Title: Golden Dragon 4
Author: BELOVEDbyWAR
Rating: PG-13
TV verse: Blood Ties
Disclaimer: Not mine, not making any money.
AN: Thanks to luvinmike for beta-reading!
Wc: 761
Golden Dragon 4:
The case turned out to actually be a dead end. Nothing else happened that could be connected with that murder and other than the man's educational and early employment records, Mike had not been able to locate any living relatives, spouses, friends, or other sources that might be able to shed some light on the investigation. Crowley soon closed the case and had Mike's team focus their efforts on avoiding another biker gang turf war.
Mike wasn't really bothered by this. After years of loneliness and pining, Mike seemed to have finally found happiness and he focused all his energy on his personal life. It almost seemed too good to be true.
Kim was wonderful. She never complained when he had to leave her in the middle of the night for a case, she shared everything with him without being afraid of appearing weak in his eyes, and was secure in the knowledge that she was good at what she did without playing it up. And the sex was out of this world. Mind-blowing was only one word he would use to describe it. And each time only got better and better. It was as if the moment they joined, a connection was made…
Mike believed he was in love.
Then around four o'clock one afternoon, a call came in to the precinct.
The body of a woman in her mid-thirties of Asian descent had been found floating in the harbor.
Mike's heart virtually stopped beating as he immediately called Kim's cell, but she didn't answer.
Praying for it to be any other innocent soul but Kim, Mike's gut told him to be ready. However, nothing could have prepared him for the sight of her usually animated face lying wet and lifeless in the mud.
Suddenly he felt as if he were trapped in a black and white 1920s movie. All the sound around him vanished and everything seemed strangely colorless and distorted.
He remembered sinking to his knees, as something in his chest seemed to rip. He must have moved closer because, after touching her clammy hand, his airway felt constricted by something and he started to hyperventilate.
As if from far away, he heard voices.
Someone called his name but he couldn't tear his eyes from her still beautiful face. Suddenly, a loud smack was heard and Mike felt sucked back into the present as he looked in shock at the small Indian woman who had slapped him.
"Detective," Dr. Mohadevan requested softly, "please get up and follow me."
Completely numb, Mike felt hands helping him up and urging him away from the body. After that, he didn't remember much else. He thought someone mentioned something about shock, but all he could think about was her lifeless, small body lying in the dirt. Nothing else had meaning and the rest of the world vanished into nothingness.
***
When he came back to awareness, he found himself in the back of Dave's car. When his partner looked at him with deep pity, it nearly made Mike want to puke.
He quickly realized they were on the way to his home, and that was the last place he wanted to be at the moment.
Swallowing, he asked what he knew had to be asked:
"Dave, has somebody notified her relatives?"
The man now tried to avoid his gaze in the mirror.
"Dave!"
"No, man. I… I will, right after I take you home."
"No."
"No?"
"I'll do the notification."
"But Mike, I don't think-"
"Shut up and drive."
Completely shocked by Mike's tone but secretly relieved to let the blond take over, they soon parked in front of a rich mansion with beautiful Japanese gardens.
Dave was just about to get out of the car when Mike's strong hand stopped him.
"Go home, Dave. These people are intensely private. I'll call a cab when it's over."
"Are you sure?" the chubby man replied, but the cold blue gaze told him everything that he needed to know. Nodding once, he refastened his seatbelt and, after one last regretful glance, drove away.
Taking a deep breath to prepare, Mike walked to the front door. Before he could even knock, one side swung open and Kim's grandfather stood in front of him.
They bowed to each other. Then the older man motioned for Mike to follow him inside.
***
Out of sight, Dave grabbed his cell and called a number he dreaded using, holding his breath until it was answered.
"Yeah, hello. This is Dave. I really need to talk to Vicki. It's urgent!"
***
tbc
