Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing or any of its characters, neither do I own any of the trademarked, copyrighted or registered products mentioned. This was written purely for entertainment purposes and I receive no profits whatsoever.
I apologize to everyone that has read this story for my long hiatus; I just needed to get away from things for a while; including my work. I can't explain what came over me, but I will be finishing this story. And ever other on-going stories I have. These periods don't usually happen, in fact this is the first time I've withdrawn myself from my work, I just can't explain it, too bizarre.
Thanks to: Ley, Jem Star, Sorrow, Foole, Magnum, Rei2, Silver Magiccraft, Midnight, the black Rose, Cat, Wing. I thank you all for leaving a review and I thank those that didn't leave a review yet read and enjoyed the story.
Fade To BlackChapter 9: Fly Away
By C.A.T
Penname: Rekluma
Red lights flashed vibrantly against the side of the medical facility as Une pulled up in the circular driveway in her gleaming black BMW. Her face pulled into a tight expression and the color drained; she came to a stop behind one of the Preventers cruisers. With a long sigh she stepped out of the car and slammed the door shut marching up the stairs to the building the smell of rain hanging ominously in the air. She strode into the building pass the yellow caution tape and the guards who gave a respectful nod in her direction as she passed. She finally came to a stop in front of the office door of Janice Armond; pulling on gloves she stepped into the office and tip toed around the dead body. The office had been ransacked, papers lay strewn about the floor and the CPU was missing; she took note of the filing cabinet, a draw had been violently pulled out and thrown against the wall. For the first time she glanced down and crouched next to the dead body taking note of the signs of strangulation around the victim's delicate neck. Her top forensics agent strode purposefully towards her chewing on a toothpick despite the horrendous crime.
"So Une, what are you doing here?" He asked sucking on the wood of a toothpick as it lolled in his mouth.
"Well I happen to know this woman for one thing," she paused and gauged his reaction, his eyes widened slightly in surprise, "Actually I've only met her once in my life, funny I never thought something like this would happen to her." She mentioned nonchalantly with a glance about the room.
"Yeah," the forensic expert paused, "well the perp really did a number on this 'un seems this person was angry, angry enough to kill obviously. But this was done by a professional; at least so far. No DNA evidence found and the bastard even kept clear of the video cameras I'm sure if we do a scan we'll find at least something. Don't worry we'll get this one before you know it, no one is the perfect criminal." He finished giving her a smug grin.
Emily nodded as she drew her tongue over her top teeth, "Sure." She said slowly and walked out of the office, a look of determination came into her eyes as she hurried back to her car intent on interrogating her top suspect; Relena.
Quatre sat at the small mahogany desk in his quarters going over paper work although his mind kept straying to Relena.
"Why are you doing this to yourself?" he asked out loud as he finally placed down the pen, leaning far back in the chair he stared up at the ceiling of the lavish hotel suite.
The sun streamed through the window and bounded around the room gracing his blond hair, a loud sigh erupted from his lips and he ran his hand down his face.
"Why?" he asked the vacant room, silence remained his answer and a dry laugh eased its way from his lips.
He glanced back down at his work again and shrugged there was no use in trying to do work now, instead he picked up the phone and dialed Relena's private line and waited patiently only to hear her answering machine pick up. Not caring if anyone else heard, he began to talk,
"Relena I really ha…need to see you, please meet me at the hotel restaurant tonight and have them call my room if you decide to come. Please." He said and informed the machine of where he was staying and what his suite number was.
With a sigh he placed the phone on its cradle knowing that Relena would not be showing up for dinner, but still he hoped and went back to his paper work.
Relena gave a dreamy sigh as she stared at the sky, rain clouds passed overhead but that didn't dampen her vacation to the park the book she was reading lay atop her stomach. Here where no one cared about this young woman with blond hair and violet eyes, who laughed at the on coming storm with defiance, and who found joy in life just lying on a grassy knoll and watching the sky. The birds chirped happily in their tree and Relena looked up to them and smirked; she could climb that tree if she could, a year ago it would have been a piece of cake. Slowly she stood up and found a good foothold and then hoisted herself up, she smiled even more as she reached up an arm and pulled herself up further. She now sat atop the second biggest branch from the ground with pride; it was now she that glanced down at the world from atop her perch. Right then and there she wished she too were a bird so she could fly far away from her problems, far away from here. With a sigh she knew that she had been out way too long and that her mother must be worried to death by now because of her absence and so she climbed down and retrieved her book. Her chest heaved with exhaustion and sweat dotted her forehead yet still she stood, the wind blew through her golden locks as a long slow smile crawled its way onto her face and into her eyes.
Hilde had long since returned to Noin's apartment her tears having already been wiped away. Shaking his head, Duo released a sigh of frustration and paced even faster.
"I think we should go back over there and demand the truth." Duo said while pacing, "I mean she can't stand up to all of us right?"
"And do what?" Heero asked from his position across the room a small gray kitten in his hands, he stroked the kitten as he walked across the room; "I mean if we go over there and she denies everything, or even worse refuse to talk to us what then?"
Duo stopped pacing and stared at him, seeing that kitten in his arms and how gentle he was with it was quite unnerving because the same cold vacant stare remained in his cobalt eyes. His shoulders sagged as he looked Heero straight in the eyes, "We can't do anything I suppose."
"Except be there for Relena when she needs us." Hilde murmured as she stared at her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Une arrived at the Darlain household just as Relena did and they met in the driveway. It seemed more like she was back on the Antarctic base from the cold stare Relena gave her.
"Is there something I can help you with Une? Something your spies haven't found?" She asked insincerely, her voice crisp.
"Yes, however we may want to speak inside." Une said solemnly unaffected by her icy glare.
"I don't want you in my house." Relena hissed her gaze becoming colder and colder as she stared at her.
"Fine then," Une turned to her car and jangled her keys, "Janice Armond is dead Relena, murdered. Next time I come back it'll be with a warrant to search your house." She finished as she opened her door and got in.
Relena stared at Une as she got in the car and as she backed out of the driveway, she didn't stop staring when her car disappeared from view. Only when she felt the tears begin to fall did she crumple to her knees and release a frustrated cry. Janice? Dead, but who would… why? Why? They'll know now, all of them and Une will make sure of it. She thought as she sat on the ground crying, crying for her dear friend and crying for herself.
He laughed to himself in the darkened room, a manila folder and its contents strewn across the table.
"That's it?!" He asked incredulously, "I killed that broad over this?!" He exclaimed as he laughed once again.
He took a slow drag of the cigarette, the small amount of light it afforded bounded off his eyes. He shrugged, it didn't matter now he had the money and he could kill Relena if he wanted. But now all the fun was out of it, there's no sense in hunting if the prey didn't fight for its life. But her friends offered a different perspective. Yes, they were willing to fight for her. The money mattered little now, now he had been consumed by the sport, and just how far they would go to protect her.
TBC