Title: Business and Pleasure, Eight
Author: Leese
Email: lisacheerio_85@yahoo.com
Note: Part Eight.
Mac raced down to the two cells at the local station. Angie was in the far one, sitting with her back to Mac, leaning against the metal.
"Ange," Mac started, and she turned, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I don't want to be here."
"I know," she knelt beside her. "You need anything?"
"You think you could get me a blanket from over there? In that cupboard? A pillow maybe?" Mac nodded, smiling. She walked over and bundled a couple of sheets and so forth into her arms, bringing them back to her. "Is Oscar coming?"
"They wouldn't let him." She reached in, letting her hand run along Angie's cheek. "We're going to get you out. You're not meant to be here."
"They said, um, I'm being sent back to the city tomorrow morning."
"What? Who said that?" she shrugged. Mac tried not to let her confused and ultimately scared expression filter through to Ange, but they knew each other too well. "I'm staying here tonight. I'll see you before you go, all right?" Angie nodded, hesitating. "It's going to be all right."
"I only hit him," she maintained. "I didn't know where I was, how could I know he'd hit his head? I couldn't see any sharp rocks, it was dark!" Mac nodded, tears running down her cheeks also. "Have you spoken to Pete and Danni?"
"Yeah, they said they miss you, they love you, they're helping you."
"Tell them thankyou." Mac smiled through her tears, nodding.
"I did... I did..."
*
Mac let her hands sink into her pants' pockets as she stood with Oscar on his property.
"You ready?" she asked him.
"Yeah, said goodbye just before you arrived. She's okay?"
"She will be."
*
Bligh stood.
"Timing is everything gentlemen." They nodded.
*
Pete jumped out of his desk as Mac and Oscar drove back into the factory.
"They've got her at the usual, medium security, women's section." Mac nodded.
"Got it on my way back. How did that other thing go?"
"It didn't. I had a tail on my way there, so I came back."
"Tail?" Oscar asked.
"A friendly tail," Pete replied. Mac's mobile rang.
"Mackenzie..." Her face drained of blood.
*
Mac got out of her car, the air swirling around her. She looked around at the ambulance also pulling up, but being held back by police. There was nothing they could do – they were simply couriers on this one.
Time stopped.
Every footstep echoed in Mac's head as she watched herself walk towards the gate, turning to her side and revealing her ID to the line of security officers. She took off her watch, placed her bag in a plastic box and walked through the gate. She was met by more security. Briefly she turned her head back, looking through the gates. She felt for a moment something touch her, a shiver running up her back. No, she told herself, not yet.
The path was cement, the air stale. She was led into the dormitory. Her mind was in control mode. Right foot, left foot, one in front of the other. She pulled her jacket tighter around her, feeling her hands slide around her waist and finding comfort in the touch.
It didn't take them long to reach the police tape. It was lifted up for her, and she bent over, crouching to slip under it. As she straightened, she had to force herself to keep her eyes open.
She took a step forward, her eyelids fluttering as she reached out, touching Angie's leg, tinging purple with lividity as the steady blood became subject to gravity.
Mac looked up, tears stinging her eyes. She heard the security guard explaining in the background.
"Suicide's are common of police thrown into jail. Finally get a taste of their own medicine." Suicide...
Mac fought back tears.
"Take her down," she whispered, turning, finding strength. "Take her down!" Forensics and the medics moved quickly, leaving the coiled sheet wrapped around the deceased's neck. They lowered her to the cement floor, before leaving. Mac felt herself kneel beside Angie. She looked at the bloodshot eyes, the vessels that had popped under the strain. She reached out, closing them for her, something she would never be able to do again. She looked her over – her best friend. Suicide – bull shit! She took Angie's hand in hers as two hands slipped around her waist also. She felt someone kiss the back of her neck gently.
Mac squeezed Angie's hand, and for the first time ever, it didn't squeeze back. She sighed, beginning to sob.
"I'm sorry Angie," she whispered. "I'm so, so, sorry." She started crying and Pete pulled her from Angie. He reached out, feeling the two women's hands, one much warmer than the other, and breaking them apart. He took Mac's in his and she turned to him as he helped pull her up. "I'm so sorry," she repeated into him as he led her out of the now cold, lifeless cell. "Angie I'm so sorry, Angie..."
*
Mac got out of her car at the factory. Oscar and Danni stood. Mac walked straight up to Oscar, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks in rivers once again, and pulled him to her. He sighed, tears escaping his eyes also as Mac attempted to compose herself.
"They said, um, it was suicide," Pete attempted. Danni took his hand.
*
Oscar walked up to the casket, turning back for a moment, watching Danni, Pete and Mac sitting in the front row, ready to start. In the background Shirley and Brad entered, taking a seat towards the back. Such a big part of him didn't want to be here, but there was no way he was missing this. No way. The last time he saw her, he hadn't even said he'd loved her. He'd almost lost her twice beforehand, and now she really was gone. She was gone and it was his fault, his badge's fault.
Oscar knew she hadn't committed suicide. Even if she had, she wouldn't have not said goodbye to him, or to Mac. Or even to Pete or Danni. They were family and now...now, they weren't.
*
The four of them returned to their cars after the burial. Mac stopped in her tracks and the others looked up as Bligh approached with his entourage. They seemed to single out Mac and Pete, as Danni and Oscar took a step back.
"Ellen Mackenzie, Peter Church, you're under arrest for conspiracy. You have the right to remain silent-" Mac resisted the urge to cry out as the uniform behind her pulled her cuffs too tightly, scraping against her bone. "Know that anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one, one may be provided for you..." Mac looked over at Peter. He had no idea what was going on either.
However, Mac then looked over her shoulder at Oscar and Danni. The officer behind her pushed her forward, and she fell onto the grass at Bligh's feet. With no hands free to shield herself, she rolled onto her side, feeling her head scrape the ground, grass brush her eyes, nose and mouth.
"She's resisting arrest sir," the uniform stated officially.
"Hey!" Danni called. "She was n-" Oscar reached out and grabbed her arm, and she knew not to go any further.
"Please pick her up," Pete stated. Bligh looked over at him. The cemetery was deserted except for their party, and so there were no witnesses but those present. He leant forward, over Mac.
"Are you going to resist Ellen?" he asked. It took her a moment before she shook her head. Bligh looked back up, nodding. The uniform grabbed her around her waist and hauled her back onto her feet, the fact that her hands were cuffed behind her making it difficult for her to balance on her own. Mac's head hung around her shoulders as Pete watched her, begging her inwardly to look over at him, but she wouldn't.
*
Two weeks later Danni sat opposite Mac on the park-like bench.
"Even when you do make bail they don't leave you alone," she mumbled, glancing over at the suits trying to make themselves inconspicuous against the greenery – it wasn't working. Danni smirked.
"How are you?"
"I'm okay, Bligh wants to make a deal." She paused, not wanting to sound too eager, but this was the first time she'd been able to talk outside the ears of others – she hoped – for many days. "You seen Pete?" Danni nodded, smiling.
"He's getting a bit of rough treatment. Mac," she leant forward. "They want to send you back in there, you know. They're going to, too."
"I know, but I can't go back. The only reason I got out at all was because while our names change, our faces don't." She sighed. "I got scared, I guess."
"Pete says he misses you." Mac nodded thanks.
"Oscar?"
"He's not doing so well. But we're doing everything we can to find some evidence this wasn't your doing. So far, though, Mac there's not too much out there."
"Yeah...Bligh's efficient. Just, Danni, don't get us thrown in the slammer for good."
"I won't."
TBC...
Author: Leese
Email: lisacheerio_85@yahoo.com
Note: Part Eight.
Mac raced down to the two cells at the local station. Angie was in the far one, sitting with her back to Mac, leaning against the metal.
"Ange," Mac started, and she turned, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I don't want to be here."
"I know," she knelt beside her. "You need anything?"
"You think you could get me a blanket from over there? In that cupboard? A pillow maybe?" Mac nodded, smiling. She walked over and bundled a couple of sheets and so forth into her arms, bringing them back to her. "Is Oscar coming?"
"They wouldn't let him." She reached in, letting her hand run along Angie's cheek. "We're going to get you out. You're not meant to be here."
"They said, um, I'm being sent back to the city tomorrow morning."
"What? Who said that?" she shrugged. Mac tried not to let her confused and ultimately scared expression filter through to Ange, but they knew each other too well. "I'm staying here tonight. I'll see you before you go, all right?" Angie nodded, hesitating. "It's going to be all right."
"I only hit him," she maintained. "I didn't know where I was, how could I know he'd hit his head? I couldn't see any sharp rocks, it was dark!" Mac nodded, tears running down her cheeks also. "Have you spoken to Pete and Danni?"
"Yeah, they said they miss you, they love you, they're helping you."
"Tell them thankyou." Mac smiled through her tears, nodding.
"I did... I did..."
*
Mac let her hands sink into her pants' pockets as she stood with Oscar on his property.
"You ready?" she asked him.
"Yeah, said goodbye just before you arrived. She's okay?"
"She will be."
*
Bligh stood.
"Timing is everything gentlemen." They nodded.
*
Pete jumped out of his desk as Mac and Oscar drove back into the factory.
"They've got her at the usual, medium security, women's section." Mac nodded.
"Got it on my way back. How did that other thing go?"
"It didn't. I had a tail on my way there, so I came back."
"Tail?" Oscar asked.
"A friendly tail," Pete replied. Mac's mobile rang.
"Mackenzie..." Her face drained of blood.
*
Mac got out of her car, the air swirling around her. She looked around at the ambulance also pulling up, but being held back by police. There was nothing they could do – they were simply couriers on this one.
Time stopped.
Every footstep echoed in Mac's head as she watched herself walk towards the gate, turning to her side and revealing her ID to the line of security officers. She took off her watch, placed her bag in a plastic box and walked through the gate. She was met by more security. Briefly she turned her head back, looking through the gates. She felt for a moment something touch her, a shiver running up her back. No, she told herself, not yet.
The path was cement, the air stale. She was led into the dormitory. Her mind was in control mode. Right foot, left foot, one in front of the other. She pulled her jacket tighter around her, feeling her hands slide around her waist and finding comfort in the touch.
It didn't take them long to reach the police tape. It was lifted up for her, and she bent over, crouching to slip under it. As she straightened, she had to force herself to keep her eyes open.
She took a step forward, her eyelids fluttering as she reached out, touching Angie's leg, tinging purple with lividity as the steady blood became subject to gravity.
Mac looked up, tears stinging her eyes. She heard the security guard explaining in the background.
"Suicide's are common of police thrown into jail. Finally get a taste of their own medicine." Suicide...
Mac fought back tears.
"Take her down," she whispered, turning, finding strength. "Take her down!" Forensics and the medics moved quickly, leaving the coiled sheet wrapped around the deceased's neck. They lowered her to the cement floor, before leaving. Mac felt herself kneel beside Angie. She looked at the bloodshot eyes, the vessels that had popped under the strain. She reached out, closing them for her, something she would never be able to do again. She looked her over – her best friend. Suicide – bull shit! She took Angie's hand in hers as two hands slipped around her waist also. She felt someone kiss the back of her neck gently.
Mac squeezed Angie's hand, and for the first time ever, it didn't squeeze back. She sighed, beginning to sob.
"I'm sorry Angie," she whispered. "I'm so, so, sorry." She started crying and Pete pulled her from Angie. He reached out, feeling the two women's hands, one much warmer than the other, and breaking them apart. He took Mac's in his and she turned to him as he helped pull her up. "I'm so sorry," she repeated into him as he led her out of the now cold, lifeless cell. "Angie I'm so sorry, Angie..."
*
Mac got out of her car at the factory. Oscar and Danni stood. Mac walked straight up to Oscar, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks in rivers once again, and pulled him to her. He sighed, tears escaping his eyes also as Mac attempted to compose herself.
"They said, um, it was suicide," Pete attempted. Danni took his hand.
*
Oscar walked up to the casket, turning back for a moment, watching Danni, Pete and Mac sitting in the front row, ready to start. In the background Shirley and Brad entered, taking a seat towards the back. Such a big part of him didn't want to be here, but there was no way he was missing this. No way. The last time he saw her, he hadn't even said he'd loved her. He'd almost lost her twice beforehand, and now she really was gone. She was gone and it was his fault, his badge's fault.
Oscar knew she hadn't committed suicide. Even if she had, she wouldn't have not said goodbye to him, or to Mac. Or even to Pete or Danni. They were family and now...now, they weren't.
*
The four of them returned to their cars after the burial. Mac stopped in her tracks and the others looked up as Bligh approached with his entourage. They seemed to single out Mac and Pete, as Danni and Oscar took a step back.
"Ellen Mackenzie, Peter Church, you're under arrest for conspiracy. You have the right to remain silent-" Mac resisted the urge to cry out as the uniform behind her pulled her cuffs too tightly, scraping against her bone. "Know that anything you do say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one, one may be provided for you..." Mac looked over at Peter. He had no idea what was going on either.
However, Mac then looked over her shoulder at Oscar and Danni. The officer behind her pushed her forward, and she fell onto the grass at Bligh's feet. With no hands free to shield herself, she rolled onto her side, feeling her head scrape the ground, grass brush her eyes, nose and mouth.
"She's resisting arrest sir," the uniform stated officially.
"Hey!" Danni called. "She was n-" Oscar reached out and grabbed her arm, and she knew not to go any further.
"Please pick her up," Pete stated. Bligh looked over at him. The cemetery was deserted except for their party, and so there were no witnesses but those present. He leant forward, over Mac.
"Are you going to resist Ellen?" he asked. It took her a moment before she shook her head. Bligh looked back up, nodding. The uniform grabbed her around her waist and hauled her back onto her feet, the fact that her hands were cuffed behind her making it difficult for her to balance on her own. Mac's head hung around her shoulders as Pete watched her, begging her inwardly to look over at him, but she wouldn't.
*
Two weeks later Danni sat opposite Mac on the park-like bench.
"Even when you do make bail they don't leave you alone," she mumbled, glancing over at the suits trying to make themselves inconspicuous against the greenery – it wasn't working. Danni smirked.
"How are you?"
"I'm okay, Bligh wants to make a deal." She paused, not wanting to sound too eager, but this was the first time she'd been able to talk outside the ears of others – she hoped – for many days. "You seen Pete?" Danni nodded, smiling.
"He's getting a bit of rough treatment. Mac," she leant forward. "They want to send you back in there, you know. They're going to, too."
"I know, but I can't go back. The only reason I got out at all was because while our names change, our faces don't." She sighed. "I got scared, I guess."
"Pete says he misses you." Mac nodded thanks.
"Oscar?"
"He's not doing so well. But we're doing everything we can to find some evidence this wasn't your doing. So far, though, Mac there's not too much out there."
"Yeah...Bligh's efficient. Just, Danni, don't get us thrown in the slammer for good."
"I won't."
TBC...