Wicked Intent

Coffeemaniac

Warnings: Suggestive situations, Violence

Season 1

Set between The Benders and Shadow

Sam drove towards Cherry Lane with Kaylee sitting in the passenger seat. With lips pressed together and hands clasped firmly in her lap, he could see her nervousness. He glanced at her from time to time, wondering if he should speak or just drive. Since she showed up at their door, he had been angry and unsettled. Despite knowing that her fears about a ghost had been proven, he still didn't quite trust her. He wondered if she felt the same way about him.

"I didn't plan it," she said. Her voice was louder than necessary.

"Didn't plan what?"

"That thing after…the boys jumping you in the alley. I didn't ask them to do it."

Remembering his humiliating beat down by a bunch of high school students still rankled him. He hated losing the fight and being blamed for something that he hadn't done. Or maybe having people believe he assaulted her was the real thing. Thinking about it sent a shiver of anger through him.

"You were there," Sam said.

"Yeah. I was there with my best friend, Jenny Porter. I called her the night before and she told her brother, Mark."

The face of Mark Porter, smirking and trying to look tough flashed into Sam's mind. Then the same boy, surprised when Sam fought back, flashed.

"If you were there, you knew. And you didn't stop it."

"Jenny didn't tell me what Mark and his friends were planning until after school."

Sam scoffed. "It was a long time ago."

Her eyes narrowed and she captured her bottom lip with her teeth. Sitting up straighter, she said, "I just wanted you to know that I was angry but I didn't plan it."

"All right, now I know."

She flexed her hands then squeezed them into fists. "You broke Robby's nose."

Sam pulled into a space in the visitor's section of the police building, slamming the car into park harder than he should have.

"He was asking for it," he said.

"So were you."

"Excuse me?"

She didn't hear him. After dropping her remark, she shoved the car door open and strode across the asphalt towards the front door. Sam wanted to stop her, to get her to explain, but he knew better than to take her arm or physically block her from walking away when they were surrounded by police and cameras.

Instead he followed her inside. They crossed a tiled room with chairs set against stucco walls and then to the reception desk. A gray haired woman, plump and wearing a flowered dress, sat behind plexiglass. She kept a nameplate identifying her as Mrs. Mumford on a shelf, in view for the public. Mrs. Mumford slid open the divider when Kaylee approached. With a scornful expression the receptionist greeted her.

"How can I help you, Mrs. Houston?"

"I'm here to see Bill," Kaylee said.

"I'll clear it," Mrs. Mumford said.

"If he's available, I'd like to see the Chief first. I have some questions about the investigation."

The older woman slid the divider back in place, turned her back on the window and picked up the phone receiver. She pressed a couple of buttons but her voice was muffled.

"They're supposed to running Bill's clothes for blood evidence," Kaylee said to Sam as if she hadn't just told him that he deserved a beating for the misunderstanding during their date.

Mrs. Mumford slid the plexiglass open again to tell them that Chief Prentice would be out in a moment.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Chief Baron Prentice folded his hands over an ample belly and sent a commiserating glance towards Sam. He had thinning brown hair combed over a bald spot and thick jowls.

"I need to know how the investigation…" Kaylee said.

"Mrs. Houston," the Chief interrupted with a slow drawl. "I understand this is painful for you. You experienced a terrible loss and now it's difficult to see the truth."

"Did you find DNA from Bill on either…"

"This isn't a television show," he interrupted again. He looked at Sam. "An eyelash isn't going to clear her husband."

"You told me that you sent Bill's clothing to the lab," Kaylee said, her even tone showing her frustration. "Did you find any blood on them?"

Still looking at Sam, Prentice said, "These things take time."

Annoyance flaring, Sam said, "I didn't ask the question. She did. But, it's a good one, don't you think?"

"You're not doing her any favors by building up this idea."

"She has a right to know if the investigation implicates her husband."

"Excuse me," Kaylee said. "My parents were torn to pieces. If Bill did it, he would have been covered…"

"Your husband did it, Mrs. Houston. The cameras on the outside of the house show he was the only one in or out. I'm sorry. I know you have a little one to think about but those are the facts."

"You haven't even bothered to look for another suspect."

The Chief's soft, pudgy face reddened. He sat forward, the chair squeaking under his weight.

"You do not get to tell me how to do my job. I've pulled Houston's file, I know what kind of man he is. The question is, what kind of woman marries his type?"

Anger flashed and Sam pushed forward in his chair.

Kaylee stood up first.

"You arrogant son of a bitch," she said through gritted teeth. "Just have Bill brought up before I call every paper from here to DC and report your incompetency."

Prentice shot to his feet, red faced and angry. Sam stood too, wondering if he'd have to slam the Chief into his desk.

"You think you scare me?" Prentice said. "You and the damn ghost story?"

"Hey, hey," Sam said. "Look. All we need to do is see her husband."

"Yes," Kaylee said, biting off the word. "I'd like to see my husband now." Her voice was hard and even.

Prentice stared at Sam for a long moment while his hand hovered above the service weapon on his hip. He looked back at Kaylee and blew out a breath. Sam was certain the lawman wanted to deny her access but he was probably wondering if it would be worth the trouble. After a moment, he picked up the phone receiver and called for an escort.

"See? No need to get all upset," Prentice said. Sam hated the condescension in his tone.

A boy who looked too young to be a police officer appeared in the doorway. His uniform hung off him as if he was wearing his father's clothes.

"Haskett, take Mrs. Houston and Mr. Winchester to the jail," the Chief said. "Keep to the twenty-minute visitation time. I don't want them agitating the prisoner."

Sam forcibly prevented himself from pointing out that the twenty-minute limit was retribution against him Kaylee.

"Yes, sir, Chief," Officer Haskett said.

Kaylee followed Haskett then Sam followed her. Haskett opened a door labeled as Interview B and told them to wait there. Kaylee pulled a metal backed chair away from the stark, white table. With no carpeting and just a tile ceiling, the room retained a soft echo.

Sam sat next to her, looking around the small enclosure while he imagined throwing Prentice through a window.

"The Chief is an ass," Sam said.

She pursed her lips as she nodded. "He's been re-elected for the last five terms. I think my parents voted for him."

"Is he always like that?"

"Yes, but, I haven't reacted before. Sorry for getting angry. It's a mistake to lose my temper when he holds all the cards, Sam. If I cause trouble, he could deny me visitation. And even if I get to see Bill, I have to leave him here. What if Prentice takes his anger out on him?"

"He won't. Won't risk it."

Changing the subject, Sam said, "What was he talking about? About Bill's record?"

She shook her head. "Ancient history. Bill got into some trouble with on-line gambling when he was a teenager."

"What happened?"

"A convenience store hold up. One store…out of desperation. But he brought his father's gun with him and when he was picked up, they charged him with armed robbery plus the under-aged gambling."

"One store and he got caught? Not exactly Dillinger, is he? How much time did he serve?"

"Sixteen months of a two-year sentence. But he finished getting his high school diploma and did a year's worth of college while he was inside. After he was released, he graduated from Penn State. The Chief is reaching, just trying to make his theory fit."

While Sam let that sink in, Officer Haskett walked Bill Houston into the room. Tall and lean, he had a shock of dark hair down the center of his head but was shaved around his ears. He had a wide nose that looked like it had been broken sometime in the past. He hadn't bothered to shave for a few days.

"Bill," Kaylee said.

She stood up and reached for him but Haskett dropped his arm between them and shook his head. He guided Bill to the other side of the table then secured one handcuff to Houston's wrist and the other side to a clamp in the table.

Haskett stood back against the wall with his arms folded over his chest.

"How are you?" Kaylee said to her husband.

"I'm all right," Bill said, his expression bland. "How's Rose?"

"She misses you."

"Who's your friend?" Bill nodded towards Sam.

"This is Sam Winchester," she said. "He wanted to ask you some questions."

Bill's eyes widened and he pressed his lips together. Cocking his head slightly, he said, "You're him, huh?"

Kaylee shifted in the chair but didn't speak.

"I guess so," Sam said, not knowing if Bill was referring to Sam's profession or his past with Kaylee. Glancing in her direction for a clue, he noticed that she'd colored in the cheeks. Our past, he thought then turned back to Bill. "I need to get some details from you."

Bill nodded but the hostility on his face remained.

"Tell me about the day of the attack."

"I was just picking up Rose. Everything seemed pretty normal when I walked in. Jane was baking…something with licorice."

"We think that smell is from the entity," Sam said. "What did you see?"

"The figure was dark, almost like a shadow and it just…appeared. I kind of caught a glimpse then it was just…right there in front of me. I don't really remember getting hit but when I woke up…I saw Jane…on the floor."

He stopped speaking and looked towards Kaylee. She gave him a small nod, apparently encouraging him to continue.

"I didn't know what to do," he said, turning back to Sam. "But, I heard Rose crying so I ran into the study. I passed Bob but I didn't stop. I just picked Rose up and ran outside to get help."

Bill gazed towards the ceiling then down at the table. He rubbed his eyes with his free hand and scratched his head. He had stopped making eye contact with either of them.

"What is it?" Sam said.

"It's crazy. No one will believe me," Bill said.

"Yes, we will," Kaylee said. "What did you see?"

"When I was coming up the walk…to go in the house…to pick up Rose…I thought…through the living room window I thought I saw a woman looking out at me. She had long, ragged hair, like matted, but there was something odd about it. I remember thinking they must have been watching 'The Grudge' on TV. Like I was looking at a reflection from the television. But, then a dog barked and I looked away. When I looked again, she was gone."

"Was she Japanese?" Sam said.

Bill thought for a moment. "Maybe. Asian, I think, pretty sure. For like half a second, I thought it was you." He nodded towards Kaylee. "Thought you'd gotten there first. But, it wasn't, I mean, I knew it right away."

"Why didn't you tell the police?" Kaylee said. "She could be the murderer."

Bill shifted in his seat. His shoulders dropped and he looked towards the table. "I didn't think she was real. I'm still not sure."

"You tell your lawyer," Kaylee said. "There's no detail too small, do you understand me?"

Sounding worried, he said, "I'm sorry. I really think it was just the television."

"Someone killed them." Kaylee's voice quivered. "Someone that isn't you. You're riding on a 'ghost defense' for God's sake. We can't hide anything."

"Okay, I'm sorry." Bill's face reddened. He glanced towards Officer Haskett then towards Sam. His humiliation hung around them.

Sam gave him a minute before continuing, "The licorice smell, the woman in the window, the black shadow, anything else?"

Bill shook his head. "No, nothing."

Sam pressed Bill but he didn't remember hearing or seeing anything else. As he grew more irritated with the questions, Officer Haskett announced the end of their visit. He escorted Bill Houston out of the room while Kaylee and Sam remained in their seats.

After the door closed, Kaylee stood up. Sam followed her out of the police station.

They settled into the Impala for the drive to Rick's apartment. Kaylee mused out loud, wondering how Dean was doing with Rose.

Sam pulled his cell out and called his brother.

"How's Rose doing?" Sam said.

"She's good. Reminds me of you a little. Kind of nothing but a lump at this point."

"You're on speaker," Sam said.

"Don't worry. She is kind of a lump," Kaylee said. "Give her a kiss for me."

"Yeah, will do."

"Bill doesn't know anything. If he summoned it, he's putting on a great show," Sam said.

"Be careful talking to Rick. If he bound it to something, it could be with him."

"Don't worry. I'll call you when we're done."

Sam disconnected.

"So, it's not Bill," Kaylee said.

"I don't think so. You're his wife, did he seem truthful to you?"

"He doesn't really know how to lie."

Falling into the quiet of the passing scenery, they made their way across town. After a couple of intersections, Kaylee said, "Sorry about the way Bill was talking to you."

"He's under some pressure," Sam said, deliberately giving her an excuse.

"That's not it. I told him about our…date…encounter…whatever. He's protective."

Irked by her response, Sam shook his head. "What'd you tell him?"

"Nothing, I mean, not like that. I just…told him that you…"

"That I what?"

"You know…tried to push me…when we were kids."

"I did not," Sam said. He squeezed the steering wheel under his hands while he felt his face heat up. "I get that you were confused then but…"

"I'm not trying to make you angry, Sam, I'm apologizing."

"For Bill. You're apologizing for your husband thinking I did something that you told him I did. I was seventeen, Kaylee."

"So was I," she said.

"Right, exactly. We were kids. I stopped when you told me to. I didn't try to force you into anything."

"I had to push you off, Sam. I weighed 100 pounds then, and you were what, 140…160?"

"All you had to do was speak up."

"I know that. As an adult, I know. But, six years ago, I was worried about everyone's opinion, didn't want to be a chicken or make a scene. I held out as long as I could with just pushing back but you weren't responding to the physical cues so I panicked."

She took a breath. "It was frightening, Sam."

He shook his head. "For me too."

As they pulled up in front of Rick's building, Sam said, "I don't what to say."

He knew she still blamed him. The comment earlier about the alley fight confirmed that. But, she seemed genuinely upset too.

"Look, I just want you to know happened," she said. "I shouldn't have reacted the way I did, but, you have to understand that my fear was real and it affected me for a long time. I had to tell my husband about it."

Anger deflating, Sam glanced at her. "I never meant to scare you."

She burst out with a short laugh and Sam wondered at her reaction. He couldn't tell if it was discomfort at the conversation or satisfaction.

"I know that now," she said with a smile.

Sam tried to return the expression but there was something odd about it, something he couldn't quite name.

Before he could think too much about it, his cell rang.