Chapter 3
Zin sighed faintly, looking around the study. It seemed empty without Lana's efficient presence. The girl was more trouble than she was worth and he knew it. His wife hated her, his best friend hated her, most of his employees hated her... And he needed her. That she needed him as well was neither here nor there. He had almost no hope of success without Lana by his side, coordinating every aspect of his operation on Earth. It was not the only reason he wanted her back, not even the main one, but it was something he could tell himself. And the others.
He jumped as his personal phone rang, startled. Very few people had the number and most of them were in the house with him. Lana was the other.
"Hello?" he asked in a shaky voice, picking up the phone. All calls to this line were automatically recorded and traced. She knew it, too. "Lana?"
"Uh... is this Julius?" a male voice whispered.
"Yes. Who is this?"
"No one. Uh... your daughter, Lana, she wanted me to call you."
Lana. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. "Where is she?"
"I... she's safe. She wanted you to know that she was safe. She wanted me to tell you."
"Where is she?" he demanded. "What do you want with her?"
"I... She just didn't want you to worry."
"Please!" Zin whispered harshly. "Tell me where she is. I can pay..."
"I... They don't want money."
Zin glanced down at the second-hand his watch. "Is she hurt?"
"No. She... They..."
Thirty seconds. "What did she say?" he asked.
"Just that she didn't want you to worry. She said she was all you had left..."
"She is," he agreed quietly. In many ways, it was the truth. "Is she in danger? Is she in pain?"
"I..." There was a long pause and then, "I have to go now."
Zin cursed as the line went dead. He punched his intercom. "I need to know where the most recent call to my line originated!"
"One moment, sir," his secretary said.
Zin sank into his chair, closing his eyes. "That's my smart girl," he whispered weakly. "Clever Lana. Good girl. Good girl..."
***
Uneasy silence settled over the bar about the time that Mara arrived there. Mel and Vic had long since given up trying to convince Cole that it was folly to trust Zin. The Cirronian stood firm that the stakes were too high to do anything but help him. Lana might have been dangerous, Zin might have been completely untrustworthy, but Cole and Mel could not afford to be exposed either.
Mara ignored the silence and settled down at the bar, nursing a drink as she waited for Zin.
"So you, uh... you're Zin's mistress, huh?" Vic asked, trying to sound conversational but failing miserably. What, after all, did one say to the mistress of an intergalactic crime-boss?
"I am," she agreed quietly, not looking up from her drink.
"Ah..." Vic nodded faintly, shifting uneasily. "How's that work?"
"He buys out my contract, granting him the exclusive use of my services and I serve him sexually as well as in a number of domestic capacities for the duration."
"Romantic," Vic muttered, rising and walking over to Mel. "Hey, sweetie. How you holding up?"
"I've been better," Mel admitted, staring at Mara. She hugged herself and rubbed her arms, shaking her head. "I just pray that Cole knows what he's doing."
"So do I," Vic murmured, squeezing her shoulder.
"I know he's right. I know it's dangerous for the government to have an alien in their hands. But..." She shook her head again.
"I know, Mel." Vic glanced towards the apartment stairwell. "I know, sweetie."
Mel closed her eyes, nodding faintly. "This is insane, Vic, this whole thing..."
"Life's an insane thing," he pointed out quietly. "I came to appreciate that one just recently."
Mel could not help but smile at his wry tone. "I trust him, Vic. I do. But... I still worry, you know?"
"Oh, yeah. That I can understand." He sighed and pulled her into a loose hug.
"Cole says... he says that Zin loves Lana like a daughter, that he'd do anything to keep her safe."
"So he must be on the up and up if he's appealing to Cole in her name?"
Mel nodded faintly. "That's what he thinks, yeah."
"Here's hoping." Vic smiled reassuringly at her. "Hang in there, sweetie. We'll get through this."
"Yeah," she whispered.
"Want to go talk to him?" Vic offered. "Isabel should be here soon. I can watch the bar until then." Which roughly translated into watching Mara like a hawk, one hand firmly on his sidearm.
"Thank you, Vic," Mel murmured, giving him a quick squeeze and hurrying up the stairs.
Vic sighed softly and sat down at the bar again, retrieving his drink. He needed one with everything that was going on lately. He looked up as he became aware that Mara was staring at him.
"What?" he asked, shifting uneasily.
"I am simply attempting to ascertain why Lana respects you," she answered, shrugging. "There aren't many, you know."
Vic blinked at her words.
"You must be uncommonly powerful and intelligent for a human," Mara concluded, shrugging and returning her attention to her drink. "And that partner of yours..."
"You leave her out of it!" Vic snapped, rising.
"What is she to you?" Mara asked curiously, glancing up at him, obviously unintimidated. "Do you love her?"
"Do you people even have love?" he asked in disgust.
"Zin loves Lana. He loves his wife and children."
"If he loves his wife, what's he need with you?" Vic scoffed.
Mara shook her head, her expression faintly contemptuous. "I'm a prostitute, Detective. I'd say it should be fairly obvious what Doctor Zin requires of me."
Vic stared at her with wide eyes as she lapsed into silence again. It was always faintly disturbing to him that anyone could be so cavalier about something as intimate and personal as sex. Admittedly, he had seen many people with such attitudes over the course of his career, but it was still jarring to him. Perhaps even more so now that he had found Maria. Shaking his head, he fell silent, studiously ignoring the Vardian woman.
***
"Hello, Mel," Cole greeted her easily as she walked into the war-room. Smiling, he rose and moved to stand before her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Is Vic downstairs?"
She nodded. "Someone had to keep an eye on Zin's... friend."
Cole smiled faintly at Mel's wording, nodding. "Did you need something, Mel?"
"Reassurance would be nice," she muttered, shaking her head. "This is... it's insane, Cole!"
"My love," he murmured, giving her throat a reassuring caress. "Please be calm."
"How can I be calm?" she asked quietly, shaking her head. "He comes here like this..."
"I know, Mel," he whispered, nodding. "I know. It is... I do not like to be reminded of how exposed we are, either. But in this case, we must help him."
"Let them dissect her, Cole!" Mel protested, shaking her head. "If she really won't talk like Zin says, she sure as hell won't mention you. We'll be safe..."
"Do you honestly believe that, Taushi?" he asked gently.
"No," she whispered, shaking her head. "God, Cole, I'm just so... this can't be happening." She shook her head, tears forming in her eyes.
"My love, my soul," Cole whispered, gathering her into his arms and steering her into the bedroom. "I know you're upset. I know you're afraid. I am, as well, Mel, but..." He shook his head, gently pushing her to sit on the bed and moving to sit next to her. "Zin has promised me that he will not make any more direct attempts against you or Vic or Detective Cruz if we help him. For this reason alone, I have to..."
"You can't honestly believe he'll keep his word," she protested.
"In this, he will. Where Lana is concerned, he has to," Cole promised, pulling her into a gentle hug.
"It isn't your responsibility to keep us safe," she whispered. "You don't have to do this."
"I do have to. And it is my responsibility. Zin would never have noticed any of you if not for me."
"That isn't true," she said, shaking her head.
"It feels true." He closed his eyes, resting his chin on top of her head. "I have to do this, Mel. I don't have a choice," he apologized. "But I will not involve you or Vic further."
"No!" She shook her head violently. "You can't do this without backup!"
"Mel, this is not safe," Cole protested, shaking his head. "I know I have been training you, but this is different. You must know that. These are your own people, not fugitives. Your Collector will be of no use and they will not hesitate to take your life."
"Or yours," she muttered. "Come on, Cole. You can't go this alone..."
He hesitated for a long moment, sighing. "We must keep Vic and Detective Cruz safe," he announced finally.
"Agreed," Mel murmured, nodding. "Vic can't be involved in this any farther."
"And you--"
"I will stand by my husband," she told him firmly, glaring at him and daring him to contradict her.
"I... I can't lose you, Mel," he whispered. Although there had never been a ceremony, although there was not even a legal contract between them, it did not change what they were to each other. The night their bodies and souls had joined, he had become her husband, and she his wife.
"You won't," she promised. "We'll get through this."
"I know, Mel." He smiled down at her. "We should go downstairs."
"Good idea. Poor Vic didn't look that comfortable with Mara."
"She is probably harmless, Mel."
"Probably?" Mel repeated, shaking her head and starting down the hall.
"She does not behave like a violent woman."
"Yeah, and Zin doesn't behave like a violent man," she pointed out as they emerged into the bar. "Hey, Vic," she called, gesturing for him to join them.
Vic immediately rose and hurried over to them. "Hey, guys. What's up?"
"Does anyone know what Zin looks like?" Mel asked. "The last thing I need a cop seeing him in my bar..."
"No, no one knows what he looks like." Vic gave a short shake of his head. "Which is just as well."
"It's a cop bar and it'll always be a cop bar," Mel murmured. She had long since come to accept that fact. After almost a year of resisting the fact, she had come to accept it. It was even vaguely comforting.
"Actually, I was thinking more about Mar's habit of coming here when she can't find me anywhere else."
"Oh, right..." Mel winced. "We definitely can't let her see Zin."
"She won't know it's him. He may know her, but she doesn't know him," Vic murmured. "I'm down with keeping them separate, but I don't think we have to worry about her making him if we can't."
"I hope not."
"You hope not?" Vic asked, shaking his head. "You're not the one she loves giving the third degree."
"I'm sure a big boy like you can handle her," Mel teased.
"Yeah. Lots of men make that mistake. But never twice."
"Vic, Cole and I don't think you should be involved in this."
"Mel--" he began to protest.
"Vic, listen to me," Cole said quietly. "This is for your safety and for that of Detective Cruz. You must understand what a dangerous situation this is."
"I do. Which is why I don't want you two going it alone."
"You should not be in a position where you might have to fight your own people," Cole said quietly. "Especially not in this. You will be at an extreme disadvantage."
"Not to mention the fact that you and Maria have been investigating Zin for more than a year now," Mel pointed out. "This is a huge conflict of interests."
"I'm up to my elbows in conflicts of interest, here, Mel," he pointed out gently.
"This is different and you know it." She shook her head. "Vic, please... We'll keep you posted, but I don't think it should go any farther than that."
"She's right, Vic," Cole added. "If you help us, you will be in more danger from your own people than from the fugitives."
Vic sighed in annoyance, staring from one to the other. They were obviously serious about this. "Fine, but I want you guys to keep me in the loop on this. And any help I can give you on my end..."
"Thank you, Vic," Mel whispered, standing on her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. "We just don't want you to get hurt."
"I know, sweetie," he whispered, hugging her. He closed his eyes when she tensed at the unexpected contact, quickly releasing her. "Sorry..."
"No, Vic." Mel shook her head. "I'm sorry. I just..."
"I know a few good therapists who work with Victim's Assistance sometimes," he began.
"I am not a victim," Mel said firmly. "And I don't need a therapist."
"Mar wanted me to give you this number," Vic said quietly, handing her a business card. "Just in case... Mar says she's good."
"Very good," Maria agreed, stepping into the alcove and causing all three to jump. "Just think about it, Melanie. This can't be an easy time for you and talking to someone does help."
"I have people I can talk to," she said softly. More importantly, she had people she could talk to that she did not have to censor every word around.
"Yes, you do. You've been blessed with some very good friends in that regard." Maria smiled faintly at her. "How are you holding up?" she asked gently.
"I'm hanging in there." Mel shrugged. "Should Cole and I give you two some privacy?" she offered.
"What for?" Maria asked. "I don't plan on doing anything to him that requires privacy until I've had at least a few drinks..."
Vic chuckled and shook his head. "Mar..."
"Sorry, Vicky. Am I embarrassing you in front of your friends again?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at him.
"Vicky?" Mel repeated, staring at him with wide eyes. Vicky?
"Thank you, Mar," Vic sighed, grimacing and shaking his head. "So how was work?"
"Well, I successfully resisted the urge to shoot Johansen with his own service weapon..."
Vic made a face. "What did he do this time?"
"Buy me a drink and I'll tell you all about it," she sighed, taking his arm and tugging him towards the bar.
"Maybe you should talk to someone, Mel," Cole suggested quietly when they were alone.
"And tell them what?" she asked, frowning up at him. "How the mean alien tried to invade my body with his soul?" She shook her head. "Not even if I felt like talking about it," she muttered, turning and walking to the bar.
"Oh, the old single-malt," Maria said with a smile as Isabel poured. "Bless you, Victor Dominic Bruno. You are a saint. Thanks, dear," she added to Isabel. "Could I get a coffee stirrer, too?"
"Uh... sure." Isabel nodded and handed her one, her expression bemused.
"What are you going to do with that?" Vic asked, raising an eyebrow.
Maria shrugged and absently dipped it into her scotch, transferring a drop from the stirrer to the tip of her tongue. "Mmm," she sighed, smiling.
"Okay," Vic said, shrugging and sipping his beer. "You were going to tell me about work?"
"Johansen's an incompetent prick. You need to hear more?"
"He's not giving you a hard time again, is he?" Vic asked, frowning.
Johansen had a serious problem with the idea of females in law enforcement. It was one prejudice of many that made Vic amazed that the Captain had put him with Maria. She would have had a far easier time with Vic's new partner, a young female rookie who could have benefited from Maria's shining example.
"Oh, he learned that lesson within the first three days," Maria assured him, transferring a few more drops of her drink onto her tongue. "How's Jefferson holding up?"
"Poor kid's ready to quit." He shook his head, sighing. "She tries so hard, Mar. It's like she thinks she has something to prove to someone."
"She does, Vicky," Maria answered, shrugging. "She's the youngest person in the department, she's female, she's black..." Maria shook her head. "Ten to one, she's already heard some smart-ass comments from Johansen about at least two of those three facts."
"Now I feel like shooting him," Vic sighed, shaking his head. "She has the makings of a great Detective, Mar, but her lack of self-confidence is making her crazy."
"And you, too, I'll bet..."
He shrugged. "I do my best not to let it show."
"For which I'm sure she's grateful." Maria shook her head and patted his shoulder. "Send her by my office tomorrow. I'll talk to her. And if you don't mind, I'll make sure to mention that you think she has the makings of a pro."
"You think it'll help?"
"I know a thing or two about what it's like to be a female minority working amongst the good old boys. I'll screw her head on straight," Maria promised.
"I'd appreciate it, babe."
"Mmm, and how will you reward me once I've helped you out on this?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Name your price," Vic answered with a wink.
"Karaoke it is, then," she said, grinning.
Vic groaned and shook his head, lapsing into silence and watching Maria as she continued to consume her drink one drop at a time off the tip of the coffee stirrer, her expression distant. It was one way to enjoy good scotch, he supposed...
He looked up as Zin bustled into the bar, making a bee-line for Mara. Maria was too absorbed in her drink to notice, even when Mel and Cole both started in that direction. Vic strained his ears, not wanting to rise and alert Maria, but Zin was whispering to Mara. He could see the look on the Vardian man's face, a combination of fear and triumph as he spoke quickly to Mara, smoothing back her hair and giving her throat a squeeze. He repeated both motions several more times before kissing her cheek and helping her to her feet, sending her on her way with a pat on the shoulder.
He watched her go before turning his attention to Mel and Cole, leaning towards them and speaking quickly. Vic could sense the tension even halfway across the bar. After a few moments, Cole and Zin retired upstairs and Mel gave Vic a significant look. At his slight nod, she turned and walked in the direction of the hallway leading to the payphones and bathrooms, as close to private as you could get downstairs. You at least always knew if someone was coming.
"Right back, Mar," Vic murmured, rising. "Got to hit the little Detective's room."
"Next time don't drink your beer so fast," she suggested absently before returning complete attention to her drink.
Vic watched for a moment, fascinated by the careful way she transferred her scotch, drop by drop, onto the tip of her tongue, clearly savoring the flavor of each, almost reveling in the taste. He had never seen anyone consume a drink quite like that before. Nor had he ever noticed quite how long her tongue was... Shaking his head, he went to join Mel.
Maria was so consumed in enjoying her drink, which was definitely one of the richest and most complex scotches she had ever tasted, that it took her a few moments to realize that her phone was ringing. When she did realize it, she cursed softly, seriously considering ignoring it after the day she had just had.
Shaking her head, she answered with a growled, "This had better be good, Johansen..."
"He's at it again?"
"Oh, Miguel. Sorry." Maria shook her head. "Long day."
"I wouldn't bother you, but you said you wanted the Brandon autopsy as soon as I was done."
Maria glanced after Vic, shifting and lowering her voice. "What about Susan?"
"I have her report, too, if you really want it, but it reads just like the others."
"And Brandon?"
"Can you come in?"
"I'm on my way," she answered without hesitation. "Thanks, Miguel." She hung up, sighing and draining her glass before rising.
She reached Mel and Vic in time to hear Mel say "...getting the schematics now."
"Mar," Vic greeted her, trying and failing to look innocent.
Maria chose to ignore their guilty expressions. "I hate to have to do this, but something came up with one of my cases. I really need to take off."
"Oh, okay," Vic said, nodding faintly. "Everything okay?"
"Should be, yeah." She gave a short nod of her own, wondering if that was relief in his expression. "I'll be back in a few hours," she promised, standing on her toes and kissing his cheek.
"I'll be waiting," he promised, hugging her. Watching her go, he shook his head. "You think she heard that?"
Mel shrugged faintly. "Let's just say that I'm glad that Zin's name didn't come up..."
"Amen to that," Vic sighed. "Let's go upstairs."
