Chapter 34: A Sisters Concern
Linda pats the little punk down "Still see you got the hots for me" Kenny cooed "Shut up" she slaps his head "Don't say anything until I'm done ass face" she forcibly put him against the hood of her squad car, she searches his pockets. Linda pulls a small baggie of hemp out of his right pocket "Hey I got a prescription for that" he mentioned "A prescription for what? Being stupid?" Linda tossed the baggie away "Well I see you haven't changed a bit" Kenny looked back at her "Still the same old hard ass girl I knew" he smiled as he turned around "And you're still the same smart ass that I never liked" Linda remarked in a distrustful manner "So what'd you want? Miss me?" Kenny playfully poked "It's been years, I mean, you're a little taller and I'm a bit more handsome...". Her hand wraps around his throat "Don't push your fucking luck with me you scroungy little fuck...," he looks into her eyes "Don't think I haven't forgotten about that stunt you pulled in my room when you were little".
"You mean...that little kiss...? I-I said I was just playing...can't you take a fucking joke?" he coughed as he laughed "Let go...can't breathe...". Linda released then shoved him against her squad car "That-That was a long time ago" Kenny caught his breath "Besides, you look like you enjoyed it" he chuckled "What was that...?" her hand goes to her gun "Never mind" Kenny disregarded the previous comment "Now I know why Sunny always got into trouble as a kid".
"You're blaming me for what Sunny did as a kid?" he laughed "It wasn't my idea to join the gang remember?" he looked at her "Besides it was Sunny's idea, she needed the money, all to help your mom pay off that asshole she owed money too" "But you didn't stop her did you?" Linda pointed out "You didn't say anything, you couldn't talk her out of it; some friend you are.
Linda crossed her arms "You can't blame me for anything that she did" Kenny gave this cocky look "Wasn't your mom the one who gambled that money away?" "What did you say?" Linda tilted her head "You think we had it easy? Our mother worked her ass off to give us a better life, you don't fucking insult her" she told her bit "You think our mother was bad? What about your mom Kenny?" Linda went off the edge "Who was your mom again?" Kenny got upset "Oh that's right! Your mom was a low level skank spreading her fucking legs and snorting coke when she got a bit" Kenny fumes "Fucking whatever trick she saw!" Linda lets out a fake gasp "Your mom was nothing more than a coke whore who had the rotten luck of popping you out of her-!
"SHUT UP!" he puffs out his anger "Oh, I hit a nerve! Hurts doesn't it?" Linda bats her eyelashes "I mean after all, that is the truth". Linda backed away "Why are you here? Just to fuck with me?" Kenny questioned "I need to know if you talked to Sunny lately, that's all" she kept her distance "I saw her when she came back into town, we hung out a few time but after that I haven't spoken to her since then" Kenny walked towards a nearby trash can and put a toothpick into his mouth "I've been trying to call her but she just ignores me" "Wouldn't blame her if she ignored you, I know I would" Linda defended her sister "Oh? Well your bitch ass sister owes me, she moved to Vinewood and now lives in some big fucking house; she could have thrown something my way; but no. Selfish bitch". Linda snatched the toothpick out of his mouth and flicks into his face "Don't ever call her that" she warned "She has something that you won't ever have, not just brains but a really big fucking heart".
Kenny stood an inch from Linda's face "Are we fucking clear?" she raises her finger to him "Whatever" he sarcastically mouthed.
She opened the door to her squad car "You know, you can blame me for Sunny getting into trouble when we were kids but that doesn't change the fact that she fucked herself into that-". The baton strikes into his stomach, Kenny falls to the ground coughing and wheezing "I warned you but you didn't listen, don't speak of her like that" Linda puts her baton back into it's holster "Don't make me come back here otherwise you're not going to get that baton, you'll get something way worse than that" she says as she starts the squad car."See you around smart mouth" she snarks. Kenny looked on as he got up, now he has a bigger reason to hate Sunny. Everything that was said and done made his blood boil.
Linda's apartment
The files that she's gone through have some insight of the Task Force but nothing incriminating. Linda would sneak into the records room and snatch whatever file she saw with their names on it. She would read whenever she had time. Whether it was on a patrol, during her lunch break or even into the late hours of the night she would comb through whatever she saw. Even though some of the information she saw wasn't what she was looking for it still good enough to get some insight. The things that she read put her mind in detective mode. She wonders if she should have taken the detectives exam the previous year. The first file that she read was the basic kind, an arrest of a suspect who was caught with $350,000 worth of ecstasy and at least fourteen firearms. Charges ranged from interstate trafficking to possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and felony possession of firearms. Their was the one thing that stood out though: the person in peculiar was given only a twenty eight month sentence. Everybody else got ten to fifteen while higher ranking members were given the max of life with no parole.
Two more files down, this time the conviction of a Ballas crew that was running a crack operation. Everybody pleaded out but the money from the bust went missing. The second file stated that a lieutenant of the crew must have run with, only that didn't make sense since a month later he was shot and killed while hold up in girlfriends house in Alta. The money that was reported missing was never found. All those leads went to theories but nothing more. "Doesn't make sense..." Linda whispered under breath as if the missing piece of a huge puzzle was needed to desperately to be found and put in it's place.
The third file didn't show much as two women were found with a stash of prescription medication from the burrows of Liberty City. But like the previous two files something was off. The women copped out to a plea bargain but both went missing and weren't heard from again. Approximately two weeks later a car, their car to be exact, was found on the upper lot of a parking garage. The trunk was opened only to find the both of them dead with several bullet holes covering their bodies. Apparently it was ruled a gangland execution but somehow it didn't feel gangland related in her mind.
The fourth file was the one that really opened some doors. Eight months prior a violent shootout occurred between a new set of Ballas and a Grove Street crew. The whole thing was a simple dope deal. It was supposed to be a sort of truce. It was done in a warehouse. Only things got heated, heated fast. Bullets started flying. Both sides were taken down in a rapid fire motion. Nobody was left standing. Linda remembered directly that she was one of the responding officers at the scene. The whole thing was chaos. All the bodies covered in tarps to make sure that nobody saw the bloody massacre. She remembers that a police helicopter hovered above. The gust from the rotter blew one of the tarps off exposing one of the bodies. The corpse had multiple bullet holes in the front of it's shirt which was also covered in blood. The one thing that Linda won't forget that in his hand was a cellphone which was still ringing and taking messages. That thing wasn't a gangland murder; it looked more like an ambush. The money and the drugs were reported as missing.
To Linda it felt like more pieces of a puzzle were fitting into place but it still felt incomplete.
Like that big piece that was supposed to fit into place was still out there, just waiting to be uncovered.
She got the insight that she needed and the dark path that she was cautiously walking down on. Linda decided to take a break from all the snooping. And she decided to it something that she hasn't done in years.
To lots of people if they asked what a VCR was then you would have to tell them that it was something to watch movies back in the day. They would have given that person a weird look of what the fuck and what's that strange thing that you're putting into it. Linda dug around in her closet to find things that she may have missed besides old family photos. The VHS tapes were in a rectangular box, while the VCR was something she found at a swap meet for a small price. People today would be using nothing more than DVD players; to them this was ancient technology. What did they know with their mopeds and vegan garbage. After hooking everything in Linda pops the first tape in. The screen flickers and a new old image of the past is on the screen.
"Sun Hi? Where are you?" her mother playfully wonders as she tries to find Sunny "Hmm? I guess I have to finish all this strawberry ice cream by myself" "Strawberry!" Sunny jumped from her hiding spot "I see you!" Sunny laughed and runs away as their mother began to chase her. Sunny hopped onto the couch and laughed as their cornered her and tickled her.
Linda fast forwarded. It was strange seeing this. But hearing her mother's voice and seeing Sunny as a child was refreshing. She stops.
"Sunny, hold still! I'm trying to dry you!" Linda kept her still but Sunny kept squirming and giggling as she was drying her body "It tickles!" she giggled as she finally slipped and ran butt naked into the hall "Sunny! Where are you going? Oh my god!" Linda laughed as she chased down Sunny "Sunny come back! Someone is going to see!". Linda finally catches up and nabs the little naked girl "See what you did Sunny, you made the floor wet!" Sunny just laughs like a goofy brat.
Linda stopped the tape. It made her feel depressed seeing that. But it gave her purpose.
Protect the one person she had left in her life. The one person who she was really ever close too. The one person that she never stopped caring about.
She should say something to her but she doesn't know what to say; not only because she doesn't have enough information. But because they were mostly still distant with each other. Linda knew even though they broke some ice on her previous visit, it didn't mean that they were talking to each other. Sunny may have left Tupperware trays full of Korean food but that their was still a matter of trust between the two, it was there. Albeit a very shaky trust. And Linda may have given Biscuit back to her but that still wasn't enough. In her head she fully if she were to talk to her about this maybe Sunny might be able to trust her. Linda thought to herself that she needed a way to communicate with Sunny.
Then it hit her.
She knew the one person who might be able to help her out.
The Last Ride Strip Club, the next day
Roberta looked straight ahead as her guest did the same thing. It was awkward to say the least.
"So...what can I do for you?".
Linda sighed with nervousness "How is she...?" she asked "She's doing good, just taking it one step at a time" Roberta looked over at her "I remember this place used have some little worm as a manager, something happened?", Roberta breathed quick "He got into a car accident, which put me in charge of the whole place" Roberta felt a sour taste in her mouth when mentioning the previous owner "Sorry to hear that" Linda gave a condolence "Not like I care, he treated everyone like crap, he gave me crappy pay and this place suffered because of it; I'm not sorry one bit that he's gone" Roberta felt no regret saying it "I met the fucker once, smarmy little fuck" Linda spat out the window.
"When we took over, things started to improve. More revenue and more customers, we really hit it off" "We?" Linda wondered "Sunny," Roberta chuckles "I made her the co owner". Linda laughed a bit "You made her a co owner? Oh my god" "You can laugh but things have improved since she's taken over, I mean the girls seem more happier and a bit more cheerful".
"That's pretty good, I guess; still don't like her working in a strip club though" she shook her head "We got something coming soon, it's just going to take a while" Roberta looked a little bit more happy. "Is their a reason you're here?" Roberta looked at her "I know you didn't come here just to check up on Sunny.
"You're right about that. I need you to setup a meeting of sorts between us".
Roberta looked confused "A meeting? Why? Is she in trouble?" "No, she's not in trouble.
"Are you going to arrest her?" she got more shaky "No! Look I'm not going to do anything to her, okay?" Linda reassures "I just need to talk to her, that's all". Roberta stared at her, she could see that she was desperate to talk to the love of her life; their was no malicious intent of any sort. This looked genuine. "What do I say to her?" she asked "I don't know, just make something up; just say something; anything". Roberta sighed "I'll-I'll say something, okay? But the rest is up to you", Linda gave a simple nod "Okay" she replied "Thank you".
"I got to get going, otherwise everybody is going to get worried" Roberta opened the door of the squad car "Listen," she looked back "I know about that old teddy bear that Sunny got; I know you were the one who gave it to her; it was really nice that you did that" Roberta compliments "Is she...happy?" "He's always by her side whenever we go to sleep".she smiled warmly "It's nice to know that" Linda felt a lot more better "See you around" she waved her off. Linda hoped that maybe that this girl that her sister loved with all heart can bring something together for the two them. Just like when Linda went to Sunny's house and talked to her, she thought maybe things are going get better, if not, brighter.
A few days later, Sunny's house, Vinewood
Sunny was told by Roberta their was guest waiting for her by the pool. A guest she wondered. She never got many personal guest, other than Geraldine and Chelsea. Though Chelsea was still blackmailing her to use her pool. Roberta said that it was someone special but nothing more than that. It didn't feel suspicious but it didn't mean that she should let her guard down.
She cocks her .45 and tucks it under behind her shirt. She head to the pool area to see who was waiting for her.
Sunny stepped into the back and saw who was waiting for her. A part of her somehow knew it was her.
Linda stood by the railing. She wasn't wearing her police uniform; her hair was tied in a simple ponytail. She wore a white t-shirt with dark blue pants. To Sunny this felt strange. When things like this happens it usually is a trap. But it was different for her, it was all mellowed out for her. This didn't feel like a trap. She didn't feel scared even though she should be.
She quietly approaches her "You know I never get tired of seeing this view," Linda spoke elegantly of the big space of the area "I can see why you choose it".
...
Sunny took her place next to her but scooted a few inches away from her.
It was mostly to keep herself from doing something that she might regret.
"It's great especially when the sun goes" Sunny softly spoke back to her "It's really beautiful to look at if you're feeling down". She stared straight ahead at the view "You know I remember your hair used to be longer" Linda remarked "I remember that mom would always brush it, give you a ponytail or do pigtails" "Yeah I remember..." Sunny kept starting at the openness "I remember that she used to give you bangs but you never liked them, even though she said you looked adorable with them.
"Well I didn't like them, people would tease me about them; that's why I always undid them" Sunny annoyingly answered "I think she'd freak out seeing your hair like that, she probably think you look like a boy" Linda slightly teases "Well I like my hair this way, okay?" Sunny rolled her eyes "Besides, I cut it like this while I was inside so nobody could grab it and slam me into the ground" she answered "She'd still say that you look like a boy, I mean you do look like one from a distance" "Shut up alright, you don't know nothing" she scowled "Just saying". With a sigh Sunny looks at her "What do you-?" "What happened to your arm?" Linda suddenly asked "What?.
"Your arm has a scrape, did you get hurt?" she questioned "Nothing happened, I just-", Linda suddenly grabs her sisters arm and examines it the scrape "What are you doing?" Sunny tried to squirm herself away "Hold still, I'm not going to hurt you" she examines the already healed scab "I said I'm fine" Sunny yanked her arm away, she covers it with her other hand "I-I just had an accident a couple of weeks ago" she spun a story "I went bike riding with Chelsea and I wasn't paying attention, I fell down and hurt myself" she looked away "Okay" Linda tells her "Accidents do happen". Sunny backed away again "What do you want and why are you here?". Linda looked at her with a serious gaze "Right, how have you been? Haven't heard much from you" "I'm fine, everything is good". She could still see the distrust on her face "I just wanted to make sure you're okay" "I said I'm fine" Sunny looked away.
"I loved the food you made me, it was really good" she thanked "It tasted the same way mom made it, not as perfect but just as good; that was really nice" "Is that it?" Sunny looked at her impatiently "Right, I forgot what I was here for.
"Have you spoken to Kenny lately?" Sunny looked at her confused "What's it to you?" "Nothing, you two were always close back then; you haven't spoke as of late?" "I stopped talking to him a while back, I can't handle his bullshit. He's always asking me stupid things, he knows I'm not going to give it to him" she seemed irritated about talking about him "I really wouldn't blame you he's too much of an idiot" Linda said as she stood her ground "I need you to do something for me" she suddenly asked; Sunny felt like was something was going to happen. "I need you to stay away from Kenny, just stay away from him; something feels off about him" Linda suddenly ordered "Why?" Sunny asked "Because I said so and because it might save your life" she says her opinion "Kenny has a mouth but he's harmless, so no" Sunny retorted "You really don't know do you?" Linda tilts her head "What are you talking about?".
"Kenny's been busy over those years that you were gone, broke into the drug trade after he split from the gang. Just some rumors here and there but I've heard that he's been making quite a fortune with meth and black tar for the last several years", Sunny stood by speechless "He's made a lot of money but he's never been tied to any group and the department can't seem to touch him even though their's enough evidence to put him away for life, it's probable that he might be working with a higher power that no one knows for sure; right now I advise to stay away from him".
Sunny shook her head "No, no, you're lying" she looked at her "I'm not, not about this" Linda firmly tells her sister "You're making it up, I know you are" Sunny backs away "Sunny..." Linda walked towards her "We were raised together, I wouldn't lie to you; you know that; you don't have to trust me. But have I ever lied to you...?" she gently put her hands on her arms and looked into her eyes "I never would want anybody to hurt you, I don't know what I would do if somebody did and I know you wouldn't want someone to hurt me" her voice reassures trust "You have to trust me not as a cop but as your sister...that's all I'm asking" Sunny looked at her and balls up her fist "I know you still don't trust me and we're barely on talking terms but you know I'm right, just search your heart".
Sunny slowly pushes her arms away and looks away "I think you should leave now..." she says "Fine, I have to do something else anyways; see you around". As Linda starts to walk away Sunny suddenly turns around "Wait" she stops her before she went further. Linda turned around "Say that you're telling the truth, what do you get out of it...?" she questioned "Just you being safe, that's all" Linda gave an answer "Their's something else going on, because you seem to know more than you let on" Sunny asserts "Yeah, you're right" Linda looks back at her "Their's something else...something that I'm looking into but I don't have enough information yet, that's all you have to know right now". Sunny looks at her with suspicion, not entirely sure if this is a trap. One part of her is suspicious. The other part is telling her to trust her instincts. "If you don't believe me then fine you just do whatever it is you got to do but you need to watch yourself, because not everything is on the up and up" Linda warned "See you around" she walks away "Stay safe, do it for me".
After she left Sunny stood in the same spot. She didn't know what to make of it.
Her friend. Someone she grew up with and attended the same schools with. The boy who was her only friend growing up. The same boy who joined the gang with her. They took their fair share of beatings together and always had each others back if they were cornered. Drugs weren't an issue for her, Sunny has smoked a joint or two whenever the need arose itself. But after hearing everything that she heard finding out that her friend, no her best friend, was a pusher. It was hard, if not still hard, for her to believe it. Champagne pops and she looks at the screen. His name flashes. It keeps ringing. Her head spins fast. Sunny clenches and grits her teeth. Her heart and instincts tell her something that maybe for once, and probably for only that one time, that she should listen to reason. She swipes the end call app and then blocks the number.
She looked over the horizon. The sky starts to turn purple as the sun gets ready to set. A higher power pulling the strings, where have I heard that before...? Sunny stares out as she trained her thoughts on that one thing. The energy around her shifts. Violent images of an impending and possible event begin to haunt her mind. A betrayal? A stab in the back?
"No...say it ain't so..." she mumbles "Please tell me that it's not true..." a small tear drops down her cheek.
In a world that was violent and insane, their wasn't room to second guess things. But the question that was tossed around went like this: who are your true friends?
Who are the ones who will stand by your side through thick and thin?
And who are the ones who'd take the sharpest knife and plunge it into your back just to get ahead in the world?
Chapter 35 is coming soon. Rate and Review.