Chapter Fourteen
They decided to go to Wickham's place together, to tell him the news he may or may not have already heard. Lizzy was anxious to catch up with Charlotte at the hospital, but Darcy would not let her go anywhere without him and she knew they were long overdue for a chat with Wickham. At any rate, she felt like Darcy was in more danger than she was in this neighborhood, being a newcomer with almost no friends and on Wickham's payroll besides. Right now it seemed like The Family and the Riders were at war, and Wickham's crew might fly under the radar, but there were no guarantees with gang violence.
When they entered Wickham's bar, he was nowhere to be seen, but Rob was sitting at the bar and jumped up when they walked in.
"I went by the school. Did you hear about Charlotte's place?" Rob asked Lizzy, his face concerned.
"We heard. JJ called," Lizzy replied.
"What's the news?" Wickham had come out of his office silently and Lizzy couldn't help but jump slightly at the sound of him behind her.
Lizzy told almost all she knew; that the Riders were patching over the Rebels and ordered them to take out a Family member for every member who joined; that the only place that had been hit so far was Charlotte's place because no one had told them it was off-limits; that once news got out Long Marco locked down both gangs.
"Now everyone's just waiting to see who makes the next move. JJ is trying to find out who shot up the place and right now Marco is hiding out planning who knows what," Lizzy finished. By the end, she had gathered the attention of everyone in the bar. Almost all of them worked for Wickham, but more importantly, they all lived in the neighborhood and feared what this gang war would bring.
"And no one knows who shot the place up?" Wickham wondered aloud, his eyes fixed on Lizzy.
"JJ has the whole gang out looking," Will jumped in, trying to take the focus off Lizzy, for which she was entirely grateful. The weight of the knowledge that she learned from Tomas about the shooters combined with the action of telling JJ, guaranteeing their fate, was like a stone in her stomach. She also couldn't help but feel she had lost a part of Will's respect that she would never get back. At the time she fully believed she was doing the right thing, but Will's accusation of facilitating a murder echoed hauntingly in her brain. "I can't imagine it will be long. They shot the place up in broad daylight and didn't even kill who they were after."
"Well, it looks like we should keep our heads down and pick up the slack while these guys war it out," Wickham commented after a moment. "With both gangs distracted with this mess, let's have as many people on the streets selling as possible."
Lizzy opened her mouth instinctively but slammed it shut a second later after a look from Will. Rob looked as shocked as she felt, but he kept his mouth shut as well.
"Rob, call the boys up and we'll give out assignments," Wickham ordered. Rob nodded and pulled his phone out to do his bosses bidding, taking a step away for privacy. "Will, you up for making some extra money?"
"Of course," Will answered smoothly. Lizzy couldn't help glaring up at him. "I have to get Lizzy home safe first though."
"I'll take her home. I need to run an errand that way anyway," Wickham replied. Will frowned, but that didn't convey his displeasure very well – he was always frowning.
"You're needed here," Lizzy tried to wave Wickham off casually. "I can get home, it's not far."
"Don't be silly. It's dangerous out there," Wickham grinned in what she guessed was meant to be a comforting manner.
"I can take care of my girl myself," Will put an arm on her shoulder possessively. "I'll be back before the meeting starts," he said, and without letting Wickham reply, led her out the door.
"You are going to get yourself kicked off the team," Lizzy couldn't help but comment as the made their way back out to his car. She couldn't hide her relieved smile, however.
"I'll risk it," he opened the door for her, running a hand down her back in a quick caress.
Once safely in the car, Lizzy couldn't help frowning at him, however. "Wickham is going to get you guys killed. The Family and Riders at practically at war and he is going to try and push for territory? Is he stupid or homicidal?"
"I think you know the answer to that," Will replied with a dark look. Lizzy couldn't help but shiver.
"So he knows he's sending you all off on suicide missions," Lizzy remarked after finding her breath.
"Unfortunately, he could get us all killed and replace us tomorrow with kids who will work for less, or respect him more... who knows what he's looking for. " Will replied. "Everyone still looks to Rob to get things done; maybe he's ready to be the one his crew looks to for instruction."
"How close are you to taking him down for those murders?" Lizzy wondered quietly.
"I need to find evidence, or get his confession on tape," Will shrugged. "He keeps detailed records on who he's employed and who he's sold to… I have a feeling somewhere out there is a diary of the women he's killed or the trophies he's taken."
"Trophies?" she asked, a random thought tugging at her brain.
"Jewelry. A silver necklace from one girl. An engagement ring from another," Will replied.
"Engagement ring?" Lizzy repeated with remorse, suddenly full of thoughts of the poor man who had to hear of his future wife's death in such a way. "She was going to get married?"
"She was," Will replied with a tight frown.
"He wouldn't keep it at his house," Lizzy remarked after a moment, trying to regain the idea that had come to her so fleetingly. Something about a wife, or husband… what was it? "I don't think he would keep it at the bar, either."
"Too many people around," Will pulled over in front of her apartment and turned to look at her. "I agree. "
"I guess you've checked to see if he has any storage units or safety deposit boxes," Lizzy hedged.
"We've checked, but," he shook his head. "It's my theory, my feeling, that he wouldn't have it anywhere someone else may have access to it. He loves to control too much for that. He would need access to it because the reason he takes these trophies is to relive the…" he stopped himself, as if just realizing whom he was talking to.
"I get the picture," Lizzy assured him. "So someplace close, someplace safe."
"Or anywhere. Nowhere," Will sighed, putting his head against the steering wheel. "I'm riding a lot on my promise to my captain that I can get close enough to him to find this evidence but lately…" She rubbed his back in a comforting manner but was also distracted by thinking of a place that fit Will's description, swearing she had an idea a few minutes ago and trying to regain it. "We should get inside," he seemed to suddenly realize they were vulnerable. She wanted to point out that he was only supposed to be dropping her off, but was as reluctant to see him throw himself into danger as he seemed to be with her.
They made their way up to her apartment and as much as Lizzy was hoping Charlotte was already home, she was less than disappointed to have the apartment to themselves to discuss the whereabouts of Wickham's stash of evidence. Whereas before Lizzy was content to letting Will figure it out and take his time - knowing the longer he took at putting Wickham away the longer they would have to be a couple - with Wickham's sudden intention of cleansing his crew, Lizzy now felt the need to find it and put him away as soon as possible.
"You are going to give me an ulcer," Will proclaimed once the door had been locked behind them and their various bags unloaded. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close with a look of exasperation.
"Me?" she asked, eyes wide and her most innocent expression plastered on her face.
"On top of everything else going on, you are now trying to figure out where Wickham is hiding his evidence," Will accused her. She dropped her jaw, feigning shock. "You'll think of where it is and with no thought of your own safety you'll sneak into this place to see if you are right."
"Come on," she ran her hands along his shoulders, distracted slightly by the reminder that if they had made it home after school things would have progressed much farther in their relationship. She linked her hands behind his neck and tilted her head slightly to the side. "Does that really sound like something I would do?" He raised an eyebrow at her. "Well. I wouldn't. I would tell you where I thought it was."
"Really," he murmured, eyes lingering on her lips. It seemed she wasn't the only one who was distracted.
"Really," she tilted her chin up and that was all the invitation he needed. He brought his lips down to meet hers, both arms coming around her to pull her close and leave no space between them. He took his time kissing her so that by the time they parted she felt flushed, her mind hazy. She wondered if it showed.
"I know I don't show emotion very well," he murmured, his hand was on her neck and he gripped slightly so that she didn't look away, so that he was able to convey his feelings through his eyes. "But I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you, Elizabeth," she swallowed with some difficultly- her mouth was suddenly very dry. As much as she wanted to reflect the statement with a joke, the naked look in his eye kept her from following her usual pattern.
"I know you care about me, Darcy," she finally said, because the silence had dragged on for too long while she thought of the right thing to say back. Instead, she went on instinct. "We've known each other such a short time, but I feel closer to you than Charlotte, or Rob." The more she spoke, the bolder she became as she realized how true her words were. "They only know one side of me, but you see so much more."
"Yes," he agreed with a kiss. "I see who you really are. Faithful, smart, dedicated."
"And full of only good quality's only, it seems," she teased. The side of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Headstrong. Stubborn. Always convinced you're right," he countered and she laughed.
"You do know me," she grinned.
"Yes," he sobered slightly, running his thumb across her cheek. "Beautiful," she blushed, averting her eyes from the intense look on his face. He leaned down to kiss her again, this time with a bit more urgency. She pulled him to her, running her hands along his strong shoulders and enjoying the way he was caressing her back and sides.
His phone buzzed loudly in his pocket and, cursing, he pulled it out to check the ID. With a grimace, he shoved it back into his pocket without answering.
"Wickham?" she guessed. His answering look spoke volumes. "Are you really going to go out on the street for him?"
"I don't have much of a choice," he replied, running a hand through her hair. She frowned, knowing it was true. As he caressed her, a piece of hair got caught in her earring, but he carefully pulled it free, leaning over to kiss her neck, just below her ear. She felt immediately flushed again, but suddenly, the errant thought she had been mentally chasing since they got home returned.
"What if you found the evidence you need?" Lizzy wondered, a memory tugging at the back of her mind.
"I could take it to the captain, get a warrant for his arrest. " Darcy replied, but then narrowed his eyes in slight suspicion. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason," she replied instinctively but then bit her lip, remembering.
"Elizabeth," he prompted.
"Well, Rob did say, once, that Wickham has this place he goes sometimes," Lizzy said, wondering how she had forgotten. Truth be told, she remembered them being very, very drunk at the time and a passing woman on the street has sparked the story out of him.
"And you're just thinking of this now?" he asked with a bit of incredulity.
"I didn't remember until you said something about jewelry," she replied defensively. She left out the part about how wasted they had been, and about how, at the time, she had dismissed it as a wild tale Rob had come up with on the spot. "Then suddenly I remembered a story Rob had told me that I thought was.. well it's crazy. He said Wickham goes to this condemned house where this crazy homeless woman lives and gives her jewelry."
"Jewelry," Darcy repeated, from the look on his face and the sudden stillness in his hands, his focus was a million miles away.
"I thought it was so weird, so random that I just dismissed it and never thought about it again," Lizzy commented. "I mean, why would he give some homeless woman jewelry?"
"There was a story. A theory," Darcy trailed off until she squeezed his arm to regain his focus. "About his first victim. A woman named Younge."
"His first?" she repeated, trying to piece together the picture. "What happened?"
"He attacked her, but something about her or what she did triggered something in him and he's felt… possessive, protective of her," Darcy explained. "And she apparently welcomed it. She was arrested once, believed to be helping him distribute his drugs, but she never turned on him. The case fell through and she walked. We tried to keep track of her, hoping it would lead to him but eventually we lost her."
"So, this woman Rob knows about, maybe she's not some homeless woman squatting in an abandoned house; maybe she's Younge, keeping watch over Wickham's secrets," Lizzy remarked. "How will you find out?"
"She doesn't know my face," Darcy said, clearly having been thinking about just that. "I could go by the place and wait for her to show."
"Wickham's expecting you," Lizzy said just as his phone buzzed again, confirming her words. "You won't have time to do it before he sends you out to be slaughtered."
"No, but I can just dump the drugs with Richard, tell Wickham I sold them and can check her out afterward," Darcy said.
"He will never believe that you sold without a problem in Rider or Family territory, not when they are this riled up and already looking for a fight," Lizzy told him. "And what if he sends you guys out in pairs?"
"I will handle it," he said with a firm look, predicting her intentions. "I am not letting you get involved."
"I'm already involved," she replied. "Let me help."
"Absolutely not," was his instant reply.
"Give me a picture of this Younge woman and I will go see if it's her. I'll be discreet," she said persuasively.
"No," he frowned.
"You need my help," she pointed out.
"No," he repeated.
"And you call me stubborn," she rolled her eyes.
"I mean it, Elizabeth," he took her by the arms, his touch soft but his face hard and his eyes firm. "I… "
"Forbid me?" she rose an eyebrow in challenge. He huffed out in frustration, dropping his head. She reached up to caress his neck, kissing his cheek. "Poor Darcy. I'm such a pain, aren't I?"
He turned into her kiss, letting go of her arms to run along the sensitive parts of her waist and back, his hands slipping under the protection of her shirt. He pulled back only far enough to kiss her neck, rubbing his scruffy chin against her sensitive skin and making her lean back and giggle at the feeling.
"You are a pain," he confirmed finally, his look affectionate.
"I will get a neighborhood kid to run up and knock on her door," she told him. "She won't even know I'm there. If it is her, I'll text you and go home."
"I didn't even want you outside without me, let alone going into the lion's den," Darcy told her.
"Wickham will be with you. She won't even see me, I promise," Lizzy said with sincerity. "If I run into any trouble, apricots, remember?" He sighed, but she knew he was just resigning himself to the plan.
"Take my car," he told her, pulling the keys out and handing them to her.
"What about you?" she asked, brow furred.
"I'll tell Rob mine won't start and to pick me up with one from the shop," Darcy replied. "With Wickham wanting all hands on deck he won't mind," she frowned, worrying her lip.
"If anything happens to you…" she began, but he scoffed.
"You are the one in unnecessary danger," he told her, letting some of the worries he felt show.
"I am paying a kid to knock on someone's door," she rolled her eyes. "You are about to be selling drugs in someone else's territory when both sides are already on edge and trigger happy."
"I'm trained for this. Trust me, I will be fine," he said reassuringly.
"How does one train for this situation, exactly?" she wondered aloud.
He gave her an amused look but didn't answer. Instead, he pulled out his cellphone and dialed Rob up. The conversation went as planned, she heard him excuse his earlier missed calls by explaining he had been trying to fix a problem with his car before determining he needed a new part and that Rob had better just come pick him up. There were a few minutes of what sounded like good-natured teasing on Rays part about a mechanic who couldn't fix his own car before he finally agreed and said he was on his way.
"How far is this place?" Darcy wondered.
"Not far. I could walk," he shot her a look and she threw her hands up. "But I won't."
"I know you want to visit Charlotte tonight," he hedged. "But I don't feel comfortable with you going that far into Family territory without me."
"I am probably safer in Family territory than I am here," she told him truthfully. He sighed.
"Text me when you're done with the… errand. See where I am, I'd like to go with you," he finally replied.
"Alright," she agreed, thinking that as long as she would be seeing Charlotte tonight she didn't mind if he wanted to tag along.
He made her promise one more time that she would take the utmost care not to be seen, and to be extra cautious of her surroundings before he accessed some files online and showed her Younge's mug shot. Lizzy studied it, trying to account for potentially different hairstyles and other changes in appearance. All too soon Rob was honking the horn downstairs and Darcy had to go.
He pulled her to him for a fast, hard kiss. "Be safe."
"You too," she said seriously, holding onto him a moment longer.
"Apricots," he reminded her. She nodded repeating the distress word for good measure, and then he was gone.
She waited until Rob's borrowed car was out of sight, and then a few more minutes besides, suddenly feeling very nervous. She mentally repeated her assurances to Darcy to calm herself down; she would only see if Younge was at home. There was no danger, besides the danger of leaving the house. On a whim, she changed into black jeans and a black t-shirt, though it was still daylight. Then, feeling silly, she grabbed a dark green jacket to throw over her outfit and headed downstairs to Will's car before she could have another freakout.
The drive was uneventful. She parked as far away as she dared that still gave a good view of the house. Then, it was a matter of waiting and watching. Unfortunately, it didn't take long before Lizzy realized a hitch in their plan. Normally there would be plenty of kids running around, but she hadn't accounted for the fact the word was out on the gang war, and how everyone would, of course, be keeping safe inside their homes until more news on who exactly was a target was revealed. She watched the dilapidated house until it was completely dark. Nothing stirred. Finally, with a silent apology to Will, she drove around to the street behind the house, parked the car, and got out.
Silently and as stealthily as she could, she made her way between two houses and slipped through a half-broken down fence until she was in the back yard of the house she suspected Younge to be in. She waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness before she moved forward, her nerves on end already. Slowly, carefully, she made her way to the closest window. Something large blocked the view and no matter the angle she couldn't see past it. She made her way to the next, and then the next but it was the same case for all – there was no looking in. She slipped back to a tree in the corner of the yard to feel some security as she planned her next move.
Although she had only promised to keep out of sight, she knew Will would be furious to know what she was doing; it couldn't be for nothing. She had to get something from her trip. Ideas came and went, one more terrible than the next. Finally, she pulled her hood down close to cover as much as her head as she could before slowly, silently making her way to the front of the house. She looked out but the street was still as bare as it had been earlier. She began giving herself a pep talk- she would simply knock on the door and bolt back to her hiding spot. If there were anyone inside, they would just open the door, see no one, and close it again. From her spot, she would get a good look and then sneak back to the car to inform Will of what she saw.
Taking a deep breath, she took only a moment to survey the path to the door to make sure there was nothing to trip on and had taken a step out when suddenly a car pulled up. Quickly, she ducked back into the shadows, cursing the timing. When she caught sight of the man walking towards the door she had just been about to knock on, she let loose another curse and slipped further back until she was completely out of sight of the front of the house. After some point of not hearing from her, Will must have called his cousin and partner to check up on the situation. She heard the anticipated knock but was too curious to leave just yet. She slid behind the tree and planned her next move, her eyes straining to hear the events taking place at the front of the house.
She couldn't be sure, but it seemed like no one had answered. She wondered if, after all this sneaking around, no one was home after all. She had just decided to slip back to Will's car when a loud crash came from behind her. Heart in her throat, Lizzy peeked out behind the tree to see the back door had been thrown open.
"I know you're back there." A voice called tauntingly. Lizzy ducked her head back out of sight and froze where she stood, her heart slamming in her chest. She could only tell it was female, she dared not lookout to see a face. "Sneaking around my house, up to no good." The unmistakable sound of a gunshot went off, and Lizzy saw a portion of the fence to her right break off. The wood of the fence was already rotten and it didn't take much to destroy is further, but the sound and sight of it made her jump.
"Who the hell is shooting out there?" a voice from a few houses down called out.
"You won't get in my house," Lizzy hoped the irate neighbor would be a distraction, but the woman seemed to ignore him. "You won't steal my things."
Another two shots rang out, one terrifyingly close to where Lizzy was hiding.
"Hey," mercifully, Richard's authoritative voice rang out. "No one is trying to get into your house, ma'am. I was just knocking on the door."
"You can't come in here!" she yelled, pulling the door shut. Lizzy heard what she had somehow missed before, the sound of locks falling into place- at least five of them.
"I just want to talk." Richard passed right by Lizzy's tree, but his focus was understandably on the crazy woman with the gun inside the house. A few minutes passed and Lizzy took the chance of looking out from her hiding spot. Richard was looking all around the house, still calling out to the woman inside, his gun drawn but lowered.
"Go away!" the voice was suddenly back and both Lizzy and Richard looked up to see her in the second-story window above the back door, holding her gun straight at Richard. Lizzy gasped and blinked, but Richard's gun was already drawn and aimed at the offender.
"Listen. I am just looking for my sister. I've been knocking on all the doors on the street. She might have gotten lost around here. Have you seen her?" His voice was calm but full of steel. Lizzy prayed he would get out of her line of fire and wondered if this flimsy story was a ruse to see if the woman had seen Lizzy. She wished she could call out to Richard to let him know she was safe and to get himself out of there, but there was no way of getting his attention without also getting hers.
"No one comes here. This is my house. Get out!" she called back and looked like she might take another random shot before Richard put a hand up and took a step back.
"Fine. I'm just looking for my sister," he repeated calmly, taking a few more steps back. The woman said nothing else and eventually, Richard made his way back to the front of the house. A minute later the window slammed down and something was pulled over it. Lizzy waited minutes, staring at the back of the house and wondering if she'd ever dared to come out of her hiding spot, but wanting nothing more than to run back to the safety of Will's car.
Finally, she decided she had to risk it so, pulling her hood low once more, she slunk carefully along the fence, her eyes rarely leaving the back of the house. When she got to the split area in the fence she had come in through she held her breath and slipped back over to the other side, the whole time anticipating a bullet in her back or, at the very least, more screeching from the woman. Mercifully, nothing came and she was able to return to Wills car unhindered.
She found her cell phone in a cup holder. It was full of missed calls and seemingly unconcerned texts from Will. Once her heart rate had returned to normal, she texted him back and let him know she was fine, just catching up with an old friend of hers. She spelled it 'olde' hoping he would catch her meaning; she had seen Younge at the house. Immediately he asked her to come and pick him up at the bar so they could check on Charlotte. She anticipated some harsh words about her safety coming up but hoped he could focus on the good news – Younge was at the house and, although seemed to be armed and trigger happy, there was a good chance the evidence to put Wickham away was there as well.
Shakily, she drove to the bar. He was waiting outside and although she wanted to tell him it wasn't safe to be outside waiting, vulnerable, like that she didn't want to bring more attention to the subject of safety and the fact that she was incommunicado for so long on this supposedly easy errand.
"How'd it go?" she asked as soon as he was in the car; a preemptive strike, perhaps, but she really did want the answer.
"Not too bad. I got 8th street," Lizzy recognized the area as just on the other side of Rider territory. "It was disserted, like so many other places. Wickham eventually called us back," Will replied, turning a critical eye on her. "How about you?"
"Younge is there," she replied simply.
"Why did it take so long?" he wanted to know. "And why are you dressed like that?"
"Um…" she stalled, totally forgetting she had changed into her dark outfit. "It worked in my favor."
"Jesus, Elizabeth," he breathed. She chanced a look in his direction; his jaw was clenched and his eyes were fire, but his voice sounded so broken when he said "You promised me."
"I know," she winced, feeling like the worst person in the world. "I wasn't seen, though," she was almost sure. "I meant to keep to the plan, but it was like you said – the streets were deserted. I only snuck around back to see if I could look through a window or something."
"And did you?" Darcy asked, clearly expecting the worse.
"Well, yes, but they were all blocked off. I couldn't see in," she explained.
"So, naturally, you gave up and came home," he replied sarcastically. She was secretly glad she was driving. He always seemed to get distracted when he was angry with her.
"I didn't want to waste the opportunity," she said, although now her excuse seemed so flimsy in light of what happened. She wondered if he'd talked to his cousin yet. Although Richard didn't know she was there at the time, she could just as easily say she left before that. But - more secrets? She may not have, strictly speaking, broken her promise with her actions tonight but keeping something from him would have crossed that line.
Will's phone buzzed, and Lizzy sighed in relief for the momentary lapse in conversation as he answered it.
"Hey, Rich," he greeted. Lizzy winced, gripping the steering wheel tight as she sat rigid, anticipating the anger he would feel once he heard what Richard had gone through. "How did it go?" She felt him glance over at her and confirm to Richard that she was fine and with him. A few minutes later, however, she could pinpoint exactly when Richard told him the story of the crazy lady shooting into the backyard and raving about someone on her property. He became as rigid as she was, answering his cousin in monosyllables until he hung up.
"How's Richard?" she finally asked with forced cheerfulness after he said nothing for a full minute after hanging up.
"Fine. Considering someone was taking random shots into the night," he grounded out. "You want to tell me one more time what happened tonight?"
"Um…" she stalled again.
"Do you really love the thrill of danger that much?" he asked, frowning.
"Hey, It's not exactly like I saw a woman with a gun and I thought, I better go check it out," Lizzy defended herself. "It was all quiet until Richard showed up and knocked on her door."
"Of course. Naturally, if it had been you who knocked, she wouldn't have thrown open the back door and started shooting," he bit back.
"I'm not blaming Richard, I'm just saying he couldn't have predicted what she would have done any more than I would but somehow I get yelled out for putting myself in danger," she pointed out. "I wasn't even sure anyone was even home. There were no lights, no sounds."
"How do you know there were no lights? I thought the windows were blocked." For a moment he seemed to forget he was yelling at her his voice was all curiosity.
"They were," Lizzy paused, remembering. "Well, when she opened the back door and the window – there were no lights. And the windows were blocked but only by cloth; if there were lights it would have come through at least a little bit."
"Unless they were blackout curtains," Will furred his brow in thought. Lizzy shrugged, letting him focus on something besides arguing with her over safety. It was a little disconcerting that they seemed to not be able to go through a day without arguing, and even seemed to argue more after admitting their feelings for each other. The only reason she took it in stride was that she knew his anger was driven by fear for her safety and not because she had gone against his wishes.
Luckily, they had arrived at the hospital. Silently, he followed her into the building and to the appropriate floor. When they found the waiting room Charlotte was there, her bodyguards not the only ones keeping her company. She embraced Lizzy as soon as she walked in and even gave Will an acknowledging smile after he told her how happy he was that she hadn't been hurt. Immediately though, she was pulled aside for a private discussion.
"How's Jay?" Charlotte asked. Lizzy caught her up as briefly as she could on what was happening.
"I didn't want a war to start from this," Charlotte shook her head, but at least in her case, she sounded like she didn't blame Lizzy. Lizzy was grateful for the reprieve.
"I know," Lizzy replied. "How's Collins?"
"Stable, but they won't tell me much. He doesn't have any family," Charlotte shrugged. "I was hoping Jane could call in a favor, maybe get me in to see him."
"She did her internship her, she must know someone. Let me give her a call," Lizzy said, squeezing Charlotte's arm in comfort before stepping away. She was lucky enough to catch Jane considering she was at work. She left out most of the details of the day, only informing Jane that a really good friend of Charlotte had gotten shot and had no family, and was there any way she could grease the wheels and get Charlotte on the short list in to see him. Jane was all sympathy, of course, and said she'd make some calls right away. They spent a few precious minutes asking about each other's well-being but, hung up quickly after.
"She's going to see what she can do. I'm sure it won't be long," Lizzy told Charlotte, who looked relieved, if still worried. Lizzy sat with her best friend for the next hour; they talked a little, but Charlotte seemed exhausted so she mostly sat with an arm around her. Will took this time, going in and out of the waiting room at intervals, to talk on his phone. Lizzy wondered what had happened, but figured she'd hear about it soon enough.
"Charlotte Jones?" a nurse came into the room and Charlotte shoot up.
"That's me," she said, her face apprehensive.
"I understand you're a member of Jeffery Collins's family. I can take you to see him now," she informed her. Charlotte looked to Lizzy, her eyes full of surprise and relief.
"Yes," she finally answered, pausing to hug Lizzy and whisper a thank you in her ear. "Yes, please," she said, following the nurse out.
"Ready?" Will was by her side as soon as Charlotte left, ushering her out the door.
"What's up?" she asked, wondering at his phone calls.
"Not here," he replied, and kept his silence until they were safely alone in the car. "Richard brought the theory of Wickham's stash house being at this place, and since it's a condemned house, the government owns it and we don't need a warrant to go in. There is the issue of the woman inside, however, so we are waiting on swat to arrive."
"You need a swat team for one woman?" Lizzy asked surprised.
"A woman who has no scruples when shooting wilding into the air and who drew on Richard?" Will reminded her. "It's better this way. In the middle of that neighborhood, there's too much chance of innocent bystanders getting involved. This way, we can have the place surrounded and breech from all sides. Hopefully, she won't have the chance to go for a weapon, and definitely won't have the chance to destroy any evidence that might be in there."
"What if there's nothing in there?" Lizzy had to ask. Will sighed but seemed optimistic.
"It might not be a total loss; if this is Younge than she might be able to give us something one Wickham," he replied.
"Wickham's going to be a wreck when he finds out," Lizzy pointed out. "If he's already trying to get rid of people, this will just send him over the edge looking for a rat," she worried about Rob; did Wickham know Rob knew about Younge? It was doubtful. Would Rob remember that he told Lizzy about some homeless woman Wickham gave jewelry to? That was more likely.
"I think I have a solution for that," he said. She looked over at him, not liking the tone in his voice. It was careful, controlled; like he was trying to break the bad news to her. "I think you should go to Wickham, and Jay, and tell them you found out I was undercover."
"What?" Lizzy asked with a bit of a laugh, concerned when he seemed to be in earnest.
"If you out me as a cop, you will be protected. No one will think you were working with me if you are the one to tell everyone my identity while I'm still undercover," he explained. She furred her brow.
"O..k…. But where does that leave you?" she asked, then answered her own question. "Dead as soon as word gets out.".
"Not if I plan it right, and make it seem like I barely escaped once I realized you knew who was," Darcy countered. Lizzy thought about it, but she had to admit it was probably the best way to ensure she kept her status as a friend to the local criminals. They finally pulled up to her place and she thought it over on the three flight walk-up.
"But, if you are outed, you'll never be able to show your face around here anymore," she couldn't help but point out as soon as the door was closed behind them. He winced a little but nodded.
"I know," he said regretfully.
"Wait," she finally caught up to his altered mood. "Is this you breaking up with me?"
"Not by choice," he assured her. "But we both knew this was a possibility when we started this relationship.
"Started it, like two seconds ago," Lizzy replied in a slightly more affected voice. "We've barely spent any time together."
"I don't like it any more than you do," he frowned, cupping her cheek. "I didn't want it to end like this."
"It doesn't have to," she said, her heart beating wilding at the suddenness of this decision. "We can still see each other outside of the neighborhood – no one will have to know."
"It's too risky," he shook his head firmly. "If anyone found out you would be in too much danger."
"So that's it then," she swallowed hard, stepping back out of his grip. "You finally got what you wanted and now we're just over," Will frowned.
"It's not like that," he said, face drawn. "I still care about you. I still see passed the mask you present to the world.
"You know everything about me," she nodded, but her face was anything but happy about it. "I've told you things I never told anyone- not even Jane," Lizzy shook her head, her heart breaking despite her effort in being cool and unattached. "And all I know about you is your name."
"Elizabeth," Darcy sighed, reaching for her hand. She jerked out of his reach.
"Don't touch me," she warned him, her voice low. "All that crap about how you care more about me than your case against Wickham, it was all bullshit."
"It wasn't-" he started with a frown but she put her hand up.
"Save it, detective," she shook her head. "Charlotte called it from day one- you knew I was attracted to you, and you just used me to get close to Wickham."
"That's not true," he replied vehemently. There was a wounded look in his eye, but she refused to see it.
"I was so stupid," she turned her back on him, arms crossed. "I can't believe I was so stupid."
"Elizabeth, let's talk about this," Darcy said, stepping close to her once more.
"No, there's nothing to talk about," she shook her head again. "I'll head to Wickham's and tell him now, while these feelings of betrayal are fresh," she didn't dare to look him in the face, because she was afraid that, rather than the look of suffering she expected, he would just give her another apology.
"Don't go alone." His voice sounded strained, but that didn't tell her anything. She knew he wasn't heartless, he either felt bad for having used her or her words actually affected him. She was too afraid to find out which was the truth. "Take Rob."
"You don't get to tell me what to do anymore," she headed to the door, grabbing her backpack on the way
"Elizabeth-" He sounded angry.
"You better run back to the good part of town. As soon as Wickham finds out you're a cop, word will be out," Lizzy said to the door, her back still to Darcy. "Don't worry; if I get beat down for being a rat I'll make sure I land in someone else's jurisdiction."
"Lizzy-" his alarmed exclamation was closer than she had expected him to be, he must have been inching closer to her while her back was turned. She swung the door open, intending to run down the stairs but he grabbed her shoulder; instinctually she turned and hit him. Immediately he let her go and took a step back; she didn't wait around to see the damage she did. As soon as his hand was off of her she was taking the stairs two at a time. She rushed out of the door, half expecting Darcy to be on her heels. She didn't look back, however, and rushed down the street.
About half a block down she caught sight of a friend of hers from the Family. She flagged him down and told him she needed a ride to Wickham's and then to see Jay. He was hesitant but agreed. She jumped in the passenger seat and they took off. Only then did chance a look behind them. Darcy was standing against his car outside of her apartment, arms crossed, and looking right at the car she had just jumped into, obviously upset. She swallowed the burst of regret and sorrow that flooded her at the sight of him and focused instead on flaming the feelings of anger and betrayal.