"I got the information you asked for." the face on the screen assured him.
"I owe you big time, Chief." Jet saluted the decorated man and in return, the man tipped his hat to Jet as he terminated the transmission. The screen flooded with hundreds of documents including criminal records, official court documents, birth certificates and even bank statements.
"Jesus Christ," mumbled Jet to himself, pulling at his remaining hair.
"Is that her?"
Undoubtedly, the face in the front of the two men was, indeed, Edie. Plastered on the screen was Edie's criminal record dating back to when she was 16. Charges such as racketeering, aggravated assault, theft, were thrown about on her record. As Jet skimmed through the fine print of the documentation, Spike dissected the photos portraying her as teenager. He could barely recognize her since her face appeared rounder and her long black wavy hair consumed most of the picture. He could easily claim her pretty.
Father warned me of him. Said he only wanted one thing out a pretty girl like me. I was too thrilled with the fact that he referred to me as 'pretty' to even bother listen to the rest of his advice.
Spike scowled and flicked his cigarette aside. Jet scrolled past other familiar faces.
"Felix De La Santo León," read Jet, "Damn. This guys rap sheet is worst than Edie's." Murder, battery, racketeering, assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, robbery were just the beginning.
"I've seen this guy before too," inputted Spike pointing to another rap sheet. "Edie and I ran into him at the tracks when retrieving one of our bounties."
"John Tully. Another big shot. Shit what did Edie get herself into?" Jet spoke softly to himself.
"Some pretty powerful characters, here huh?" Spike scanned through the many records and tons of photos of Felix and John shaking hands with some pretty influential people. Jet scrambled about the Bridge, scribbling writing on a scratch piece of paper and then shot out the door. He returned within minutes with the communicator Edie left behind.
"What are you doing Jet?" seeing Jet finger buttons of the communicator.
"We are going after her." Jet retorted sharply.
"We're what?" Spike snatched the communicator from Jet's grasp and stared hard at the grizzly man.
"You damn well heard what I just said. We're going to bring Edie back."
"We're not doing anything. She made her decision, now it's our turn to respect it."
Jet's blood boiled at Spike's words. Within a blink of an eye, Jet gripped the collar of Spike shirt and pulled him slightly closer. His knuckles growing white as his grip tightened. "Don't feed me that bullshit. You and I know very well she didn't leave out her own free will. She wanted to protect us."
Spike, growing weary of Jet's words, grimaced and swung his arms behind his head. "What's with you? Is this how you reacted when Faye left?"
Jet glared hard at him, freezing Spike with his icy cold stare. "This is different."
"This isn't any different, Jet. She left, just like Faye did. Just like I did. Just like Ed did. Why is Edie any different than the rest of us?"
"She is different, Spike." Jet shot back.
"You saw her papers. She's a stone cold killer. An assassin."
"She was..." Jet's eyes set down and pondered over the cigar in his hands, as it neared his face. "You make it seem like you don't care for her. You, of all people, should be one to understand."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Jet shrugged and puffed on his cigar. "You've got something going on with her." His eyebrows lifted, watching Spike's reaction.
"Look whatever you think is going on between me and Edie, is utter bullshit and none of your concern." Spike's posture turn rigid and his face maintained its grim shade.
"I don't think, I know. You're not fooling anybody Spike. I see the way you two look at each other."
"She's a woman, Jet, that's all she is." And with that, Spike strolled out of the Bridge with his hands in his pockets.
Edie had never been this nervous in her life. Even when death smiled at her, she didn't even bat a lash at it. Yet here she was, at a local pharmacy, fidgeting and looking paler than usual. She could recall her previous conservation with her old friend, Kara, with whom she was reunited with after returning to La Puerta.
...
"What do you mean you're late?" Kara playful nudged Edie's shoulder. Kara was a lighthearted soul, which seemed very ironic to Edie as to why she had chosen to keep their current lifestyle. She was a fellow Polilla, one of La Puerta's army of killers, and she did pretty well for herself. Kara couldn't claim to be as widely recognized by the organization as Eddy. Which, those who still remembered her, returned the nickname.
"This is no laughing matter, Kara!" snapped Edie as she ran her fingers through her grown out bob. "This is serious, if you're implying what I think you're in implying."
"Well, tell me, is there any chance in hell that you could be..." Kara drifted off her statement for dramatic effect and batted her eyes at Edie. Edie appeared to be deep into thought until her head shot up, her eyes wide, and Kara knew the look on her face. Realization and shock.
"My goodness, if I would've known being dead came with so many perks, I would've died years ago!" laughed Kara.
"Kara," Edie clutched onto her arms with trembling hands. "What if it's true, what...do I do?"
Kara flinched at the sight of her. She had never seen such a strong, independent woman as Edie become as meek as a mouse in a matter of minutes. It was evident Edie was terrified, not for her own sake but that of the being growing inside of her. Hypothetically speaking, of course. Kara despised seeing her this way. It deeply pained her. She adored Edie and never faltered in her loyalty to her. She owed her life to Edie, because if not for her, Kara would still be on the streets today.
Kara first encountered Edie when Kara was seventeen. Due to abuse, Kara escaped to the streets, where misery followed her. She sold herself for measly bread crumbs and found shelter within boxes, and if desperate, dumpsters. She was filthy. Everyone's eyes roved through her image, women scoffed at her, men would flash money at her for something in return. Though painted in dirt, her features were soft and pretty. And very much young and naive, to men's best interest. Then one day it all changed. It was the day, that this beautiful young lady, clean, dressed in nice fashion approached her. Kara could easily tell the girl was not much older than herself, but the way she held herself, dignified, respected aged her far above Kara. She would never forget the first thing that very girl did. The girl offered her pristine, manicured hands out to her, inviting her. That girl asked if her if she wanted a way out, in which Kara nodded eagerly. And the girl smiled, a genuine loving smile.
Initially Felix did not look down on Kara with favor. To him, she appeared fearful, small, and most importantly, not part of the clan. Kara, silently, cursed herself because, he indeed spoke the truth about these things. As if he peered into her soul, when he simply glanced at her. She recalled feeling so sheepish under his presence. Yet, she noted how empowered and proud the girl stood across from him. And Felix did not simply blink at her, he seemed entranced by her. He looked onto her with a longing and what Kara believed to be, love. The two communicated under hushed whispers and the girl placed her hand atop of his. He smirked at her and shrugged, "She's your problem."
She was, for a fact, the girl's problem, up until the girl was erased from the whole equation. She remembered feeling a part of her die as she received the news that her beloved mentor was killed. Killed by La Puerta, no less. Kara cowered as the organization pointed their finger at her and deemed her worth killing off due to vengeance. And out of all the people to come to her defense, Felix sheltered her and never doubted her loyalty to him. It was then that she knew, for an absolute fact, that Felix had nothing to do with the hit on Eddy. She saw every day since then, how his heart grew callused and cold. His eyes no longer shined brilliantly and passionately as they did as they donned on Eddy.
...
"Shit!" Edie's cry echoed through the empty neighboring bathroom stalls.
"Ed? Is everything okay?" Kara peeked through the stall door. Edie unlocked the door and allowed Kara to sneak through. Edie laid her head in her hands and rubbed furiously at her eyes.
"Please tell me I'm reading this wrong!" Edie huffed as she tossed the box and the little contraption into Kara's hand. Kara studied the box, then analyzed the white stick for its results based on the box.
"Congrats, doc, looks like you're going to be a mom." Kara chuckled nervously.