coming Undone

Otto watched the cops pull into the lot, tracking the two detectives responsible for all of this carefully as he turned to Junie with a reassuring smile. Johansen was a loose cannon working for some shadow player with his own agenda . . . but Castlebeck was the more dangerous of the two in the long run. The man was a good, honest cop . . . and had pretty much told them that he wasn't going to ignore what he saw here anymore. Which meant that even after the rat was exterminated they would have a constant thorn in their sides . . . Junie looked up at him, obviously upset before shaking her head and going to sit back at the desk. But he waved to her, stopping her right before she sat down.

"Sweetness I don't want you here for this . . . Lord only knows how this is going to go down . . . and I want you as far from it as possible."

She looked at him like he was crazy before shaking her head and crossing her arms, glaring at him as they heard the shop fall deathly still below them. Which meant the cops were in the building . . . But they weren't going to find anything. All of the parts were accounted for-on paper- and his real books were safely tucked away at Sphinx's apartment. HE turned, trying not to smirk at that. Ripley had been racking her brain with Atley and Memphis trying to find a spot to stick them that no one would ever find . . . and Sphinx had finally sighed and plucked them out of her hands, carrying them down his hallway into his bedroom.

He'd been so shocked by the gesture-however small- that he hadn't even thought to yell at them when Ripley practically pounced on the man; locking her arms around his shoulders while she kissed the daylights out of him. He sighed, remembering the way that Sphinx had gone stone still before melting into the contact. The others had about died before Ripley had remembered herself and pulled away, smiling up at him as she cupped his face. And the look on Sphinx's face had been enough to keep them quiet after Hex's snickers.

He shook himself, looking to Junie as they heard the heavy footfalls on the steps. He looked her over, picking up her keys and handing them to her with a forceful look. He didn't care if she got mad . . . he wanted her as far from all of this as he could get her. He'd already made sure Ripley wasn't going to be anywhere but with Sphinx today . . . and Junie needed to go. Castlebeck had integrity but Johansen wasn't afraid to fuck with family. And he would kill the sonofabitch for fucking with her . . .

"Please, Junie . . . I want you to be away from this. If something goes down I don't want you to see-"

She moved forward, stretching up to place her lips against his. And Otto knew it was a really bad idea but he couldn't help pulling her into him. She sighed against him, wrapping her arms around his neck before pulling away to lay her forehead against his.

"I love you . . . and I knew who and what I married when I said I do. And I am not ashamed of that fact. I'm not walking away from this and leaving you here to face all these idiots by yourself. You may not always do everything right, Otto. But you're a good, decent man . . . You're my good, decent man . . . and I'm staying with you."

He smiled, shaking his head as he pushed her red curls out of her face. And when the knock sounded on the door, she moved to stand beside him. Threading her fingers through his as she smiled up at him. He smirked down at her before looking up as Castlebeck pushed into the office, search warrants in hand as he looked them over. The cop nodded to them before stepping aside to let Johansen move into the office, looking it over as he nodded.

"Nice office, Halliwell. I guess being a thief really does pay off . . ."

Otto raised a brow before shrugging, glancing back at Junie as he grinned and squeezed her hand.

"No . . . having a good wife paid off . . . Junie and our girl overhauled this place last year. Said we needed to bring it into the nineties . . ."

Johansen looked at him before grinning darkly, snatching the warrants from Castlebeck and holding them out to him. As Otto went to take them he noticed one wasn't for search and seizure. It was an arrest warrant . . . for him. Johansen pulled out handcuffs, pointing down to his wrists.

"Well I hope they have fun running it without you. Otto Halliwell, you are under arrest for grand theft auto, trespassing, and the trafficking of stolen goods. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney . . . if you cannot afford one the courts will appoint it . . ."

Otto sighed, looking down to feet as they handcuffed him . . . and he almost gave in to the temptation to hit the man when he looked him over and grinned.

"Your girls aren't going to be able to get you out of this one . . . not any time soon anyway. Now . . . Where is Randall Raines?"


Memphis sat in the cell beside Otto's, looking up at the walls. He'd known this was going to happen . . . but they apparently had a lot more information then they knew about. Cacuzza wasn't the only one with a rat . . . and they had absolutely no idea who it was. And the bitch was he couldn't call Sway or Atley to get them to find it out either.

He sighed, glancing over to Otto as he stretched out on the cot, toes moving as he lounged. The older boost had kicked off his shoes and planted himself firmly on his perch . . . and he was acting like they weren't both looking at a dime a piece for this shit. He shook his head, looking back to the other empty cells. He was still learning from Otto . . . but even he couldn't act like this was nothing. If they found a way to make these charges stick . . . they were going away.

The door opening caused both of their heads to turn just as Junie and Rosen-the lawyer from before- pushed inside following Castlebeck . . . with Johansen on their heels. Junie looked the other cop over hatefully before turning to Castlebeck and crossing her arms. And Memphis could see that Ripley really did take after the her aunt more than either liked to admit . . .

"Well? I've posted that insane bail . . . and you're going to unlock those damn cages. Or I'm going to tear this place apart with my bare hands."

Castlebeck nodded, trying to hide his grin as Johansen glowered at her.

"There's no way you made bail. It was set at well over $250,000 . . . you don't have a legal out for that much money."

Junie looked at him before grinning as she shook her head and stepped forward, looking him over like she was looking at a bug. He'd never seen Junie look so damned sinister . . . but from the way Otto was groaning and shaking his head he was far too used to it. Jesus, no wonder he didn't do anything to piss her off . . .

"I have more than enough legally to do whatever I want, Detective . . . my family left me a very sizable amount of money that just sits in CDs and stocks. I don't appreciate having to bond it but I did what I had to . . ."

Memphis turned, looking to Otto as he shook his head. Before they both glared at the cop when he started shooting off his mouth again.

"The same family that Chaosia comes from? Tell me, Mrs. Halliwell how did your family make that money? Because both Edward and Millennia Guadimus had a sizable amount before they ever married. And you do too apparently . . . where'd it all trickle from?"

Junie grinned, shrugging before winking to Castlebeck as he unlocked Otto's cell first. And Memphis almost died when he heard what she told him. Seriously? Junie?

"Money my grandfather and great uncle made bootlegging during Prohibition is what we were always told . . . before it was turned and reinvested in the market after it recovered. But my family was old and had money before even then. Tobacco and cotton . . . Old Southern families tend to have more than we let on . . . and the way we keep it is by not acting like jackasses with it. Now if you're done I'd like to take my husband and our friend home . . . unless you have another stupid charge to try to file?"

Johansen's face was damn right terrifying before he stopped and nodded, grinning as he stepped out of her way. But as she went to walk them out he called out to her.

"I think I'll give my buddy at the IRS a call . . . we'll see how much money is yours . . ."

She rolled her eyes before turning to Rosen. Who nodded and pulled a file from his briefcase and handed it to him. And Memphis had to choke back laughter at the Internal Revenue Service seal stamped on the file folder. Junie grinned, turning to walk back out as she reach back and got him by the sleeve.

"Your very own copy of our audit last year . . . and every penny is accounted for. You may have fun knocking around my niece, Officer. But I am not to be trifled with. And you utter one more word about our 'source of income' and I'll sue your miserable ass for slander and defamation of character. We wouldn't want that . . . now would we?"

She turned, leading them out. And Memphis found himself with a whole new appreciation for Junie . . . she freaking rocked!


Ripley sat in front of Cacuzza, picking at her plate of pasta and chicken as they waited for the phone call from Rosen. She'd hated to come here and do this but she didn't have a choice. She couldn't let Memphis or Otto go down without a fight . . . and Rosen wasn't known as being affiliated with the mobster so he was still safe to use. Thank God she'd kept the money from the Turkey Run back just in case. She looked up as the cell phone on the table buzzed. And waited with baited breath as Cacuzza spoke into it.

He nodded, bidding his goodbyes before dropping the phone back to the table and picking up his glass of wine before looking over to her. He raised the glass and she let out a deep breath, nodding as she smiled and looked back to her food. Maybe she could actually eat now . . .

"They are out . . . for the time being. And remind me to thank Atley for the IRS tip . . . only Jackson would think to turn that burden into ammunition against these idiots."

Ripley nodded, smiling at him as she speared a piece of chicken on her fork. And as a new couple moved past their table in their expensive suit and dress she realized how terribly under dressed she was. She'd had to wait until Sphinx left for work to even try to do this . . . and had ended up having to go by Sway's to borrow clothes before running here. And while the tight fitting black dress shirt-with the sleeves rolled and cuffed to her elbows- and the jeans she'd worn yesterday would look dressy for the garage or most of the things she normally did, it looked painfully plain here in the midst of the mob. Even with her makeup and hair done and the black stiletto heels.

Cacuzza seemed to pick up on her thoughts and shook his head, reaching across and patting her hand as she flinched at the touch. God she needed to calm down . . . the man needed them right now as much they needed him . . . He wasn't going to give her cement shoes and send her on an extended vacation. Hell every time she saw him he wanted to feed her. She felt herself blush as she moved to apologize.

"Sorry . . . I'm still really jumpy and thank you. For getting Rosen down here so quickly . . . I don't know what we would've done . . ."

He waved it off before laying his hand back over hers, and she forced herself to relax. He was just being polite . . . no need to be all skittish. Yet . . . He glanced down at her other hand, brow raised as he spotted Sphinx's ring. And she was suddenly very thankful her retarded lover moved it to her left hand. Because it gave her an out for the uncomfortable tension settling around the table.

"This is new . . . a Christmas gift I presume?"

She nodded, smiling as she reached up and pushed her hair out of her face. She didn't even bother trying to act with this guy . . . he would see it. And then she would be sleeping with the fishes . . . and not of the Frankie variety either.

"Yeah . . . it was a real surprise. I wasn't expecting it at all . . ."

He nodded, lifting the hand to look over the ring before dipping his head to her once. And when he let her hand fall he removed his own and she felt herself really relax. Oh thank God . . .

"A fellow runner or someone from your . . . legal life? If you don't mind my asking . . . I know it's a bit personal but I find it refreshing that you are actually . . . candid with me. Its rare I get any conversation that isn't laced with ass kissing and begging . . . unless I manage to pump Paulo full of wine . . ."

Ripley laughed before she could help herself. He sounded so absolutely despondent at that fact that she couldn't stop the giggles. She was eating lunch with the mobster who didn't like people being too scared to talk . . . and she dated the guy that loved keeping people just that way. The irony wasn't lost on her . . .

"A runner actually. Now that you mention it Atley is the one who introduced us."

Cacuzza grinned, shaking his head.

"Jackson loves to meddle . . . It's always amazed me that as cold and terrifying as he can be he is still mischievous to a fault. I myself fell victim to a few of his more harmless . . . jokes when he was running exclusively for me. But no one ever could get him back . . . he was far too paranoid to fall prey to another."

Ripley grinned, leaning across the table.

"Well then remind me to get Frank to make you a tape. Because three of us joined forces and finally nailed his ass. I think his apartment still smells like rotten sardines . . ."

Cacuzza laughed, shaking his head as she watched the other people around them stop before going about their business. He rolled his eyes, picking up his wine as he motioned around himself.

"See? They scatter when I laugh . . ."

She raised a brow before shaking her head.

"Well you are kind of the boss . . . and people tend to scatter when big guys start laughing maniacally. Hell, I think Frankie and San almost died when Sphinx laughed a few months ago . . ."

Cacuzza stopped, looking her over before motioning for the waitress to refill his wine glass. And she started eating again as he spoke to her.

"Sphinx . . . That's the one that usually runs with Atley. He's positively a terrifying one isn't he? I think he almost made Paulo soil himself when he spotted him in the shadows . . . so I would imagine hearing him laugh would be close to seeing the grim reaper smile."

Ripley rolled her eyes before reaching out and picking up her coke as she shook her head. Seriously? Why did everybody think her boyfriend was an axe murder? Okay so he carried a huge blade . . . and he liked to try and dismember things that pissed him off . . . but he wasn't a homicidal maniac . . . yet.

"He's not that bad . . . he's just quiet and serious. But he gets Atley back all of the time . . . he stole his car two years ago and refused to show him where it was until Atley swore to lay off the pranks. They apparently have this big war around Atley's birthday . . . which is not the place you want to be in the middle of, let me tell you."

Cacuzza stilled, looking her over before he raised a brow to her. And she couldn't help the blush that spread over her cheeks as he spoke again.

"He's your runner . . . isn't he? You're with the Sphinx . . ."

She nodded, taking another bite before he shook his head and took another gulp of his wine.

"Well . . . no wonder you're not intimidated by me then . . . But I find myself unable to hold my curiosity at bay . . . So I have to ask . . . does he ever speak?"

She laughed, shaking her head before she winked to him over her next bite of pasta.

"Nope. And it keeps him out of trouble . . . most of the time anyway."

Cacuzza laughed, shaking his head as he raised his glass to her.

"Well . . . finish eating and then we'll look over the information Mr. Rosen is bringing us . . . Let's see what the police think they've got . . ."


Sphinx watched Ripley ease back into his apartment and almost snapped. Actually had it not been for Atley and Otto he would have . . . because he had no idea where she'd run off to until Atley had stopped by the morgue to follow him home. Hell, until Jackson had popped up he'd thought she was still at the apartment and just not answering the damned phone . . . And now that he knew that not only had she gone out-alone- but that she'd run off to Cacuzza he was more than slightly pissed. And she had gone dressed like this?

He'd never see the black dress shirt she had on but it fit her far too well for her to have worn out with the damned mobster. Just like the jeans . . . and she'd done her hair and makeup the way she had for Christmas . . . Oh they were going to have words . . . until she moved and he saw his ring glittering on her left ring finger. Well at least she'd left that on . . .

She smiled at them, moving to hug Otto tightly before looking up to him with worried watery eyes. And all thoughts of yelling at her disappeared as the first tear trickled down her cheek as she looked up at her godfather through her lashes. He didn't need to be close to see she was worried. And terrified.

"I looked over everything Otto . . . its bad. They have some witness that's willing to testify. To swear in a court of law that not only is Manday's a boost central . . . but that your shop is one of the larger chop shops in the greater Los Angles county. And that we've run boosts beside Johnny B's boys . . . who are wanted for a whole hell of a lot more . . ."

Otto sighed, running a hand soothingly down her back as he pulled her into his chest. But she shook her head, looking to them.

"This is bad . . . whoever knows about both shops. About every single runner that goes through both . . . and Johansen has filed to put them in witness protection . . . because they're rolling on Johnny B's crew too . . ."

Sphinx looked to Atley before the man nodded, grabbing his coat and going towards the door. Jackson would find everything he could . . . He stopped, reaching out and pulling Ripley into his side for a second before smiling down to her.

"Its gonna be fine, Buttercup . . . we'll take care of it. No one's going away . . . I swear, okay?"

She nodded, wiping at her eyes before smiling weakly at him.

"I know . . . I do all of this and I'm fine and then one little thing happens and I fall apart . . ."

Otto sighed, shaking his head as he pulled her back into him and kissed her curls.

"Its fine, Sweetpea. And its gonna be fine. Hell, if it comes down to it I can do ten years standing on my head . . . and you and Junie will have the house totally redone by time I get out. So don't worry . . . alright? I'm gonna go and check on the damned shop now that the vultures are probably gone . . . Start cleaning up the shit."

Otto turned, nodding to him as he extended his hand. And Sphinx didn't even try to refuse shaking it as the man smirked to him.

"Take care of her . . . and keep her here tomorrow, please? I get that her and Atley's discussion with Cacuzza was necessary but the last thing we need is a damn RICO bust. Them getting wise to him or us and grabbing all of us at once would be really bad . . ."

Sphinx nodded, looking down to Ripley as she stepped away from her godfather and into him. And he hated the fact that he could smell the spicy cologne the mobster usually wore. She'd been around him long enough -and close enough- that she smelled like him. He tried not to clench his jaw as he watched Otto and Jackson step out of the apartment. But as soon as the door was shut he turned to her . . . and was completely blown away as she wrapped her arms around his middle and buried her face into his chest; hot tears soaking through his shirts as she sobbed against him.

He sighed, pulling her to him as his anger faded . . . and he felt stupid. She wasn't interested in anything but helping the others. And any time she'd spent in the other man's company had been focused on that task and that task alone. He knew that without a shadow of a doubt but the knowledge was still alien to him. It was too odd for him to have someone that was solely and completely his . . . even if it wasn't permanent.

She shifted, looking up to him with tear-filled eyes as her bottom lip slightly quivered. And he felt his gut clench and twist as she sniffled. She looked so . . . heartbreaking . . . He reached down, pressing his forehead to hers as he pushed her hair out of her face before cupping her cheeks. She looked so small and helpless . . .

"It's going to be fine Love. Jackson doesn't promise things he can't deliver . . . and I swear that it's going to be alright no matter what. Do you believe me?"

She nodded, leaning into him as new tears traced down her cheeks and fell over his hands as he held her. But he could tell that she wasn't as sure as she was trying to act. He sighed, kissing her softly before pulling her back into his chest; letting her rest her cheek over his heart as his fingers threaded through her hair.

"I just want them to be okay . . . I don't want them to go to jail. I don't want Junie to be all alone . . ."

He sighed again, kissing her curls as he held her.

"If it comes to that-and I swear it won't – but if it does . . . Junie won't be alone. And neither will you. The crew won't allow it to happen . . ."

She looked up, eyes watery as she smiled softly. Hopefully . . .

"You . . . you're going to be with me regardless . . . right?"

He sighed, dipping to run his lips over hers lightly before he answered.

"I'm not going anywhere Love . . ."

"Promise . . ."

He nodded, kissing her softly before pulling away. And pushing her gently towards the back of the apartment. He knew she probably needed more than the few words and the little touches he'd given her, but it was hard for him to concentrate with her smelling like the other bloke. He would have to remember to go with her from here on out. Because Cacuzza would bleed for touching her if he witnessed it. She was his . . . until she didn't want to be anymore. And he wasn't about to let someone else taint that . . . not even their mobster benefactor.

"Promise. Now . . . go take a bloody shower . . . You smell like a mobster."

She laughed, snapping his suspenders before squeaking as he went to grab her. But she moved faster than he did, going to the hall before turning back to look at him coyly.

"Oh poor baby . . . Wanna wash my back? Make sure I get all off?"

He rolled his eyes but followed her, shedding his shirt and shoes as he went. If this was what she wanted-needed- then who was he to deny her that?

Especially when he was going to enjoy as much as she did . . .