prettydynamic: thank you to all of you who took the time to read this long story and share in the adventures and escapades i made for Sharon and Andy. Your comments mean a lot and it inspired me to write again. I learned not to let a few bad words of criticism stop me from entertaining the kind friends who enjoy my mushy and funny stories. I hope to see you al in my other stories. Once again, thanks a lot.
Sharon slid back on the manager's chair in her office until her neck lay comfortably on top of its cushion. Her dainty well-manicured hands massaging her temple back and forth to assuage the undeniable throbbing caused by the grueling questions hailed by the several officers of the different departments handling the murder in Warnors Theater and diamond theft.
It was the longest two hours of her life, and if an earthquake should strike the police administration building and save her from their scrupulous scrutiny, she would be most happy.
She languidly reached for the ice packet she had prepared and placed it on top of her head.
Of all the nights in the world, why would that bloody diamond theft happen on the night of her date with Andy Flynn?! Oh, and why oh, why did those notorious crooks choose to meet up three nights later, on the night of their Madame Butterfly show and at the very box they were billeted. If I could just scream my heart out. Can't fate just leave me and Andy in peace?
She sighed. Fate truly had startling unforeseen tricks up its sleeve which leaves one utterly helpless and at its mercy. She recoiled in her seat with her eyes closed as glimpse and pieces of the ill-fated night of August 23 played in her head.
She could recall the pleasant dinner-the romantic ambiance in the fine-dining restaurant. She remembered how happy and excited Andy was that evening, yet, she could see a tinge of nervousness in his eyes as though he had a bomb to lit but she dismissed it and let herself enjoy his company. She loved spending time with Andy. She could forget the demands and challenges of work, and the little misfits of her children especially Rusty who was still finding his identity and place in the sun being a teen-ager. With Andy, she need not be guarded and stern all the time. She was just herself Sharon Raydor.
Andy was retelling his hilarious antics with Provenza as they enjoyed the Fillet Mignon, the Oysters Rockefeller, and the peach mango parfait. They were such a riot!
Things were less lucid after dinner… damn it, Sharon, you shouldn't have drunk so much champagne.
She remembered the beach… but it might be her imagination. She and Andy have never gone on a beach together yet, but it was possible as Andy lived right next to Venice Beach.
Then next thing she remembered was waking up in Andy's apartment the next day. She swallowed hard as she felt the tingling sensation all over her body reminiscing their kiss right after she accused Andy of taking advantage of her incoherent state the previous night.
"I'm insulted. You thought I took advantage of you," he cried.
He showed her an overpowering prelude of what could have happened if he had taken what she had offered in her drunken state. His kiss… Even that morning had such power over her. It was disconcerting that she would often dream about that night... only in the dream, Andy did not walk away. They had made passionate love with each other. She felt feeling ashamed and wanton. As the adage goes, dreams were often times unfulfilled wishes.
"If something were to happen between us, I want you to remember every minute of it," said Andy in low tempestuous voice before he let her go.
It took a while before the sexual tension dissipated in the car ride going to Sharon's condo. It was very unnerving. It was the reason she could not tell anyone about Aug 23. She knew she could not narrate the evening without quivering and turning bright red on the face even if she omitted the sensual interchange that transpired between them.
It was a drastic decision she had to do when she was caught in a corner this afternoon during the questioning of the fellow police officers. She narrated her whereabouts on the 22nd and not the 23rd, after all, it was merely a formality on their report to establish she had not been in cahoots with the diamond thieves on Aug 23. Who remembers a night at the office weeks back anyhow? Each day is simply like the rest-full of murders and a pile of exhausting written reports.
It was way past 6:00pm and everyone must have left the premises. A complete feeling of peace began to overtake her and felt her faculties return to normalcy when there was a sudden knock on her door.
She sighed in disappointment but had no choice but to let her unwelcome visitor in. She felt her blood pressure rise, and her heart thumping wildly again when she saw Chief Taylor and the rest of the officers at the door. Her agony was not over yet.
But she maintained her undaunted composure as she welcomed them in.
In appearance, she still looked the intimidating and overbearing Sharon Raydor they have always known but deep inside was in shambles to say the least when people pry on her private relationship with Andy Flynn.
"Chief Taylor, what a surprise. Everyone's still here. Isn't it a bit late? Is this an authorized overtime?" she said in a calmly manner.
"Well, we just have to make a few clarifications, Captain. This will not take long. You see in the records of the department, everyone left early on the 23rd as the Travis Case has just been closed on the 22nd."
Her team began piling at her open door as well, ready to call it a day and at the same time wanted to check if there was anything else that may be needed. She caught sight of Andy, with crossed arms, seating at the edge of his desk but his expression was unreadable as he watched the group flocking on her door.
Sharon kept her cool.
"Wasn't the Travis Case closed on the 23rd, Julio?" she was hoping he'd back-up her story.
"Yes, I believe so, mam," replied Julio straightforwardly.
"But when we checked the vingcard records of the PAB everyone in Major Crimes were out by 5:00pm on Aug 23. The overtime was Aug 22," said Detective Garth.
"That time was a very long two weeks. The load was exceptionally heavy, each day seamed rather the same," put in Amy Sykes, trying to help.
"I'm sorry. I'm afraid I can't remember. You see it was quite some time ago…" said Sharon in a tone unperturbed.
"How about you Lt. Flynn? What do you remember on the 23rd?" asked Detective Garth.
Sharon's nemesis Lt. Matthews from FID broke in with a smug smile.
"To help you remember, I suggested to Robbery Homicide to check out the surveillance camera in the lobby of your condo to determine what time you got home… ah here's Detective Ross and Sargeant Waters now with the copy of the footage."
Sharon felt her throat had gone dry.
"You can't do that! You authorized this, Chief?" exclaimed Sharon.
"It's going to help establish that you have been home all night, isn't that right Chief Taylor," urged Lt. Matthews.
"Let's go to the electronics room and see so we can cut short this hullabaloo," said Chief Taylor.
"The security personnel of Capatain Raydor's condo was more than willing to help. I told them it was for investigation on the breaking and entering, and murder in her place."
Everyone started their way to the electronics room compliantly, but Sharon had not taken three steps out of her room when everything began to swirl around her. She felt the room closing in on her, she could hardly breathe. She knew without watching the video what they would see. She could see it all so clearly-she had arrived home at 5:30 but shortly before dinner, they would see Andy passing the lobby on his way to pick her up for dinner. Leaving his ID at the receptionist won't be necessary as he was a familiar face to them. Shortly, she and Andy would be seen leaving but there won't be any record of her coming back that night. She won't be in the camera footage until 5:00am the following morning when she and Andy tried to snuck back before Rusty woke up.
If I tell them I had been in a disco or a bar that was open till 5am will they believe me? But they would ask for the receipt… and the only receipt Andy can provide was French Restaurant that closes at 10pm. So where the hell did you go after 10:00, Captain?
She could no longer think and had let the darkness engulf her as she lost consciousness.
Andy was immediately beside her before she hit her head.
"Christ! Sharon!" he exclaimed as caught her in his arms.
Everyone started gathering around her as Andy was checking her pulse and wiping the sweat off her forehead. He gathered her closer in his arms.
"Sharon! Wake up," he cried.
"Move back, everyone. Give her air. Give her air.," he bellowed.
They could see fear and worry evidently displayed on his face.
Detectives Ross and Garth came close to see how she was but Andy would not let them.
"Don't touch her. Leave her alone," he commanded.
He carried Sharon and laid her on the couch inside her office.
"This wouldn't have happened had you not kept pestering her!" he yelled angrily at the detectives, his face red in belligerent anger.
He found her pulse steady and her breath even albeit she has not gotten around yet.
"Calm down, Lieutenant. They're only doing their jobs," explained Chief Taylor.
He bravely faced them in his proud, masculine, six feet two inches stance.
"What else do they want? Hadn't Sharon answered their questions this afternoon?" he said without changing his tone.
Provenza stood next to him and tapped his shoulders to calm him down. Andy exhaled to calm down a bit, but the stern expression did not leave his face.
"Okay. Watch the security video. You can establish from that that I was with her. And in that case, my testimony is enough to collaborate both our whereabouts during the time in question."
"Aug 23. That's all we need to know," said Detective Garth.
"We had dinner at La Boucherie. If you want to verify check their camera, check my credit card."
Andy wanted to disclose as minimal as possible, but he knew he had to establish their whereabouts on the time frame of the burglary which means he had to admit they went to his house.
"You couldn't have been there until 3:00 in the morning, Lieutenant, could you?" asked the obnoxious Lt. Matthews.
Andy paused and glared at him.
"If you should know we went to my place to get her surprise present," said Andy.
Chief Taylor rolled his eyes. "I'm afraid to ask what is this present that it cannot be given in the restaurant."
Andy blushed. "It's a ring I hid beneath the 50 Ecuadorian Roses I was going to give her. I wanted her to wear it when she is good and ready to put a name to our relationship."
"I did not reckon you to be the romantic type," said Detective Ross.
"I don't supposed she spent the night so we can cut the chase and cover the crucial time of 2:30am," said Chief Taylor nonchalantly.
Andy hesitated. I'm sorry Sharon… I had to.
"Yes." He said in low uncertain tone.
He heard Provenza and Major Crimes Team yelped in excited disbelief.
"But! Only because she was drunk. She had too much champagne. I don't want Rusty to see her intoxicated," he added defensively.
He realized the other detectives were giving him the look. He felt he needed to explain further.
"Before you guys call me a creep. I did not touch her. I don't care whether you believe me or not, but nothing happened okay. For the record," he stated heatedly.
"I slept on the couch," insisted Andy.
He eyed the other detectives on the case. "When you need anything further, any clarification… ask me. Do not ask Captain Raydor, and when all these is over, keep your noses away from our personal affairs. We don't poke into your private business so don't go poking into ours. Specially not where Sharon is concerned, or you will have me to deal with."
"That's enough, Lieutenant. So now, this concludes our business here… Let's leave…" started Chief Taylor.
"Their business maybe, but not mine," said Lt. Matthews.
"When Captain Raydor wakes up she needs to answer a few things about the shooting of the female perpetrator in your apartment complex…"
"What about? Ask me, I shot her, not Captain Raydor," said Andy matter-of-factly.
"It's a criminal offense to lie…" said Lt. Matthews.
"Check the ballistics. She had no gun powder residue. I do."
They glared at each other eye to eye. Both trying to intimidate each other, but Andy was the fiercer man of the two. With the adrenalin of an alpha male protecting his own, he gave an air of a menacing tiger.
"I was losing consciousness… but I saw her aim the gun at Sharon. I reached for my gun and shot her. I didn't care for protocol… I was dying… but before I do, I sure as hell want to make sure my Captain stays alive. Now, if that is a crime in your book, then shoot me."