Okie dokie. Tell me if I'm getting too far out there with this plot. Please. Thanks for the great reviews! Enjoy!



Bitches II

Innocent pecking. That's all it was. At least, that's what Chuck kept telling herself it was. Innocent pecking. With maybe some moisture and maybe some touching. But nothing more than that. Her and Hallie were two lonely, broken hearted souls who were just trying to comfort each other in their time of need.

Plus, it wasn't as if Chuck was involved with any one. It's not like she should feel guilty about what she had done. So why did she? Why did she blush as if she had done something wrong when she walked into the Pie Hole that day and saw Olive behind the counter.

"What took you so long?" Ned asked Chuck as soon as she walked through the door. "Maybe I didn't take long, you just didn't take long enough," Chuck answered as she sat at the counter, avoiding Olive's gaze.

"My wife did it," Olive said suddenly, "she had murder in her eyes. And that murder was couture."

"My wife gave him his morning coffee," Ned said.

"So did mine!" Olive, Emerson and Chuck said in unison.

Emerson sighed, "No wonder that guy could handle four wives: the dude was caffeinated!"

"I don't think Hallie did it," Chuck said, smiling slightly, "she didn't give me that impression.

"Did she give him some morning coffee?" Emerson asked.

"She said she gave him his morning coffee and kissed him goodbye – which is practically a confession – but I still don't think she did it," Chuck said, slightly too defensive, eliciting a suspicious glare from Emerson.

"There she is now," Olive said ducking behind the counter, "you can ask her."

Hillary Hundin pointed at Olive, "That's her, the little one."

Heather Hundin looked accusingly at Ned, "Mr. Digby."

"Hi, Hallie!" Chuck said waving at the woman.

"Hi … Chuck," Hallie said, putting up a tough exterior that faltered slightly, a smile twitching at the corners of her lips. Emerson made a move to get up but Simone clicked the clicker, "Sit."

Emerson sat back down, a very perturbed look on his face.

"How did you guys find us?" Olive squeaked.

"Just looked for the bakery shaped like a giant pie. The food, not the horse," Hillary said smugly.

"We understand Harold left a note," Simone said.

"Who said anything about a note?" Emerson asked frowning.

Chuck shrugged embarrassed, "I said about the note."

Emerson looked at Ned, Olive and Chuck angrily, "'Under-' meaning 'below'. '-cover' meaning 'the radar, people'. What's so hard about that to understand?"

"Sorry."

"Who are you people?" Hillary asked.

Emerson put on his business face, "We'll get to the particulars of that once you get to the particulars of this: what kind of creamer you put into Harold's coffee?"

"Soy."

"Heavy cream."

"I don't put cream in my coffee."

"I use almond-flavored coffee cream creamer," Hallie said innocently. Chuck's mouth dropped, about to protest and protect her innocence. But before she could say anything, four police came in an took Hallie away.

"The police wrestled little Hallie Hundin to the ground and she's small: it was like a lion taking down a baby zebra," Ned said later as he took a pie out of the oven.

"And we were awful tourists sitting safe in our camouflaged SUV watching the injustice," Chuck said, upset at herself for not protecting Hallie.

"Injustice?" Emerson bellowed, "They found cyanide in her coffee."

"My wife, the baby zebra, is obviously being set up," Chuck argued, "she breeds helper puppies for blind children! I mean, she's no killer! She's an angel."

Emerson pulled Chuck aside, out of earshot of Ned. "You said Hallie didn't give you the impression of a killer," Emerson started, voice hushed so no one could over hear, "So what kinda impression did she give you, 'cause I have the impression that your impression of her is more than friendly."

Chuck blushed, "She was upset, I was merely comforting her."

"What kinda comforting did you do?"

"There might have been some kissing involved."

"Oh hell. That is definitely not under cover!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Listen, Dead Girl-"

"It's for you," Ned said holding the phone out to Emerson. Taking one final scolding look at Chuck, he took the phone. Thankful for the break, Chuck went and sat down at the counter.

"So you really think Hallie is innocent," Olive asked, taking a seat next to her.

"Yes," Chuck answered, "She's a sweet woman. I don't think she's capable of murder." Olive nodded, fiddling with the salt shaker on the counter. "We sell pie," she said looking at the shaker, "why do we have salt shakers?"

"Maybe in case someone likes salty pie," Chuck said calmly. She wondered why Olive was trying so hard to make conversation with her.

Olive laughed, maybe a little too hard, and touched Chuck's arm, "You're so funny, Chuck."

Chuck looked at her warily, "Yeah. A hoot." Olive's hand remained on Chuck's arm, and the feeling in her stomach started to come back.

"We're going to visit Hallie in jail," Emerson said walking up to the women, he pointed at Chuck, "you better come. Since you two are so friendly and all."

Chuck blushed fiercely, before following and Emerson out of the restaurant, leaving Olive behind.

"Everybody's been really nice. It's not at all like those prison exploitation films," Hallie said, hands grasping the bars of her cell.

"So you don't need cigarettes or alcohol or the right moisturizer to use as currency?" Chuck asked, her hands covering Hallie's.

She shook her head, curls bouncing, "Oh, no. That's my friend, Teresa, she says she runs the cell block, so I'm protected." There was a woman sleeping on a bunk with her back towards everyone.

Ned smiled, "She sleeps a lot for someone who runs a cell block."

Hallie whispered, "I don't think it's been an easy road for her."

Emerson glared at Chuck and Hallie's hands touching on the bars, "Well, it'd be a lot easier road for you once you help us find out who killed Harold. Hallie, was it Hillary, Heather or Simone?"

"It couldn't have been any of my sister-wives," she answered quickly, "we all love Harold too much to kill him."

"Well good thing you got over that," Emerson said under his breath, still looking between Chuck and Hallie.

"Oh, no, it was one of your sister-wives. Harold said so," Chuck said quickly catching herself, "In his note."

"If you ask me … oh, are you asking me?" she said crinkling her nose.

"Yes!"

Hallie got a dark look in her eyes, "It was Ramsfeld Snuppy. He's another niche dog breeder, but not as niche as Harold. Snuppy wanted our Bubblegum: Snuppy wanted to collaborate with Harold to make Colladorrussellpoo superpuppies, but I think Snuppy wanted all the doggie treats to himself. He could've easily planted the cyanide in my almond-flavored coffee creamer."

"But murder? For a few puppies?" Ned said unconvinced.

"Snuppy had big plans for her."

After explaining her story, Hallie looked between the men. "Well, I guess we better go look for one Ramsfield Snuppy," Emerson said, "Come on, let's go."

"Um, I'm going to stay for a little longer," Chuck said looking from Hallie to Emerson. Stopping, the Investigator looked her up and down, "Mmmhm."

The two left, leaving Hallie and Chuck alone, except for Teresa of course. "So, how are you?" Chuck asked.

Hallie shrugged, "Things could be better."

"Listen, about earlier-"

"No, it's okay. If you just want to forget it…"

"I don't know. Do you want to forget about it?"

"It was awfully nice."

"It was, wasn't it?"

Hallie blushed, nodding

Chuck sighed. Olive was never going to be hers. She knew that now. She needed to move on, and Hallie might be able to help her do that.

"After you get out," Chuck began, "Maybe we can go out. Like, on a date." The dog trainer nodded, "I would like that."

The day after Hallie was let free, she walked into the Pie Hole, taking a seat at the counter nervously. Seeing her, Chuck went over to her, "Hey! How are you?"

"I'm good," she said shyly, eyes wandering the restaurant, "and you?"

"Good. Can I get you anything?"

"Apple pie please."

Chuck went into the kitchen, preparing a piece of pie. Olive came up to her, "What's that Hallie doing here?"

"She came for pie."

"It looks like she's here for more than pie."

Chuck looked at her, heat rising up in her face. Olive smiled softly back at her knowingly. "I think it's good that you found someone," Olive said almost sadly. The blonde took Chuck's hands in her own, "I just want you to be happy."

Chuck was speechless, unable to respond as the blonde gave her hand a squeeze before walking away and out of the restaurant. And Chuck was more confused than she had started out.