Part 5
* * *
"Any new info on our DB?" Sara inquired as she reentered the office another cup of coffee in her hand.
Danny leaned back in his chair and stretched. "No." He said bluntly then continued. "You know I am beginning to believe that this guy never existed."
Sara gave her partner a "give me a break look", as she shuffled the case files on her desk. "Has the FBI gotten back to us?"
"Not yet." He replied.
"They're checking a possible military background and immigration?" She asked.
"Yes." Danny said. "Without witnesses there is not a whole lot we can do on this case right now."
"I'll go let the captain know." Sara said as she stood up once again. She walked through the door and stopped a few steps past the threshold. The reason for her paused movement stood at the main desk, his back to her. He wore a brown leather jacket and his dark hair was short with wispy curls. The Witchblade glowed softly on her wrist as images of the young man sped her to another time.
She stood in a cluttered room in the midst of many archaic artifacts. The appearance of a young man startled her. He had a lean body and was just a hair taller than she. His dark eyes surrounded by thick lashes gave him a very childlike innocence. Giving her a self-assured grin, he spoke.
+Oh, hey, it's the dot com world baby. You, uh, drop out, start up, and get rich.+
Then, they were outside the precinct, the sun bright in the early morning.
+'Cause I pick my own friends.+
"Pez. Pez!"
Sara blinked and the vision disappeared abruptly. "Huh?"
"A little young for you." Danny stated after following his partners gaze.
"What?!" She questioned giving Danny a brief look before turning her eyes back to the young man, who apparently had finished his business and now was leaving.
"Checkin' him out weren't cha."
Sara turned on her partner. "What are you talking about?"
A smile crossed Danny's face before he answered. "I saw the way you were looking at him."
"I wasn't checking him out." She replied firmly.
"Right." Danny said unbelievingly.
"I thought I knew him." Sara explained. "But it must have been déjà vu."
* * *
The past week went by sullenly. Hunter only left her room to exercise or when Irons summoned her. He had not allowed her to leave in that week and now she grew frustrated. It was a game of control and Hunter had no choice but to cede or all her planning would be for nothing.
Hunter took a deep breath before diving into the swimming pool. The warm water did nothing to cool her temper so she used it to fuel her strokes. Her motions were smooth and effective pulling her though the water with surprising speed. When her muscles tired and she could push herself no further Hunter stopped. She stood at the shallow end of the pool and ran her hands over her hair squeezing the water out. Then, without looking she reached for the towel she had laid next to the edge. What her hand found was not her towel. Her hand traveled upward until she felt fine wool under her fingers. With her other hand Hunter quickly wiped the water from her eyes and looked up. Irons stood there holding her towel and watched as she pulled herself out of the water. Hunter crossed her arms in front of her trying to conceal her bare midriff.
"Been here long?" She asked cynically.
"Long enough to see that you have a lot of suppressed tension." He replied knowingly with a slight grin. "Is something bothering you? Something I can help with?"
"No." Hunter said a bit to sharply. "No, nothing I can't handle on my own."
"Very well." Irons answered mildly disappointed.
Hunter looked around and saw that Nottingham was waiting next to the door. To her surprise she noticed that he was looking at her and she subtlety changed her position. She turned her attention back to Kenneth before she spoke. "So what brings you down here? Business or pleasure?"
"A little of both." He said casually watching a droplet of water roll down her nose and land on her chest. Irons handed her the towel before he reached into his pocket. Hunter took the towel and dried her face, then wrapped it around her body. Kenneth gently grasped her left hand and brought it up to his face, brushing it with his lips. He let her hand drop but did not let go; instead, he placed his other hand over hers. "You have such delicate hands." Without saying anything further, Irons slipped a ring on Hunter's ring finger.
She pulled her hand back. "What is this for?"
"To remind you why you are here."
Hunter was only vaguely aware of his reply as she examined the ring. The band was platinum woven in a Celtic design reminiscent of the Witchblade. Nestled in the vines of metal was a blood red ruby. It was polished smooth, as opposed to faceted, with a starburst pattern carved in the back that caught and refracted the light.
Irons turned her attention back to him by taking a step forward. She looked up and followed his hand as it cupped the side of her face. Their lips met in a slow gentle kiss. After a few moments, Kenneth pulled back and moved to leave. He made it to the door before stopping and looking over his shoulder.
"By the way, I am hosting a dinner party tomorrow evening." Irons stated nonchalantly. "You will be attending."
Hunter stared at his back speechless. Ian stayed a moment in the room after his master left carefully studying Hunter's reaction.
"What are you looking at?" Hunter snapped at the tall man. She let her towel drop around her feet as she turned back to the pool. She glanced coolly over at Nottingham. "Never seen a woman before?" With that, Hunter dove back in the pool a brand new wave of anger to fuel her strokes.
* * *
It had been easy for Sara to obtain the address of the young man from the station and now she stood before a green metal door with a small sign that read "Talismaniac.com - Idols, Icons, Talismans." She knocked on the door, but received no response. Gently she pushed on it and the door swung open easily.
"Hello?" Sara called out as she looked around. The room was full of oddities; shrunken heads, various animal skeletons, a guillotine, and a drum set. ~What kind of place is this?~ She turned swiftly when she heard footsteps behind her and almost drew her gun.
"Who are you?" The young man asked looking at her curiously.
"You're Gabriel Bowman?" She said more a statement than a question. She relaxed her stance and tucked her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.
"Yes," He replied crossing his arms over his chest. "But who are you?"
"Uh, Detective Sara Pezzini." Sara answered.
Gabriel furrowed his brow. "Is this about the robbery?"
She looked at him confused. "Robbery?" Sara repeated questioningly. "That was why you were at the station." He nodded but did not say anything and Sara realized that he was waiting for an answer. "No, I came to talk to you about…"
"About what?" Gabriel persisted when she did not finish her sentence.
Sara took a breath before she continued. "About, business…in away."
He immediately perked up and put his hands in his pockets. "What can I do for you?"
"Do you know what this is?" She continued and presented her right arm, the sleeve of her leather jacket pulled back revealing the Witchblade. Gabriel's eyes widened as he stepped forward and grabbed her wrist to examine it closer.
"Whoa, wicked." He said under his breath.
Sara pulled her hand away and repeated herself. "Do you know what it is?"
"Uh, yeah." Gabriel finally said looking at her with a self-assured smirk. "It's called the Witchblade."
"Know anything else about it?" Sara inquired as she put her hand back in her pocket.
"Not really." He answered.
"Could you dig up some info?"
"Probably."
"Then do it and get back to me." Sara told him. "The sooner the better."
"Sure thing, Chief." Gabriel replied jokingly. "I'll let you know when I find anything."
"Thanks." Sara said as she walked out the door. She smiled to herself as she rode away on her motorcycle fully confident in his ability to find information.
* * *
