Rio's return - Chapter 18
Apols for the delay. It's been a bit crazy! Hope to get back to updating more regularly x
"Okay so what do we do now?" whispered Annie urgently. Noah and Annie had been hiding in the hospital gift shop watching Agent Turner leave the hospital. Now the immediate danger was over, Annie was in full blown panic mode. Noah stood still and quiet, eyes narrowing, cogs seemingly turning in his analytical mind.
"Noah!" hissed Annie, "I said what do we do now?!". Noah turned and looked at her, "I don't know", he replied, putting his hands on her shoulders "but we're gonna figure it out". Noah gently pulled Annie closer and she leaned into him, drinking in his comforting and familiar scent.
"Well, well, well… what are you two fools doing here?", came a sardonic drawl. Annie spun around to discover Ruby, arms folded, a disapproving look on her face.
"Ruby! Hi! We were just going to… erm", began Annie shrilly, but faltered under Ruby's stone-cold glare.
"Umhmmm" replied Ruby, conveying all that needed to be said in that one simple sound, staring at Annie and then switching her disapproving gaze to Noah.
Noah gave Ruby a sunny smile "Ruby, nice to see you again".
Ruby's eyes narrowed, "umhmmmmm", came her reply again.
Annie decided to jump in before Noah pushed his luck too far;"visiting hours are almost over", she burbled, "let's hash this out later, we should go visit Beth now". Annie started to walk towards the elevator, but Noah grabbed her hand, gently pulling her back.
"Look", he said in a quiet voice, "I thought maybe you were being paranoid, but this… this just feels all wrong. Agent Turner being here… I don't think I should be seen near Beth right now. I think you should go visit Beth. Alone. All three of us here looks… suspicious. Agent Turner could have people watching this place".
"Hold. Up", came Ruby's startled voice, "Turner was here?!"
Annie nodded, her face looking pale and scared.
The three of them stood quietly for a few of moment.
Finally, Ruby nodded, "he's right", she said, coming closer, "this whole thing stinks and we have to play this very carefully. You go see Beth, Annie. Reassure her, make sure she stays calm. Lord knows what that bastard's been saying to her. In the meantime, Prince Charming here can take me somewhere quiet and buy me a coffee. Fill me in some missing details", said Ruby determinedly, eyeing up Noah.
"As you wish milady", replied Noah.
Ruby did one of her famous eyerolls, "come on, let's just go. Come find us later, Annie", said Ruby, giving Annie's hand a squeeze as she turned and started for the doors, Noah following obediently in her wake.
Noah turned and blew Annie a kiss. Annie smiled and pretended to catch it midair. Ruby muttered something that sounded a lot like "lovesick fools" and gently grabbed Noah's arm to usher him out the door.
Once they had left, Annie looked around nervously, hoping no one had been there to see them all together. She took a deep breath and headed for the elevator.
Dean tried calling Beth a third time but reached her answerphone again.
He hung up without leaving a message and put his phone on the table in front of him. He sat quietly for a few minutes, hands resting on the back of his head, then leaned forward steepling his fingers as if deep in thought. There was a sense of unease about him, like he was wrestling with his inner demons. Suddenly he seemed to reach some sort of unspoken decision. He grabbed his glass and stood up, twisting it this way and that, hypnotically watching the amber liquid gleam in the sun. He drained it in one gulp and set the glass down with an audible thud. Time for a shower, he thought, and disappeared to the bathroom.
"So", stated Ruby, eyebrows raised, as she finished texting Annie their location, "you're back".
Noah carefully placed Ruby's cappuccino before her and sat down opposite with an espresso. "Yes", he replied cautiously, "I suppose I am".
Ruby and Noah had found a hipster coffee bar a few blocks from the hospital and positioned themselves in a corner near the back next to the restrooms. Here they could easily surveil the room whilst being out of the way. No one would see them from the street. Hopefully no one had followed them there. Noah eyed the coffee bar suspiciously, seemingly satisfied he turned his attention back to Ruby.
Ruby sipped from her cup, eyes narrowing, pinning Noah to his seat. "Annie said she wasn't going to contact you again. In fact, you both agreed it was better to leave well enough alone".
Noah nodded slowly, "yes, we did. I suppose that's easier said than done. When Annie called me, I was surprised – pleasantly surprised. I've missed her. A lot. Just the sound of her voice… I just hopped on the next plane to see her. And then… she filled me in."
Ruby nodded again, allowing the silence to settle for a few moments, "and what is your expert opinion on this here mess?"
"Something feels off, replied Noah, "Turner is up to something and I'm not sure he's doing it by the book. I'm… concerned…to say the least. The question it, what do we do about it?"
Ruby took another sip, collecting her thoughts and trying to get her words straight. "He came to see me", she began cautiously.
Now it was Noah's turn to raise his eyebrows "Turner?" he queried.
Ruby nodded solemnly in response. "He thinks he's so slick", she spat, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. "He came over unannounced, with all his smooth talk, tryin' to play me. He tried to bribe and threaten me all in one go. In front of my kid. He wants me to turn on Beth to help Stan's career and keep me out of any trouble. As soon as I could, I made my way to the hospital to check on Beth. I don't want him spreadin' lies about me, trying to make her think I'm about to stab her in the back." Ruby took a deep shuddering breath in an attempt to calm her nerves, she was shaking with rage and indignation.
Noah sat silently, looking at Ruby and then down at his espresso. "Sounds like he's trying to divide and conquer. I bet he'll go after Annie next. Try and use Sadie - I mean Ben - against her."
Ruby nodded, "bastard" she spat.
Noah nodded along indicating his agreement. "Trouble is…", he began, "I need to be very careful what I do here. I need to know the lay of the land before I go kicking up a hornet's nest. Chances are Turner has a whole web of traps that could be triggered if I go poking around. Especially when it comes to me, because of my history with Annie. I need to speak with Beth. And Rio."
Ruby sighed, "he did not want you involved in this" she said with a hint of foreboding in her voice.
"Too bad", said Noah, "he doesn't get to make that choice".
"Shit's gonna hit the fan then" responded Ruby, eye rolling, reaching for her phone. She had three missed calls from Annie. "Or maybe it already has", she muttered darkly.
Suddenly the coffee shop door opened with the tinkling of a bell. Noah and Ruby looked towards the doorway. It felt like the whole coffee shop paused for breath.
There was Annie, looking disheveled and upset, her restless gaze sweeping the room for a sign of Ruby and Noah.
Ruby leaned over and gave a cautious wave to catch Annie's attention. Annie stared at them, eyes wide, tinged with panic.
"Annie", muttered Noah and stood up abruptly, somehow managing to get to her side before Ruby could even blink.
He took Annie in his arms and slowly guided her over to the table, sitting her down gently before disappearing to get her a glass of water.
"Annie you're scaring me", hissed Ruby, "what's happened?!"
"I wasn't allowed to see Beth", mumbled Annie, "she wasn't well enough. Apparently…" Annie broke off, staring down at the table.
"Apparently…?" prompted Noah gently, setting a large glass of water down in front of Annie.
Annie grasped the glass and drank greedily, setting the empty glass down on the table with a thump. "Man, I wish that had been vodka", she muttered.
Ruby started to lose her temper "girl you better spit it out now or I'm gonna kick your white scrawny ass".
Annie looked up at Ruby, "apparently Beth's blood pressure is dangerously high again… after a visit from Agent Turner. She isn't allowed any visitors. The only one allowed to visit is the father of the baby. And I don't know if he's even speaking to Beth right now. I kinda messed things up. Again". Annie gave Ruby a weak smile.
Ruby gave Annie's hand a squeeze and in a low voice said, "we are all in this together, and I am not about to let Turner get the better of us. You feel me?"
Annie nodded, her fine features shifting from fear to determination.
Dean made his way from the shower to the bedroom, drying himself absentmindedly and looking through his drawers for some clothes to pull on. He kept thinking about his chat with Rio. He had made up his mind about what he needed to do.
But the face in the mirror staring back at him didn't look as confident as he felt. He could feel the courage begin to crumble before his very eyes. The bravado gifted to him by the whiskey had started to subside, and he could sense the reservations creeping in.
The cool shower had helped soothe his anger, but it had awoken his doubts. He could still change his mind, he told himself. The memory of Rio's face, that haughty expression and knowing smile popped up in his mind's eye. The thought of that animal all over Beth made his soul roar with jealousy and rage.
But who was he really angry with here? You need to own your own shit here, Dean, Rio had smirked. He couldn't deny it. If Dean hadn't failed Beth as a husband, they probably wouldn't be in this mess in the first place.
Dean looked at his reflection again and smoothed down his wet hair, stroking the stubble under his chin. He was in no mood to shave; it would have to do.
Now fully dressed, he walked through to the kitchen. The small box containing the engagement ring sat on the table like an accusation. The discussion had turned rather heated when Rio had brought that up.
Dean picked it up, opened it and stared at its sparkly contents. He shook his head sadly and walked over to one of the kitchen units and stuffed it unceremoniously into one of the drawers. No more stalling. He knew what he had to do.
He picked up his phone and dialed a number. After a few seconds someone answered. Dean fidgeted, seeming to wrestle for a moment with his conscience. Hello? Prompted the voice on the other line. Dean mustered up his courage and cleared his throat, "yeah hi, is it possible to speak with Agent Turner?"