A/n My first Tamora Pierce fic. I hope you all enjoy it. Bows. I want to see if its a good idea or not so please tell me if I should continue.
Chapter 1
Kel came back from a long work-out at her neighborhood knight club. Rolling a shoulder she strolled into her apartment's elevator and pressed the number two button for her appropriate floor. Tilting her head up she sighed as she felt the AC come down on her sweat soaked body and shivered.
The summer had been taxing on most of Tortall, but it was the worst in the city being as all the cars and pollution present. Probably the one only good outcome of this horrendous weather was that the slums of the city were quite and fewer crimes were committed. Guess it's to hot even for those murdering idiot.
This didn't mean that the police force had the day off though. The commanding officer still had them go on the regular searches, checks and routines-with their full uniforms. Wiping back her sweat matted hair Kel stepped out when the elevator opened. Walking down the hall she smelled the wonderful aroma of…lasagna. Mmmm.
One of her younger cousins had come to visit from the Yamini islands and damn could she cause a ruckus. The apartment owner, even though somewhat fond of her, had told her to keep it down or else.
She was only three years younger than Kel at eighteen, and b-o-r-e-d. And when Callie was bored, she was loud…or she was cooking. Kel would obviously more prefer the latter but it wasn't as if she could control the fox.
As she entered her apartment she was hit with the smell of lasagna and potato cheddar soup, and after a day of doughnuts, damn that sounded good. Kel grinned and set her things down to one side.
"Sooooo, how was your day? Besides the hot and sweaty part, you really need a bath." Callie looked her up and down and wrinkled her nose in distaste. Kel opened the closet and shed her uniform's outer layer. Walking over to the kitchen Kel shrugged washing her hands and splashing some cool water onto her heated face.
"Normal. Only low profile cases since that heat wave a month or so ago. Ouch!" Kel drew her hand back as Callie made a swipe at it. With one hand on her hip she pointed her spatula at Kel threateningly.
"No food till I'm finished and I didn't even touch you." Kel rolled her eyes but relented going for orange juice instead. Callie went back to sautéing some type of appetizer. Kel had been eating gourmet meals every day since Callie had arrived.
The girl had been talented in the ways of cooking back home even though they were poor but now in the city, and with Kel's salary, she was one hell of a chef. Kel could have sworn she had eaten every type of food south of Gala, but then again, Callie was making new things every day. Even Kel's partners were jealous of her lunches.
"Hey Kel!" Kel looked up from her orange juice to see Callie pointing at a pile of papers and whatnot. "I brought the mail up today so you don't have to take an extra trip to get it."
"Thanks fox, I'll see that it gets opened." Callie stuck her tongue out, humphed and returned back to cooking. Kel walked over to the mail, throwing the junk away. Her eyes lit on the one from her family. Grinning she opened it, tearing the cover she tossed the first onto the silestone countertop for Callie and opened the second for herself. Scanning it slightly she grinned as she saw the little dog her other cousin had drew.
As her eyes traveled she noticed the part from her mom.
Kel-
Conor, your third cousin once removed gambled away one thousand four hundred and fifty gold nobles in one night. He was drunk and desperate. I think I told you he recently lost his mom. I know you support us so much already and I tried to find many other ways to pay back the money, but the debts to large. I arranged for a loaner to give us give us half of it but the other half I must ask you. The money is demanded by this Friday. We will find some way to pay you back. I hope Callie is doing well there with you. Since Rose had that child the house just hasn't been large enough so she thanks you again for taking her. I miss you and hope your well.
-mom
Kel closed the letter and rubbed a tired hand over her face. Her salary was high because she was a 1A ranking officer but it wasn't that high. To come up with seven hundred gold nobles, that was…Kel raked a hand through her light brown hair. Damn, so herfamily needed the goldstuff that the world evidently revolved around.Groaning she lifted her head and locked gazes with Callie. Kel smiled reassuringly and started setting up the plates.
"And the meal is served!" Callie took out her extravagantly prepared meal and placed it onto the table. Kel reached and filled the soup bowls. The smell was rich and it made Kel's stomach growl. She would put off that problem till tomorrow.
"Is anyone coning over tonight Callie?" She looked up from serving and thought for a while, then nodding.
"Nathan, Christine and Alison," Callie ticked the names off her fingers
"From that cooking course your taking?" Kel questioned.
"No, form the same school though." She sat down and started eating.
"So there not coming for dinner?" Callie rolled her eyes at this.
"If they were coming for dinner would I have already stared eating?" Callie pointed at the soup, "That may need a little more of the flour, it's not thick enough." Kel tasted it and lifted an eyebrow.
"I can't tell. It's good anyways don't tax yourself on it." Kel assured her. Finishing her soup Kel moved onto the lasagna. Callie frowned as Kel choked.
"What's wrong?"
"This is really good, Did I ever tell you I loved lasagna?" Kel took another bite. It really was good. Callie laughed and took some of her own.
"Yeah, only about a million times," Callie said.
"I forgot to mention I love French lasagna." Kel finished off her one very large piece of lasagna and wiped her mouth with the napkin provided.
"You got one big appetite woman." Callie remarked and finished hers as well.
"Yeah well you're a good cook fox." Kel replied easily. Callie brandished her fork and knife and Kel held up her hands in mock defeat. Kel brought her plates to the sink and filled it with soap. Callie signaled her aside.
"You'd better take a bath because, man, you smell like shit." Callie observed. Kel turned and flicked soap at her.
"Watch your mouth. Even though I may smell like shit, I know your vocabulary is larger than that." Kel remarked as she made for her room. Opening her closet she selected a baggy shirt and shorts.
Tossing them over her shoulder she entered the bathroom and turning the nozel on. Kel waited a few minutes before testing the water. When it was satisfactory she stepped in and relished the cool water. As she washed and cleaned her mind kept straying back to the fact that her family owed a large sum of money.
Even though her salary was really high, she wasn't at the level of the rich and famous. There are some side offers on that bulletin board outside the office. I'll take a look at it tomorrow. After she soaped down she rinsed thoroughly and dried. Putting on her night close she slipped into bed and slept.
5:30-
Kel sat up and shut off the alarm clock. Stretching, she let out a long yawn before neatening up her bed and putting on her uniform. Glancing at her desk, she took the case she had been working on a few days before and stepped out quietly as to not disturb Callie.
Kel grinned as she saw her lunch laid out for her on the kitchen counter. Damn that fox was efficient. Grabbing it she quickly headed down and saw her partner in the car waiting for her. He motioned for her to hop on. He had dark brown hair, strong, and though smart was a player. His dark brown hair was cut short for the police force but somehow it was still nice and could attract the force's female population like bees to a flower. That was why he was put with Kel.
"What's for lunch?" Alex asked, attempting to look into it. She held it away from him.
"You're getting worse everyday. Yesterday you at least lasted three hours and now," Kel shook her head, "right when I get in the car. This is sad you know. If you loved her cooking so much then why don't you just up and marry it?" Alex's eyes lit up and kel smack him. "I said marry it not her."
"Haha, yeah, you'd probably take that those dual elites out and shoot me if I did suddenly propose to your cousin." Alex held his hands up in surrender, "No chance that's gonna happen while you're in the way, I'd rather wait for a few years and track her down…" He laughed then grimaced as he felt a sharp elbow offend his ribs.
"Those Duals are coked and loaded buddy." He grinned and started the engine.
"About that lunch, you are sharing some for me right?" Kel rolled her eyes at this and nodded but gave his shoulder a punch as he tried to lean over and take a look at it.
"Eyes on the road for safe driving, by the way, what these goods are," she swung the bag teasingly close to his nose, "…is for me to know and you to find out." He pouted but grinned as he smelled what promised to be, once again, a satisfying lunch break.
Arriving at the Office's they entered the main building and flashed there 1A badges. As they reached the office, Kel took a look at the bulletin board noticing a few things here and there. They weren't much help since it was more small money compared to what she was trying to get.
Her eyes lit on the scientific experiment offer. It offered one point five grand. Taking the notice ff the board she brought it to her office to have a better look.
It stated that they had successfully brought an ape back in time and back. They would now like to try it on a healthy strong human being that is able to go back and tell them what it was like. The details would be gevin if anyone was interested.
Turning, she saw her partner eyeing the notice. He raised a brown eyebrow at her.
"Even for the money, no one has offered at all. They don't want to go and then disappear into nothingness if you get my drift. No one knows what may happen. Even though they say it was successful something may go wrong or whatever." Alex shrugged and turned on his computer and started to work on their current case.
Kel looked back at the paper and put it to the side. She'd think about it. Besides they said it was safe right? Walk could possibly go wrong in such an esteemed and advanced laboratory as the Tortallan institute of Scientific Research. And the answer Kel came up with.-nothing