This is replacing the previous chapter 7, which I decided just wasn't where I wanted the story to go. So, that whole twist has not happened. It will probably be revamped as a new story someday, but it is not in the cards for this one. So here's an interlude until I get chapter 9 up (which will have some real action)
2004
"So where do we start?" Kira asked quietly, staring at the two available terminals in the back corner of the library. "I mean, I don't even know her last name and she's not going to be in the yellow pages yet, she just moved."
Ethan frowned in thought. "Well, what do you know about her? We can see if there's anything about her moving here."
"Didn't you say she's the new police chief?" Trent folded his arms. "I mean, they should have something about that on their website, shouldn't they?"
Kira's face lit up. "You're right!" He blushed slightly under her smile. "Okay, Ethan you check the site and see if they have anything. Conner can help you, and Trent and I'll get on the other and maybe check the newspaper, they should have some sort of piece on a new chief."
Ethan looked at her askance. "Since when are you the leader?"
"Since we're researching my neighbor. If you have a problem, take it up with her real estate agent."
Conner scowled at her. "I'm supposed to make decisions," he grumbled.
"Okay, then do you have one?" She looked at him, arms folded.
He looked at the two computers. "Yeah." He pointed to the chair next to Trent. "You help him, and I'll help Ethan."
She sighed in exasperation, taking the seat that the White Ranger had already pulled out for her. "Brilliant plan fearless leader. Next time I need guidance I'll be sure to consult you first."
"I get more guidance out of my pet rock than him," Ethan rolled his eyes. "Sometimes I think we should have just bought a spandex suit and a chimp, you can at least teach basic tasks to a chimp."
"Hey I'm smarter than a chimp!" Conner looked offended.
"Now that's a bet I would not take," Ethan muttered to the keyboard.
"Boys, can you sit down and work together?" Kira hissed. "Save the pissing contest for after you find out what is up with Kim or else we're going to get kicked out of the library."
Once Conner was silenced it didn't take long for Ethan to discover that Kimberly Ann Hart had been appointed the new Chief of Police in Reefside, scheduled to take over the duty on the following Monday. From there it was easy to find a human interest article in the news about it.
"'Kimberly Hart, formerly of San Francisco is best known for receiving the silver medal in 1998's Pan Global competition, assisting in the United States' bronze win.'" Trent read aloud from the local paper. "'Hart retired from the sport shortly after the games, due to an injury she sustained in a head-on collision which also lead to the tragic death of former teammate Celia Washburne."
"Okay, so she was a gymnast," Conner stated. The rest of the team rolled their eyes at him. "Look, I know it's obvious I just don't know what it has to do with Dr. O."
"Well maybe college?" Ethan looked over to the others. "Like Hayley?"
"No...it says here she didn't go to a four year college." Trent replied, scrolling through the article. "She finished the Pan Globals and went straight to the Police Academy, though she got an associates degree somewhere in there too."
"Does it say what she did before then?" Kira leaned forward. "Maybe they know each other from when they were our age."
"Please, like Dr. O was ever young," Conner chuckled to himself.
"Well he was when he was a Power Ranger," Ethan hissed. "They probably just had some random shared experience and she wasn't expecting to see him again. Big whoop."
"Just research," Kira glared at him and he returned to his console.
"Well hey," he said after a moment. "Why don't we search for her and Dr. O together, maybe that'll get something?"
The rest of the team stiffened and exchanged glances. "Duh," Conner rolled his eyes. "That should help."
The search for "Thomas Oliver and Kimberly Hart" brought up dozens of hits, mostly stemming from the Angel Grove Sentinel. The first one Ethan pulled up was dated in late 1996, headline showing 'Local Gymnast Heads To Pan Globals' was accompanied by a picture of Kimberly on a balance beam.
"Well that explains it," Kira said from the other console. Ethan and Conner looked over in confusion. She had another article, this one declaring 'Teen Angels in the Grove', with a story about a dance-a-thon to raise money for the local children's hospital. The boys crowded around, staring at a picture of a young and very long-haired Dr. Oliver with his arms wrapped around an equally young and happy Chief Hart. "They're ex. No wonder she bolted."
"Oh dude, that's not cool. Teachers aren't allowed to have girlfriends." Conner sounded properly horrified.
"For once I agree – let's just agree to ignore this and never discuss it again. Please?" Ethan looked rather pathetically disgusted. "Otherwise I might start wondering who else dates and that just doesn't need to be a mental image."
The four warriors shuddered in synchronized revulsion.
"Closed and forgotten," Trent announced. "Anyone up for smoothies and discussion of something totally not this at Hayley's?"
"Agreed," they chorused, logging out of the computers and heading for the entrance with lively steps and temporarily wounded minds.
