Hey guys, Life is crazy at the moment, the end of this chapter was a little bit shorter than I wanted originally but it was just taking me too long to get out, so this is what it is.
Enjoy, as always, please review. I hope everyone involved with the fires is ok and you are all in my prayers.
Lise xx
"Vause?"
Nicky's face was a mix of complete shock and confusion. She couldn't believe her eyes.
"Hey Nicholls." Alex said, warily. "Hey, Lorna."
"What the fuck!" Nicky was half laughing, her eyes open wide and a mad confused smile on her face. (Much like the time in the cornfield)
"I can explain… I need you both to sit down, we've got a situation."
Piper was sitting next to Alex on the sofa and Lorna and Nicky were sitting on the other couch facing them, a small coffee table in the middle.
Alex spoke first. "First of all, I wanted you both to know that I've been trying to get back to you guys for the entire time I've been away but I wasn't allowed to. I was taken into witness protection after Kubra saw the Piscatella video and realised I wasn't dead. They decided to let me out a bit early as long as I took on a new identity and lived by their rules until my probation was over, even then, I had to swear that I wouldn't blow my cover, for my own safety and for Piper's. They wouldn't let me see her, they said it was too risky. Anyway, I took on my new identity and when my probation was over I started to look for Piper again."
"Jesus, fuck. Vause, witness protection? So where have you been this whole time? Right under our noses? I mean, I gotta tell ya, blondie over here has been struggling without you."
"Yes, I know she has! But what was I meant to do, Nicky? They wouldn't let me talk to her! I've been on the outskirts of the city. I told them I didn't want to move. Anyway, they said I should make some changes to the way I look. So I did, as you can see."
"So, Piper, redhead Vause was the real deal after all. Wait… how did you find her?"
"Elizabeth Suave. She's the boss lady."
"Holy fuck! I knew it! I knew there was something about that whole thing!"
"I know you did. We were gonna tell you but now it's essential that we do. The cartel are watching Piper. She just saw Scarlett get into a car with them, Kubra was in the back. This is incredibly dangerous. We need to go back to the police. In the meantime, I'm gonna take Piper back to mine, no one knows where that is – I'm gonna have a car pick us up and then she's staying in until the police decide the best course of action."
"Ok… So where does this leave the business?"
"Piper will be working from home.." Alex glanced at Piper as she used the word home and saw her eyes widen slightly.
"I'm gonna get her a new phone and a new number, that way, if they have put a track on this one, they won't be able to get to her. Pipes, you can get all your stuff off and then that thing is going in the river. Nicky, this will just be for a few weeks until we know everything is safe."
"It's alright saying that, Vause. But what happens if they know where we live. Doesn't that mean all our safety is compromised?"
"Well, yeah, look, they want me, so if they think Piper hasn't seen me in a long time they will eventually leave her alone. They won't want anything from you guys, if they do come around, tell them Piper has gone on holiday to see her parents or something. If they ask about me, you haven't seen me since Litch."
Piper looked at Nicky trying to figure out what was going through her mind.
"It's just for a few weeks, I'll message you and it will all be fine."
Alex and Piper both stood and Nicky and Lorna followed.
"Well, guys keep safe. Piper, stay with Vause, don't go trying to leave that house."
They hugged and then Piper and Alex made their way to their car.
On the way, Alex called the detective who had been dealing with her case.
"Hi, Sharon? It's Elizabeth Suave here, um, there's been a bit of an incident and I really need to talk to you. Is now a good time?"
"Hi, Elizabeth, don't talk over the phone, I'll head over to your place right away."
Alex hung up and looked at Piper. "Sharon is gonna come to the house. We'll have time to get your bag put upstairs and then she will likely be here, she doesn't mess around."
XXXXXX
Once the girls had gotten back to Alex's house, sure enough, Piper had just placed her bag down in the bedroom when there was a knock at the door.
Piper was seated on the couch already when Alex led Sharon into the lounge room, she paused slightly when she saw Piper sitting there. She didn't look how Piper had imagined her to and it made Piper uncomfortable. Sharon looked to be in her early 30s. Her hair was blonde and slightly curled, she had on a smart grey suit and black heels, her face was fully made up but not over done. She looked like she had just stepped out of a catalogue.
"Sharon, this is Piper."
Sharon smiled curtly and looked at Alex. "Alex, I thought we spoke about this months ago."
"I know Sharon but I wasn't about to live a life without her. Anyway, we're gonna have to come up with a plan because the Cartel have been watching her."
Sharon ran her fingers through her hair and breathed out through her nose.
Piper instantly felt uneasy about everything.
"I honestly don't think you know what you have done.."
"If it's any consolation I'm willing to do anything you need me to so that Alex will be safe."
"Well, for a start, try calling her Elizabeth. Also, if you just didn't see her, that would make everyone's lives a whole lot easier."
Piper turned to Alex who seemed to be stunned into silence.
"Is she always this professional?" Piper asked sarcastically.
"Can everyone just chill out for a moment? Sharon! I don't need sarcasm here, I know how it is. You knew I was going to look for Piper after my probation, regardless of what you all said."
"What I don't think you grasp here, is how hard everyone has worked to keep you safe and you have just gone and bounced straight back into your old life to reclaim an ex. So, you're now wondering what we can do to throw the cartel off Piper, right?"
Piper had had enough of listening to this woman talk, detective or not. She stood up from the couch and approached Sharon.
"Listen, smartass, are you gonna help her or lecture her? I knew her mother, she was the best, Alex sure as hell doesn't need someone else trying to mother her so why don't you just back off and do your job. Professionally."
Alex looked from Sharon to Piper, not expecting Piper to be so bold. Sharon blinked a couple of times before she turned around and paced out.
"I need to make some calls. Don't leave the house."
And with that, she was out.
XXXXXX
Once Sharon had left, Piper turned to Alex who was still standing taking everything in.
"Al, Please tell me you didn't sleep with her?"
"Piper, look , it was one time! She was the only one who knew who I really was. It was really lonely. I had a lapse in judgement and she's literally been on my case ever since."
"Oh my god! I knew it! I knew there was something up with her as soon as she laid eyes on me."
"Look, Piper, don't go getting all high and mighty over this. It was one time in three years. You dated someone else!"
"I'm not getting into this with you right now."
Sharon came back in just as the girls were sitting down to a cup of hot chocolate.
"I called Jeff. He said for your safety and Piper's we are going to put police presence outside of the house 24/7 until I'm notified further. We are going to call Scarlett in for questioning, I doubt she will be of any use now they have gotten the information they wanted out of her but we might potentially get some information out of her that might be useful. I'm also going to get security put around Piper's apartment so her friends will be safer than they are now. Don't leave the house, online shopping would be best for now, anything else, we can get for you. Um, Well, do you have any questions?"
Piper and Alex were both listening intently to what Sharon had to say.
"How long will this be for? I mean, the no leaving thing." Piper asked anxiously, glancing at Alex.
"Until I'm notified, it will take us about a week to complete the procedures. I know this is difficult but you guys brought this on yourself." She glanced at Alex with an angry face before turning.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going. Alex has my number, if you have any questions. I'll be back tomorrow to check on everything."
Sharon left and Piper glanced at Alex.
"I'm sorry about before. Let's have lunch and watch movies?"
Alex smiled. "Sure, but you can cook, I need to finish up Suave stuff for the day, it will take me about 20 minutes, then I'll be free to do whatever you want."
