Frannie's Lament

by Tanya Reed

Disclaimer: The Due South universe still doesn't belong to me.

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Meg paced the room restlessly, every once in awhile sneaking a peek at Frannie. The Italian woman still sat where she had settled upon hearing of Harvey's death three hours before. She remained there while Meg got dressed, while she methodically checked the rooms for bugs, and while she paced. Frannie's face was sickly pale, there there was a whiteness about her lips that Meg didn't like. Plus, she hadn't spoken a word for a long time.

Meg felt a momentary pang of guilt as she stopped pacing and finally fully regarded Frannie. It was her fault that the American was in this mess, and somehow she had to get her out of it. Those dull, dark eyes would regain their spark if Meg had to slap it back into them, she vowed to herself. Over the past year, she had come to depend on Francesca Vecchio more than anyone else in her life. She'd be damned if she lost the best partner she ever had.

Plunking down beside Frannie, she growled, "We've got to get out of here."

Frannie didn't answer, but her eyes went to the door. Meg continued, keeping her voice a barely audible tone, "I searched for bugs but didn't find any. Doesn't mean there are none."

Meg's eyes followed Frannie's, and she felt the stirring of fear in her belly. She didn't voice it or show it because she knew that Frannie's emotions fed off of her. When she was calm, Frannie became calm; the need to calm Frannie kept Meg calm. Together, they both had clearer heads.

Knowing what Frannie was thinking, Meg voiced it. "It's only a matter of time before..."

This got a small nod of understanding as Frannie clasped her hands together in her lap. Meg wanted to shake her partner; the subdued silence was so uncharacteristic, it made the back of her neck prickle.

Then, finally, "So, what are we going to do?"

Meg bit her lip, admitting, "I don't know, but we'll think of something. We have to."

"They killed him."

With a sigh, Meg rubbed her damp palms on the jeans she rarely got to wear as Angelique Marceau. At first, she didn't know how to answer this simple statement but she felt she had to.

"I know they did, but we all knew the risks going in."

"Knowing and seeing are two different things. I knew that Ray could get shot while he was undercover, but do you think it was any easier to deal with Muldoon's shooting him?"

"True enough, but it will all be a moot point if we don't figure out how to get out of this. We will be just as dead as Harvey."

Frannie sank into silence for another moment before a look of determination drove the listlessness from her face. It spread quickly, squaring her jaw and lighting fire in her eyes. Meg was pleased to see it, and the feeling almost made her smile. If there was anyone in the world who was more stubborn and tenacious than she was, it was Francesca Vecchio.

"All right, let's get the jerk."

This time, the smile did break out. With a grim sort of amusement, Meg stuck out her hand and her partner shook it. The time for worrying was behind them. Now, it was time for action.

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Vecchio and Kowalski sat in Kowalski's room in sullen silence. The tension in the air was so thick Vecchio felt he could reach out and grab it. Neither was a patient man and waiting for their meeting with Williams the next day was grating on their nerves.

Benny had left them some time before, claiming a walk and some fresh air would do him good. Vecchio figured he'd just gotten tired of him and Kowalski snapping at each other.

Ray snuck a glance at Kowalski. The blond man's hair was crazier than ever, his eyes behind the thick glasses wide with fevered thought. Fingers tapped the armrest of his chair, shoes the floor. Though energy was not unusual for Kowalski, Ray thought he saw something more. It confirmed what he had suspected before Frannie's dea...disappearance. Kowalski had a thing for his sister. It didn't bug Ray as much as it once would have. His time in the mob and, later, his relationship with Stella had mellowed him a little; the first because he had seen that Frannie's choices could have been a lot worse, the second because he learned that people should be free to make their own mistakes.

"I hate waitin'!" burst from Kowalski, the fifth time in two hours.

Ray rubbed a hand over his head and sighed. "Do you think it's any easier for me?"

Without answering, Kowalski jumped to his feet and went to the window. Ray knew what he was thinking. In his mind's eye, he could see the pleading on his sister's face when he recognized her two days before. Until then, he had liked Mario Williams, but the unmistakeable fear had instantly negated that. It told him that, no matter how she got there, she was not being treated well. The creep was going to pay for that--just as soon as Frannie was home, safe and sound in their mother's arms.

"I'll be damned," Ray whispered.

"What?" Kowalski asked, turning to stare at him intently.

"Ma was right, Ray."

Kowalski looked confused for a moment, then nodded in understanding. "She said her heart would know if Frannie had died."

"My Ma is not crazy or deluded. She just had faith."

"Mother's intuition."

Suddenly, despite the danger Frannie was in, Vecchio felt his spirits life a little. Though bad, circumstances were a lot better than when they had left for England. Now, his sister was alive, and his mother was not crazy. Things might work out okay after all.

It was then that the phone rang. The Rays looked at each other, then, with a shrug, Vecchio reached for the receiver.

"Vecchio."

"Hi, is this Ray?" It was a soft, feminine voice, one that Ray felt he should know but didn't.

"Which Ray are you looking for?"

"This is Andrea."

A smile broke over the Italian's face as he remembered Lawrence's sweet young maid. She was a pretty little thing, and he regretted forgetting about her in the excitement.

"Andrea, hi! This is Ray Vecchio. How're you doin'?"

Across the room, Kowalski's eyebrows shot up, so Ray winked at him.

"I have been looking for you. You didn't leave me your new number."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. We were distracted. I'm glad you found me."

"You are?"

"Yup." In fact, he was picturing her in his mind, how she looked when he had surprised her with a kiss. "You don't know how glad."

It sounded like she let out a breath of relief as she gushed, "Good! I was hoping that you still liked me. I was wondering, well, I was wondering if you'd like to have tea with me this evening."

"Tea?" This time, he raised his eyebrows at Kowalski, who nodded. "Sure. I'd love to."

His partner was right. There was nothing they could do until the next day. Besides, it might help to pass the time if he had dinner with Andrea.

"How about six? At your bed and breakfast."

"Are you sure you want to come all this way?"

"It will be no problem. Tomorrow's my day off."

"Okay, if you don't mind the drive or my partners."

She laughed and answered, "They're sweet. I'll see you at six."

"See you then."

As he hung up the phone, he grinned at Kowalski, making his green eyes sparkle. Kowalski had no choice but to answer it with one of his own.

Things were definitely looking up.

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Frannie was looking a lot better, Meg noted after her Italian partner had washed and dressed. She was sitting on one of the chairs regarding Meg with with a wry grin. The color had come back to her face and the life to her eyes. An air of excitement hung around her, and she seemed as eager to take on the role of Renata Mancini as she had the first time she heard the name. Meg, herself, felt determined, but she didn't know if she was that determined. She was growing to hate the wishy-washy Angelique, a woman who both feared and was excited by violence. Putting on her persona was like wearing a straight jacket. Her eyes narrowed a little as she continued to study Frannie. But at least she didn't have to share his bed. Just the thought was so repulsive, it made her want to throw up. She had no idea how Frannie managed and the knowledge that she did it because she had to made Meg respect her more than she ever believed she could.

"Ang, you're scowling."

"Huh?"

"You look like you ate a fork."

Dark thoughts of Angelique were forced away as Meg found herself laughing. "A fork?"

"Yeah, you know. It's all pointy and it hurts going down."

"I'll take your word for it."

She was still smiling a few minutes later when the lock on their door rattled. Frannie stood and put on her most seductive look, while Meg forced her face into a mask of timidity.

Meg was expecting Jim or someone with their lunch, but it was Mario who walked in. Somehow, she managed to keep the distaste from her face as Frannie ran to him.

"Mario."

"Hey, darlin'. How are you doing?" he asked, taking her slim body into his arms.

"Pretty good. I was wondering if I would see you today."

"I couldn't leave my best girl to her own devices without an explanation, now, could I?"

"Angelique told me that something very bad had happened. Is it true?"

Meg watched her friend in action and wondered how she had perfected that clueless but sweet expression. Meg had studied Renfield for years and couldn't do half as good a job as Frannie. She chalked it up to the lack of self respect the Italian had before Welsh gave her a job as Civilian Aide.

"Yes, there are some things going on, but nothing I can't handle."

Mario threw Meg a cold look and she wished Frannie hadn't mentioned her name. He didn't follow up on it, though. Instead, he continued to dote on Frannie.

"How do you like your room?"

"It's very nice, and I like sharing it with Angelique, but," Then Frannie pouted like a child, "Do I have to be locked up like an animal?"

"Sorry, sweets, but it's necessary. Don't you worry, though. It'll all be over in a couple of days."

"I hope so."

"Now, give me a kiss. Then, I've got to talk to Angelique."

Frannie complied, leaning in very close to peck his cheek. As she pulled away and went to sit on her bed, taking up the nailfile on the table, Meg watched Mario's face change. The playful look dropped from it so fast that he seemed instantly transformed. His expression was grim as he motioned her over to the desk.

"Sit."

"Yes, sir." She nodded, pushing her glasses higher on her nose.

As she sat, he leaned menacingly over the desk. Meg didn't have to pretend the nervousneous she was sure was present in her eyes.

"Did you make up that list of employees I asked you for?"

Meg nodded. "Yes, but it would have been easier if you allowed me my computer."

He gave her a sharp shake of his head. "No communications in or out. Do you hear me, Angelique?" Then his eyes narrowed, and he took her chin in his rough hand. He squeezed gently, but Meg could feel the power behind it. "Unless, of course, you were Harvey's accomplice and need your computer to alert those outside."

A sharp pain went through her gut and she could feel sweat breaking out over her body. She made her eyes open wide in horror behind those big glasses she hated. She let a tremble come to her lips, making her look more terrified than her very real but rational fear.

Then Mario grinned at her predatorily, his white teeth glinting in the light coming from the one window. He released his grip, caressing her jaw tenderly. It made her skin crawl.

"All right, where is the list?"

Obediantly, Meg opened a drawer and drew out several pieces of paper. On it, she had placed red stars, as he had instructed, by people he or she did not completely trust. He ran his eyes over it quickly, then put it in his pocket to look over later.

"And where is my appointment book?"

Meg took the black book out of the same drawer. She gave this to him as well, but he didn't even look at it.

"Just because you are in here does not mean you are on vacation. Do you understand?"

She nodded, not speaking.

"Good. I will be sending Vickers over later with some work for you. I expect it to be done by tomorrow." Then, he straightened. "Oh, and one more thing." He waggled a finger in her direction. "No more talking about my business with Renata. She does not need to know these things."

Meg lowered her eyes in supplication, trying to ignore the seething in her soul in response to having to obey this monster. "Yes, sir."

"Good, I'm glad that we understand each other."

Then, he turned from her, and his face once more wore an endearing smile.

"Well, my little princess, I am leaving. Is there anything I can send up for you?"

Frannie looked up from her nails to say, "Something to do would be nice. I'm bored."

"I'll see what I can do. Don't bug Angelique too much. Okay?"

"All right. Will you be back?"

"Not today, but I'll see you in the morning."

He went over and kissed her forehead, as one might have a child, then turned to go. Meg caught a climpse of two guards waiting for him through the closing door. Not really wanting to speak, Meg threw Frannie a look. Her partner nodded, and Meg chewed on her lip in thought. One way or another, they had to get out of there.