"How many times do I have to repeat myself, I didn't kill my wife," Nik pounds the table with his fist. "You're wasting all this time raking me over the coals while the real killer is getting to live his life."
"We're not accusing you, Mr. Mikaelson, we just want to know about the insurance policy."
"Katherine and I took them out together. Her signature on the forms is valid and you can take that to a forensic document examiner if you don't believe me. If I had died first, she would've inherited everything, and believe me, if I could turn back the clock or take her place I would. The next time you ask me to come here for questioning, I'm bringing an attorney along," Nik fumes, his hands fisted so hard that his knuckles are white.
"From my vantage point, it seems rather convenient that the policy was taken out mere weeks before the murder..."
"You don't give up do you?"
"Do you own a gun?"
"Yes, we have a gun in the house but if it was the murder weapon, you'd have charged me by now." Nik glares at Enzo.
"Is it registered in your name?" Enzo continues unabated.
"Yes."
"Where do you usually keep that gun - the one that you own?"
"We kept it in my bedside table just in case."
"Back to the policy, you're the sole beneficiary?" Enzo looks at Nik.
"You already know the answer to that."
"Financially, you won't be hurting after this? I mean, she was worth more dead than alive."
"Are you suggesting - again - that I killed my wife? You're saying that I shot her, slashed her throat and left her to bleed out in front of my babies? How dare you!"
"Mr. Mikaelson," Enzo starts but is cut off by Nik's fury.
"You find this man! You find this man! He took everything from me. Oh, Jesus," Nik breaks down, drops his head and threads his fingers through his hair as his body trembles in agony.
When they arrive at the house, Elena sits in Damon's car for several minutes just staring at the place. Her anxiety feels like she's being hooked up to an electric cattle fence - not enough voltage to kill but sufficient to keep her uncomfortable. She suspects that's the downside of knowing things are awry instead of living in blissful ignorance. But what is there to do other than breathe, walk and continue to get out of bed everyday?
"Elena?"
Damon's voice pulls her out of whatever spell she was under when he opens her car door.
"Are you sure you can do this? If you want to stay out here, I will ask Officer Bradley to help me disassemble the cribs and we'll bring them out."
"No, I'm going in," Elena sucks in a deep breath to steel her spine, gets out of the car and follows Damon. As they get closer to the front door, it feels like the world is slowly disappearing in front of her. Or maybe it was just her who was fading away? Her empty burning lungs and her heart is hitting her chest so hard she wonders if it will break her ribs and rip apart her skin.
"You don't have to do this," Damon turns around before opening the door.
"I know but I owe it to Katherine. What if there's something inside that could lead to her killer? I have to do this for her."
"You two were close?" Damon asks, unlocking the door and stepping aside so she can cross the threshold.
"Do you mind?" Elena offers her hand for Damon to hold.
"No," he shakes his head and links their fingers. When they reach the spot where Elena saw her sister's body, her stomach contracts so violently that she barely makes it to the toilet. She sinks to her knees and retches with only clear liquid was coming up. Suddenly she feels her hair raising and then a cool, moist washcloth on the back of her neck. Glancing over her shoulder, she nods at Damon who's holding her hair up.
"I'm so embarrassed," she takes his offered hand and stands up.
"There's no reason to be, you're a very strong woman, your devotion to your sister is admirable."
"Thanks," Elena takes the washcloth, wipes her face, wrings it out and hangs it on the towel rack. "I'm going to go into their room and see if I can find anything, I won't be messing up any evidence will I? I mean with my fingerprints?"
"Got that covered," he hands her a pair of rubber gloves. "The forensics team has gone over this place with a fine tooth comb but it never hurts to wear gloves in a crime scene."
"The kids' room is right there," she points at a door. Damon nods and goes inside to start taking down the cribs while Elena goes into Nik and Katherine's room. Walking inside, she sees how the bed is neatly made. The drapes are parted to reveal the backyard fire pit and the beautifully blooming jacaranda trees. "Come on, Elena," she says to herself, walks over to the dresser and runs her fingertips along the top. There are pictures of their family, the babies and one of herself and Katherine when they went trick or treating that day so long ago. At least Katherine found her Prince Charming before...
Feeling her eyes beginning to tear, she wipes them away then starts opening the drawers, finding nothing but clothes. Frustrated, she moves to the bedside tables, both Katherine's and Nik's. She knows they own a weapon, she suspects the police took it. Plopping down on the bed, she runs her eyes around the room till they land on the walk in closet. Fisting her hands briefly, she gets up, walks inside and starts to open shoe boxes, drawers and her sister's jewelry box.
Out of the corner of her eye, she catches a glimpse of white tucked behind shoe rack. Bending over, she recognizes the corner of an envelope. Giving it a little tug, she pulls it free from its prison. Finding it unsealed, she pulls out a photo of her sister wearing a silver padlock necklace with what looks like maybe an 18 or 20 inch chain judging by the position of the pendant on her chest. Elena examines the photo, Katherine is smiling wide, her whole face is glowing. On the table behind her is a Robin's egg blue box, Elena immediately recognizes its significance. Turning it over, she sees the date July 18, 2014 in her sister's handwriting. She stares at the photo, perplexed, why would Katherine keep this? She wasn't with Nik at that time - or was she and simply kept another one of her secrets?
What are you trying to tell me Katherine?
"Damon, in here," Elena runs out of the closet, waving the photo.
"What is it?" he appears in the doorway.
"This picture," she hands it to him. "I'm confused, I thought she was still with that Wes when this was taken, but it seems really weird that she'd keep it if he gave her this? I do know, however that Katherine couldn't afford to shop at Tiffany's."
"How do you know it's Tiffany's?" Damon looks at her curiously.
"The blue box," Elena points to it in the photo. "Can you trace it somehow?"
"Elena, there are Tiffany stores all over the country."
"How many are in Virginia?"
"We'll have to find out, maybe we'll get lucky?" Damon takes the envelope from her, slides the photo back inside and slips into his lapel pocket.
"Let's get the cribs in the trunk, then I'll take you back to the station to get your car."
"I'm going to look around a little more," Elena points over her shoulder at the closet.
"I'll pack them, holler if you find anything else," Damon nods and walks out, leaving Elena behind to continue her search.
Frustrated, it takes every ounce of self control for Damon not to slam the phone to the floor. Sighing, he sets it down and reaches up to pinch the bridge of his nose. Hearing the creak of his door, he looks up to see Kai Parker.
"What do you need Kai?"
"There are two Tiffany stores in Virginia, one in Richmond and the other in Vienna."
"Okay, see if you can find out who bought a padlock style necklace on or before July 18, 2014. We're looking for someone with the first name of either Wes or Niklaus Mikaelson. Make sure you talk to Judge Forbes about a warrant."
"Sure boss," he nods and leaves the room just as Enzo skirts around him to enter.
"Who pissed in your cereal?" Enzo turns a chair around and straddles it.
"I just got off the phone with a Captain Guerrera in Nogales. They arrested Markos Barstow but because he's eligible for the death penalty, they're holding onto him."
"Seriously?" Enzo rolls his eyes. "So we're going to Mexico?"
"Yep, and if they won't cooperate, we'll have to ask the FBI to help."
"Vincent," Enzo chuckles, winking at Damon.
"Vincent," Damon mimics and shakes his head...
As soon as they step off the plane at Nogales International Airport, Damon and Enzo take a cab to the police station. After waiting a good hour, they're finally directed in the captain's office.
"Ranger Salvatore, Detective St. John, it's been awhile," Captain Carlos Guerrera shakes his hand.
"Yes, it has, quite awhile," Damon nods and sits down in one of the two chairs in front of the man's desk.
"How can I help?" he leans forward with his elbows on the desktop, his fingers tented.
"You have someone we want. Markos Barstow. We'd like to talk to him and then see about taking him back with us."
"The wire that came across said he's wanted for murder?"
"We have some evidence that places him at the scene."
"You can speak with him, then we'll talk about extradition," Carlos picks up his phone and says, "Consígueme Benito." - [Get me Benito]
Damon turns around when he hears the door creak. Standing up, he steps forward to shake the other Guerrera's hand. "Me alegro de verte, Benito." - [Nice to see you]
"Ranger Salvatore, nos encontramos de nuevoto," the man smiles and shakes Damon's hand vigorously. - [we meet again]
"Llévenlos a ver Señor Barstow," Carlos instructs his younger brother and nods slowly as he leads them out of the office and to an interrogation room. - [Take them to see]
As Damon follows, he's sure that the gesture is a signal to listen to the conversation they're about to have with their suspect.
When they reach the small dank room, Benito tells them to have a seat. Damon nods at Enzo and they do as they're told. A short time later, Markos Barstow is brought into the room, his hands and ankles shackled as shuffles to one of the chairs. Benito rather than listen in from the two- way mirror, sits down next to their inmate.
"Mr. Barstow, I'm Ranger Damon Salvatore and this is Detective Enzo St. John. We'd like to have a few words with you."
"'Bout what? I ain't been to Texas," he sneers with contempt and asks for a smoke.
"Who said anything about Texas?" Enzo stares at him.
"Fuck this," he fists his hands on the table top.
Don't waste my time, Markos, one of your fingerprints says otherwise," Damon arches an eyebrow.
"And you want to explain to us how our vic's DNA got inside your sister's car?" Enzo adds, tapping his fingers on the table.
"I ain't talking to you without a lawyer," their suspect suddenly clams up.
"Will you agree to extradition?" Damon asks, already knowing what his answer will be.
"Hell no, you fry people in Texas," he spits, staring at the two lawmen with disdain. "I want to go back to my cell," his gaze shifts to Benito.
"You heard him," the Mexican official whistles and a guard comes in to remove their suspect.
When he's out of the room, Damon grabs Benito by the arm, stopping him from leaving. "We've got enough evidence to convict this guy. Are you gonna let us take him?"
"If it was up to me, I'd shank him right now but you know my country's official position," he lights a cigarette as the men walk out of the room.
"Just don't lose him," Enzo warns, leaves the station and gets into their rental car. Damon follows shortly afterwards.
"They'll be more amenable when Vincent shows up," Damon laughs as a release for his frustration, starts the engine and heads back to the airport.
While staring out the plane, his forehead against the plexiglass window, Damon can't help but think of Elena Gilbert and her fierce loyalty to her brother in law. She didn't hesitate for even a moment to defend him when she barged into his office. There's no proof, at least not yet that those two might be involved... Did Nik Mikaelson have a thing for his sister in law? Has Miss Gilbert been too quick to come to his defense? Or is it simply that she trusts that the man had nothing to do with his wife's murder?
"What's on your mind?" Enzo asks, downing the tiny bottle of bourbon that the flight attendant handed out.
"I was just thinking of Elena and Nik Mikaelson."
"What about them?"
"Elena seems extremely protective of him..."
"You think something's going on between the two of them?" Enzo shifts slightly to meet Damon's eyes.
"There's no evidence to suggest it other than her fervent devotion to him." Perhaps, if he wasn't on good terms with his wife, he could see her little sister as his salvation?"
"You want me to have the guys do some digging? You think the husband paid to have his wife killed so he could take up with her sister and do you think she's in on it?"
"My gut feeling is telling me no, but we have an obligation to cover all the bases."
"If you want my opinion I tend to agree. However, I think the sister is not one to be trifled with and is a damn mountain lion when raised to anger. You better watch your back," Enzo laughs and puts his seat belt on when the light begins to flash.
"There's no doubt," Damon nods and does the same as the two men brace for impact.
"Come here, baby," Elena picks Nadia up and sticks a bottle in the baby's mouth, letting her hold it with her tiny hands. With the little girl snuggling in her arms, Elena sits in the rocking chair, moving forward and backward as she tries to get her niece back to sleep.
A moment later, Noah's cry pierces the room then her aunt appears holding him and takes a seat on the couch. "How did Katherine manage?" Jenna shakes her head.
"I don't know," Elena answers and rests hers against the back of the rocker.
"Why couldn't you tell us that she and Nik were in Galveston? Ric was too much in shock when you told him you found her body that he didn't think to ask what you were doing in Virginia?"
"They didn't want anyone to know fearing her ex would find out. She told me he didn't take the break up well so she wanted to keep it as quiet as possible."
"But Elena, we would've kept the secret. Didn't she trust us?"
"Please don't think badly of Katherine. It wasn't that she didn't trust you, she simply thought the less people that know, the better. Nik's parents are the only other people who knew. And actually she mentioned talking to you not long before..."
"I'm sorry, Elena, I won't speak ill of her. I think of the gray hairs she gave your uncle and me when she was in high school, then leaving in the middle of the night with that man. I wish I could have stopped her."
"I wish I could've too," Elena agrees, pulls her niece closer and presses a kiss to Nadia's forehead. With her lips against the tiny girl's flesh, she whispers, "I promise you that I won't rest until the person who did this is put away for good."
There really are no words to sufficiently thank you all. Just know your support means everything to us.
Watch for a little DE "something" to pop up on Friday for Valentine's day.