Chapter 20: "Friend or Foe"
Sydney seemed pleasantly surprised when Michonne told her that she will be taking and picking her up from school from now on. The relationship between Sydney and her father have remained strained and Michonne considered it a good sign.
After dropping her off at school, Michonne arrived to work to the entire meet and greet and fanfare from her absence. It appeared everyone missed her and she also missed them. She briefly talked to all of her colleagues then slipped into her office.
Kelly, her assistant came in afterwards and they hugged tightly.
"I missed you the most." Michonne said.
"You don't have to say that." Kelly said shyly.
"I know but it's true."
"How is Sydney?"
"She's back at school and everything seems to be going well. Let's hope it stays that way."
Michonne sat down on her chair.
"It feels good to be back."
Kelly laughed.
"Ready to dive back in? I could call some of your pending clients."
"Pending?"
"Yeah. Some people only wanted to see you. I could bring their files in now if you want."
"Ok. That would be great."
Kelly went to retrieve the files. Michonne looked at her phone. There wasn't one phone call or text from Negan. She smiled. Good! He's finally getting the point that it's over between them. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rick walked into the Captain's office.
"What are you still doing here? Your shift is over."
"Yeah. Was heading home now. Just came to collect the box of evidence."
"What…" Abraham narrowed his eyes at him. "Why do you need Daryl's box? I thought you said Rosita wants you to drop it. It's too dangerous."
Rick plopped himself down on a chair, rubbing his temple.
"I know what Rosita has asked me to do but I just can't let it go! I need to know what happened to Daryl and I know deep down she wants to know the truth about what happened to him too!"
"Of course she does. We all do. None of us here at the department think that Daryl's death was an accident but the FBI took over the investigation before we even know what was going on!"
"Be more specific Captain. Negan took over the investigation because he has something to hide. I know it!"
"It's not what we know…it's what we can prove!"
Rick shot to his feet.
"Then let's prove it Caps! Daryl left us that box for a reason! He wants us to investigate!"
"But not at the expense of his wife and son! Rosita was kidnapped! She could have died! DJ could have died! Think about them instead of your need to get back at Negan!"
Rick glared at the Captain.
"Don't look at me like that! I know part of you want to get back at Negan! Did you even consider what will happen to Michonne….how her life will blow up when Negan finds out about the two of you?!"
"This has nothing to do with Michonne and she is free to see who ever she wants to."
"Yeah. You just keep telling yourself that!"
Both men stared at each other.
"I just want to know what happened. That's all."
"The real question is…can you live with whatever you find? Knowing what happened to Daryl and not do anything about it for the safety of others?"
Rick looked at the Captain.
"Well…can you?" Ford pressed him.
"For Rosita, DJ and Michonne…I will have too."
Captain Ford said nothing for a long time and he looked at Rick. Rick and Daryl was his best duo team ever to come in his department. They get the job done and were respected on the streets by law abiding citizens and petty criminals alike. So when Daryl died, it left a huge hole in him and the department and he knew it wrecked Rick and Rosita, the two people nearest and dearest to him.
"Did you log in the box into evidence as yet?"
"No. I will drop it off at your home later. Go home and get some rest. God help us!"
Rick nodded and left the office~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Michonne was with her third client when a text came through on her phone from Rick.
"Hey…are you busy right now?"
Michonne smiled to herself but she couldn't answer him. She focused on her client.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Rick came out of the shower and quickly reached for his phone. Twenty minutes had gone and Michonne hadn't texted him back. He decided to get a sandwich then call her afterwards.
In the kitchen, Rick thought about what colour lace panties and bra that Michonne buy. He would love to see her in red and he hoped that the panty was a thong with a small butterfly in the front and that the bra only covered her nipples.
He had been thinking about the different ways that he was going to rip off those items off her body as well as the different positions he would put her in to make her cum hard. He wasn't too kinky but with a body like Michonne's his creativity juices was flowing constantly.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Michonne was finally finished with her third client when Kelly buzzed to ask her if she need a break before sending in the fourth client. She told her yes and Michonne decided to call Rick. He answered on the second ring.
"Hey."
"Hey. Sorry I couldn't text back. I was with a client."
"So you are busy."
"Yeah. I have three more clients to see for the day."
"Do you want to come over later. I could cook dinner for us again."
"You mean Ms Elizabeth will cook again."
"I can cook! I will prove it!"
Michonne laughed.
"I would love too but I don't have anyone to watch Sydney. Besides, I have some good news. I banned Negan from coming to the house unannounced. I told him that he could only come or call me if there was an emergency with Sydney…that's it. He would get to see her on weekends but only at his sister's house."
"I bet that didn't go down so well."
"What do you think? He was pissed of course but I don't care. Sydney knows the truth. That has severed the hold he has on me…atleast temporarily.
There was silence on the other end of the phone. Michonne grew worried.
"Rick?"
"Yes…I am here."
"Say something…please."
"I'm worried."
"Why? He's not going to bother me anymore."
"True…but a man like Negan you need to keep close to monitor them. He is more dangerous now far away...not knowing what he is doing. Does he know you are seeing someone?"
"He speculated but I never confirmed. As a matter of fact he is accusing the person who I'm with of pushing me to get rid of him."
"Hmm."
"You think I made a mistake threatening him to stay away."
"I didn't say that."
"I just couldn't deal with him putting his hands on me again Rick!"
"What?!"
"He was groping me infront of Sydney's school when we dropped her off!"
"He put his hands on you again?!"
"Yes! The only person allowed to touch me is you Rick! Only you...no one else. My body now belongs to you."
Rick didn't know what to say to Michonne's words...her gesture. He was speechless and honoured that she reserved herself for him. He also heard the vulnerability in her voice as this is all new for her. Negan is the only person she has ever been with and he suspects starting over is scary for her.
"I love you Rick." She said softly.
"Oh god Michonne! I love you too with every fibre of my being. You didn't make a mistake. I'm just worried for you."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It is now more imperative that we bring Negan down. The Captain is bringing over Daryl evidence box. I'm going to take a look at everything that's inside. Call or text me when you reach home. I want to know that you are at home safely."
"Ok."
"Promise me Michonne that you will let me know when you are home."
"I promise Rick."
They hung up and a minute later Rick sent her a series of love hearts in a text message. She sent him back an emoji kiss.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Captain Ford dropped off the box he made a few things clear to Rick.
"You are on your own with this Rick. You can't use any of the state's resources...not the IT guys, none of our registered CIs etc. I'll help wherever and whenever I can but this is all on you."
Rick nodded.
"However, if and I stress on the word 'if' you do find something concrete."
Rick smiled to the Captain's dismay.
"How concrete do you mean?"
Ford sigh.
"If any evidence you find is 90% concrete solid then bring it to me. I know a few people who still want payback for Negan's past injuries."
"Ok. Will do."
"And most importantly Rick. Be…careful."
The captain left.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Bareback, Rick sat on the floor placing the box between his legs and began taking out the contents – a flash-drive, an audio tape, dozens of pictures of the FBI informant Chirpie and other unidentified people, 2 reels of undeveloped films, a cell phone, a pager and a small pocket notebook. Rick frowned at the notebook as he opened it.
It only contained half of the information as the other half is at Daryl's house in the other notebook. Frustrated, he pushed the book aside and took at the other contents. Pulling his laptop from nearby he picked up the flash-drive and pushed it in. Immediately, it asked for a password.
Rick sent a text message from his phone. Next he took up the reel of undeveloped film and peered at it squinting his eyes. Then there was a knock on his front door. He opened and it was Justin, his next door neighbour. He was an IT specialist. Rick handed him the flash-drive after which he took a seat on the floor, putting it in.
"Got any beer? Need to kill time while the code on the flash-drive if being cracked."
Rick waved him off to the fridge and Justin helped himself generously. Next, Rick looked at the pictures of Chirpie and the other people. Some of their faces where in plain sight while others were not. Rick recognized no-one else other than Chirpie.
The frustration was building up as nothing made any sense. Rick picked up the cell phone and went through the call logs. Only one number appeared over and over again – 555-7133. Rick fingers itched to dial the number. Rick watched as Justin went over to his laptop and sat down watching the screen.
Rick causally pressed the call back button not expecting the number to still be in service or for even someone to answer on the other side. However, the phone was ringing. Then someone picked up. Rick held his breath as he heard someone on the other side breathing. He slowly rose to his feet.
"Hello?" Rick said cautiously.
There was continued breathing but no response.
"Hello?" he said again. Suddenly Justin became startled and cried out behind him.
"WTF?!"
Rick spun around to face him and on Justin's laptop screen was different pop-up of official government report and receipts on payment. Suddenly the pictures of a few bodies came up, causing Justin to jump up on his feet. He stared at Rick.
"What the hell is this Rick?!"
As if his name was a trigger for the person on the phone, the silent person on the other end finally spoke softly…in a strangled, desperate whisper.
"Rick Grimes…Is this Rick Grimes?!"
Rick stared wide eyed at the phone…then heard a dial tone.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The woman stared at the phone. It hadn't ringed for the past month, not since Daryl's death. He was trying to help her as a favour to a friend of his and now because of her, Daryl is dead, his wife is a widow and his son is now fatherless.
She wanted so many times to give herself up to the police and tell all but Daryl told her that they needed more than her word…they needed evidence. So she gathered whatever she could get her hands on with the help of other people who were also trapped like her.
Now that Daryl is gone she had no idea where all the evidence she had gathered on their target was. Daryl wanted to tell his partner and best friend Rick about their plan but she was adamant and too afraid because she knew their mark had tentacles everywhere.
She also knew that the people who he worked for were even more dangerous than he was. She kept tabs on Daryl's pregnant wife. She also knew where Daryl lived and drove by the house many times after he died.
She wanted so desperately to leave a note in the mailbox to apologize to her for her role in her husband's death but she always chicken out at the last minute. She was there when Rosita went missing from the mall.
She didn't see the actual kidnapping but she saw Rosita with her friends having lunch and when she left and didn't come back, the frantic faces of her friends when they were looking for her. She left the mall before the police came. She couldn't be caught there.
If Rick has Daryl's burner phone that they used to secretly communicate, then maybe he has the other pieces of evidence she had gathered as well. Does that mean he could be trusted? She crouched up further on the bed as the phone began ringing again.~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Rick frantically dialled the number back. I was ringing but this time no one was answering. He let the phone go to voicemail and contemplated whether to leave a message. He decided against it. The voice was that of a woman, in despair and desperate.
He instantly ruled out that Daryl was having an affair. He would never do that to Rosita in a million years. He loved her too much. Therefore was the woman a CI? What did she know or have? Was it evidence against Negan? Rick grabbed up the pictures and looked at everyone's faces.
There were no females in the picture. Some of the pictures were taken at long range and others at short range. Was she the one behind the camera? He took up the audio tape and went into the kitchen. He glanced over at Justin who was busy on his laptop. Cautiously, he pressed the play button.