A/N: Helloooo All! No it's not a fluke, I DID update! Sorry I haven't in forever, but I still haven't forgotten about this fic. Thanks to all my loyal readers and reviewers that are still interested;
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-Link the 1st- Hey! I'm so glad collaborating is working out! You're a great guy to work with.
-Ghost the Lost Soul- Who would have thought Mia would end up home safely riding with Liberty's most wanted felon? Lol! Trust me, his true side will become more evident in future chapters, but his past will also give more of an explanation as to why he is so ruthless. Mia will slowly try to bring out his 'human' side as well. Thanks a lot for the review!
-Skyline Racer 150- It's nice to know other people feel the same way I do about GTA III stories concerning love (oh and don't worry--- some action too). I want to finish this story, but if you have any ideas or something you'd like to add, feel free to email me speedstar77hotmail.com! I'd love to hear from you!
MacyBlue-Hey! What is up Tiffany? Thanks for kind of getting me started on my first chapter re-write. Couldn't have done it without you.
-Zanna Evans- Thank you so much! You are too sweet! I'm glad you liked my story so much. I hope you enjoy the next few chapters to come. : )
-fanboydowis316- Thanks for the review, and I am sorry for the first paragraph in chapter one! I really didn't intend for it to be that way at all. I hope you like my knew chapter one!
-Dr. Evens- I updated finally! Follow up chapter will be up shortly.
-Kagato. Masaki- Thank you!
Please email me at speedstar77hotmail.com with questions, concerns, or even comments you have about my fanfic. I really want to hear what you think! I really enjoy hearing what you have to say! Well, on with the next chapter…
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SmilesK ; )
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I crouch around the crowded police car with many other cops and my small crew, examining layouts of the run down complex looming in front of us. The semi-circle of police vehicles offers little privacy from the gunfire going on all around us. One of the officers held a shaky flashlight over the floor plans of the towering Diablo apartment project across the hectic, raging courtyard. I couldn't tell if the Diablo's or the police had the upper hand at this point in the crossfire.
"And once inside, you'll have 10 minutes to find the hostages. Any longer then that and the cops can't guarantee you a clear path out. Understand? In—and—out!" Police Chief Rudy yells angrily at the surrounding law enforcers. His hair is drenched in sweat. I just focus on memorizing the map in front of me on the hood of the cop car.
"Got that? You find those hostages in 10 minutes!" Loud automatic machine gun shots rang out everywhere followed by screams in the night air. The courtyard becomes bloodier and bloodier with every passing second. Stray bullets hit street lights, adding to the darkness. I duck every few seconds out of reflex.
"Rudy—they're in the indoor kennel area!" A shot hits a tree behind me. He shoots me a look.
"There is no kennel in there Det—"
"Yes there is!" I manage quickly
"A month ago, dog fights were common around this building. Where else could 20 hostages be kept?" I point on the blueprints quickly at a large room with many smaller blocks surrounding its walls.
"Your men need to take this route—turn left here—go straight 40 yards— Oh right here, make sure one of your men can lock pick—I'm sure these doors will be reinforced steel— then go right, all the way to this section—here." I slam my hand down on the map. The cops around me look ready and pumped in the flashing night air.
"You sure 'bout this— I don't want my men storming in there—"
"Positive sir!"
He regards me through the flashlight's glare. I glare back defiantly. The shouts do not cease. The officers around us wait eagerly for the new instructions.
"Ok—change of plans."
"Pshhhhhhhhh... Alright, we'll be able to give you a 10 second leeway into the building, Captain---be ready!" The snipers overhead inform us through the loud crackling police radio.
"Alright, this is it men, get ready—we've been waiting for this for almost two hours now—" Bob and another officer exchange looks as Rudy gives the all-clear.
"Pshh—Get ready to proceed in 5...4...3..2-GO!" The snipers overhead inform the anxious men through the crackling radio. An MP-5 and sniper shots ring out.
I duck under the hood of the cop car, as a new wave of bullets heads toward the men. The gang members hide behind cars and statues firing madly in the night air.
I close my eyes and say a quick prayer as the officer's jump over the small barricade and sprint through the dark at the run down building.
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"Mia! There you are—there is a little girl over here that needs medical attention immediately! All the paramedics are full—" Lisa, an intern shouts through all the running people.
"I'll get right on it!" I yell making eye contact with her for a brief moment. I hustle through all the federal men and women trying to make heads or tails of the war scene in front of them, around ambulances, dodge bloody cops... I look frantically through the masses of people. The searchlights overhead offer little guidance through the loud night. Police lights flash madly everywhere making me dizzy.
I spot a little blonde hair girl sitting alone on the edge of an ambulance in a secluded spot. She must have been one of the captives…
I near the ambulance under the Maple trees and gently kneel beside her. "Hi honey…" She looks petrified.
"It's alright now…" I begin soothingly.
"All those bad men are locked up right now." Her blue eyes look up at me. Her wrist looks broken and she had blood on her arms.
"I'm gonna clean you up, Ok? Let's just see here…" After examining her cuts, I pull out a first aid kit from the ambulance behind her. Snapping on rubber gloves, I first needed to distract her from what I'd be doing...
"Can you tell me anything about the bad people that locked you up? How tall they are, if they had any accent—" Ooops! It was the first thing that popped into my head. Mia you idiot! Years of detective work I guess…
She frowns. "Aaaah, what's your name kid?"
"My name is Laaau-ran." She pipes up enthusiastically. I can barely hear her over police sirens and people shouting commands. Blue and red lights flash, illuminating the trees around us. The sky scrapers on Staunton Island peek over the swaying Maples. The rest of the city seems undisturbed in the cool night air.
"Geez… You are really awake… Are you normally out this late?" She shakes her head.
"You must have some kind of superpower to be so alert." Her eyes watch me dab disinfectant onto a cotton swab.
"Ummmm… Or actually can you tell me about your dog? Do you have a dog?" She immediately perks up at this. I wipe disinfectant on a cut near her elbow. Luckily, it appears most of the blood isn't her own.
"Yeah. His name is Maxeroni."
"Oh…That's nice…" I sound interested. I turn her broken wrist over gently. She is being very good for how much pain she's probably feeling. I continue half listening to her. The leaves rustle overhead from a light breeze.
"Is he a big slobbery doggy?" Someone runs over to us from the crowd of people. I realize it's a paramedic once he gets within feet. More and more cars pull up to the scene. News reporters line the police tape, mics ready, shouting at anyone to talk with them.
"We have another one coming, so we're gonna need you to move soon—" Still out of breath, not even looking at me, he shuffles through the ambulance drawers grabbing some liquid oxygen in clear baggie's. He runs back toward the courtyard of faceless occupied people.
"…My mommy says you people never do anything right around here anymore. She says, back in her day, kids like me could actually go to the park all by themselves at night!" I nod, still focusing on her cuts.
"Is that what she says...?" Now about that wrist…I slowly wrap gauze around her little fracture.
"But you know what lady?" One brow raises to show I am half-listening.
"I think you people do an OK job." I look up at her smiling face, despite all the dirt and grime.
"It's nice to hear that for a change... Lauren, you're all free to go." I lift her off the back off the ambulance.
"Well, thanks a lot lady!" She turns on her heel, blonde curls bouncing, and runs toward her teary eyed parents waiting patently behind the police tape. The girl stops suddenly and turns back toward the flashing ambulance and me.
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"Hey, I didn't get your name lady."
"Mia."
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"With the death tole reaching above 35--- Law officials scramble to figure out who's who among all the dead bodies. All but one hostage made it out of the local Diablo gang's grasp alive thankfully. SWAT teams are still searching for any sign of drugs thought to be manufactured in the Diablo projects of Portland. Freed hostages are currently being questioned as to the treatment and conditions of their frightening experience. As one shaken captive goes on to tell us—" I groggily shut the radio off. Pulling into the driveway, my white lit house never looked so warm and inviting.
I feel almost too tired and shaken up to leave my Mustang, but somehow I found myself walking up the stone steps in a trance like state. The lights inside are all on. I smile. The people sharing the house with me must have stayed up late just to see me come home.
Sure enough, the white swinging door flies open just as I reach for it.
"You're alive! You're OK!" Kate yells. We are about to hug, when she gasps and her face changes. I follow her eyes to my white blouse, completely soaked in blood.
"MIA!" The old oriental woman screeches to her regular pitch only she can acquire.
"No, no... It's not mine!" After that came out, I realize how little comfort it gave judging by G-dawg and Brooke's faces (Kate's children).
I don't feel like speaking about the event I had just been put through, but somehow I knew they'd all want to ask a million questions. All I want is a pillow under my head, take a long, hot and steamy shower then fall into bed. I have no idea how late—or early it had been when I finally drifted asleep.
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I sleep in late the next morning. Lying still, I watch my Gorami fish swim gracefully through the hexagonal tank. Not even bothering to look at the alarm clock, I roll over in bed. The sun casts a warm glow over the desk, my black Dell, the fish tanks, and my white shelves with various objects all over them. My perfect cozy baby blue room is rejuvenating. I feel so safe and secure here, the event hardly fazes me anymore. Somehow, all my problems drift away when I'm just watching my fish. My own special place in Liberty…
I pull the covers off and sleepily get on my feet. Walking toward the window, I definitely can tell it is daytime now—afternoonish by the looks of things. The windy street is bare probably due to everyone being at work. I feed all my fish and walk into the bathroom, switching on the faucet. I longed for another immense shower.
The wet beads feel so good against my skin. I stay in for probably a salubrious hour.
I slowly pour conditioner into the palm of my hand, rub it in my hair half awake, and it hits me—I am supposed to be questioning the new don of the Forelli family today! Nooooo!
I don't want to do anything today! I switch the water off, still not feeling entirely liberated of blood, and hop out of the shower.
I hurriedly check the calendar on the back of my door. Sunday…Monday… crap! In the 'Tuesday' square scribbled with red permanent marker read;
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Forelli Investigation, 11: 30 am.
My eyes dart to the blue fuzzy clock at the top of my bed— '12: 32'. My head pumps. I can hear my boss now;
"Cherish! Do you have ANY idea how many strings I pulled to get you into a civilized meeting with this guy?! I mean you have a hunch he might be involved with drug dealing and you expect to actually get a warrant on that? He agreed to talk with one of my investigators even with no hard evidence against him and you don't show up!?! What will you do next— ask for a raise?!"
I throw on a black dress skirt and blouse on, spritz on Sweet Pea body splash, and walk out the door downstairs. My hair is in a dripping messy pile on my head, but no time to fix it.
"Morning, Mia!" A whiff of Kate's French toast greats me as I hustle through the kitchen. The news drones decisively from the TV.
"—The mysterious sniper strikes again last night, this time wounding—"
"Hey—Brooke did you touch the files I had lying here?" G-dawg and Kate rummage through the kitchen as Brooke scribbled on some papers. I notice to my relief the old oriental woman is no where in sight.
"I drew you pretty pictures, Aunty. See?" She holds up case papers I have been working on with red scribble crayon all over them. The felon's eyes have all been colored yellow.
"Erm—Thanks."
I grab an orange along with some heavy books stacked on the table I've been researching, and the list of questions I had for the new don of the Forelli family. I try juggling them all as I head out the door.
"—Listen I am really in a hurry, and I'm gonna be out all afternoon—"
"You SIT AND EEEEEAT!" I turn abruptly and come face to face with the short woman dropping two books.
"No! I—Move!" I'm really in a hurry here!
"You SIT AND EAT!" Her wispy grey hair bobs in the tight bun. She had a bloodied apron on and her eyes squint more then ever. Whoa! Fine! Fine!
I slowly walk back toward the wood counter and hop on it. Why did I move in with her!? At the time it was the only room I could afford. Her house is very different then my room, having somewhat cluttered Chinese objects everywhere, smelling like fish, Chinese food, and thick incense…
The rest of the house (besides my baby blue room) has dark wood everywhere. Strange statues, samurai artifacts, and kites all line the ceilings and halls, creating a unique vibe combined with lots of foreign vased flowers. The old woman hangs strange Chinese calendars and signs throughout the kitchen, and plants Bonsai gardens and mini-waterfalls throughout the halls. The deep wooden kitchen has a peaceful waterfall by the garage door. You wouldn't like to be lost in this house at night however…
"What? You don't eat anymore?!"
I sorted through case papers and bit into the freshly picked orange. I look up and notice G-dawg glaring at me from across the breakfast nook. He is in his regular mock wannabe gangsta garb, complete with some fake bling-bling today. I felt like yelling at him, flashbacks of his friends trashing the nearby park popping into my head, but I hold my temper.
The old woman scuffles into the kitchen with a large, slithery dead fish in a clear bag.
She slides the bag off, holds it by the tail over the sink, and slices its head off. PLOP!
"OooK… I'm gonna get going now…" I slide down off the counter, fish smell now filling the kitchen. My appetite is gone.
"Wait, here's your paper, Mia—I think your boyfriend is on page 7." Kate hands me The Liberty Tree smiling.
"What? Page 7…?" I flip through the newspaper with a spare hand.
"Joey Leone, respected mechanic inherits his father's estate today—"
I throw the paper back at her. "Would you drop it? It's not that funny anymore! Half the time I feel like he's sending someone after me—"
"—Like a hitman?" G-Dawg unfavorable drawls for the first time. A hint of hope lies behind his words. I ignore him.
"I'm already late because of all of you—"
"—Us?"
"Yes! You didn't wake me up and now I'm late—" I grab my purse, shove my books and files into a bag, grab my badge and keys— I need to leave now.
"Mia, it's not our job to—"
"Yeah Ok— I'm sorry Kate. I didn't mean to bite your head off..." She turns back to cleaning the kitchen. "It's just—the last few weeks have been hectic. Genecky wants me to give a speech, having some unexpected run-ins with felons," I glare at the half eaten orange, "more and more riots starting around the city, and of course the little incident last night all added with a nice blend of no sleep, and you get one very happy detective in the morning."
I glance awkwardly at the TV. Images of a sinking, burning Mexican ship at the Portland Harbor flash by. No doubt that will be my next assignment… I juggle a mug of coffee and try heading out the door, arms still full of books, files, bags…
"Whoaaa girl..."
"Major PMS! Must be your time of the month, huh?" Comments G-Dawg folding his hands. Man that gangsta wannabe has a mouth on him! He receives a quick look of death;
"And just because your friends don't like what I do-----Oaaaahhhhh!" The hot coffee spills down my front and over my skirt.
"Owwwwwww! Help meeeeeee!" I jump back from the breakfast table. G-Dawg gives me a nasty look.
"Yup...It's her time of the month."
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