Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue or any of the characters.
Hope you enjoy this chapter.
About 10 minutes after I uploaded the last chapter, someone immediately 'unfollowed' and 'unfavorited' the story and I thought really was it that bad, but then I got a whole lot of really lovely reviews. So thank you so much to all those who take the time to review and who keep favoriting and following and of course reading. I appreciate it all very much.
Funnily enough, I realized not long after I had uploaded it that I had posted the wrong version of the last chapter – the correct version wasn't much different, it just had less typos and I'd changed a few words – anyway I subsequently uploaded the correct one (which is what most of you would have read). I do my own proofing so mistakes are inevitable.
And by the way, in this chapter Gail says a line especially for ChapstickLez.
Happy reading.
…...
Frankie stared at Elaine Peck, a scowl on her face. She couldn't challenge the Superintendent. Apart from the fact that Elaine far outranked her, Frankie was well aware the Superintendent did not tolerate her authority being questioned. However what galled Frankie more than seeing the Superintendent throw her weight around was the way she referred to Gail. Not as Detective Peck or even by her first name but possessively as 'my daughter'.
The Pecks had always regarded Gail as an object to mold and move about at whim and Frankie was certain this was where Gail's problems had begun. From the few comments Gail had let slip about her childhood, Frankie sensed the more Gail tried to resist her parent's manipulations the more they pushed and the more resentful and bitter Gail became.
Normally not at a loss for words, Frankie was searching for a suitable response to Elaine, well at least one that wouldn't get her into trouble, when an icy voice cut through the room.
'Mother,' said Gail who was standing in the doorway, having returned from the morgue.
'Detective,' Elaine replied, showing no outward reaction to Gail's sudden appearance, although the word 'detective' was full of reproof.
Of course, thought Gail, she would hate that I hadn't followed protocol and addressed her by her title.
'Superintendent Peck.' Somehow Gail made the appellation sound like an insult. Like Elaine's, her face was neutral but Frankie almost imagined she could see the sneer ghosting across Gail's face. 'I'd like a word with you in private.'
'Detective, this is not the time. I am taking charge of this investigation and I need Detective Anderson to brief me. In any case you are on enforced and indefinite leave, effective immediately.' Her tone was brisk, leaving no room for argument.
'What so I can go home and wait for the killer to come find me,' Gail scoffed.
'Don't be dramatic Detective,' Elaine said, the reprimanding note back in her voice. Frankie supposed this was Elaine's default tone for Gail. 'You have been directly threatened by the killer and we need to minimize any potential risk or liability.'
Gail screwed up her face. 'What,' she said in disbelief, 'the Department is worried I might sue them if I get abducted a second time. Mother, if I get abducted again I doubt I'll be coming back.'
'My point entirely. You are at risk. We need to mitigate that.'
'I'd be much safer at work surrounded by other police officers. Frankie, um Detective Anderson has organized it so I'm always with another officer, even at home.'
'Oh I wouldn't want to rely on that perky little red head to protect you off duty or on duty for that matter. Although I suppose she could talk the killer to death,' Elaine said snidely, and Gail supposed she shouldn't be surprised by how much her mother seemed to know about Chloe. 'No, I'm sending you away. I have your tickets booked. Look at it as a surprise vacation.'
'No way. I'm not leaving this investigation,' Gail said firmly, 'the message doesn't necessarily mean the killer is targeting me. He may just want to mess with us, prove how clever he supposedly is, how he can easily outsmart the police. The message and the fact that these last two women were left in a place well used by the public clearly shows he now wants attention. He obviously knows I'm on the case so may see me as a way to get that attention.'
'He directly threatened you. He is killing women who look like you. It's obvious he is coming after you. Exactly when is the question You're right, he is goading the police and it is by leaving us guessing about when he's going to pick you off.'
'Even if the killer is coming after me, he'll find me wherever I go.' Gail said quietly. 'It could be next week when I'm on vacation or in a year's time when we think he's gone to ground and the danger has passed but he'll find me. So the thing is mother, we need to find him first and I just might be the key to doing that.'
'I very much doubt that. I wanted to take you off this case a week ago, but Detective Anderson refused. I believe you two are letting your past relationship compromise your work.'
Oh, so she does know, thought Gail. In the hospital when Elaine had asked if she was gay or if it was just Holly, Gail had been astonished her mother hadn't heard about any of the other women she'd been involved with, particular those on the force. In the past, Gail could barely blink without it getting back to Elaine via her network of spies, who Elaine coerced and bullied and intimidated into doing her bidding, but the Pecks' fall from grace had put a serious dent in Elaine's influence. Not many people were willing to go out on a limb for a Peck anymore. However, Elaine had obviously done some digging in the past weeks. Gail wondered if this was an indication that her mother's star was again rising in the force. It would explain how she was able to march in here and take over the investigation.
'Our clearance rates are among the highest on the force,' Gail said.
Elaine cocked an eyebrow.
'And that was the case even when we were sleeping together,' Gail added, resisting the urge to say fucking just to shock her mother. 'We're starting to make some headway on this case. The message he left on the body could indicate we've got him rattled. And leaving the message was dumb. It means he's someone we've come across already, maybe even interviewed.'
Elaine gave a harsh laugh. 'Well, Detective criminals are hardly known for their brains. It's a myth that serial killers are evil geniuses. Most of them have average IQs.'
'So why pull me off the case?'
Elaine sighed, and then turned to Frankie, who had been watching the exchange with increasing fascination. Gail was not allowing her mother to cower her. In fact, Frankie was impressed by the way Gail was standing up to the Superintendent, especially given how formidable the older woman was.
'Will you give us a moment, Detective Anderson,' Elaine asked and Frankie nodded.
She realized she hadn't spoken one word since Elaine had swept into the room. Frankie was no shrinking violet, in fact she had never been one not to speak her mind, yet she found herself silenced by Elaine Peck and somewhat floored by her ability to quell any opposition as she walked all over you. Even in this brief exchange, the Superintendent had left Frankie in no doubt she was inferior and Frankie could only speculate what it must have been like growing up with Elaine as a mother.
Once Frankie left the room, Elaine turned back to Gail. 'This investigation has too many parallels with the Perick case for you to remain on it.'
'Why the sudden concern now? You didn't even show up after Perick.'
'Are you completely certain that your abduction will not compromise your ability to do your job?'
'Yes, I am,' Gail faltered for a moment, biting her bottom lip and then stopping herself as she realized her mother knew her well enough to recognize it and her hesitation as a sign of doubt. Taking in a breath, Gail continued in a stronger voice, 'I can, in fact I am handling this case. Mother, did it occur to you that my experience with Perick might give me some insight that could benefit this investigation.'
Gail knew she wasn't being entirely truthful. Even if she was getting better at dealing with the nightmares, she couldn't deny that since they found the first four bodies in the woods the nightmares had occurred with greater frequency. Just the mere fact of Holly seemed to help, but was it healthy to rely so much on one person to keep her grounded. Gail would have to ask her therapist about that, although chances were Leslie would throw the question back at her.
'I will not have you used as bait for a serial killer,' said Elaine, her voice tight, and Gail found it slightly jarring that her mother had unwittingly used the same words as Holly to describe Gail's role in drawing Perick out. 'And we don't want a repeat of what happened to Detective Barber.'
'So you think I'm a fuck-up. Nothing changes does it? Damm it, Elaine! I'm a good detective. The results prove it,' said Gail, hating her mother for bringing up Jerry. She may have learned how to control the shadowy fears that came from being tied up in that basement and repeatedly drugged, and to suppress the feeling of helplessness that resurfaced when out of the blue something – it may be as innocuous as a sound or an odor let alone a case like this - triggered memories of that ordeal, but nothing would expunge the guilt she felt for Jerry's death.
'I didn't say you were incompetent,' Elaine paused, 'or a fuck up as you so delicately put it. I know you're a good detective. In fact I hear you're to get a much deserved commendation for your work undercover in Vancouver.'
Gail almost did a double take at this information. She wasn't sure what surprised her more - the commendation or her mother's seemingly genuine praise. She had expected Elaine to chalk that operation up as a failure given her intervention on Gail's behalf.
'Then why are you so determined to get me off this case and why are you meddling in my life again?' Gail said quietly. 'It was kind of better when you weren't speaking to me.'
Elaine normally kept her features composed. In fact this was what made her infamous reprimands so intimidating because her face remained impassive even as she tore strips off the person who was the unfortunate object of her wrath. However now, just for the briefest of moments, she looked pained.
'It's just that.' Uncharacteristically Elaine, who usually made it a point not to break eye contact, looked away from Gail and then back at her. 'I'm worried about you. I don't think its fair or right that you are put through this again, Gail.'
Gail blinked. Now this was even more surprising.
'I want to work this case. If I believed my past was making me ineffective in my job, I'd ask to be reassigned.'
'I'm not sure you or Detective Anderson are capable of making that judgment,' said Elaine stiffly.
'Frankie is a very good detective. Even if you kick me off the investigation, she should still run it.'
'Your loyalty is admirable Gail, but this investigation has become too big for a team of this size. You haven't even viewed the hours of footage taken from the bars let alone followed up all possible leads.'
'So give Detective Anderson more officers,' Gail cut in.
'And Detective Anderson does not have the necessary experience for a case of this type. No matter how effective she is at clearing cases, she was only promoted to senior detective because of the ridiculous panic that overtook the force when Santana was exposed,' Elaine continued, ignoring Gail's interruption.
'You're wrong about Frankie.'
'Nor does this team have the expertise necessary to track down a serial killer,' Elaine said, again ignoring Gail's comment. 'We need to bring in a profiler and we need people familiar with this kind of case. Not to mention the fact that the media has got hold of the story. I've been fielding calls from them all day.'
Before Gail could reply, there was a knock at the door and Oliver stuck his head into the room.
'Ah, sorry to interrupt Superintendent, but there's something you need to see on the news,' Oliver said walking into the room, followed by Frankie.
He went over to a TV set on the far wall and flicked it on. Kevin Michaels, the jogger from this morning, was at the dumpsite describing how he had found the bodies. The interview must have been recorded later in the day because his running gear had been replaced by a suit and tie.
'They were both blonde,' Kevin was telling the interviewer, 'I think they'd been tied up and one of them had a message written on her body. I got the feeling these weren't the first women like this the police had found.'
The item cut to a shot of the reporter, a young woman with long black hair and an earnest expression. 'Toronto police were contacted but refused to comment on the case, saying it was an on-going investigation, but an unnamed source inside the force has confirmed that there is a serial killer on the prowl in Toronto who is targeting young, blonde women. This is Melanie Chavez reporting for CTV,' she said.
Elaine turned to the other three, her eyes narrowed. 'This investigation has turned into a train wreck. Did you not think to keep the media away?'
'We did our best to contain them but as you know Superintendent it is not illegal for people to photograph or film crime scenes that are in public places. By the time we got there bystanders had already posted photos on social media,' Frankie said, trying to keep her voice level.
'Your best was not good enough. I'm sure you can imagine how this will create unnecessary panic in the community. Let alone the fact that we now might face the prospect of copycats. And who on your team is leaking to the media?'
'Uh, I don't believe any of them would do that,' Frankie said.
'Well, that will be your first task. To find the leaker. Detective Peck you are no longer required,' Elaine said dismissively.
Gail regarded her mother with disbelief but didn't make a move to leave.
'If you disregard an order, I will have you up for insubordination,' Elaine said, her voice cold.
'So that's how we're playing this,' Gail said. This time she did leave, but as she reached the door she turned and said, 'Good luck Frankie, I think you're going to need it now,' knowing full well that this would incense her mother further and not caring if that made her immature.
As Gail shut the door, Elaine sighed. 'I have asked Doctor Stewart to join us for the briefing. She is due shortly. It was best we dealt with Detective Peck before the doctor's arrival.'
…...
Gail found the rest of the team in a huddle outside the room.
'Are you okay?' Dov asked.
'Dandy,' Gail replied as she brushed past them.
'Where are you going?' Chloe asked.
'Locker room. Am I allowed to use the bathroom by myself?'
In the locker room, Gail gazed at herself in the mirror. She knew she was beautiful, more as a matter of fact than vanity, but the face reflected back at her was tight with tension and there was a bleakness about it that she hadn't seen for a long time. It seemed all it took was the reappearance of Elaine for Gail's childhood self, full of distrust and hostility and acrimony, to reemerge.
It was as if she were being punished for daring to think her life might be shaping into something good and true, for gaining a measure of confidence about her place in the world and taking joy from having found in Holly a love so great. Because of course she wasn't allowed to have dreams or expectations, not if they didn't match up with those of her parents. That thought didn't fill her with self-pity but rather a sense of loss. And yet, and yet for a moment back there, Elaine seemed to soften, to show she cared for Gail, but then hurriedly pushed that aside and moved on. Clearly caring was a sign of weakness, Gail thought. She looked at her reflection and saw uncertainty and she wondered what she should do now.
…...
The briefing was coming to an end.
'Sandra has agreed to cancel FindLove for next week at least,' Frankie was explaining.
'Good, we'll need to convince her to shut down until this case is over,' Elaine said.
'Won't that make Gail his only target?' Holly asked, worry creasing her brow. 'I mean, he may cast a wider net for his victims but serial killers don't generally like to change their MO. Aren't you just forcing him to focus on Gail.'
'We have no choice, Holly,' Frankie said a little apologetically, 'We have a duty to protect all citizens.'
'I know,' Holly began but the Superintendent spoke over her.
'Detective Anderson, I expect the team here tomorrow at 7.30 am sharp. I'll introduce the new team members then and allocate tasks. If you could go and inform the team now,' Elaine said in a dismissive tone. 'Dr Stewart, a word before you go.'
Once Frankie and Oliver had left, Elaine turned to Holly.'Do you think it right that I took my daughter off this case?'
'I can't answer that. I'm her girlfriend but you're also her mother so your judgment may be just as impaired.'
Elaine bristled slightly.
'And if you're shutting down FindLove then you need to protect Gail and the only way you can do that is by keeping her close,' Holly said. As she left the room, her phone pinged with an incoming message.
Hottest Detective: At home drinking tequila
That wasn't a good sign Holly thought, although at least this time Gail had messaged her whereabouts instead of disappearing on her. Holly was about to call Gail when Frankie returned.
'Gail's missing,' she said, sounding a little frantic, 'no one's seen her since the Superintendent finished with her.'
'She just messaged me. She's at home. Drinking tequila.'
'Oh, not good, ' said Frankie and Holly nodded her head in agreement.
…...
Gail was sitting at the kitchen table when Holly, Frankie and Chloe arrived, almost jostling each other as they came thorough the door in their hurry to get to her. If Gail hadn't been so drunk she would have burst out laughing at how comical it looked, but the tequila had slowed her senses so all she did was look at them quizzically before saying, 'Ah the posse has arrived or is it the keystone cops.'
On the table was a shot glass and a bottle of Casa Dragones Joven, a tequila made entirely from blue agave plant and produced in such small quantities that the crystal bottle it came in was individually numbered and decorated by hand by Mexican artisans. Holly knew it cost around $300 a bottle. Lisa had given it to Gail as a thank you for having her to stay after the drama in her apartment. Gail had been suitably impressed, deciding to keep it for a special occasion.
'You know you have to savor it,' Lisa couldn't help saying at the time as she handed over the bottle.
'Yes, yes Lisa, I'm not a complete philistine. You sip this tequila, you don't use it for shots,' Gail had rolled her eyes.
Holly noted that about a third of the bottle was gone. Five maybe six shots she calculated. That explained Gail's state. If her slurred words weren't a dead giveaway, her glassy eyes confirmed how drunk she was. She wasn't used to drinking much these days.
Arrayed on the table in front of Gail were a number of guns, including a semi-automatic pistol that had been stripped down to its parts. Next to it was cleaning solvent, gun oil, cotton wool, a small brush, a cleaning rod and a polishing cloth.
'What are you doing, Gail?' Holly asked gently, indicating the cache of guns.
'Cleaning my guns,' Gail said, making no attempt to disguise her look of incredulity that Holly would be asking such an obvious question.
'That's a lot of guns,' Holly said, trying not to let her distaste for the weapons show.
'Seven to be exact. What is the perfect present for every Peck birthday? Why a pistol of course,' Gail said popping the 'ps' and throwing out her hands in a showman like gesture, the last bit said in a gleeful tone that Holly knew masked bitterness. 'I have another eight at my parent's house, and two rifles. But Holly, don't think you need to give me another gun for my birthday. Just a nice dinner out and sex afterwards, well lots of sex, will do.'
'Okay,' said Holly cautiously, a placatory tone in her voice, 'I think that can be arranged.'
'Why are you cleaning the guns?' Frankie asked bluntly, eschewing Holly's conciliatory approach.
Gail raised a finger as if to make a point and arranged her face into a serious expression, 'Because Frankie I'm turning my house into a fortress. I'm going to put a gun in every room. So if the serial killer comes knocking I can just shoot him,' Gail shrugged and smiled, 'Good plan?'
'No. Not a good plan,' Frankie said.
'Alternatively I could just drink tequila. This is really good tequila. We should all have a shot,' she said reaching for the bottle but Chloe swiped it off the table first.
'That's probably enough for now, Gail,' she said.
'Hmm. You're probably right Princess,' Gail pushed back her chair and stood unsteadily, 'I'm going to have a shower and wash the stench of Superintendent Mom off me.'
With that Gail walked past the three women, taking very deliberate steps so she wouldn't wobble, and then went up the stairs.
'I'll put these guns away. Does Gail have a gun safe?' Frankie asked.
'Yeah, in the spare room. The combination is her epaulette number in reverse, followed by Holly's date of birth,' Chloe said and Frankie looked over at Holly.
'15th January,' she supplied.
'I'll make some dinner. Gail should probably eat,' Chloe said.
Frankie nodded and began gathering up the guns.
'I guess I should go see if Gail's alright,' Holly said, gesturing towards the stairs and suddenly feeling a little awkward. Really she didn't know Frankie or Chloe that well, in fact Frankie had more or less confessed she'd fallen for Gail, and yet here they were conspiring to rescue Gail from herself.
'Good idea,' Chloe said, 'She doesn't have much hair to cut off, but you never know.'
Frankie laughed then. Holly was surprised that the two women knew about the hair incident in her bathtub. Clearly Gail was comfortable enough with the pair to share something she had once told Holly was no one's business. When they'd first been together, Gail had refused to explain to her friends why she had left the hospital with long hair and returned to work the next morning with it cropped short.
'It's a lesbian thing,' Gail had told Chris in a deadpan voice.
'What do you mean?' Chris had looked confused.
'You know, part of the regulations. You have to have short hair. It's in the handbook.'
'But Holly has longhair,' Chris started to say and then realized Gail was messing with him.
Upstairs, Holly found Gail in the bathroom standing still and seemingly staring into space. She was still fully clothed.
'Do you need some help?' Holly asked tentatively.
Gail looked directly at Holly, a smile spreading across her face. 'Trying to get me naked, Dr Stewart.'
'Well, it's generally a good idea if you plan to shower,' Holly said, moving in front of Gail and lifting the bottom of her shirt.
'Nuh,' Gail grabbed Holly's wrist, 'Only if you get in with me.'
'Gail, you're drunk. I don't think it's wise.'
Gail pouted then in a way Holly found too adorable to resist. Even in her intoxicated state, Gail knew Holly had crumbled and she lent in to kiss her a little sloppily.
'Now you can undress me,' Gail said with an impish smile and then started unbuttoning Holly's shirt with surprising dexterity for someone who had drunk as much as she had.
In the shower, Holly backed Gail in under the nozzle and reached behind her to turn on the taps.
'Oh god, it's freezing,' Gail half squealed, half laughed making Holly vividly recall that time in her bathtub two years ago when she had maneuvered a dunk Gail under the shower and Gail had said the same thing. Back then when all they'd done was kiss intensely in the interrogation room and hold hands at the hospital, and yet Holly felt so sure about Gail even though Gail had confessed to being skittish in relationships.
Back then Gail was also off kilter as her emotions seesawed between grief and elation, and the need to pull Holy close and then push her away, and all of that wrapped up in a bundle of self-deprecating snark. Holly had believed it was just concern for Oliver and Chloe that had put Gail on edge. That and the onset of shock as Gail finally allowed herself to think about the fact that she too had been shot at, let alone what was happening with Holly, which for different reasons Holly suspected was both wonderful and confronting in its newness for Gail. What Holly didn't know and should have guessed, as Gail itemized every part of her life she regarded as a disaster on her hacked off pony tail, was that the shooting had brought up Gail's own trauma and reminded her of her own vulnerabilities
Holly's reverie was broken as Gail placed her hands around either side of Holly's face and leaned in again to kiss her. The water was warmer now and, as Gail deepened the kiss, Holly couldn't help but respond but when Gail ran a hand up over her stomach, stopping to cup her breast, Holly pulled back.
'Gail, you're too drunk for shower sex.'
'Really Holly, I feel quite sober now you've dowsed me in cold water,' Gail moved in again and kissed Holly slowly and deliberately when before the shower her kiss had been loose and messy.
Holly broke the kiss and leaned over to turn off the shower.
'You're no fun,' Gail said and the pout was back again.
Holly could feel her resolve waiver. She grabbed two towels, wrapping one around herself and the other around Gail and then led her back into the bedroom. Here Gail pushed Holly back on the bed and then followed, her hand slipping between the gap in Holly's towel to find her center and Holly couldn't help but moan. Without looking, she knew Gail was smiling, a fact that was confirmed as Gail leant down to pull Holly's bottom lip between her own, nipping it lightly in the way she knew Holly liked.
Afterwards they lay tangled together on the bed. Gail's hair, still half wet from the shower, was sticking up in tufts and Holly thought it made Gail look even more adorable. She realized they were both grinning at each other.
'Feeling pleased with yourself,' Holly teased.
'Oh very,' Gail replied, her grin widening, 'you're such a pushover Stewart.'
'You really want to put that to the test, Gail?'
'I thought I already had and with very satisfying results,' Gail smirked. Despite all that had happened that day, she felt calm now. She was continually astonished by the way in which just being around Holly soothed her. And then there was the sex. Even though it was sometimes frantic and always passionate, its physical intensity matched by its emotional force, it left Gail feeling safe and tranquil, newly able to face whatever the outside world threw up at her. It dawned on Gail that this was because she had finally found a place where she belonged and where she was unequivocally loved and where she loved in return.
'You know I love you,' she said now and Holly nodded, 'and I get why you're scared for me. When Lucia drugged me and I believed I was going to die, I felt this indescribable sadness that I would miss this.' Gail gestured between herself and Holly. 'Miss us I mean and all the possibilities of what we could have been, and after we'd only just found each other again.'
Holly was silent as a single tear leaked from the corner of one eye. Gail brushed it away gently.
'I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted you to know I understand. Losing you would destroy me.'
Holly nodded.
'So I guess I don't blame you if you're relieved that Elaine kicked me off the case.'
This time Holly shook her head. 'No, I'm not. I think you're much better off at work surrounded by as many police officers as possible.'
Gail laughed mirthlessly. 'Well, she wants to send me away on vacation.'
'Okay, when do we leave?'
'Um, I think she just means me singular. She's not going to let go of the hotshot forensic pathologist that easily.'
'Well, you're not going anywhere without me,' Holly said firmly.
Gail suddenly turned serious again. 'I'm sorry for bringing more drama into your life, Holly. Why does someone as good as you put up with me?'
Holly should have been astounded that, after all that had passed between them, Gail needed to ask this question but she knew the encounter with Elaine Peck was likely to blame for Gail's self-doubt. It seemed Elaine's capacity to cut Gail down had not diminished. Holly tilted her head to one side and smiled. 'Because you are good Gail, and I'm lucky to have you.'
'Really. I promised you romance and all we've managed is half a date. Our relationship - even that first time - has been so overtaken by these crazy outside stresses we haven't even had time to get to know each other properly.'
'I feel like I know you pretty well, Gail.'
'On some levels yes, but I don't even know what your favorite color is.'
'I bet you can guess,' Holly said playfully.
'Oh all right, blue,' Gail pretended to huff.
'Correct first time and, based on what you seem to wear all the time, yours would be black.'
'It used to be, back when I was a Goth, but now sometimes it's purple, other times green. I like blue too,' Gail shrugged, 'and red's okay.'
'Trust Gail Peck to be so contrary you can't even chose a favorite color!'
Gail shrugged again.
'And you were a Goth?'
'Yeah. When I was fifteen. I did it mainly to annoy Elaine. I dyed my hair black too.'
'I think I'll need to see photos.'
'Only if I can see ones of mini nerd Holly.'
'Peck, what makes you think I was a nerd when I was growing up.'
Gail gave Holly a look.
'Oh, okay. Yes I was.'
'Is it wrong that I rely so much on you to make me feel okay?' Gail asked.
'We make each other happy, what's wrong with that?'
'Nothing,' Gail shook her head, realizing that even in this moment, stolen from the pressure of an investigation and the intervention of her overbearing mother, that Holly did make her happy. No one had ever made her laugh or as playful as Holly did.
'And I pretty sure you were feeling okay with the world before we got back together again, and I know you've worked on that, so I don't think it's down to me. But Gail, I'm not saying it's right, but I think your mother is acting like she is because she does care about you.'
'She has a strange of showing it.'
'Well, I seem to remember when we first met you had some strange ways of showing you cared. And look at you now.'
'You're to blame Holly. You just make me feel things,' Gail whined, but the complaint was feigned.
'Really,' said Holly huskily, shifting so she was lying on top of Gail. She leant on one arm while she ran her right hand up Gail's leg to the top of her thigh, 'Things like this.' As she spoke, Holly moved her hand between Gail's legs and slipped just the tip of one finger inside her, 'oh, you are still so wet.'
'Whose fault is that,' Gail said, pushing up to kiss Holly just as Holly moved her fingers up to her clit.
Before things could advance any further, there was a tentative knock on the door and they heard Chloe say, 'Ah guys, sorry to interrupt but dinner is ready.'
Gail pushed her head back on the pillow and groaned.
'Okay, thanks,' Holly managed to call out, 'we'll be down in a minute.'
'What I have planned will take more than a minute,' Gail huffed.
'No, dinner first. We can continue this after,' Holly said pulling herself up off the bed and then looking down at Gail, 'and sorry Peck that pout is not going to work this time.'
As they came downstairs, Frankie was coming through the front door with a duffel bag.
'Chloe gave me a spare key,' she said by way of explanation, 'I've brought some of my stuff over.'
Gail nodded.
In the kitchen, Chloe had set the table with steaming bowls of jasmine rice and was serving up a Thai red chicken curry.
'I thought we needed comfort food,' she said.
Just as they sat down, a phone rang. The sound was coming from within the jacket Gail had draped over a kitchen chair when she had come home earlier.
'Ignore it,' Holly said.
Gail looked at Frankie. 'It's the undercover phone. It must be Trent. Should I pick it up?'
Frankie paused and then nodded. Gail dug the phone out of the jacket and, as she answered, walked out of the kitchen into the backyard. She was back a moment later. Chloe, Frankie and Holly looked at her expectantly.
'He wants to meet tomorrow. For a private session.'
