"Damn it." angrily seethed Frankie. She ran a shaky hand through her hair, tugging at the ends in frustration.
That's it. She was done with this. This whole crazy emotional scene was just not her thing. She didn't need it...and she sure as hell didn't want it. Her life was mixed up enough without having to go through the Pine Valley way of life.
She pushed up onto her feet, features hardening by the second. She had a job to do, and that's it. She'd solve this case and leave. Life would go back to the way it was supposed to be. Her doing what she does best, and everyone in her past believing she was dead.
She needed a cigarette.
The agent dragged her body to the other side of her desk and sat down. She bent forward and picked up the phone, dialing the number by heart.
"Campolini." the the other agent greeted.
"What do you got for me?" questioned Frankie as she rested her elbows on the desk.
"We sent the eyeball off to the lab. They pushed us to the front of the line and got us some information." answered the man.
"Good information?"
"Only the best for us, Stone."
"Well, don't leave me hanging in suspense. I might just fall out of my chair." sarcastically said the brunette.
"They know whose eye it is. Traced it to a missing person."
Frankie's eyebrows raised in interest, "Who is it? Did you send a team over there?"
Campolini chuckled, "That's why I'm calling you, Stone. The missing guy is from Lyon, France."
Frankie's eyes widened at that, her mind already planning. "You're kidding me."
"Nope, looks like you get to finally play a little. Just let me know what you find out, alright?"
Yeah, sure." Frankie mumbled, already standing up, "I'll call you when we get some answers."
She hung up the phone, swiftly sliding around her desk and rushing out of her office. As she entered the main area, she was greeted with a group of her agents standing around one desk. They all looked up with guilt and curiosity as she moved towards them, confirming her suspicions that they were gossiping.
"Taylor, get over here. You're coming with me." ordered Frankie as she heard the fax machine buzz to life, "Johnson, hand me that incoming fax."
Johnson bounced over to the machine and swiped up the paper. He hesitantly approached his superior, the sheet held out in front of him, "Agent Stone...ma'am I didn't..."
Frankie stole the paper from his hands, "Agent Taylor and I are going to Lyon. Johnson, you're in charge while I'm gone. Keep up with the hourly check-ins. Call me if anything happens."
As Taylor slipped on his jacket, Frankie skimmed over the information sent by Campolini.
"I really need a cigarette." she muttered under her breath as she felt a headache coming on. Seeing one of the agents opening a pack of gum, she shot out a hand, grasping one of the pink sticks. She popped it into her mouth as Taylor indicated he was ready to leave. It would have to do till she could get another pack.
Frankie looked over the assembled agents, her cold eyes making them stand at attention. Then, with a nod of the head, she was gone, Taylor right behind.
Bianca staggered into her apartment, the door swinging shut behind her. Her head felt fuzzy and her eyes were still slightly puffy from crying. She carelessly dropped her purse and coat next to the door, her feet leading her into the living room.
There she was met with the sight of Reese and the children huddled on the sofa. Gabby situated on Reese's lap, held securely in place by her parent's arms. The blonde was cooing at the little girl, making faces and poking her belly.
Miranda sat off to the side, flipping through a storybook. She rolled her pretty brown eyes, annoyed at both the attention her little sister was getting and the way she was getting it. Reese's faces were more pathetically scary than funny...and didn't Reese know poking people was mean? Joan always said not to poke people, it wasn't nice.
Turning the page again, she mouthed along with the words she was reading. It was her favorite part. The prince was gonna ride up on his white horse and save the princess from the evil dragon. She looked over at the picture next to the words, gazing at Prince Phillip protecting Sleeping Beauty from the fire-breathing dragon the witch had turned into. As she picked at the edge of the paper, ready for the next part, Miranda wondered why the evil sorceress looked so familiar.
The sound of Reese cooing distracted the child, and she glanced up to look at the other two on the couch. This allowed her to see Bianca standing at the entrance to the room, a small smile on her face.
"Mommy!" gleefully cried Miranda, excited to see her mother. Hopefully, she would save Gabrielle from the poking and cooing fate her younger sister was being subjected to.
"Hi, baby." Bianca replied, her smile growing wider at her daughter's happiness. If there was one thing that could bring her out of a slump, it was her children.
Reese raised her eyes, "Hey honey, welcome home."
Bianca stepped towards her wife. Gabrielle blubbered and held her arms out to the other woman. The tall brunette scooped her arm into her arms as she sat down on the couch, the tiny girl clinging to her neck.
Reese leaned in for a kiss, pressing her lips hard against her wife's.
"Mmm, what are you doing home so early?" asked Bianca as their lips parted.
"What? I can't be home with my children and wife?" Reese pulled back.
Bianca reached a hand out to her, "No, no...I just meant you're usually at work still. It's a nice surprise."
Reese smiled and leaned back in for another kiss.
"Mommy, why are your eyes red?" a small voice piped up.
The two adults broke their embrace and turned to look at Miranda.
"You look sad." added the girl as she closed her book. Sleeping Beauty could wait.
Reese took in the red rimmed puffy eyes of the other woman, concerning flooding her voice, "She's right. Are you ok?"
Bianca tried to laugh it off, not wanting to worry her daughter. "I'm fine. It's just allergies."
"Allergies? Henri's mom says he has that; that's why he always sneezes when Claire's cat goes near him. But mommy...you've never sneezed at Claire's cat." Miranda pointed out.
Bianca gazed at her daughter. Miranda was sometimes too smart for her own good.
"Miranda, why don't you go get ready for bed? It's your bedtime." Reese cut in, sparing a glance at her partner's child.
"But mom..." began the littlest Montgomery.
"No Mimo, listen to Reese. Go brush your teeth, I'll be there in a minute to tuck you in." said Bianca.
Miranda huffed as she jumped off the sofa. She just wanted to know if her mom was alright. Stupid Reese...why was her mother always agreeing with her? She stomped out of the room, her hair whipping about in true diva like fashion.
She could be such a Kane sometimes.
After the little girl left, Reese turned back to her wife. She carefully grasped Gabrielle and pulled her away from the visibly conflicted woman. "She'll be fine, Bianca. She's just upset at not being the center of attention. She's young; she'll grow out of it."
Bianca tore her gaze away from her retreating daughter, the sound of a slamming door indicating the girl was in her room.
"Bianca, what's wrong?" inquired Reese, drawing in the brunette's attention.
"It's nothing...I just got a call from the FBI today. They wanted me to look over some letters for them. Ones from the stalker."
Reese pulled the woman into her arms, "I'm sorry, honey. That must have been horrible, having to read what that person wrote."
Bianca nodded her head, the words replaying through her mind.
A few minutes of silence passed before Reese spoke again."Did you meet the agent in charge?"
Bianca blinked, "Why?"
She felt Reese shrug, "I was just wondering. I haven't met him yet."
Bianca pulled herself away from the blonde. She did not want to talk about Frankie. Not now, and especially not with her wife. "I don't think it really matters. Whoever it is, is not the one actually out her protecting us. It's more important to know who's with Miranda and Gabby."
Reese nodded as she placed a hand on Bianca's arm, "You're right. I just thought it'd be nice to know who it was."
The brunette felt arms wrap around her and a kiss pressed against her face, "If you do meet them, though, can you tell them to lay-off on all the agents? They're everywhere, and I know they are making Miranda and Gabby nervous."
Bianca's features narrowed in confusion, "Tell them to back off?"
"They are interrupting our lives, honey. The girls shouldn't have a bunch of armed men following them to school. I don't understand why they are here, anyway. Nothing is happening. No one has tried to do anything to us."
Bianca closed her eyes in thought as she felt another kiss pressed into her skin.
Taylor and Frankie crossed the street and entered the large apartment complex. While the train ride to Lyon was rather short, they were not able to get tickets till the next day.
Lyon was a beautiful city. It wasn't Paris, but it was still expansive, with charming old buildings nestled among the more modern structures. It was the second largest city in France, the notes told Frankie. It was a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was known as the silk capital of the world. She didn't really care that much, she only planned to spend a few hours at most there. Besides, capital of silk...not the place she would hope to vacation at.
The two FBI agents walked straight to the elevators, a car appearing almost instantaneously. Taylor pressed the button for the sixth floor, and as the doors closed he faced Frankie.
"So, what happened with Kane's kid? I heard she ran out of the place like the building was on fire."
Frankie simply ignored him as the elevator doors opened on their floor. They meandered down the hallway until they reached number 626. Frankie knocked on the door, her knuckles banging out a quick rhythm on the wood.
They stepped back as the door swung open. An elderly woman, possibly in her seventies, stood before them. Her crinkling eyes were hidden behind magnified glasses, their golden chain draped around her neck.
"Bon jour." greeted Taylor with a slight smile, "Parlez-vous anglais?"
"Oui." answered the woman with a nod.
Frankie and Taylor reached into their pockets, bringing out and flipping their wallets open to flash their badges.
"Pouvons nous entrer?" Taylor sought permission to enter the apartment.
The woman's eyes widened at the flash of gold, "Oui, of course. Please."
She moved back and opened the door wider, allowing the two agents to enter her home.
The place was small. The living room only fit a sofa, chair, and small television set. The kitchen could be seen off to the side, and the agents assumed the closed door on the other side was the bedroom. Knick-knacks and blankets littered the area, causing a sense of coziness to encase the apartment.
"Would you like drink?" the woman offered, indicating the kitchen.
"No, thank-you." replied Taylor as Frankie shook her head.
The woman shrugged and moved over to the worn chair. She slowly lowered her aged body onto the furniture, wrapping a blanket around her legs. She motioned for the agents to sit on the sofa. The two followed her instructions, placing themselves on the edge of the cushions.
Taylor reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded picture. He held it up for the woman to see. It was of a young man, his bright smile flashing across a tanned face.
"Do you know this man?"
The woman held out a shaking hand, moisture filling her eyes, "Oui, my son Jean-Paul. He has been missing for a month."
Taylor handed her the picture. She focused on the face looking back at her. Her hands cradled the object almost reverently.
Frankie turned her attention away from the old woman, scanning the apartment instead.
"Can you tell us about him?" asked Taylor, wondering why his superior was basically ignoring the old woman.
"He...he was a nice boy...a good boy. He had many friends. He was good in school."
"Did he know anyone from the States? Anyone from Pennsylvania?"
The woman shook her head, "No, no one."
"He had a lot of friends. None of them were from America? He didn't know anyone at school from there?"
"Non, he did not know anyone from there. All from here, his home."
The agents left an hour later, Taylor having exhausted any possible questions he could think of. They still knew nothing. None of his questions brought concrete helpful answers.
Confusion tinged his voice as the two entered the elevator, "Why didn't you ask any questions?"
Frankie shrugged as she shoved her hands into her pockets, "That lady didn't know anything."
Taylor frowned, "How do you know? She could be lying to us."
"She's not. Trust me, I can spot a con. She wasn't one."
