A/N: Well, don't think I haven't been paying attention to the comments about my chapters being too short. Here is a nice think one. I hope to make all the other close to 2k words. That means each chapter will take a little bit more time but I think you'll find they're worth it.
Thanks to all of the new followers of the past couple days. You're all great!
Shout-out to HowDareSheLove and BreakfastAtAriz. Your kind words join the ranks of the terrific rogues gallery of reviewers.
Oh, and to Jay aka Jordan. I remembered about your special request. This new character is for you ;-)
Tori walked through the door to her dad's office and stopped at the sight of a tall red-headed woman. She was wearing jeans and a black jacket. Her badge hung from her neck. She gave the younger Vega a smirk.
"Tori," her father began. "This is Jordan Silver." He cleared his throat before the next part. "Your new partner."
The brown-haired cop extended her hand and the newcomer accepted, smiling brightly.
"Nice to meet you," Jordan said.
"Same here," Tori replied. "Can't say I've seen you before."
Captain Vega sat down at his desk. "Jordan here has transferred from further North. She's also had her run-ins before with our Harry Fincher."
"Really?" Tori asked surprised.
"Yeah, I'm all too familiar with his games. And it's not pretty when someone goes up against him. He's the furthest thing from stupid or merciful." Jordan handed Tori a manila envelope. Tori began to leaf through the photos and recoiled from their grisly details. "The accidents these people were involved in are convenient but to prove that they are orchestrated is practically impossible."
"Right," Tori put down the file. "His witnesses for the prosecution."
"And none of them," Jordan pointed to the folder. "Are previous employees."
"They're smart," Captain Vega added.
"You have the picture of the tag on the car?" Jordan asked Tori.
She produced the hard copy of her phone picture. "Right here."
Jordan studied it and looked back up at Tori. "You ready to pay Mr. Fincher a visit?"
Tori raised an eyebrow. "Yup."
"Well, let's get it on then."
Charlie woke up with a hangover at the piercing sound of his phone. Not in the best of moods, he answered.
"Hello?" he grumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Charlie…" a nineteen-year-old voice called his name. He knew this voice. Talia.
"What do you want, Talia?" the anger not subsiding in his tone.
"Well, I'm sitting at that bar downtown X-Squared," she replied. Her inflection indicated she clearly had something on her mind.
"X-Squared?" he mused about it. "That's the dyke dive, ain't it?"
Talia wanted to slam her employer in the face with a golf club when he said that. Grinding her teeth, she answered "Yes."
"Well?" His patience was wearing thin.
"It's Jade."
He sat up, holding his head to avoid a complete migraine. Now she had his full attention. "What did you say?"
"Jade is here. I'm looking at her right now."
"What is she doing?"
"Uhh…waiting tables."
There was a short silence. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely," Talia focusing her gaze on the missing woman.
"Listen to me, Talia" he said in measured tones scrambling for a pen and paper. "You keep your eyes on that woman until Graham and Kevin arrive. Now, give me the address."
Jordan drove her and Tori up to the massive house. It was the last one on the hill where the street ended. Originally in the early 70's, a rustic-looking house baring more resemblance to a comfortable lodge once stood on this land. But after a fire burned down the main property, leaving only the guest house; a new mansion was resurrected. Two people moved out on the gaudiness of the structure alone. It was quite the eyesore: a mishmash of European and Middle Eastern palatial architecture colliding awkwardly with Southwestern colors and landscaping motifs.
Even if it wasn't so enormous, the cliff allowed this train wreck to be viewed from an airplane.
"Ugh," Tori grimaced as they got to the main gate.
"Definitely designed by someone who lost his sight," Jordan added.
"Or his mind."
Jordan pressed the button on the intercom next to the driver's window.
A loud buzz came through until a voice spoke. "What do you want?"
"We need to talk to Mr. Fincher please."
"Sorry, no solicitations."
Tori leaned over Jordan. "Did she mention that we are the police?" She flashed her badge in case there was a camera somewhere in that grey box.
Another buzz and then the iron gates swung open. Tori and Jordan exchanged glances before driving forward.
"Wow," Jordan breathed.
"What?" Tori asked.
"It actually gets uglier the closer you get to it."
Tori chuckled at her new partner's sense of humor. Her father has tried to pair her up in the past and it's never worked out in one way or another. This time, though, he may have gotten it right.
They two cops got out of the car and walked toward the main house. Half a dozen steps led to the really wide white doors. Before Tori could ring the bell, the one door opened and Harry Fincher stepped out, dressed in his finest robe.
"What can I do for you ladies…I mean officers?"
"Yes," Jordan scraped her foot on the ground. "Do you own a black Ford Escalade?"
"Yes," he shrugged. "but haven't driven it in a while."
"Really?" Tori chimed in. "Because it has been seen skidding away rather frantically in the alley behind X-Squared just the other night."
Fincher chuckled with a phony salesman smile. "Now why in God's name would I have any business there? Not really my kind of place."
"I don't know," Tori pressed. "But it was your car."
"It figures," he shook his head.
"Why is that?" Jordan asked.
"Damn car was stolen a week ago."
"Oh really?" Tori raised an eyebrow. Jordan folded her arms.
"Well, yeah. Hadn't driven it like I said," his smarmy grin not leaving his face.
Jordan leaned forward "And you've never reported this? Because there is no record…"
"Yes," Fincher pointed. "It wasn't exactly a great ride. It's actually worth more after the insurance compensates me. Just thought I'd let, you know, nature take its course."
"What didn't you like about the car?" Tori was intrigued with the same he was playing.
He shrugged "One calamity after another under the hood. Swear to God they sold me a real lemon with that one."
"It was driving pretty good that night," Tori retorted.
"I hope that my lack of enthusiasm for finding my Escalade doesn't get me into trouble, does it?"
Jordan shook her head. "No. But lying to the police does."
"What was that?"
"Nothing," she looked at Tori.
"Well, if there's nothing else I think we're done here. And if my car had been involved with a crime, then I really don't want it back." He extended his hand as if to take Tori's and kiss it. She took hers away and folded her arms. He cleared his throat. "I see. Good day, officers. And be careful out there."
The door slammed shut, shaking the antique knocker. The partners turn and began their stride toward the car.
"So," Jordan put her sunglasses on. "What do you make of this guy?"
"Oh, he definitely looks innocent enough. I feel like he's gonna have an alibi for every occasion."
"Agreed. We have our work cut out for us if we're gonna try and build a case against him. Still not even sure if your friend's been kidnapped."
"There's no way she wasn't in that car," Tori replied. "People don't just disappear into thin air like that."
"Damn, I have a headache." Jordan massaged her temples.
"Want to go get a beer or something?"
Jordan sniffed deeply as she got into the car. "Yeah. I could use a drink."
"Great," Tori jumped into the passenger seat. "Cuz I know a place."
"Oh yeah, where?"
Tori shrugged, "X-Squared."
"Oh, no, no, no. I don't think so." Her brow got concerned. "I'm flattered Tori but…"
"Don't go there, Jordan." Tori smirked. "I'm not blind. I saw the wedding band. It's just that I've been to a lot of dumps in this town on the job. This place is…nice."
"Fine," Jordan sighed. "I'll give it a chance."
"If you want, you can tell people that we're together so they back off."
"Oh, you're hilarious, Vega."
"Just saying…"
"Shut up."
"Don't be surprised if…"
"Shut up."
"You're not bad looking…"
"SHUT. UP." Jordan laughed.
Jade wiped down the table on the farthest end of the bar, collecting the tip left as she went. She had been on edge ever since she had that conversation with Charlie on the phone but here she at least felt safe.
A shrill scream made her drop her rag and when she turned around, she turned coma white.
Kevin Porter, one of Charlie's strong-arms, stood holding the neck of the woman watching the door, checking for ID's. She tried to get free from his grip. With his other hand, he brandished a German Walther P99 at the crowd. Behind him was another usual suspect, Graham Tozier. He had his trusty Winchester. He always had this affinity for older rifles, even if they weren't the most practical.
"Listen up, ladies" Kevin shouted.
Graham shot a hold in the ceiling for effect. Kevin just gave him a look like he was going off script.
"Now, who in here has seen Jade West?" The girl in his grasp was fighting for air. It didn't affect him one way or the other.
No answer from the crowd.
"Okay," Graham pointed his barrel at the bartender. "Then we'll just pick people off until we get an answer."
The barkeep had tears running down her cheeks at the threats of violence.
"What do you say?" Graham asked the woman behind the bar. "Think I can't get you right in the head while missing your eyes? Don't you want to watch your own brains explode all over the wall?"
"OKAY, STOP IT!"
The two men turned and the patrons parted to reveal Jade. Her eyes burned but she was clearly trembling.
"You want me? Here I am."