A/N - Hey guys...Yeah I know, I know me and the dog thing again. Dogs make me haooy...And this story is getting dark enough to need one.
So, as always...
Read, enjoy and review!
:)
Chapter Seven – What Time Do We Begin?
Mike Cullen was a good looking guy. Tall, clean shaven with clear grey eyes, it was the bitterness and resentment that sat in his eyes that made him ugly. Olivia could almost feel the anger coming off him in waves. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking them both up and down.
"Can I help you?"
Olivia stuck out her hand.
"Agent Olivia Dunham and this is Peter Bishop."
"What do you want?"
Olivia glanced at Peter before speaking, her voice soft.
"A.J was reported missing. We're trying to find her."
Instantly, the hard stance diminished as he took in her words. When he finally spoke, his voice was shaky.
"Is she dead?"
"No. We just need to find her. May we come in? We have some questions for you."
Mike nodded and they followed him into his living room. It wasn't a home for Mike. There were still sealed boxes tucked into corners and it seemed colder than most. He sat in the chair, looking at Olivia for a moment before frowning.
"You're Olivia Dunham? A.J's friend?"
"That's me."
"Oh."
Mike seemed to gather himself together, rubbing his hands up and down the legs of his pants.
"What do you want to know?"
"Why did you and A.J get divorced?"
Mike sighed.
"We had some problems. My wife…..her writing is her world. And she forgets sometimes that their other people living in it with her. I became one of those things that she forgot."
If Edward hadn't made that comment about looking at Mike and about why they got divorced, Olivia might have believed him. But she caught the look, the fraction of real truth in his eyes. He was hiding something. Clearly, Peter felt the same because he frowned, his eyes hard.
"Was that all?"
"Does there need to be more?"
"Edward mentioned-"
"Fuck Edward! He is a money hungry bastard with bad suits. He just wants money off A.J."
"And what about you? If something should happen to A.J you would be the one to benefit. You were pushing for more money."
Mike's eyes widened and his nostrils flared, his fists clenching on his legs.
"I supported her for years! The least she could do, now that she has the money, is do the same!"
"Mike-"
Mike shot out of his seat, his chest heaving.
"You don't understand what it was like living like that! It was fucken stupid! I came home and there was nothing! No dinner, no wife, NOTHING!"
Olivia sat back slightly at the sudden flash of temper, Peter tensing beside her. How could someone go from zero to one hundred degrees in just a few seconds? Mike started to pace, his fists still clenched.
"You don't UNDERSTAND! NO ONE DOES! AND THEN SHE JUST UPS AND LEAVES ME, SAYING THAT SHE CAN'T DEAL WITH IT ANYMORE!"
His scream echoed across the small space and Peter stood, his hand out.
"You need to calm down."
Mike swung around, his fist raised and headed for Peter. Before Olivia could move, Peter caught Mike's fist, using his momentum to swing him around, twisting his arm behind his back. Mike struggled.
"LET ME GO!"
Peter pulled hard, making Mike howl and fall to the ground. Peter, now pressed close to Mike, spoke harshly in his ear.
"Stop fighting and it will stop hurting. Got it?"
Mike swore under his breath before nodding. Peter held him there for a second before releasing him. Mike stood up, dusted himself off and glared at Peter.
"Get out of my house."
Olivia stood, her hands up.
"Mike-"
Mike moved closer to Olivia and in a flash Peter was between them, pushing Mike back with a hard shove to the chest.
"Back. Off."
Both men stood glaring at each other and for a moment, Olivia was actually caught in what to do. Her hand brushed her gun. But Peter took control of the situation before she was forced to decide.
"Liv, go to the truck."
"Peter-"
"Go."
Olivia waited a heartbeat before slipping past Peter and heading out the door. She wondered if it had been a good idea the moment her foot hit the bottom step but she was wrong to doubt Peter. He was just two steps behind her.
"At least we know why A.J left him."
"Peter, he was just upset."
Peter turned to Olivia, pausing her movements with a hand on her elbow.
"Call Astrid."
"Why?"
"If she tracks down her medical records, you'll see why I was concerned about you. I've known men like him before. And they were just as dangerous."
Peter released her arm and kept walking, leaving her walking slightly behind. It only took her a second to take out her phone and dial Astrid's number.
"Hey Olivia."
"Hey Astrid. You back at the lab?"
"Yeah. It started to rain."
It wasn't until it was mentioned that Olivia started to feel the tiny spots of rain on her bare hands, head and face.
"How is Etta?"
"She's fine. She got a bit dirty at the park so Walter is giving her a bath in the sink."
Olivia's mind instantly went to the chemicals in the lab, the very ones that sometimes found their way down that sink.
"Please tell me he cleaned it out before putting her in."
She could hear Astrid's smile.
"I scrubbed it out thoroughly."
"Thank you. There should be a change of clothes in her baby bag."
"Ok. I'll check but even if there isn't Walter always has a set, remember?"
Olivia smiled. Since Etta's birth, Walter had been keeping up with her growth, always making sure that there were at least two sets of clothes at the lab for her.
"I forgot about that. Anyway, there is another reason I called."
"What's up?"
"Peter has a hunch. Can you check out A.J's medical records for me?"
"Yeah sure. What am I looking for?"
"Anything that is not normal."
"Ok. You on your way back?"
"Soon. One more stop and we'll head back."
"Consider it done."
"Thanks Astrid."
Olivia closed her phone and moved back towards the truck. She paused at the door, glancing at Peter before pulling at the handle.
"Astrid is pulling the records."
"Good. Where too now?"
"A.J's place and then Quinton Miller."
"You got the address?"
"Yeah, I managed to glance at them when we were looking at the files."
Peter smiled slightly.
"Of course you did. Where is A.J's place?"
Olivia sighed.
"Believe it or not, only three blocks from us."
"Really? She lives on Freelancer Curve?"
"Yup."
When they had first started house hunting, Olivia and Peter had first fallen in love with a home on Freelancer Curve, a small, upscale neighbourhood. But even with Walter's offer of assistance, the house was hundreds of thousands more than they could ever afford. Thankfully, they found their current home pretty soon after, loving it more than the one on Freelancer Curve. Which was good because the prices for those homes just kept getting higher and higher. A.J living there meant that she wasn't just making good money, she was making fantastic money. It didn't take them long to get there, driving down to the end of the one way street where A.J's home was located. It was three stories, with a rap around patio, large bay windows and a rolling green yard.
"Wow."
"I know. Let's just hope that she doesn't have a good alarm system."
"She won't. She has a dog."
"Really?"
"Yup. A Rottweiler I think. She said his name was Charles."
"Charles?"
"She's a writer, remember? Charles Dickens."
Peter smiled.
"Yeah, I get it."
Olivia slipped out of the truck and approached the clear fencing that lined the home, keeping her eyes and ears open for any sign of the dog. But it was silent. She glanced at Peter.
"Maybe in the house?"
"Maybe."
They both ducked through the fence and made their way to the front door. Peter knocked heavily and they both waited for barking or snuffling to indicate an animal inside.
"Excuse me but A.J's not home."
They both turned to see a small, elderly woman standing by the fence, her hand on her hip. Olivia approached her, a smile on her face.
"Do you know when she will be back?"
The woman shook her head.
"No. I have a spare key though. I had to go in and get Charles."
"Why?"
"Because I hadn't seen A.J and I was worried for the poor boy. He was crying and howling. And when I fed him, he was starving."
"Where is he?"
"I was going to take him for a walk but he wasn't interested. He's depressed."
Olivia pulled out her badge and showed it to the woman.
"Do you mind if we borrow the spare key?"
The woman thought about it for a moment before nodding slightly.
"Sure. I'm sure A.J won't mind. Give me a second."
Olivia watched as the woman shuffled her way back into her home. In a few moments she returned but she had company. Charles trailed behind her, easily reaching the woman's waist. He was a horse of a dog and Olivia ad been right about the breed, his black and tan fur shining slightly in what little sun the clouds had yet to cover.
"He's impressive, isn't he?"
The woman glanced down at Charles, who was sniffing at some grass.
"She needed him with her ex rolling around. I'm Fiona Springs by the way."
Charles had moved to the fence now, sniffing at Olivia's coat. She offered him her hand, which his sniffed, before she stroked his big head. There was a rumble of pleasure as she rubbed gently at his ears.
"Nice to meet you. Mike was coming around?"
"Yeah. But he stopped quick smart when Charles bit him for getting too close to A.J. That man has a nasty temper. He's not a vicious dog but he's a rescue. You know how they say dogs that are rescued have more to prove? Well, he proved it by protecting A.J tooth and nail."
Olivia had given up stroking Charles over the fence and opened the gate, letting the dog get closer. She knelt down, eye to eye with the big dog. She smiled as he pushed closer to her, wanting a cuddle.
"I can't imagine him hurting anyone."
Fiona smiled slightly.
"He's a big softie really. Great with kids and other animals, it's just with Mike. Charles can clearly sense something there just isn't right."
"How often did Mike come over?"
"Quite a bit when she first moved in. All you could hear was the yelling and her crying. It was horrible. I was the one who told her she needed a dog. Poor girl was completely alone, she needed the company. Oh here's the key."
Olivia stood and took the key that the woman offered, stumbling slightly as Charles leaned into her, his weight heavy against her legs. Fiona chuckled.
"He likes you."
Olivia scratched Charles on the head.
"I like him too. Thank you for your help."
"You're welcome. Is A.J ok?"
"That's what we're trying to find out."
"Ok. Don't worry about Charles, I'll take good care of him. Come on boy, we should go for that walk."
Charles perked up slightly at the word and Olivia watched as the odd pair started walking down the street. Olivia turned to Peter with a small smile.
"What a sweet dog."
"Yeah, until you go after A.J."
Peter glanced at the door.
"Shall we?"
Olivia nodded, heading up the small set of steps and slipping the key into the lock.