this is the second part of yesterday's chapter. I hope you enjoy it. thanks for the review susan 3
Chapter 11 – I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart) – Part II
"It's probably nothing." Dave says as he drives me back to the department.
"It's probably nothing." I repeat it robotically, because my heart it's not in it. I'm sure it's something.
"Maybe she changed her mind about Puck, didn't know how to say it so she just ignored him."
"Maybe she changed her mind." I'm trying really hard to ignore all the signs telling me I'm right.
"Didn't you say she works at a kindergarten? Maybe one of the kids fucked up her phone this morning…" He glances at me but I think I'm only getting paler and paler.
"Britt hasn't said anything either, Dave. The universe is definitely doing all it can to bring my ulcer back."
"You should have known better than caring about blondes. I mean look at all the Hitchcock movies." I know he is trying to cheer me up but Quinn is the ultimate hitchcockian blonde. Her face has that classical beauty, that perfect bone structure. We know our murder is a film buff. All the scenarios are scary but I go through all the Hitchcock movies I can think off. I think Birds would have a hard time being replicated, Psycho is too obvious. Dial M for Murder would assume a house would be under our murder's vigilance… Rearview mirror! Grace Kelly starts out the movie having doubts about her engagement with L.B., maybe the killer heard her talking to Puck, expressing her own doubts.
"'Tana, you'll see that when you get to Brittany's class she'll be there waiting for you."
"I hope you are right. Quinn has been my best friend for years, if anything happens to her" and I feel something wet on my face. Is this a tear? I look at Karofsky panicked expression and I know I'm crying. And my chest hurts and I can't breathe. I live the car and lean my head against it starting at the ground while taking deep breaths. I'm freaking out and I'm having a panic attack. I can't lose Quinn, I can't lose Brittany. What can I do? What? WHAT?
I feel arms around me and my legs fail. When I open my eyes I'm being held behind by Dave.
"Santana, there's nothing wrong okay? Try to breathe, they are all fine"
"I hope so Dave, I hope so. Help me up and go after that motherfucker."
I get to my chief's office and lock the door. I sit on the couch with the balls of my hands, i just want the floor to stop spinning for a second.
"Sandbags what is wrong? Did one of your breast implants burst during your morning jog?" Sue always has a kind word for you.
"Nothing, it's just I think a friend of mine might be a potential victim of the dancers' killer."
"Good." She says while looking at paper work but she must have sensed something was wrong because she looked up and tensed. "Easy tiger."
I raise myself, unsure I just heard right. I'm about to go all Lima Heights on her when Blaine bursts in the office. He takes one look at my face and he blocks me putting himself between me and Sue Sylvester's desk.
"Chief we need a warrant. For both Jesse St James and the cleaning lady of the theatre Lauren Sizes." He says in his ever excited tone, Dave mustn't have told him of my theory about Quinn. I notice he says a woman's name I've heard before. Lauren Sizes, as in Puck's Lauren?
"What?" Sue and I say at the same time.
"She's a cleaning lady in all these places, I checked it out. If she's not the killer, I think it's na amazing coincidence that she knew all these ladies. You see, San, when Rachel spoke to us today she mentioned that only her and the cleaning lady were in the building. So, I went to check it out who she was so we could ask her some questions. Then, completely out of curiosity I noticed that she worked in a company who was responsible for the cleaning of the theatre and the stripclub aaaand the ballet company's training facilities. She might have seen something relevant."
"Amazing, smart pants. You used your little head to our use for the first time. However you still dress like a member of the circle of soleil. I don't care about theories, I want you to get something substantial. In the meanwhile, I'm trying to use my goods to get those warrants. Expect my call during the afternoon or early night. NOW MOVE YOUR ASSES OUT."
We both leave her office and I hug Blaine as soon as we are out. I whisper "thank you thank you thank you" into his neck and I can tell he was taken of guard because it takes him a beat for him to hug me back.
"What's wrong Santana? I thought you hated me." I step away from him and wipe a few tears from my face furiously.
"This never happened okay?"
"But will you tell me what's going on?" He leans on the wall and crosses his arms over his chest as if to say he will not go anywhere unless he gets some answers.
"I think the killer caught Quinn or Brittany." My voice breaks, I cough trying to get it back on track.
"Your friends?! Why?" His expression softens.
"They aren't answering their phones, they work/have classes in potential locations. They fit the profile like a glove."
"But isn't your friend Quinn a teacher? I thought she worked at Laura's school."
"She does but recently she's been talking to Rachel to be part of her show and when the girl went missing they thought Quinn should be ready to replace her. She's been taking dance classes, specially since Britt came to town."
"I didn't know. But it's probably just a really wierd coincidence that…"
"You know I don't really believe in coincidences and both of them had promised to contact me and Puck and failed to do so. Brittany since this morning, but it might be because she gets distracted easily and Quinn hasn't talked to anyone I know in 24h and that's NOTHING like her." I'm pacing now like a lion in a cage. I'm thinking and going through facts as I go and I decide maybe Quinn makes more sense da Brittany as a victim. I'm trying to step back and look at all of this with a certain amount of cold blood but it's so damn hard.
"So Quinn was going to work at St. James theatre."
"Yes, my last hope is that she shows up to Brittany's class today, we had agreed to meet afterwards to have a sort of…a…" I flush a little because I'm embarassed to admit I actually said yes to this "double date."
"OH-EME-GEE!" Blaine starts clapping his hands and bouncing on his place and I'm regreting not filling that bow tie with snot when I got the chance. "So Brittany must have done something well if you managed to keep her around after Saturday?"
"She did everything right and FYI that's none of your business."
He keeps grinning like an idiot and I want to kill him. But then I remember Sizes.
"You know that Lauren used to date Puck?" I ask because I'm sure he hasn't done the connection.
"WHAT? No, how did that happen? I mean, not to be rude but looking at her profile photo from the company she doesn't look much like Puck's type."
"She doesn't and I'm not sure I can explain to you what went on with him and her but I think it used to be an highschool thing. Who knows what happen, I just know Puck canceled his plans with her…."
"Why?"
I feel like someone just clenched my heart and tried to rip it out my chest.
"…to be with Quinn."
"We have no proof, Santana, we have to be quiet about this but it's a lead."
"I'm not going to tell him, not now. Let me make sure Quinn is missing before I say anything to him. He loves that girl more than he will ever admit and he didn't realize she's a potential target." I say all this without breathing and start dialing Dave's number.
"Who are you calling?"
"Dave, he is the only one who knows, I'm going to tell him not to mention it to Puck while they go talk to St James. I'm gonna explain about the Sue's paperwork and once we can call Lauren to come to the station to talk to us, we tell him."
"Good thinking, that way he won't startle Sizes before we have something on her."
"And when we do, you and me are the ones who will handle her."
It's half past four and I went to get Laura at daycare, I ask her about aunt Quinn and she says she didn't see her all day. She asks me about Britt and I lie to her. I say she's fine and the little frown in her forehead she's been sporting since she got in the car finally disappears. I watch her focus on the street through the rearview mirror and make a mental note to thank my mother for taking care of her tonight.
"Hija, you look like shit" – My mom yells at her porch, I give her Laura's things and she runs past us to go inside. She loves it here specially because they have a dog called Jose that adores her. They called the dog Jose because they used to say we failed at being Hispanic because our family didn't have anyone with that name.
"Thanks Mom, I thought I looked like a princess but here you are raining on my parade"
"I'm sorry, it's just that every time I see you, you look more and more tired. You should spend some time with us, you are not taking good care of yourself. Have you been eating?"
"I'm in the middle of a big case okay? You know I don't rest until I finish them."
"Yes, just like your father. "
"Mom, I have to run now, I need to go home and change."
"You having a date?"
"Sort of." Oh shit, here it goes.
"What's her name?"
"Brittany."
"Brrrrittany, when do I get to meet Brrrrittany?" She's dragging that "r" to annoy me. I know it, she has a smile that is taking over all of her face.
"Soon…well, I don't know, I'm just getting to know her myself okay?"
"Is she pretty?"
"She's beautiful and Papi is going to love her. She's a dancer so he'll finally have a decent partner to dance salsa with him."
"HEY, I'm offended, I do my best."
"I know Mom, but I've inherited all your best and I can tell you it's not enough!"
She starts insulting me in spanish and I leave the house as fast as I can giggling because no matter how grown up I am she might just come outside to chase me.
As soon as I enter the car, though, my smile dies. I stop by Quinn's house hoping I can calm my nerves by seeing her safe and sound but she's not home. I don't let myself get too worked up because it's past 5 now and her classes must have started already.
I get home and take my time showering. I decide to let my hair down, i choose a red dress to wear and i put on a navy blazer i stole from Quinn a while ago. I choose some heels to go with the outfit and I'm ready.
When I get to the gym Puck is already there, reading the news while checking out the girls working out on the machines. He is waving and winking being his carefree douche self and I want to spank him. Then, I remember he has no idea what's going on.
"Hey" I say as I get close to his table.
"Hey girl, how are you?" and then he checks me out and whistles. Yup that urge to beat him is still there.
"I'm good, got anything from St James."
"Not much, he knows he doesn't have to say anything as off now, Karofsky told me Sue was getting us an arrest order but she hasn't called yet. We had to leave that bastard with his disgusting grin on his face but we'll be wiping it soon. He has alledged alibis for all the murders but he said he spent the Sunday alone. He was a bit caught of guard when we pressed on his Sunday night."
I start to feel wierd so I change the subject.
"What about the girls? Know anything about what's going on?"
"I haven't see any of them but the girl at the desk told me Britt's class must have ended just before I got here so they would be hitting the showers. I decided to wait here. I texted Quinn to meet us at the bar." He says and continues to read the sport section.
I sit awkwardly and look at my feet, I decide to send Brittany a text and as minutes progress it's getting hard to breathe.
There's almost no one at the bar and very few people at the work out room. I think I'm going to have another panic attack. Puck is going to make fun of me for days. So, I stand up and walk towards the glass that overlooks one of the workout rooms trying to get my shit together. I have "c'mon, c'mon, c'mon" as my mantra.
Suddenly I feel arms wrapping me from behind and I wonder if I'm fainting again.
"Hey, Stranger. Sorry to keep you waiting." She kisses my cheek and I think i'm going to break down. I turn around and cling over her neck like my life depends on it.
"Oh my god Britt, you are okay. You scared the living shit out of me." I say burying my face on her neck, probably ruining my make up and her outfit. My hands drop down her back to wrap her around the waist.
"I'm sorry, baby. My phone fell on the pool and we had it to dry all day because Mike said that if you don't turn it on while it's wet and dry it maybe it could work. I almost told him to send you a text but then I forgot. I'm so sorry, forgive me."
I manage a quiet chuckle and say "it's okay". I finally look around and Puck is standing livid.
"Where's Quinn though? She missed my class I thought she was coming with you guys!" Brittany asks looking at both of us and around as if she's expecting Quinn to pop out of nowhere in the room.
"She didn't come?"
"'Tana?" Puck is paler than me and he was clenching his phone on his hand. "They tried to call you but you were having your moment with Britt so they tried me. "
"Aaand?" I walk to him, dragging Britt with me by the pinkie.
"They found Quinn's car in an alley near the theatre. They say it looks like there are traces of blood in it."
I gasp and vaguely register Brittany's "oh my god" before everything goes black.