The Storm by Ronnee
Chapter 8: Bitter Winds
31 October, Cascade Reservoir
"What are you doing here, gentlemen?" Simon's voice was gruff as he met them at the truck.
"I heard the call for backup and we were in the area." Jim replied, glancing at the activity along the beach.
"What's up?" Blair asked, as he pulled his hat tight against the winds.
Jim glanced over at his guide and shook his head. He didn't want to admit it, but with the cold arctic wind blowing off the water, Blair's furry earflaps were better than his Jags cap. He grinned at the thought of the laughter that he'd hear if he wore the thing. "What are we looking for, Simon?"
"We're not sure. A kid called in from the pay phone by the rest area, he said he saw someone in the water. Then he hung up." Simon led them down to the water's edge. A pair of coats and a pile of boots lay beside the water. A little farther down the beach, paramedics were working on someone. "When the first patrolman got here, he managed to pull a boy from the water. From the looks of things here, two boys went in. Unfortunately, there's no sign of the other one or whoever they went in to save."
"Any idea who the boy is?" Jim asked, eyes scanning the choppy water.
"Mark Jansen, one of the best swimmers on the Cascade High School swim team." Simon replied.
Jim nodded, ignoring Blair's murmured commentary on the cold winds. For a moment, he thought he'd seen something. Reflexively, he dialed up his eyesight. "How long before the divers and the boats get here?"
"Another 20-25 minutes. We've also got a chopper on its way." Simon answered, watching their intent expressions as both his top detective and the unit's irrepressible observer focused all of their attention on the cold water.
"That'll be too long. Tell them there's a kid out there, pretty far from the shore. It looks like he's ..." Jim paused, jaws tensing as he finally recognized the thing he saw. "There's an overturned boat. Looks like your other swimmer pulled someone from it."
Before Simon could finish dialing the number, Jim had stripped out of his own coat and boots and was in the water. Two of the other officers quickly followed him.
"Simon?" Blair asked, eyes focusing on the receding figure of his sentinel. "Why did they immediately follow Jim? I mean, they didn't even ask. They saw him go in and they followed."
"Well, kid, they know Jim." Simon watched the three officers, ignoring the people who were crowding around him. He kept one hand on Blair's arm, as if to hold him in place. "They might ask later. Right now they know there's a missing kid, probably in the water, and Ellison has a reputation for finding missing people."
Cascade General Hospital, Several hours later.
Simon handed Ellison a Styrofoam cup. At the frown, the taller man grinned before handing another to Sandburg. Jim didn't like the emergency room, and being confined to a small cubicle wearing little more than a pile of warmed blankets didn't make him any happier.
"It doesn't smell right." The sentinel groused, glaring at steam. He focused on it, eyes widening. Hesitatingly, he took a small sip. The smile that spread across his face was worth the captain's deception. "Thanks, sir."
Blair Sandburg, professional observer of sentinels and their captains frowned thoughtfully. He turned quizzical eyes to the big captain before taking a sip of his own coffee. Instantly he smiled. The doctors had very reluctantly agreed to allow Jim a cup of coffee, from the hospital cafeteria. They were worried that whatever bacteria might be in the reservoir would make him ill but Jim's grousing and complaints had worn them down. When Simon offered to get the coffee himself, the harried, worn out nurse agreed. Of course, Simon hadn't said he was going to the cafeteria to get the coffee and Starbuck's was only a block or two away. Blair wondered how he had gotten the plain white cups but decided that enjoying the coffee wasn't worth the questions.
"Any word on the kids?" Simon asked, watching the two men enjoy their coffee.
"Not yet, sir." The grim set of Jim's jaw was reflected in his terse words. "If we hadn't stopped..."
"You did. They have a better chance because of it. You got them to shore safely." Blair
encouraged his partner, ignoring the quiet glance from the police captain. He decided to sidetrack them. "What I don't get is why name your boat after a god known for preferring his sacrifices to have been drowned."
"What?" Two voices spoke as one. Hard, cold eyes speared him, one set brown, the other blue.
"Please explain that comment to me in small words, Sandburg." Simon Banks' voice was almost as cold as the icy water above the Cascade dam.
"The markings on the boat, sir." Blair looked from one big man to the other. "They were the Toltec pictographs for their river god. Every year the Toltec would sacrifice to him to keep the mountain streams flowing."
"And what did they sacrifice?"
"Hardened criminals were garroted before being set in sinking boats. Children were drowned in ceremonial clothes, in the same..." Blair's words trailed off at the closed expression on the men's faces. "Oh, no. Not in Cascade. No way. No one still practices the Toltec beliefs, not even in Central America."
Simon gently thanked the anthropologist for his information and quickly stalked out of the exam room. Jim bowed his head, rubbing his temple in frustration as he silently digested the information. He hadn't told his friend about the body wrapped in oil cloth tied to the boat's keel. Out of an unspoken agreement, none of the cops had spoken of their findings and at the time, Sandburg had definitely not needed to know.
Monday, 01 November, Major Crimes Dept.
"Joel? Can I ask you something?" Rafe spoke softly to the older officer, trying not to disturb the rest of the bull pen. Everyone knew about Ellison's newest case and no one wanted to make him any angrier than he already was. Their best detective became dangerously volatile when he couldn't find any clues on a case and this one was already a bad one.
Joel Taggart looked up, brown eyes curious. The smile on his face slowly faded as he read the seriousness of the young man's expression. He put down his pen and closed the file he had been working on. Somehow he knew it would be a while before he got back to it. "Police business or personal?"
"Personal." The softly spoken reply was enough to confirm his first impression. This was definitely serious.
He held up his hand, causing the other man to freeze and picked up the phone. "Simon, I have to cancel. Rafe and I'll be back as soon as we can. . . yeah, I'll take care of it." Hanging up the phone he grabbed his jacket. "We've got whatever time you need."
"I didn't mean for you to..." Rafe began. He hadn't meant to get Joel or Simon really involved, he just wanted to ask a couple of questions.
"Rafe, you have been dragging lately." Joel's usually jovial face was serious. He stood and began leading the way to the door. "No one, not even Sandburg knows the real reason why. We're worried. If you hadn't come to one of us by Friday, we would have come to you."
Rafe felt the blush that was creeping up his face. He'd known that Brown was worried. The late hours talking to Kyrie, the worry over her reaction to his being on the force... the stress of the job. All had been taking their toll. For Joel and the others to have actually set a deadline for him to come and ask for help... that bothered him. And it embarrassed him even as it made him feel more a part of the group.
Joel glanced over at the still figure. While never quite as verbose as Sandburg, the young man was rarely this quiet. Even before they left the station, Rafe had pulled into himself. He wondered briefly if he should have said what he did, but decided that the truth was the best policy. He pulled the car into an empty space.
"Rafe?" His voice sounded so loud in the car that he startled them both. "We're here."
"The park?" Confusion colored his companion's voice. "Why here?"
"It's a nice day, at least for November." They both had to grin. It was a nice day for the time of year, especially as oddly cold as the fall had been so far. "Here we can talk, walk, and eat all at the same time."
With a shrug, Rafe got out of the car and followed the captain into the park. Monday mornings were quiet at the park. The perfect place for a hard discussion. He could actually feel Joel's patience as they walked, silently waiting for the first words.
"How did your wife react when you told her you wanted to be a cop?" He couldn't believe the words had just spurted from his mouth.
Joel just looked at him and smiled. "Woman trouble?" At the nod, he became thoughtful. "The day we met, I was in uniform. She made a comment about me being a sellout to the boss."
Rafe's eyes widened. He had met Joel's wife and could not believe what he had just heard. "She... She didn't!"
"Yep. She did. I told her I was a good cop, trying to help the people. Keep things from getting any worse than they already were." The memory of that confrontation brought a big smile to his face. "She told me to prove it. Eventually I did."
"Oh." Rafe's voice was sad as he watched the expressions cross Joel's face.
"Your new girlfriend doesn't like the idea that you're a police officer?" His voice was somber now.
"We haven't really discussed it." Rafe could feel those eyes boring into him as he stared off into the trees. Maybe this wasn't the best idea he'd ever had, but Joel was the only one on the force he knew well enough, who had a stable marriage and who wasn't too far out his league to question. Brown had met his wife in high school and she had always encouraged him to become a police officer if that was his dream which put his partner out of reach for questioning. "She's terrified of policemen, Joel. I think a cop..."
A heavy hand gripped his shoulder tightly. "In our precinct?"
"No. She's not from around here. I'm not even sure. It's more of a feeling. From some things she's said and not said." He didn't know how to explain to the older man and he knew his words sounded confused.
"Rafe, have you considered that there is another possibility? Another reason she could be scared of the police." Joel hated having to say it, but he knew it needed to be out in the open. "She could be a fugitive or an ex-con."
"No." Rafe's voice was firm. Then it softened again. "She's never said anything. In fact, she avoids the subject. I ask her to meet me for dinner and she invites me to her place, she cooks. I got a call last night, while we were eating. She very calmly got up and left the table while I took the call. When I hung up, she was back. Said that if I had to get to back to work, she would understand. "
"Rafe..." Joel kept his voice calm. He didn't want to worry the younger man, but if his lady friend was that jumpy about policemen, the chances were that she was trouble. With all the trouble Alex Barnes had brought the department just six months earlier, Joel didn't want a repeat.
"I ran her prints, Joel. Ellison and Sandburg taught me that much." The choked laugh made him look up. White teeth flashed as both men grinned helplessly. Their coworkers were infamous throughout the state for their taste in criminals. "There's no record of her prints anywhere in the system."
"How about you introduce her to me or Simon?"
Rafe shook his head. "Not yet, Joel. She's not ready for it. I need to find a way to tell her that I'm a detective, not just a cop. I saw how she reacted when I accidentally mentioned being a cop."
"You start with the truth, Rafe." The brown face was worried and filled with compassion. "You always start with the truth."
"How do I get past her fear?"
"You don't." He sighed, trying to find the right words. "You let her get past the fear. If she can't get past it... if she can't accept you as you are, you have to let her go."
Rafe looked up. Their eyes met, hazel staring at brown. He didn't want to answer. He didn't know if he could. Joel nodded, having read the pain and the dismay.
"It's going to be hard, no matter which way it goes. If you need to talk, I'm always available."
The younger man nodded slowly and closed his eyes. The pain on his face was highlighted by the stream of sunshine that broke free of a fast moving cloud. Neither man noticed the sunlight or the camera focused on them.
Major Crimes Dept., 11 November
"Ellison, my office." Simon's voice was icy with rage.
The sentinel frowned as he closed the case file and stood. The other detectives watched, happy that they were not the ones about to come under their captain's scrutiny, pitying Ellison. Although they were happy for themselves, they all said a silent blessing for the man quietly entering the captain's office.
"Sir?" Jim was puzzled. He couldn't think of anything that either he or Blair had done to set their boss off.
"The men who attacked Blair and Fortaleza skipped bail." Banks' rage was evident in the motions of the cigar in his hands. "Their lawyer was found dead in his office about an hour ago. It looks like they killed him before running."
"I've got to go find Blair." Jim strode towards the door.
"I already called him. He's waiting for you in his office." The words made the big detective freeze. The next words made a visible shudder run through him. "The M.E. called about the other one, the one who died in the hospital... It wasn't suicide or the fall from the balcony, it was murder."
"No loose ends."
"None, except for Sandburg and Fortaleza."
Rainier University Apartments that afternoon
"I'm not going." Fortaleza spoke quietly as she organized a stack of negatives. Each one was glanced at before being placed in a holder.
"Fortaleza." Ellison growled her name, but the woman was paying more attention to the negative in her hand. "This is non negotiable."
"Yes it is." She turned her gaze up to the sentinel. Her smile was infectious. "I don't think you can force me into protective custody. I haven't broken any American laws. I am staying here."
Jim took a deep breath. He was well aware that Blair was watching them trying to hide his amusement. He softened his tone, hoping to persuade her. "I am only thinking about your safety."
"I know that, Jim. I'm safe here. They know that there are no valuables here. So they won't come back."
Fortaleza's soft words and even tone almost made Jim agree. Then it hit him, she was mimicking Blair's guide voice. "You little minx!"
AJ bit off a grin as he growled at her. The sudden crash as his fist hit the table had her up and moving away from him. "I'm serious about this."
"And so am I. I will not move to a safe house. I will not move to your loft." The even voice and the too calm heart rate told him that she was hiding something again. "I told you that yesterday and I meant it. I am not at risk here."
"Maybe I should have a little talk with a certain friend of yours, I don't think he'd be too..." Jim didn't even have to finish the sentence. Fortaleza was pale, eyes staring at him in shock.
"Leave him out of this." The stark fear in her voice startled the sentinel. "I'm not in any danger.
Not right now. Please, just drop it."
"AJ?" Blair's voice entered the fray and Jim watched as she turned towards his guide.
"As long as I behave myself, stay in touch and tell you if I notice anything, will you please let this idea go?" Wide green eyes whirled back to the sentinel. "Please, Enqueri. I know what I'm doing."
Jim watched her for a long moment. The stillness was gone. Fortaleza trembled, barely controlled shudders rippling her frame. Something about his words had done more than scare her, she was terrified for Rafe. "What is it?"
"I am of the Walks Through people." She whispered. "I am sagrado. He is an unknown. No clan as far as my people are concerned. They know where I am, how long before they follow me? Even I might miss them if they are hiding."
"S***." Jim cursed as he stalked out of the apartment. What little he knew about the Walks Through People ran through his head. they were very protective of their sagrado clan. For as small an offense as insulting a sagrado, the penalty was severe. The sagrado could and did make alliances with other tribes for them, but only with the shaman, the chief, or the sentinel of the new tribe. When a sagrado decided to settle down and stay in one place, a spouse was found by the elders of the nearest allied tribe. Usually, however the sagrado died long before that had a chance of happening. Unfortunately, AJ was very close to the age where her own people would begin arranging a match for her.
If her people heard that she was serious about someone from another tribe, they would come hunting. Rafe didn't belong to an allied tribe. As far as the South American tribes were concerned, the young detective was a threat. With a lot of arguing it was possible that Jim could claim Rafe belonged to his tribe... they both worked for the same department of the PD. But he had never had any dealing with the Walks Through people, it was much more likely that they would say Jim and Blair were still members of the Chopec. Rafe couldn't be claimed through that manner, he wasn't Jim's guide. Jim grumbled mentally, not liking the situation. But he did understand it. Until someone else officially noticed they were a couple, both were safe from recriminations. So the Sentinel of Cascade could not acknowledge that he knew who Rafe was to her or who she was to Rafe. Neither could he allow his guide to do so.
Major Crimes Dept., 12 November
Wolf whistles echoed through the bullpen. Rafe colored as the other detectives circled him, inspecting his new suit. He hadn't thought he'd overdone it with the new clothes, but now he wasn't too sure. Simon Banks came out to look him over. The big man smiled.
"I take it you took my advice." The captain spoke quietly, but his words cut through the other's comments like a hot knife through butter.
"Yes, sir. Thank you for the name of your tailor." He smoothed the dark jacket, fingering the fine wool.
"Who's the new man?" Megan's voice came from the hallway. Behind her stood several other women, all eyeing him appreciatively.
Rafe turned around, enjoying the surprise on their faces. For a long time everyone in the department had teased him about being a GQ model. Somehow, even his normal suits hadn't seemed quite right when he'd made the arrangements for the coming date. So, he'd gone to the captain and asked for advice. Advice the older man had been surprised and yet happy to supply.
Connor recovered the fastest and smiled widely at him. She looked him over from head to toe and winked, coming closer as she continued her inspection of him.
"Oh, my stars. You do clean up very nicely, Rafe." The grin turned teasing as she walked behind him. "If you weren't so very obviously in love with Kyrie, I'd give her a run for her money."
Then to the amusement of the rest of the Major Crimes department, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. She caught the amazed glances and asked, "What? He does look very nice all gussied up like this. It wouldn't embarrass me to take a fine dressed man out on the town."
Simon raised his eyebrows and offered her his arm, intoning solemnly, "Shall we, my dear?"
Brown and Taggart began sputtering, trying not to laugh. Blair grinned and stepped forward, blocking their path. He widened his eyes theatrically, raising his eyebrows and looking woeful.
"Does this mean that if I want your attention, I have to buy a suit?"
"Sandy, for you, I would make an exception."
She offered him her free arm and then the three of them walked into Simon's office. Even Rafe had to laugh at their antics.
"Hey, Rafe!" Brown called, pointing to the cell phone on Rafe's desk. It rang again. "I bet it's your lady."
He grabbed the phone, ignoring the knowing grins around him.
"Hello, Kyrie. Yeah, everything is still on track for tonight. I'll pick you up at the center at three o'clock." He listened to her voice, smiling as she reassured herself that this really was what he wanted to do. "Yeah, I really want to go. I've missed you too. See you in a little while."
He looked up to see the rest of the department studiously avoiding his gaze. After a moment, Ellison's eyes met his and a big grin crossed his face. The older man stepped close to Rafe and spoke quietly, "Good luck."
"Thanks, Jim. I think I'll need it."
"Where are you taking her?"
"The Bolshoi is performing in Seattle. If we leave at three, we'll get there in time for dinner before the show."
"Sounds pretty fancy."
"Well, she likes to dance." He grinned sheepishly. "So, I'm taking Kyrie to the ballet. I think I can survive a night of culture."
"Okay. But if it gets out too late, you'd better stay in Seattle. Get hotel rooms or something." Ellison's face was calm, but the younger man read the warning there. Rafe had always known the older detective was protective of his friends but he'd never expected to be included in that group. "I don't want to hear that you and your friend got hurt trying to get home when you were too tired to drive."
"That's a sure thing, Jim. I already made the arrangements."
"Glad to hear it Rafe." He looked at the clock. "You'd better head out if you want to pick her up on time. I'll see you."
Seattle, Washington Late Evening
Kyrie leaned into Rafe's side. Her head rested on his shoulder as they walked down the sidewalk. He wrapped his arm around her waist, enjoying the feel of her even through the heavy coat.
"I can't wait until Spring." He told her.
"What happens in Spring?" She leaned her head back to look up at him.
"I get to hold you without having our coats in the way."
She was silent, and he could feel her withdrawing. She stopped walking and turned to face him. Rafe stopped when she did, leaning down to look at her. When he saw the tears in her eyes, his heart froze. He raised a hand and his fingers caught the silent tears that fell from her eyes.
"What is it?" He asked, dreading the answer.
"I'm only here until the end of the semester. I could probably stay in Cascade until the first of the year, but no longer." Her eyes were wide, made huge by the tears that pooled in them before escaping slowly down her cheeks. "I have commitments I can't break."
He stared at her in shock. Finally, when he could move again, he pulled her into his arms, letting her bury her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, his mind racing as he rocked her. He stared off into the cold night sky, wondering what he should do, what he should say. It wasn't fair! Damn it! He'd just found her. He couldn't lose her, not now. It was too soon.
After a long time, Rafe really wasn't sure how much time had passed, he realized that they were both shivering. He pulled her face up to look at him. Her eyes were red and swollen and from the feel of his own, he figured he must look the same.
"Let's go back to the hotel."
She nodded silently and let him guide her there.
They were both shivering when they finally got up to their suite. Rafe looked down at Kyrie and frowned to himself. Her cheeks had gotten chapped where her tears had left salty tracks. The resulting red lines looked painful.
"Looks like I didn't do that good of a job taking care of you." He muttered as he began stripping coat and gloves from her. "Why don't you go take a hot shower and get warm? Once you're feeling better we need to talk."
"No." Her voice was firm. "I don't want to leave you. Not right now."
"Kyrie." He sighed, seeing the determined look on her face. Somehow, even though they'd never had a disagreement, he knew she could be stubborn to a fault. He shrugged out of his own coat and suit jacket. "Come here, love."
Instantly she was in his arms, her arms wrapped around his waist. They stood like that for several minutes before he noticed that she was still shivering. Reluctantly he let her go.
"Please, go shower. I'll be right here, waiting for you."
She looked up at him and shook her head. "You need a shower too. We're both half frozen."
"We'll meet back here in a half hour, okay?"
She nodded wearily.
Rafe took a fast shower, dressed in dry clothes and returned through the connecting doors to
Kyrie's room. She was curled up against the headboard of the bed, sipping a cup of tea. She smiled at his expression.
"Would you like some coffee?" She asked quietly. "It just arrived."
He took the cup she offered and sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, watching her watch him. Finally she looked away. He drank, finding the coffee perfect, one cream, no sugar, just the way he liked it. When had she learned his preferences? Then again when had he learned that she always drank earl gray or Darjeeling when they had serious talks and chamomile before bed?
"Are you mad at me?"
"Why do you think I'm angry?"
"This is the first time since we met that you haven't been touching me every moment we're together." Her voice was soft and grew softer.
He moved closer to her. His moves were slow as he took the cup away from her and picked her up. Cradling her in his arms, he sat down leaning back against the headboard. He settled her comfortably across his lap and tucked her in with the blanket before returning the tea to her. He watched her face as she rested her cheek against his shoulder.
"Is that better?"
"Much better. When you touch me, it feels like everything is going to turn out all right." She snuggled against him, careful not to spill her tea.
"Why didn't you tell me you were only here temporarily?" Rafe's voice was strained.
"I thought I could just be your friend and everything would be fine when I left again." She watched his eyes darken as the words sank in.
"You've done this before?" His voice reflected his hurt.
"Not this. I'm used to making friends and leaving them behind. Then I met you and nothing was the same." Kyrie looked away and then met his eyes. "I never have stayed in any one place for long. It has always been necessary to move from place to place. We've never stayed anywhere longer than about six weeks."
"You could always stay here. Apply for a position at the university. A permanent one." There was a trace of hope in his voice.
"Bri, I don't have a position with them now. I'm covering for someone who is in the hospital." Her voice was sad. Deep in her eyes was a wary tension as if she was hiding something, something that would change everything. As he watched, the tension disappeared, hidden by tears she refused to release. "I have absolutely no academic credentials. I've never gone to college. I have no right to teach, not permanently."
"Then how did you get the job?" The detective in Rafe was raising his head. There were too many questions and not enough information for him to understand what was happening. And he badly wanted to understand.
"Luck, maybe fate. I was asked to cover for someone to whom I owed a favor. Once Zel gets back here, which will be late December, I have no place to stay, no job, nothing concrete. Not until January." She licked her lips and tried not to let him know how much this talk was hurting her... She couldn't tell him everything, so she'd have to tell him enough to get him off track.
"Where will you go?"
"Back to South America for about three months... after that? I'm not sure. Maybe I'll just wander the country. I'll figure something out. I always do." Tears clouded her eyes again and she looked away.
"No, we'll figure this out. Unless I'm wrong and there is no we, no us." Rafe tilted her head back so he could look at her, watch the emotions she was trying so hard to hide from him. "Have you ever felt like this before?"
"I've never felt like I'd leave the best of me behind before." She didn't object when he took away the teacup and placed it on the night stand. She met his kiss halfway. He tasted of coffee and of cream and of something she identified as uniquely Rafe. She leaned into him, lightly tasting his mouth as he tasted hers. *I didn't think I'd fall in love when I came to Cascade.*
"You love me?" Rafe smiled sadly at her, but his eyes danced, lit up by her words. "Well, that's good, because I'm pretty sure I love you too."
She looked up at him, had she really said that? She hadn't meant to say those words aloud, but she couldn't take them back. Not when they were the truth. Instead, she asked, "What do we do now?"
He leaned forward and kissed her lightly. Then he sat back and pulled her tightly to his chest, his hands rubbing her arms. He didn't want to start anything that they would regret later, so he closed his eyes and tightened his control over himself. Satisfied, he tucked her head under his chin. "We take it one day at a time. And we pray that sometime in the next four weeks we find a way to make it all work."
She relaxed against him. Somehow, the thought of the two of them working together on their problem reassured her. Rafe couldn't help her with most of her fears, but he could handle this one. So she would let him. As she relaxed, he did too. When the sun rose, they were spooned together, his arms still holding her tightly to his chest.
Major Crimes Dept. , 13 November, early afternoon
Rafe grinned as he stretched behind his desk. The satisfied grin and tired but contented look on his face caused raised eyebrows. He yawned and looked at the file on his desk. Brown placed a large cup of coffee in front of him.
"Looks like you need this more than I do, Rafe." The big man commented quietly.
At his words, Joel Taggart stepped over and looked down at the seated detective. He nodded to his friend. "Yeah, I think you're right. Looks like Rafe didn't get much sleep while in Seattle. In fact, I hear he hasn't been getting much sleep any night in the past two weeks. Every time I turn around, I hear that Rafe and his mysterious lady have been sighted late at night somewhere."
"Rhonda said she'd seen him out at the country club dance with a pretty lady. Talked about how the two of them danced every single dance last Saturday. And Rafe managed to avoid introducing the poor thing to anyone who knew him. Almost as if he were trying to hide her from us." Brown teased, watching for the other man's reaction. "So when are you going to bring Kyrie in and introduce her around? Let her meet the crew?"
"Not until she's firmly mine, H. There's no way I'm letting one of you jokers latch onto her. Kyrie is special." The young detective blushed at the knowing grins that quickly decorated the other men's faces.
"Don't want any competition?" H hooted with laughter at the quick shake of his partner's head.
"Did you at least bring in a picture of her?"
"No, Joel. I asked that last week and he told me he didn't want us to hunt her down and scare her off." Brown laughed. "Or worse, maybe we would hunt her down and try to steal her away from him."
"Don't even go there, H." Rafe's easy going manner turned icy at the mere thought. Instantly the other man raised his hands in surrender. He had not intended to cause the younger man to get defensive. If he had known he was that serious about this girl, they wouldn't have teased him. He looked over at Joel for help.
Taggart spoke quickly but sincerely. "Whoa, Rafe. Henri was just joking. He's not serious. From our talk Monday, I didn't realize that things had gotten that serious already."
"It's okay, Joel." Rafe apologized. He knew that his friends would not seriously try to get at Kyrie. He sighed. "It's just hard, you know what I mean?"
Joel sat on the edge of his desk. "Exactly how long have you known her?"
"Not long enough but it seems like forever." At the older man's grunt , he answered quietly.
"About four weeks."
"You're serious about her already? That's a bit fast, Rafe." The older man sounded worried. When they had spoken on Monday, Rafe hadn't seemed quite so. . . vehement. Now it was as if he was almost defensive.
Something had changed since their talk.
"I know, but she's different, Joel. She's like no one I've ever met before. She has a ... I guess you'd call it a gentleness, an innocence about her that is very special." Confused hazel eyes looked up at the man sitting on his desk.
"Where did you meet her?"
"At the university. She teaches photography there."
"Sounds like she's got a stable career then. So how serious are you?"
Rafe quietly shook his head, not really able to answer. They were on dangerous ground here. How could he tell them that he was thinking of leaving Cascade when she did? That she made him feel whole? That he would do anything to protect her? He tried to frame the words, to explain his feelings, but nothing came out.
With a small sigh, Taggart turned to Brown. "He's a goner, Henri. We're losing a poker partner. Whenever a woman hits a man so hard he can't tell his friends about her, it's too late for him."
Pale blue eyes appeared over Brown's shoulder and looked down at the two seated detectives.
"What's this about losing a poker partner? Is someone leaving?"
"Nope. Rafe here is contemplating his relationship." Joel broke the news as if it were the most dire of information. He schooled his face into a solemn, sad expression. His eyes were downcast and his voice low, the words carefully spaced to conjure sad, quiet emotions. "Not only has he been seen with her at every dance Rhonda has attended, but he's been taking her to Seattle, missing poker games, in short, he's becoming wrapped around her little fingers."
Rafe looked up in surprise at the amused chuckles that surrounded him. Sometime during the conversation, most of the Major Crimes unit had joined the circle, and all of them were listening to Joel. Joel just nodded and watched the younger man.
"Hey, guys, what's with the huddle?" Blair's voice cut through the quiet silence as the men looked at their embarrassed colleague. They didn't even notice as they made an open path for him to
move to the front of the group. "Hey, Rafe. So what's the problem?"
"Rafe is, Hairboy." Henri dead panned solemnly. "He's talking about his relationship with Kyrie."
"Joel here says we're losing a poker player, so it must be serious." Jim's voice was sad.
"Maybe she plays poker. That means more money to win!" Megan's voice was soft as she peered down at the detective in question.
Blair bounced happily, a large smile spreading across his face. He reached out and clapped a hand on Rafe's shoulder. "When do we get to meet her?"
"Traitor!" Jim growled, cuffing the younger man playfully.
"Hey, from the looks on all the faces around here, I'd say this is very serious." Blair picked up the anxious look on the other man face and understood. He caught the mixed apprehension and ecstasy that flickered in Rafe's eyes. It hit the anthropologist suddenly, the young detective was seriously in love with the mysterious Kyrie everyone had been wondering about. The smile on his face grew even larger. "Congratulations, man! She must be pretty special."
"Thanks, Blair." Rafe grimaced as the other detectives chuckled again.
"Would anyone care to explain this?" The gruff voice of the unit captain made them look up. Simon stood, arms crossed in the doorway to his office. The slight tilt of his lips as he kept himself from smiling was the only clue that he wasn't really irritated by the scene in the bullpen. "Now, I know all of you have work to be done, so get to it. Rafe, I'm glad you made it back from Seattle without getting caught in that accident on the freeway."
With those quiet words, the big man turned back to his office. Behind him detectives returned to their work, filling out the myriad of forms that always seemed to multiply on their desks. Rafe smiled to himself as he watched the circle of officers break up.
"Glad to hear everything is working out. You deserve someone like her. And she deserves someone like you." Ellison spoke softly. Catching Rafe's eye he nodded with a slight smile before reaching out to grab Sandburg's arm. Rafe stared in shock as Jim led his partner away.
"Come on, Chief. There are some forms with your name on them over here."
An hour later, Simon came out of his office, grim faced. "Listen up, people. We have reports of a mass murder at the old foundry just outside of the city limits. County has requested our aid. I want everyone to drop what they're doing and head out."
Rainier University Apartments, late afternoon.
AJ stared at the TV, panic in her eyes. The reporter continued, "So far neither the Cascade police nor the county sheriffs are commenting on the rumors about a mass suicide or a mass grave site. From the number of officers and the huge mobilization of forces, at least some of the rumors must be true. At last count over 20 body bags have been removed from the foundry."
Her eyes were focused on a set of symbols painted on the wall outside the foundry. Symbols that shouldn't be this far north. Not in her life time anyway. She grabbed her phone and dialed from memory, ignoring the faint clicking that came over the line. When the secretary answered, she spoke swiftly, "Sarah, it's me. I need to talk to Ese or Rage."
"They're out of the office, Miss." Sarah's voice was startled. Before she could say anything else, AJ hung up the phone. She was on her own, at least for now. Grabbing her laptop, she hooked it into the Internet. She had to get to her files and fast. She stopped, a faint smile gracing her lips. She didn't need her files, she needed someone else's files. She quickly picked up the phone again.
"Mr. Kelso? This is Silence. Authentication code: delta sigma one niner tango epsilon. Your Cascade police have stumbled into something nasty. They are going to need your help."
357 Prospect Ave. Apt # 307, 7 p.m.
"Sandburg, Ellison, this is Kelso, I know the two of you are very busy, but it's urgent. Call me or come by my place no matter what time it is." Blair looked over at Jim as the message played. The sentinel frowned at him. At the gesture he replayed the message, watching as the other man concentrated his hearing.
"Sounds important, Chief. His heart rate's up and he's working as he talks." Another frown. "He had the news on, sounds like Haas' report on the foundry. Let's go see the man."
"Jim?" Blair caught his jacket as the taller man tossed it to him. It had been a hard day. The final count had been 57 bodies, all carefully displayed in the foundry. He hadn't been the only one there who had become ill as they dealt with the scene. "Why don't we call him and tell him we'll be by in the morning."
'Shh." Jim hissed as he dialed on his cell phone. Before Blair could make another comment, he opened the door and stepped out of the loft. "Kelso? Yeah, it's me. Okay, what's the address? We'll be there in a few minutes."
Jack Kelso's house, Cascade, WA.
Jack Kelso met them at the door. "Thanks for coming on such short notice."
"What's up?" Blair asked, his eyes darting around Kelso's house curiously. Although he considered himself the ex-agent's friend, he had never been there before.
"It's about the foundry..." Kelso spoke quietly, watching them. "I've seen this before and it's going to get worse."
"Worse?" Jim fought to keep his voice calm.
"About twelve years ago I was involved with a CIA intelligence gathering mission in the Yucatan. We were trying to find the leader of a group called the Children of the Sun. The markings on wall of the foundry look like the ones I saw then." Kelso pulled out a sheaf of notes and handed them over to Jim. "The end total was close to 300 bodies. The group vanished and has reappeared at least once since then. More than one entire task force has disappeared hunting them."
"Why haven't I heard about them?" Blair asked, peering at the hand written notes Jim was looking at. "I mean, I've heard about a lot of cults in that area, but not the Children of the Sun."
"All of the groups involved agreed to hush-up the incident. The whole debacle is still classified." At those words Jim's eyes shot over to meet the ex-agent's. "After seeing the symbols on the wall in that news story, I dug out my old notes to help you. But even I can't get anything else."
The muscle in the sentinel's jaw began to twitch. "So who do I talk to?" He ground out between clenched teeth.
"Dr. Abraham Zelinski." Kelso didn't miss the look or the strangled gasp from Blair. "I already tried to get information on him for you, but..."
"He's missing." Jim cut him off.
"Yes, that's what my sources say. Actually, as of last week, he is listed as presumed dead." Kelso watched the expression that crossed their faces. His curiosity piqued, he asked, "You knew him?"
"Friend of a friend." Jim answered.
"Have you met AJ Fortaleza?" Blair asked. "She worked with him for several years."
"Fortaleza? I've heard about her. She's the visiting professor from South America, the one with the crossover photography-anthropology classes?"
"Yeah, that's her." Blair began.
"How high is the clearance on this stuff?" Jim interrupted. "If it will cause a problem, I'll return it to you in the morning."
"Keep it. Those are my private notes that I wrote up after the fact. No names because I didn't know any, but all the information I could remember. Everything I thought might come in handy if they ever showed up again." Kelso looked over at his computer, a pensive look crossing his face.
"I'll look around, see if I can find anything else for you."
Blair spoke softly. "Are you sure? I mean, who can we show this too without getting you in trouble?"
"It's what you would find if you went to Merida and read the newspaper articles. " Kelso reassured him. "Nothing illegal, no broken oaths. You can use it with a clean conscience. Use it to catch the sob's."
"We will." Jim's voice cut through Blair's thanks.
*****
Rainier University Apartments, 9 p.m.
"Rafe?" AJ took one look him and drew the unresisting man into her apartment. "I wasn't expecting you tonight. What happened?"
"I'm sorry, Kyrie. I had a really bad day at work and ..." He began, pulling away. "I shouldn't burden you with it. It might be best if..."
"No. You don't need to be alone right now." AJ gently stripped Rafe of his coat and tie. From the haunted look in his eyes she knew what the problem was and she knew how to handle it. "Sit down, I'll get you some tea."
"I don't want any tea. I just want to hold you." Rafe's voice was soft and broken as his eyes reflected the pain of things he had seen.
Wordlessly, AJ pulled him into her arms and sank onto the couch. She closed her eyes as his arms wrapped around her, seeking comfort. Rafe's shudders rocked her and she closed her eyes, vowing silently to do everything in her power to stop the sacrifices. Under her breath, she crooned softly, chanting a slow, soothing prayer. It took much longer than she'd expected for him to slide into an exhausted sleep. Once she was sure he was resting she stood. She had a lot of work to do. She had to break into a guarded crime scene and see if she could get any information on the new whereabouts of the Cult.
14 November, Major Crimes Department, early am.
"Have any of you heard from Rafe since yesterday?" Brown's quiet question made the other detectives look up from Kelso's notes. One by one they shook their heads. "He isn't answering his cell phone. I checked his apartment on the way in, but it doesn't look like he ever got home last night."
"Give me a minute, I have an idea." Ellison answered. He stood and went over to his desk, opening a drawer to pull out an address book. After flipping through the pages, he quickly dialed a number from memory. He hated decieving his friends, but in this case it was necessary. Then, closing the book he returned it to the drawer. "Kyrie? Is Rafe there?"
"Yes." Her voice was a mere whisper of sound. "Does this mean I need to wake him?"
"Yeah. I need to talk to him, please." Jim kept his voice even. He didn't want to think beyond this moment. He really didn't want to know. "We'll talk about it later, okay?" He barely heard her acknowledgement before the phone was placed on a table. He listened as bare feet paced away from the phone and AJ began speaking quietly in another room.
The silence from the bullpen made the sentinel look up, breaking his concentration away from the soft conversation on the phone. Everyone, from Simon to Rhonda was staring at him in amazement. As he waited patiently, he saw Joel start grinning and Blair frown. The phone was handed to a voice that was not quite Rafe's. At least, not the Rafe he was used to hearing. It sounded like the younger detective was still sound asleep.
"'Lo?" The voice croaked.
"You don't sound too good. Are you coming in today?"
"What time is it?" Jim heard AJ whisper an answer to that question. "Oh, shit. Tell Simon I'll be in soon."
Behind Rafe, he could hear AJ arguing. Then the phone was taken away from the young man. "Jim? I don't think he'll be there for at least an hour. He will eat before he heads home and gets changed."
"Okay. The station'll still be here. Tell him to take it easy. The roads are icy this morning." Jim replied before hanging up the phone. Then he looked up at the eyes watching him. "Rafe's fine. He overslept. He'll be here in about an hour. Maybe a little later."
"How long have you known Rafe's girlfriend?" Blair asked calmly.
"A while." Jim smirked at the group. "Shouldn't we get back to work?"
"And you weren't going to tell us?" Brown took up the questioning.
"No." The Sentinel picked up a drawing Kelso had included with the notes. "So, have you ever seen this kind of arrangement before, Chief?"
Blair glanced at the drawing, still pondering the idea that Jim knew who Kyrie was. "So, what's she like?"
"Not your type, Sandburg." Was the only answer he got. Blair looked over at Joel and Simon, silently passing the floor to them.
"What aren't you telling us, Jim?" Joel's grin spread, as he watched the detective squirm. "Is she one of your ex-girlfriends? Or did you hunt her down to make sure you could entrust Rafe to her?"
The others glanced at each other. It hadn't occurred to them to check out Rafe's lady. They all knew with the reputation the department had earned courtesy of Ellison and Sandburg, it was something they should have thought about doing.
"She's a friend, not an old girlfriend. Yes, I checked her out, thoroughly. She's safe. No, I'm not giving you any more information. They're both adults. They want to keep it private, that's their choice." Jim glared at them. He didn't like revealing this much and it showed.
Rainier University Apartments.
"You know Jim Ellison?" Rafe's voice was unsteady, as he hung up the phone.
She nodded, looking away from the accusation in his eyes. This was not the right time but she couldn't hide from the truth. None of her people could. "I knew him in another world."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Rafe watched her pace. He was confused, angry. If Kyrie knew Ellison, she knew another police officer. Then why was she so touchy about his job. "What is going on?"
"I learned of Captain James Ellison while I was in South America." Kyrie sighed, turning to the window and staring out of it. Her words were soft, forcing Rafe to come closer so he could hear them. "To say that we keep running into each other is an understatement. He was adopted by the Chopec, made a part of Incacha's family. I was adopted by the Chopec, also made a part of Incacha's family. According to the ways of the people, he is my older brother. I am his younger sister."
"Why so secretive?" Rafe gently turned her around, wanting to read her eyes as she spoke.
"I am ..." She hesitated. Finally with an apologetic shrug, she continued, "I am an amaru for the tribe. A shaman. That makes most people uncomfortable. It also makes it very hard for me to be anything but a shaman. For once, I had a chance to be me... not someone's expectations. I took it."
"Are you ever going to tell me your real name? I suspect I know what it probably is, but I want you to tell me." Rafe watched her carefully as he digested the information she had just given him.
"I am Kyrie Eleason Alessandre Jacobo Fortaleza y Trujillo. I am amaru to the Walks Through Peoples. I have been adopted through alliance by another twenty tribes. " Her eyes were bright as she whispered the words, suspiciously so. She bit her lip before continuing. "I have other names. Names that by law I cannot tell you. I'm sorry, Rafe."
"I need to think about this." Rafe's voice was soft, thoughtful. He grabbed his jacket and shrugged into it. "I'll call you later."
Kyrie moved swiftly, darting to the book shelves. She grabbed something and returned to Rafe's side. "No matter what you decide, about me," her voice caught. She held out her hand, showing him a coiled necklace. Blue and green stones, each carved with different symbols were threaded on a slim leather thong. The patterns and symbols marked him as hers in a way that she had no right to claim, but it was the only way she could protect him. If he accepted the amulets she would know he was safe, for now. "Please wear this. At least until after the new year. It's for protection against the coming winds."
Rafe started to refuse but froze. There was something about the way she offered it, as if expecting to be slapped down. Her hand was trembling slightly but her expression was firm. He took the necklace and placed it over his head, automatically sliding it under his shirt. "I have to go."
She didn't say anything, silently escorting him to the door.
####
