The Family Factors, Part II

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Duo woke up with a start as the bed heaved. A glance at the clock told him that it was three in the morning. Another glance told him that his wife was scrambling for the bathroom, a hand clamped over her mouth.

"Hil?"

He got out of the bed, followed her to the bathroom, where he found her retching over the toilet.

"Hil? Baby, you okay? What's wrong?"

She didn't have enough hair for him to hold back, so he settled for pushing her bangs off of her forehead, so as to check her temperature.

"No fever. Hilde? How do you feel?"

"Like I have to puke," she answered sarcastically- before heaving again and doing just that.

"Then that's it. I'm taking you to the hospital. This is the third time you've woken up like this in the past week. Somethings wrong."

"You've got to be at work. Heero needs you."

"You need me more," he said firmly, softly, kissing her sweaty forehead.

"No," she insisted. "Just call Relena."

"I can get Quatre to go with Heero. I'm taking you to the hospital."

Hilde lifted her ashen face. "No," she said, dark eyes swirling. "You're not missing work for me. I'm fine. Just call Relena. See? I'm feeling better already. Trust me, Duo," she cupped his face. "Go, do what you do. I'll be waiting when you get home. Please?"

Duo looked her in the eyes. He trusted her. And when she looked at him like that, and spoke in that tone, he had no choice but to give in.

"Fine. I'll go call Relena."

"She's over at Heero's," Hilde called after him.

"At three in the morning? Isn't that a little early to be paying visits? And wasn't she over there yesterday afternoon?"

Hilde just grinned, face pale and forehead sweaty. "Who said she ever left?"

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"Maia was sweet," the woman said. "She was an absolute doll. She was my friend since before I ever had my sex change. Back when she was still little, and I was just a kid. I still can't believe she's dead," Kylie Harrison wiped away a tear, but it was the only one on those make-up clad cheeks. "I always thought she just went back home. She wasn't really happy here, either. I am older than her... and she didn't really like my lifestyle that much. You must remember that I was still young and hormonal- and that was still a few years before the sex change. I was into clubs and stuff. Maia didn't appreciate the guys grabbing her ass and stuff. Like I said... she was sweet. She was an innocent, really."

Heero nodded. "Then why was she here?"

"I was her friend," was the matter-of-fact reply. "Where else would she run to?"

"And why was she running?" Duo asked.

A shrug. "Family problems. After her mama died, and her papa married that she-demon cougar of a gold-digger- Maia didn't have much of a family life. She had it sorta like Cinderella, y'know? Mr. K used to be a real nice man. Nice values and such. But that bitch- pardon my French, officers- corrupted him. He fell in right nicely with her and her daughter and forgot all about Maia."

"Daughter?" Duo asked. Kushrenada hadn't said anything about another daughter.

"Yeah. That bitch had a daughter from a previous marriage. Several years older than Maia. Everything Maia wasn't... Midii was. Maia was a typical rebellious teen, but still sweet and all. Y'know, just normal stuff. But Mr. K couldn't handle that. Midii," the woman let the venom drip from the name, "was the exact opposite. Prim and polished and polite. Midii's just like her mother. A scheming, gold digging bitch," she nodded.

"Ah. Thank you," Duo said, handing over a card. "I think that will be enough for the moment. Call us if you remember anything relevant, okay?"

"Sure thing, darling. Anything for a cutie such as you."

"Sorry, married," Duo said with a smile, flashing his wedding band.

The woman smiled anyway. "Too bad. Real loss on that one." She eyed Heero up and down. "Hey... what about the blue-eyed...."

"Taken," Heero said. "Good day, ma'am."

Both men hurried away, Duo trying not to laugh.

"I think we should pay Mr. Kushrenada another visit," Heero told his partner. Duo nodded, trying to stop his laughter.

"Right-o," Duo chiruped. "But you're driving, cause I'm calling to check on Hilde."

"Tell Lena 'hi' for me," Heero said, getting into the drivers seat.

"Yeah," was Duo's only reply. His cell phone was already out, number dialing.

The conversation with Hilde was short. They were at the doctors, in the waiting room. After securing a promise for her to call him afterwards, Duo hung up.

Not long after, they found themselves back in the prim parlor of the mansion.

"Why didn't you mention that Marimaia had issues with your step-daughter, Mr. Kushrenada?"

"Please, call me Treize. And it's simple. I didn't *know* she had any issues with Midii. Now, certainly there was your usual animosity between them. Maia was simply unable to accept that Midii was part of our family, that she was no longer an only child. As I've said, Maia was unreasonable and rebellious. What does Midii have to do with this anyway? I will not have my daughter drug into this."

Heero leaned forward.

"Your *daughter* has already been drug into this. She was murdered. Your step-daughter, however, may be vital in solving this case. Don't you wish to know who murdered your daughter?"

"Of course," was the startled reply. "I *loved* Maia. I would never hurt her. I am co-operating with you, detectives. But I'm beginning to think that you consider me a suspect, here. I'm insulted."

"At this point," Duo mentioned, "Everyone is a suspect. We're just trying to get a clearer picture of Maia's life. Including talking to old friends... and family."

"So long, and you're just now taking interest in her?"

"No, sir. We tried years ago, but we had no information to go on. The reason we discovered her identity was thanks to an anonymous tip. When that info checked out... we reopened the case," Duo snapped his mouth shut. He really didn't want to say too much about their sources- considering who his sources were.

Five minutes later, they were out the door again.

"I really, really think he did it," Duo said. "Or at least had someone do it for him."

"Agreed," Heero nodded.

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Unforgiving eyes stared after the two officers as they left from the Kushrenada household again. Phone held to ear, the owner of said eyes waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Nichol... get Otto. I have a job for you."

"A job, you say?" was the pensive reply. "What kind of job, boss?" There was a decidedly wicked lilt to that voice.

"There are cops asking questions about the Marimaia... incident."

"Cops? Now, boss... that'll be tricky to..."

"No. Not the cops. They're getting their info from someone else. I want you to find out who... and I want you to get rid of him."

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"Hey!" Quatre yelled playfully at Trowa. "Those are my balls. Hands off, pal!"

"But yours are heavier than mine," was the pitiful response.

"Touch them and I'll make you do the splits again," Quatre replied.

Trowa blushed scarlet and raised his hands in the air.

"Let's see if you can get another strike then, Mr. Stingy-pants."

Quatre burst out laughing.

"Mr. Stingy-pants? Come on, Trowa. You can do better than that," the blond replied, grabbing one of the balls in question and, after a running start, letting it go. The ball practically flew down the lane, and two out of ten pins were left standing.

Trowa stuck his tongue out, Quatre laughed, grabbing the second ball. "I'll pick up the spare," Quatre said. But Trowa, laughing, let out a shrill whistle just as Quatre was about to let go of the ball. Said ball bounced twice before rolling right into the gutter.

"Meanie!" Quatre shreiked, turning to chase the taller man across the slick floor of the bowling alley.

Catherine was leaning over her knees, shaking and trying to stop laughing. The man beside her was trying to stifle his own laughter.

"Do they have any idea how badly that all could have been taken out of context?" The man asked.

Catherine stilled her laughter just long enough to look up with tear filled eyes.

"I don't think I've ever seen my brother have so much fun. I mean, look at that. Laughing, smiling, *touching*. This is so fun. Did you see him when Quatre came up and licked his ear? He did the splits. I mean, I knew he was flexible... but *damn*. He's like a teenager. A regular kid, y'know."

"So you're not upset about him being gay and all? It dosen't surprise you?"

"Sure it surprised me. It surprised me that he'd be seeing *anyone*. I'm not upset. I'm just so glad that he's finally found someone. I don't care if it's a guy."

The man nodded after them. "They do seem happy together," he admitted. He'd had a little trouble accepting the whole gay part, but if Cathy was okay with it... then he would be too.

"Thanks, Alex," she said softly. "It means alot for me and Trowa that you're okay with it."

Alex smiled at her while the 'Sanq Bowling Center' sign blinked above them. "Anything for you, Cathy. Anything for you."

tbc....

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AN: Had you going there for a moment, didn't I?