Nikki and Nora are owned by Nancylee Myatt and Warner Bros. No infringement intended
Chapter 4.
Nora leaned back in her chair, rubbing at her eyes as she tried to stave off the tired feeling that was beginning to invade her system. Well, not so much tired as weary. "I am not sure if I can take much more of this," she proclaimed to no one specific, still rubbing at her face, idly pushing her nose back and forth with her index finger as she continued to procrastinate in returning back to reading over old cold cases trying to find a possible similar M.O. to their most recent case.
She leaned her head back, scooting down in the chair enough so she could prop the back of her head on the edge of the chair, the blonde able to now scan the ceiling. "You know, there are really icky brown stains on the ceiling. Hmmm, if you stare at them, it's kinda like looking at clouds. You can make out little shapes," she lazily held her left index finger up, beginning to trace assorted shapes in a drunken, wavering motion.
Georgia came in and saw Nora looking up and tracing something. "What are you looking at?" she asked, looking up at the ceiling trying to figure out what the blonde woman was doing.
"It kinda looks like a pair of handcuffs," Nora leaned in and pointed it out to Georgia. "That side slightly more undone."
Georgia looked for a second and then made out the shape. She grabbed a chair and sat down next to Delaney. "Yeah, I see it. How about that one? It kinda looks like a Kevlar vest," she pointed it out to Nora.
"Hey that looks like a bunny," Lawrence said coming on the other side of Nora after watching the other two detectives.
Nikki came out of the bathroom noticing a group of people around her partner's desk; all of them looking up and pointing. She quickly looked up to see what was wrong and found them looking at nothing. She gave a quizzical look as she walked across the room hearing words like; 'cow', 'army man', 'beignet', and 'pile of poo'. "Do I even want to know what is going on here?" she asked Nora, crossing her arms over her chest.
Nora looked up and smiled sheepishly. "Um we were finding shapes in the brown stains in the ceiling. You should give it a try. Come on."
"No," Nikki said shaking her head, looking over at Johnston who was currently sitting in her chair. She gave him a look flicking her eyes between his ass and her chair, nodding her approval as the detective got up and moved back to his own desk. Nikki continued to shoo people away as she reclaimed her seat.
Once the crowd had dissipated, Nikki placed her folded hands on the desk and leaned in on her forearms towards Nora's desk. "Well, I hesitate to mention this as you look as if you are so deeply involved in the case details," she paused and batted her eyelashes as Nora gifted her with a grumbling frown, "but while I was checking to see if lab reports had come in, Darius called. He might have something for us."
Nora's frown evaporated as she leaned forward. "No cemeteries or other creepy places, right? That butcher shop we met him in last time," Nora shuddered a little, "I really don't want to know how he knows these people."
"A little cow brains and you go all green. I mean you can handle those," Nikki made an ew face, swallowing hard, "little things from the sea and yet seeing some internal organs..."
Nora held up a hand. "While I use to rule the "What's grosser than gross" game at St. Aggie's, I am declaring this a tie, truce?"
Nikki puckered her lips a bit. "Deal. But, since no lab reports yet, shall we go see what Darius might have for us?"
Nora stood, her fast reaction causing the papers on her desk to flutter and scatter about. "Save me from this paperwork nightmare and I will do anything you want."
"Anything?"
Nora paused, catching the evil glint in Nikki's eye. Not about to give in, she adopted a bit of a cocky stance, accentuating each letter as she spelled the word. "A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G."
"I shall collect later," Nikki gave a breezy reply and grabbed her purse, turning on her heels, a swing to her step as she headed out of the squad room. Nora allowed her self a few seconds of silent admiration of Nikki's fine form and curves before grabbing her keys and following after.
Nora looked around the small coffee shop, assessing the crowd. "Are you sure this is the right place? It seems so..."
"Normal," Nikki finished Nora's phrase, adding a chuckle as well. "Well Darius doesn't spend all his time in graveyards, when he was younger he spent quite a bit of time on yard lines." She looked over at Nora's stare. "He played football in high school, Sug. Don't you think he has told me about his glory days of gridiron combat?"
"What position did he play?" Nora asked.
"With an ass like that..." Nikki started.
"Not helping," Nora said feeling a small flare of jealousy work through her.
"Tight end, sweetie," Nikki said with a wicked grin. Nikki started walking to the corner. "There he is in the corner. Come on, let's not keep the man waiting. Hey Darius."
"Hey, my two favorite ladies. I hope you wanted a latte," Darius smiled at the women.
"Oh a mind reader. Thank you," Nikki said picking up one of the lattes and blowing on the hot liquid.
Nora reached out and grabbed her own, inhaling the wonderful scent of coffee and steamed milk. "Yes, thank you. Anything good for us?" she asked.
"Oh I have some information, about a Caddy coming up out of the drink. Seems there was a young cajun in the car," Darius said.
"Something like that. Is that all you got?" Nora asked. "Nothing more interesting?"
"So you want to know about the execution?" Darius teased.
Nora and Nikki both placed their arms on the table leaning forward.
"Thought that might catch your ears," Darius picked up his coffee, testing it before taking a small sip.
"Charlie was thinking there was a systematic method to this murder," Nora offered.
"What do you know about Bianchi?" Darius asked, his face scrunching up a bit as he clicked his tongue, the drink still too hot.
"That nothing sticks, even though everybody knows he is not an honest business man. Drugs, women, any vice you can have, he can probably get it for you... That Bianchi?" Nikki questioned, seeing Darius nod.
"Did you find an X carved somewhere? Perhaps a body part missing?" Darius asked in a casual manner, noting a friend across the way, giving a silent hi and wave.
"Yes, what did you find out?" Nora began, halting, confused as Darius held up a finger.
"Excuse me ladies." Darius stood up for a second and went over to the lady.
"Is he always such the ladies man?" Nora commented as they watched Darius lean in and whisper something in the woman's ear; the whispered comment reciprocated by a giggle as the woman slapped Darius on the arm.
"What do you think?" Nikki could not help but grin at her partner, sobering her face as Darius gave the woman a kiss on the cheek and came back over.
"Sorry about that ladies," Darius said sitting back down. "The X is most likely Bianchi's mark, or maybe the mark of Bianchi's boss. Anyway, your boy was a two bit dealer, seems that his suppliers might be worried at what the boy could tell after he was picked up the other night.
"Smart, gets rid of the problem and sends out a message to all the other dealers to not screw around with the cops," Nikki nodded. "That makes sense, but what about the other?"
"I am pretty sure that is a message as well. Word on the street is that it was his trigger finger," Darius shrugged. "True dat?"
"True dat," Nikki confirmed. "What is the message though?"
"Or would that just be another calling card?" Nora mused. "That could be the trigger man M.O. Wasn't there a group of gangland killings about ten years ago with all of them missing their trigger finger?" Nora pulled out an ink pen and her pad and jotted down a note. She paused and then asked. "But would that be someone new trying to make it look like something old? Or the same old guy, or a new guy that didn't know about the old murders?" she tapped the bottom of her lip with the ink pen as the three sat in silence running over those thoughts.
"Well, I suppose that is something to follow," Nikki muttered before finishing off her drink. "We can review reports and see if any new information has come in from the lab."
Nora nodded and tucked her pad away. She pushed her chair back as she grabbed her coffee cup.
"Oh, ladies, one more thing," Darius was looking at his cup, tracing around the rim.
Nikki's nose wrinkled to the side as she watched the informant. She watched his shoulders hunch up a bit, the young man drawing tense. She held her breath knowing this was not going to be good.
"Word is Bianchi has gotten as far as he has because a lot of overlookin's going on."
Nora's brow drew down into a deep V as she tried to follow where Darius was leading.
Seeing neither woman's face blossoming into understanding, Darius continued. "Word is he's got cops on his payroll."
Nora's face darkened. "That's quite an accusation to go handing out."
"How many?"
Nora and Darius looked at Nikki, both surprised that Nikki seemed to accept the concept.
"I'm waiting on that information, I might be able to shake that out. It's going to take a bit of lubricant."
"You're talking dirty cops? Come on, everyone always complains about the cops when they don't like something," Nora grabbed the empty cups, her movements jerky and angry.
Nikki reached inside her coat and drew out a wallet. She counted the bills as she took all of them out. "Will this be enough?"
Darius hesitantly reached out, a dubious look on his face. "Nik, Hon... there's procedure..."
"Is it enough?" Nikki cut over the protest.
He thumbed through the bills, nodding his head. "At least to start the wheels."
"This is between us and no one else. No department record of this, you ok with that?" Nikki's gaze was intense and tight.
Nora was quiet, not sure what was going on with Nikki, but sensing enough not to try and interrupt.
"I can and will." Darius stood as well, tucking the money in his pocket. "I'll give you a call 24 or shorter, good?"
"Shorter is better and if more is needed..." Nikki left it hanging. "Thanks Darius." She turned then, heading out of the coffee shop.
"What was that?" Nora asked, watching Nikki heading out.
"I have no idea Nora. No idea."