"Mmm, baby. Oh, that feels so good. You just know how to do it to me." Groaning, the big man on her designer couch arched back to let his hostess' long skilful fingers work their magic.
The lady of the house shot him a charming smile. "It's not every day one gets to serve a proper D.I. It's my pleasure!"
Rubbing his temples in rhythm with her quick deft movements, the man with the sideburns sighed. As usual, Ursa knew just how to make all his pent up tension disperse.
"Your trapezious muscles are really tense today. Did anything in particular happen in your life to cause this?" Frowning with concentration, she leaned forward from her kneeling position behind the man to apply more strength to the massage. He answered with a bitter chuckle.
"Oh spirits, Ursa! Yeah, I guess you might say that. Your brother in law happened. I mean, the former one. My so called boss."
"Iroh?" Ursa leaned back and ceased the movements of her fingers.
"Yeah. The Great String-Puller himself. Called in early this morning to wait in my office and spring the news of my immediate suspension on me. Sipping a fucking cup of tea, of course."
The fingers were back to work on him with some urgency. "You mean you were fired?"
"No. Not even the Chief of Police could do that. They'd need a formal investigation from Internal Affairs and an official report. Everyone knows that usually takes a couple of years. No, this wasn't about Iroh wanting to get me fired. This is about certain people wanting to keep me out of the way for the time being. They probably don't want me meddling with one of the new cases."
Ursa's voice and fingers had turned silky soft. "Oh really? That sounds like one hell of a case then."
In spite of the insistent ministrations of her hands, the prostrate police officer managed a shrug. "Not really. Just some junkie shot dead in an alleyway. Or whatever. He might be the fucking king of Ba Sing Se for all I know. I've been formally taken off the case until IA are done investigating me. Which leaves your brother in law conveniently in charge. Or maybe he'll just stick the entire pile of cases on Hakoda and run off to brew his tea, leaving the rest of us to manage with a one finger salute. Oh, sorry Ursa. Hakoda's a… friend of yours, isn't he?"
The woman collected her beautiful features hastily and rose to smooth down her elegant black satin dress. "Well. A very old friend, to be correct. I haven't seen him in… oh, some five years or so." She gestured dismissively. "Now then, Zhao! I think I'm finished. Please stand up and move around a bit to see how it feels."
Placing his hands at the small of his back, the Detective Inspector moved his sideburned head tentatively this way and that. Then, he did a full on stretch and sighed pleasurably.
"Ah! It feels bloody marvellous, that's what! Ursa, I do declare your fingers can work magic. Wherever you may choose to put them, that is." He regarded her with a hungry look on his face. However, Ursa herself started and turned towards the door. A young girl peered in cautiously, then sprinted in towards her mother.
"Oh, Mama! We had the best day ever at school today! Some teachers from the Phys Ed programme at CU visited us and talked about their training classes. Mama, can I join? I mean, I'd need some preparatory tutoring in Martial Arts, but Zuko has promised to teach me some really cool moves. I mean, after we get done with the firearms exercises. Oh… I mean, he's promised to teach me, but we haven't actually gotten started yet… Please, Mama…"
As she regarded her youngest offspring, a cloud seemed to descend on Ursa's classical features. At 12, going on thirteen, the girl was entering puberty and had quickly turned into an uncontrollable tornado of pent up energy. Tall for her age, pale skinned with dark brown hair and hazel eyes, she was also starting to display the worrying signs of female beauty. The boyishly cropped hairstyle did nothing to relieve the impression.
Ursa sent her youngest an impressive frown. "Now, Kiyi! We talked about the whole firearms thing, remember? You promised me explicitly not to bother your brother with such requests. Besides, they might interfere with his work, which is highly important. Remember, you'll meet him for dinner tonight. He can tell you all about it himself."
"Not if I were doing competitive shooting, it wouldn't! Then it'd count as trainer session hours!"
Ruffling the dark unruly locks, Ursa rolled her eyes. "Kiyi! We'll have a serious talk about that later. Now, where are your manners, young lady? That's no way to treat a visitor. You remember D.I. Zhao, don't you? He's Zuko's boss."
Turning somewhat awkwardly towards the sideburned man, the girl extended her hand and executed a quick curtsy. The dark cow's lick hid her expression from his view.
"D.I. Zhao. I'm charmed to meet you."
"Likewise, Kiyi. It's a delight to see you." Zhao clicked his heels in mock reverence.
As Ursa fought to repress a giggle, the girl retreated to take up position next to a large cupboard, from where she regarded their visitor suspiciously. Her mother started at the sudden noise from her phone.
Ping!
"Oh! I'm so sorry, my dear. I was in a business conversation with a client before you arrived. He wants his entire house redecorated by an expert. I was just awaiting his opinion on some photos… Ah!"
A tiny smile teased her features as she examined the message and hastily texted a reply. Then, she returned her full attention to her guest, not once forgetting to simultaneously keep a check on her fidgeting daughter.
"Well, you know I'd love to invite you for dinner, and I know Ikem would be glad to have you. But I promised Zuko that he could come over for a family-only night. He needs to get out and date more, I know. But still… I'm so happy for all that you've done for him!"
Bowing low over her hand to kiss it, D.I. Zhao clicked his heels again. This time, there was true reverence in his voice. "I understand perfectly, Ursa! What you've done for me today is invaluable. I trust that you are free next Friday?"
She nodded as graciously as royalty. "Of course, Zhao! Friday afternoon after lunch is your regular spot. I'm keeping that reservation just for you."
Glaring at the visitor's retreating back, Kiyi shot her mother a sullen look. "I don't like him, Mama! And neither does Zuko!"
Ursa embraced her distractedly. "Oh really? Well, D.I. Zhao's my special friend, not Zuko's. Besides, he reminds me of… Well, never mind. Now, what's this you told me about a Phys Ed programme? Last week you were all on about enrolling for Medical studies. Maybe you should just wait and see, eh?"
"But Mama! I… I don't know, okay! I… think I've changed my mind!"
Ursa herded her youngest offspring gently out the door of her private sitting room. "Never mind, Kiyi! Never mind. Whenever you leave unfinished matters behind, life has a way of leading you back. And when it does, you'd better be ready."
