Author's Note: I am almost done with this story as far as writing it. I want to get it completed before the Rookie's season finale. I will be posting a chapter a day if all goes to my plans. I look forward to the two commenters, who always make my day when I read your comments. Thanks for the support.
Chapter 11
"What?" Angela peered up at Chris.
"What are you talking about?" Lucy added as both women stared up from their seats.
Chris rubbed his neck nervously. "Ummm. That is Ashley's bracelet."
Both women proceeded to jump to their feet. Angela waved Chris to follow them back to the interrogation room.
Chris followed as he became more confused. He sat down in the chair he had been seated in. Lucy and Angela sat across the table from him. Angela took at the photo and pushed it towards Chris.
"Explain." Angela didn't have to question Chris further. She only needed an explanation to how he thought this was Ashley's bracelet.
"Ashley had it on at the double date we went on." Chris looked at Lucy to confirm they went on a double date.
"Double date?" Angela looked perplexed. "What date? Can you give me more detail?"
"Sorry. The first date I went on with Lucy was a double date with Tim and Ashley. Tim invited me." Chris explained.
Lucy sighed as she explained. "Ashley's friend had won some tickets to one of those fancy beach dinners. She canceled so Tim invited me and asked Chris to be my date."
Chris harumphed. "More like Ashley and I weren't there."
"I explained that." Lucy crossed her arms angrily as she glared at Chris.
Angela almost laughed out loud if the subject wasn't so serious. "Go on."
"Anyway, Tim and Lucy weren't exactly involving Ashley and I in a lot of conversation. Not that it was offensive. They were talking about cases and things we had no clue about." Chris didn't want to offend Lucy. He realized he was walking a fine line. "I could tell Ashley was getting upset. Therefore, I started to make conversation with her."
"Ashley was getting upset? I thought it was because Tim was such a sour grump over the whole thing." Lucy frowned as she spoke.
"You would." Chris didn't mean to make a hostile remark, but the night was sore spot for him. Therefore, he continued. "I noticed her bracelet. The one in the photo. It was unusual. She said it was hand crafted. Her parents got it for her for at graduation from high school. She said she wanted to be a marine biologist so the different shapes on it stand for marine life."
"Of course, Ashley wanted to be a marine biologist. Typical of her." No one in the room could figure out how being a marine biologist was derogatory. Somehow, Lucy was trying to make it derogatory for Ashley more than the job. Lucy realized she was being disrespectful, so she added. "Obviously because she is a lifeguard. She must love the ocean."
Chris looked down as to not give away he doubted Lucy meant it that way. Angela smirked. Was jealousy raring it's ugly head? Was Lucy jealous of Ashley because of Tim? Not wanting to state the obvious, Angela studied the bracelet.
Angela could see the outline of a dolphin and a few other items now that Chris had mentioned it. It was a strange piece. Lucy also studied the bracelet. She noticed the different marine life, but it had to be pointed out.
"She said it was an abstract piece." Chris continued after allowing the ladies to study the bracelet. "I knew it was hers only because we talked so long about it. She pointed out the different items."
Lucy felt slightly embarrassed that she didn't notice Ashley and Chris talking about a bracelet. It got worse when Angela addressed her.
"Did you see the bracelet?" Angela already knew the answer. She could only surmise that Tim and Lucy were so into each other that they were ignoring their own dates.
"No." Lucy admitted in a low tone. "I wasn't really paying attention."
Again, Chris harumphed. He straightened in his seat when Lucy shot him a death stare. Angela wanted to laugh again but kept it professional. She wished Nyla was here to enjoy this too. She'd have to tell her about it later.
"Let me get this straight so I can have it for the record." Angela was enjoying this even if it was a serious situation. "You went on a double date with Tim Bradford and Ashley McGrady along with Lucy Chen. Lucy Chen was your date. However, Tim Bradford and Lucy Chen were leaving you out of the conversation. Therefore, in order to make Tim's date less agitated, you spoke to her. The conversation became about this bracelet in the picture."
"Yes. Basically, Ashley and I were being ignored so I thought I'd talk to her." Chris knew he was embarrassing Lucy. However, she and Tim had made him and Ashley feel terrible that night.
"Sorry." Lucy shrugged. "I said Tim and I have this sort of shorthand."
"It's okay." Chris assured her before glancing back at Angela. "I know that is her bracelet without a doubt. Ashley claimed it was one of a kind."
"What if Rosalind has Ashley?" Lucy jumped to her feet. "We need to get a hold of Tim!"
All three rushed out of the room. Lucy was frantically calling Tim. She explained what was going on. Tim and Nolan sped back to the station after Tim called Ashley's phone. She didn't answer. However, when he called her dad to ask where she was, Mr. McGrady said she hadn't left out of town as Ashley had told Tim earlier in the week. He had just spoke to her less than an hour earlier. Things weren't making sense until pieces of the puzzle started to come together after Nolan and Tim showed back up at the station.
Grey was informed what was going on. That was when he got a call from forensics.
"I need you all in my office." Grey announced.
"What is going on? "Angela questioned.
Angela shut the door to Grey's office behind her. She didn't want Chris being nosey. Chris stood on the outside of the room. He busied himself on his phone.
"When the VARDA system was being installed, there was surveillance devices found." Grey looked at Tim. "You were being videoed and listened to. We had a search done on Nolan's place. Nothing has been detected. I was thinking it was because VARDA was in place. However, according to forensics, your place has been spied on longer. They are sending the feed now."
Lucy swallowed nervously. She remembered the last time they got feed from an unwatched video. It was when Angela was kidnapped, and Jackson West was killed.
Nolan felt relieved to know his place was safe. He felt bad for Tim but he couldn't help but relax at the fact his home wasn't being intruded on.
When the feed started, it was mundane footage of Tim doing everyday things. A lot was of Tim giving Kojo attention. Then Lucy and Tim both turned a shade of red when it showed them sitting on the couch and eventually falling asleep there.
"Do we need to turn this off?" Grey asked as he addressed Tim. "Perhaps watch in private."
"NO!" Both Lucy and Tim spoke at once. Grey arched his eyebrow at the quick response. Angela did her usual smirk.
"Listen. Nothing has happened between us." Tim breathed out in frustration. "Lucy and I had a rough day. We fell asleep. That's that. Let's keep watching."
The video showed an ease between Tim and Lucy as they went about the last few days. There was nothing inappropriate or out of line. However, anyone viewing could tell there were looks and flirting between the two that spoke volumes of wanting more than a platonic relationship. Angela wanted to smack Tim on the back of the head in hopes of knocking some sense into him. Both Lucy and Tim seemed oblivious to the other's feelings.
The video switched to a person dressed all in black coming into the house. A black hoodie was worn to obscure the person's face. The police wand was in the hand of the person. The person punched in the code of Tim's alarm. Then the person gave Kojo a treat. Kojo followed the person out the door into the backyard. The time stamp on the video showed it was the day Kojo was beat.
"That's…" Lucy bit her lip as she looked to Tim.
"You can't see her face but I can tell who it is." Tim licked his lip in a nervous gesture. "That's Ashley. I never gave her my code but she's been around enough to have watched me punch it in. Not only that, she'd have access to the police wand due to her dad."
"Are these separate incidents or is Ashley working with Rosalind?" Angela touched Tim's arm. "I'm sorry, Tim."
"I don't understand." Tim looked down at the floor. "What could have caused her to snap?"
"Jealousy." Angela knew Tim had an idea why. He just didn't want to face the facts.
"Of what?" Lucy interrupted. "Tim isn't even seeing anyone. Is she jealous of Kojo?"
"No. She did that to hurt Tim." Grey could see the confusion on Lucy's face. "She's jealous of Tim and you."
"Me?" Lucy almost laughed.
"Ashley made me choose between being on patrol with Lucy or being with her. That's why we broke up." Tim could see the shock on Lucy's face. "She thought Lucy and I were too close."
