DEATH TAKES A BOW
Chapter Twenty Nine
"Where I have seen them shiver and look pale,
Make periods in the midst of sentences,
Throttle their practised accent in their fears,
And in conclusion dumbly have broke off."
Adam sat in the break room, nursing a full cup of coffee that was slowly turning cold. On the opposite side of the table, Fliss was finding it hard to sit still, as she drank in her new surroundings.
"Unbelievable," she said. "Like a movie set or something. And this is really where you work?"
He nodded, suddenly shy, like a young boy taking his high school sweetheart home for the very first time. Yes - that was the feeling. Adam remembered it well; the rapid heartbeat and the fear of disapproval.
"It's not grand, like your theatre," he mumbled.
"It's amazing," she told him firmly, sliding her fingers across the table and cupping his hand with her own. "And your boss is great."
"Oh. I mean... yes, he is." It was Mac who had suggested that Fliss might enjoy a visit the lab, and Adam was still recovering from the surprise. The Prestige Theatre had closed its doors, since the show could no longer go on. Too many actors missing, and too few understudies. Dejected, the company was forced to admit defeat. Yasmin Anwar had fought their corner yesterday, but now she was gone, and no one else had the strength or the inclination to resist. Somehow, the heart had gone out of the whole endeavour. Tickets were being refunded already, and the play was in limbo until a new cast could be found.
Riding back to the lab in Danny's car, Adam had let Fliss sit in the front seat whilst he huddled behind her and stared at the back of her head. Just how many embarrassing stories had his friend had told her as they were roaming the theatre together? They certainly seemed to be getting along like a house on fire. To make matters worse, the pain in his side had begun to throb constantly, like a toothache. Still, Adam had chosen to ignore it. Mac was his immediate problem, not some ridiculous bruise.
Mac had taken Henry's stammered confession in his stride, and with far less surprise than Adam had expected. Now and then, he had glanced at the lab tech sharply, making him blush and duck his head. Clearly, Mac was mad because he hadn't left the theatre after being dismissed from the case. That was the only conclusion he could draw from his boss's behaviour. Standing off to the side, Fliss and Danny had listened in silence to Henry's tale. Behind them, on the couch, sat Peter Reynolds, his hair set free and his face devoid of make-up. He looked weary and dull; a man aged by sorrow. All that was left of Oberon's magic was the long green robe, which he continued to clutch around him like a refugee's blanket. Adam was filled with sorrow for Peter - but somehow, he pitied Henry even more.
That was two hours ago. Since then, Mac had called for a squad car, placing both Henry and Peter under arrest; one for causing the death of Rowena, and one for obstruction of justice. He had followed them down to the precinct himself, warning Adam to meet him back at the lab.
As Henry had left the theatre, he lifted his eyes and held Adam's gaze for a moment, seeming to gain strength from the man who had saved his life...
"Drink your coffee," Fliss advised, slipping off her seat and moving closer. "You look dreadful. It'll warm you up."
Adam jumped. For a moment there, he had forgotten where he was. A creeping numbness had begun to invade his body, slowly turning him to stone. He knew exactly what it was. He had felt it before. Shock was claiming him, now that the danger had passed and the world was trying to get back to normal.
Normal...
Was there really such a thing?
He sighed - but Fliss was there. Sensing his dark and lonely mood, she cuddled up and held him close, regardless of the stares that came their way. "Thanks," he murmured. "Please - don't leave me."
"Adam."
Looking up, he saw Mac standing in the doorway.
"With me. Now," his boss commanded.
Adam stood - a stiff and awkward exercise. Fliss rose too, but one look from Mac was enough to make her pause and retake her seat, as Adam left the room with a helpless, backwards glance in her direction.
Inside his head, a funeral dirge was playing.
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Closing the office door behind them, Mac told Adam to take a seat. The lab tech looked exhausted, and more than a little shell-shocked for some reason.
"Um - could I stand?"
"If you want to." Mac rested casually on the edge of his desk. "Adam - why are you nervous?"
"What?" He looked startled. "Well... because I messed up, didn't I? I hid in the theatre when I should have gone home. I got myself lost and made you all go looking for me... Well, not you, but... Danny and Fliss, you know, and... What?" he said again, as Mac continued to stare at him quietly.
"Adam. I'm not angry with you. Don't you know that?"
"Sure; I guess. I mean... actually, no. You're not?" His bleak face lit up with a sudden hope and Mac had to smile. Really, the man was impossible.
"How did you do it?" he asked, with genuine curiosity. "What made Henry confess like that?"
Adam looked cagey. "I talked him into it?" he offered.
"Is that a question or an answer?"
"Oh. An answer. Definitely, boss. I talked him into it. He's not a bad person, okay," the lab tech added. "And he didn't mean to kill her. I really do believe that. Will they be very hard on him? I.. I promised to speak in his defence, if that'll help."
"He confessed to you," Mac said. "Of his own free will. I'm sure you can testify to that. So yes, it'll help. This was manslaughter, not cold-blooded murder."
Adam nodded. "Nathan Howell gave him the drug. Henry thought it was harmless - just a hallucinogenic."
"Ah yes; your friend Nathan." Mac's arms folded across his chest and he narrowed his eyes into a penetrating stare. Adam fell silent and studied his feet. One hand crept to his side and then fell away. "That's a person I'd very much like to get hold of right now."
"I hope you do." Adam winced, as he shifted on his feet uncomfortably.
"Take a seat," Mac insisted once again.
"I... no, boss. I'm fine."
As a master of deflection himself, Mac saw through the lie straight away. Enough dancing around the subject. Time to be blunt. It was all too clear that Adam was hiding something, and Mac had a shrewd idea what that might be.
"Then tell me what's the matter with your side."
The look on Adam's face was evidence enough that he had hit upon the truth. With an obedient shrug, he reached down and lifted his shirt.
Mac frowned. First Stella, now Adam.
"That's an ugly bruise. Why on earth would you keep it a secret? Tell me how you got it."
His words were firm, but only because he was filled with deep concern. Why should Adam feel reluctant to confide in him about a painful injury?
Once again, Mac's mind flew back to yesterday afternoon and he felt a twinge of shame.
"A fist. And... an accident. I got hit twice in the same place. Bad luck, that's all - you know me. I promise, boss; I'll go with Fliss and get it checked out as soon as I leave here."
"Do that. Please." Mac could tell that Adam was still hiding something. Something to do with the unknown time that he had spent with Henry, at a guess. His eyes were solemn, and pleading. Don't ask me any more questions, they seemed to say. Mac had a choice - and he chose to trust the man. "Very well, then. You can go. And Adam...?"
"Yes, boss?" he said, as he lowered his shirt and headed for the door with obvious relief.
"I'm recalling your suspension. If the doctor clears you, I'll expect you back at work tomorrow. Understood?"
The look of joy on Adam's face showed that, yes - he truly understood.
"Good job," Mac said gruffly, and he meant it.
Adam hurried away as fast as his legs could carry him. Off to find Fliss, no doubt, Mac guessed. He was surprised to find that he envied them. Their connection seemed so fresh, and so... uncomplicated. An adventure, newly begun.
Walking quietly to his door, Mac stared down the hall. He could just make out a mass of curls bent low in concentration.
Tonight... he thought, as he smiled at Stella's distant silhouette.
Enough dancing around the subject.
Time to be blunt.
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A/N: This story keeps on getting longer. At least three more chapters to go, as I still have a few things to round up! Coming next - the bet... Who will end up in tights?
Thanks to Lily Moonlight for her editing advice.
And, of course, thanks to everyone who keeps on reviewing. You're amazing!
Hope you enjoyed the update.
