7.
A short time later, Schell, responding to Alexx's page when she arrived at the apartment complex, rode the elevator down to the parking garage. The entire first level was all parking, per beach code requiring that any construction near the beach be at least twenty feet up on pilings. Hurricanes and storm surges being the main reason. As the doors softly whooshed open, she reached up and pulled back the ornate wrought iron gate that covered the huge doors of the cargo elevator.
"Now that's a nice safety feature!" A beautiful black woman said as Schell opened it.
Schell smiled slightly, taking in Alexx Wood's teal green pant suit, her long, straightened dark hair drawn back in a matching scarf and showing off her high cheek bones and exotic black eyes. She smiled as Schell stepped out of the elevator and held out a hand.
"Hi, Miss Demereau!" She said, as Schell shook her hand, "It's a genuine pleasure to meet you at last."
"Thanks," Schell replied, "Please just call me Schell,"
"Schell it is, then. I like that elevator idea," she commented as Schell turned back around to close it.
"Only way in and out of the building. Friend of mine here suggested a realtor who could help find me a more secure place after I had some trouble in Seattle earlier this year. But this place?" Schell shook her head in amused bewilderment as she looked back at Alexx. "This place is a painter's dream! I can live and work in the same place and have enough room to get my works out safely." She looked at Alexx with a wry smile. "My last studio was on the second floor and it took a crane to get my last painting out."
"A crane?" Alexx exclaimed --realizing who had recommended the realtor-- looking at her, her expressive eyes showing her surprise.
Schell grinned, "It was twelve by seven and by the time we got it out onto the landing, it was crated for safety and transportation, there was no way the museum was going to risk it being dropped by movers carrying it. So they rented a crane and lifted it up over the railing and down to the ground. First time one of my works ever had to be craned…" Schell shook her head in remembrance of the sight.
"Well, I have to admit, this place is way beyond my budget." Alexx said with dry amusement.
"Mine too, if it wasn't for an unexpected windfall, I would probably still be looking. But it's got some great features, besides the view and space. It's got this elevator, the security system, and retractable steel hurricane shutters. Now that was a great selling point! Never been through a hurricane, before."
Alexx laughed, "Lucky for you, sugar! Those retractable shutters are worth a mint. Not to mention ocean property. You're fortunate to have a friend who could recommend a good realtor," Alexx watched Schell's reaction carefully.
She seemed to pause, a flash of regret in her dark blue eyes. "Yeah, it was fortunate, I was grateful for the help. Moving 3000 miles was a bit harsh."
"I hear that!" Alexx laughed, privately noting Schell's hesitancy. "Try moving an entire family from Jersey!"
"Ouch," Schell said as she followed Alexx across the parking garage.
"Yeah, job offers like mine only come once in a lifetime and I snapped it up," Alexx said as they walked.
"And what is that?" Schell asked, mildly noting that someone had driven a Hummer into the garage.
"Who me?" Alexx asked as it became apparent that the black lady was leading her towards the huge silver Hummer. "I'm the chief Medical Examiner for Miami-Dade county, sugar!"
Schell was beginning to slow down, staring at the Hummer, then stopped when she saw the huge badge emblem of the Miami-Dade Police department painted on the door.
Alexx turned, seeing Schell halt in her tracks as she recognized the logo.
She was looking at the door in shock, then cast a glance at Alexx with suspicion written all over her face, her smile had vanished. "Your husband didn't identify me in that crowd last night," she said point blank.
"Please, Schell, don't jump to conclusions, here," Alexx said carefully, looking at her. "However, my husband did spot you in the crowd last night."
"Excuse me for being a little skeptical here, but did a Lieutenant Caine put you up to this?" Schell asked her, a touch of sharpness in her voice.
"No," Alexx said flatly. "He doesn't even know I'm here, and if he finds out, I would be putting my friendship with him in a great deal of trouble." She looked at Schell. "And his friendship means a hell of a lot to me, sugar. We've been friends for years and that is part of the reason, besides wanting to surprise my husband, why I wanted to talk to you."
"Um," Schell hedged, starting to back up. "I'm not so sure about this idea, anymore."
"Wait!" Alexx pleaded. "I know it's sudden, but I am serious about wanting to meet with you. Please believe me when I tell you that."
Schell paused, studying the woman before her with hesitancy and distrust.
"I'm not in the habit of calling total strangers out of the blue and asking them out to eat. This is something important… and I am fervently hoping that you'll just hear me out and understand? Would that be possible?" Alexx asked, her brow rising in a hint of a challenge.
Schell didn't respond, she just looked at the other woman with a healthy dose of skepticism.
"Please, Schell…" Alexx said gently. "Just hear what I have to say, all right? We can do it right here, if you feel that uncomfortable going off with a stranger."
Schell looked away a moment, before she reached up and ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know…" she hesitated.
"Then we can do this right here…" Alexx said reassuringly. Moving cautiously, now that Schell was mistrustful of her, she sighed. "Horatio has no idea I am here. I promise you that, and whatever we discuss I promise also not to reveal to him. This is something between you and me. I care about him a great deal, and I want to help him."
Schell, still eying Alexx, blinked; a look of pain and loss flashing through her eyes. There was doubt creeping onto her face as she didn't reply instantly. "Why does he need help?" she finally asked.
"Oh, baby…" Alexx said in deep compassion, looking at Schell. "I can't tell you the details, he'd never forgive me, he's that much of a private man. But his life has been a living hell for several months now and he's literally walking wounded."
Alexx, who also wanted to know just what this stranger before her felt for her friend was satisfied to see the alarm and concern that filled those dark blue eyes.
"What…" she started to ask her, but Alexx raised a hand to stop her.
"I can't tell you details, sugar. I won't break the trust I've earned with him. He's a dearly loved friend and I know --call it woman's intuition-- that something bad happened last night. Sugar, if you could have seen how sorry he was… He told me he felt like a damn fool, and to hear him call himself that hurt me just as much as he was hurting. Do you understand me, baby?" Alexx asked gently.
By now Schell's hands had reached up to clutch her arms protectively as she looked at Alexx with trepidation, concern and puzzlement. The memories of their last few days together in Seattle fluttered across her mind, to end with his surprising kiss and subtle plea for her to call him when she moved to Florida.
Alexx watched the play of emotions across her eyes and face, her intuition nailing the reaction on the head.
"Baby, I'm taking a big risk…" she said, stepping up to her and setting her hands on her shoulders. "But you care about him, don't you?"
Schell seemed to crawl inside herself as Alexx watched.
"I…." she stammered, looking away "I…" Alexx watched a deep pain flash across her face. Schell dropped her head. "He was so…"
"Compassionate?" Alexx asked, gently. The look Schell gave her confirmed everything. "You love him don't you?" She said in a very soft voice.
Schell began shaking her head in denial. "How can I?" she suddenly blurted. "I'm too young for him! He rescued me, for crying out loud, twice… You can't just fall in love with your rescuer and expect it to be reciprocated. It's a pipe dream… he's compassionate with everyone, it's his nature. What would he want with me? Besides, after last night, he just thinks of me as another person to distrust!"
Schell suddenly felt a bubbling well of sorrow build up. She sucked in a deep breath, trying to stem off the tears coming to her eyes. "After all the crap that's happened to me this past year, what would he want with a forgetful idiot like me?"
She looked at Alexx with an almost desperate pleading in her eyes.
"After last night, what chance would I have?"