Hey you two can't just go running off back there.' The warden called after Kris and Cate.
'I'd like to see you try and stop them.' Bosley said as Kelly picked up a phone dialing Charlie's number.
The closer Kris and Cate got to the central area of the prison the louder the shouts were getting. Female prisoners pushing on other prisoners to take a swing at the Angel, Kris took a quick glance to Cate as they neared the stairs leading down to the fight.
'Keep going Kris.' Cate said a stern look on her face which unnerved Kris, Cate looked ready to do some damage. They saw the crowds of women circled round another huddle of women swinging arms and kicking legs. The wardens stood by the side doing nothing.
'What the hell do you think you're doing? Get in there and stop this!' Kris yelled at the officers who stood watching not moving.
'To hell with this.' Cate frustrated barged through the circle of women who were too surprised by Cate's presence to stop her. Kris did her best to keep up with Cate as she got to the huddled scrum of women. Cate grabbed the first woman she came to, a shorter brunette woman, grabbing her by her collar Cate yanked her back. Not expecting it the woman fell back onto her backside looking around to the other women still yelling at the fight to continue. Kris moved in taking hold of another woman and spinning her out of the huddle. Cate kept pulling women off of Julie who Cate could just make sight of.
'Get the hell off of her!' Cate yelled at the women as she kept dragging them off and away. One woman not too shy to hit back came round at Cate hitting her on the side of the face, slightly phased Cate shook it off and returned the favour hitting the woman in the face followed by an elbow sharply brought down to the top of her back. Another woman grabbed Cate around the waist pulling her away and up slightly off the ground. Cate flung her head back head butting the woman and then stomped down hard onto her foot, the woman cried off to a corner nursing her foot and nose. More women tried their luck with Kris and Cate finding a harsh response, Cate introduced one woman's face to a wall whilst Kris thrust her knee into another woman's chest and threw her down to the floor, finally a whistle was blown and the women quickly dispersed. The two Angels backed towards Julie who lay on the floor huddled; she'd brought her knees up to her chest and her arms covering her face to protect herself. Once the prison guards had moved the women off Cate and Kris heard and saw Kelly and Bosley rushing down the stairs to help them. Cate turned to Julie to see if she was ok.
'Julie?' Cate reached out placing her hand onto Julie's shoulder. Julie sprung up ready to attack. 'Julie, whoa, hey it's me it's Cate.' Cate sat back as Julie flew out her fists about to hit Cate when she finally saw her and heard what she was saying. Julie's fists flattened out as she threw her arms around Cate's neck, in return Cate held onto a shaking Julie tightly as she helped her up to her feet. Kris came over and joined them as Julie broke herself away from Cate.
'Are you alright honey?' Kris asked brushing Julie's hair away from her face, she had the beginnings of a black eye and a split lip to go with it. Julie nodded as she dried her eyes and pulled herself together.
'Yeah, thanks to you guys, what are you doing here?' Julie asked holding on to Cate as she did.
'We're here to take you home.' Kris explained.
'What, how?'
'Marcus.' Cate said, Julie turned to her looking surprised. 'Julie, he told me what happened, I wish you had just told us, you would never have been here then.'
'I know I just…' Julie tried to begin to explain but was cut off by Kelly and Bosley.
'Why don't we talk about this back home?' Kelly suggested taking a hold of Julie and pulling her into a hug.
'Good idea, the sooner we get out of here the better.' Kris agreed to which Julie laughed nervously and nodded.
'I second that.' She said as Kelly took her hand and led her out of the main hall the fight had broken out in. Cate looked around at the women as they all were stood against the surrounding walls, she recognized a few that they had put there, the rest well, they probably were just looking for a fight.
'Cate you coming?' Kris asked as she turned on the stairs looking down to her, Cate looked up to Kris nodding and followed after her.