Disclaimer: I do not own Rookie Blue or any of the characters.
Sorry for the delay in updating. Juggling two fics is tricky, then it got busy at work and then I got sick with a virus and didn't have much time or energy to write. Hopefully, this chapter hasn't suffered from my somewhat befuddled head.
Thanks as always for the reviews, favs and follows and for reading. It really is so great to hear what you think. Debby, I agree with you. This fic does seem like home to me too, whereas Elusive is more like a bit of fun (even if it does take some serious turns), the action movie rather than an unfolding of how Gail and Holly's life might have really turned out. Then again, who's to say Gail wouldn't have left the force to become what she is in Elusive…
Apologies for mistakes (blame the virus befuddled head). Hope you enjoy.
…
The images were brutal and shocking. Animals jammed into tiny cages, lying in their own feces, their coats matted and even mangy. In one shot, a lab tech literally booted a cowering dog into its cage, shutting the door so its leg was painfully caught but the animal had no fight left to yelp or even whimper.
The look of misery in the dog's face was too terrible to watch, and Gail found herself turning away. She heard Holly suck in her breath, and sensed Dov and Chloe tensing behind her. Gail paused the video. She felt sick. The four of them were silent for a while. Holly placed a hand on Gail's shoulder and gave a comforting squeeze.
'This is, this is,' Gail began and then stopped. She couldn't find the words to encompass the horror of what they had just seen.
'Reprehensible,' Dov said, 'I want to go and arrest Gimlet right now.'
'Unfortunately this on its own isn't evidence enough,' Gail sighed, 'we can't prove it was even filmed in the labs at EquanimityPlus.'
'What about the SPCA? Could you get them involved?' Holly suggested.
'Yeah, definitely,' Gail agreed, 'maybe they can do a spot inspection on the strength of this video. If so, we could accompany them.'
'Meantime, tomorrow I'll test the USB and the envelope it came in for fingerprints,' Holly said.
Gail nodded, 'I bet they're wiped clean. You'll probably only find prints belonging to Gerald and the boy who delivered it.'
'What I don't get,' Chloe suddenly said, speaking for the first time since the video had finished, 'is all those dogs are mismatched. They look like family pets not like they were bred specially for experimentation.'
Chloe had a point, Gail thought, realizing what she'd assumed was stunned silence was actually Chloe puzzling over the video. Not that she would have blamed Chloe for being overwhelmed by the images they'd just seen.
'True,' Holly agreed, 'labs are supposed to source their animals from licensed breeders or licensed dealers who can prove the animals were legally obtained and not stolen. But every now and again you hear of dealers being busted for not complying – they don't have the paperwork to prove the animals are legit. It usually coincides with a spate of dog thefts from family homes.'
'So you're saying there's an underground market in animals sold for experimentation,' Gail said and Holly nodded, 'and I'm guessing a small company like EquanimityPlus might be tempted to buy those animals because it's cheaper than going through a licensed dealer.'
'Yep, especially when the going rate for a purebred Beagle is upwards of one thousand dollars.'
'How'd you know all this stuff?' Dov asked.
'Brain the size of a planet,' Gail explained in a way that was both matter of fact and proud, and Holly colored slightly. 'Plus Holly campaigned against animal experimentation in college.'
'So do you think labs might treat animals more cruelly if they get them cheap?' Dov asked.
'I think to experiment on animals you have to stop seeing them as sentient beings, otherwise you wouldn't be able to do this kind of work, and once you do that, switch off empathy, you no longer see your actions as cruel or question the morality of it,' Holly made a grim face, 'but I'm speaking from the perspective of someone who believes animals should only be tested on as an absolute last resort.'
'So whether the animals were cheap or not doesn't necessarily make a difference to the way the animals are treated,' Chloe said.
'Nope,' Holly shook her head, ' but I think just the fact of keeping animals in cages in labs is unnatural and cruel. That said there are plenty of institutions that do their best to treat animals well, as much as they can do given some of the experiments cause enormous suffering. I guess it gets down to the culture of a place. '
'So given people who experiment on animals have already desensitized themselves to the animals' suffering, if a place has a culture of needlessly treating animals badly it's not hard for an employee to take that next step and do the same,' Gail said.
'Yep,' Holly agreed gravely.
'It's sadistic,' Dov said.
Before any more was said on the issue, Duncan appeared in the detective pen.
'Uh Detective, Doctor,' he said, as usual giving the impression he was tripping over his words even if he wasn't, 'Paul Rusnak's father's here. I've put them in interview one.'
'Okay, we'll be there shortly. Holly, you've got your lunchbox in the car, right? If Paul agrees can you fingerprint him once we've finished the interview.'
'Yes, Gail,' Holly half rolled her eyes, 'I've got my forensic kit.'
'Isn't that what I said nerd,' Gail teased and turned to Dov, 'hey do you want to interview the delivery boy with me?'
'Sure,' Dov replied.
'What about Frankie?' Chloe asked, 'do you want me to keep trying her?'
Chloe and Dov hadn't witnessed Frankie leaving the Penny in pursuit of Alannah, but the tension between the two women had been palpable so they didn't need to be geniuses to put two and two together. They knew Frankie wasn't answering her phone, even though Gail had kept trying to call ever since Duncan contacted her about the USB.
'Yeah,' Gail nodded, 'and if she doesn't get back to you in the next half hour let's ping her phone.'
Holly exchanged a look with Gail. It clearly bothered Gail that Frankie wasn't answering her phone. Normally she always picked up work calls, especially when she was leading an investigation. In fact, she was fastidious about it. And yes, Frankie was most likely making amends with Allanah, or at worst somewhere licking her wounds, perhaps even drinking herself into oblivion. Even if these were likely explanations for Frankie's radio silence, Holly knew exactly where Gail's mind had gone.
Where most people would be unconcerned by Frankie's disappearance, especially under the circumstances, Gail couldn't help, well not exactly giving in to, but at least allowing her worse imaginings. It wasn't that she was catastrophizing. No, it was that chill fear which was a legacy of Perick and which Holly had come to realize Gail would never completely shake. What if something had happened to Frankie and they did nothing about it until it was too late. Gail didn't have to say it out loud for Holly to understand that was exactly what she was thinking.
'Isn't that excessive?' Dov asked, 'she's probably with Alannah and definitely won't appreciate the intrusion. I mean, all of this can wait until morning can't it.'
'Humor me Dov. If Frankie's phone turns up at either her or Alannah's house, I'll let it go.'
'But,' Dov started and then stopped himself as it dawned on him why Gail was so concerned. 'Okay, sounds fair enough,' he said.
'Why don't I try Allanah,' Holly suggested, 'it'll give me something to do while you speak with the boy.'
…..
Paul Rusnak was anything but a boy. He looked to be about sixteen. At least six foot, he was a little gangly, like he still had some growing to do to fill out his frame. His black hair was long on top and undercut, with a side part so the longer strands flopped over the right of his face, exposing the shaved left side. His peers probably thought it made him look edgy and a bit bad boy, Gail thought.
Paul's father, who was seated next to him, stood as Gail and Dov entered the room. 'Peter Rusnak,' he said extending his hand in a firm handshake. He looked very like Paul. Tall, with black hair shot through with a few flecks of grey, he was probably in his late forties. Too old and too dark to pass for Dominic Swartz.
'This won't take long,' Gail said, 'we just have a few questions.'
'And it's in relation to an ongoing investigation. That's what Officer Moore said.'
'Yes,' Gail confirmed, 'but we can't give you any more details at this stage.'
Rusnak gave a quick nod and resumed hos seat next to his son.
'Paul, I want to reassure you that you are not in any trouble here. We just need to find out why you delivered the package. It would really help if you could try and remember as many details as you can,' Gail said softly.
She looked directly at Paul and it was like empathy and sincerity rolled off her in waves. Dov could see how it immediately put Paul at ease, and he marveled at Gail's ability to connect with kids, especially as she was so often abrasive with adults. Though come to think of, she had been much more chill since Holly's return, Dov decided. Paul nodded at Gail, and Dov realized despite his height and cool haircut, he was just a kid, overwhelmed at finding himself being questioned by two detectives.
'So,' Gail said, 'can you start from the beginning and tell us how it was that you came to deliver this package to 15.'
'I was just hanging with friends, down in the park on Jennifer Street, and this dude came up to me and asked if I wanted to make $50. I kinda of looked at him like he was weird, just in case he was a creeper, although he asked in front of a whole bunch of us so I figured he wasn't.'
'And then,' Gail prodded gently.
'He pulled out the envelope and said he needed it delivered to some detectives at 15 and he'd give me $50 bucks to do it.'
'And did you ask why he couldn't deliver it himself?'
Paul shrugged. 'I was on my bike. It's a five-minute ride. It seemed like easy money. I did joke with him, saying you're not asking me to deliver anthrax or something.'
'What did he say?'
'He laughed. He actually seemed like a straight up and down guy. He said it was evidence to help a case, and he didn't want to get personally involved but the detectives would be happy to get the information. So I took the money and delivered the envelope. I could tell by the shape and feel that it had a USB in it.'
'What did he look like?' Dov asked.
'He was white, wearing a hoodie but I could see he had fair hair. Clean-shaven. He was just, I don't know friendly. Pretty cool. That's why I felt okay doing the job for him,' Paul said, suddenly a little defensive now Dov was asking a question.
'It's okay, Paul,' Gail reassured him, 'you did nothing wrong. I know this man said he didn't want to get involved, but we think he might be able to help us with our investigation.'
'What about what's on the USB?'
'Did you take a look at that?' Dov said sharply.
'No,' Paul said dismissively, drawing out the no, 'I just wanted to deliver it and get back to my friends. One of the girls from school is having a party tonight and we were heading there.'
'How old did this guy look?' Dov said.
'Ahh I dunno,' Paul shrugged, 'older than me. Like maybe mid twenties but he spoke kinda well, if you know what I mean. It wasn't like he was some crim.'
Gail smiled at that. Ah criminal stereotypes. Sometimes they were spot on but how often had she arrested someone who seemed like your average nice guy. 'You mean he wasn't a thug?'
Paul nodded.
'Would you say he came across as well educated? Was quite well-dressed?'
'Yeah, definitely. Cool jeans. Designer. Saint Laurent. They're really expensive.'
Paul didn't have much to add after that but he and his father agreed Holly could fingerprint him for the purpose of elimination. While Holly packed up her gear, Gail escorted the Rusnaks out. Elaine was in the corridor when she returned.
'Well handled, Detective' she nodded approvingly.
'What the interview with the kid?' Gail scrunched up her face. Clearly Elaine had observed the interview through the one way-glass. Questioning Paul was really quite straightforward. Policing 101. It wasn't like she needed to cross-examine the guy and she certainly didn't deserve her mother's praise.
'Where's Detective Anderson?' Elaine asked, ignoring Gail's question and the fact she hadn't addressed her formally as Superintendent.
'Um, sick. Stomach thing. There's something going round,' Gail said, which wasn't entirely untrue. They'd been short several uniforms because of stomach flu and Oliver had struggled to fill shifts, something Elaine would be aware of. Still, Gail was thankful she was well practiced at withstanding Elaine's scrutiny.
'Very well,' Elaine said after a moment, as if she were conceding to believe Gail at the moment, but reserved the right to change her mind. Gail wasn't particularly worried. Her mother often spoke to her like that. 'But I don't think you should take the lead in Detective Anderson's absence, given the delicacy around Dr Hart's complaint.'
'Mother the complaint was dropped, you must know that,' Gail said sullenly, 'besides I'm not taking the lead. Frankie will be back in the morning. It was a simple interview. It was best to do it tonight while the event was still fresh in the kid's mind.'
'Hmm,' Elaine pursed her lips, 'have Detective Anderson call me first thing tomorrow, unless she's still indisposed of course.' With that, the Superintendent swept down the corridor and out front.
Sometimes Gail wondered whether her mother had put a tracking device on her or bugged the station, because these days she seemed to immediately materialize whenever something involving her daughter happened. Gail sincerely hoped Elaine didn't have the interrogation rooms bugged, considering some of the encounters she'd had with Holly. Maybe it was just down to Elaine's 'Gail' sense. That alarm Gail imagined went off in her mother's head whenever Gail might be in danger of disgracing what was left of the Peck name.
'Any word on Frankie?' Gail asked as she came back into the pen.
Chloe shook her head and Holly looked a little worried.
'She's not with Alannah. Apparently they had words in the car park of the Penny and then Alannah drove off,' Holly explained, 'I think Alannah's a bit freaked out now.'
'Shit,' Gail said, 'I didn't think that through. Of course she would be. I just hoped Frankie would be with Alannah.'
'But we pinged her phone,' Chloe said, 'and we've managed to narrow it to a block on Smith Street.'
'Oh,' Gail said. Smith Street was full of seedy bars and desperate low lifes, dealers and pimps selling all manner of merchandize. Few self-respecting cops would be seen there unless they were making an arrest.
'Could she have gone on a bender?' Dov asked.
'I dunno. It's possible,' Gail sighed, wishing she wasn't the one having to make this call.
Had Frankie fallen back into her self-destructive ways? Gail had hoped she might be more resolute, that what she had with Alannah was worth the effort of overcoming those long ingrained fears and insecurities. Gail had tried to tell Frankie it was, that she herself wouldn't be with Holly if she'd given into her self-doubt, to her feelings of not being able to measure up to Holly, of not deserving happiness.
'Well, that's what she did when you two split, Gail' Chloe said, 'I think she was drunk for three days straight.'
Gail furrowed her brow.' I didn't know that.'
Dov coughed pointedly and made none too subtle eye movements in Holly's direction.
'It's okay Dov, I know Gail and Frankie had a thing,' Holly held out her hands, 'you don't need to spare my feelings.'
'You think I haven't told Holly about my past?' Gail rolled her eyes, 'geez Dov. Don't you know about trust in a relationship.'
'Yeah of course, it's just you haven't always been that communicative, I mean you don't like to talk about your feelings to anyone even if you are dating them or maybe especially if you're dating them and we all know Frankie was a rebound but,' Dov sputtered to a halt as he realized Gail had fixed him with a stony look. 'I should stop now.'
'Probably wise,' Holly nodded, but her expression was genial, 'so that block on Smith Street. Is that where Kiki's is?'
Gail turned now to face Holly, a look of astonishment on her face. 'You know about Kiki's?'
'Um yeah and so it seems do you.'
'Well, yeah I'm a police officer. We know these things.'
'Do I dare ask?' Dov said.
'Kiki's. It's only the diviest of divey lesbian bars in Toronto,' Chloe piped up.
Both Gail and Dov whipped their heads around to look at Chloe who shrugged.
'I've been there. It's not great.'
'Yeah,' Holly agreed, 'I actually thought there was a good possibility I might catch something.'
Now Gail whipped her head back to Holly.
'You've been there?'
'Well, yeah. Years ago. It was Lisa's idea. She thought it would be edgy and cool,' Holly smirked.
'And instead she found she was slumming it,' Gail said acerbically.
'Yep,' Chloe who had been busy on her computer, turned around, 'it's in the same block. Should we go check it out?'
…..
'Okay,' Gail said when they pulled up outside the bar, 'Chloe and I'll go in. Holly and Dov, you stay in the car.'
Holly arched an eyebrow.
'What?' Gail asked.
'I'm coming in,' Holly said firmly.
'You're not a police officer,' Gail protested.
'As far as I aware this is not a police matter. We're looking for a friend. I've been here before and I think,' Holly slowly looked around at other three as if sizing them up, 'I can safely say I've been a lesbian the longest, so yeah I'm coming in.'
'Oh alright,' Gail huffed, getting out of the car, 'but just let me handle things inside.'
Kiki's was dimly lit, which was probably a good thing Gail decided, otherwise you might notice how dingy it really was. Someone had had the bright idea of carpeting the floor, which was so stained and soiled it was hard to tell whether its gray color was original or whether the discoloration was the result of grime built up over the years.
As they walked in, that particular smell of stale cigarettes and beer trapped in carpet fibers hit them. Gail could swear the carpet felt slushy like someone had hosed it down and never let it dry off. Or maybe it was just night after night of spilled drinks.
The place was small. A long and narrow corridor really, with a bar counter running along one side and tables opposite, leading to a small corner stage. A rather desultory drag act was taking place and about half the patrons had gathered around the stage to watch. The rest were either seated at tables or by the bar.
Definitely a pick-up joint, Gail decided, heading for the bar to get the attention of one of the staff. A woman perched on a stool, with one elbow propped on the bar to steady her, whistled as Gail approached.
'I think I just died and went to heaven because you are an angel,' she said, making an attempt to straighten up on her stool.
Gail stopped abruptly and gave the woman one of her trademark Ice Queen stares. The woman, however, was far too drunk to notice or at least take offense.
'Come sit here baby,' she patted the stool next to her, 'I've been saving this seat just for you all night. Lemme buy you a drink.'
Holly and Chloe, who were right behind Gail, exchanged amused glances.
'Uh,' Gail said, surprised her glare hadn't put the woman off. She signaled for the barkeep, but she'd moved further down the counter to serve another customer.
'I'll get Sadie's attention,' the woman said, and placed the tips of two fingers in either side of her mouth and gave an ear-piercing whistle. Sadie looked up irritably from where she pulling beers and indicated she'd be there in a minute. 'What's your poison, baby?'
'I'm not here to drink,' Gail said dismissively, keeping her gaze fixed on the barkeep. Her clear disinterest wasn't enough to put the woman off, though.
'Let me guess. You're a girl who enjoys liquor, am I right?' The woman didn't wait for an answer. 'I bet you like a Screwdriver or are you more a Sex on the Beach kinda of girl.' She leered at Gail and winked, swaying slightly on the stool.
'No,' Gail said, her tone vexed and incredulous all at once.
'Should we rescue her?' Chloe whispered to Holly.
'No,' Holly shook her head and smirked, 'Gail said she was going to handle this remember.' Both she and Chloe chuckled and Gail twisted her head around to glare at them, which only increased their laughter.
Gail was saved by the appearance of Sadie. Before the inebriated woman could speak, Gail whipped out her badge and showed it to the barkeep. Chloe raised her eyebrows. Holly was right. This wasn't exactly a police matter, but desperate times called for desperate measures and maybe Gail thought the badge might scare off her admirer.
'Detective Peck,' she said. If Gail had hoped this revelation would make the woman lose interest, she was sorely disappointed.
'Baby, you just got a whole lot more sexy,' the woman slurred, 'I love a woman in uniform.'
Gail regarded her for a moment. 'And I can categorically say I've never found bad pick up lines and pushiness a turn-on,' she said, her voice sickly sweet but thick with disdain.
'I'm just being friendly,' the woman protested.
'Oh ignore Sal,' Sadie interrupted, 'she's all talk. What can I do for you detective?'
After Gail explained her business, Sadie retrieved a phone from near the till and slid it across the countertop to Gail.
'She left about 45 minutes ago. I didn't realize she'd forgotten her phone until I went to wipe down the table she was sitting at.'
'So was she with anyone?'
'Dark-haired woman. Jen. She's a semi-regular. One of your lot.'
'Jen Luck?' Gail asked.
'Yeah, that's right. They left together.'
'How did they seem? Were they drunk.'
'Pretty wasted. I was close to cutting off drinks to your friend.'
Sal looked disappointed when Gail turned to leave. 'Won't you stay for one drink,' she said hopefully but without any of her earlier swagger.
'Important police business. Gotta go,' Gail said hurriedly and plunged in the direction of Holly and Chloe.
'You handled that well, Peck,' Holly teased once they were outside, 'smooth, really smooth.'
'You want me to go back in and take up Sal's offer?' Gail deadpanned.
'No, not when you've got important police business to attend to,' Holly smirked, and Gail swatted her playfully in the shoulder and pretended to pout.
'So what's going on?' Dov said as they reached the car. He was leaning against the side of the vehicle and shifting from foot to foot, and looked awkward and out of place. Gail couldn't figure out if his discomfort was caused by the neighborhood or the fact they were parked outside a lesbian bar, or maybe it was just Dov.
'A bender, just like you said,' Gail winced, 'worse, she's out with Jen Luck.'
'So let's find her,' Dov said, 'we can get Jen's number and call her.'
'Do you think Frankie's going to thank us if we do that,' Gail said.
'Well no, but we can't leave her with Jen. What if Frankie gets so drunk she and Jen you know,' Dov said, 'just like that time she slept with that needy barkeep from the Penny after she split with you.'
'The redhead. She slept with her,' Gail said, thinking that explained a lot. Frankie had steered clear of the Penny for weeks after that and Gail had thought it was to avoid her. But now it all made sense. Gail remembered the barkeep kept asking after Frankie and she'd suspected a crush, but turned out it was more than that.
Dov and Chloe nodded.
'Okay, get her number,' Gail sighed. Was it their job to save Frankie from herself? For some reason, Gail felt like she owed it to Frankie to at least try. She of all people understood what Frankie was like, recognized those same self-destructive impulses, and knew from her own experience how to blow up a relationship by sleeping with the first available random.
Although where Gail had done it the one time, and cheating on Nick was a lashing out against the hurt and betrayal and bewilderment, for Frankie sleeping with someone else, as a way of breaking up, was pretty much de rigueur. Nothing like casual sex to avoid confronting feelings. If anyone got too close, Frankie didn't stick around. Except with Alannah it had seemed different.
Dov got the number from Dispatch without too much trouble. He didn't even have to make up a story. Just said Frankie was with Jen Luck and had left her phone behind and he needed to let her know.
He held out his phone for Gail to make the call.
'Nuh-uh,' she shook her head, 'Jen hates my guts. I'm not calling her.'
'Geez,' Dov huffed, and then held out the phone to Chloe.
'Oh no,' Chloe's eyes went wide, 'she hates we even more because of Wes.'
'And don't look at me,' Holly said, 'I'm tainted by my association with Gail, besides I told Jen off for trash talking Gail.'
'Really,' Chloe exclaimed. Both she and Dov looked as if they'd like to hear more about this, but then Dov decided he should be responsible and address the matter at hand. Squaring his shoulders, he sighed again and said 'Okay, I'll do it. But you know Jen hates me just as much because I'm with Chloe.'
'At least she doesn't call you the chicken police,' Gail said.
'Oh just give me the phone,' Holly said, taking it from Dov's hand and pressing the call and then the speaker button, 'and if Jen tries to hit on me again the three of you are paying for my drinks at the Penny for the next month.'
'Luck hit on the Doc,' Dov said in a stage whisper just as the call connected and they all heard a blast of music and then Jen's shouted greeting. Clearly she was in a club and the level of noise and Jen's tipsiness meant it took her a while to understand who was calling her and why, although she was a little perplexed when Holly said she urgently needed to speak to Frankie about a case. Eventually, she confirmed Frankie was with her and gave the address of the club, which turned out to be only a few blocks away.
'Maybe I can persuade you to stay and have a drink with me, Doctor Stewart,' Jen said, just before Holly disconnected, in what she no doubt thought her best seductive drawl, 'we've never had a chance to really get to know each other and I feel like there's something there.'
'Yeah, like her girlfriend.' Gail, who was standing next to Holly, leaned over to speak into the phone. As she straightened up, she rolled her eyes.
'Peck's with you,' Jen spluttered.
'We'll see you in about five,' Holly said, ignoring Jen's question and ending the call.
'The nerve of that woman,' Dov said to Holly, 'that's harassment. She knows about you and Gail. Somebody should talk to her. Tell her to back off.'
'Gee are you volunteering Dov,' Gail gave a saccharine smile, her soft tone belying the bite behind her words, 'cause you sound a whole lot more upset about Luck than I am.'
But,' Dov started.
'Gail knows I have zero interest in Jen Luck,' Holly explained, tilting her head to one side to smile at Gail, 'and that is victory enough.'
'No, you being my girlfriend is victory enough and it galls Luck every time she sees us together.'
'Thing I don't get,' Holly turned now so she could face Gail and link her arms around her waist, 'is why Officer Luck thinks she stands a chance when I have such an amazing, not to mention extremely hot girlfriend.'
Holly leaned in now and kissed Gail on the lips and Gail found herself returning the kiss. Clearly, the two women had forgotten they were being observed, and things may have turned more heated had Dov not coughed embarrassedly.
Gail swiftly stepped back from Holly and put her hands stiffly by her sides. In an instant, she had rearranged her face so it no longer looked goofily love struck but was impassive, as if this would convince Dov and Chloe they hadn't caught her being a total mush with Holly. Gail's expression was so self-consciously blank and so forced, instead of making it seem like she had nothing to hide, it actually drew attention to her attempt at subterfuge, so it was somewhat farcical.
'You two are so sweet,' Chloe gushed, her words bursting out as if she couldn't hold them back any longer.
Gail looked at her dubiously. 'Yeah, well I'm not yet convinced you're not completely delusional, Princess.'
Holly laughed and kissed Gail's cheek. Ignoring Chloe's sappy look, Gail pretended to huff but couldn't suppress a half smile. 'Let's go save Frankie from Luck's evil clutches,' she said.
'Oh, and you three,' Holly used her index finger to indicate Gail, Chloe and Dov, 'are picking up my tab at the Penny for the next month.'
'I never agreed to that,' Gail grumbled, 'it wasn't even a fair bet. Luck always hits on you.'
….
When then pulled up outside the club, Dov again opted to stay in the car. In any case, Gail had double-parked, so someone had to stay behind.
'Scared of the big 'ole lesbians,' Gail teased.
'No,' Dov said, 'but I wouldn't exactly be inconspicuous in there.' Which Gail had to concede was true, even if she did bite back a smartass retort.
The club was noisy and crowded, even for a weeknight, and it took them awhile to locate Jen Luck.
'I didn't realize you were bringing a posse,' Jen said to Holly, regarding Gail and Chloe with a sour look. She was in a small booth towards the back of the club, sandwiched between two women who looked curiously at Holly and the two detectives.
'Where's Frankie?' Gail said without preamble.
'Bathroom probably,' Jen shrugged, 'she was looking a bit green but maybe that's because she knew the chicken police were after her.'
Gail rolled her eyes, and Holly made a great show of taking her hand. 'Come on honey,' she said, except she had to practically shout it because the music was so loud.
'I really don't understand why you have to be so unpleasant, Luck' Chloe said and took off after Holly and Gail before Jen had a chance to reply.
They found Frankie with her arms literally wrapped around a toilet bowl, which Gail found disgusting because eww toilets in public places and this one looked like it wasn't cleaned all that regularly. Still, Gail helped Frankie to her feet, trying not to gag at the smell of vomit that assailed her. It was only a whiff really, but that was enough to turn Gail's stomach.
Frankie took a few unsteady steps and then stopped and swayed. Gail and Chloe rushed to support her but she held out a warning finger. 'I'm okay,' she slurred, 'just give me a minute.' Taking a deep breath she went to the basin and splashed cold water on her face.
If Frankie was surprised to see the three women, she didn't show it. Nor did she put up any objections when they bundled her out of the club and into the car. Holly surreptitiously sent off a text to Alannah saying they'd located Frankie.
'I don't feel too good,' Frankie said a few minutes into the journey. She opened the passenger window and stuck her head out, and almost instantly the car was filled with the biting night air.
'If she pukes in this car, I'm never riding in it ever again,' Gail whined, glancing over at Holly, who was in the front passenger seat. It was Holly's car but Gail was driving. Holly preferred it that way, aware she could be an absent-minded driver. In fact, she had a number of speeding tickets to prove it. She put a reassuring hand on Gail's knee but Gail just scowled.
'I'm serious,' Gail said.
'Gail,' Chloe and Dov chorused in unison from the back seat, a note of reproach in the voices. Glancing in the rear view mirror Gail saw that Chloe was rubbing soothing circles on Frankie's back. Except, Gail decided, they probably weren't soothing. If she was in Frankie's shoes, she reckoned all that touchy-feeliness would definitely make her puke.
In the event, Frankie didn't throw up again. Back at Gail's place, she compliantly followed their instructions to shower, drink water and then go to bed in the spare room. Holly gave her a t-shirt and sweat pants to wear and Gail threw her clothes into the wash, wrinkling her face as she did so.
'They're not that bad,' Holly teased, 'I don't think Frankie got a speck of vomit on her.' But Gail said she wasn't taking any chances.
In bed, Holly wrapped her arms around Gail, drawing her close. This was one of her favorite parts of the day, just before sleep overtook them when all the demands and ordeals of the world beyond had been pushed aside, and it was just the two of them, here, still and quiet. It was then Holly could press her face into Gail's neck and breathe in the delicious scent of her.
She was nearly asleep when Gail spoke. 'Just so you know, I'd rather chase a perp ten blocks than deal with vomit.'
'I guess that means I'll be cleaning up after our kids.'
'Oh most definitely,' Gail yawned and turned to snuggle into Holly, 'anyway you're used to all that putrid smelly stuff at work.'
Holly smiled. 'Says the woman who has not once fainted or puked during an autopsy or even run out of the room.'
'Hmmph, sleeping now,' Gail replied.
….
In the morning Frankie groaned when they tried to wake her and buried her head under the pillow. Gail placed an espresso on the bedside table.
'Frankie,' she said sternly, 'get up. We have fresh leads and we need you on this investigation. Otherwise, my mother will probably try and put Swarek in charge again.'
At that, Frankie pulled the pillow half off her head so one side of her face was exposed.
'Did the Superintendent threaten that,' she snarled, clearly unimpressed Elaine was yet again interfering.
'No but she wasn't happy you weren't at the station last night and I was taking the lead.'
Frankie completely removed the pillow and sat up, wincing and cursing as she did so.
'Why is it so goddam bright in here. And what d'you mean you took the lead.'
'It's not bright,' Gail said, 'the blinds are shut. Drink this coffee. Shower. Get dressed. Your clothes are washed. I'll fill you in one the way to the station.'
Frankie groaned. 'When did you get so bossy, Peck. I'm your superior officer. You should show me more respect,' she grumbled half-heartedly.
'Yeah, yeah, well I just might if I didn't have to scrape you off the filthy bathroom floor of some sleazy club,' Gail said, walking towards the bedroom door. She stopped as she reached it, turning back to face Frankie and adding, 'and if you stopped being a big whiney baby and accepted how you feel about Alannah.'
Holly, who was tasked with getting painkillers and water for Frankie, arrived outside the bedroom just in time to overhear Gail and Frankie's final exchange.
'You are either one very brave woman or insane, Gail Peck,' she smirked as Gail came out into the corridor.
'And that's why you love me,' Gail grinned and kissed Holly on the cheek, 'good luck with grumpy.'
….
At the station, Dov had got a start on trawling through Brierly's chat room history to see if he could trace Dominic Swartz. Chloe had already contacted the SPCA.
'I've arranged for us to go and meet with one of their officers now. She said if we're satisfied the video was shot at EquanimityPlus then they can do a spot inspection.'
'Good,' Gail started to say.
'Why are you so chirpy,' Frankie interrupted, ' and loud. It's barely morning. I'm getting coffee.'
'Geez, I thought Frankie could handle alcohol,' Chloe said to Gail as they watched Frankie retreat to the break room.
'Out of practice. I don't think she's been drinking as much since she and Alannah got together,' Gail said.
'This is not like Frankie, to drop the ball during an investigation. She needs to make things right with Alannah.'
'Yep, ain't that the truth but at least she's here at work. Let her get a coffee. I bet she'll refocus. In the meantime why don't you and I go speak to the SPCA officer? Gimlet's not due back from his trip to Vancouver until late this afternoon, so if we can make the inspection happen this morning all the better.'
'Do you think he'd try and stop it?' Chloe asked.
'Possibly, although legally he can't if the SPCA think there is reasonable cause to inspect. But have you noticed whenever we're at EquanimityPlus we're always escorted everywhere, never left by ourselves. Even when Frankie went to the bathroom, she was accompanied by Helen Marino's assistant.'
'Yeah,' Chloe nodded, 'they're definitely hiding something.'
…
'Here in Ontario we've got fairly tough laws about animal experimentation,' the SPCA officer said. Her name was Maya and she'd already taken a look through the video. 'As well the Canadian Council on Animal Care sets guidelines for the humane and responsible use of experimental animals.'
'And let me take a wild guess. The way those animals in the video were treated doesn't meet those guidelines,' Gail said.
'No way,' Maya agreed, 'if we can find evidence to corroborate the video, it would be enough to shut down the facility.'
Maya seemed all right, Gail decided. The SPCA officer was direct and clearly quite willing to take immediate action. Other officers might have been more cautious, but Maya gave the impression she'd rather take a gamble than risk leaving animals in untenable conditions.
'Have you had any reports of missing pet dogs?' Chloe asked.
'Yeah, there was a rash about a month back, and they seem to happen at fairly regular intervals. And not just here in Toronto but across Ontario. We suspect they're being taken for experimentation but we've never been able to catch anyone.'
'So can you do an inspection?' Chloe asked.
'You're certain it was filmed at EquanimityPlus?'
'Nearly 100 percent,' Gail said, knowing she was fudging it a bit, but what reason would anyone have for sending the video other than to expose abuses at EquanimityPlus. 'Can you inspect this morning?'
'I'm the only officer free right now – all my colleagues are tied up with other cases - but if you can give me back-up, I can do the inspection. As you know, the police also have the power to investigate cases of animal abuse.'
'Yeah,' Gail nodded, 'there is one thing we need to mention. We came across this in the course of an investigation into the death of an employee at EquanimityPlus, who was involved in animal experimentation. There's a good chance this is connected with that murder and, to date, EquanimityPlus have been very closed about what's going on in the facility.'
'So not exactly cooperative?' Maya asked.
'Let's just say a very thin veneer of co-operation.'
'I get you,' Maya said, 'don't worry we're used to having to barge out way into places we're not wanted. I'll get some things sorted here and meet you at EquanimityPlus in an hour.
…
When Gail and Chloe arrived back at the station, Frankie was nowhere to be seen.
'Fuelling up on coffee,' Dov said, jerking his head in the direction of the break room.
'Is she any better?' Chloe asked.
'A little, but Superintendent Peck just followed her into the break room, so who would know.'
'Shit Dov, why didn't you say so immediately,' Gail scowled, heading off to find her mother and Frankie.
When Gail got to the door of the break room, Frankie had her back pressed up against the counter of the kitchenette, one hand gripping the edge and the other holding a cup of coffee. If possible, her face was grayer than it had been this morning and her eyes were red-rimmed. Even though Gail had washed Frankie's clothes, she had an unkempt air about her, as if she had actually slept in what she was wearing. She looked like someone who'd been on a bender, something Gail knew would not go unnoticed by her mother.
'You made a quick recovery from the stomach flu,' Elaine was saying, 'it seems to have knocked everyone else out for days.'
'It might have just been a 24-hour bug,' Frankie shrugged.
'Is that so,' Elaine said, not sounding in the least convinced, 'if you're not fit for duty I can assign someone else to head up the investigation.'
'That won't be necessary,' Frankie replied tersely, and Gail noticed her grip tighten on the coffee cup.
'Well, I've come to inform you that Detective Peck has been reassigned. She'll be working with me for the present.'
'That's bullshit mother and you know it,' Gail said. Somehow she contained the fury that suffused her, and instead her voice was quiet and determined.
Up until this point, neither Frankie nor Elaine had registered Gail observing them from the doorway. Now Elaine turned slowly to regard Gail, her expression unyielding. 'Since when have you been in charge of staffing or operational matters, Abigail?'
'I thought you were happy I finally made detective, but it seems like you want to pull me off every second investigation. Dr Hart dropped the complaint. There's nothing for you to be concerned about anymore.'
'Actually, there is. The powers that be have decided, given who you are, an internal investigation is warranted and it might be best, for now, if you have a little distance from the case.'
'Yay for the Peck legacy,' Gal said bitterly.
'That is bullshit,' Frankie pushed off from the counter and took two steps so she was standing directly in front of Elaine. 'Nothing will make Gail look more guilty than if you sequester her in the big building. I don't care whose operational feathers I ruffle, she's staying on the team. I trust you'll inform the powers that be. Now Superintendent if you'll excuse us, we have work to do.'
Gail shot Frankie a grateful look and nodded to Elaine. 'Mother,' she said curtly and followed Frankie out of the room.
Gail was a little surprised Elaine had given in so easily. Maybe her mother wasn't actually too happy with the directive to take her off the case. Since Steve and the corruption scandal, all the Pecks on the force were subjected to excessive scrutiny and this must gall the Superintendent just as much as it did Gail. However, until now, it hadn't occurred to Gail if she was being watched so carefully, Elaine must be too. Neither of them could afford to put a step out of line, but where her mother was a master at negotiating the political machinations of the force, Gail just wanted to be left alone to get on with her job. Elaine probably feared it left her daughter open to being unfairly judged or accused by those who wouldn't be happy until every Peck had been hounded off the force.
A little grudgingly, Gail had to admit that her mother was probably only trying to protect her. Still, she didn't envy Elaine having to tell her superiors that Frankie had refused to release her from the investigation, although she trusted the Superintendent would think up some spin to put on it.
'Fuck,' Frankie said once they were out of Elaine's earshot, 'why does your mother choose to interrogate me on the day I feel like a herd of wildebeests are stampeding in my head.'
'Sorry, I'd keep her on a leash if I could,' Gail said drily, 'bad hangover?'
Frankie looked at her dolefully and choose not to answer. 'So have you and Chloe organized the EquanimityPlus raid?'
'It's an inspection, Frankie. I don't think the SPCA would appreciate it being called a raid.'
'Whatever,' Frankie sighed, 'I need some more painkillers. Oh, by the way, Holly called. No fingerprints on the USB or the envelope other than the kid's and Gerald's.'
…..
Gail and Chloe had lined up some uniforms to accompany them to EquanimityPlus. Andy, Chris, Robinson and a new guy called Taylor. It was a show of force that clearly intimidated Helen Marino and Gimlet's assistant, Marjorie Flint. The two women met them in the foyer.
'We would request you wait for Mr Gimlet's return this afternoon before you proceed with the inspection,' Helen Marino said tersely.
'We can't do that,' Frankie said firmly, 'we've received information we need to act on now. If you've got nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about.'
'I wish you guys could accompany me on every inspection,' Maya said to Gail as they followed Helen Marino to the labs, 'I could use some extra muscle.'
The labs were unremarkable, brightly lit by overhead fluorescent strips and extraordinarily sterile. In fact, they were so clean Gail thought you could practically eat off the floor. Well, that's if you weren't as fastidious as she was about germs. Workers in white coats were monitoring rats, who for the most part seemed quite dopey. It was nothing like the video.
'So we've seen all the labs,' Frankie asked and Helen Marino nodded. Frankie sounded irritable. Gail knew if she and Chloe had got this wrong, Frankie wouldn't be impressed. Especially in her current state. Was there a chance Dominic or whoever it was who sent the video was messing with them? Maybe it wasn't even filmed here.
It was a two-story building, with the labs on the ground floor and various offices, including Gimlet's rather palatial one, on the floor above. Gail thought back to the video. The lab in the footage had seemed quite dark and cramped. Low ceilings and no windows, she recalled, suddenly knowing exactly where they'd find the lab.
'No labs upstairs,' Frankie tried again, a note of resignation overlaying her annoyance.
If they'd got this wrong, EquanimityPlus would have every right to lodge a complaint against them. A huge, career damaging complaint. In fact, it would probably make it almost impossible for them to continue the investigation, Gail decided.
'No. The labs are all the first floor,' Helen Marino said. It was tiny but Gail saw it. The slight shift of Marino's eyes to the left, her inability to meet Frankie's gaze. She was lying. Gail knew it.
'What about the basement?' Gail asked, 'we'd like to see that.'
…..
'It was,' Gail bit her lip, 'I can't even find the words. It was worse than seeing it on the video. They're totally defenseless creatures. Maya, the SPCA officer agreed they had been pets. Most of them had to be euthanized.'
'Oh honey,' Holly rubbed Gail's back soothingly, her head tilted to one side and a sympathetic expression on her face.
Gail felt herself relax a little. Until Holly, she'd never been comfortable about letting anyone console her, never let anyone in. Truth was no one ever thought she needed to be comforted. Brittle and tough, that's how most people saw her. Someone who could brush off the uglier, the more brutal facets of life she was exposed to in this job, and yes, even the trauma. She was the Ice Queen after all. Nothing was supposed to penetrate her hard shell. It was probably why all her friends did so little after Perick. They just assumed she'd moved on. Not that Gail had done anything to correct that misapprehension.
Growing up, she was taught to see vulnerability as a weakness. 'You won't move up in the force if they think you're soft,' Bill Peck had told Gail when she was barely more than a child. Somehow, with Holly it was all right to let her guard down, to admit she wasn't invincible, that things hurt and dragged her down and sometimes made her feel messed up in the head. Opening up to Holly always helped make things seem a little better, a little less despairing, and that had a lot to do with the fact Holly was clear it was okay to admit to vulnerabilities. In fact, it made you a stronger person, she told Gail..
They were seated in the locker room. It was early evening. The business at EquanimityPlus had taken most of the day to sort out. Helen Marino and Marjorie Flint had admitted knowing about the basement but said they never went down there. Helen said it was Gimlet's special project and he oversaw the experimentation.
'So you weren't ever curious to take a look?' Frankie had asked.
'It wasn't part of my prevue,' Helen replied stiffly, making Gail think she probably knew exactly what was going on in the basement lab but turned a blind eye.
The lab technicians from the first floor were equally non-committal. Yes, they knew about the lab but it was off limits and they didn't ask why, didn't even mix with the crew who worked down there. Along with Maya, the three detectives had spent the rest of the afternoon interviewing the eight lab technicians who worked in the basement. Each was tight-lipped about what their work – it was like Gimlet had worded them up and they threw around a lot of phrases like 'commercial-in-confidence' and 'data sensitivity.'
'You know it won't just be Gimlet and EquanimityPlus facing charges of animal cruelty. You'll be charged as an individual as well,' Frankie told each one but it didn't make them anymore forthcoming.
Now Frankie and Chloe had gone to meet Gimlet at the airport, leaving Gail to write up the interviews from the day.
'For once I actually volunteered to do paperwork,' Gail told Holly, 'if I saw Gimlet I'd probably be tempted to shoot him.'
'Won't Frankie want you in on the interview?' Holly asked.
'Yeah. That's why I'm in here.'
'Cooling your heels,' Holly said in understanding.
'Nerd,' Gail gave a small smile, 'but yeah. I just need to clear my head, then maybe I won't shoot him.'
'Yeah, I'm not a fan of that idea. I'd rather not have to spend the rest of my life visiting you in prison.'
Gail gave a harsh laugh.
'So is this illegal experimentation tied up with Brierly's murder?' Holly asked.
'Hopefully, we'll know more when we speak to Gimlet, but I have a strong feeling it is. Dov's still trawling through Brierly's computer but he thinks he's identified the person we know as Dominic Swartz. He and Brierly met in a chat room and Brierly started opening up about how uncomfortable he was experimenting on animals. With any luck, Dov can trace Swartz's IP address.'
'So it's starting to come together,' Holly said, taking Gail's hand and running her thumb across it gently. Gail nodded. She shifted to face Holly, then reached out, putting her arms around her waist and burying her face in the crook of Holly's neck. Holly pulled Gail close, hugging her tightly. They stayed there for a moment, not saying anything until they heard someone clearing their throat.
Anna Robinson stood in the door, looking apologetic. 'Um, sorry to disturb you but Detective Peck there's a Dr Hart out front who wants to speak to you.'
'To me?' Gail lifted her head up, 'it's probably better if she speaks to Dov.'
'No she specifically asked for you. And said she needed to speak to you alone.'
'Is that wise?' Holly said as Gail stood.
'Probably not,' Gail admitted, 'but what if she knows something vital to the case.'
'What if she's stirring up trouble?' Holly said, looking worried.
'Is Dr Hart the woman who made a complaint against you?' Anna Robinson asked.
'You heard about that,' Gail twisted her mouth, 'I guess nothing stays secret around here.'
'Um, if we put her in an interview room, I could observe if you like. That way if she makes trouble, I can be a witness. If that helps,' Anna ended tentatively.
Gail considered for a moment. 'Yeah. Okay. Good plan.'
….
Robinson had Francine seated in the interview room before Gail entered. Gail preferred it that way. It gave her a little bit of power, to stand and regard Francine and then slowly, deliberately pull out a chair and sit down to face her.
It was all about control, about making it clear who was in charge of this interview. Most times it worked for Gail and today was no exception. Francine seemed to shrink back into her chair as Gail sat. There was something about her manner that was different. Less cocky, less defiant perhaps, Gail thought.
'You didn't bring your lawyer today?' Gail asked.
'He'd probably advise against me speaking to you,' Francine gave a small, hollow laugh.
'And why do you want to speak to me?'
'Thing is I lied. Well no. I didn't lie. I just didn't tell you everything. My cousin John told me about Dominic. That's not his real name. It's an alias he uses.'
'So what's his real name?'
'I don't know. He's refused to use it ever since he was estranged from his father.'
'And his father?' Gail quirked an eyebrow. She didn't really have to ask. She felt like she already knew the answer, was almost forming the words when Francine spoke again.
'Frank Gimlet, CEO of EquanimityPlus.'
