Abandoned Reverence

Author's Note: Contrary to popular belief, I am not dead; quite the opposite as a matter of fact. I can't express how incredibly sorry I am for putting off Abandoned Reverence for the amount of time that I have. I did promise to finish this project though, and I like to think I stick by my word. I would especially like to give my friend Lee a special thanks for showing such unfaltering support-even when I wasn't replying to your emails. I just want you to know how much I appreciate your persistence. I also want to thank my very good friend Adriana Rosalina for helping me out along the way. You should go check out her work on my behalf. Okay, that said, I'll move on to the important part. Tschüs!

-Veledore (veledore@hotmail.com)

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing, but Jeff and Mindy are my own characters, so please don't use them without my permission.

Chapter 8: Another Twist

***

"So I told him to get a job!!!" Blake bellowed laughing ridiculously at his own joke. Both Hilde and Relena feebly chuckled along. An hour in lunch and Hilde could already tell that Relena didn't trust her new lawyer completely. *Good,* Hilde thought. *She shouldn't.* She glanced around the perimeter of the tiny restraunt once more seeking what she knew wouldn't be there. *He's gone,* she chided herself. *Get over it.*

"Isn't that right, Ms. Schbeiker?" Blake asked smoothly interrupting her thoughts.

She looked up quickly. "Sorry?" she exclaimed paying more attention.

"I was merely saying that the lobster here was supposed to be excellent, don't you agree?" he asked.

"Oh, yes, I do agree. It's quite appetizing," she lied. Truthfully she hadn't even been able to taste the lobster flesh on her plate.

"I'm still a little confused," Relena commented. "Where did you two say you met?"

Hilde opened her mouth not even knowing how she could worm her way out of this one. "Actually," Blake's voice coiled placidly over her own, "I was working on a special investigation trying to track down a loose killer thought to be hiding out in Ms. Schbeiker's apartment building."

A gasp escaped Relena's throat and she threw Hilde a wide-eyed look. "A killer? Oh Hilde, why didn't you tell me?"

"I don't believe people should live in fear over something they don't have control of. I would've called Blake if I saw the killer." The statement was more intended for Blake than for Relena. Her violet eyes shimmered stubbornly as she silently challenged the chiseled man.

"Perhaps you've seen him Ms. Peacecraft," he suggested turning to face Relena. It was Hilde's turn to look both shocked and surprised as she sent a warning look over at Relena who just barely managed to catch sight of it. "He's about this high," Blake continued indicating with his hand, "He's got blue eyes and long brown hair-he likes to keep it in a braid."

Hilde's heart jumped into her throat with each pound. She cast Relena her best "Please don't say anything" look and silently prayed the diplomat would keep quiet. Relena's gaze barely flickered over Hilde's face before she replied, "No, I'm sorry. I haven't seen anyone like that."

Blake stuttered, but only momentarily as Hilde felt a rush of relief overcome her weary body. *Thank you Relena, I promise I'll explain later,* she thought. Blake regained control of the situation by putting a willowed, "Well, please inform me if you ever do. This man is nearly as murderous as Yuy." At the mention of Yuy's name, Relena suddenly grew quite sullen and she dipped her head.

Hilde didn't like Blake. At all. The fact that he was more than willing to prosecute against Yuy was enough to drive Hilde toward wanting to believe what he had said earlier. *Come on, Hilde,* she scolded herself, *Don't buy into that crap.* She shook her head. She wasn't sure what to believe anymore. Duo was gone. She needed to clear her head.

"Excuse me," she declared standing from the table. Both Blake and Relena looked up from their conversation on the best strategy to pursue in Yuy's case. "I just remembered an appointment I have to get to," she stated and left after paying for her share of the meal. Blake hadn't offered to pay. *Some gentleman,* she thought walking out the door.

***

The drive home was dull and uneventful. Hilde memorized the directions to the prison in case she had to visit again and headed in the direction of her office to check for any messages. The building was eerily silent as Hilde tiptoed to her room. A stale smell reached her nose as she closed the door. *How long has it been since I've been in here?* she wondered reaching her phone were a red light blinked once. She had a message.

Picking up the receiver, she pressed the button to play the message and listened intently. Her heart dropped slightly when the voice turned out to be Jeff's. "Hilde, it's Jeff. Listen, uh.I'm comin' back. Mindy and I had some.trouble here. Anyway she isn't comin' so meet me at the airport in an hour-my flight should be in by three. I'll need a ride home. Bye."

*Ungrateful bastard,* Hilde thought slamming the phone down. *Imagine the nerve,* she fumed feeling her rage rise. *Demanding a ride home from me without a please, or a thanks,* she ranted in her mind picking up the phone again and dialing the number for Jeff's cell phone.

As was expected, the automated 'leave a voice mail' message came on. She figured he was probably out of range, but left him a piece of her mind anyway. "Listen Jeff. I've decided since you can't get it through your thick head anymore that I'm _not_ your lackey, I'll make my point straight and simple. Get your own ride. I will _not_ be at the airport. I will not be at the office either. I'm leaving you Jeff. And if you show up at my door, I'll have you arrested. Got that? I'm sick and tired of dragging your ass behind me. It's time I let go. It's time we _both_ let go. Good bye Jeff."

She let out a breath feeling the lofty fluttering of her heartbeat's surge. She looked around the tiny space of her office again and giggled. It certainly felt good to be free. Walking around the desk, she opened the drawer and took what little office supplies were hers. Sitting down in her desk, she left a small note for Jeff's secretary. The older woman had always been good to her offering her words of wisdom and kind smiles. Hilde sincerely hoped the woman would forgive her. Jeff was irresponsible and the 'West Jost' was sure to die once Hilde left. *But I can't afford to stay here anymore,* she told herself grabbing an empty box and dumping her belongings inside.

Trotting out the door, she slipped the note on the secretary's desk and stopped inside Jeff's office. She placed her keys to the office on his desk and turned to go. She halted suddenly looking back over her shoulder at a chilling sight. Perched on Jeff's desk was a card similar to the one Blake had given her twice. She frowned picking it up and examining it. The same number was printed neatly across the middle in black ink. There was neither a name nor a company on the card, which caused Hilde to frown again. She put the card back down, but on a second thought, picked it back up and tossed it out of the cracked window to her left.

She picked up her box once again and left the building climbing into her car and driving home. There were very few cars in the parking lot when Hilde drove up to the building. She parked the car and got out leaving the box to be picked up another time. Climbing the stairs, she wearily trudged down her hallway and unlocked the door being careful to open the door should Steve decide to ambush her.

She met with more surprise than just Steve. Standing in the front hall were two men adorned from head to foot in black. Black ski masks covered their heads hiding their faces from her view. And both of them carried guns. Hilde was no expert on firearms, but the ones these men carried were big.

She back stepped and attempted to close the door hoping to buy herself time to run to the neighbors. Before she had time, the men reached out and grabbed both her elbows (very much in the same fashion Blake had before). She struggled and squirmed trying to wretch herself from their grasp, but they were simply too strong.

Pulling her inside, she was handed over to one who put a firm hold on her arms. As the other closed and locked the door, she managed a small yelp before a hand was clamped over her mouth. None too gently she was pushed over to her couch and forced to sit.

Three more men filled the living room dressed in the same attire. These obviously weren't the average run-of-the-mill house burglars. *Blake's guys,* she thought before one of them stepped forward. "Where is he?" the man demanded waving a gun in her face.

"Where is who?" Hilde asked deciding to play innocent.

"The writer of this note," the man didn't falter holding up Duo's message. She felt like kicking herself for not having the sense to have burned it. Or at least thrown it away.

Behind the man, the others were milling about the living room carefully lifting up the sofa cushions and searching underneath, then putting them back down cautiously again. Another was putting her DVD player back together with a small screwdriver. They all wore black gloves and Hilde realized to her dismay that supposing she survived the ordeal, she would have nothing to call the police about; they stole a piece of paper, big deal. Maybe she could get them on breaking and entering, perhaps, but only if they left no evidence (and Hilde was certain that they were being careful not to). Otherwise, she would have absolutely nothing to take to the real authorities.

"Where is he?" the man demanded again holding up the gun again.

"He.he's not here," Hilde stated dumbly trying to think of something, _anything_. It was kind of hard to think though, when the barrel of a gun was being shoved in your face.

"Don't play game's with me," the man warned and butted the cold steel of the gun against her head.

The reality of the situation set in when she felt the icy sting of the metal. Shaking, she blundered out, "I.I can call him.I know how to reach him."

Receiving encouraging nods from the two men posted at the doorway, the man pointed at the phone next to the couch. With quaking hands, she jerkily reached for the receiver, then paused when an idea formed. "What are you waiting for?" the man asked giving her another push with the gun.

"I can't remember the number," she answered. "He wrote down the number.he said to call him if I was in trouble." she paused looking pale-faced at the gun in the man's capable hands. "I hid the paper somewhere in my bedroom."

"We already checked the bedroom," the man gave her a suspicious glare.

"I hid it," she insisted feeling her stomach churn and praying that he would take the bait.

Checking the responses from the two other men who once again nodded, he gruffly signaled her to stand and shoved the gun into the base of her skull. She somehow managed to walk on shaky legs into the bedroom toward the back of the main hall.

"Where is it?" The man asked as she looked about the room.

Her sights landed on the nightstand and she hoped and prayed that the secret compartment in the drawer served its purpose well enough. She pulled the drawer open just a little so that the man couldn't see what she was doing.

"I'm telling you, we already checked there," the man said impatiently. He gave a jump of alarm as Hilde whirled around brandishing a small handgun.

"Apparently, you didn't check everywhere," she replied curtly.

The man gave a small humorless chuckle. In one swift movement with more speed than Hilde thought his bulk capable of, he brought up and hand between Hilde's arms, and slamming into her loosely clenched fists, the gun clattered to the floor. He placed a triumphant foot over the weapon and bent to pick it up.

Chuckling again, he brought it closer to his face to examine it without much apparent interest. He motioned for her to sit on the bed, which she did without complaint and he examined the false door of the nightstand. "Cute," he stated returning the gun to its place.

He pushed Hilde back to her feet and forced her into the hall where she was once more forced to sit on the couch. The man signaled one of the men by the door to watch over her while he took out a small cell phone and dialed a number.

"He's not here," the man said to whomever was on the other line. "The girl's here, but she doesn't know where he is."

A bark from the balcony drew Hilde's attention. She looked over at the glass doors where Steve's nose was pressed. He barked again and scratched frantically at the door. The door was locked, so there wasn't a chance that the overgrown pup could wiggle his way inside. But perhaps, if he made enough noise, he would get the attention from one of the neighbors. Hilde made eye contact with the dog nodding and managing a weak smile to try and get him riled up. It worked well enough as the pup fairly went insane.

"Hey," the man called out holding the cell phone down. "Shut that mutt up, I'm trying to talk."

Hilde's breath caught in her throat as one of the men moved toward the door. "Nooo," Hilde cried standing and preparing to hurtle herself at the man readying his gun.

A shrill ring reverberated throughout the house and Hilde wanted to collapse from the immense wave of relief flowing through her body. The phone was ringing. The house seemed to stand still for an instant. Even Steve calmed down as the man on the cell phone said a quick, "I'll call you back and hung up." All of the men gave the phone an uneasy look.

"I was expecting a call," Hilde lied. "It's my neighbor. She'll be terribly worried if I don't answer."

The man growled as the phone rang again. He looked over at the other men who shook their heads. They didn't know what to do. Had the situation not been so serious, Hilde would have thought it funny that such tough burly men were thrown so far off guard by a simple phone call.

It rang again.

"Answer it," the man growled obviously not happy about the decision. "But one word about us," he threatened and shoved the gun into her temple.

It rang again and Hilde greedily snatched up the phone. *Please be Relena,* she prayed. *Or at least someone helpful.* "Hello?" her voice held trembles and her hands shook nervously as they held the cradle.

There was a moment of silence and Hilde felt sick as she convinced herself that whoever was on the other line had hung up. "Hilde?" a small voice on the other end of the line answered.

Hilde felt her heart first skip a beat and then drop. It was Mindy on the other line. Not only was she not very receptive and therefore probably wouldn't get whatever coded message Hilde sent her, but she was also hundreds of miles away and would be of no real use to Hilde. *Still,* Hilde thought, *I might be able to get her to call the police.* Yeah, one could _hope_.

"Mindy," Hilde replied flatly, as though she had been expecting to hear that voice all along.

The pressure of the gun against her head disoriented her thoughts and she almost didn't catch it when Mindy began to frantically spew meaningless sentences. ".We had a fight.I didn't know what to do.I told him he could go home by himself.he told me not to bother coming back." she broke into stuttering sobs.

"Mindy," Hilde's voice sounded firm, Mindy _had_ to get a grip on herself if she was going to help Hilde out. "What are you talking about?"

"It's Jeff," Mindy wailed miserably. "His plane crashed. He's dead Hilde. He's dead."

Shock, cold as the steel being held against her head filled her already numb mind. "Wha-" she barely heard the syllable roll off her tongue before the blackness filled her mind. She vaguely felt a need to stay alert, but the overbearing weight from the day became too much for her to hold. She fell in a dead faint onto the floor.

***

Author's Note: Another twist! I know what you're thinking: Enough already! Just get to the point! I've drug this story out way too much, I know. Sorry. Believe me when I say that this particular turn _is_ necessary though. Please leave me a review because they keep the story rolling. Thanks! Auf wiedersehen!

-Veledore (veledore@hotmail.com)