AN: Sincere apologies for the lengthy absence. It's been a tiring couple of months with the relocation work and then I recently caught the flu. I'm still recovering from a bad cough and thankful to have a few days to recuperate over the Easter weekend.
Again, I can't promise regular updates, though I wish I could. A big thank you goes to those who continue to follow my story and to everyone who was able to leave me feedback.
Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and Happy Easter!
Tanith
Chapter 53
Inspector Pete Rogers failed to stifle a yawn as he sat in the passenger seat of the LTD. "So, tell me again why I had to leave a gorgeous blonde alone in my bed at this hour?" he joked mischievously.
Irene let out a weary but good natured laugh. "Wow, blonde? You still owe me for the brunette, if I recall correctly."
"That was last month's news!" Pete scoffed smiling fondly at the memory of his long-term girlfriend. It had become an in-joke between the three if them each time Felicity would change her hairstyle. "I'm gonna marry that girl," he said quietly, almost to himself.
"Well, it's about time you popped the question don't you think?" Irene replied with a hint of sarcasm. Pete had been talking about getting engaged for months but that was as far as it ever got. Talk.
"I'm working on it! Besides, I haven't found the perfect ring yet."
Always excuses, Irene thought shaking her head. "Men, she said under her breath then took a sidelong glance at her partner and decided it was time to change the subject. "How's Felicity going with the hair salon?"
"Great! She loves it and I couldn't be happier for her," Pete replied, relieved that Irene was letting him off the hook with the marriage subject. At least or now.
The rest of the drive was spent talking about how they were going to retrieve the information they needed to help Steve clear his name and put an end to Holden's racketeering business.
Irene pulled over at the back of a less than modest looking apartment block and together with her partner of three years, she made her way around to the front entrance. With limited parking in the area, they had no choice but to park behind the complex which was making it impossible to tell if anybody else was paying the Lees a visit at the same time. Experience told them they would need to proceed with great caution.
Kim Lee drew back the sliding bolt with trembling fingers and opened the front door a couple of inches. She worked hard to form a blank expression on her face to mask the fear she felt for her daughter's safety. Two plain clothed detectives greeted her with their badges presented in front of them. "What can I do for you detectives?"
"Mrs. Lee, I'm sorry if we woke you. I know it's late but my partner and I have a few questions we'd like to ask. Is it alright if we came in?" Irene asked gently.
Kim visibly hesitated and held on to the back of the door, ready to close it on the detectives. "My…my daughter is asleep and I don't want to wake her. She is not feeling well. Could I call you later?"
"Please, Mrs. Lee. It's really important. I promise we won't take too much of your time and we'll speak quietly," Irene pleaded. She offered a warm smile.
Kim's eyes welled up as she tried to wordlessly convey the danger they were all in. In a faint whisper, she said, "Help me!" Then in a louder voice she added, "I'm sorry but I must insist. My daughter is in her room and is very ill. I will call you."
Inspector Rogers peered over the petite Asian woman's head and caught a flicker of movement behind her. The woman and her daughter were not alone. Her responses also indicated her daughter was out of the way which gave him and Irene the all clear to enter the apartment by force. He gave his partner a slight nudge with his elbow and she felt rather than saw the air shift as he moved his hand to the holster of his gun.
Irene raised her voice a notch when she replied, "I understand. We're sorry to have bothered you. Here is my card. Please call me as soon as you can." She passed a business card through the gap between the door and the frame while her other hand reached for her pistol. She gave Mrs. Lee a confirming nod and received one in return.
Irene steeled herself for what she expected to be a confrontation. She had no idea what awaited them on the other side of the door but from the way Kim Lee was behaving and her partner's movements, she learned from experience, they were about to enter a potentially dangerous situation.
In one swift and fluid motion Pete kicked the door inward while Irene pulled Kim safely outside. With guns held at the ready, the two detectives burst into the apartment.
"SFPD! Drop your weapon!" Pete yelled at the armed auburn haired woman standing in the room.
Caught in the act of a crime, the woman pointed her gun at the cops in turn, her eyes searching for a way out. She hadn't expected this. She had counted on the frightened Chinese mother's cooperation. Now she regretted allowing the brat to stay in her room. She could've used her as a hostage and bargained her way out.
"Don't do this," Irene tried to talk the woman down as she moved closer, her own gun raised in front of her.
There was no-where to go. She was trapped. Stepping back toward the window, the woman aimed her gun at the female detective and pulled the trigger.
