Thanks Beasties!
...
"I'm sure, she'll make a great recovery.." The old blond haired woman had sighed in relief when she heard these words she so desesparately wanted to hear since she's been sitting at the waiting room with her two eldest sons, for hours. Thank goodness, her wishes came out true.
"Oh my God..." She couldn't help herself but to burst into sobs. She almost lost her balance to stand that her two sons had caught her back, before she could fell down on the floor.
"When could we go and see her, doctor?" had asked one of them, mostly the one with the wrinkled white shirt and beard. Álvarez believed that guy was more of the responsible one with a good job while the other looked like he had just started university by now.
"Too early to say for now. But that's because she's still is in the recovery room, and of course we'll probably have to watch her for the next forty height hours to come, see how her body is handling the transplant.." Álvarez managed to tell the short part of the story to the family, not that he wanted them to be scared or not, but in case for them to be prepared for the worst part to come. "Till now, we'll see.."
"You mean, there's still a chance for her to not adjust the liver transplant?"
"I know it's a scary thought, but I do want to be very honest with you just in case if her immune system goes wrong and if it puts her to any danger. And I only say if..." He checked down at his watch and cursed himself. He was late. Even if the surgery was a success, it took longer than he thought it have been. He was needed at the emergency section due to the lack of ER doctors and he couldn't be late for this. "Okay, listen. I have to check up for another patient right away now. I'm sorry but I really have to go now. A nurse would come up to you and show you the way to the ICU bulding. Gotta go.." He excused himself as he hurried away from them as fast he could.
Óliver took off his blue cap as he brushed away the sweat he held during the surgery. It felt more like he was holding his breath during a very long time. Stress was considerated as a deadly disease that he couldn't risk his life having to bear like anybody else. But nobody has a choice anyways. It wasn't the patient's condition that he was worried about, it was somebody else.
Yalena.
Damn that woman was nothing but trouble and quite clever than he had known. All these years living together, he pratically had no idea. He thought she was an weak person, the damsel in distress type, pretty cute and innocent waitress girl that he could use as an excuse. But she wasn't quite stupid. She took running with his daughter and had hid her away from his sight. To some place he hadn't the clue about. He was freaking out. The thought of his daughter being missing drove him crazy. Working out and working for hours were keeping straight with anger, but he also know for sure, that it won't last for long enough for him to keep himself under control. She must had known about his affairs, no wonder she tried to impress him by losing up the baby weight and when she found out, she had snapped when she smelled an woman's scent on the collar of his shirt. There was this fight and later on, she left him with their daughter.
She thought she could control things, but it turned out that she didn't had the power to do it. After the first struck, she told him that he couldn't or more like cannot hit her. That it wasn't right. But he did it.
"What? I can hit you.."
"No, you can't.." She added this answer back as she stood her face up to him, hoping he wouldn't dare to do it again.
And the next thing, she had known was that he punched her again, only to fall down on the floor. He kneeled down to her height as she tried to sit up on her feet. But kept her from doing it so, putting his hands on her shoulders. Blood was running down from her nose, but he could sense the fear just to look up from her eyes.
"I make the rules here, Lena and you must follow them like a good and loving housewife should, since you do not work anymore. It's mariage deal. Fifty and fifty of it.."
Like she could set her own rules for sure. He was the man of the house. He should be the one to make them. Not her. That's what he had been taught ever since he was a little child.
Damn those eyes. Lena was staring at him with fear, but also with anger as well and with at that was just the start of an nightmare. The last time he had attacked her, Angela had witnessed the scene with Lena's phone in her hands. Damn, she had set this trap up using his daughter by blackmailing him.
He always had the feeling that he was being stalked from a far, being watched whenever he was working. And then Gretchen ended up being slain, believing she was safe when her cover got blown. And later on, Lena ended up arrested, the next day. And from what he understood now, she was held in jail and was now on life support after being slain by an wild creature whatever they called. It did it again. Where was she, by the way?
But what he was the most afraid of, it was the fact that she knew some secrets from him.
Damn it. Even in lying into a vegetable state, she still had known things and her scars would be exposed. But the one who had done them to her might as well be exposed too. Cops would be starting an investigation about him, about his lifestyle, his work, his affairs with the girls. His work at the dark time everything could be exposed and he would the previlage to ever see his daughter again. If he was exposed by anybody, including Lena. Damn it. He growled as he went downstairs heading towards the emergency section, like the devil was on his back. He met his lawyer this morning, advising him to not say a word until the leading detectives found something that could put his life at risk. Like what? Making him look like a monster behind this nightmare?
Tough aren't you, Lena? You really wanna curse me, even if you ever might end up into the other side. Would you still be able to look tough?
He needed someone to protect him from any harm now that he might be at risk. Someone who can inform him of any news he needed to know.
...
Ash jerked up from sleeping on his desk, completely awake as someone burned him with fire. Or more like it was the phone on his desk that woke him up. With a groan, he pick it up as he leaned his back on his chair. However, he didn't got the chance to reply, because whoever's voice was on the line was angry enough to shake him up from his slumber. Way to start the day. Damn, he must have had spent the whole night at Evan's old office writing notes and had send Tyler's body to NY's hospital. Her parents must have had experienced the most horrifying moment of their lives by now.
"What took you so long? And where is my big french vanilla cappuccino, you've promised?"
"I've never promised anything to you, Tanaka! I had work to do.."
"Liar! Always been a liar!" Damn, she was in a bad mood Tanaka and it wasn't any different ever since they had started to work together. A greek guy and a japanese woman together in one room? It would be like hell had made it self at home and on earth as well.
That's the reason why they always worked at distance. To spare any pain. Ash checked the time on his computer as he rubbed his face with his free hand. Past ten o' clock. Damn, he had spent the whole day, and mostly working on Alicia and Helga, the other girl.
He ended up receiving Tyler's test results from the second autopsy from what Tanaka had wrote him as an official report. It turned out that she was extremelly in very good shape, physically. No drugs or rape were found, despite that she had been kept in a fridge. However, Tyler was quite actived into sexual activities, mostly with a certain Gabe Lowan. The only man she'd been with, before she was shot dead, hitting up a few organs. Other than her heart being stolen, bruises and scars printed to her body were not a good sign. And like he had guessed, the cause of death was still blood lost ..Quite the fact, that Tyler ran out of blood when cops have found out the corpse."Anyways, how are you?" Seriously, this freaking woman was screaming at his ear for a minute and now she wanted to know how he was doing, at this time?
"Work. Well, I've spent the whole night and day trying to figure how two girls ended up dead, other than being burried six feet under..However, I found something else.." He rolled up his eyes. Both of the girls had died, being poisoned as he tried to convince Vincent, yesterday. Why the man was so interested into the girls's death? No idea to this fact, but he was certain to one thing. Vincent had known about Chandler and the way he looked up at her, it was like they both knew each other from a very long time. A past romance gone wrong?
"Still believe that they were both poisoned, before they died?"
"Yeah. The two of them were poisoned with I don't know how, but I do feel it. Alicia died faster without any struggle, however with Helga, it was different.." He winced at this answer. He was still waiting after toxicology results for Alicia's case and it was taking too long. Long enough for the killer to come out and kill someone else again.
"What do you mean?"
"It's not official yet. But I had found some blood stuck inside of her nails, which meant she must have fought whoever had tried to kill her. Anyways, like Alicia, she had the same purple ecchymoses on both arms and legs. Everywhere on their bodies, Tanaka. Skin color had gone pale, dry eyes, cetera...Sort like a person dying from AIDS.."It spooked him, when he had examinated the other girl, Helga. He stated that she had the same bruises, purple ecchysomes and body discoloration, however he had found blood through her nails. Which meant there was a sign of struggle there. There was no point to that. He was sure enough that both Alicia and Helga were poisoned and what kind of poison? More like a deadly disease.
"What about rape? I know you said that Alicia didn't had any sight of abuse. But still, ever thought they got abused or peneatrated against their will or not, since they were both sluts?" Nice choice of words.
"Don't know about that. I'm about to sent the blood tests to the lab, for a second opinion for the both of them..."However Tanaka stopped him right away, like she was discouraged by that descision. Leave the job for the real professional ones into the job, not the lunatics that are saying that the job would be done in weeks, while a possible serial killer might be out there to kill.
"Sent them to me, buddy. I'll fix your problem way more faster than they can do all united together. But anyways, I got the results about the bullet from Hermandez's murder. Remember when the cops had found the gun hidden under Sandler's bed? That they feared that it might be a match?"
"Yeah, so you got the results?" Tanaka just cursed under her breath, having the feeling that things aren't going to be easy, either way.
"Yeah. I'm afraid I have bad news to share with you. The gun and the bullet; They are a match. It's confirmed that Sandler may had done it..Ash.."
"And Sandler's going away by dying as we speak.." He heard from a few deputies the attack from last night and how Yalena Sandler was brutally attacked in jail. They said it had been caused by an wild animal had said the spreading rumors. The CSU team were working at the crime scene to find any possible evidence in order to confirm it. And what's even better in all this? Sandler was between life and death, mostly and maybe brain dead, by now. Everything was lost, the bad guy was going away by dying. But what about the person whom have attacked Lena, can they stop her or him from doing any harm to anybody?
He had heard Cat's loud and fastening steps on the second floor as she went into Ward's office and from he had seen was anger, but with mixed feelings stuck on her features and there she was, walking like a soldier on a mission. Woman on a mission.
Lost in his mind, someone else on the phone was calling. He blinked twice in order to shake anything out from any fantasy. "Uh, there's someone else on line two, Tanaka.." He saw the red light on the other button flashing up as in a hurry state. "I'll call you back.." He pressed on the red flashing button and groaned without even knowing who could be interrupting his important call with Tanaka. "NYPD, office of hell, how can I help you?"He rubbed his brows, annoyed.
"Ash!"
However hearing Regan's voice was the last thing he expected. He managed to take her call without even noticing her voice panicking on the line.
"Hey Regs, you're not supposing to be into mommy day care now? I mean your old folks cannot always watch your boy, while you are into-"
"He's back.." That shook him up, asking himself what she meant by, but just to hear the tone of her shaking voice in fear. It said a lot.
"What do you mean, by back?"
"Check your e-mail account, right away and now as we speak!" Oh no. She couldn't be serious.
"Regan-" He went into silent alert mood now and he didn't like this.
"Do it!" To her rushing tone through the phone, he went back to his screen, who was quite full of open and hidden windows. Most of them were results, notes and reports, same thing were for his desk. Full of pictures, cold cases, reports notes, etc.
The black haired guy opened up another window, went through his e-mail account and logged himself in. A new e-mail had just popped up, at the moment he went straight in.
It was annonymous and in black letters. He clicked in with the mouse as the e-mail appeared on screen. His breath was caught into his throat as his eyes were staring at the letters with fear. He felt his body paralyzing, unable to move whatever he could touch.
Prodosia means betrayal, no? Traitors always get themselves caught at the very end, Ash. And it often ends with blood..
"Oh God." And down from the letters was an underlined link both of them were black. With his mouse, he clicked it and another window screen appeared. A picture of them. The six of them all in smiles. Shaken, Ash couldn't help but to stare at the picture in fear as bad memories went back into him.
"You have to warn, J.T and Vincent.." Damn it. He almost had forgotten that Regan was still holding on the line. He shook his head, panicking as he had thought he had moved on from whatever nightmare he had last night.
"But they have nothing to do with any of this!" He really didn't wanted Vincent or J.T involved into this mess, they had other matters at the moment and the last think that Ash wanted was more trouble going around them. Until 'it' got to them too.
"No, but they need to be aware of it. Ash, he could put an attack on them too. Last night, I've received a message in blood, painted on my window with that photo of us. The six of us. And I do know when I see this handwriting, whetever it is on paper or at the wall. I'm certain of it, Ash. Trust me, when I say he's back. He's back and for good this time.." The same picture he was staring at it by now.
"Stay with Miguel and call the police.."He tried to advise her by doing the right way, but she couldn't hold the fear back. He imagined her shaking her head, moving her long blond locks with rushing tears falling on her cheeks.
"I can't! He's far too dangerous!"
"Regan, you can't keep on hidding-"
"He's not going to colloborate or negotiate in anything! He wants blood! He wants to finish what he started, Ash and cops can't help me with that!" She cried through his ear, trying to cope up with her breath. "I escaped him once and he had found me again. We need to come up with a plan, before he could hurt anybody else again.."
"Regan, that's suicide!"
"Alex told me this nightmare would never stop unless I try to do something and I chose to come back here in NY. And now, that he had found you and I, we may need to come up with a plan..."
"Regan..Just stop.."
"Or else, he's gonna come and kill my son, to make me suffer. All of us..!"
The thought of her living through an endless nightmare was just enough for him to bare. Ash couldn't never forgive himself of the night when he rushed up to that hospital, where he had seen an very shaking Jeffrey sitting on a chair while Miguel was pacing back and forth, angry but awfully worried at the waiting room. Stained blood was on their clothes, despite Miguel's were black.. Regan's blood on them.
He still remembered the pain and shock that had penetrated on them both. That call he had after he was discharged from prison, Alex's crying voice saying that something bad had happened this night. He could still remember walking into the waiting room and while Miguel tried to ease his fidget by walking and back forth and Jeffrey looked like he was about to explode in any minute.
"How is she?" The words were almost as if he got frightened by a very angry and roaring bear coming up to him. At this moment, Jeffrey had snapped when he saw him coming into the place.
"Where do you think she is, by now?" The blood on his t-long sleeved blue shirt was enough for him to had found out on whatever had happened. He indicated his hands up to him in order to show the blood on them."Don't you think that 'this' is enough for you to understand?" Ash had watched Jeffrey's hands forming into very tight fits as he stood up from his seat and went to his direction. He wanted to punch him, from the eyes.
"Jeff.."
"You know this is your fault, right?" At this, Miguel stopped his pacing and walked up to them. "Jeff.." But the other guy stopped him from talking as he raised his voice up in anger back him.
"What? Don't make this any harder, is that what you're trying to say?" And then, he turned back to Ash who tried to stand up for himself, even if he couldn't say anything else to prove his innocence. He watched Jeffrey raising a finger to him, accusing him. "This is his fault! If he had the guts to denounce him from day one, none of this would have happened. Now Regan is paying for all of our faults, including a very dead guy and his stupid widow of girlfriend!" He kept talking to Miguel as Ash stood silent, knowing if he ever spoke, he'd only make things more worse than they had already become. Being the one in the middle of a circle of friends. The guilty one in the group.
"Jeffrey, stop this!" This time, it was Alex's voice coming to their way, but he ignored her as he kept accusing Ash. Stupid tears were gathering the corner of his eyes, but it did not stopped his anger from showing.
"Shut up, Alex! And it's too bad, that Vincent Keller got away with death, or else I would have killed him for having introducing a monster to us. A monster that used to be your friend, Ash!"
No wonder Jeffrey didn't give a fine greeting to Vincent, like the others had done back at that bar. And no matter how long it took for Vincent to step out from the dark for whatever reason, Jeffrey was still angry at him, for abandoning them for years.
And where was he, when the attack had occured? He was in prison, after he wanted to denounce somebody who used to be close to him and to Regan. And to Alex and Vincent, mostly. Rumors said that someone was using drugs at the hospital that Regan was working and was about to be exposed. And that person snapped when rumors went out in public.
That person who had problems with drugs and wanted to kill Regan out of rage. He tried to do the right thing by denouncing him with the drugs that got discovered in the hospital, back at California and got caught into prison. Ash believed that he was framed, that someone had set him up. One day or another, Vincent and J.T would have to know about this story, soon or later.
"Okay. Go and try to contact Jeff. I'll try to inform J.T, you know how fast he can be with computers.."
"And Vincent?"
"Dunno, about the dude or whatever he is by now. Regs, I've been trying reach him up ever since yesterday and he hasn't called me back.."
"Warn them about the letters and the pictures, even before it could reach to them.."
"Damn it! Why, it had to happen, today? He'll never leave us alone! Never!"
...
"Dr. Álvarez! I need to talk to you.."
"In a minute.." He looked through the paper work he held in his hands and replied back the other ER doctor who was next to the patient sitting on a bench in front of him. The old bald and half naked man had an annoying face like he didn't wanted to exposed into this awkward position before an handsome blond haired and very muscular doctor like Álvarez. "It's just a few broken ribs, but it'll be better if he went to do some scan, just to make sure.." He headed away from the sitting patient to check up another patient, ignoring the nurse following him back, completely. What a way to spend the night here.
"Dr. Álvarez!"
"Don't you see that I'm busy, here?"
"I know, sir, but there's two attractive women waiting at your office and they demand you at the moment.."
"Do they have an appointement?" had asked the blond haired doctor as he grabbed another folder of an unknown patient and tried to look through it.
"No, but-"
"They can leave, I'm not taking any last minute patients. I'm full enough already!"
"One of them is a bodyguard.." That stopped him in a second, he turned his eyes back at frail nurse in blue scrubs. "I believe she had seen that job offer, you've sent at the your website lately.."
"What about the other?"
"The other is a doctor. Dr. Rose..She's been following her patient ever since she got diagnosed with HIV.."
"You said they were also attractive?"
...
The next minute, Óliver went back up into his office, oppening his door to see two women. The one wearing a red sweater with an unruly haircut tied up to a ponytail was standing on her feet, both arms crossed while the other was wearing an traditional asian dress, sitting on the chair for visitors, but when she turned her head over her shoulder to see him, he was flabbergasted by her sight.
She was a beauty, enough to take his breath away. That woman was wearing a white but short dress that ended on her knees's level with many great long but very pink flowers printed in it. Asian style, he had guessed. Her dark hair was combed into a very tight bun that was placed on the right side of her cheek, all tied up by a big and white lips were a deep red and magnicifent. Her breasts were just perfect, not too big or too small, just perfect. She was outstounding and they called her sick with a transmitting disease? She was more beautiful than he ever had imagined that he couldn't even take off his eyes from her. Hypnotizing was the word he tried to come out from his lips. Her eyes, they expressed desire and mystery and that black eye liner and mascara only made them more feline, like a sexy cat. God, he could feel his crotch go up, this woman looked tough enough to handle a fight, not too fat or too skinny. A little short, but even to this point, she was just perfect. He wanted her. All of her inside of him and right now. That was just unbelievable..
"Dr, Ólivier Álvarez, I presume?" Dr. Rose's voice had got him out from his thoughts. He shook his head as if he were under some trick spell and cleared his throat as he headed to his desk. God, he felt her watching him. He sat down on his chair, trying to make himself feel comfortable as he put his hands on his stomatch, trying to control them from shaking any farther.
"It is correct. How may I help you in anyway?" Dr. Rose who was quite a tall woman, probably because of her heels, mostly, had sat down as she brought the things that needed to be settle here.
"First, let us both say how much we are sorry for your wife being attacked a few days..It must be hard having to bear that feeling, especially when she was attacked in prison.."
"I know. After I heard she was savagedly attacked and she may be held into some unknown hospital for I don't know for what reason. That's why I panicked, I feel like I'm being stalked here. Cops would probably start an investigation about me, learning everything about me and it scares me.."
"I heard you have a daughter, somewhere outside from the country, is that correct?" Woah, that woman had a deep voice as he looked back her. Dr Rose's patient. A short lock of brown hair had fell out from her hair clip. That woman was just beautiful. He couldn't help it, but feel captived by her stare.
"To tell you the truth, I have a daughter. The most beautiful treasure that has been given to me. Ángela is the only main reason, I'm still living here and that I'm not losing my mind either.."
"And your ex-wife, in all this?" She added this back to him. He couldn't find any better answer to tell them both, as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Let's just say that Yalena is or was thinking by making me look like the bad guy as she stated to the Chicago PD that I had her beaten up, once or twice before. And took her away.."
"Ángela?"had followed the woman in the traditional dress with interest as he nodded. The blond haired man leaned his back towards his chair as he crossed his arms to his chest.
"Yes. She has gone completely delusional and wants to put the blame on me. After she left the city, I decided to move up here, for a new job as an surgeon and to be closer to Esperanza..And besides, the doctors here are well paid and respected than living in my old roots.."
"Why do you mean by coming over to be closer to Esperanza?"
"I wished I had more time to help her with the girls, but I cannot, unfortunately. Esperanza is looking for a doctor whose willing to help the girls with bruises.." That left Dr. Rose stunned."Bruises? They were attacked on the job?" It was her turn to ask the questions and he could felt that the situation had made her feel nervous.
"With bruises, I meant by possible transmitting diseases, like HPV, HIV or MTS. A few costumers complained to Esperanza about them.." He watched her expression go into wonder as all the nervousness had suddenly vanished away from her features, they were replaced by a very well known feeling called supscious. She was quite the woman who looked like the one who doesn't take well about a woman getting beating up for something she wasn't responsible of or even if it wasn't her fault. However, her patient remained silent as she continued to listen.
"Did she talked with them, about the complaints?"He winced at this question, trying to find the right words to say.
"Not only she told them, but had them beaten them up for their mistakes.."Damn, he could had sworn that he had seen flames rising into her eyes right now. A part of her was getting burned as she said this."Beat them up? My ears are not deaf aren't they?"
"No, you've heard pretty clear, Dr. Rose. I know it sounds completely crazy to hear it, but when the girls first came into the club, they were pursed to study a contract for at least seven or eight years and signed after agreeing every rule. No matter the rules, most girls wanted the job and had accepted the rules and most of them was getting beaten, but only if the customer files a complaint to Esperanza.." He tried to explain to the impatient doctor. "All of the girls agreed. Esperanza made the contract, so she was the one who wrote down those rules, the girls would have a roof to lounge in and would be well feed and well paid, if they do agree to the contract.."
"As long they don't mess around, everything would be just fine.."had said the quiet person in the place.
"Including getting attacked by its owner? The woman who was supposed to take care of them? You call that fair?"But the female was having none of it. It was just out of control here.
"Dr. Rose.."Her patient was acting calm towards the news, while her doctor was the getting almost out of control.
"It's only an fair punishement, Dr. Rose, there's nothing to worry here. Everything is all being taken care of. After the girls are left alone to their room, I often come to check on them, but since I seem to do more hours than usual, Esperanza would have to look for another doctor here.."Óliver had explained, trying to assure them both. The curly brown haired woman had asked back in return, her eyes checking every single of gesture he tried to hold back. Attempting to calm herself down from what she had heard from she couldn't believe of what the guy was saying, like he had approved this kind of behavior.
Without feeling any guilt or shame.
"You think, that your ex-wife had known about this? About the beating?"
"Since I've heard she switched identities and changed her appearence to look like Gretchen, everything is possible from what my lawyer had told me..And who knows what the real Gretchen was doing all this time.."
That was true. He had no idea what the real Gretchen was doing maybe she was sleeping around at the streets and had got herself killed at the end. But the fact that he wasn't focusing on the club made him look innocent. He had no idea that Gretchen who was under Lena's name that time was fooling around at the club, while Lena was watching him from a far. From what he had heard from his sources.
"And know, I have no idea where is Ángela or how many secrets Lena have kept from me.." Óliver felt completely helpless at this statement and that woman in the traditional dress hadn't moved her eyes away from him, like she was trying to look deeper into him. She was so breathtaking away. He really hadn't felt this way ever since a longtime which brought him to ask her a question. It was his turn anyways.
"I'm sorry, but I don't seem to know your name or even recall to ask your name.."
"No you didn't asked, it's true. My name is Ayaka. Ayaka Richardson.."
...
"So you're a mix.."
"Half asian, half american, as you can say. My parents had vanished away in a car accident, leaving me alone at the age of seven, jumping into foster cares places one by one." Tess didn't liked any of this stuff, even if it was Cat's plan to go undercover here, she didn't liked to know about the beating stuff into the club..
"How come a such beautiful creature like you, could have ended up with such awful life sentence, like this?" Óliver's choice of words were quite coming of from an romantic poet, but after studying him for a few minutes close, she had changed her mind anyways. That guy wasn't anything closer to an telenovela star, he was a charmer but mostly, an manipulator too. She only hoped that her partner knew that part too.
"Unprotected sex. I only found out two months later by my doctor sitting right next to me here. Dr. Cassandra Rose. I was completely devastated by the results of the diagnostic.."
"In only two months? What were the symptoms, Dr-Can I call you, Canssandra?"
"It's Dr. Cassandra Rose here..."had clearified Tess as she rolled up her eyes, annoyed. "Usually, the symptoms of HIV don't appear than only after one or two years. Or they don't come at all. Which makes most my old patients go nuts and let me tell you this. The fear of not knowing is the worst coming from them. When Miss Richardson came to her appointement for the third time, she complained about feeling very warm and had felt very tired for the last three weeks.." Her eyes shifted at Cat who stared at her back as if she was waiting for more words for her to explain." We made the tests, all of them to specify and a few days later, I had to tell her that she was carrying the virus status.."
"That fast?" The female cop in disguise stared back at Alvarez, trying to look the professional one here.
"Let's just say that the people that I work with are quite fast enough when it comes to sex transmitting diseases today. It's not like the early nineties where people thought they only had a few months to live. With the antiviral pills, Richardson lives and works most as anybody else.." She leaned her back to the chair, trying to stay still.
"But not everybody has HIV.."
"Quite true, but you like the idea of having to live just as everybody what's running inside of you, Dr. Álvarez.." You got an ex-call girl who has it, so you better watch your mouth, you idiot!
It was starting to become too personal and she hated it. When Cat had called her two days ago at morning back at J.T's place, she thought she was going to have a heart attack, without even noticing that she had dropped the coffee onto one of J.T's computers's keyboards. So shocked to explain. And even the fact that she got to be involved as an alibi for Cat. Dr. Cassandra Rose, what a name!
Cat explained that the plan had to penetrate into the club as an bodyguard with HIV virus but controlled move, which she wouldn't have to sleep with anybody. Cause as an bodyguard, you shouldn't sleep with the person you suppose to protect. She could watch and protect the girls, Esperanza and Álvarez, and expecially Lina. And then, who knows, trying to know what's going on with the club and becoming close to Óliver, hoping he would spit a few beans from what he knows, even when he's not around the club. Manipulating and making him fall into the trap of love would be way fast than anything.
And that includes, Gretchen's, Alicia's and Helga's deaths. The attack on Yalena was also to the list. On top of it, like Cat had mentioned her back. If Vincent couldn't help her out, she'll have to find the answers alone. But what troubled Tess, it wasn't how far Cat would get the answers is how Ayaka would do to get them even if it means that she would have to kill in order to have them. Even if they were any beasts around there.
Damn, without Vincent at her side, Cat would probably start to go onto a very dark road. No wonder how many undercover cops went completely nuts after a few years of work under the dark.
Oh, and the traditional dress thing? It was just an disguise to impress the handsome doctor. Cat had explained that it was a present for her thirtieth birthday from last year. Her aunts had sent to her as an special birthday present wishing all the best and happiness and honor as well that life could give to her. She never got the time to try it, until now..
The beautiful and very mysterious, Ayaka Richardson came into the picture, Cat's cover to penetrate into the club with fake ID card qand a fake living life style as well. Thanks Tucker. As an wounded female bodyguard protecting an suspect such as Óliver Álvarez, who could be responsible for his soon ex-wife's attack in prison.
Ayaka could be a very honoroble person when it comes to serve a king with such class with much of dignity, but not so much for Cat who would try to track Alvarez down, by using every clue that she would maybe find, anytime soon.
"Well, Miss Richardson-"
"Ayaka, no formalities here, if you want me to protect you. No secrets, so we going to be straight to each other here.."had cut off Cat before he could go on any longer, especially if she's going to work for him.
"Very well, Ayaka.." Tess felt like puking here, just to watch this..
"I do need protection. So much, I mean, ever since I heard that my ex-wife got attacked and been left for dead in prison, I got scared for my life and mostly for the girls working at the club along with Esperanza.."
"So you want her.." had pointed Tess back at Cat who was sitting in front of his desk. That jerk wants Cat to protect the girls, even if they are being beaten? "To not only having to protect you, but to protect the girls and the hitman?" He simply nodded, letting a deep sigh out as if he had to explain himself once again.
"Esperanza is not an hitman, she is just there to correct the girls from comitting any more mistakes and teaching them a lesson, they shouldn't forget anytime soon. I already had explained to you, Cassandra-"
"Dr. Cassandra Rose.." Tess didn't like this case already. Even as being a cop was hard enough, but testing a woman's anger towards the beat of another woman was something else.
"I'll take it.." That was it. Cat had made her decision and there was no looking back from now on. Tess held the urge to bite her lip from the inside, cursing herself in silence while Óliver seemed to look stunned, relieved, bust a little hesitant. Like a burden went away from his shoulders when a very calming Cat had gave her agreement. "Ayaka, I don't want you to make a decision in such hurry. Can't you, at least, try to think of it, again?"
"There's nothing to think of. I've made my decision, Mr. Álvarez and won't go back on it. You want my protection and that's it.." Her voice didn't had any slight of fear or any hesitant feeling through it, but it was more of an determinateness feeling instead. She was confident and determinated as ever and nobody would be able to make her change her mind. Not even her doctor who tried to not creak in disgust. He could sense that the two of them were close to one of another, like sisters. He just shook his head, not having any choice but to accept Ayaka's answer. His life was at stake now and he needed protection.
"Alright. I see you've made your choice and I can't make change your mind anyways. All I know is that my life is at risk now and I do need help. You're a very confident and strong willed woman, but also independent and beautiful, Ayaka. Willing to take such risks to protect the good people in this city.."
"Or the bad ones as well.." had mumbled into a long sigh, but Ayaka made her decision anyways. It didn't mattered to her whatever her doctor gave her permission to work even on the state of her condition. He could tell that she was worried about her patient's decision and wished he could, at least assure her, until he got beeped on the alert. Both of the women looked up at him, as he checked up his phone wincing at the call.
"I'm sorry ladies, but work is calling for me. This hospital is lacking of ER doctors lately, due to an influenza virus here, so they ask to professionals like me to do their work in exchange for the meantime. Just leave your file on my desk." He rose up from his chair as the female doctor looked up at him, curiously.
"What file?"
"Your patient's HIV's diagnosis report. I want to make sure if it's real enough.." he took a look back at Ayaka, before he added this to Tess's direction."Your patient seems to be perfectely healthy, Dr. Rose, but I do had seen much more worse cases about people with HIV. You see one of the girls have the disease and it can be dangerous, if it's not been taken care of.."
"You have nothing to worry, -"
"Óliver.."
"My health is very important to me, Óliver, but my job is almost risky as well. So, I know what I'm doing. Don't worry about it.."had assured the very beautiful woman in the traditional dress right back at him. So certain and quiet like a obidient human being, which was very rare to see in this city of craziness. He managed to form a smile to Ayaka and circled his desk in order to leave his office to go back at the emergency section. He opened the door and left the two female cop in disguise, staring back at him watching him run away.
"Did you see him running like that, Tess?"
"Yup. Just as if he was being chased away by the devil in person.."
"Pretty much." Cat stared back at her, looking up at Tess with an impressed smile. "You're very good at faking being all of the doctor worried expression attitude." Tess just shook her head as she rolled up her eyes, looking back at her partner with a frown.
"Yeah, I know, I'm quite a good actress to strangers. But still, Cat, I don't quite like this idea. I mean, you about taking those risks to put Álvarez down. You really think you can expose him?"
"One way or another, someone kind has to do it. Something is just not right with that club or the fact that girls are being beaten up from making a bad mistake when it comes to custumers. With Gretchen, Alicia and Helga being dead and Lena attacked, and the fact that they all worked at the same bar, it means something..."
"What about Tyler?" Damn, she almost had forgot about Gabe's late girlfriend into this. She has no idea about Tyler's situation. Could she have been part of this, as well? "You think, she was involved into all this, too?" It was a question to kill as the brunette in the asian dress just shrugged her shoulders as if they said anything that her partner wanted to hear.
"I don't know about if he had anything to do with Tyler's body being found. But I know one thing, Tess. I'll stop the attacker who tried to had Lena dead and if Álvarez is behind this mess, working alone or not, I'll turn him over. And it's gonna stop him from killing any other girls from the club too.."
...
Regan tried to reach up Vincent again through her phone once again, but it was no use, he was just unreachable. God, he has to know about the picture, before it reaches him on its own. About that it was Alex that had managed to convince her to go back to NY saying that she would feel more safe there than staying in California.
"You're never gonna feel safe by staying here, when he's still around, Regan. You need to leave. Go back to NY, you'll feel safe out there than here.." Just to look up at her, Regan could tell that Alex had cried after when she had tried to stop a fight between Jeffrey and Ash, back at the waiting room. With her red hair tied into a messy ponytail, wrinked blue scrubs had told that Alex had spent the night here along with Miguel, who was guarding outside of the room like a bodyguard should. It was the morning after the attack, Alex had visited her with the idea of moving away. She tried to find a sitting position into her bed, but winced through the pain coming from her left side. She hated feeling weak like today and in front of a worried person like Alex.
"Wh-What makes you say that?"
"Cause I know someone that may be able to help you and I do know that he's still out there..I know, cause both he and his handler had saved my life once before.."She watched Alex heading up to her side, sitting on the edge of her bed and held her as if it told her to be ready for what ever answer she might have to face with and Regan had the feeling that she wouldn't like it.
"And who is this person?" She felt worried as the red haired woman was holding up her breath and spelt this out.
"That man that came out at the news a few days ago. Vincent Keller.."Regan just couldn't believe it. Alex was out of her mind she had thought back then, when she was still recovering at the hospital, after such brutal attack. Lying on her bed with bandages, those tubes attached to her body, including those to her nostrils, and with an IV tied to her forearm along with the heart beeping and oxygen machine at the background, Regan felt ashamed more like a burden to the people she holds dear to her heart. She didn't wanted to leave the city, but she couldn't risk her son's life or hers anymore. It was no longer safe. She took the time to recover and left the city with Miguel and her son, Vincent.
Much to Ash and Jeffrey's protests, whom told her to stay away, cause the city of New York was ten times way worse than California was. However, she wouldn't feel any safe, if she doesn't try to take the challenge, for once.
It couldn't be true. The Vincent Keller she had known was reported dead, killed in Afghanistan over a decade ago, but there he was outside with that heiress Tori Windsor, holding arms and looking like a couple. Everywhere around. How come he had survived? Luck, probably. Regan tried to switch her thoughts away from her old and stupid crush to the horrible situation she was facing.
He was back. Her obssesive husband had found her and wanted finish her off. And that means wanting to kill the others as well. Ash, Jeffrey, J.T and Vincent too, leaving Alex out of the picture. And here she was sitting at IL Cantuccio, at some table closer to the window, trying to finish her vanillia latte, alone with the fear of being found by her husband.
A friend of Vincent and Ash.
"Hey, Regan.." She gasped in fear as if a bombshell just dropped into the place, or it was more of a person who made it happen. She brought up her blue eyes up right to the person who made her heart jump in fear.
Speaking of the devil being resurrected.
...
Vincent had walked up to her table after he took a strong coffee cup for take-out and spotted the blond haired woman with a purple and long sleeved shirt sitting by herself close to the window as she kept on rubbing both of her arms, looking out at the darkness of the night as she waited for someone to join her by any minute.
He didn't expected her to see her scared. She looked like she had cried and looked petrified as she turned around to see him coming up here. She put a hand to her chest, trying to calm down her breathing as he stared down at her, trying to figure out on why she looked so stunned, but in fear.
"You okay? I didn't mean to scare you.."
"N-No, it's fine! You caught me by surprise, that's all.."She smiled as she put lock of blond hair behind her ear, as for an act of nervousness."I was trying to reach you up, either way.."Her heart was racing up into a thounsand seconds, but he could sense that she was telling the truth. But her expression didn't lied about the fact that something was scaring her anyways. What was she doing here at a time like this? It was late already and dark outside despite the joy and light that the coffee-bar was trying to bring up. Taking up a seat across from her, Vincent sensed that something was wrong with Regan and she tried hide it away. More like trying to look away from him, like she was feeling guilty of him, or more like for herself.
"If so, then why are you avoiding me?"he dropped his coffee onto the table,as she managed to turn her head away from him at that point. Gosh, she felt like she was right back into med school, hidding behind Alex's back like she used to do so, many years ago.
"I don't know what are you talking about..I-I'm-.." And there she was stuttering again, like old times when she could barely look up and talk to him. He sighed as he cut her off, irrated and quite tired, not because of her but because of Catherine's rejection was still haunting him down. Not that he tried to avoid that picture, he really did but sometimes it was getting an hold of him.
"Just stop mumbling around and calm down. Being nervous as you are now won't help, Regs.." he had sighed as he watched her turn her head towards him and kinda had regretted his words when he had seen her blooshot eyes right back to him. He could say that she had been spending all the entire night awake. He wasn't the reason of her fear, but someone else was. "Tell me, what's going on, Regan?"he had asked this time into a softer tone. Chocked with many emotions and paranoia, Regan just broke down, collapsing into sobs. That was it. She couldn't hold anything back as everything just went out. Somehow, he cursed himself for making things worse than they seemed to be. "Regan-"
"Everything, Vincent. Just everything is a mess.."
"What for?"
"It's-It's too complicated..Everything is just falling apart..EVERYTHING!" Vincent jumped at the surprising tone of her voice, not to mention that she almost had spill up her latte all over the table. It kinda had missed her phone who was quite lying next to the mug. He looked over the other tables to see if that small incident had bothered the clients for precaution, but none of them noticied anything since they were too busy into their own world. Good.
He turned his head back at her, not knowing what else to say but to feel worried about whatever Regan was facing now. She put her elbows on the table, as she tried to wipe off the tears off of her eyes and cheeks, her breathing was slowing down as well from what he had remarked. He remained silent giving her the time to answer, as she tried to control her breathing.
"All I know..Is that's he back in town.." And probably to finish her off, but Vincent didn't know that part yet. "And for good, this time.."
"Who's back, Regan-" However his phone had interrupted that moment. Damn, when he thought he was getting more closer to the problem. He brought up his phone to see that it was J.T calling him now.
"Take it. It might be important.." Regan's voice broke between her unwanted tears and breathing. He looked back up at her, worried and right back to his phone as he took the call close to his ear. "Hey, J.T.."However J.T. cut him off right in a panic mood.
"Where are you, now?"
"Umm, taking a coffee break?.."
"You were not supposed to look for Cat?" He hear Ed's barking at the background and boy that dog was getting very loud enough like he wanted to talk on the phone as well. "Sit boy!"
"I am, but I'm taking a break and I found Regan.."
"Regs? Oh God.."
"J.T.."
"You mean you don't know?.."
"What's going on?, J.T?"
"Get back home.."
"What you-"
"JUST GET YOUR ASS BACK HOME!"Vincent had put his phone away from his ear as J.T's squeaky loud voice could be heard, yelling like the manic like he knows. He winced at the pain as he slowly continued to listen up to J.T who kinda tried to calm down."And bring Regan with you, as long you're it!" And hung up, not taking an no for answer. "Now, I'm very confused.." he nodded back at his phone, stunned like a idiot. First it was Catherine's rejection cutting all ties with him and for good. Him attacking Tori who was quite half naked at the shower, right back at J.T's place, for no good reason from what he could remember. Not remerbering anything the next day. That smell at the autopsy room and him being unable to detect the events of the crime scene like he used to do so as a beast. Regan was right in one part, everything was just falling apart right now and he had no idea why.
"It reached up to J.T. too.." He looked up at the shaken woman who stared down at the table, unseeing what was in front of her. Regan tried to swallow back her tears, but couldn't stopped her shoulders from shaking.
"What?"
"The picture. The six of us were there with Alex on it at some camping. I received it, last night. The same thing happened to Ash, at noon and now, it's J.T's turn. Jeffrey may have had it and it might be your turn too, Vincent." He got more confused at this point. Something was not right.
"What picture?" It couldn't get any better than this. Regan brought up her purse to her knees as she pulled up the zipper. Vincent watched her taking out an picture who was inside of an plastic bag and slid it down on the table to his direction. His eyes widened. Oh God, that was him and almost ten years ago? J.T, Alex and all others were there as well all in smiles. He examined the picture a little bit more closely as a couple of flashing mermories went through his mind.
It was a few days before he entlised to the army, all of them have gone into the woods to camp and had light up a firecamp as well. To wish him good luck thing and get high. Despite that things were bad for him and Alex, they managed to to have last one minute of party by playing soccer, telling haunting stories, laughing and drinking like stupid teenegers.
However for Regan, who wasn't quite used to drink, had slept for the most of the night while the others were laughing with their beers, as they surrounded a very strong fire camp.
"Damn, that fire is gonna kill us here!"
"Ask Vincent to wipe it off with his ass! I bet twenty bucks that he could do it with both eyes closed, Ash.."
"Hey, you leave my ass alone!"
"Why? You think you might not be able to handle it? I mean fires in Afghanistan are way more worse than here!" Damn, that Jeffrey was challenging him and really like it from what he could see through the darkness of the night and through the flames."You need to get prepared! Keller!" he took a sip from his beer as his eyes were laughing at him. Offended despite feeling drunk, Vincent tried to jump at him, but Alex who sitting next to his left side, had held him back with her elbow trying to push him back to his seat.
"Oh really? I'd like to see you wipe off a firecamp as well, if you weren't some chicken, Jeff!" Damn the flames were too close and he could get himself burn, but that didn't mattered to him. Alex tried to remain her hold on his chest as she kept on pushing him back from a very mocking Jeffrey who sitting across from him and the fire being caught in the middle of them.
"Don't do this here, Vincent, he's not worth it, really. Just stop being such a hothead for once!"
"Yeah, why don't you go and listen to your fiancee or your ex-fiancee but friend alley? If it's what you guys are calling yourselves now?"
That guy. Jeffrey was a jerk and would always be a jerk, but somehow he was quite right in some point. The break-up was quite hard for the two of them, but they decided to remain friends for the time being. Vincent stopped to fight and sat back down on his seat as he stared back Jeffrey with a hard look. He was stressed about getting enlisted to war, but he had already made his decision and won't go back on it. Despite what others would think, he wanted to avenge his brothers who had died back at the towers as they were trying to save the people out there.
"Guys, we shouldn't be fighting in a time like this, we should be celebrating. One of our own would become a hero by joining the forces here and needs our entire support here!"
"Yeah, I agree with J.T here, let's stop fighthing and get more drunk. I'd like to see you losing your pants, J.T!"
"Really funny Ash, really funny!"
Thanks to J.T and Ash for coming to the rescue.
"Let's just hope that Vincent would come back home in one piece. This country needs more heroes alive than dead ones on this earth.."However that sentence had left him uneasy. Who was that person? This voice had belonged to a man, Vincent was sure of it. He remenbered the voice, but the picture wasn't available into his mind as if the person was still blurry and unrecognizable to him. Damn, it made him frustrated, he thought he had managed to get his memories back as it did with Catherine, but the puzzle still remained unfinished and he was afraid of what he may have to discover soon.
Regan said they were six. The six of them were there at that night, if so then why he had heard a seventh voice coming inside of his memories? He thought hard enough to find an evident answer, watching the picture with a eye of a beast. He put his left hand on the picture while his right hand was forming into a very tightening fist, tight enough to hide the forming claws from exposing. The last thing he wanted to do was to beast out in front of Regan and to everybody else here. Lost into his thoughts, he traced the man he used to be with his caloussed fingers, until something had finally clicked in.
"Vincent?" But Vincent ignored her worried tone as if he had found something he has been looking for a very longtime. There was a seventh person somewhere into the picture, he knew it. The seventh person was the one who took the picture.
...
"Would you explain to me of how Tori survived the kidnapping, Lowan? Cause my head is getting a little dizzy by now and I don't mean the prison walls here.."Gabe just rolled up his eyes annoyed. It's been two days he last seen Catherine and a few days since he got accused from Medina and Tyler's parents about her murder. He hadn't gone to work today since his lawyer told him to play nice and quiet, but to go home and rest. That means watching Tori. He wored a simple cashimire and black coat, an grey shirt and black pants as he got to Rikers's prison. To see an very irrating and so-called Bob Reynolds.
"I have no explaination to say, all I know for sure is that you ended up killing Tyler in cold from what Tori had told me.."The thought of her saying that Tyler was killed by Catherine's real father was running into his head.
"Your subject just knew far way too much and tried to steal something that was meant to be destroyed all those years ago.." How dare he would go and call Tyler a subject? He really had cared for this woman, despite the beast who used to make things hard for the both of them.
"Tyler was my girlfriend and had known the consecqences of trying to save a beast.."
"And that meant killing another beast..."Gabe just shot him warning glare as he reminded Tori's words right back in to the prisoner.
"And the same one who saved Catherine all those years ago, don't you forget about that. If it wasn't for Vincent, you wouldn't have had the chance to meet your daughter. You own this to Vincent, despite what you're thinking of him, Reynolds.." So it was true, Reynolds just sighed in defeat. If it wasn't for Vincent, he wouldn't had meet his daughter at all. She wouldn't even be alive today, if it wasn't for a beast. Hidden beast from the shadows.
"How's Catherine? I hadn't seen her for a while now.."He couldn't just believe this. Gabe just scoffed.
"I had no idea. Captain Ward had told me that she went on a vacation for a month or two, but to which destination? I have no clue. The last time I have seen her was back at the hospital.."
"What? What happened? Nothing serious?"Reynolds looked back at him, questioned as if, but the darked haired man assured him that it wasn't what it seemed to think of.
"No, I didn't mean in that way. She looked very devastated.."
"About Vincent?"
"No. About a friend. A friend from her class who couldn't have made to the reunion a few months ago. Tess had found her uncounscious inside of her cell in blood..It looked like she got attacked by a beast.."That stopped the silver haired man from moving as his blue eyes stared back the very tired and pissed ADA.
"Say what? Don't tell me-"
"No it wasn't Vincent since he had spent the whole day with Catherine. However I'm not so sure about Tori attacking her anyways. The victim's wounds looked like they were made from a male. Mostly a man or a wild creature. According to the forensic team." Another beast in town? Other than Vincent, he had no clue about others beasts walking around the city and free.
"You have a name?"He meant by going back to Catherine longtime friend.
"Yalena Sandler, she has been on the run for a while trying to watch her ex-husband from a far.." Reynolds had heard about the woman that got attacked at lunchtime whom the cops had arrested for the crime of an prostitute named Gretchen Hermandez. However he had no clue that she and Cat were friends, a few years ago. Looking up at the policeman who was guarding his cell, he waved his hand back at Gabe as he wanted to tell him a secret. The dark haired man made a few steps to the bars as Reynolds held them, worrying that he would be heard by walls here. His blue eyes looked back at Gabe as he said this.
"Lowan, I need you to get something. Get rid of something away from the house that concerns to be very important. And make sure that nobody, cops or Catherine get into it.."It must be about that house at Mantuk that was going to be sold soon. A few of Vanessa's things now belonged to Catherine and to her sister, but there were others secrets that he wouldn't want them to know now. Deadly secrets.
"What is it?"
"It's very confidential and when I mean confidential, I mean it's a family matter. It means that it has to be far away from Vincent's or Catherine's hold. Go to that house and you'll found out."
"Why for?"That left Gabe confused. What the heck, Reynolds was referring about? Was it about beasts?
"Because it's dangerous for them to know. Just get rid of them. I don't care if you want to burn them, just get rid of them!"That was just too much. He had said too much now and hoped that Lowan would get hint.
"Reynolds.."
"You love my daughter, don't you?" Gabe blinked twice at this answer as if the ex-FBI Agent had discovered about his feelings for his daughter and how far he would go for her.
"It's not that-"
"Just do it and get rid of it!" That shocked him. Gabe could see that Reynolds was starting to panic at whatever was going to be found at the house. Probably some secrets about beasts, threatened to be found, in anytime soon.
...
Tonight was a busy night for Lina and for the girls as they waitressing or more like they were struggling to bring up the drinks at tables, Loud music, smoking cigars at the air, Eva and Anna were both doing their jobs. Seducing. Paid to seduce every man who would them, despite theirs age, young or even old. Olga and Natasha were upstairs with the new kid, Kayla and sounded like they were having fun with the loud moaning and disturbing voices that could be heard from the celling, too much for Lina's displeasure. She groaned at these noises and cursed them for being immature and naive. They were young and immature, she corrected herself. However, if they get themselves in trouble one day and Esperanza would take care of that.
One day, they'll know the pain.
"Soy demasiado viejo para esta mierda, urgh.."That woman's voice came out from the underground where her work place was. Lina groaned in disgust, not only she had known Esperanza, but this woman used to beat her up hard, when she found out that Lina was heard to be sick from a client. She watched her sillouette coming to her way.
"In english, please?"
"¡Cállate! ¡Necesito un cigarrillo en este momento!" That chica still refused to take orders from others as she leaned on the bar with her arm who was covered in red scars, giving Lina a pissed and hard look back. But the ex-call girl wasn't impressed by the attitude as she cleaned up the bar with a purple rag, not caring if the old mujer would snap or not.
"Ask Eve over there.."She referred over the tables, to the fake blond haired woman in a purple tank top who was sitting on a old man's knee and with a red haired woman in a messed pink shortened dress, sitting on his other knee. Laughing at whatever the old man had said to them. The very famous Esperanza turned her head back at Lina, revealing to be a young woman in the middle of her forties with a very bright and curly long brown hair falling on her shoulders with heavy and smoking make-up on her eyes and lips. That made her look more older than she already was and more like she was reaching up to an expired date, like a ghost. Her big implants were barely hanging on like a milking cow would look like and the tank top didn't help them to hide. She wore a V-neck golden print tank top with spaghetti straps that went with her blue and skinny jeans along with her black four inches of heels. Despite the cold. A quite tall woman, despite the heels that had offered Oliver for her last birthday.
Known for her bad and severe attitude, Esperanza Herrera had the club on her name once, but ever since her father's inheritance of money had dropped since she first started this club and how much she had invested into bad people whom ended up stealing from her, she had called an old friend to help her out.
Óliver Álvarez.
He took care of the financial problems and put everything on his name, money, bank, food and the girls he presented to Esperanza while she took care of them, even allowing her to make the girls of how the girls should be 'corrected'. The contract, she'd made up and made the girls sign it. She felt way better now that the pressure had vanished from her shoulders, that she could count on Oliver's help. The only job that she has to do now was the correction job. La Tortura background, she'd called.
But she was seriously considering on taking the rest of the money and leave. Which means all the bar's fonction would be on Lina's hold, soon after she'd leave the city. And Lina would more than happy to see this witch leave. Everybody has an expiration date and so does she.
But if Esperanza wanted to leave, she'd needed an remplacement to correct the girls, if they ever do any stupid mistake that would make a customer go mad. Yes, even if she had to leave, the rules stay just the same as they written and marked on paper.
"Give me a Bloody Mary drink, nena?"had yelled Esperanza through the crowd and loud music with an accent, through her english speaking voice which she still wasn't used to it.
"Unless you have a license card, which you don't, I'm not serving you anything.."She put the drinks on her disk, trying to push them away.
"Come on, Ji Yeon!"
"Drop the fantasies, it's not gonna happen.."Keep your eyes down, Lina don't let this bitch take hold of you.
"You want me; out of here, don't you?" The south korean and ill woman just stopped whatever she was doing and looked up to see Esperanza's very mocking eyes.
"I'm not saying that. With Gret-Lena that got attacked recentely, we need to be more careful from now on. I heard that cops may open up an invistigation about all of us here.." They were only spreeding rumors, but they could also come true as well and Lina wasn't so sure if she liked the idea to start looking up from her shoulder, fearing that some uniform officer would come and arrest her. She didn't wanted to die in prison, if it would ever happen.
Lina was ready to embrace Death, no wonder she started to work on black clothes, wearing a short black top dress that looked a little too big for her frail and slim body from the sickness damage and her strawberry short cut hair all brought up back to her head with gel. She brought up some purple eye shadow to make her feel more alive and beautiful from the outside than she felt inside.
"And besides, if you want to leave the club, you might need someone else to replace you. You can't leave without somebody taking care of your buisness.."However, the brown haired woman laughed at this answer. Quite a very wicked laugh to resume as the barmaid stared back at her, waiting for her to explain the reason of her laughing.
"I have that being taken care of and you shouldn't even worry about this pequeño detalle. Óliver called and said it was being taken care of, that he was sending her right up here, in this instant now and.." Well that was new to hear. With a hand on her left hip, Lina tried to to see clear with this situation.
"And, what?"
"She makes him go crazy with her charm... "Ella lo vuelve loco con su encanto…" Crazy? Óliver going crazy because of an woman?
"Crazy, you say? Do you have any idea of who she is? This mysterious woman?"She took her disk and tried to walk away from a very laughing Esperanza.
"Why don't you go and ask her, by yourself?" Lina followed the pointing finger from Esperanza to the entry of the bar, where a short brown haired woman wearing an asian type and white dress with pink flowers was making her way inside the bar, looking around the place like she wasn't sure to whom she should ask directions and clutched to her small purse as if it was to protect her from harm. She was quite breathtaking looking like a cat, no wonder she made Óliver go nuts, he was captived by her beauty and charm from what Lina could see from a far. But when she got a close peek to the woman's eyes, she nearly had dropped the drinks from her hold.
Lina had the strange feeling that she had seen this woman from before. These haunting hazel eyes. They were strangely familiar. Way too much familiar.
...
Phew..That was quite of an difficult chapter to write and finish. Now you guys had meet Óliver and Esperanza and you know by now who is Ayaka, no?
Regan's past is half way to be spoken and she would have to come out with the truth, now that Vincent remembered something important about that picture. Not all memories are good to remember, don't you think? As for Tess, it looks like she has seconds thoughts on this case, but Cat is certain enough to take the challenge, should Vincent come into the club to help her out or would he make things way worse for her? Damn I wouldn't trust Reynolds, either.
Thanks for the support beasties, xpetti-4Bemer, susannah65 and Msolsun. I'm trying to get better with spanish lately, I hope, I didn't suck at it..
Please sent a review! Ciao!
