Chapter Two
Friday Night
Alex's Place
Alex arrives at her apartment a little after 10PM. She tosses her jacket on the chair by the door and flings her shoes across the room.
She walks into the kitchen and pours herself a glass of wine; she takes the wine with her into the bedroom. She changes into sweatpants and a big t-shirt. She goes into the living room, clicks on the TV, sits down on the couch, and takes a sip of wine.
"That tastes good."
Weird, what a weird day.
That man is gonna make me crazy.
Shit.
I can't get him, out of my head.
Her cell phone rings and it startles her. She spills the wine on her pants.
"Damn it."
"Hello."
"Hey Alex, you forgot to call me back."
"I just spilled wine on myself, hold on, I have to change my clothes."
They continue to talk while she changes. She puts her sweats in the bathroom sink for a soak.
"Why are you drinking wine?"
"It tastes good. I'm over 21, way over, Ok MOM."
"Ok."
She returns to the kitchen and fills up the glass with more wine.
"What's up Laurie?"
"Did you talk to Mom tonight?"
"No I haven't. Is there a problem?"
"Isn't there always a problem."
Both women laugh and shake their heads at the same time. Alex leans back on the couch.
"You know Mom. What happened?"
"It seems that she has called you and you haven't called her back either, so she told me to call you and find out why you're ignoring her."
"Oh Jesus Christ. I'd better call her, oh shit, it's after eleven. I can't call her now, they're in bed already."
"Do me a favor, call her first thing in the morning or she'll be calling me every hour on the hour tomorrow."
"I will. I promise."
"Thanks Alex, you sound tired are you feeling alright?"
"It was a strange day."
"What did he do this time."
A smile crosses her face. Alex and her younger sister have always been close and they can read each other's mood.
"I don't want to talk about it tonight, I'll call you tomorrow."
"Yeah, sure you will."
"I will. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Bobby's Place
Bobby is sitting on a park bench and a white cat walks across his path turns, then jumps on the bench, snuggles, and purrs at him. He moves his hand down to pet the cat and it hisses at him and runs away.
He is then looking through a window of a store and the cat returns. The cat walks in between his legs and it is purring, he tries again to pet the cat and it scratches him and runs away.
"Screw you, stop bothering me, you stupid cat."
He is now in a bed and it is night he hears the cat but he does not see it. He cannot move, the cat jumps on the bed and starts to climb on his legs. He tries to shake it off but he cannot move his legs.
Inch by inch the cat is getting closer to his face. His heart starts to beat fast and he starts to panic. His mouth goes dry and he is unable to speak.
The cat turns around, goes back down, and lies between his legs. He knows that he is stronger. However, the cat is the one who has the power, not him.
The cat can do anything it wants and he is unable to fight back. The cat starts to purr, then it hisses, then it bites him.
He wakes up.
He gets up quickly from his bed and starts to pace the room, his heart is palpitating and he is sweating and shaking.
A panic attack.
He goes into the bathroom and wipes his face with a wet cloth. Lights up a cigarette and begins to calm down.
He lies back down on the bed; the dream keeps going through his head.
Oh shit look at the time, I have to get some sleep.
He tosses and turns for about an hour.
I need something to turn off my brain.
He goes into the kitchen, opens a cabinet and takes out a bottle of whiskey.
He opens the bottle and walks into the living room. He sits down on the couch; it is 1:45 am.
He clicks on the TV and starts to drink, the rerun comedies on TV and the whiskey final put him to sleep. He sleeps the night on his couch.
Sunday Night
This will be the third night that he will sleep on the couch, he is not able to sleep in his bed, and he needs the TV on and whiskey every night to fall asleep.
He falls asleep around 2AM, his alarm clock goes off at 7 AM, but unfortunately, it's in the bedroom.
Monday Morning
He wakes up at 9:30 to a ringing phone, not realizing what time it is."Who the hell is calling at this hour?"
"Hello."
"Bobby, its Alex, are you alright, it's 9:30?"
"Yeah, I guess I over slept."
"We're due in court at 11."
"Court for what?"
"The Hendry trial starts today."
"The Hendry trial?"
"Let me guess you forgot. Remember William Hendry, the slime ball who hired someone to kidnapped his wife."
"Oh yeah, why didn't you have remind me on Friday."
"I'll bring our notes to court, and I'll meet you there."
"Alright, see you in about an hour.
He clicks off the phone, "Oh Shit."
The Courthouse
Alex arrives at the courthouse at 10:45. She expected Bobby to be there but he is not.
She sits down on the bench outside the courtroom and notices Ron Carver exiting the elevator.
"Morning Detective."
"Mr. Carver, good morning."
"Where's your partner?"
"He's running a little late this morning, he should be here any minute."
He just nods his head, and then he sits down next to her, "How is he doing?"
"He's alright."
The elevator door opens and Bobby walks out into the hallway.They both look up.
"Eames, Mr. Carver, morning."
Carver stands up, "Morning Detective." He looks at his watch. "I have to go in now, I'll see you two later."
Alex smiles as she watches him enter the courtroom.
Not looking at Bobby she says, "You look like shit."
"Thank it's nice to see you too."
"Jesus were you up all night?"
"No." He pauses, "Just, oh forget it, let me look at those notes."
She gives him the folder and he reads the files. He slowly starts to remember the case in more detail. "Christ I hope we don't have to spend the whole goddamn day here."
"Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if we spent the day here, considering how you're feeling."
He doesn't answer, he continues to read. Unfortunately, they have to spend the next four hours waiting.
"An entire day wasted, I'm going back to the station, you coming?"
"No, I think I'll just go home, see you tomorrow, Eames."
She stands very still as he walks down the hallway to the elevator.
"Bobby."
"Yeah." He answers her but he keeps walking.
She hesitates as he turns to face her.
"What?"
"Nothing really, have a good night and try to get some sleep."
"Yeah I'll try."
TBC