Ready, Steady, Go
Chapter 3
Warnings: Language
A/N: It lives! Sorry it took so long to get back to it , but you know how it is when the characters don't want to cooperate.
The alarm clock slammed against the wall, splintering into pieces upon impact as the assailant flipped the covers over his head. It was just way too early for him. Within seconds, he heard the sounds of his best bud and band mate as he ran into the room. Not giving a second glance to the clock as it lay in shambles, he proceeded over to the bed and snatched the covers off of the sleeping form. Growling, he pulled them back over his head, his eyes closed tightly. He knew if he opened them, he'd have no choice but to get up. The covers again disappeared from his body and he cracked open an eye to see the bright Miami sun piercing through the window. Definitely still too early.
Sitting up, he wiped his eyes tiredly, trying to decide on kicking his best bud's ass for waking him or laying down. At the moment, both options seemed overwhelming so he just decided to stay in the position he was in which was barely sitting up. He glared at the man as he sat on the side of the bed, a cheap grin situated on his face. Mark never knew why he asked Eddie to be in the band, but he had to admit they had some good times, including last night, which was presently a blur to Mark.
"Morning , sleepy," Eddie said with a toothy grin, " how's the head?"
" Much better if I was allowed to sleep another three hours. What's the big deal?"
" There's something you should see. I wasn't so sure, but I know him when I see him," Eddie said as he turned the television on. The set came on loud and Mark put his hands to his ears, feeling the pounding in his head as it thumped devilishly close to his temples.
"Shit man, turn that down!" Mark explained as he grabbed a pillow and put it over his head. Eddie shook his head and turned the tv down, then shook Mark.
" Now, tell me, who is that?" Eddie said as he pointed to the screen. Mark wiped his eyes as he stared at the tv, seeing a picture of the man as he walked into the Miami Dade Crime Lab. There were some things that he didn't remember about Lucas, but it had been three years, and those differences could've come about then, but a cop?
"No way, man. That can't be Lucas," Mark responded in an awestruck tone. " He's supposed to be in New York. And I know he isn't a cop."
" It's plain as day, dude. Lucas is the man. Look at him. If that's not Lucas, then someone is doing a helluva impersonation of him. He even walks like him."
" Lucas, a cop? Eddie, do you even know what you are saying?" Mark asked as he tossed the pillow to the bed, getting up to get a closer view of the tv. " That's like saying Warren is an executive."
"Mark, Warren is an executive. He practically runs Empire now."
"But, dontcha think that Lucas would tell someone? I mean, a cop?"
" I know , Mark. The revolution has lost another solider, man. It's sad," Eddie said as he switched the tv off. As an after thought, he turned to Mark, " Hey, have you seen Deb this morning? I don't think she came back last night."
" I just got up, Eddie. She's not around?"
" Nope."
"Did you call her cell?" Mark asked as he padded to the closet. He was up now, there was no need in pouting about it.
"Nope."
" So what did you do?" Mark asked as he turned to his friend.
" I just know that she didn't come back That's not like her. You know Deb."
" Yeah, I know. She is the responsible one of us all. You don't think something happened to her, do you?"
" Only one way to find out. To the Crime Lab," Eddie said with huge smile.
Mark shook his head at his friend and walked to the bathroom. If they wanted information, they could get it from Lucas. A cop, he thought as he started the shower, no way.
/Ready Steady Go/
Tim got off of the elevator, his demeanor way passed pissed. Turning the corner, he peered into the firearms lab, seeing him standing with Calleigh, holding a gun in his hands. Pushing through the door, he heard them as she was teaching him how to hold a gun correctly.
" Tim, how did you ever make it through the academy?" Calleigh asked with disbelief. " You would think that you'd never held a gun before."
"Well,..." Lucas started before he was stopped by Tim clearing his throat. Calleigh turned and did a double take, the obvious shock written over her face.
"That's because he's never held a gun before, Calleigh," he said as he walked over to them, snatching the gun out of his hands, " Lucas, what the hell do you think you're doing? Didn't I tell you not to leave ? You know, I think the words were, 'Don't leave'. But maybe I was speaking to my self."
" She needed some help," Lucas offered. " Be it far from me to deny anyone as beautiful as she is anything."
The surprise expression dropped as she looked at Lucas with a smile, her green eyes crinkling at him, " You think I'm beautiful?"
"Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder,..."
"Lucas!" Tim responded, " Get. Out."
" But I was..."
" Out," Tim demanded as he pointed to the door. Lucas glanced at Calleigh and offered her a wan smile as she shrugged her shoulders. " And this time, don't go anywhere."
" I'm a statue," Lucas replied as he pushed through the door.
When his cousin was safely outside the firearms lab, he turned to Tim turned to Calleigh, "He didn't touch anything of importance did he?"
"Since when did you have a twin?" Calleigh asked as she glanced outside the door. " It's uncanny."
"Cal, did he touch anything?" Tim repeated sighing heavily. The mere thought of having to explain Lucas to everyone who came up to him was daunting.
" Just this," she said as she lifted up the gun. " It was nothing of importance. He asked to test fire. I should've known it wasn't you right there. You never ask to test fire. You barely clean your gun."
"Calleigh, I clean my gun," Tim said shifting his weight under him. " But that isn't the point. How did you not know it was me?"
" Tim, have you seen him? He's like a splitting image of you. I didn't know if you got a hair cut or something," Calleigh intoned in her thick accent, turning back to the gun vault. " It's not like you walk around with your id on you, like we are supposed to. But I supposed that I should've known by his charm."
"And what are you trying to say, Cal?"
" Oh nothing. Just that you need some help in that department. Maybe you should talk to ..." Calleigh called from the gun vault.
" Lucas, his name is Lucas," Tim said closing his eyes.
" Lucas, ... cute."
Tim was about to respond to her when his cell phone rang at his side. He un clipped it from his belt and flipped it open, " Speed."
" I think you might want to get down to the atrium," Eric intoned with a laugh.
"What's so funny, Delko?"
" Just get there," Delko said as he hung up.
Calleigh stood in front of him, a quizzical expression on her face, "What was that all about?"
" Delko. That should say enough," Tim replied as he turned to walk out. " Talk to you later."
"Alright," Calleigh called after him. Today was an interesting day by far, and it wasn't even noon.
/Ready Steady Go/
Eddie glanced at the windows, at awe at its stature, " Man, these are some big windows."
Mark shook his head as he saw him coming off of the elevator, patting his friend on the arm, getting his attention, " Eddie, it's him."
Eddie turned around to see Tim walking towards them and called out, " Plato himself... What the?..."
Both his and Mark's jaw dropped as they saw another one, looking just like him run up behind him, clearly out of breath.
" Hey, Tim, what's the big idea?" he huffed as he came to them. He looked up for a split second then did a double take, " Mark? Eddie?"
" Lucas?" they both asked in unison. They embraced their friend tightly, casting an uneasy glance to Tim as he glared at them.
" What's with the clone , man?" Mark asked as he caught Tim's stare, making him very nervous.
" Him?" Lucas asked as he gestured to Tim, "that's my cousin, Tim Speedle."
" Dude, he is like , you're replica," Eddie stated with a grin , giving him a thumbs up. "Cool."
"Nice to meet you too," Tim said as he continued to stare at Mark. A piece of evidence ran through his mind.
Mark tried to shake his glare as he turned to Lucas, " So what brings you down to this sunny locale?"
" I was going to ask you the same thing. I thought you guys were in New York."
" Deb changed the scheduling. She said that New York wasn't a good idea at the moment," Mark replied.
"Deb, as in Deb Marins?" Tim asked as he stepped closer.
" Um... Yeah. She is our tour manager," Mark replied. " Lucas, you didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?"
Lucas' smile dropped as he remembered just what he was there for, " Mark, you don't know?"
"Know what?" he asked hesitantly, not liking his expression.
"Lucas, come on man, spill. What aren't you telling us?" Eddie asked the grin gone from his face.
"They found Deb this morning outside of a club, murdered," Lucas responded almost in a whisper.
"She was assaulted," Tim added as he looked between the two men, questions swirling in his mind.
"Assaulted?" Mark questioned in disbelief.
" Yeah, assaulted," Tim intoned, " I notice that you have red hair ,Mark."
" Yeah so?"
" There was a red hair found on her body, south of the border if you know what I mean," Tim returned. " Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"
"Tim, what are you doing, man?" Lucas asked indignantly, " he wouldn't do anything like that."
" Evidence speaks for itself, Lucas. Can you tell me where you were last night, Mark?"
" Um... I - I can't remember," Mark said as he tried to retrieve a sliver of an event that had happened last night. It had been a rough night filled with beer and fun.
" Would you come with me?" Tim asked as he held out his hand.
" Tim,..." Lucas said as he saw the look of fear in Mark's eyes.
"Lucas, stay here, and I mean it this time. Mark, come with me."
They watched as Tim led Mark to the elevator and turned to each other. This wasn't good , not good at all.
Tbc...