Family Matters
Pt. 2
Ash didn't say anything as they sat down and ordered tea and various other items. Frank had told her she could order anything she wanted. But Ash was still hesitant. She gazed at the carts that went by and sighed. She finally chose her food and dug in like a starving man.
Frank watched as she ate for the first time since seeing her at the police station. He actually looked at her. Ashanti had inherited the family traits of dark wavy hair and intense eyes along with the pale skin. But where Frank had a square and rather normal looking face, Ashanti had a round face with sharp cheek bones and a long jaw that fit her high forehead and nose. Frank smiled, she had inherited her fathers skin texture and bone structure, but the rest of her was Konhanek.. Even her mannerisms were like his. She slouched in her seat and ate with her head down, as if keeping a secret. Her arms rested on the table and she didn't care if it was rude.
She looked up and Frank saw the flash of intelligence and energy in her eyes. It made him look away; Sonny had called them cop eyes. But Frank just said they were his grandfathers. She paused in reaching for her tea and stared at him, lines creasing her brow. Just like Frank does when he frowned.
"What is it?" She asked, carefully picking up the small cup, " You're staring like I grew a second head or something."
He laughed, " Sorry, I was just seeing how much of Jill was really in you."
Ash smiled gently, " Thanks, I always wanted to look like mom. Dad always said she was prettier then Venus." She put down her cup and sat back, hands folding over her stomach. She stared at him with those eyes and waited.
He sighed, " I guess you know I want to ask you some questions."
She nodded, " Do I need a lawyer?" It sounded half serious.
"I don't see why." Frank ran his fingers over the ivory chopsticks across his bowl. " I mean unless you think there is something....." He trailed off.
"Uncle Frank, " Ash said firmly, " You have been wanting to pick my brain since we walked in to your station. So ask, if I don't answer then I don't answer."
Frank looked at her and nodded, " Fair enough. " Out of habit he pulled out his notepad and flipped it open, he had written down some of the questions. He stared at the first one and went into cop mode. " What brought you to San Francisco?"
" The highway, we crossed the Bridge and here we were."
"What events brought you to the city?" He asked, glancing up at the long silence that followed, he could see she wasn't going to answer. His mind made a note of the question, he went on. " Who told you where to find me?"
"Grandma Hudson, she said that we would fit better in your world." Ash responded, her voice fringed with annoyance. " She didn't want us to corrupt her other grand kids. No one did."
Frank watched her as she talked, her face had drawn together and she looked angry. " What is the job Madison got in New York?"
Ash picked up her tea and took a long sip. No answer.
He sighed and closed the pad, stuffed into his coat and sat forward. " It seems to me that you don't like talking about anything that involves Madison, why is that?"
Ash stared at him for a moment before looking at her hands, " If I tell you then she'll get into trouble. She may not appear to be the greatest sister in the world, but it hasn't been easy. Madison was the only one who could really do any work after mom and dad died. Things happened, they had to happen."
Frank listened and realized what she was hinting at, " She became a prostitute?"
Ash didn't respond, just stared too hard at her hands. " Thing just happened."
He sat back and let out a breath, " So what's in New York?"
"A call girl agency offered her a job. Five maybe six grand a week, and that's just the starting wage. Maddy had to take it, but I couldn't go with her." Ash closed her eyes for a moment, " I didn't want to either, ever since they died we have been moving. Always going from place to place. Madison would turn tricks and I would deal."
"You mean drugs." Frank pressed. Part of his brain was going into shock, the other part was taking note of everything she said. " You became a drug dealer."
Ash sighed and nodded, " It was the only thing I could do. After the doctors stopped giving me pain killers, I had to find something. So I found street drugs, most of them made the pain turn into a beautiful trip of bright colors and happy feelings. Soon I was dealing them, Madison doesn't know about it. She has so much to deal with. I couldn't tell her."
Frank sat there and ran his fingers along the chopsticks, this type of story was old to his ears. But it was new at the same time. No one in his family had ever confessed to being a drug dealer before. He sat forward then sat back unable to get comfortable. He wanted to pace, to walk around and shoot off questions. But he couldn't do that, she wasn't under arrest and they weren't in the station.
"So what are you going to do with me?" Ash asked after a long silence. Her eyes wouldn't meet his, they went everywhere but his face.
"I am going to think about it." Frank responded. " I should arrest you and all that." He paused and stood up, pulling out his wallet he put money down.
Ash stood and looked into his eyes, " But...."
"But, I have to think about it." Frank said sharply and quickly made his way to the door. He noticed Ash wasn't behind him and he waited. He had no right to throw stones at Madison when he did it to.
Ash caught up, " You don't have to wait for me you know."
"I know, but I wanted to. " He pushed open the door and didn't hold it. Ash didn't seem to mind and walked next to him. They were silent all the way to the car where he paused before getting in. He stared at her over the roof of the car and she stared back. " Let's go and talk to Sonny, he'll have some ideas."
Ash got in and they drove toward Sonny's place, half way there the call came and they changed direction. Luna needed Frank right this minute.
***************************
The soft crackle of the flames whispered to Julian as he sat waiting. His fingers were steepled in front with his elbows on the chair arms, his eyes stared aimlessly into the fire. The sound of Frank's footsteps warned the Prince a few seconds before he entered.
"What's up Julian?" Frank asked. Closing the door and plopping down in a chair near by. " I was hoping to get a good nights sleep."
Julian turned his chair to face the cop. " Does the name Wilson mean anything to you?"
Frank shook his head, " No. Why?"
Luna motioned to the file on his desk, " He's a known drug dealer, he is also Kindred. Wilson just arrived in the city with a vendetta," The Prince paused, " Against you nieces."
The cop stood up and grabbed the file, he glanced over it and frowned. " Why would he come after Madison and Ashanti?"
"I don't know." Luna sat back in his chair, dropping his hands. " But this involves both of us, my city and your family. So I think we should try and work together on it."
Frank looked at the Prince, his dark eyes narrowing. " You're kidding right?"
Luna shook his head, " No. Wilson is dangerous. Once we find out who is after then we can coordinate a plan."
The cop sighed and pulled his chair over to the desk. " Well Madison will be leaving the city at midnight, Ash will be staying with me. "
"Where is Madison going?" Julian asked, folding his hands on the desk.
"New York." Frank struggled to make his voice neutral, but he knew Luna heard the tension.
" There's not much I can do for her there, it's out of our control. But I can help with Ashanti," Luna picked up the phone on his desk and pressed a button. " Sonny, come in here."
A few seconds later the door opened and Sonny walked in, he sat down in a chair near the door. He looked serious and attentive. He sat with his hands folded over his stomach, keeping his jacket closed.
Julian motioned to the file, " You've read about Wilson?"
Sonny nodded, " Yes Sir."
"What do you suggest as safety?" The Prince asked.
"We put a watch on Frank's apartment, trail her and make sure Wilson doesn't near her." Sonny said plainly. " Also we should ask her what she knows about him, chances are they have met."
Frank jumped in, " What makes you so sure it's Ash he's after?"
Both men noticed the increase in Franks pulse, he was suddenly nervous. Luna sat forward, catching Frank's eye. " What is it Frank?"
"Nothing, but I have two nieces and I don't want to loose one because of an oversight." Frank said. It was true but his heart was still beating too fast for Julian to believe it.
Sonny sighed, " Madison is going to a city that we don't have any influence over, Frank. But we'll keep an eye on her okay?"
Frank didn't agree right away, he thought for a moment. " Ashanti will have to know about the tail."
Sonny looked at Luna, " What's going on Frank?"
Frank sighed and thought about lying, Ash had told him, but that didn't mean he should tell them. He sat back in his chair and rubbed his face. What choice did he have?
**********************
Ashanti was staring in awe at a painting. She recognized the stroke work and the blending of colors. But the picture was foreign. There was no record of it ever being shown or even existing. But here it was, behind a glass frame in the office of the Prince of the City. She shook her head and looked away. There were other paintings in here that she had never seen before. Which meant that either Luna was older then she had estimated or the guy had one hell of a collection. She walked over to another one, her hand going to the couch arm next to her. Leaning her weight against it, she felt the brace on her back relax. The pain shot up her legs and branched off through her spine and arms. She was used to it but still flinched. The morphine was wearing off.
Sighing she stood straight and looked around. There were probably hidden cameras around here, so she went out on the balcony. It stretched the expanse of the house.
Pt. 2
Ash didn't say anything as they sat down and ordered tea and various other items. Frank had told her she could order anything she wanted. But Ash was still hesitant. She gazed at the carts that went by and sighed. She finally chose her food and dug in like a starving man.
Frank watched as she ate for the first time since seeing her at the police station. He actually looked at her. Ashanti had inherited the family traits of dark wavy hair and intense eyes along with the pale skin. But where Frank had a square and rather normal looking face, Ashanti had a round face with sharp cheek bones and a long jaw that fit her high forehead and nose. Frank smiled, she had inherited her fathers skin texture and bone structure, but the rest of her was Konhanek.. Even her mannerisms were like his. She slouched in her seat and ate with her head down, as if keeping a secret. Her arms rested on the table and she didn't care if it was rude.
She looked up and Frank saw the flash of intelligence and energy in her eyes. It made him look away; Sonny had called them cop eyes. But Frank just said they were his grandfathers. She paused in reaching for her tea and stared at him, lines creasing her brow. Just like Frank does when he frowned.
"What is it?" She asked, carefully picking up the small cup, " You're staring like I grew a second head or something."
He laughed, " Sorry, I was just seeing how much of Jill was really in you."
Ash smiled gently, " Thanks, I always wanted to look like mom. Dad always said she was prettier then Venus." She put down her cup and sat back, hands folding over her stomach. She stared at him with those eyes and waited.
He sighed, " I guess you know I want to ask you some questions."
She nodded, " Do I need a lawyer?" It sounded half serious.
"I don't see why." Frank ran his fingers over the ivory chopsticks across his bowl. " I mean unless you think there is something....." He trailed off.
"Uncle Frank, " Ash said firmly, " You have been wanting to pick my brain since we walked in to your station. So ask, if I don't answer then I don't answer."
Frank looked at her and nodded, " Fair enough. " Out of habit he pulled out his notepad and flipped it open, he had written down some of the questions. He stared at the first one and went into cop mode. " What brought you to San Francisco?"
" The highway, we crossed the Bridge and here we were."
"What events brought you to the city?" He asked, glancing up at the long silence that followed, he could see she wasn't going to answer. His mind made a note of the question, he went on. " Who told you where to find me?"
"Grandma Hudson, she said that we would fit better in your world." Ash responded, her voice fringed with annoyance. " She didn't want us to corrupt her other grand kids. No one did."
Frank watched her as she talked, her face had drawn together and she looked angry. " What is the job Madison got in New York?"
Ash picked up her tea and took a long sip. No answer.
He sighed and closed the pad, stuffed into his coat and sat forward. " It seems to me that you don't like talking about anything that involves Madison, why is that?"
Ash stared at him for a moment before looking at her hands, " If I tell you then she'll get into trouble. She may not appear to be the greatest sister in the world, but it hasn't been easy. Madison was the only one who could really do any work after mom and dad died. Things happened, they had to happen."
Frank listened and realized what she was hinting at, " She became a prostitute?"
Ash didn't respond, just stared too hard at her hands. " Thing just happened."
He sat back and let out a breath, " So what's in New York?"
"A call girl agency offered her a job. Five maybe six grand a week, and that's just the starting wage. Maddy had to take it, but I couldn't go with her." Ash closed her eyes for a moment, " I didn't want to either, ever since they died we have been moving. Always going from place to place. Madison would turn tricks and I would deal."
"You mean drugs." Frank pressed. Part of his brain was going into shock, the other part was taking note of everything she said. " You became a drug dealer."
Ash sighed and nodded, " It was the only thing I could do. After the doctors stopped giving me pain killers, I had to find something. So I found street drugs, most of them made the pain turn into a beautiful trip of bright colors and happy feelings. Soon I was dealing them, Madison doesn't know about it. She has so much to deal with. I couldn't tell her."
Frank sat there and ran his fingers along the chopsticks, this type of story was old to his ears. But it was new at the same time. No one in his family had ever confessed to being a drug dealer before. He sat forward then sat back unable to get comfortable. He wanted to pace, to walk around and shoot off questions. But he couldn't do that, she wasn't under arrest and they weren't in the station.
"So what are you going to do with me?" Ash asked after a long silence. Her eyes wouldn't meet his, they went everywhere but his face.
"I am going to think about it." Frank responded. " I should arrest you and all that." He paused and stood up, pulling out his wallet he put money down.
Ash stood and looked into his eyes, " But...."
"But, I have to think about it." Frank said sharply and quickly made his way to the door. He noticed Ash wasn't behind him and he waited. He had no right to throw stones at Madison when he did it to.
Ash caught up, " You don't have to wait for me you know."
"I know, but I wanted to. " He pushed open the door and didn't hold it. Ash didn't seem to mind and walked next to him. They were silent all the way to the car where he paused before getting in. He stared at her over the roof of the car and she stared back. " Let's go and talk to Sonny, he'll have some ideas."
Ash got in and they drove toward Sonny's place, half way there the call came and they changed direction. Luna needed Frank right this minute.
***************************
The soft crackle of the flames whispered to Julian as he sat waiting. His fingers were steepled in front with his elbows on the chair arms, his eyes stared aimlessly into the fire. The sound of Frank's footsteps warned the Prince a few seconds before he entered.
"What's up Julian?" Frank asked. Closing the door and plopping down in a chair near by. " I was hoping to get a good nights sleep."
Julian turned his chair to face the cop. " Does the name Wilson mean anything to you?"
Frank shook his head, " No. Why?"
Luna motioned to the file on his desk, " He's a known drug dealer, he is also Kindred. Wilson just arrived in the city with a vendetta," The Prince paused, " Against you nieces."
The cop stood up and grabbed the file, he glanced over it and frowned. " Why would he come after Madison and Ashanti?"
"I don't know." Luna sat back in his chair, dropping his hands. " But this involves both of us, my city and your family. So I think we should try and work together on it."
Frank looked at the Prince, his dark eyes narrowing. " You're kidding right?"
Luna shook his head, " No. Wilson is dangerous. Once we find out who is after then we can coordinate a plan."
The cop sighed and pulled his chair over to the desk. " Well Madison will be leaving the city at midnight, Ash will be staying with me. "
"Where is Madison going?" Julian asked, folding his hands on the desk.
"New York." Frank struggled to make his voice neutral, but he knew Luna heard the tension.
" There's not much I can do for her there, it's out of our control. But I can help with Ashanti," Luna picked up the phone on his desk and pressed a button. " Sonny, come in here."
A few seconds later the door opened and Sonny walked in, he sat down in a chair near the door. He looked serious and attentive. He sat with his hands folded over his stomach, keeping his jacket closed.
Julian motioned to the file, " You've read about Wilson?"
Sonny nodded, " Yes Sir."
"What do you suggest as safety?" The Prince asked.
"We put a watch on Frank's apartment, trail her and make sure Wilson doesn't near her." Sonny said plainly. " Also we should ask her what she knows about him, chances are they have met."
Frank jumped in, " What makes you so sure it's Ash he's after?"
Both men noticed the increase in Franks pulse, he was suddenly nervous. Luna sat forward, catching Frank's eye. " What is it Frank?"
"Nothing, but I have two nieces and I don't want to loose one because of an oversight." Frank said. It was true but his heart was still beating too fast for Julian to believe it.
Sonny sighed, " Madison is going to a city that we don't have any influence over, Frank. But we'll keep an eye on her okay?"
Frank didn't agree right away, he thought for a moment. " Ashanti will have to know about the tail."
Sonny looked at Luna, " What's going on Frank?"
Frank sighed and thought about lying, Ash had told him, but that didn't mean he should tell them. He sat back in his chair and rubbed his face. What choice did he have?
**********************
Ashanti was staring in awe at a painting. She recognized the stroke work and the blending of colors. But the picture was foreign. There was no record of it ever being shown or even existing. But here it was, behind a glass frame in the office of the Prince of the City. She shook her head and looked away. There were other paintings in here that she had never seen before. Which meant that either Luna was older then she had estimated or the guy had one hell of a collection. She walked over to another one, her hand going to the couch arm next to her. Leaning her weight against it, she felt the brace on her back relax. The pain shot up her legs and branched off through her spine and arms. She was used to it but still flinched. The morphine was wearing off.
Sighing she stood straight and looked around. There were probably hidden cameras around here, so she went out on the balcony. It stretched the expanse of the house.