Chapter 67

Ryan sat at the dining room table, papers scattered all over the table, some piled up on the far end, as he read through the information the agents found on Gregg Sullivan. It has been some time since he was swamped with as many paperwork as he was tonight. He started thirty minutes ago and wished it was over already. "I'll offer to keep you company and make you coffee while you work." Alex said as she came down the stairs holding Phoebe. "That would be appreciated." He smiled extending his hands so he can take Phoebe from her mother. "Shouldn't you be sleeping already, munchkin?" Ryan asked his daughter who was intrigued by the papers on the table, trying to grab one of it. "Usually after her bath she's sleepy but I have no idea what's going on with her tonight." Alex answered from the kitchen, and as if Phoebe knew they were talking about her, she smiled at her father who couldn't resist kissing her chubby cheeks. Alex walked towards them handing Ryan a cup of coffee that he placed on the table out of reach so his daughter won't grab at it. "You can help me you know." Ryan commented looking at up at Alex hopeful but she shook her head. "Nope. Your daughter and I are going to watch some TV while you work, right Phoebe Grace?" Alex smiled taking her from Ryan and they walked over to the couch.

"Phoebe when are you going to sleep, bub?" Alex asked when it was 9:30PM and her daughter still didn't show any sign of being tired. She's been laying on the couch for almost an hour watching a TV series with her mother. "Tell mommy sleep is for the weak." Ryan commented getting up from the table and taking a seat next to the two of them on the couch. "Are you okay?" Ryan asked when he looked over at his wife who stared at the credits rolling on the TV screen. "Yeah. I'm just tired." She shrugged looking at him. "Alexandra Booth. Don't lie to me." Ryan said looking at her, but she shook her head and sighed heavily. "I don't want to talk about it." She dismissed hoping he'll leave it. Ryan didn't say anything just accepted her answer and continued listening to his daughter talking away in her own language. She soon got tired of having a conversation with her father and became fussy, so Ryan handed her over to Alex who started nursing her.

She stroked Phoebe's curls absentmindedly with a small smile on her face, as Phoebe squeezed her mother's breast hungrily. She looks up to make eye contact every now and then blue eyes looking into her mother's brown ones until she couldn't keep her eyes open anymore. Ryan looking over at the two of them not saying anything, as the mother and daughter share this moment. "My mom called earlier." Alex said not taking her eyes of Phoebe. "She and Uncle Joey are moving in together. He's selling his house. I don't know why I'm upset about it, I told her previously as long as she's happy I'm fine with it, but I snapped when she called to tell me about it." Alex concluded looking up at her husband, closing her breast once Phoebe let go, but she soon made it clear she still wanted more, as she started whining. "Sorry, I thought you were done, little miss." Alex laughed allowing Phoebe to latch on once again. "Why are you upset about it?" He asked trying to understand where she's coming from. "I found out about the two of them a few weeks ago and now she's telling me they're moving in together. Next she's probably going to say they're getting married." Alex ranted laying her head against the back of the couch. "What are you really upset about, sweetheart? Because it's not the fact that he's moving in is it?" Ryan asked tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. Alex sighed not knowing how her husband knows that there's something else under the surface that's bothering her. "It's been my mother and I for so many years and I feel like I'm going to be replaced by him. I know it sounds lousy and selfish and petty but that's honestly how I feel right now. I hung up while she told me about it. She was so excited and I was acting like a brat." She said softly covering up and positioning Phoebe so she can burp her.

"Hey, no one is going to replace you or the bond that you and your mom have. It doesn't sound lousy I'm sure anyone would feel like this when it would happen to them, and being an only child might make that feeling stronger." Ryan said looking at her.

"Let me ask you this. Do you think anything in this world can replace the bond and love we have for Phoebe?" Alex looked at her sleeping daughter and then up at her husband shaking her head. "Nothing would ever replace her." Alex whispered. "Then you have your answer if you've been doubting it. And you have to call your mom and apologize." Ryan said looking at his wife as she nodded. "Thank you. For coping with me." She said kissing him and walking towards the bedroom to lay down their sleeping baby.

Alex came back downstairs and warmed herself a glass of milk and made Ryan another cup of coffee as he resumed working. She sat down on the couch watching a movie Ryan talking to her or asking her opinion every now and then. When she didn't answer after he repeated the third question he got up and walked over to the couch. Alex laid there curled up hugging a scatter cushion. He smiled down at his sleeping wife and contemplated waking her up, but decided not to. He snaked his arms under her body and lifted her from the couch carrying her to the bedroom and placing her on the bed. When he pulled the sheets up to close her she stirred taking in that she's not on the couch anymore. She wanted to ask him why he didn't just wake her but he kissed her mouth blocking her words. "Don't stay up too late." She said when he walked back down to finish the last bit.

"All right guys, based on the information we have on the Sullivan shooting it came down to four suspects." Ryan started when everyone had settled down and paid attention to the briefing. "Julian Jones, Roland Hays, Fred Turner and Mark Edwin. All hardcore gang bangers." He continued pointing to the screen that showed the mugshots of the four suspects who could've had a part in the shooting. "We have all the intel on these guys that we could find, warrants, associates, location. Now it's up to us to find them and find out why they did it." Maranda added. "I recognize Mark, he's a junkie. I busted him a few times at a crack house down south. We could go by and pay him a visit." Alex said and Ryan looked over at Maranda who nodded. Giving the go ahead that Alex and one of the other agents can go over to this guy.

Alex and Nimah drove down to the crack house where they hoped Mark would be. They parked the car and walked down the crowded sidewalk to a building that looked more like a warehouse. Most of the windows was out and the wooden door looked like it was stoned more than a few times. "Let's go see if the zombies are awake," Nimah said and came to a stop at the front door not entering. "After you." Alex commented when she saw Nimah didn't make a move to enter the building.

They entered opening the door slowly and saw people everywhere. Some leaning against the walls smoking and some on the scattered few couches sleeping. Alcohol bottles on the floor along the hallway as they searched all the rooms looking for Mark Edwin. In the room at the end of the corridor they found him. Sitting on the bed smoking crack. When he saw them he tried to run past Nimah standing in the doorway but Alex balled up her fist and punched him in the nose. Causing him to fall down onto the floor. "We meet again Edwin. You still remember me?" Alex asked as she handcuffed him. He didn't answer he looked up at Alex and spat on the floor next to her shoe. Alex gave him a sarcastically fake smile and Nimah pushed him towards the door and along the corridor.

They rolled up to the office and led him to the interrogation room. "What do you know about Gregg Sullivan?" Alex asked taking a seat on the opposite side of the table. Mark refused to answer and sat down staring at her blankly. "Listen, I don't have all day. I would much rather be out having lunch right now than be stuck here with you. So what do you know about Sullivan?" Nimah questioned facing him hands flat on the surface of the table. "Once you decide to ask nicely I might be answer you." Mark responded calmly. Nimah and Alex shared a look communicating with their eyes only.

"Look, I can't give my homies up." Mark started. "I can't snitch on them."

"You don't have a choice. Blaze is going to find those guys eventually and they're gonna roll right over on you. And no the way you like it." Nimah said looking at him. "But I didn't pull the trigger!" Mark exclaimed slamming his handcuffed hands on the table. "Maybe not, but you know who did, right?" Alex questioned. "What do you think Blaze is going to let you off the hook when he finds out you know who killed his son?" Alex asked seeing the fear grow on his face. "He's going to chop you up like a dead fish. So I'm going to ask you again, who did it?" Nimah asked.

"You guys have got to help me man. I'll much rather do time again than stare death in the face." Mark said softly looking at them. "Help us and we'll help you." Alex responded to his request. "I got a tip from Taj Dipena. One of the guys in my hood. He told me we have to take him out since Gregg was the one trying to take over our corner." Mark said.

"So you shot him to make a point and mark your territory?" Alex asked trying to sum up the whole case.

"Exactly baby girl." He answered looking at Alex who gave him one look that made him wipe the smile of his face. "Where is he?" Nimah asked him walking towards the door. "Lives next door to the crack house where you guys got me." Edwin answered and they both got up and walked outside, to inform the rest about his location. Matthew and Caleb was sent out to get Taj and bring him back in for questioning and arrest him if his story matched the one Mark Edwin told them about.

At home Alex sat at the kitchen counter trying to call her mom but she can't get through to her. Ryan was still at the office concluding the case. Turns out Taj was the one who pulled the trigger and they arrested him.

She was laying with her head on the counter when Ryan entered the front door. "Is everything all right?" he asked walking over to pick Phoebe up from her play mat and kiss his wife. "I've tried calling my mom. Twice. And she doesn't answer. Guess I can't blame her." She said looking up at Ryan.

"Don't jump the gun. Maybe she's busy or she didn't take her phone with her wherever she went. I'm sure she'll call you back." Ryan assured her. "Tell mommy to stop over reacting, Pheebs." He said looking at his daughter who smiled at her mom not even knowing what conversation was going on. "I love you." Alex got up and kissed her chubby cheeks. "Yeah and no need to tell Ryan you love him too. I mean it's just me right." Ryan answered trying to sound hurt. "Oh you're such a big baby. I love you." Alex stood on her toes to kiss her husband but Phoebe interrupted pulling her mother's hair once again. "Okay. We won't do it in front of you again." Ryan laughed walking over to the couch. "Let's watch some football. All right, the rules of the game are simple…" Ryan started

"Ryan she's three months old. Why would you explain football rules to her.?" Alex asked from the kitchen. "Tell mommy to stop interrupting." Ryan whispered to Phoebe thinking Alex wouldn't hear. "I heard that. Now I'm not giving the two of you any dinner." Alex warned. "I love you Mommy. Thank you for being awesome and for making the best food and for taking care of daddy and I." Ryan interpreted in a baby voice, as he turned Phoebe towards the kitchen to try and act as if she said those words.

They were settled in bed when Alex's phone rang and Sita called her back. "Sorry form missing the call earlier her cellphone was in the bedroom on silent and I was cooking in the kitchen. Is everything okay?" Sita asked.

"Ma, about yesterday I'm sorry. That was wrong of me I shouldn't have done that." Alex started.

Alex heard Sita take a deep breathe before she started speaking. " I get that you're upset Alexandra but I don't appreciate the way you've acted like a twelve year old. I asked you previously how you feel about it and you assured me that you don't have a problem with it…"

"And I don't ma…"

"I'm not done talking Alexandra." Sita interrupted her daughter. She twirled a piece of string that came loose on the duvet around her finger leaning her head against the head board.

"We're all adults in this. And whether you're married and have a child I am still your mother. You can be fifty years old with four children and you'll still be my baby. And no matter how stubborn you are sometimes or how much we argue from time to time I will always love you. No one will change that. Not even Joey " . Sita concluded. Alex sat in bed biting her bottom lip nodding her head as if her mother can see through the phone.

"I'm sorry Ma. It just felt like you're replacing me since I'm not there anymore. Seems like my insecurities got a hold of me again. And once again you were right. Like always. " Alex apologized. " I'll try and be more considerate in the future."

"Sometimes I wonder where you get your attitude from." Sita asked her daughter. "You home girl. I get this feisty attitude from you." Alex laughed making her mother laugh on the other end. They talked a bit more and then hung up. Grateful that they've sorted this out. This made Alex realize that no matter how old she is she's never too old to get reprimanded by her mother.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! First update for 2017. I've been battling with thus chapter for a week now and I'm still not satisfied with it. My creativity disappeared somewhere between 2016 and today and I'm stuck once again. If you guys are willing to help out let me know what you think or how we should continue. Thanks for reading. Lovies-S