The Candy Store Six Days Earlier…
"So, how was the meeting with Drayden last night?" Deaq asked when he heard the door open behind him and a set of heels click against the concrete floor of the cavernous warehouse. He'd come early that morning, Aquarius having dropped him off since neither Billie nor Van would pick up their phones. He knew the night hadn't gone well if they weren't answering calls. It didn't take a genius to figure it out. Van and Billie were like oil and water; you couldn't mix the two together for anything.
"Fine," Billie grunted as she walked right past the couch he was sitting on. That definitely meant something had gone horribly wrong.
"Where's Van?" Deaq continued his interrogation of his boss.
"Who cares?" she shot back, taking a seat in her chair. Billie booted up her computer in hopes of getting some of the more important work done today, like contacting the authorities in Aspen and getting all the surveillance equipment ready for their trip out there. The guns had already been marked with the radioactive dye. All that needed to be done now was get them on a truck and have someone haul them out to Aspen. But with Deaq breathing down her neck about what happened last night, she doubted she'd get any work done.
"I care," he replied, grabbing his crutches and struggling to get up. He hobbled towards her desk and sat down in one of the chairs in front of it. "Come on, Billie. What happened last night? How did Van managed to piss you off?"
"In every way possible," Billie muttered as she logged on to the secure LAPD server. It only took her moments to access the databases she'd need in order to get her work done. "Why the hell do you want to know so badly? Go do something!" she ordered, unable to take anymore of his questions.
Deaq sighed. "Did Drayden take the bait, at least?" That was the only real question he wanted answered right now. He'd get everything else out of Van later that morning. He was, after all, the loud mouth who couldn't really keep to himself, especially when it came to the people he was closest to.
"Yes," Billie finally gave him a straight answer. "Now leave me alone." And with that, their conversation was over. Deaq hobbled back to the couch, satisfied. Just as he was sitting down, the door slammed open again, with Van entering in that dramatic way which almost always meant he needed to have a few (loud) words with Billie.
"I still don't think bringing Xavier Rousseau into this was a good idea," he began saying. Deaq's interest immediately piqued. That name sounded familiar. "And going all the way to Aspen… That's just inviting trouble."
"What? Aspen? What the hell is going on in Aspen?" Deaq quickly butted in. What the hell were they talking about? This was definitely news to him.
But the conversation went on as if Deaq didn't exist. Billie stood up and made her way to the showroom floor where Van was standing, waiting for her, just begging for a confrontation. Deaq sat there, wondering if she'd hit him again, because now was the perfect time.
"Guess what, Van, I don't care! You follow my orders!" Billie yelled back. "And when I think bringing someone in from the outside is a good idea, I will do it, regardless of what you think!"
"Then obviously you don't know Rousseau!" Van shot back. "Did you not see his file? Did you not read about the case he was involved in several years ago where a cop was killed because he tried to put Rousseau in a corner, and Rousseau managed to maneuver his way out of it using his boss as a cover?"
'Here we go,' Deaq thought as he braced himself for the blow Van was practically asking for. Now he knew where he'd heard that name. It had been all over the news a few years earlier. Rousseau had been called in for questioning, but with a solid alibi and no evidence against him, he'd been set free.
"That's not what happened, Van! You are completely misreading the facts! That cop got killed because he didn't bring backup with him! Not because Rousseau managed to weasel his way out of it! We have backup! Deaq will be here monitoring everything!" Billie tried to reason with him.
"But here is a thousand miles away from Aspen! What if something goes wrong? What if something happens to us? What if we get into trouble? Deaq won't be there to save us!"
'Damn,' Deaq thought. 'So that's what's going down!' Out loud, he said, "He's got a point, Billie."
"You stay out of this!" she snapped at him. Billie turned back to Van and added, "You're going to follow my lead, or I will have both of you demoted to writing parking tickets!"
Van and Deaq both shut up, knowing all too well she'd actually do it. Billie walked back to her desk, her blue eyes glowing in anger. This was the last thing she'd been expecting to deal with today, but now that it was finally said and done, she could start on working out all the details with the proper authorities. But there was something nipping at her insides, something that told her maybe they were right. She decided to ignore it, having had enough of people telling her what to do. Nothing was going to happen to her and Van out there; she'd make sure of that.
A real quick thanks to everyone cuz I'm exceptionally busy today, but I just wanted to update becauseI know you all just have to find out what happened to Van in the river. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten that far in writing it yet, so this is all I have as an offering. Next update, tho, you will find out what happens to Van. I PROMISE!
prplerayne: Yes, I left him in the river! Don't be mad! I didn't mean to, I swear! And no, Billie doesn't get trashed on tree sap... But that suggestion nearly made me fall off my seat laughing! HAHAHA! I'm still laughing at it! OMG! It's just too funny! And so damn unheard of! I gotta keep that in mind for another story. It would be some seriously interesting stuff.
simbagirl: Yes, I've just gotten the "cruel" stamp... Really sorry to leave you high and dry yet again. It's mean, I know, but sometimes I just can't help myself. I get sidedtracked by trying to make the story somewhat coherent. Hope I've achieved that already. Cuz it would suck if I confused people. But I'm glad you finally updated! Good to hear everything is going well with you. Hope to see more story soon!
fan4fastln: You seriously hit the nail on the head with that last question in your review... OMG! Do I have some interesting stuff in store for you and everyone else in the next update. But for now, I hope you liked this update, short as it may be. I hope I'm forgiven, even if it is just a little. But I promise you, you'll get the answers to your questions in the next chapter. I can't wait to update. Now, if only my muses would cooperate. They don't like me right now because they refuse to let me concentrate on my story and my homework. It's all about inspiration, of which I'm lacking... It sux ass.:( Hopefully after this update, I will get hit with some. Cross your fingers!
Avillie: Hehe, yes, Christmas has come early! Much more pain is in store for both Van and Billie, but I'm not about to give up what happens. Just know it'll be interesting and maybe even sweet. BTW, I woulda jumped into the river as well, and probably several of the others here. You're not the only hasty one. :) And where is the next update of your story? You're keeping me in suspense here! I'm going nuts! I want more soon! But I guess I'll just have to wait. I've made you wait, so it's only fair. But just so you know, I don't like the "p" word. (Patience, I don't have any.) Update, soon, PLEASE!
And, of course, all you who haven't reviewed yet. You guys are awesome too! Thanks for just giving me hits. I know you're reading, or even making it look like you're reading. I don't really care. I'm just grateful. Thank you so much!
More story coming soon... Unless the muses don't wanna cooperate, which has been a problem lately. I think I'm gonna have to tempt them with some chocolate. Let's hope that works. And please, REVIEW! I'm a review whore! I love to know what you're thinking, even if it is negative. Anything to help improve this story.