Chapter 7: Rinse and Repeat

Well it was my own son who woke me so early at the break of dawn the next morning and I near felt like strangling him for it, though instead I ruffled his already brushed hair up to annoy him and the familiar whine of "Mooommmm..." ringing in my ears as I sucked him up beneath the blankets with me. "You had a good night at Joey's place?" I casually asked him biting back a yawn. I did quite often miss my early twenty years where I could doze on and off until noon sometimes. I felt the kid squirm and wiggle attempting to break free from my hold but soon gave up in surrender.

I couldn't help but to giggle lightly at his tactics as I heard him finally answer me. "It was fun, we did homework and then played video games." I finally released him so he could cheer and venture off into the other parts of the apartment. I found myself sighing as I removed myself from the warm bed and dragged myself over to the bathroom. My eyes fell upon the cat mask which was on the marble sink from last night; I think I would always second guess myself if that actually happened last evening, and with no real proof and only memories, well and a check. I was sometimes bad about making things up in my mind and playing them out in my head and sometimes a few things slipped into my waking life.

Shaking my head I simply pulled my full length blue robe over my overly baggy t-shirt that I threw on last night to collapse in bed with. My feet padded against the wooden floors as I made my way to the kitchen; though I suddenly stopped when I heard a familiar masculine voice laughing in the living room with my son. "Adam..." I murmured to myself not too thrilled about hearing him here, but he was harmless enough I suppose. He must have come in from his usual run and caught Alex grabbing the newspaper for me. Maybe it was time I broke him of that habit. My lips formed a thin line as I fixed my coffee on autopilot along with breaking out plain old cereal this morning. I reached up into the brown oak cabinets and retrieved my peppermint sticks which I enjoyed mixing with my tea after my typical cup of coffee.

I heard the two males in my apartment approaching as I was reaching for the bag of sugar in the far back of the shelf. Standing on tip-toes I was slowly scooting it forward when a longer lanky arm was reaching around me and grabbed it for me. "There you go Kags." I glanced back at him and Adam had a cheesy smile on his face as he handed the sugar over to me. I simply nodded my thanks and poured the sugar into the canister that I had already on the counter top. "I was just play a few hands of go fish with Alex, he is killing me Kagome, it was a slaughter; hang me out to dry when it comes to the vicious gold fish winner." I heard Alex chuckle lightly and saw out of the corner of my eye Adam wink at me before I heard him speak again.

"Well I am heading out, got to go get my run in before work in a couple hours. See you two later." I heard him say as he had already made his way to the front door and closed it. I could only shake my head at the situation. The guy was alright, but it just seemed he was trying to weasel his way more and more into my life lately and I didn't like it, just as he often hinted at dates with me. I looked at Alex who was busy already munching on a bowl of his frosted flakes. I didn't mind Alex interacting with a few older males who were decent role models but I didn't need him getting too attached to one, especially like Adam. I doubt I would ever know what rubbed me wrong about the guy, he just always seemed too fake.

My son's voice brought me back to the present. "The newspaper is by the sink mom, and that is when I had spotted Adam going down the hall a few minutes ago." Well I had assumed that correctly about that situation. With coffee done I ventured over to the table with newspaper in hand, and none too gracefully plopped down. "Mom there is a field trip next week to go see the down town museum of art, and I need twenty dollars and you sign the permission slip." He was reminding me, and I kept forgetting about that stupid trip; well it wasn't stupid but just annoying for some reason.

"Go get the paper for me and my bag, I will set you up for it." I took my first sip of coffee as I opened the newspaper and near choked on my drink, as I read the headline. 'Killer moves up to the upper class, two businesses men and one escort girl found dead.' I knew her, poor Samantha. I had spoken to her a handful of times at some local small class parties. I shook my head as I skimmed over the circumstances of the situation. It read out the escort girl was found dead in the office of Mr. Clade who was also dead, and the second business man was located a couple blocks away in his limo; the name has yet to be released. I knew Mr. Clade as well, and at that very moment Alex dropped the bag down on the table in front of me with a thud and near gave me a heart attack.

"Here you go mom." I mustered up a smile as I quickly scribbled my name over the signature line and glanced over it. I also dug my son out the money he needed from my purse. I watched him stash it away into his school books. "I have to go school now; I will see you this afternoon when I get back." I heard him say as he skipped out the door. I quickly stumbled to my feet and to the side window as I soon watched him cross the street and when near a block down to the school where the other kids were gathering. I took a deep breath and continued watching as the whole group soon disappeared inside. I leaned on the wall and attempted to digest the news from the paper.

That poor girl was gone, and she had been younger than me; it was really a horrible situation. A gasp escaped me as I suddenly thought about her little girl she had who was probably four or five now. I thought hard trying to remember her name and finally it clicked, Lilian. I stumbled to my room and quickly got dressed. I didn't really know what I was going to do but I did want to know the child was safe. The police station was only a couple blocks down on the next street over, which had been another reason I choose this building to live in. With hurried steps I was soon on the stairs heading for the back exit. If Samantha was anything like me, she kept that child secret from ninety percent of people so she could work. My feet soon hit the side walk with purse and newspaper in hand.

I didn't know what I would say or do once I got there but I wanted to make sure the girl was alright, it wasn't right at all, and if I had to I would take the kid in myself if she had nowhere else to go. I didn't want to see her in the foster system; that was a fairly horrible place for a child to end up in most situations. I had met Lilian once in the park when Samantha had stumbled across me reading on one of the park benches. Shaking my head trying to clear it I soon made a left and straightened myself before strolling into the building. It was a dimly lit office building with rows of cubicles; I approached the man at the front desk who looked at me over his glasses before speaking. "What can I help you with?" He set his paper work down and fully faced me; glancing over my attire and sizing me up I assumed.

I slapped the paper down on the counter and spoke my mind. "I want to know if they found the little girl." I pointed to the picture of Samantha on the front page which still made me kind of sick to think about. I watched the graying male raise a slender eyebrow at me in a questionable look. I sighed in exasperation. "Samantha had a child, a little girl. Where is she?" I was getting more agitated as the seconds ticked by, and I wasn't getting any answer or real response from this man. This was supposed to be our cities finest? I mentally groaned about the whole situation, when I finally heard him speak again.

"You knew the woman in the photo?" He asked me simply I took a deep breath trying to have patience with this guy before I started screaming. "Yes, I knew this woman." I flatly stated before this police officer decided to direct me to the detective in charge. Room 110 he told me, so I made my way through the shuffling and bustling of the area; phones ringing, dispatch relaying calls here and there. This whole place was too chaotic to me, and I didn't see how anyone worked. I finally found door 110 and knocked; I heard a gruff male voice say "Come in..." so I did. I peeled the door open slowly and found a large desk covered in stacks of paper and an older stubby and chubby man hovering over it. He wore a untidy suit with no tie and looked as if he had been there for days.

"Hello, detective..." I started out a bit quietly as I continued "This morning's paper had the latest killings in them. The woman who got killed, Samantha she had a child of her own, a little girl and I was wondering if someone had found her." The man stopped what he was doing and looked at me up and down. I waited for him to say something as I was becoming annoyed once more about this situation. I heard him release a sigh as he clunked down into his cushioned office chair before I heard him speak.

"Samantha, so that is her name then. No one knew her, been looking half the night if someone did, she had no record, no files, no ID on her. Nothing, absolutely an empty plate on this woman." He went silent for a minute and looked back up at me and continued speaking as he scratched up some paper and pen "Who are you exactly?" And that is how the questions began for the next half hour, and I answered about twenty of them and finally got a word in edge wise for myself, I wanted to know about Lilian, but I had it pretty much figured out they didn't know where the girl was either.

"Detective, that child is five years old and only god knows where she is. If Samantha is like me, she'd have her stashed away somewhere, and with someone she could trust so she could work when she needed to. I remember one time she told me she lived on a corner block apartment on the east side of town, like maple street or something. She had invited me over before wanting to become friends but I never went. Detective if that child is found I wish to volunteer to foster her and if her relatives are never found I will apply to adopt her." I finished my words calmly, being quite serious about this situation.

I heard him sigh again and rock back in his chair looking at me before speaking himself. "I will let social services know the situation and I will send a couple cars over to that area and see if we can drum up some answers. You have been the best lead we had for last couple days, whoever this killer is; he is getting more violent and angry over something. I wish we could find the guy and fast, but he leaves nothing behind. No prints, fibers, no decent camera shots..." He trailed off and simply shook his head. I didn't know what to tell him, if I knew any of her regulars I'd tell him, but I didn't. I didn't talk to her often enough to care to know.

"Well detective Collins, that is all I know about her, as I said before I rarely saw her, and we just happened to hit the same parties now and then. You have my number if you need me, but I really need to get home." I stood and so did he as he walked me back to the main exit he chit chatted with me about the case and what would go on if they found the girl; he left me then to my own devices and I could only hope the child didn't get mixed up into this somehow. My steps were slow as I weaved my way through random pockets of people and soon found myself back at my apartment building. There was no reason to really rush but I didn't feel like being anywhere but in my own bed. The news just sank heavier on me with every moment that past and I felt bad for the child and her now deceased mother.

I made my way up the stairs once more slid my shoes off once as I hit my apartment and decided to face plant into the overly stuffed sofa in my living room. This was getting too close to home and I knew it, and what was I going to do? If they found the girl and by some miracle if they would let me foster her, I couldn't leave the state without getting her adopted. Maybe she had some grandparents who would want her, or aunt, even a kind cousin would be better than no one. Though Samantha never mentioned her family so how was I supposed to know? With a heavy sigh I dragged myself back to the kitchen and fixed some comforting tea; I was considering heading down to the diner on the corner for a earlier lunch and maybe the atmosphere would help perk my mood up a bit.

I finished my tea and locking and unlocking my apartment was becoming a habit today; I took the elevator down this time to the ground floor and made my way down the street in the opposite direction this time; Max's diner was fairly crowded this time of day but I'd take my chances to talk to Sally or Betty who worked behind the counter, as they were always fairly cheerful to be around. I soon found myself inside the small eatery and found a stool vacant at the end of the bar area; as I waited for one of the waitresses I scanned through my phone making sure I didn't miss any texts or calls. It was odd I hadn't been bothered for near two days from a regular client; I didn't know if I should start worrying or not about it.

My focus was brought to Sally who was now across the bar from me. "Hey Kags, what can I get to you today, you haven't been in here a while." I simply smiled lightly at this dirty blonde haired woman who was a bit plump for her size. She had a round freckled face, but a smile that could slay a dragon I believed when she flashed it around and sometimes I missed smiling like that. I shook my head slightly and cleared it to answer the woman who patiently waited for an answer.

"Oh, I will have Max's grilled ham and cheese please, with a side of that fresh homemade bread." I heard Sally giggle lightly and shuffle off without a word; my attention returned to the 'no messages' words that lined the screen of my phone. I didn't really understand it at the moment but really didn't feel like thinking about it either; every day was becoming a blur of different activities and half the time I didn't know what to do with myself. I shook my head again and stopped when I heard a familiar voice break out in laughter in the far corner. It couldn't be, there was no way. I leaned back on my stool trying to catch a glimpse of who I thought it sounded like.

I heard his voice again over several others before another round of chuckles and laughs rattled the air. If it was him I'd near want to smack myself, the city was too big for it to be him. Though I soon got my answer when a man stood up and had his build, and when he turned around I near fell off my stool. Katashi; I think fate was being cruel to me today for some reason, or highly ironic. I quickly tucked myself up against the food bar and hoped he wouldn't recognize or see me, and I mean I wasn't dressed all pretty, so with any luck he wouldn't notice; and I was mentally saying please don't notice. I didn't want to relive last night even though it wasn't that bad, but bad enough, and I also hoped he didn't spread word around I was a bad escort.

I leaned forward over the bar with a sigh right before my food was placed before me and I heard Sally speak. "Looks like you've seen a ghost, Kagome. Anything bothering you?" I wanted to answer her; I really did, though I didn't want to keep her from her work. So I stayed quiet for a few seconds before saying anything, I heard Katashi's booming voice again and near winced at the sound, life just wasn't fair I mentally stated before looking back at Sally and answering her. "Oh nothing, just thought I saw someone I knew." I watched her shrug at my statement and walk off; I gave another sigh as I looked at my food which I was no longer hungry for.

I could just pay for it and sneak off, but another part of me wanted to know why the heck was a guy like Mr. Katashi hanging around in a near lower class place like this. I crinkled my nose as I tried to think, but it wasn't working very well. I decided to take a few bites out of the sandwich to at least get something on my stomach; when I thought I'd be free and clear, after I had paid for the food I went to spin around on the stool to sneak away he was right there by the front door, and before I had the chance to duck back around he spotted me and I saw his eye brows raise together in surprise. I dropped my purse as if I had been caught in the act of doing something and I heard the contents spill out beneath my stool. With a sigh I quickly scurried down onto my hands and knees and quickly gathered the random objects which had escaped my hand bag; though before I knew it he was down on one knee helping me.

After we finished stuffing my bag again I glanced up at him as I went to bring myself back up to my feet and he helped me. It was him who spoke first though and popped the question apparently we'd both been thinking. "What are you doing here?" I zipped my bag up and straightened my clothes the best I could before answering him, and his voice was distracting to me and I disliked it. I finally decided to sit back on the stool and take a drink from my ice tea I had ordered before speaking to him.

"I live around here, a couple blocks down. What are you doing here?" It was my turn to wait for his reply as I took another long drink from the tea. I didn't need this, and there was too much stuff going on lately and I didn't need to add him to the list. I brought my head up and would not put myself down over this situation; I didn't need the self-esteem downer at my back door for the next few days. My gaze returned to him as I saw his mouth open and close like a fish gasping for water, but he soon spoke up for me to hear him over the bustling of the diner.

"I used to live around here growing up myself, and went to the school across the street. I decided to come down here to visit a few old friends of mine." He went silent for a few seconds before continuing. "It is too small of a city since I ended up finding you again." I near wanted to say tell me about it, in a sarcastic tone, but I refrained myself as usual. "My friends all headed back to work and we had caught an earlier lunch..." His voice drifted off as I assumed he tried to find the words for something. "I was wondering how about we grab a cup of coffee and try to make a truce for last night." It was a simple gesture of peace and I suppose I would take it seeing as how my morning was going. I nodded in agreement and saw him talk to a waitress over the bar asking for two coffees to go.

I soon found myself heading out the door with the same guy I thought I'd never see again last night, as it seemed fate like throwing me all sorts of curves lately. I found we were walking to the nearby park which was fairly empty this time of day since the kids were all still in school, and we sat on a vacant bench and sipped our coffee in silence for the longest time; before he decided to break the ice between us. "I'm sorry last night didn't go so well for either of us. There was really no excuse for it." I glanced at him as he was staring out into the distant rolling hills covered in grass. I didn't really know what to tell him back, and I figured I'd never lay eyes on him again, yet here I was sitting on a park bench with him in my own neighborhood.

"Something's just start off in the wrong direction, I suppose. Though it was certainly one night I doubt I will live down for a while, and good thing I was masked out." I said sarcastically, more to myself then my current companion. He didn't seem like other males who hired escort females, since most of them wanted to drink themselves into a stupor , have sex, then pass out on one night stands; though he didn't even make one move on me, he had treated it like a normal date would. "It is odd seeing you again though, especially in the light of day; and talk about a small city..." I trailed off for a moment before asking him another question attempting to not sit in silence together. "Did you have any success in your business dealings?" I asked lightly as I fiddled with the warm paper cup in my hand.

I felt his gaze on me for a long moment before answering. "I believe so, we seemed to have ended it on a good note, and I hope it will completely clear by the end of the week." I simply nodded instead of replying, and another stretch of silence consumed us which was really awkward to some degree. "So when you aren't playing the escort what do you do in your spare time?" I heard his smooth voice again and near wanted to blush all colors of the rainbow to where my mind went, but I put a tight hold down on my emotions before giving a reply.

"Oh I paint, write, sometimes go for a jog or yoga class..." It was true although I hadn't done any of those for a while. I heard him lean back into the wood bench as it gave a light creaking sound at his weight. I figured if he was after a future real date with me my next statement would surely scare him off in case he was on that trail. "I also spend time with my son most days." I didn't get any major reaction out of him which was a pity, but most the time a single mother scared most eligible male's away, end of story, but he didn't budge and it really didn't look like it bothered him. The guy was near exasperating and I could near feel a headache coming on.

"Ah, a son hmm? I was raised by my mother as well, and sometimes I think I was better off her doing so, and sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to have a decent father." He went silent after that, but that simple comment he made near blew me away; very few people released that type of information around me about their personal lives, well those who knew I choose my profession as an escort. I heard him readjust his position once more as if trying to get comfortable on a park bench which there wasn't much comfort in that, believe me.

I near wanted to rub my back remembering the times when I was younger when I had been sleeping on park benches at times. Shaking my head I summed up the courage to look at the male once more and spoke to him. "Well, I try my best to raise him, and his father was alright, we just didn't see eye to eye when it came to future paths." I idly stated and shrugged at the thought, I didn't miss that life, and I would have felt suffocated and caged in if I had stayed, if given the chance I'd do it all again, I mentally agreed with myself.

"I'm sure he is quite the character with you as his mother." I really looked hard at him this time, and wonder if that was an insult or compliment, as light smile lined his face and I knew he near wanted to laugh about it, but didn't. "Don't give me that look Kagome, I was simply joking, I am sure he is a fine young man." I crossed my arms in a near pouting gesture over what he said. "You know for an escort, you are sure a hard cookie to crack. I've been out with a handful of escort females the last couple years, and most of them are like lost puppy dogs, obedient, and loyal to those with the dollar bill, and fairly lost in life in general about how life is. I mean not that they don't know how to survive, I give them all the credit for that, and work is work, but they are missing out on a lot of things by choosing the career they do." He ended his words quickly and I figured it was so he wouldn't continue to put his own foot in his mouth.

I understood what he was saying though, there was no normal life in this career, no real security or comfort; no real place to call home because you were always chasing clients. I shook my head and tried to piece together something to say to this man who was taking time out of his life to talk to me; when he was good enough looking and had the money to spend his time anywhere he liked in the world. "Most of us are either dragged into it, or forced into it at a young age to support ourselves. Upper class girls like me are lucky, and we don't take near the abuse as the girls on the streets I mean there is still abuse and risks, but they have it twice as bad being a regular prostitute. I learned two foreign languages and got a degree in business and psychology just to have credentials to be a high class hooker. Sometimes in my own mind it sounds crazy and messed up for me to be doing this, especially with a kid, though I took this on when I needed it the most; though no matter at the end of the day what career or profession you choose most of us are just trying to make a living, and are still human.

A lot of the wealthy forget they are human, and are so focused on greed, they never take the time to realize what the lower classes go through to survive." I shook my head as I stopped my rambling, I knew he was just likely looking at me oddly over my statements but I didn't care, and I would always speak my mind when given the chance and right moment. I finished my coffee and tossed the cardboard cup into the trash can which was near the bench we were sitting on. A curious question came to mind then, and I wondered who recommended me to him and given the chance currently, I'd ask him. "Mr. Katashi, I was wondering who tipped you off about calling me for an escort?" I looked back to him curiously and waited for a response. I heard him take a deep breath before answering as he straightened his posture.

"I don't know, your number was given to me from a friend through two other friends he knew, and it is the business world after all, we all know someone to scratch a itch somewhere." I watched him finish his own coffee off and toss the cup as I had done. "You know Kagome I don't know why, but you seem so familiar to me, and I don't know why or when we might of met but been trying to put my finger on it since last night." I near wanted to break out laughing at that irony, considering I had been doing the same thing when I met him in person. "So how long have you been in Philly?" He asked randomly while returning his gaze out toward the horizon. I didn't know why but I felt fairly calm and comfortable around this guy, and I knew I was leading myself on likely for another disappointment, but fate wouldn't have crossed our paths twice if it wasn't meant to be something, right?

"Going on five years, I came out of southern California. Figured it had been time for a new start, new faces, and new places." My shoulders automatically fell in a shrug over the situation. Not like one place was better than another, never was; though more of I was looking for things and people to finish off my jigsaw puzzle of clues and pieces. Was just one too many things I was missing, and right under my nose, though just couldn't quite figure it out; though once I did I could start a real life, in a real place and consider this world just a bad dream. I shook my head as I heard him speak again making myself refocus.

"Running to or from something?" He was hunched over some now, leaning forward as he stared at the ground and occasionally glancing at me. "I'm always running from something, which is why I bury myself in so many different situations, like businesses." I watched him shake his head this time, and I was going to answer him but then I heard the familiar school bell ring in the distance and it clicked that I needed to get home; had it been three hours already? I popped up out of my seat like a jack in the box and went sprinting across the park.

"Sorry I have to go get my son, um thanks for your time; I hope you have a good day!" I shouted to him, and I soon heard him shout back. "Can I call you again?" is all I heard as I stopped a moment to cross the street and he was on his feet moving the same direction. I paused long enough to answer him as I attempted not to drop anything out of my bag. "Sure, I'm normally available for calls in mid-morning-early afternoon." At that I sprinted out of sight, the second bell had already rang and I was three blocks away. I groaned in frustration as I made the corner and was about a block away now. I was at a full out run now as my lungs attempted to fill with air and my legs began to burn; my building was in sight now and I made a mad dash crossing the road. I need to remember to set an alarm for these sorts of things, and although most the time I am at home for my kid to get off from school. I near skidded to a stop in front of my building and took a deep breath, glancing around I didn't see my son so I headed up, with any luck he was held back a few minutes because of his band practice.

I took the stairs two at a time and soon ended up on my floor and near ran into my door face first as I tried to stop. My heart was racing so fast as I stumbled with my keys to get the door open and as I was doing so I heard the elevator ding to a stop down the hall and the first voice I heard was my son chatting with one of the other neighbor kids who lived the next floor up. I slid into my apartment and closed the door lightly behind me as if there was a demon on my tail. Moving forward I plopped myself onto the sofa and tried catching my breath, I didn't want my son to ever find me not at home when he got home, I worked in the evenings and he knew that although he didn't know what I did for work; and he also knew I did shopping in the morning, so I didn't need any questions asked about anything.