Chapter 7:
The party hadn't started yet, which didn't exactly go over well with the girl sitting next to me who was used to red carpets and showing up fashionably late.
"I have never been to a party before it started." She commented for the second time since we pulled up and she noticed that no one was here yet with the exception of the staff and law enforcement.
"What about parties you hosted?" I questioned.
"Why would I host a party? I don't want a bunch of half-strangers in my house and then have even more strangers in there cooking and cleaning after they're all gone and I'm sure as hell not going to clean up after a party."
I was staring at her in disbelief the entire time.
"You are something else." I climbed out of the car and took a quick look around before she got out just to see who was around. "For right now, just hang out in the van with Artie and Sam. I'll introduce you. Once the party starts, I'll come get you and we can start our date where I'm technically working and looking for a killer."
"You expect me to sit in a van with two dudes I don't know? Hell to the no, Fabray. Why can't I just sit in your car?"
"Because the officers of the law are in the van, not my car."
After getting Santana situated in the van with Artie and Sam, I went to find the chief, but I found Sylvester instead.
"That man doesn't know the meaning of the words protect and serve. Where is he?" She asked after I told her I was looking for him. We were standing at the entrance of the large, white tent. There were caterers setting up and people moving around with flowers trying the make the fancy event perfect. Sylvester had dawned an all white pantsuit to at least attempt to blend in. There were only a handful of people who knew who we were and they had told the rest of the staff we were on the invite list and had just arrived early.
"He rode over with Puck so I know he's here. He's probably just setting stuff up." I defended. I could see a few cars arriving and people dressed in all white getting out and passing keys over to the valets. "I guess its show time."
"By the way, did I see you taking Santana Lopez to the surveillance van earlier?"
"Yeah, she's on the invite list." I explained.
"Is she a part of your plan? Use her as bait to draw the guy out because that's not exactly smart. You're not getting too ambitious for your own good, are you Fabray?"
"What? No. I tried to tell her it was a bad idea, but she was going to come no matter what I said. She's stubborn that way and I can't exactly arrest her to keep her from coming." I paused and looked over at the van. I'd been throwing a glance that way ever since I'd left her there. "Besides, with practically every officer here tonight, I feel better knowing she's nearby."
"I didn't know you were a lady lover, Fabray."
We started walking toward the van.
"First of all, my love life isn't really relevant to the case and-"
"It is if you're into the witness who saw the killer's car and found the body." She interrupted. "If you two want to rub your parts together while listening to Ani DiFranco on repeat, by all means, but if it interferes with me catching this guy and getting the hell out of here and back to my 3 dogs and 6 bonsai trees, you and I will have to battle street style. And remember, in street fights, there are no rules." She backed away from me and pointed first at me, then back to herself, then back to me again. I wasn't sure if she was being serious or not, but I decided not to care.
I walked back over to the van and opened the door.
"And then you have to flick it sideways." Santana said to Artie as I tried to hop in without messing up my fancy dress.
"Santana!" I couldn't believe she was talking about that with two strangers.
"What?"
"You can't talk about that with my coworkers." I told her and took a seat on the remaining tiny stool.
"Talk about what?" She considered it. Then, got it. "Oh, ha! No. God, where's your mind tonight, Q?"
"I don't get it." Artie admitted.
"Yeah, I bet you don't." Santana shared.
"Santana!" I scolded.
"We were talking about a video game, Quinn. You have to flick the controller sideways to land the perfect punch. Artie here is having trouble beating a level and I spend a lot of time on a tour bus with a bunch of roadies who do nothing but play video games." I breathed a sigh of relief as she wheeled her tiny stool in my direction and leaned in and whispered, "But if you want me to flick anything for you later, just let me know."
I couldn't help but blush and I could see her smiling out of the corner of my eye.
"Alright, people are starting to arrive. The guys at the entrance have their cameras on. You two know what you're doing?"
"Yeah, I think we can handle it, Quinn." Sam told me and then promptly dropped his pen in his coffee.
"We've got it." Artie told me.
"What do they have?" She asked.
"There are two state officers out front. As people arrive, they'll show their invitations and the officers will make sure we can see the names in the camera. Artie and Sam will be recording and running background checks on each name as the people arrive. Anything stands out, they'll pass it along to me or one of the other officers inside. We'll observe and see if anything is suspicious and pull him outside if necessary."
She was staring at me while I went through the plan for the evening.
"Here we go. First people are arriving." Artie announced and he and Sam started staring at the screens above them and typing names as they appeared on the invitations from the cameras on the officer's chests.
"What?" I asked since she was still staring.
"Nothing."
"Okay. Well, are you ready to go? Your party is starting."
"Yeah, I'm ready."
"Oh and you're not allowed to leave my side tonight. Understood?" I ordered and opened the back door for us to climb out.
"Really not a problem."
I reached up to help her out since her dress was so tight I wasn't sure she could climb out without tearing it. I closed the door behind us and took a look around. The van was out of sight behind some trees, but these days I was always checking my surroundings.
I felt her take my hand and turn me to face her.
"Are you okay? Do you not want to go?" I don't know why I asked her that. I knew the answer already. I guess it was just me wishing and hoping she'd let one of the officers take her back to my place or that she'd be content to stay in the van with Artie and Sam and their guns and locked doors all night.
"I'm fine. I just… I know you're working tonight and that this really isn't a date."
"Santana-"
"Let me finish. God, I swear you love the sound of your own voice, don't you? Wait. Don't answer that." She paused and I must have had a look of confusion on my face. "I like the sound of your voice so I guess I can't blame you and I like the sound of your laugh and… now that I'm blathering on like an idiot, I just wanted to say that I don't want tonight to be our first date."
"Oh." I'm sure that sounded like disappointment.
"No, that's not what I meant. I just mean that tonight is about too many things. It's about catching the guy who killed my friend and you being the person that's trying to catch him and me being a part of this whole thing and wishing I could help, but not being able to and feeling useless about that, but also feeling really happy and that's confusing, but it's true."
"Santana, spit it out. You're rambling. It's cute, but-"
"Woman, if you interrupt me one more time, I will take back my offer to flick something for you later."
I laughed.
"Okay. I'm sorry."
"When this is all over, I want to have a real first date with you if you're up for it. I just don't want it to have to do with this." She motioned to the van and then the tent where a large group of people was starting to gather.
"That sounds good." I professed and looked back at the crowd.
"Good? Q, Santana Lopez, award winning and critically acclaimed musician, producer, song writer and actress in an Oscar winning movie just asked you out. Okay, it was a cameo, but still. The hottest bitch on the planet just asked you to go out with her and all you can say is good?" Her voice was raised, but I knew she was kidding.
"I'm a little distracted right now, but I'll make it up to you on that date." I took her hand and started walking. "Come on. I should be inside."
I had to drag her along at first.
"Yes, you should be." She paused. "With your fingers. Against that catering truck over there."
"Santana!" I exclaimed and heard her cracking up behind me until she finally caught up and we were just walking hand in hand.
"Let's go join this party, do my good deed and help people and maybe find a serial killer."
"Best non-date ever." I joked as we walked toward the tent.
The party began without incident. People were walking around in their dresses that probably cost more than I make in 6 months. The music was light and classy. The food was rich and passed around by servers, which I kept staring at as they walked by with silver trays. So far, we didn't have anyone matching the profile as either a guest or staff member. Sylvester was hob-knobbing it with the rich and famous and appeared to be pitching an invention idea to someone Santana said was a well known venture capitalist. The chief had finally checked in and was walking the perimeter around the trees just to prevent anyone from slipping in past us.
Santana was talking to one of the party planners about the silent auction while I was sitting at a table with the place card for Guest of Santana Lopez. How this whole thing happened is beyond me. I watched as she turned on her charm and signed some autographs and took a few pictures with people. I tried to keep my eye on her the entire time, but I also had a job to do and there were other famous women here tonight. Some of them were famous merely because they were rich, but I could spot at least 3 that were entertainers. 2 of them, in my opinion, could be potential targets based on the past victims. One was a blonde supermodel standing alongside her pro-football playing husband. The other was another actress who just got her first big breakout role and was showing up on just about every magazine cover these days. I had to keep an eye on them too.
"Lucy?" I recognized that voice immediately. I hadn't heard it in years and the last time I did, it was yelling at me for getting pregnant.
I turned around in my seat and saw my mother standing there with a champagne glass.
"Mom?"
She looked the same as the last time I saw her. She was wearing a dress that was similar to mine. I watched as she clutched the glass tighter in her hand.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"That's what you want to ask me? You haven't seen me since you threw me out while I was pregnant and all you want to know is what I'm doing at some party?" I knew my voice was raised, but I was hoping the music would drown it out.
"Lucy, this isn't the time for that." She scolded. Hearing her sound disappointed in me again was almost too much.
"Quinn, mom. I go by Quinn now. I'm not Lucy anymore. And I'm fine by the way. In case you were wondering. Oh, so is your granddaughter you never wanted. She's with a great family and actually has a little sister now."
"If you want to talk about this, let's go outside. Your father is getting my sweater out of the car. We can meet him out there and discuss this."
"I can't, mom. I'm working."
She looked me up and down.
"What do you mean you're working? You're not in your uniform." This was a small town. After they kicked me out, my parents moved away, but they came back for a few weeks each summer. I guess during one of those visits, someone filled them in on my career as a police officer.
"I don't have a uniform. I'm a detective now."
"Oh, so you're working security tonight? Is that dress really appropriate for that?" She asked while pointing at the dress Santana had picked out for me.
"I'm not working security. I'm undercover."
"Undercover?" She questioned. "Never mind, I don't want to know. You've chosen a path your father and I are not happy with. You could have been anything you wanted to be. You could have been a guest at this party instead of an employee. You could have met all these people and made connections and met a nice man and-"
"I am a guest at this party. I'm not just working. I'm here with someone. And for the record, I don't care what you think about my career. I had a child at 16, mom. I still graduated high school, earned a bachelor's degree, became a detective and I'm almost finished with law school. Oh and the person I'm here with is Santana Lopez." I paused to take in her reaction. Petty, I know, but I'd spent years thinking about what I'd say to her if I ever got the chance. I'd played this scenario over and over in my head. What would I say if she actually apologized? What would I say if she was still the same old bitch she was when I was 16?
"Santana Lopez? The singer?"
"Yeah, and I'm not just here as her friend. I'm here as her date." I left out the part where this really wasn't supposed to be a date. "I'm an even bigger disappointment than you even realized because not only did I have pre-marital sex with Puck, get pregnant and have a child out of wedlock, never go to church and rarely ever pray like I'm supposed to, but I am also gay. Little Lucy's a lesbian, mom. How do you like that?" Thank God for the applause that had started when they started announcing winners of the silent auction because my voice had grown to a semi-yell.
I saw tears start to well up in her eyes and for a moment, I felt like a terrible person. She set her glass down on the table.
"I know you think I'm a monster, Quinn." She said my name as if it was unfamiliar and difficult to get out. "Your father and I only wanted what was best for you. You were supposed to graduate with honors and go to an Ivy League school where you'd meet the man of your dreams. I'm not so old-fashioned though that I didn't want you to have the career you wanted too." She stopped herself from letting a tear fall. "And children… I wanted them for you and I wanted grandchildren for your father and I, but not when you were still in high school, Lu- Quinn. Not with that boy who didn't deserve a moment of your time and certainly not with a woman."
For a moment, I thought she might actually win me over, but my mother will never be the mother I wish I had. I'd accepted that a long time ago. Seeing her again brought up unresolved feelings, but time doesn't heal all wounds and time doesn't necessarily change a person.
"Well, I think it's time I get back to Santana because if I have to stand here another minute, I don't think it's going to be good for either of us." I started to turn, but quickly looked back. "Oh and if you're curious, mom…" I paused and gulped. "I'm happy. I've accomplished everything I've set out to accomplish. I'm good at my job and even though it can be a pain in the ass and difficult sometimes, I like it and it's preparing me for a career in law. I'm second in my class right now and even though it wasn't an Ivy League school, I was the valedictorian of my school. This thing with Santana is new, but she's a good person and she's beautiful and talented and I think it might be going somewhere and the idea of that makes me happy. I am happy."
I turned to walk away and discovered the large crowd now gathered around the stage for the auction. I heard my mom sniffle behind me and then I heard the click of her heels walking in the other direction. I turned my head quickly to see that she was walking out of the tent, probably to find my father and tell him what a horrible daughter I am. I was able to spot the super model through the crowd due to her height. The actress was actually sitting at a table talking to a group of people, but Santana was nowhere to be found.
My heard started racing and I could feel my hands get clammy. My head was turning in every direction to try to find her. I was able to locate Sylvester and I practically shoved people of the way to get to her.
"Have you seen Santana?" I asked hopefully?
"You lost your date, Fabray?" She asked.
"This isn't fucking funny. Have you seen her?"
The look I got told me she knew I wasn't screwing around and didn't have time for any shit.
She was wearing an earpiece with a microphone.
"I need eyes on Santana Lopez. Who's got her?"
I stood, tapping my foot waiting for another agent or officer to respond to her. After a few seconds, I started looking around again.
"Well?"
"No one's seen her since she was in front of the stage." She starts realizing how serious this is and begins to look around. "I'll take the left. You take the right." She pointed to the crowd of people all dressed in white. "I need everyone on Lopez. Get me a 20 now." She said into the microphone.
I walked through the crowd trying not to look suspicious, but I had to find her. I walked up to the woman I saw her speaking with before.
"Have you seen Santana?" I questioned hurriedly.
"Not since before the auction, why?"
"I just need to find her. If you see her, tell her to come find me or find that woman over there. Okay?" I pointed toward the very tall, Sylvester.
"Okay. I'll keep an eye out."
My eyes were darting left and right. I felt like I was spinning around just looking for any sign of her. I could see some of the undercover officers and agents walking around frantically as well. After about 5 seconds of this, the plan was to jump on the stage and scream her damn name. I didn't care if it blew our cover. I needed to know she was okay. I decided to leave the tent and check outside. I found the chief at the row of trees leading into the woods.
"Chief, have you seen Santana Lopez?" I was out of breath from practically running over to me.
"No, I got the agent's message though. I've been looking. No one's come this way."
"Fuck!" I ran toward the van thinking maybe she went back to Sam and Artie or at least maybe I could see her on one of the cameras we had placed around. "Is she-" I yanked the door on the back of the van open and stopped when I saw it was just the guys.
"She's not here. We're checking the cameras now." Artie filled me in. Sam's eyes were glued to one of the screens.
"We'll find her, Quinn."
"What if he found her?" I asked mostly to myself thinking about what she could be going through if he'd managed to slip past us and pull her away.
