Disclaimer: The characters and setting is from 'In the Heat of the Night'. I'm only borrowing them. I only wish we could make money doing this. J
A/N: I know that a situation like this wouldn't be handled as it is my story in the real world, but it does for the sake of this story.
Thanks: To AnnewithanE for being my beta-reader and for loaning me Laura Daniels, not to mention endless idea bouncing with me.
Austin's POV
The apartment was perfect. Absolutely perfect.
I was expecting a square, stocky, basic style apartment building, but the building was beautiful. It looked just like an antebellum home with its white paint, green shutters and huge porch. I fell in love with it before we even knocked on the door.
A grumpy, older white woman answered the door. I had already talked to her on the phone, though, so I wasn't too surprised. Still, when she opened the door and immediately called Beau a jackass, it kind of threw me off-guard and I giggled.
Not that I have much room to do so. She doesn't like me either, but since she only runs the building, not owns it, and the owners approved me, she had no choice but to accept my first and last month's rent. She begrudgingly slapped down a lease for me to sign. Then told me that loud music, big parties, and sloppy housekeeping were not allowed, the rent was due on the first of the month and not a day later, the laundry facilities were in the basement, and then.., THEN she had the nerve to suggest that I not have too many 'gentleman callers' as it might disturb her other female tenants.
What did she think I was going to do? Turn the place into a brothel?
It wasn't until after she left that Beau pointed out I had a house, but no furniture, save for a bed. a dresser, and a desk. He's good at that sort of thing, but I refused to let him rain on my parade. I could get furniture later. But still, he was a good sport and ate chinese take-out while sitting on the floor. Sometimes, I think I must have the best big brother in the whole world.
By the time our lunch was over, Parker declared he was going home, and I was welcome to go with him, or he would comeback for me later, but he was too tired to deal with THAT WOMAN any longer.
Mrs. Stevens, the landlady, was who he couldn't deal with any longer. She kept comeing back to tell me things she had forgotten like my lease could be terminated at anytime, if my neighbors complained enough, and I couldn't have too many overnight guest, as it was only a one bedroom apartment. I could tell she was going to make living here a breeze, but I didn't care.
After he left, I decided I needed a break from Miss Merry Sunshine myelf so I decided to walk down to the five and dime for some cleaning supplies.
As luck would have it, I ended up not too far from the Tibbs' house. I passed it on my way to the store. Laura, Althea, and Ms. Etta Kibbee were sitting on the porch.
"Hello, Stranger," Laura called out. "Kinda far from home, aren't ya? Do I need to call your big brother and tell him I found his little baby sister wondering the streets all alone?"
I laughed. "I wouldn't advise that. Between me dragging him out of bed at six a.m. and Mrs. Stevens being herself, I think we've exhausted his southern gentlemanly charm and good graces. And I'm not far from home at all. I just rented an apartment over on Cherry Street."
"Well, come have a seat," Althea said, patting the seat beside her in the swing. "Tell us all about it."
Laura had introduced me to Altea a few weeks before, but already she was becoming a dear friend. I still don't know Ms. Kibbee very well, but I adore her and her 'tell-it-like-it-is' attitude. I took the seat Thea was offering, and Ms. Kibbee was holding out a glass of iced tea to me before I was even seated.
"Thanks," I smiled, then took a sip. "It's delicious."
"Of course it is," she replied. "Nothing's as good as a nice cool glass of sun-brewed iced tea."
"Esspecially if it's Aunt Etta's," Laura said, earning a smile from the old lady.
"So, where is this new apartment?" Laura turn her chair to face us.
As soon as I had said the address, Althea exclaimed, "I know where that is! Bubba rents an apartment there."
Wonderful. Not only, I found out, did he live there, but he lived in the apartment just across the all from mine. My perfect place wasn't looking so perfect anymore.
"I give her two weeks," Laura said to Althea and Etta.
"Oh, I'd say she's got a stronger will than that," Thea disagreed. "I give her four. Three at the earliest."
"Give who two to four weeks before what?" I asked, oblivious to the fact that they were teasing me.
"You," Laura laughed. "Before you giving into Bubba's charms, and go out with him. Of course first, he's gonna have to stop tripping on his own toungue around you."
"Please," I scoffed. "He is not my type, besides he can't stand me."
"What makes you think Bubba can't stand you?" Althea asked."
"He's never said more than two consectutive words around me. In fact, all he does is stare at me."
Laura giggled, "That's becuase he DOES like you."
Ms. Etta gave us all an indulegent smile, like a mother with her teenage daughters.
"You're delusional, Laura," I laughed.
"I agree," Althea replied in her best 'counselor' voice. "I've known Bubba a long time. He's a very straight forward person. If he didn't like you, he'd just come out and say it."
"Then, if its true that he does like me, why doesn't he just come out and say that?" I countered.
"Becuase," she sounded as if she was talking to one of her students, but it was lovingly, not patronizing. "To quote the Chief , "That boy has no taste in regards to women. He'll never find one with a brain in her head or a penny to her name." I think he's intimadated by you. He probably doesn't think he can talk to you. Most of the women he's dated were very beautiful, but not to offend anyone, they weren't very bright or classy or something like that. Then you come along, and you are certianly very beautiful, but you're also highly intelligent, and you have an air of class and distinction that none of those other women can even compete with. Like I said, he's intimadated."
I laughed, not sure how to respond to her compliment, it really didn't seem to warrant a 'thank you' but it couldn't be over-looked either. "Well, I'm not sure about all that, but if you say so, I'll believe you."
At that Ms. Etta put her two cents in. "You are all very beautiful, highly intelligent, classy women, and it a wonder any Sparta-raised boy can hold his own with you all. Now that's that and the end of this discussion."
"Yes, ma'am." We all laughed this time. It was nice to have real friends again.
By the time I set out for the store again, we had decided the four of us would go shopping for me some furniture the next weekend, if I wasn't too busy studying for the bar. March 27 was fast approaching.
Dee's POV
"Can I help you?" I asked the tall woman who had walked in to the station. She had red hair, but not that pretty auburn like Miss Laura's and Miss Austin's, more the color red that reminded you of carrots. She was pale complexed, had dark blue eyes and wore a fur coat, though it was the middle of April. She was beautiful, certianly. What Parker would call 'big-city' beautiful, but there was a hardness to her features that made her beauty almost cold. Still, I felt like Suellen standing next to Scarlett even being near her.
She looked me over, then said, "Why not? Stranger things have happened. I need to see Parker Williams. Does he still work here?"
"Yes, he does, but he's busy at the moment," I replied, knowing he was still in the conference room with the Chief and that DUI he had just brought in. "If you'll just have a seat, I'm sure he'll be just a minute. Oh, and you can't smoke that here." I pointed at the cigarette she had taken out of a silver case.
"I don't have a minute," she snapped. "This happens to be very important!"
"Well, ma'am," Lu Ann joined the conversation. "Everything in here is very important, and you are just going to have to wait if you want to see Officer Williams. Now, if you really don't have five minutes, we'll be more than happy to give him a message for you."
She sighed, "Just tell him that KC is looking for him and I'll stop by his place later."
What did she want with Parker that was so important? And how did she know where he lived? "Just Casey?" I asked.
"Not Casey," she spoke as though we were young children. "K.C."
"From K.C." Parker spoke up. When had he come out of the conference room? "Karen Charlene from Kansas City, what are you doing here?"
"TCB, Williams, Parker B. TCB." She replied, her voice becoming soft.
"Yeah, you always were taking care of business," he replied. "Your kind of business?"
"My kind of business is the only business there really is," she shrugged. "But, don't worry, OFFICER Williams, I've become respectable in my old age."
"You won't ever be old, KC," he replied, opening the gate for her. "Now, come here and tell me why you are really here."
"I needed to see you," she said, now standing beside him, her hand resting on his arm. It was a simple gesture, but still she seemed to possess him with just that little contact. "And these glorified metermaids were giving me grief."
GLORIFIED METERMAIDS!!! I looked at Lu Ann. She looked ready to bust KC's head.
"Be nice, Karen. Lu Ann and Dee are both respected officers," Parker replied. "Not to mention friends of mine."
She looked at me, then Lu Ann, then back at Parker and smiled, "Boy, you were something when I first met you. Skinny and scared, shaking and pale."
"Yeah, well, it was a cold time."
"But, I kept you warm," she replied.
At that, Sweet choked on his coffee, Bubba, who was leaning back in his chair, lost his balance and fell. Lonnie, well, he just turned around and walked back out the door he had just come through, and Lu Ann was looking at me as if to say, "Tell me she didn't just say that."
He pushed her hand away. "That was a long time ago, KC. Tell me what you want."
"I will," she answered. "But not here. I'm staying at the McGuffey House. Come by when you get off. I have some important news."
With that she was gone, and Parker hurried out the door to, after a quick apology for way she acted to us. I wondered just who she was, and what she had to tell Parker. Somehow, I knew it had to do with why he had suddenly taken off to Hattiesburg a few months back, and that it wasn't good.
Parker was in trouble and I wanted to help, but what could I do? Miss KC had shaken up more than a few things.
Parker's POV
I couldn't believe KC said that, and I was certian I didn't want to hear what else she had to say to me, but at least she had chosen to do it privately. I knew it couldn't be good, not with KC. It's not her way to deliver good news personally.
Still, I found myself at the McGuffey House at seven. To see Karen Koloski in room 13.
"Hey, you," she said, when she opened the door. She had a glass of Brady in her hand and was well on her way to being drunk. "Where's your uniform? You know, I always did love to see you in a uniform."
"The owner of this place doesn't though. He seems to think the sight of a policeman would alarm his guest."
"Come in." She moved away from the door. "Want a drink? I think you're going to need it."
"No thanks." I sat down at the small table in the room.
"Police officers aren't allowed to drink in this town?" she asked, pour more Brandy in her glass, then sitting down across from me.
"No laws against it, as long as you're sober while on duty," I replied. "But the past has shown me the easiest way to be sober for duty is to stay sober when off duty. Besides, that stuff just makes it worse, and we both know it."
"Suit yourself," she shrugged. Then she smiled, "Officer Williams. That's a trip. I'd have never figured you for a cop."
"What are you doing now?" I asked, not sure if I really wanted to know, but not quite ready to hear her news. "What legitamate business can afford you mink coats and limosuines?"
"A little of this, a lot of that, and just a touch of luck." She poured herself even more Brandy.
"Straight, Karen."
She laughed, "You mean, am I still turning tricks for a hundred bucks an hour? No. Gave that up. I made a few good investments, bought myself a few businesses, resturants, hotels, and such. Then I made some more good investments, and now, my money does the hardwork. All legit. No shemes, no scams, no tricks, not even any dirty politics."
"Respectable?"
"In business, at least."
"Are you clean?"
"Would I tell a cop if I wasn't?" she laughed, again.
"Me. You'd tell me." There was a disturbing silence, then, "Why did you come here? What do you want to tell me?"
She sighed, then got up and went over to the dresser and came back with a package that she dropped in my lap.
"What is this?" I asked.
"A passport, some cash. You've got to get out of here."
"Why?"
"Becuase, the Army is going to try and nail you for Spirelli's death," she answered. "You and Dodger. Boonie and Sweetness will be tried as accomplices."
This couldn't be happening, but it was.
"When?"
"That I don't know," she shrugged again. "Soon. Probably this week. They're going to arrest you."
"How do you know all this?" I had to ask.
"The same way I knew everything back then. I'm sleeping with a General." She said it so coldly. As if, it were nothing to tell his secrets, but to her, maybe it was nothing to sell out her lover. "They're going to make a spectical of this trial. Some new JAG trying to make a name for himself. Don't let him do it on your miseries. Please. I'll help you go wherever you want. We'll leave tonight."
"I ain't running."
"Parker, if they convict you, you could get the death penalty."
"I ain't gonna run from this anymore, KC!" I slammed the package down on the table. "I'm tired of it. I'm tired of seeing it, hearing it, wondering when someone is going to ask about it. I just want it over."
"Then I hope you know a good lawyer." She pushed the money back towards me. "Use the money for that."
"I don't need your money."
"Don't be ridiculous. You can't afford the kind of defense you'll need to beat this on a police salary."
"Fine. Let me put it this way. I don't WANT your money. I'll manage." I got up to leave. "What are you going to do now?"
"Go see Boonie and Dodger," she replied. "Offer them the same deal I just offered you. Though, if I know them, they'll turn it down just like you did."
"Oh."
"But, don't worry. If even one of you fools are determined to go through with this then I'll be there with you. I'll be back before the real fireworks start."
"Okay. See you then." I caught her hand and squeezed for just a second before leaving. KC may not be my favorite person anymore, but it was nice to know she would be there for me through this deal.
God, what was going to happen next?
Austin's POV
"Thank you for a lovely evening, Christopher." I was trying to nicely get rid of the date from hell, but he wasn't getting the clue. We were standing at my door, and he just kept coming up with more reasons to hang around.
"Well, how about a drink?" See what I mean? I couldn't wait to tell Laura and Althea about this moron. I knew they would agree with me.
"Come on, it's still early," he presisted.
"I'm sorry, I have an early meeting tomorrow."
"On Saturday?"
"That's right." Dummy, Dummy, Dummy.
"I won't stay long."
"I do believe the lady said no." I looked up to see Luietenant Skinner standing in his doorway. Oh, great. Then another thought hit me. Did he just call ME a lady?
Normally, I would have told him to butt out. That I could handle it, but I had been handling it for the last hour to no avail, so instead, I replied, "That's right, Luietenant Skinner, I did."
"Then I think you'd best be getting on your way, son," he said.
Christopher looked at Bubba, then back at me. "I'll call you."
"Don't bother."
"Whatever." Christopher Jackson, Attorney-at-law, stomped out the door.
"I don't think that ol' boy liked your answer, Miss Austin," Bubba smiled.
I was laughing before I even realized it. "No, I guess not."
He crossed the hall to stand beside me. "You all right, ma'am?" He looked truly concerned.
"Fine," I nodded. "Christopher's just hard to convince."
"Well, some guys are like that."
"Yeah," I smiled. "Thank you, Luitenant... for everything. My more feministic friends would probably run me out of town on a rail for saying so, but I would still be standing out here arguing with Christopher if you hadn't stepped in."
"Hey, no problem," he replied, a cute almost boyish grin playing across his lips. "Kinda fun. I ain't got to run any young men off since my sisters grew up and got married."
"You have sisters?"
"Yeah, two, and a little brother."
"I didn't know that."
"Yeah, yeah and a whole passel of nieces and nephews." This time his smile spoke of his family pride.
"Must be nice," I replied. "All I have is Beau. Well, we have Evie, but she don't talk to us much. Won't associate with me and hates it that Parker does."
"Her loss, ma'am." He had such a nice smile. "Miss Austin, could I ask you out to dinner or something?"
"Tonight?" I laughed.
"Oh.. um.., no ma'am," he laughed. "I meant tomorrow or the next night."
I thought about it for a minute. Okay, so Laura and 'Thea were right, but so what? "I'd love too."
"Seven?"
"It's a date." I unlocked my door and went inside. I noticed he didn't leave until I had locked my door again.
Anyway, that was how I come to be sitting on my sofa, same time the next evening laughing at his fishing stories. We had gone to a cafe over in Decatur for dinner, then, since neither of us was really interested in seeing the latest slasher film at the theater, ended up here.
"That is so gross," I laughed, after hearing his water moccasin log tale. "But cool. Only story I've ever heard that had a Yankee from Alabama in it."
He laughed, "Minnesota, Tennessee, Alabama, he got around."
"Uh-huh. You know, Bubba, I didn't think you liked me very much when I first came to town," I said.
"Why was that, ma'am?" I had gotten him to drop the Miss. Ma'am was taking a while longer.
"Well, the way you looked at me, and you wouldn't shake my hand. I just figured...,"
"Oh, that." I swear he blushed. "I didn't mean to insult ya. It was just.., well.., I wasn't expecting anyone so..., beautiful. Caught me by surprised."
"You mean, you expected Parker's baby sister to look like a female version of him," I laughed. "Instead, Miss Mississippi walked through the door."
"Yep," he laughed. "I guess it was kinda silly. Were you really a Miss Mississippi?"
"1983. That's how I paid to go to Harvard. The scholarships I won and all. I've even got a crown, and a banner, and a sculptor, somewhere. In Beau's attic, I think."
"Well, now ain't that something? I thought Parker was just teasing when he called you that. Old Mrs. Stevens would faint if she knew she had a real beauty queen and a Miss Mississippi to boot, living in her building," he replied. "Why'd you choose Harvard?"
"It's the best," I shrugged. "I wanted to know that I was smart enough to be the best at the best, you know?"
He nodded.
"At the risk of sounding conceited," I continued. "I've always been told that I was beautiful, and cute and pretty, but Beau was the only person who told me I was smart. He was the only one more concerned with what was in my head, than what was on my head."
"You two are awfully close, ain't ya?"
"Yeah. I don't know what I'd do without him. Go crazy, probably."
He pulled me closer to him. "Don't worry. Parker's a good cop. He's careful. Besides, we all watch out for each other out there."
I smiled up at him, then relaxed against him. He smelled good, like Stetson cologne, fresh air, and cinnamon. His touch was soft, his arms around my waist was as comfortable as the faded Levi's I was wearing. Definitely not what I expected from this man.
We sat there, like that, not talking, not needing to, for a long time. Just enjoying an easy silence between us. It was nice. Peaceful.
Finally, I couldn't keep the sleepiness at bay.
He kissed me, just once, when I walked him to the door. It was soft and sweet. Then with a hug and a whispered promise of, "I'll see you tomorrow," he was gone.
I shut and locked the door, then leaned heavily against it. Maybe Bubba Skinner wasn't so bad, after all.
Parker's POV
KC told me it was going to happen. She said they would arrest me. She said they would so this week. Still, part of me didn't believe it would actually happen. The other part of me was somehow peacefully prepared.
Just sit.
Just watch.
Just listen.
Don't move.
Don't talk.
Don't breath.
Let it happen around you, not to you.
For four years, those words kept me alive, kept me sane. Funny how they come back to me now, ain't it?
I knew what those MP's wanted, even as Dee was asking them.
Just sit.
Just watch.
Just listen.
Lu Ann went past me. To get the Chief, I suppose.
"Official business," one MP, a Sergeant, by his stripes, Silmon, by his name plate, said. "Step aside, please ma'am."
Don't move.
Don't talk.
Don't breath.
The three men walked over to my desk. "Are you Sergeant Parker Williams of the US Army Corp. of Rangers?" Sergeant Silmon asked.
"You will answer him," another MP added, trying to play the bad ass.
"No." I answered, honestly. "I haven't been a Sergeant in the Ranger Corp. for nineteen years."
"Funny," Silmon replied. "Sergeant Parker Williams, you are under arrest for the murder of Captain Alan Spirelli. You will surrender your weapon and turn yourself over to our custody for questioning."
"What in the world is going on?" the Chief asked, coming out of his office. "Who are you boys, and what right do you have to tell one of my officers to surrender his weapon?"
Let it happen around you, not to you.
Let it happen around you, not to you.