I do not own Rookie Blue or any of the characters…
Finally an update. Life has been busy but its a long chapter so hopefully that makes up for it. Apologies for any mistakes—it's very, very late here but I'm going away tomorrow and wanted to post before I left.
So there are a few you out there who are not fans of Frankie. Don't despair, after the first scene, she doesn't feature much in this chapter. Instead, Chloe and Gail are partnered again.
Thanks for the reviews, favs and follows. Please review. I love hearing from you and I shamelessly admit it encourages me to keep writing. Hope you enjoy.
…
'You're staying at my apartment,' Frankie said.
'Anderson, I'm not going to let Francine drive me out of my house,' Gail said, her hands on her hips and her expression set.
'It's very thoughtful of you,' Holly began.
'Thoughtful,' Gail exclaimed, 'you haven't seen the shit box Anderson lives in. You know that expression—not enough room to swing a cat, well in this case make that a kitten.'
Holly made a face. Blanched almost. It made Gail wonder if Holly's response had less to do with the mental image Gail had conjured and was more about her dismissal of Frankie's offer. It was kind of kneejerk, Gail had to admit that. Gail knew she was being a brat—that Holly was on edge and she wasn't helping. It was just she hated that she and Holly seemed to be losing control over their lives. Anyway what made Frankie think she could tell them where they could sleep the night? It was pushy and annoyingly presumptuous. Growing up and even into adulthood, people had always told Gail what to do, had assumed they knew what was best for her, so much so that her first reaction was always to push back. As she registered this thought, Gail realised it was Francine she resented not Frankie
'I'm gonna put your rudeness down to stress,' Frankie said, 'and not take offence.'
'What about my place,' Alannah suggested, 'it's bigger and I have a proper guest room.'
'We're fine here,' Gail insisted.
'Thank you, Alannah' Holly said, 'I'd like to stay. Maybe just a couple of nights if that's okay, until—.'
'Wait, you would?' Gail asked.
Holly bit her lip and nodded.
Gail's face softened. 'Looks like we're moving in, Alannah'
'Careful what you wish for,' Frankie said sourly, clearly miffed Gail and Holly had passed on her apartment.
'Your place is small. You have to admit that, hon,' Alannah said, the endearment slipping out so naturally that Frankie took a moment to realise what Alannah had called her. When she did, her eyes widened just a little and she blushed. Alannah moved into the space next to Frankie and leaned in so their bodies were touching.
Frankie wasn't used to having a girlfriend who treated her like this. If any of the string of women she'd slept with in the past had tried it on, Frankie would have given them short shift. But if she wanted Alannah to stick around—and clearly she did—she was going to have to suck up some mushiness, Gail thought, feeling a little evil at how much enjoyment she was getting out of Frankie's discomfort and at her attempt to appear untroubled by Alannah's show of affection.
There was a tap at the front door. Holly jumped at the sound. Gail looked at her with concern and moved to take her hand. Holly mustered a smile of sorts and it made Gail's heart break. She hated that Holly was going through this and hated herself more for seeming to be so offhand about their security.
'I'll get it,' Frankie said.
She came back into the kitchen with Duncan and Officer trailing her.
'All clear, Detective Peck,' Duncan said, 'no sign of Francine Hart outside.'
Officer was regarding Holly and Gail with undisguised curiosity. His gaze moved to their joined hands. Just great, what if the rookie turned out to be a homophobe as well as an ass. Gail stared at him hard but Officer didn't immediately notice, and when he did, he looked at her so coolly it was disconcerting. He wasn't the least embarrassed he'd been caught out. She didn't let her gaze waver and it was Officer who finally looked away. He was just the type who, having made a connection between she and Holly, would assume she was the reason Duncan hadn't issued Holly a ticket, Gail realized.
Geez one more person she needed to be on her guard around. It was becoming quite a list, and not from her doing either. What was it about her that attracted psychos and creeps? Did she have a big target on her forehead? And now with Francine so obsessed with Holly, it seemed like Gail had tainted Holly with this curse. Gail shook her head to clear it. She must have done it quite violently because Holly was peering at her with alarm, so she gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
…
Alannah's apartment was bright and spacious. Clearly someone with money—she was a neurosurgeon after all—and taste and fabulous views over downtown Toronto. A set of stairs led from the living area to a second floor and the bedrooms.
'Wow,' Gail said, looking out the floor to ceiling window in the guest bedroom to the cityscape beyond. It was quite magical at this time of night when the sky still had that bluish tinge just before it turned black, the lights on the buildings twinkling almost festively, the CN Tower glowing red, reminding Gail of a giant ray gun from a 50s sci-fi movie she'd watched with Steve when she was a kid, and down below the street grids marked out by the streaks of yellow coming from car headlights. 'Wow, this place is amazing.'
'Think you hooked up with the wrong doctor,' Holly murmured.
'Not for a moment,' Gail flashed a smile, pulling Holly to her side to kiss her.
'Here, sets of keys for both of you,' Alannah said coming into the room, 'I'll order some takeout. Thai okay with you guys.'
Gail and Holly nodded, moving slightly apart, although Gail kept hold of Holly's hand.
'Thanks for doing this, Alannah,' Holly said, 'you don't know how much I appreciate it.'
'It's the least I can do,' Alannah gave a little shrug, ' besides I think I have you two to thank for making Frankie see sense.'
Gail was about to quip that Frankie and sense were diametrically opposed but stopped herself when she caught the look of absolute sincerity on Alannah's face.
'Nah, that was all Frankie,' Gail said instead, 'she's stubborn and she might need a push in the right direction every now and again, but Frankie gets there eventually.'
Alannah considered Gail for a moment and then smiled. 'You're a good friend to her.'
'Yeah, don't tell Anderson that.'
'You are one big softie,' Holly said as Alannah went to order food. She looped an arm through Gail's and kissed her cheek.
'You are so wrong nerd, I'm bad ass,' Gail said, hoping Holly didn't notice the pink tinge in cheeks, which was probably a futile wish because with her pale skin everything showed.
….
Frankie appeared just as dinner was delivered. She'd made a detour via the forensic department to meet Rodney. Gail joked about how at this rate they should convert a room in the house into a fingerprinting lab but the other three hadn't seemed to find that particularly funny. Holly at least managed a rueful half smile but Frankie had looked grim. It wasn't that Gail didn't take the threat of Francine seriously, but if Frankie was this spooked it dialled it up a notch.
'So did Rodney find anything,' she asked Frankie as Alannah placed the containers of curry and rice and pad thai and spring rolls and fish cakes on the table.
'No prints on the envelope or photograph ' Frankie shook her head, helping herself to a serve of red chicken curry.
'What's the point of wiping them clean,' Alannah asked, 'the photo makes it clear it's Francine.'
'That's the only thing we've got on her at the moment,' Gail said, 'if we arrested Francine and this went to court, her lawyer could argue she had nothing to do with doctoring the photo or sending it to the house. They might even accuse Holly and me of tyring to frame her.'
'Should we consider the possibility someone else is involved—that Francine has an accomplice, ' Holly asked.
'But who'd be willing to go along with her?' Alannah asked.
'Well crazy does attract crazy,' Gail said.
'Explains why Lisa was so interested in Francine,' Frankie sniggered.
Gail laughed and Alannah tried not to. Holly was the only mature one, regarding the three of them with a look of mild disapproval. Although, Gail could swear Holly had the beginnings of a smirk. Still, no matter what, Holly had this vestige of loyalty to Lisa. It was about a shared history, Gail supposed. But if she had a friend who pulled some of the crap Lisa did then they would be history. To be honest she put up with a lot from Nick and they were still friends. Then again they were no longer the same people who'd inflicted those hurts on one another. When they were undercover in Vancouver, Nick had admitted he hadn't known how to love her. It was an apology of sorts, an acknowledgement Gail needed to hear, even if she had moved on and his past actions, which she once found so corrosive, no longer had that effect on her.
Holly had arched an eyebrow but her indignation was largely for show and it encouraged Gail to keep teasing. 'What,' she asked, with faux innocence, holding up her hands, 'we're only saying it like it is, Holly.'
'So, that makes me crazy too?' Holly arched an eyebrow, 'are you forgetting I slept with the woman.'
'Unfortunately no,' Gail screwed up her face as if in pain and then, sounding for intents and purposes completely serious, added, 'it was one night—a lapse in judgement. Horrible yes but understandable considering you were suffering a deprivation at the time.'
'A deprivation?' Holly's eyebrow rose even higher, like she knew what was coming next.
'Yeah,' Gail nodded, an impish smile breaking across her face, 'of my awesomeness.'
'Oh god, Peck,' Frankie groaned in disgust and got up from the table, 'I need more alcohol.'
Holly shook her head in amusement. 'You are incorrigible, you know that.'
Gail kept grinning.
'I bet there's some truth in it,' Alannah said, 'that you were missing Gail.'
'At the risk of swelling Gail's head even more, yep,' Holly gave Gail that crooked smile, the one that got her every time, that caused a flutter in her stomach, which was at once warm and tingling and somehow huge and encompassing and which Gail had come to recognise as love.
If she had tried to define it in concrete terms, Gail would have said it was, on the one hand, like the rush you got on a roller coaster as you plunged down the steepest drop, freefalling, weightless, your stomach feeling as if it was round your knees and yet all your nerve ends tingling with excitement, exhilarated by the thrills and spills. On the other, it was sleeping in on a cool morning, warm beneath the covers and your legs entangled, it was that welcome embrace after a hard day, Holly's warm laugh and her quirky smile and it was Holly's hand on the small of her back, signalling she was there for Gail.
….
'Dead ends,' Chloe signed heavily, 'that's what this case is.'
'It's only been a few days, Princess,' Gail said with amusement, 'you know cases can take months.'
She and Chloe were waiting in the briefing room. McNally, Duncan and the two new rookies, Schneider and Officer, were joining the team and Frankie wanted to bring them up to speed. Gail was less than thrilled about Officer Officer but resources were stretched and they couldn't afford to be choosy.
'Great,' Chloe said sourly. She was slumped down in her desk chair and looked downright morose. Gail had to look twice just to be sure but yep, a storm cloud seemed to be hovering.
Okay, this was not like Chloe. She was usually all sunshine and rainbows and chirpy, definitely chirpy. Miss Positivity. When Gail pictured her she got an image of Snow White in the forest, all bright eyed and with a blissful smile, surrounded by chipmunks and raccoons and deer and squirrels and rabbits and birds. But not today. Miss Positivity had been left at home.
'I don't really want to know Price, but what's eating you?'
'Then don't ask. Problem solved.'
'Whoa. Did an alien come and inhabit your body while you were sleeping? Cause I gotta tell you, you are not the Chloe Price I know and—' Gail floundered, 'and know,' she finished lamely.
'Everyone can have a bad day Gail,' Chloe shot back, 'we've had to put up with enough of yours.'
'Ouch,' Gail said, not taking the least offence because this was most definitely not Chloe talking, 'yeah but that's me. The Ice Queen. I was born bitter and twisted. Fractious and mean is normal transmission.'
'You know that's not true,' Chloe said, softening, her despondency overridden by concern for Gail.
Gail grinned. 'I knew you were in there somewhere. At least the aliens didn't suck your soul up into the spaceship.'
'What,' Chloe asked, clearly not following.
'Never mind,' Gail waved a hand dismissively, 'what is actually bothering you?'
'I,' Chloe stopped and sighed, 'I thought I was pregnant.'
'I didn't know you and Dov were trying.'
'We weren't. I just missed a period and then Dov got all excited. He was kinda over the moon. I'm surprised he didn't tell you guys.'
Of course Dov would be completely enthused about fatherhood, even to the point of obsessiveness. Well, either that or freak out. He'd actually make a great dad if he could get his anxieties under control, Gail thought. He definitely had some OCD tendencies that just wouldn't work with a kid. Take his squeamishness around food and hygiene. I mean if a suspect was going to leave behind a bag of chips at the station, Gail was definitely going to eat them. Make that cheese puffs and it was a done deal.
'He was already planning how to turn the guest room into a nursery and thinking up baby names,' Chloe made a face.
'Okay, I'm sensing you aren't entirely on board the baby train.'
'I want children,' Chloe hesitated, 'is it selfish that I want to concentrate on my career right now? I've only just made detective.'
'Not at all,' Gail said, 'but have you told Dov that?'
Chloe looked down at her hands. 'No,' she said a little guiltily, 'he thinks we're trying. He's taking my temperature every morning so we can monitor my cycle and he's even recording it on a chart.'
That would be right. Dov was such a dork. Seemed like he was channelling his obsessiveness into the actual getting pregnant bit.
'And every day I have to check my cervical mucus to see when I'm ovulating,' Chloe continued,
'Too much information,' Gail shook her head rapidly, as if trying to unhear what Chloe had just revealed, 'don't tell me Dov does that for you too.' As she said it, Gail screwed up her face in distaste.
'For the record I check it myself, but I bet you'd let Holly do it.'
Gail's eyes widened. 'I don't think so,' she shook her head. How to explain that Holly putting her fingers anywhere near Gail's vagina would not be conducive to monitoring ovulation, that inevitably they would be diverted by activities which were much more fun. Scratch that, she didn't want to spell any of that out to Chloe.
'Geez Gail, I didn't think you'd be so squeamish. It's just vaginal fluid. You're a lesbian. I thought you'd be all up in that.'
Gail had just taken a swig of coffee and came very close to doing a spit take. Somehow she managed to swallow hard and keep the liquid down, but the effort to do so made her go comically bug-eyed and her cheeks redden. She couldn't tell if Chloe's choice of words was intentional. Chloe could be sly like that. Her face as innocent as a baby's like she had no clue about the innuendo. Gail was wise to that all right, but by the time she had recovered sufficiently to take a good look at the redheaded detective, Chloe had moved on and back to her own drama. In fact, was too caught up in it to pay Gail and her theatrics much heed
'I haven't got the heart to tell him I'm still using contraceptives,' Chloe said.
'Wait, how long has this been going on?'
'Two months,' Chloe admitted, and then burst out, 'God, you are so lucky you don't have to worry about an unplanned pregnancy anymore.'
Gail laughed. 'I wish Holly could knock me up.'
'Really,' Chloe looked surprised.
'Can you imagine a baby with those big brown eyes and that crooked smile and that nerdy brain and—' Gail stopped, suddenly aware Chloe was regarding her with a soppy grin and misty eyes.
'You are a big 'ol softie, Peck,' Chloe said.
'Am not,' Gail replied.
'Yep, you are. A big 'ol softie.'
'Nope,' Gail scowled and crossed her arms.
'Don't worry your secret's safe with me,' Chloe said, 'oh and I guess Holly.'
Further discussion was prevented by the appearance of Frankie and Dov, who were closely followed by McNally and Schneider.
'You have to tell him,' Gail hissed under her breath as Frankie began speaking. Dov shot them a reproachful look clearly annoyed she was talking during the briefing. Gail poked her tongue out. Dov pursed his lips and turned back to face Frankie. He was such a goody two shoes, Gail thought, and she was—
'Mature, real mature,' Chloe whispered the very words that were forming in Gail's head.
She grinned just as Dov turned around again to glare at both she and Chloe. He huffed so audibly, Frankie stopped for a second. Gail arched her eyebrows at Dov and he turned back around again as Frankie resumed. Clearly Chloe wasn't the only cranky pants in the Dork kingdom today.
…
Chloe and Gail had been left at 15 to trawl through the missing person files compiled for Melanie Fisher and Mitchell Cormann. 'You never know something may have been overlooked,' Frankie had said, sounding as lame as the job itself. She took off before Gail could object, taking the others with her to interview the couple's friends and work colleagues and Melanie's ex-husband.
'Why is it I get the feeling I'm being punished,' Chloe grumped, 'I haven't done anything to annoy Anderson.'
'It's not you, it's me,' Gail said.
'Qui?'
'C'est évident—je suis formidable.'
'Le âne.'
'You're the one being the jackass,' Gail said, switching back to English. 'I'm here because I have a stalker and Anderson is being overprotective. You're here to babysit. Oops, was that an insensitive word choice.'
'Funny,' Chloe made a face.
'I'm going to get coffee or something.'
'Not takeout,' Chloe sat up in her chair with alarm.
'No need to panic. I'm staying within the confines of the station, which means I'll be drinking the crap the department provides and which masquerades as coffee. It should be arrested for identity fraud,' Gail deadpanned but Chloe didn't react. Gail sighed. It was going to be a long day. Maybe she should go see if Oliver was around. She could bug him for a while. 'Let me know if you get a lead,' Gail waved her hand in the direction of Chloe's computer and gave an evil grin, 'or better yet crack the case.'
Holly had no reason to be at 15. She'd emailed the preliminary autopsy report to Frankie and saved a copy on the share drive. In the time she'd been in San Francisco, the police and forensic departments had embraced the digital revolution and it was rare for Holly to print a hard copy report anymore. Still here she was in the corridor at 15, clutching a blue folder with a report, anxious about Gail and experiencing an unsettling sense of de ja vu.
Even more unsettling was the fact that it was she who had put Gail in danger. Alannah was right. Holly had only slept with Francine because she was missing Gail so much. One desperate night when she wanted something to erase the ache, some kind of comfort and took the sex that was on offer because it seemed easy, a temporary salve, and afterwards was overwhelmed by emptiness and self-loathing.
Up to that point Holly had expended a great deal of energy denying that all she wanted was another shot with Gail. It had left her incapable of being interested in anyone else and instead made her embark on a string of meaningless one night stands. Was she destined to be alone forever, Holly had wondered as she silently let herself out Francine's apartment in the cool dread of morning, her head throbbing and mouth dry from too much alcohol, desperate for a shower to wash the whole sordid experience away. More than anything, Holly wanted to pick up the phone and call Gail, but it seemed that ship had sailed.
They had never managed to be in quite the same place—and Holly didn't just mean geographically—for the relationship to work. Maybe their timing would always be off in spite of the intensity of their feelings. In hindsight, perhaps that very intensity had been their undoing, in fact would always stymie them because it was too much to sustain. No matter how many chances they got, how many times they tried to make it work, they would crash and burn. It left Holly's heart heavy, the regret and sadness at having to let Gail go overlaid by bitterness—a sentiment Holly was unused to—that the world would not allow her this love.
Holly's fears were unfounded, of course. Serendipity—or was it fate—had sent her to the conference in Chicago as an eleventh-hour replacement for her boss. She didn't have an opportunity to peruse the program until she was on the plane and there it was in black and white—Gail's name. It may as well have been a neon sign because it literally seemed to be flashing. She had read the entry over and over, her fingers tracing the words 'Detective Gail Peck'—Detective!—'Toronto Police Service', a coil of excitement in her belly and something that felt very much like hope.
She'd heard about the cold case from Rodney of course, and how it's solving had proved something of a fillip for both his and Gail's career. Rodney was a terrible source of gossip—he never seemed to notice any of the goings on at 15 or indeed the morgue—and even when she pressed him, feeling like a heel because she knew it would make him uncomfortable, he didn't know much about Gail's personal life, only that he was fairly sure she was single. It didn't matter any way because, by that stage, she'd already applied for the job back in Toronto and made the decision to return.
What Holly hadn't known as the plane took her to Chicago and to Gail was that that night with Francine those many months ago, the very night she resolved that she somehow needed to try again with Gail, had set in train a course of events which would put Gail in jeopardy. Oh, Holly knew Gail thought she needed to protect her, that Holly was afraid for herself, when in fact her only fear was for Gail.
It seemed very clear that Francine wanted Gail out of the picture, no pun intended. There was no denying Francine's behaviour was escalating and what concerned Holly, what had in fact kept her awake a good deal of last night, was that logically her next step would be to harm Gail. So this was why she was here, making her way down the corridor at 15, wanting to lay eyes on Gail just for a moment to reassure herself, even though Frankie had quietly promised Holly she'd keep Gail desk-bound and 'out of trouble'.
She had almost reached the detective pen when Gail swung out into the corridor. Holly could tell by the set of her shoulders that Gail was bored and irritable, but her eyes lit up as soon as she saw Holly.
'Would you check my cervical mucus?' Gail asked with a completely straight face, indeed her expression quite serious. Holly was glad no one else was in the corridor. If it had been a shift change it wouldn't have been so empty.
'What right now?' Holly furrowed her brow. She was used to some unusual requests from Gail but this might rank as one of the oddest. Surely it wasn't a proposition? She looked around. Was there an interrogation room free?
'Hypothetically speaking.'
'I kind of do on a regular basis.'
'Not like that, nerd,' Gail swatted a hand impatiently.
'Oh, I get it. You mean if you were trying to conceive. Actually honey, it's probably easier if you do it yourself.'
'I figured as much,' Gail nodded as if satisfied.
'I'm guessing you've had a productive morning googling.'
'If by google you mean Chloe and Dov.'
'Oh are they—'
'No. Long story. Dov thinks they are. Chloe's not ready right now.'
'She should tell him.'
'That's exactly what I said but she's wallowing. Anyway what are you doing here?'
'Oh,' Holly said casually, 'I needed some fresh air so I thought I'd deliver the autopsy report.' She held up the blue folder.
Gail narrowed her eyes but her lips quirked in amusement. 'Courier sick?' she arched an eyebrow.
'You know we don't use a courier anymore,' Holly smiled sheepishly, knowing she'd been found out.
'But I get a personal delivery,' Gail grinned, 'I'm guessing you emailed Frankie a copy.'
Holly nodded.
'You're far hotter than the courier anyway. Wait, did you walk over by yourself?
Holly swallowed and nodded again. She should have guessed Gail would be unhappy about that. 'Gail, I know you're worried but I don't think it's me Francine wants to harm.
'We can't know that for sure. Considering her mental state and the fact that the police are looking for her, Francine must be feeling the pressure. It could make her volatile, unpredictable. She may be just as likely to go after you.'
Holly hesitated. She could see the sense of not taking any unnecessary risks but still wasn't convinced Francine had any intention of targeting her. But Gail being Gail would put Holly's safety first, heedless of her own wellbeing. Perhaps she was overthinking but it left Holly uneasy.
'Shit, I'm sorry,' Gail sighed, mistaking Holly's silence for distress, 'that came out harsher than I intended.'
'I just don't want you taking any chances either. Everything Francine's done so far suggests you are the target,' Holly shuddered involuntarily and hated herself for it. She'd come here to support Gail and instead it was she who was falling apart. Gail took a step towards her and pulled her into a hug.
'We both need to be careful,' Gail murmured, 'until we find Francine. So how about I go get Chloe and the three of us grab some lunch and then we'll escort you back to the morgue.'
Holly found herself nodding once more. 'Wait, you're inviting Chloe to lunch?'
'She's my bodyguard. Again.'
'Your bodyguard huh.'
'Yeah, it's a perk of the job, nerd.' Gail had that impish grin once more. She was good at that—lightening the mood when she sensed Holly's anxieties were turning into a runaway train.
'Which also means,' Gail indicated the blue folder which Holly was still clutching, ' no make-out sessions in the interrogation room.' It didn't stop her from leaning in to kiss Holly, just briefly on the lips but it was something. Who was she kidding, Holly thought, Gail's kisses were always something.
'Good news princess, it's lunchtime' Gail said as she came back into the detective pen, 'and you're buying.'
Chloe looked up distractedly from the computer.
'Gail,' Holly said warningly.
'What?' Gail held up her hands, all innocence, 'I'm just being supportive. She's been moping around all morning—I thought a spot of altruism might make her feel good about herself. You know the giver-glow you told me about.'
Gail had scoffed at the term but Holly had explained that studies showed that helping other people out, in fact just thinking about it performing a good deed, activated the mesolimbic pathway in the brain that was associated with happiness and the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helped control the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Helper's high was another term for it, which really made Gail laugh.
Now Holly looked at Gail skeptically.
'Okay, okay I'm buying,' Gail said hurriedly.
'How did you manage that Holly?' Chloe said in awe, 'you must have superpowers.'
'Ha ha,' Gail said, 'keep that up Princess Grumpy and I'll retract my offer.'
…..
'Anything new in the autopsy report?' Gail asked over lunch.
'Nope. It just confirmed our initial assessment. Blow to the head, probably with a blunt instrument but she was hit with enough force to make her skull cave in. Dr Chatterjee believes the body was buried around the time Melanie disappeared.'
'Well, at least that narrows it down. I suppose it makes sense to trawl through Melanie's missing person file.'
'Sounds like you two have had a frustrating morning.' Holly made a sympathetic face.
Gail started to nod. She was sitting next to Holly in a booth and had inched progressively closer to her girlfriend and was now holding her hand.
'Actually, I think I might have found something,' Chloe said with a little of her usual eagerness. 'Did you know Melanie was trying to establish herself as an investigative reporter?'
'I thought she worked in a coffee shop,' Gail said.
'Yeah, but she studied journalism and worked for a paper for a few years after graduation but was retrenched when they downsized.'
'Not surprising,' Holly said, 'hundreds of jobs are cut from the media industry every year.'
'Melanie managed to get some work as a freelancer—not enough to live on but she had several articles published.'
'And what was she working on when she died?' Gail asked, letting go of Holly's hand and sitting up keenly.
'The file didn't say.'
'What'd you think Chloe, should we go speak to Melanie's parents? I'm guessing she had to have had a computer or laptop.'
'Yep and with any luck the Fishers might have it,' Chloe said.
'Hold on, aren't you two meant to stay at the station? Shouldn't you check with Frankie first,' Holly trailed off and then blushed.
Uh huh, Gail thought, so Holly was to blame for her tedious morning. She looked at Holly impassively, deliberating not saying anything, until predictably Holly started to squirm.
'I didn't ask Frankie to keep you at 15. I just,' Holly broke off again.
'You made her promise to look out for me.'
Holly nodded guiltily.
'That's sweet,' Chloe pronounced from the other side of the table.
'Well,' Gail said, a wily look on her face, 'I've got Chloe to protect me so I think I'm safe to go out onto the mean streets.'
'You're going to anyway, no matter what I say,' Holly sighed and Gail grinned.
Later when she said goodbye to Gail outside the morgue, Holly couldn't help but pull her close, hugging her so tightly Gail began to wonder if Holly would ever let her go, improbable as that thought was. 'Stay safe, detective,' Holly murmured before pulling back. As Gail watched Holly disappear through the front entrance, a faint feeling of foreboding settled upon her.
…..
'Melanie was exploited, even as a freelancer,' Bernie Fisher said. 'Those articles took weeks to research and write and she was paid a pittance.'
'So do you know what Melanie was working on when she disappeared?' Gail prompted, a little surprised by Bernie's vehemence.
'Ah, something to do with people trafficking. I don't think she'd got too far. My wife might know more. She'll be back from her work trip the day after tomorrow. The detectives from missing persons didn't seem to think it relevant.'
'Yeah,' Gail said, rocking back on her heels slightly. She didn't want to badmouth her colleagues but if that was true, it was a massive oversight.
'Did she have a laptop or computer she used for work?' Chloe asked.
'Laptop. It's missing though. We assumed it disappeared with her.'
'Any idea who commissioned the article?' Gail asked
'Ah,' Bernie considered for a moment, 'Melanie had done a few pieces for Focus magazine. It may have been for them. Do you think her death has something to do with the article?'
'We're checking all angles,' Chloe said, just like they always did, words intended both to reassure and stop people from asking too many questions or get their hopes up.
…..
Do you get the feeling Bernie didn't approve of his daughter freelancing?' Chloe asked once she and Gail were back in the car.
'Yeah, definitely. Weird. You'd think he'd be proud.'
'Maybe he was just being protective—you know worried her research might lead to trouble.'
'What if it did?'
….
'Yeah, Melanie was making good progress on that,' Chet Rankin, the editor of Focus said. He was what Gail's mother would have called pleasant looking. Not handsome but not unattractive, with a keen intelligence that he clearly applied both to the magazine and the present conversation. He barely looked old enough to be out of college but apparently had been running the magazine for the past five years. Most of the readership was online, he'd explained to Gail and Chloe, but they still distributed some hard copies.
'Any chance Melanie kept any documents on a share drive here? Like research for this article?' Chloe asked.
'No. We don't usually receive anything from the freelancers until they submit their article. That's what we save.'
'Did she discuss what she'd uncovered?' Gail said.
'A little. I was a bit preoccupied then. A convenience store chain was suing the magazine after we ran a story exposing how they were underpaying staff. But from what Melanie said, human trafficking is a bigger problem in Canada then most people believe. The Chinese and Russian gangs are the most involved. Easier to move people around these days than drugs or guns.'
'True,' Gail agreed, 'although, increasingly it is actually teenage girls living here in Canada who are being lured into unpaid sex work. In fact, anti-traffickers are saying it's now the majority.'
'Yeah,' Chet said, clearly interested, 'how is that?'
'Vulnerable girls are targeted and groomed. An older guy, who seems suave and worldly, will take an interest in a girl. Shower her with gifts. She believes he's her boyfriend. Next think he's trapped her into sex work. Maybe he blackmails her with compromising photos or gets her into drugs, but you're right it's a bigger problem than any one cares to admit.'
'Sounds like a story Focus should be doing.'
'It sure could do with more exposure,' Gail nodded, 'if only to act as a warning to potential victims. Ontario has an anti trafficking commissioner. Kate Lewis. She was a victim of trafficking herself. She'd been worth talking to.'
At Elaine's instigation, the newly appointed commissioner had briefed 15. Gail was shocked not only to learn that teenage girls living in Canada were targeted but that sixty per cent of all reported human trafficking cases came from the Greater Toronto Area.
Chet nodded. 'I feel you're helping me out, rather than the other way round.'
'You said Melanie linked the trafficking to Russian and Chinese gangs. Did she mention any names?' Chloe said.
'Lee Chou. Melanie felt he was definitely involved or at least members of his gang.'
Lee Chou. The man Elaine had allowed to tighten his hold on Toronto in exchange for Niall O'Leary.
The vacuum created by O'Leary's arrest had indeed been filled by Chou. He was king ping now. Having literally snuffed out the remnants of O'Leary's gang, he'd moved on to dispatch his main competitors. Traci was working a string of particular gruesome murders—gangland executions that Traci suspected Chou had ordered but couldn't prove it, yet. Had Steve's safety been worth unleashing this monster, Gail wondered. The answer had to be no, there had to have been a better way but her mother would never admit that.
….…..
'What the fuck, Peck,' Frankie said. She looked angry and her arms were folded across her chest. If Frankie had been a cartoon character, steam would have been coming out of her ears, Gail decided. She wasn't impressed to find Gail and Chloe missing when she returned to the station.
'We were chasing a lead,' Gail began.
'What part of stay here and check the files didn't you understand.'
'We checked them and got a lead and used our initiative. You never said don't leave 15.'
'It was implied,' Frankie said curtly, 'and you should've informed me before going off on a whim.'
It was Gail's turn to scowl.
'I don't think it's a whim,' Chloe said quietly, 'and I don't think we can discount the possibility that Melanie's investigation is connected to her death.'
'Okay, try me muppet,' Frankie said impatiently. She generally only called Chloe that when she was annoyed.
Gail rolled her eyes. 'Just keep an open mind, Anderson,' she said, but then let Chloe do the talking.
'Unlikely,' Frankie shook her head after hearing Chloe out, 'why dump her body at the archery club? How would Chou or any of his associates know about Melanie's connection to the Cormann brothers.'
'I dunno. She told them,' Gail shrugged, 'could be one of those random coincidences.'
'Again, unlikely,' Frankie frowned, 'anyway the ex-husband's alibi is looking shaky. He admitted to fudging the times as a favor to Keith Unger. I'm liking Keith for the murderer, particularly given his history of violence against Melanie.'
'I still think we should at least look into the people trafficking angle,' Gail insisted, 'and I want to know why missing persons didn't follow it up. You gotta admit that seems weird.'
'Probably because it was a dead end,' Frankie said acerbically and then sighed. 'Okay go check it out. Talk to Traci first. If Chou or any of the other gangs are involved she might have heard something, but I want to know your movements at all times.'
Chloe nodded and Gail reluctantly followed suit. Frankie was really taking this too far. Gail got that Frankie was looking out for her and she got that Francine was a menace but she was more than capable of looking out for herself, especially with Chloe glued to her side. She wished Holly had someone with her. At least, after Patricia Gimlet managed to get in and steal the severed head, Dr Carral had reinstated a daytime security guard at the morgue. No one was going to get passed the security unless they had a reason and an ID. Frankie had made sure of that, circulating a photo of Francine among the security team.
...
'I haven't heard anything about Chou being mixed up in anything like that. Some of his gang maybe but Chou has bigger fish to fry,' Traci said.
Gail and Chloe had caught the detective on her way out to collect Leo from school. Gail could tell by the way Traci kept trying to surreptitiously check the wall clock that she was already late.
'Human trafficking, especially sex trafficking is big business. We're talking a multimillion dollar business,' Gail said.
Traci sighed. 'You're right but Chou is about guns and drugs. My feeling is Melanie Fisher got it wrong.'
'If he traffics guns and drug, why not people?' Gail pushed.
Traci sighed again and looked at the clock.
'It's worth looking into, isn't it,' Chloe said. Unlike Gail, she sounded conciliatory.
'Sure,' Traci agreed, 'look I have to get Leo from school and then take him to soccer practice. Can we talk about this in the morning? Your victim's been dead four years—I don't think we have to worry about the trail going cold.'
'Can we come along for the ride?' Gail asked.
'Doesn't Frankie want you two to stay,' Traci stopped, realising Gail was regarding her skeptically, 'look it doesn't matter. Yeah okay, we can talk more at practice.'
…
Leo reached up to give Gail a hug. Okay that was someone else she didn't mind hugging her. It was kind of sweet that at eleven Leo still hugged her. It probably wouldn't last much longer. Adolescence would kick in and Leo would no longer think of her as the cool what? Gail stopped. What was she to Leo? She'd overheard him describing her to one of his friends as his sort of auntie. It was well after Steve was out of the picture. She could have been his actual auntie. Had come close but then Steve turned out to be spineless. She could never quite forgive him for being willing to let Ollie take the rap.
Thinking about Oliver made her realise Leo was family like Oliver was family—part of a grab bag of misfits who looked out for each other and whose mutual care and affection ran deep. Gail wouldn't say it out loud, wouldn't even admit it to Holly, but she loved all these guys. Not like she loved Holly of course but like family. 'We make our own families,' Holly said when Gail despaired of her biological one. And it was true.
'Am I having a sleepover,' Leo asked excitedly, bouncing up on the tip of his toes in that way kids did, 'are you picking me up instead of mom?'
'Not today buddy,' Gail smiled, 'Traci's waiting in the car with Chloe.'
'Oh,' Leo looked crestfallen. He stopped the bouncing thing and kicked at some dirt with his shoe.
'But we're coming to soccer practice,' Gail said, feeling disingenuous because Leo wasn't the real reason she'd be standing on the sidelines, 'and how 'bout we organise a sleepover soon.'
Leo brightened at that and nodded enthusiastically.
Once at practice, Leo kept checking to see that Gail was watching. Shooting what he thought were furtive glances and then grinning when he caught her eye. The coach had divided the team in two and they were playing a small-sided game. Leo was out on the wing and repeatedly fed the ball to the striker who missed every chance at goal. Finally, Leo took the ball all the way up and shot, placing the ball in the very corner of the goal so the keeper had no hope of reaching it. Gail whooped like it was the World Cup, like Holly would watching a game.
'It's only practice,' Traci laughed, and a number of parents looked on in amusement.
Gail coloured. She hadn't realized how carried away she'd become. It was Holly's fault, she decided. Somehow hanging around Holly meant she now understood the rules of not just the 'beautiful game' as Holly liked to call soccer but quite a few other sports as well.
Chloe grinned at her knowingly or so it seemed to Gail but about what wasn't clear.
'What,' Gail demanded
Chloe didn't flinch. She should have. Gail's tone was harsh but Chloe was used to it.
'Just thinking how adorable you'll be when you and Holly have babies.'
Gail shot her a death stare that would have shrivelled anyone else but Chloe just giggled.
'You and Holly are having a baby?' Traci asked, doing nothing to conceal her interest in the turn the conversation had taken.
'No,' Gail screwed up her face, 'well not right this minute.'
'Won't they make adorable parents,' Chloe gushed.
Before Traci had a chance to respond, Gail spoke. 'Why are you so sure Chou's not involved in people trafficking,' she asked, deciding a swift change in topic was needed, especially if she was to be prevented from doing actual bodily harm to Chloe.
'It's never come up. I've got an informant who does some work for the gang and sometimes hangs with Chou's lieutenants and he's never mentioned trafficking.'
'Maybe he's not in the loop,' Gail suggested.
'It's possible but my feeling is the trafficking isn't that organised. More like individual pimps or groups of pimps who trick these girls into working for them. It's too small time for Chou.'
' A girl who's trafficked daily for sex can bring in up to $280, 000 a year,' Gail said, recalling what the trafficking commissioner had told them. 'So not so small time.'
'Shit,' Traci shook her head more in sadness than amazement, 'I hadn't realised that. It puts it in a different league.'
'Any chance Chou's people could be trafficking girls on the side and Chou's turning a blind eye?' Chloe asked.
'Chou runs a tight ship. He doesn't like his people freelancing, especially when profits are involved. But I'll ask around. See what I can dig up.'
Before either Chloe or Gail could reply, Leo ran up to them, signalling practice was over. 'Gail, did you see my goal?' he asked, once again doing that excited bouncing on his toes thing.
'Sure did buddy,' Gail's smile was wide and genuine, 'it was pure poetry. I'm gonna have to bring Holly to see you play this weekend.'
Leo couldn't stop the grin spilling across his face. Traci handed him a water bottle. 'Time to go?' she suggested. Leo nodded.
'Face it Gail, you're a big ol' softie,' Chloe said as they walked back to car. Traci and Leo were a little ahead and too engrossed in their own conversation to hear.
'Ugh, whatever Price,' Gail said, for once unable to come up with a snarky response.
…
'So how about grilled chicken and a salad,' Gail said as she straightened up from her examination of Alannah's refrigerator. Like Holly, the neurosurgeon was health conscious and kept her refrigerator well stocked so it was easy to come up with a dinner plan.
'Sounds good,' Holly smiled, 'are Frankie and Alannah going to be here for dinner?'
'Nuh. Therapy session,' Gail said. Frankie had insisted on driving she and Holly back to Alannah's place and seeing them into the apartment. Gail knew Frankie's intentions were good but she was getting a little sick of the hovering. Then Frankie left, saying offhandedly that she had things to do and looked directly at Gail, who knew exactly what that thing was, as if daring her to say something.
'That was fast.'
'Yeah, the therapist had a cancellation.'
'So we have the place to ourselves,' Holly arched an eyebrow suggestively, 'plenty of time for me to check your cervical mucus.'
'Eeww, Nerd you really need to work on your seduction lines,' Gail teased.
'Seemed to have worked with you so far,' Holly said, moving to loop her arms around Gail's neck, 'in fact I'd say I have a one hundred per cent success rate when it comes to you.'
'Yeah,' Gail started to say but was interrupted by the door buzzer. 'Uggh Elaine,' she said, after checking the video intercom, 'Superintendent Mom must have heard you saying you wanted to make babies.'
'Still not how it works, Peck,' Holly said as Gail buzzed Elaine in.
'So I had to find out from Fiona Vincent that you were here,' Elaine said reproachfully.
She had stayed for dinner. Holly was the one who invited her and Gail had tried not to react but of course her mother had caught her mid eye-roll. Gail couldn't help but think Elaine accepted out of spite.
'It's only temporary,' Gail said airily, helping herself to more dinner.
'Well, I'm aware of that,' Elaine sounded testy. 'And really Gail do you need a second helping? You're looking like you may have gained a few pounds. I'm guessing Holly, you might not find Gail quite as attractive if she were plump.'
Gail's eyes bugged. Now her mother was trying to make Holly complicit in her bullying. Gail had learnt from an early age to trade on her looks—that this was how her worth would be measured in relationships. It had made her meaner because it made her believe she didn't matter as a person, and sometimes she even deliberately tested how bitchy she could be before whatever guy she was dating took a hike. Gail had talked about this with Leslie in therapy and about how it wasn't really until Holly that she felt valued for being more than the hot chick.
Holly regarded Gail for a long moment. Her expression was quite serious at first, then she got that particular look of adoration she reserved for Gail—it was sweet and kind of goofy and entirely smitten and it made Gail's heart skip a beat. Holly turned back to Elaine. 'Oh my,' she said, the wicked glint in her eye impossible to miss, 'imagine how curvaceous Gail would be. Oh that would be something.'
Elaine huffed a little, clearly not quite believing Holly.
'Don't get me wrong Elaine,' Holly continued, 'Gail is gorgeous as she is but I love a lot more about her than her looks. And for the record, body shaming,' Holly waved a hand, 'isn't a thing for me. Never was. In fact, my parents actively discouraged it.'
In that moment, Gail felt like Holly was her hero, and if possible she felt herself fall more in love.
'Well, you have nothing to worry about in that department, dear,' Elaine said, the implication being Gail did, 'and you keep in good shape. My daughter, however, is very lazy when it comes to physical activity.' She rummaged in her handbag and pulled out a small black band. 'Here,' she said, holding it out to Gail.
'What's that?' Gail asked as if she had been offered something quite repulsive.
'It's a Fitbit,' Elaine explained.
'Yeah, I can see that mother but why are you giving it to me.'
'It will track your steps. The heart foundation recommends 10, 000 a day, but you should probably double that,' Elaine, 'I thought we could do a mother-daughter challenge.' She held up her wrist to show her own Fitbit and then dangled the other one in front of Gail, who eyed it skeptically. The fact was ever since Francine had started stalking Holly, Gail and now Frankie had accompanied Holly on her regular runs. If anything, Gail's clothes were feeling a looser.
'I could use that,' Holly said, reaching across to pluck the band from Elaine's hand. 'Thanks.' She smiled sweetly.
Elaine sighed. 'How long do you plan on staying here? It would be much safer for you to return home.'
'And dad would be okay with that,' Gail drawled.
'Well, I'm sure given the circumstances,' Elaine began.
'No dice mom,' Gail said, getting up to clear the plates, 'I'd offer you dessert but then I guess we all should be watching our waistlines.'
Elaine pursed her lips and stood. 'You know Fiona Vincent is doing everything she can to track down Dr Hart,' she said briskly. She hesitated and it appeared as if she might reach out to Gail. Her hand hovered between them for a moment and Elaine looked at it like it was a foreign object before pulling it back. 'We will find her,' she said, her voice softer.
It was as much as she was going to get Gail thought, as much as Elaine could give, and Gail recognised something of her past self in Elaine's stuttered attempt to show she cared.
It was still early when Elaine left and they'd washed up. Gail figured Frankie and Alannah must have grabbed dinner after the therapy session. Unless they were licking their wounds somewhere. Although Alannah would probably come home to do that, especially now Holly had become something of a confident.
'Do you want to watch a movie or—' Gail left the question hanging.
'Oh definitely the or,' Holly said, moving into Gail's space to kiss her. It was tender at first, unhurried and undemanding, and Gail appreciated the reassurance it held. Then Holly deepened the kiss and Gail pulled her closer, moving her hands to Holly's ass.
'Bed,' Holly said firmly, breaking the kiss.
'Yeah, I guess it wouldn't make us very good guests if Alannah and Frankie came home to discover you ravishing me on the kitchen island.'
'Not to mention it's an uncomfortable surface, especially for ravishing,' Holly smirked and took Gail by the hand to lead her upstairs.
Later as they lay side by side, Gail ran her hand across Holly's stomach. It was smooth and toned with a swell below the belly button stud so slight Gail only knew of it by touch. She smiled at how Holly looked so much darker against her own pale hand. She liked these quiet moments after sex, their bodies relaxed but thrumming deliciously. Right now nothing else mattered. It was just she and Holly in this room so close and the sense of being fused to Holly so strong that if it weren't for the contrast in their skin colour, Gail wouldn't be able to say where each of their bodies actually began and ended. It was a sensation she had only really known with Holly—something she most probably would have dismissed as sappy if anyone had described it to her before.
The sound of the front door shutting with a sort of wheeze and then a sharp clunk, and of Alannah and Frankie's voices drifting up the stairs, broke the spell. Eventually the real world always intruded.
'Elaine's right. You are in good shape,' Gail said, as she toyed with Holly's bellybutton stud.
'I really don't want to talk about your mother right now,' Holly smiled lazily.
'Hmm, you're just jealous of my donut baby,' Gail grinned, pushing her stomach down and out as far as she could so it did indeed protrude.
Holly laughed in amusement. 'You know Gail,' she said, all at once serious, 'I did find you breathtakingly beautiful the first time I saw you but it was your snark that drew me in.'
'My snark,' Gail repeated in disbelief.
'Yep,' Holly nodded and tilted her head to one side in that way Gail found so irresistible, 'I fell for everything about you. Not just the way you look but your big heart and compassion, your intelligence and your vulnerability and the way you don't let any one get away with bullshit, your quick wit—'
'Don't you mean bitchiness,' Gail interjected.
'No,' Holly shook her head, 'I love your sassiness. Nobody has ever made me laugh as much as you do.'
'So the whole package huh.'
'Even the donut baby,' Holly joked, shifting the mood. She leaned down to kiss Gail's stomach, which was flat again, the strain of pushing it out of shape being too hard to sustain. Then Holly began to tickle Gail's sides until Gail was giggling and out of breath and begging her to stop.
'I love you Gail Peck,' Holly said after she finally desisted and Gail was breathing normally, 'you know that.' She was lying flush against Gail, looking down at her and into those almond shaped eyes so blue they were almost sapphire. It was a face of perfection.
'I might have figured that out,' Gail pretended to huff, 'but you have a strange way of showing it—tickling me half to death.'
'Yeah,' Holly said, and smirking she moved to lean over Gail's stomach again and kiss it. In fact, she kissed a trail down to her bellybutton and further still until Gail became utterly lost in the wondrous things Holly's tongue could do.
…..
'You hear the word people trafficking and you think of someone brought here illegally from overseas —Eastern Europe or Asia—but most of the girls trafficked for sex work are Canadian. Vulnerable teenagers who these guys prey upon and before they know it their trapped in a life of misery,' Kate Lewis sighed, 'I should know, I was one of them.'
It was hard to believe. Gail guessed Kate to be about her age. Poised and articulate, she had curly shoulder length hair and a wide, expressive face. She was dressed in a blue velvet jacket and white
t-shirt, black cigarette pants and grey ankle boots. A chunky sliver necklace and rings completed the ensemble that was funky more than corporate. There was something quite warm about her that drew you in, and yet she still had an earnestness Gail recognised as common to crusaders.
'Do you mind me asking why you, why any of the girls stay?' Chloe asked.
'I had a difficult adolescence. I didn't get on with my parents—they fought a lot and didn't seem to have time for me. I hated school. Looking back I think I was depressed. Plus I had all the usual teenage angst about my body, my looks. I had a lot of self-loathing. Then this older guy, Dmitri, came along and showered me with attention. He'd take me places, give me gifts. Made me feel special. I was flattered. I thought he really cared. I thought he loved me. We did drugs. A weeks in, Dmitri asked me to meet a man at a motel for sex. He said he owed him money and the man was going to kill him but if I agreed to sex with him he'd forgive the debt.'
Kate paused. 'It wasn't one man that day. It was several. One after the other. Dmitri didn't even change the sheets. I was too hopped up on drugs to resist. After that, Dmitri threatened if I didn't keep working for him, he'd tell my parents. Sometimes he even said he'd kill them and my little brother.'
'You were still living at home.' Gail asked.
'Yeah. He'd pick up after school and take me to the motel. I was afraid of him. Afraid he would tell my parents. And the sex work kind of fed my self-loathing. I convinced myself it was all I was good for. And,' Kate laughed hollowly, 'I discovered Dmitri had about ten girls working for him, so I wasn't so special.'
'Is Dmitri still around,' Chloe said.
'Nope, he's serving twenty years in prison. My testimony put him away.'
'What made you speak up?'
'When Dmitri recruited a thirteen year old. She was so young. I couldn't watch that happening to her. I went to my parents. They're big time lawyers with connections on the force. Dmitri was arrested.'
'Lawyers,' Chloe looked surprised.
'You'd be amazed how many of us come from good middle-class families and how many girls live at home without their parents twigging that this is going on. If their daughter is withdrawn or emotional they put it down to teenage moodiness.'
'So do you get a sense guys like Dmitri are connected to gangs?'
'It's possible. These guys are into all sorts of shit. I never heard Dmitri mention a gang. Why? Do you think the gangs are running this.'
'Its possible they have an involvement,' Gail said.
'So this woman, the victim, Melanie Fisher, she wasn't trafficked?'
'No,' Chloe said, 'she was freelance journalist and was working on a story about people trafficking in Toronto.'
'Well, Toronto is Canada's people trafficking capital.'
'Not a great distinction,' Gail commented.
'No,' Kate agreed, 'so Melanie disappeared four years ago.'
Gail and Chloe nodded.
'I've only been in this job six months and I left that life nearly ten years ago but I'll ask around. See if any of the girls I'm in contact with know of her.'
…..
'A problem has gotta be serious if the government appoints a commissioner to deal with it,' Chloe said once they were back in the car,
'Yeah and Kate wasn't lying about Toronto being the people trafficking capital,' Gail sighed.
'It's awful to think of what those girls are forced to do. They should be doing normal teenage things like hanging out with their friends and gossiping about boys—'
'Or girls,' Gail interrupted.
'Or girls,' Chloe smiled, 'and trying to sneak into music festivals with a fake ID.'
'Wait, you did that?'
Chloe nodded. 'I was totally busted and Security called my parents and I was so mortified I never did it again.'
Gail laughed. 'Only you Chloe.'
They lapsed into silence for a few blocks. Gail began drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. 'Should we pay Missing Persons a visit?' she said abruptly, 'find out why they didn't pursue the trafficking angle.'
'Frankie okay with that?'
'She didn't say no.'
Chloe paused, her face pensive. Was she going to refuse, Gail wondered? Sometimes, well mostly Chloe played things by the book, but then she was almost as annoyed as Gail at the way Frankie was sidelining them in this investigation and all because she was overreacting to this whole Francine business. The sooner the woman was found the better. Then Gail and Holly could go home and back to normal life.
'Yeah, lets do it,' Chloe said finally.
Gail would have high fived her if she'd been the type of person to do that type of thing but she wasn't so she settled for a small smile and quick nod of her head. A moment later Holly called. Gail was driving so put her on speaker.
'Keeping safe, Detective.' Holly asked. Gail could hear the smile in her voice. She loved that about Holly. How her feelings spilled over into her words so that even though Gail couldn't see her, she could picture Holly's expression.
'Always. How's your day?'
'Well, if I hadn't been kept up half the night, I might be a little more focused.'
'You complaining,' Gail asked, Holly's flirty tone making her forget Chloe was right there in the passenger seat.
'Well, not if you promise to do that thing with your tongue again.' Holly's voice was low now and had gone beyond suggestive.
Chloe let out a small snicker, reminding Gail she and Holly were not alone.
'Holly,' Gail hissed, 'not in front of the child.'
'The child?'
'Um, we've got company. Chloe's in the car. You're on speaker.'
'Duh, Gail, I'm aware you and Holly have sex,' Chloe said, sounding amused more then anything.
Holly chuckled. 'Hi Chloe,' she said, unfazed
'Who said we were actually talking about sex,' Gail said, ignoring Chloe's sceptical grin, 'anyway it wasn't half the night, Holly.'
'If you say so Gail. Oh and hey it looks like I'll be running late for Kurt's dinner. 27 found a body and I'm about to start the preliminary autopsy. Do you want go ahead and meet me at the restaurant.'
'Sure,' Gail agreed.
'Apparently dad has a surprise for us.'
'A surprise? I thought it was his birthday. Aren't we supposed to be giving the presents.'
'Yeah, but you know my dad.'
'Any idea what it is?'
'No and Kurt was very enigmatic so guess we'll have to wait for dinner for all to be revealed.'
….
'Melanie Fisher was my first case after I made detective and joined missing persons,' Larissa Chang said and then sighed. ' You always hope they'll turn up alive, the ones you never find. That they've assumed a new identity and are living it up somewhere or have amnesia or something. Unlikely, l know.' She gave a hollow laugh.
'Any reason you didn't follow the trafficking angle?' Gail asked.
Larissa looked away and shuffled some papers on her desk. 'It didn't seem relevant.' The way she said it, she didn't sound convinced. She began fiddling with the very edge of a file, folding the corner over and then back and then over again. Not much of a poker face, Gail thought. Larissa seemed like a good person—too compassionate for this line of work. The case clearance rate was low and often as not locating a missing person meant finding a body.
'That's not the real reason,' Gail said more forcefully than she intended.
Larissa flinched. 'I,' she began and then looked across at Chloe as if the detective could help her out or save her from Gail. But Chloe wasn't cooperating. Like Gail, she regarded Larissa impassively. 'Look,' Larissa sighed heavily, 'I felt we should follow up that angle. It seemed logical but Detective Palmer put a stop to it.'
'Palmer?' Gail asked.
'My then partner. He took early retirement about two years back.'
'And he actually told you to drop the trafficking angle?' Chloe said.
'Yeah,' Larissa chewed her lip, 'he was adamant.'
'Did he give a reason,' Gail asked.
'No, but I was new and you know,' Larissa trailed off, 'I always regretted not standing up to him.'
…
'The lead went nowhere,' Palmer shrugged, 'that's why we dropped it. End of story.'
He was a big man. Meaty hands and thick thighs, the belt of his trousers sitting below a belly that protruded like a barrel. Too much of the good life, Gail thought as she looked around. The house was large, opulent even, and far too grand for someone on a detective's salary. She made a mental note to ask Dov to look into Palmer's finances.
'Detective Chang got the impression you weren't too keen on pursuing it.'
'That girl knows nothing. She was wet behind the ears,' Palmer said derisively, 'only made detective because of affirmative action.'
'Are you referring to her ethnicity or gender,' Gail asked coolly.
'Probably both,' Palmer leered at she and Chloe, 'gotta say I always felt much safer when I was partnered with a guy. That's backup you can rely on.'
He was deliberately goading them. That much was obvious, and neither Gail or Chloe showed any reaction. They didn't want to give Palmer the satisfaction.
'You've got a nice home here, Mr Palmer, 'Chloe said conversationally, 'wouldn't you agree Gail.'
'Oh yes. It's very well appointed. Some would even say lavish.'
'And?' Palmer practically sneered.
'And you wouldn't have taken any kickbacks to pay for it,' Chloe said, the accusation the words contained belied by her sweet tone.
'Nice try but I'm not biting.'
'You took early retirement. Any particular reason?' Gail asked.
'Last I looked it wasn't a crime.' Palmer looked Gail up and down appraisingly. 'You're Steve Peck's little sister aren't you.'
Gail didn't respond.
'I've heard about you,' Palmer continued, 'hell, everyone on the force has. How you were taken by that serial rapist, Perick.'
'Yeah, what's your point, Palmer?' Gail knew she shouldn't have reacted but she couldn't help herself. She felt uncomfortably hot and her skin prickled.
'Must have been horrific, what he did to you.' It wasn't said with any empathy rather Palmer seemed excited. 'I'm surprised you'd want to go back on the force after that.'
'Well, here I am,' Gail said, 'and if Perick taught me one thing, it was how to recognise guys who are
full of shit.'
'Like your brother,' Palmer smiled but there was no mirth in his expression, 'how is Stevie boy.'
Again Gail said nothing.
'A friendly word of advice. I know where Steve buried the bodies so think twice before you go after me. I've got information that would put Stevie boy back in prison for a very long time. In fact, they'd throw away the key.'
Outside Gail shook her head as if to clear it. 'Do you think it's true, what he said about Steve and the bodies?' Her voice was small and she hated how vulnerable Palmer had made her feel.
'It sounded like a crock to me,' Chloe reassured her, 'if anyone has buried bodies it's Palmer, metaphorically speaking. I think we need to do some more digging.'
'Yep.'
'Enough for today. Haven't you got a dinner to get to?'
Gail nodded.
…..
Gail threw back the tequila shot, enjoying the smooth burn of the liquor down the back of her throat. It was the expensive stuff. Top shelf as Lisa would say with a snooty accent she thought amusing and as though she didn't without fail drink good liquor. Still, Gail really shouldn't be slugging back tequila as fine as this. Truth was the encounter with Palmer had left a bad taste in her mouth and she'd needed a shot to put her in the mood for Kurt's celebrations. Holly was still tied up at the morgue with a case from 27 and Gail had gone ahead to the restaurant without her. Which had meant Frankie insisted on driving her there and was on standby to collect Holly when she was done with the autopsy. Really, it was getting ridiculous, Gail thought, as she contemplated ordering another shot.
'Hard day,' said a man on Gail's left. She had registered him coming up to the bar when she was slugging back her shot but only peripherally. Now she turned to look at him properly, her face at its supercilious best, one eyebrow arched sceptically. He was a little older than Gail, with dark brown hair and those big brown eyes she knew so well and that familiar lopsided smile. If she hadn't seen the baby photos, she'd still recognise him as Holly's brother.
Zach had been working in England for the past two years. He and Holly were close as children—still were as adults but distance and different time zones and high-powered jobs made them careless about regular contact. 'It doesn't matter,' Holly had told Gail, 'when we reconnect it's like I saw Zach yesterday. We just fall back into that familiarity.'
Zach had stayed with Holly after she moved to San Francisco and not long after she'd visited him in London. Gail realized she'd never seen photos from either time or in fact any recent ones of Zach. Unlike Gail, Holly wasn't a happy snapper. She'd only really started taking photos after she and Gail got back together and most often they were of the two of them. Gail liked to think that until she came along, Holly hadn't had such a reason to record her life. Holly wasn't big on social media either. Mainly she didn't have the time. 'You or Snapchat,' she'd joked to Gail once and Gail had quickly agreed it was a no-brainer
So Zach was the surprise Kurt referred to. Gail realised he was waiting for a response to his—was it a question? An observation. Did she want to tell him that yes it had been a shitty shitty day. That the confrontation with Palmer had reminded Gail she could never escape the taint of Peck corruption or the association with Perick. Should she tell him about Melanie and how they seemed no closer to finding her killer and how every case, every death she had to investigate, chipped away at her faith in humanity. How some days it was hard to maintain her equilibrium in the face of all that, and on those days, days like today, she sometimes felt like she only got through because Holly was there like a touchstone, a promise that life could be good and true. Should she tell him how she seemed to have a knack for attracting people who wanted to do her harm and that right now she and Holly had been forced out of their home because of Francine? Yet Gail knew she could burden him with none of these things, not least her own problems which seemed meaningless when she thought about those teenage girls tricked into a life that was monstrous.
'What makes you think I've had a bad day?' Gail settled for sass in the end, her tone haughty enough to give Zach pause. He clearly had no idea who she was and she decided to have fun with that. It was perverse, she knew, but it had been a shitty, shitty day and she couldn't make nice, not just yet, the tequila having done little to shift the mood that settled post Palmer.
'Dead giveaway. Drinking alone,' Zach said, undeterred by Gail, his smile easy, sure. Was it a Stewart thing not to be bothered by her snark?
'Got a problem with that,' Gail challenged.
'Just seems a waste—someone as beautiful as you drinking by yourself.'
He thought he was smooth and there was an ease and a confidence about him that suggested he wasn't used to knock backs. It was a self-belief most people would find attractive and an assurance Holly didn't share, not when it came to seducing people. Sometimes Gail thought if she hadn't kissed Holly in the interrogation room they never would have got together. Although to be fair, Holly was holding back on account of Gail's supposed straightness. Still, even if Holly was more circumspect when it came to hitting on people (not that she had any reason to do that anymore), her lines were way better than her brother's.
'Seriously, that's the best you've got,' Gail twisted her mouth disdainfully.
Zach regarded her with a look that was all too familiar. An amused sort of disbelief at her bluntness, and a tinge of admiration but there was a tinge of admiration that she could be so forthright and not care what anyone thought. He was Holly's brother alright.
'You need to try a little harder,' Gail knew she sounded flirtatious.
'A little harder,' Zach looked puzzled, though Gail got the sense he believed she was warming to him, that he was cracking that brittle exterior.
'Yep,' Gail nodded.
'With my lines?'
'Nuhuh,' Gail shook her head and signalled the bartender for two more shots.
'Buying me a drink. Very liberated.'
'Really? Exactly which century do you think we live in.'
Zach smirked in that way Holly did. It felt so familiar and yet so different. Gail wondered if she would have been drawn to Zach when she believed she was straight, but the whole falling for boys seemed like an eon ago and she couldn't conjure what had attracted her to men in the first place so she let that thought go.
'So, tell me. How can I do better?'
'Why?' Gail tipped back the shot that had been placed in front of her, and Zach did the same, immediately signalling the bartender for refills. Gail hadn't planned on being drunk for Kurt's dinner but if Zach kept this up, she'd be well on her way.
'So you'll give me a chance.' The smile was lopsided and there was the head tilt. It wasn't quite as attractive on Zach, though Gail was sure it melted hearts.
Gail laughed.
'What's so amusing?'
'I hate to break it to you buddy but no matter what you do or say you don't stand a chance.'
'Really.' It was Zach's turn to raise an eyebrow.
'You don't happen to have a sister,' Gail fixed him with a wide, cheeky smile. She couldn't help it. This was way too much fun.
'What?' Zach was perplexed at the seemingly abrupt change in conversation, 'why do you want to know about my sister? Oh, Oh,' he trailed off as Gail's meaning dawned on him. 'You like women.' It was said without judgement, which pleased Gail.
'One in particular,' she smiled again.
'Someone special,' Zach offered. He'd signalled the bartender for another drink and as he spoke two more shots appeared in front them.
Gail smiled and nodded.
'Here's to your girlfriend? Wife?' Zach picked up the shot glass and Gail did likewise.
'Girlfriend,' Gail confirmed and they tipped back their shots in unison. She pictured Holly smiling and not for the first time thanked whatever forces had brought Holly into her life.
'Are you happy,' Zach asked after a moment, his question bringing Gail back to the present, 'you and your girlfriend. If you don't mind me asking.'
'Extremely,' Gail said without hesitation.
'You're lucky.' It was said wistfully.
Gail realized she'd never asked Holly why Zach had never settled down with somebody or if he'd even had a long-term relationship.
'Kind of a shame you've got someone. I think you'd be just my sister's type.'
'Yeah,' Gail couldn't help smirking.
'I mean she has someone too so there is that.'
'Kinda stumbling block,' Gail agreed, 'What's she like—your sister's girlfriend.'
'I haven't met her yet. My parents adore her and they have high standards for their kids when it comes to relationships,' Zach said, 'but she and my sister will be here soon. Hey, maybe you even know them.'
'Like I know every lesbian in Toronto.'
'I didn't mean that,' Zach started to say as Gail caught sight of Lisa making her way across the room towards them. That's right. Kurt had invited her as well.
'Lisa' Gail said as the surgeon came up to the bar.
'Well you know Lisa,' Zach said as if that proved his point.
'Lisa is not every lesbian,' Gail said archly which made Zach laugh. Gail was beginning to like him.
'Are you two drunk,' Lisa scowled, 'Kurt hasn't even arrived, and where is Holly? Is she going to happy that you're knocking back tequila, Gail.' Lisa indicated two full shot glasses that had somehow materialised on the bar. Zach must have ordered them.
'Holly doesn't keep me on a leash,' Gail said and downed the shot just to piss off Lisa.
'Wait,' Zach had paled visibly, 'you're Gail. As in Holly's Gail.'
'Of course she is,' Lisa snapped, 'what have you been playing at, Gail.'
'We only just got talking,' Gail said a little lamely, 'we hadn't got to the formalities, like you know names.'
…
'Can we make a detour via the house? Mine and Gail's,' Holly asked Frankie as they left the morgue. 'I just need a quick shower and I need to get a change of clothes.'
'Yeah,' Frankie agreed as she nosed the car out into the traffic, 'I've got some calls to make anyway.'
'Are you sure you don't mind waiting.'
Frankie shook her head 'nah, no problem. If I don't, Gail will say you smell like dead people.'
Holly laughed.
It was weird going back to the house they'd left in such a hurry two days ago. Things were in exactly the same place—the letters Holly had dropped on the table, a loaf of bread on the countertop, some pots in the dish drainer from dinner three nights ago, and a messy shopping list stuck to the refrigerator. As she came through the front door, Holly stooped to pick up the mail strewn across the hall, which the mailman had pushed through the mail flap in the door. Frankie hastily took the bundle from her, checking each one before handing them back to Holly. They were mostly bills; a request for a donation to a wildlife sanctuary and a postcard from a former colleague Holly had become friends with in San Francisco and who was now travelling the world. Nothing from Francine, thankfully.
It was on the way out that an odd thing happened. Gemma Lister, the doctor who had worked with Francine, was standing by the gate out front. Actually, lurking might be a better word for it, Holly decided.
'Dr Lister,' Holly said stiffly, 'what are you doing here?'
'Oh Dr Stewart,' Gemma feigned surprise or so it seemed to Holly, 'Do you live here?'
Holly didn't reply but Frankie asked bluntly, 'who are you?'
'Gemma Lister. Um, I looked after Holly after the accident. I'm a resident,' Gemma explained.
'What do you want?' Frankie said coolly.
'Um nothing. I'm just visiting a friend who lives,' Gemma paused. She seemed nervous. 'Down the street. I better be going,' she stuttered, 'I'm running late.' With that she strode off.
'Does she know Francine?' Frankie asked once she and Holly were back in the car.
'They worked together at the hospital,' Holly paused, 'she's the one who told Gail that Francine was putting it about that I was her girlfriend. Gail got the impression Gemma didn't much like Francine.'
'Uh huh,' Frankie said non-committedly.
'Frankie, should I be worried?'
'Just being cautious,' Frankie reassured, 'everyone's a suspect right now. I might run a check on her, to be sure.'
'You know you're a good friend, Frankie.'
'No don't you start getting all sentimental. I'm only just handling all this expressing your feelings shit with Alannah.'
'You don't really think it's shit,' Holly smiled.
'Nah. I guess not but don't tell anyone I said that.'
…
'Wait you knew it was me all along,' Zach asked.
'Pretty much,' Gail grinned.
They were sitting at the table Kurt had reserved and were drinking French champagne ordered by Lisa. There was still no sign of Holly or her parents. Gail was beginning to feel quite drunk and knew if she didn't eat something soon she'd be in trouble.
'Peck that's no way to treat the father of your future children,' Lisa swatted her on the forearm. Gail looked at her arm and then at Lisa, her expression incredulous but Lisa ignored her.
'Father,' Zach swallowed, 'children.'
'Holly and Gail want babies,' Lisa said like it all made perfect sense. Gail realized then that Lisa had been knocking back the champagne with such gusto she had almost caught up with her companions. 'Zach, what it means is that Gail needs your sperm.'
Zach, who had just taken a mouthful of champagne, began coughing as the liquid went down the wrong way. Gail started thumping him on the back.
'Geez Lisa I hope you know the Heimlich manoeuvre,' she said, 'it will be your fault if Zach chokes before Holly or her parents have a chance to see him.'
Lisa scowled. 'He'll be fine.'
Finally Zach stopped spluttering but his eyes were watering and he was red in the face.
This was how Holly found them.
'Did I miss something,' she smirked as she came up to the table. Gail grinned happily and Zach jumped up to hug Holly.
'The surprise,' Gail flapped her hand at Zach, 'he hit on me. When he didn't know who I was.'
'Not the first time that's happened with one of my girlfriends,' Holly said, taking the seat next to Gail and leaning in to kiss her.
'Do we have to go into that,' Zach groaned.
'Oh most definitely,' Gail said gleefully, 'Wait, how many girlfriends do you actually have, Holly?' she scrunched up her face, 'I thought I was the only one.'
'Girlfriends past tense,' Holly smirked again, 'and how much have you guys had to drink.'
'Just a little.' Even Gail could hear that her words were beginning to slur.
Holly raised her eyebrow.
'Where are your parents anyway?' Gail deflected.
'They should be here any minute. Kurt messaged me on the way here. The neighbors invited them over for a drink to toast his birthday and one thing led to another. I'm thinking I may be the only sober one here tonight.'
'We can fix that,' Gail offered helpfully, pushing her nearly full champagne glass in front of Holly. 'Oops,' she said as little waves of liquid spilled over the side.
'That's top shelf stuff you're splashing around,' Lisa complained.
Gail rolled her eyes. Holly laughed and found herself being drawn into a kiss by Gail. She expected it to be sloppy but it wasn't. Gail was such an expert kisser that even drunk she could make Holly swoon with just this light press of her lips, lingering for a moment as if she needed to re-familiarise herself with Holly before exerting a little more pressure, her teeth scrapping faintly against Holly's bottom lip.
'Geez get a room,' Lisa squawked, 'you better get used to this Zach.'
Gail started to pull back but Holly kept kissing her. They may as well give Lisa something to really complain about. When the kiss was over, Gail stood up abruptly. 'I need to pee,' she said and then giggled at her crassness.
The filter was gone, Holly thought, noting Gail swayed a little as she pushed back her chair. 'You okay honey,' Holly took Gail's hand.
'I think your brother got me drunk,' Gail leaned over and said in a stage whisper before lurching off in the direction of the bathroom.
'Wow,' Zach smiled, 'you were never into PDA before, Holly.
'It's excessive,' Lisa said disapprovingly.
'It's sweet,' Zach replied, 'Holly, you really care about this girl don't you.'
Holly nodded, smiling that lopsided smile and feeling blessed in the way she always did, even on the hardest days or maybe especially so, when she reconnected with Gail.
…
Gail came out of the toilet stall and looked in the mirror. She really needed to sober up. Her legs felt wobbly and her head muddled. She'd never been drunk in front of Holly's parents and tonight was probably not a good time for that particular first. Once upon a time, she used to be able to hold her liquor but she didn't drink much anymore.
Gail bent over the basin and splashed cold water over her face. It was then that she felt it. A presence behind her. Whoever it was must have slipped in quietly because Gail hadn't heard the swing door open or footsteps on the tiled floor. Just for a moment, she hoped it was Holly, even though she knew it wasn't. When Gail looked up and into the mirror, she saw Francine reflected back at her, standing right behind her and grinning hideously. Before Gail could react, Francine raised both her hands and brought them down on Gail's head, smashing her face into the basin with such force Gail swore she heard bones breaking. The pain was excruciating, and combined with the effects of the alcohol, rendered her incapable of fighting back. Gail's final thought, just before she blacked out, was that if Francine was going to kill her, she hoped it would be quick.
