Ah! Sorry again for the delay! I'm all settled and back in writing mode. I can't thank you guys enough for the feedback. It's helped a lot in shaping the rest of the story! jbs10: Thanks! I'll probably incorporate more of Spencer being helpful. Bratfairy: Ashley a robot from the future? LOL! too funny! Glad you are all enjoying the fic. I'm flattered by the reviews! We've got at least 3 more chapters to go... at least... until it's over (tear). Eaglesenior, my first reviewer: I am posting because you told me to! :P haha.. ENJOY and YOUR CONTINUOUS FEEDBACK IS MUCH WELCOMED! Let me know what's good/what sucks! 8.24.08
Disclaimer: I don't own South of Nowhere or the characters.
"False alarm."
"What?" Ashley asked skeptically as Remi handed the pen back to her.
"It's GHB. I'm almost positive." Remi glanced down at the blonde. "Plus she's got a steady pulse."
"GHB? As in the date rape drug?" Ashley raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Then why is she so pale?"
"She's probably dehydrated. She smells like she's had just as much to drink as you did." She scrunched her face. "Can't you smell it?"
"…Yeah can we forget that whole incident with me and the alcohol ever happened?" She blurted as she bent down to grab the black device next to Abe. "Damn it. I should've known he was onto Spencer from the moment he saw her. He even tapped her line."
"And what about Lucas?"
"Tell him to leave New York now." Ashley's glance conveyed the seriousness of the situation. "Don't call the bar or his phone. Call a friend in New York and have them deliver the message personally."
"Alright." Remi nodded. Her gaze moved from the corpse on the ground to the device in Ashley's hands. "What do you suppose his intentions were?"
"By the looks of it," Ashley scanned its contents, "he was trying to do some serious clean up." She turned it off and placed it on the table. "He wanted to make sure no information leaked out. So he was probably going to torture Spencer 'til he got the info he needed. Then he would've killed her." She gathered the blonde's resting body into her arms when they heard a quick knock at the door. Remi looked to Ashley. "It's probably Sacha's guys. Get the door, would you?"
"Sure, why not?" She nodded hesitantly before walking past the kitchen to the door. "Guess there's no turning back now." However, Remi opened the door to find a somewhat flustered brunette.
"Who are you?" Kennedy asked in bewilderment before her eyes darted to Abe's corpse, and finally to the sight of Ashley gently laying the unconscious blonde on the couch. "What did you do to Spencer?" She came charging in as Ashley looked up.
"Great." Ashley stood her ground against the angry brunette. Remi looked to Ashley for answers as she followed in Kennedy's haste.
"I knew you were a killer." She lunged forward, but found herself being held back by Remi. "What did you do to her, you crazy psychotic bitch?"
"Get this good-for-nothing trash out of here!" Ashley instructed Remi.
"I'm gonna kill you!" Kennedy responded in searing hatred.
"Honey, please." Ashley scoffed. Kennedy jerked herself out of Remi's grasp and sprayed mace in Ashley eyes. She groaned and dug her hands into her eye sockets as Kennedy reached out to yank her by her hair. With her eyes shut tight, Ashley threw out a right hook and knocked Kennedy back. She tripped over Abe's corpse, and immediately crawled away from the bloody morbid sight.
"Oh!" Remi called out in a moment of epiphany. "She's Spencer's ex? That makes sense." She looked down at Ashley, now sitting on broken glass and covering her eyes. Kennedy slowly stood up, licking and dabbing some blood from her already swelling lip. Remi watched her carefully and even tried to lend a helping hand. "Spencer's fine. Ashley saved her before this one could do any harm." She kicked at the corpse, which ended up being a subtle tap. Abe's head, which was cocked to the side and out of place from the deformity of his broken neck, shook slightly.
"I saw him on my way out. He looked suspicious." The tone in Kennedy's voice finally lulled. "Who was he?"
"The real bad guy." Ashley interjected from behind her palms before squinting in her direction. "You know, for being the head of a prestigious law firm, you are one dumb fucking idiot for ever thinking I'd actually hurt Spencer."
"Can you blame me? You're a killer!"
"Shut the fuck up." Ashley raised her voice over Kennedy, who started to fall into a bad-mouthing monologue. "You don't know me!"
"This is too funny." Remi giggled. They both gave her a look, caught off by her unexpected interruption.
"Remi, shut up." Ashley grumbled as she squished her eyes behind her hands. She pushed herself up off the floor and trudged towards the kitchen. Kennedy put her guard up as she watched the brunette pass by.
"The last thing we need is for more people to get dragged into this mess." Remi sighed, crossing her arms and leaning against the back of the couch.
"What exactly is going on?" Kennedy shook her head in frustration at Remi. "It doesn't seem like I'll get a straight answer from little miss violent over there."
"You used mace on me." Ashley turned the faucet knob. "What the fuck did you think was gonna happen?" She bent down and flushed her eyes with cold water.
"Do I need to put both of you on timeout?" Remi cut Kennedy off before she could make some smiting remark. "Tell me. What do you know?" Remi pulled her aside. Before Kennedy could answer, they heard yet another knock at the door. Ashley wiped her eyes on her sleeve and kept her hand on her pistol as she peeked through the peephole. She opened the door to two impassive men. There stood Ralphie with his hand reached under the hem of his coat, resting on his holster. The man next to him stood at least a foot taller and twice as wide. He had deep-set wrinkles between his brows and appeared to be callous. His hard glare and underbite accentuated his austere exterior. He shadowed Ralphie as he stepped in and looked around.
"We don't have much time." He took his hand off his holster, finally noticing others in the room. "Natasha?" His tone was very slightly disdainful as he squinted at Remi.
"Ralphie." She crossed her arms, her tone matching his.
"What are you doing here? You hanging around this one now?" He pointed his thumb at Ashley. "Is this your way at getting your revenge against the Firm?"
"I go where I'm asked. And if it happens to be against the Firm, then that's a plus."
"Kale won't be happy about this, much less his father."
"If I can be the thorn in ol' Niko's side, I'd gladly take it as a small retribution for everything he's taken from me. Speaking of, how is the old man? Has he croaked yet?"
"Mr. Nikolai is alive and well. Thank you for asking."
"That's a shame."
"Natasha—"
"It's Remi now."
"Whatever." He dismissed her remark. "What's in it for you?"
"Nothing." Ashley intruded. "She's my friend. She's with me." She looked down at her wrist, mocking Ralphie. "Now if you can get your goon to see this corpse out, we can be on our merry way. Like you said, we don't have much time." He paused before turning to the monstrous man to his side.
"You heard her. Get to it." His fingers directed his orders.
"Shouldn't we call the cops… or authorities properly trained to handle this situation?" Kennedy asked without thinking her words through. Ralphie and his towering bodyguard glared at the brunette, stepping towards her like they were going to strangle the breath out of her.
"As much as I'd enjoy watching these guys dismantle you, you really should just shut the fuck up." Ashley scoffed as Kennedy shrugged sheepishly, still unsure as to what was going on.
"Who the fuck are you?" Ralphie asked in his raspy voice as the other man began dragging and stuffing the body into a body bag. Kennedy didn't answer, for fear of her life. Ralphie turned to Ashley for an explanation.
"Don't mind her." She shook her head. "She was just leaving." Ashley then glanced at the brunette, signaling her out.
"Right." Kennedy started to tiptoe her way around towards the door.
"No." Ralphie drew his revolver, carelessly pointing it up. Kennedy froze in her tracks. "I don't know who the fuck she is, but she's plotting something. She wants to call the cops on us. I won't let that happen."
"I swear I won't call—" She held her hands up.
"Shut up!" He yelled over his shoulder at her. Everyone stood in place, waiting as Ralphie scratched his forehead with the tip of the barrel. "She's coming with us."
"What?" Ashley and Kennedy asked simultaneously in disbelief.
"Ralphie, no!" Remi blurted.
"You too, Natasha!" He waved the pistol at her. The other man zipped the body bag and threw it nonchalantly over his shoulder. He then poured a bleaching agent over the small puddle of blood. "Let's go!" He waved his revolver at the door.
"You got yourself into this." Ashley slightly shoved Kennedy towards the door. "You shouldn't have come back." Remi quickly followed and escorted the confused brunette out in order to prevent another ruckus. The other man followed with the body bag in hand as Ralphie holstered his weapon. He held the door open, watching Ashley as she went around and lifted the unconscious blonde into her arms.
"Inviting more guests to the party I see." He squinted in curiosity. "What tricks do you have up your sleeves?"
"You swear I wanted this to happen."
"You got them all involved in your business. Don't play the victim card." He shrugged. "Doesn't matter to me. But if you add more players to the game, the game plan has to change."
"Nothing's changed." She squeezed her way past him.
"We'll let Sacha decide that." He shut the door behind him.
When Spencer came to, she squinted and rubbed her eyes, unsure where she was or how she got there. She found herself engulfed in plush gold and green Egyptian cotton bed sheets. Spencer sat up and pushed the sheets off, feeling a cool ocean breeze flow from the double doors and windows. She briefly admired the Grecian décor perfectly complementing the sap green walls and dark curtains. Spencer rubbed her forehead and pushed her golden locks aside as she slowly made her way onto the patio through the double doors. She caught a semi-panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean glistening under the late morning sun just beyond the private pier. Below, she spotted what seemed like an endless number of pathways and stairways leading to other extensions of the mansion. At the very bottom, cabanas lined the grand lawn and fountain leading out to the infinity pool. She heard voices from the bottom of the staircase and inched her way over to listen in.
"My patience is wearing thin." Sacha exhaled.
"Then none of this is going to work if you don't let me do what's best." Ashley threw her hands up in frustration.
"All I have right now is a corpse of someone who could've possibly been a lot more useful than you right now." She put down her Mimosa and started lighting a cigarette. "You think I like having you around this long… and in my home?"
"Do we still have a deal or don't we?" Ashley dismissed her bitter remarks. Sacha sat in contemplation, brushing her black strands behind her ear.
"We have new terms."
"Like what?"
"You take us to whomever you say is the head of this operation, and I let you and your girlfriend go." She shrugged. "Natasha stays."
"No!" Remi blurted. "And I told you, my name is Remi now. Natasha is long dead."
"Hmm, something I can make a reality," a man's voice interrupted, "if you don't comply to our terms."
"Then I die." Remi argued. "Your whole family took everything from me, Kale. I'm not letting you take my dignity too."
"Why are you adding Remi into our deal?" Ashley asked Sacha.
"You got her involved. Not me!" She took a drag from her cigarette.
"Why don't you take her instead?" Ashley pointed at Kennedy standing aside against the cement pillars of the staircase.
"What?" Kennedy scoffed at the absurdity of the question.
"What use is she to us?" Sacha shook her head.
"She's… a lawyer. A conniving, wretched little train wreck with ties to the FBI." Ashley said in such disdain as Kennedy walked towards her with violent intent. Ashley stood in defense, but Remi got between the two.
"Wanna finish what we started last night?" Kennedy bucked up to her.
"You mean after you fell on the ground with a busted lip?" Ashley retorted. They both jolted when they heard a sudden gunshot.
"Enough." Sacha interrupted nonchalantly and slightly bored as she lowered her smoking pistol. "Who the fuck are you?" She asked Kennedy. "I am more confused after this little disturbing scene you played out in front of me just now."
"My name's Kennedy." She patted down her sleeves and walked back towards her spot by the pillars. Ashley brushed her hair aside and regained her composure as well before sitting back down.
"She's Spencer's ex girlfriend." Remi returned to her seat.
"We're both her exes." Kennedy pointed to herself and Ashley.
"Perfect." Sacha turned to Ashley. "Any more drama you plan on bringing to my doorstep?" Ashley did not respond. "Because if I have to witness another episode like this and it completely fumbles our fucking plan, I will personally see to it that someone pays with their life." She took another drag from her cigarette before putting it out. "My father has unfinished business with Remi. I assure you, no harm will come to her. So either you agree to my terms or this all ends now."
"How can we trust you?"
"That is the same question I ask myself." She crossed her arms. "My word is my bond." Ashley looked to Remi for her permission. Remi hesitantly nodded. "Good. Then we have a deal." Sacha stood up and grabbed her Mimosa. "We leave tonight." She turned and walked away with Kale following behind on a wheelchair, still healing from the bullet wound to his gut. He turned his head and briefly shared a sympathetic moment looking into Remi's eyes. Ashley sat and consoled Remi as Kennedy turned and walked up the staircase. She stopped when she spotted the blonde at the top. Kennedy turned to make sure Ashley hadn't noticed before quickly tiptoeing up to Spencer.
"Ken, what are you doing here?"
"Shh." She escorted the confused blonde to the far end of the balcony, looking behind her to make sure no one was in earshot.
"Where are we?"
"The von Kraten villas. Santa Monica." She paused and lowered her voice even more. "How long were you standing there?"
"Long enough to hear the whole thing." She furrowed her eyebrows as Kennedy blushed in embarrassment at the scene she had with Ashley. "Did Ashley really do that to you?" She gently ran her fingers over Kennedy's lip. Ashley and Remi reached the top of the steps and saw the two talking off to the side.
"That's besides the point. We need to talk about getting ourselves out of here."
"We?" Spencer asked in confusion, finally noticing Ashley and Remi in the distance. Ashley rolled her eyes and walked off, her bitterness consuming her.
"Ash!" The blonde called out, trying to get around Kennedy. She held Spencer back as they watched Remi go after Ashley.
"Spence, just let it be." Kennedy turned Spencer to face her. "You run with Ashley, you'll always be running. Fortunately, I know of a way where you can go back to your safe, normal life in Frisco."
"Oh really?" The blonde scoffed. "So I suppose everything's just falling into place for you so I can go back to Frisco and you and I can live happily ever after, right? How convenient!"
"This isn't even about you and me!" She wrinkled her eyebrows, irritated at Spencer's resistance. "She doesn't even care about you enough to keep you out of danger. Why don't you see that?"
"She saved me last night. And it shouldn't be any concern to you what Ashley's best interest is."
"You're missing my point, Spence! Listen—"
"No! You're never going to get over it, are you?" She shook Kennedy's hands off her arms. "Ashley and I are forever. I'd rather be running with her than letting you tell me how to live my own life." She walked down the balcony and around the corner to where Ashley had disappeared. Spencer stopped, spotting Remi alone on the steps of another staircase.
"Spencer." She stood up and walked towards her. "I don't think we've been properly introduced." She smiled slightly.
"Hi." She shook her hand. "Remi, I take it?"
"Yes."
"Excuse my haste. But where did Ashley go?"
"She went down to the cabanas. She needs her space I suppose." She paused as Spencer nodded. "But, I don't think she'd mind so much if you went." Remi stepped aside and allowed the blonde access to the staircase below.
Remi watched the blonde disappear down the numerous steps as she sat and also admired the scenic view. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath of air, a smile slightly forming at the corner of her lips. Her calming moment was finally interrupted when she heard the squeaking of a wheelchair behind her.
"Come to torment me?" She rolled her eyes.
"That's not why I'm here." Kale slowly stood out of his wheelchair.
"Then why?" She stood and turned to face him.
"If it's any consolation—"
"It's not." Remi interrupted as she crossed her arms.
"I'm sorry… for everything."
"Coming from you, that means nothing." She shrugged. "You haven't changed one bit, Kale. You still do everything your father tells you to."
"I have changed." He sighed. "And though I know it's too late for us, I won't let him hurt you."
"What business does he have with me? He despises my very existence."
"I don't know." He looked out into the distance.
"It's not too late, you know?"
"What?" His eyes panned back to hers. Remi uncrossed her arms and reached in her pocket.
"If you really have changed, you would do this for me." She handed him a small piece of paper. He read its contents.
"Is this for you?" He looked up.
"It's for Ashley." Remi paused. "But do this for me. You owe me that much." She turned and walked away.
Spencer strolled down the grand lawn, passing the fountain at the center and looking for Ashley. All the cabanas were empty until she reached the last one by the infinity pool. Spencer saw the hurt in the brunette's eyes, beyond the lack of emotion in her face. Ashley sat up as Spencer walked into the silky white tent.
"Can I sit here?"
"I suppose." She lifted her legs off.
"Ash—"
"Look, Spence." She interrupted. "I don't really want to talk, much less think, about whatever's going on between you and Kennedy."
"I know it might have seemed that way. But I'm telling you, Kennedy and I are completely over." She brushed Ashley's bangs across her forehead and to the side. "She just pulled me aside to talk."
"It's not what I saw today." Ashley sighed, staring into her deep blue eyes. "It's what I saw last night."
"Last night?" Spencer asked, unsure as to what she was referring to.
"I saw you and Kennedy… at the bar… kissing." Ashley shrugged it off in disgust.
"You were spying on me?"
"No!" Ashley stood up. "I was walking from Remi's pawn shop when, through the magical invention of the window, I saw you two."
"She kissed me!"
"Huh, okay." Ashley scoffed. "You made a considerable effort to get her to stop."
"Seriously?" The blonde sighed. "How old are we?"
"Don't patronize me, Spence." She started to pace. "I have reason to feel the way I do right now."
"Uh, I can throw in the you-having-sex-with-Abe bit, but I'm beyond that." Spencer shifted in her seat to face the upset brunette.
"That's different!" She blurted.
"It's all the same." Spencer shook her head. "I'm not here to argue with you and cut you down." She continued to watch as Ashley balled her hands into fists and huffed in her steady pacing efforts. "Words, Ash. Use your words."
"I just," she stopped pacing and let out a deep sigh, "don't like feeling so… used."
"Ashley," the blonde briefly stood and grabbed her hand to pull her back onto the chair, "I love you. Nobody else. You know that." Her soothing voice calmed Ashley's nerves. "Otherwise, why else would I be here?" The brunette's shoulder relaxed as she let rationality overcome her jealousy.
"Did you mean what you said last night?"
"What?"
"To Abe? Telling him I was your girlfriend?" Ashley looked slightly flushed as she pursed her lips, trying to mask her slight joy.
"Of course!" Spencer smiled as she found her fingers interlocked with the brunette's. Ashley crinkled her nose with a smile widening across her face. She placed her hand on Spencer's cheek and rested her forehead against her own. "Let's not fight anymore."
"Agreed." Ashley whispered before wrapping her lips over Spencer's. The brunette lost herself in the kiss, trying to maintain her cool composure when all she felt like doing was surrendering to the feeling of falling apart in her lover's arms. Spencer turned her head slightly and jostled her tongue over Ashley's lips and around her moist tongue, which elicit a small purr as the brunette exhaled. Ashley could no longer keep her composure. She slowly collapsed on top of the blonde, laying her gently on the reclining chair and tightly wrapping her arms around her waist. Spencer welcomed the gesture, hungrily returning the passionate kiss and brushing Ashley's hair behind her head while pulling her in absolutely closer.
Kennedy remained at the top of the villa where Spencer had left her. She leaned her elbows on the ledge and had watched intently as the blonde disappeared under the cabana where she saw Ashley had escaped to. She took a deep breath, weighing her different options before she pulled her cell phone out. Kennedy walked to a secluded location on the balcony, hidden behind shrubbery and exotic plants. She scrolled the directory and dialed out.
"Detective Trask."
"Hi, Detective. It's Kennedy Carlisle." She paused. "I think I may have some useful information for the FBI."