Chapter ten
Never expected

Elizabeth rolled her chair over to the desk Lloyd, he was looking over everything again; he kept trying to make something from the magazines and newspaper articles. "Can I look?" her voice careful, the fact she found his eyes meeting her own.

Lloyd took in the silence, seeing Elizabeth beside him, he moved the pile closer to her, "I have no idea." He exhaled, "It's like it's cryptic woman code."

"Woman code," Elizabeth laughed, "Yes, because we are freaky like…" Her voice trailed picking something up.

Lloyd raised his eyebrow, "See something?" he asked, for a second not quite sure what was going through Elizabeth's mind. "Liz?"

Elizabeth snapped back, "Julianne," turning to see her sister walking into the office from the bathroom, "Look up everything on Gretchen's family history," her face broke into a smile, "please."

"Yes, what are you getting on?" Julianne starting to click away, she felt like Elizabeth was onto something, but not sure what.

Lloyd glanced to Julianne, "What are you getting on?" His attention to Elizabeth picking up all the magazine clips, pieces that have been ripped out of the magazine and kept.

Elizabeth felt her attention going to Lloyd for two seconds, "A very weird hunch, she wanted us to think revenge, so we'd take the path of a scorned woman." Her index finger tapped her temple, "But I remember before birthdays of me and Jules, our mom would collect stupid amounts of magazine articles on parenting." She now showed Lloyd one of the clippings. "This didn't ring an alarm for you?"

"I got a father deceased, mother estranged, one sister." Julianne glanced up, "A thirteen year old niece…"

"Ah ha!" Elizabeth quickly pulling her chair to her desk again, "I am a fucking Genius!" her tone was smug.

Lloyd quick to be being her, "I have an I.Q of two hundred and ten, genius, you got lucky." He kept feeling himself drawn to the laptop screen, seeing that Elizabeth was going into hospital records, quickly getting the things she needed.

For a moment Elizabeth took in the moment, "According to records, Rita Morgan never gave birth," For a moment a smug grin, "But adopted Emily…" Her voice trailed, "From her sister…"

"Ha!" Elizabeth jumped to her feet, "I fucking knew it!" her face near Lloyd's, "The fact she's making a move for her daughter, turning thirteen, it's like a coming of age thing, plus planning this for the past six years." Her voice mocking Lloyd, she started to do a victory dance, her face looking more Smug, "the fact she's a brilliant mind, a mother, trying to be with her daughter." He finger pointed in Lloyd's face, "Ha!" again her face lit up. "Also my I.Q is one hundred and ninety one, which is classed as genius, so suck on that Lowery!" she moved away from him now turning to Julianne, "Call Ray, let him know the address of Rita Morgan, that is where Gretchen is really heading, good it hurts to be this right!"

"One hundred and ninety one?" Lloyd asked quietly, his eyes looking to Julianne who was more fixated on her laptop. "Why are you just finishing college now?"

Elizabeth turned to face Lloyd again, "In the sixth grade, we had this test thing, for evaluation, the school offered me to skip middle school, go right to High school." Her shoulders shrugged, "I didn't want to leave my friends, so I stayed, but got given extra assignments so I wouldn't get bored… Why?"

"No reason…" Lloyd slowly going back to his desk, turning to see Julianne now talking on the phone with Ray, he felt semi good about this finally going to plan.

"Emily!" Rita called from the base of the stairs, her eyes kept focused on the top, "We're going to be late!" tapping her nails on the banister, her attention caught by the sound of something from the living room. "Emily, I mean." Her voice cut short, slowly turning to see something moving around in the living room.

Rita face to face with someone she never expected to see, "Gretchen!" Her voice a low hiss, her face was in shock, for the fact she told her sister to stay away, plus hearing she was in prison. Her hand up, her eyes narrowed, "What then hell are you doing here?"

"I," Gretchen started, her eyes focused on her older sister, the years since they both had really spent time together, it was too long to remember, but Gretchen kept a safe distance from Rita, her hands up in defence, "You honestly didn't mean anything you said that day, it was a bad day, but…"

"A Bad day!" Rita laughed, "A man, had a gun to my head, he threatened Emily's life, he," for a second Rita was silent, "I have no idea what you did for a living, but what I saw, I never want to be involved in."

"I, have nothing anymore Rita," Her voice weak, for the time she'd been in prison, to being on the run, all she could think about was her sister, her daughter. "I need you," her foot stepped forward carefully. "Please, it's me…"

Rita inhaled, "Gretchen, as your sister, I won't turn you in," speaking carefully, she watched as Gretchen's face lit up, "But I will not let you stay here, you will not see Emily."

"You what?" Gretchen was blank, "You can't be serious, it's her birthday, as kids, turning thirteen was a big deal, and you're kicking me out?"

Rita kept still, her arms by her side, "I am dead serious Gretchen, you just don't understand, but you're…"

"I'm what?" Gretchen stepped forward, "How am I going to make it clear, I'm sorry, I never wanted you involved, but it's over." Her voice straining to keep control, "It's over!"

Rita inhaled, "I don't know Gretchen, you're a fugitive, you're on the run, I don't want to put Emily through that…" her voice weak, her eyes kept searching Gretchen's, "please, for her…"

The silence filled up in the room, "Mom, I'm ready," A younger voice was heard, all Gretchen could do was look to the girl with the dark brown hair, her bright blue eyes staring from Rita, back to herself. "Aunt Gretchen!" Her voice excited as she ran into Gretchen's arms.

Ray inhaled, "Well, good news, Gretchen is heading for her sister's house," He glanced around, "The bad news, the house is all the way in Davenport," He exhaled, "A two hour drive…" He glared to the wall.

Alex Mahone stepped into the office space they were using, "I think I can help you out," He kept his business, "I have a chopper lined up and ready for me to go…" He glanced to Shea and Erica, "But I think this is your capture," He nodded his head, "Just do one thing, make sure she doesn't do anything stupid." He took out a Motorola razor, "I like your team, you're doing a better job than most." He walked out of the office.

Erica slowly got up from the chair, "I honestly didn't see her as a mother," Her voice was so small, for a second catching a reflection of herself. Erica watching as Ray moved from the wall he was standing against.

"Most would say the same looking at you," His tone wasn't as harsh as it normally was, but while feeling they were so close to getting this woman, he kept still. "Look, anyone can pop a kid out, it takes a real woman to be a mother." He pointed to the door, "We've got a con to catch for your month, move it animals…" He was back to himself.

"Yeah, yeah…" Shea getting from his chair, for a moment looking to Ray, "I gotta admit, can't wait to be out of here." He closed the door behind him, following behind Ray watching him watching Erica.
Erica keeping in front of Ray, her eyes fixed, she didn't know what he meant by his comment, but she was a mother, she was going to be getting time of her sentence, then she was going to be the best mother ever.

"What are you doing here?" Emily kept watching her aunt, slowly her attention to her mother, "Mom, why didn't you tell me Aunt Gretchen was coming back from Europe?"

Rita inhaled, her eyes kept focused on her sister, the fact she never had the heart to tell Emily the truth.

"I didn't know, I thought she wasn't going to come back," Rita's face was saying one thing, but Gretchen could see the truth.

Gretchen kept her poker face, "I was meant to be there, for a long time, but I got a new contract," Her eyes on Rita's, "It's a Job in Canada…" her tone light, "and I wanted to know if you and your mom, would like to come with me…?"

"Mom, you always said about Canada," Emily kept watching both adults, she couldn't know what was going on, but she felt something was odd, "Mom."

"Yes," Rita inhaled, "I was offered, something a while ago, but sweetie, we can't move to Canada with Gretchen." Her tone was trying so hard to keep calm, but slowly watching Gretchen's face.

Emily kept still for a few seconds, "Mom…"

"No Emily, it's a no," Rita slowly turning to Gretchen, "We've got to go out for a dinner," Her voice calm, "So, I think you can show yourself out…"

Emily sighed, "Mom, I've not seen Gretchen in forever!" Her voice was annoyed, her hands by her side, she kept looking to Gretchen, "plus I don't even like Dan!"

"Emily, this isn't p for discussion," Rita keeping her parental tone, her eyes fixed on Emily's, "You should go to your room…"

Emily stood still, "I hate this, I have a say in nothing!" Turning on her heels she started to head to the door, "I wish you wasn't even my mom, you don't even care about me!" the door slammed loud.

Gretchen and Rita were left in the silence, Gretchen not sure how to speak, "She still doesn't know." Her tone quiet, "I should have assumed that much."

Rita's eyes pleading, "She's my Daughter, you told me, you promised me…"

"I can't delete you two from my life," Gretchen kept looking more helpless, she'd been bottling up for too long now, her eyes reflecting her sister's pain. "I just want it to be, me you and Emily, I don't want to make trouble, please…"

Rita inhaled, "I can't, I'm Married now Gretchen, Emily is settled in School, I," Her eyes going to her sister's hand, "What are you doing?"

Gretchen laughed, "I don't know, but, well," her eyes slowly going to the window, "When is your husband due home?" Her eyes focused on the lights.

Rita now turning her attention to the window with Gretchen, "This is the US Marshals, Gretchen Morgan, come out with your hands up, and disregard any weapons you may have on you!"

Rita's eyes back on Gretchen's face, it looked shocked, her face losing all colour, "No, this, no…" Her voice breaking, "how did they?"

"Gretchen, it's best you turn yourself in, please…" this time Rita was pleading with her sister, her eyes focused.

Gretchen shook her head, "No, I got this far, I won't go back, I can't…" Her eyes blinking tears, "Rita, I can't handle it, I regret a lot in my life, but Rita…" Gretchen kept watching her sister. "I…"

"Gretchen you have until the count of Ten to turn yourself in," Gretchen knew that voice, her eyes wide, Alex's voice was hard for her to forget, she kept still in the living room.

"Aunt Gretchen, why is there police on our front yard?" Emily spoke softly, confused, stood in front of both sisters, her mother, her aunt, and the bright lights of the police cars.

Gretchen inhaled, "Rita," Her hand reached out for her sister's hand, Rita slowly took her hand, for a moment she couldn't be mad, she missed her sister, missed the things they used to have together. "I need you."

Rita inhaled, "You've got to turn yourself in," Her voice so small, her hand gripping when Gretchen went to pull it back, "If not for me, but for Emily…" Her eyes kept still.

Emily watching the two of the grown ups, her body shifted from one foot to another, "Is this like before, with the bad man mom, the man, the one who…?" Emily didn't know what to do.

Rita reached a hand out, "Emily, there is something I need to tell you…" Her voice calming, "I never wanted to tell you, but I think it's the right time." Her attention on her daughter, her sister, the noise outside ignored. "When you asked why you don't have a daddy, I said, because you was special…"

"Mom, I know," Her eyes going from her own to Gretchen, "I know you adopted me, I've known the truth, since I was ten, when I was being nosy in your things…" Her eyes went to Gretchen. "But you have to turn yourself in." the bright blue of her eyes, they looked so much like Gretchen, so Gretchen couldn't fight.

"I can't," the sound was so calm, but Gretchen reached a hand out for Emily, the three of them in the living room as the sound of the door being broken in.

Ray standing in the living room, his eyes going from Gretchen, the other woman who must be her sister, the younger girl. He kept his gun up, "Gretchen Morgan," His voice rough.

Erica standing behind him, she kept looking to the moment, feeling bad, but watched as Gretchen dropped the two hands she was holding, her hands in the air, "I'll turn myself in," Her voice calm, the tone almost cold, "I need to make one request."

Ray kept his gun focused, "You got nothing coming to you!" his hiss dark, but he could see Gretchen looking behind him.

"I think you'll find this request isn't too hard, if you give me what I want, I will give you the location of Sara Tancredi…" Her voice was serious now.

Ray felt stuck, "You come with us, then you can make your negotiations." He stepped forward, taking Gretchen's arm; he turned her around cuffing her.

Gretchen inhaled, "I promise you two, I'll do what I can, wait for me?"

Rita holding Emily's hand, looking to her daughter who's tears were free falling down her cheek, "I'll wait… I love you Gretchen."
Gretchen smiled, "I love you two too…" Her body was being pulled from the house, her eyes finally crying.

Julianne kept looking into the sink of water and plates, "You know, I am getting a change of Career idea?" Elizabeth spoke softly while leaning on the counter, looking to Julianne with a smile.

"So you want to be a US Marshal?" Julianne's eyes slowly meeting Elizabeth's, the kitchen was clean, even if Elizabeth made a mess with Dinner, their mother being out of town again, the two girls had the place to themselves.

Elizabeth's nose scrunched up, her hands supporting herself as she pulled herself to sit on the counter beside Julianne. "Hell no," her voice snapped, "I was thinking more on leaning away from Surgery, maybe go into Internal medicine."

"And what made you change your mind?" Julianne placed the last plate on the draining board, they had a dishwasher, but she loved the feeling of washing up by hands. She reached for a cloth to dry her hands.

Elizabeth kept looking to the door, for a moment quiet, "I just think, maybe it would be better than just cutting people open…" Her eyes slowly meeting Julianne's, "I like the puzzle, maybe Internal Medicine is more of a puzzle." Her face focused on Julianne's.

"Okay," walking to the fridge opening it taking a bottle of Pepsi out, "I've just been thinking." Her voice was soft; she didn't know why she found it hard sometimes to talk to Elizabeth. "I just…"

"Lloyd told you about the medication?" Elizabeth slipped off the counter; her tone had dropped the playfulness, her hands going to her pockets.

Julianne bit her lip, her eyes focused on how her sister was acting, "He was worried, I'm worried."

"No he's a nosy barstard that can't keep his nose clean," Elizabeth exhaled taking her hands from her pocket running them through her long hair. Julianne moved quickly to place a hand to Elizabeth's shoulder. "Jules, I have to ask, what do you honestly see in that guy?"

Julianne froze, "I," her hand went to pull at her scarf, Elizabeth quick to catch her sister's hand, eye connect, Julianne knew her sister read her like a book. "He's a con, I don't see him like that."

Elizabeth kept hold of her sister's hand, "You know, you can talk that crap, all you want, but I know when you think no one is looking." Her voice serious, "I see you stealing glances in his direction."

"Lizzie," Julianne let her sister's hand drop, "I really don't want to get into it," Her eyes looking to the clock on the wall, "but me and Lloyd, as much as it's horrible for me to say, will never be able to have anything." Her eyes falling to her feet, "He's got twenty five years, it's a silly notions, I only want him, because I know I can't have him." Walking slowly to the basement, Julianne just wanted to be alone now. This case was over, now she wasn't going to see Lloyd until another case came around.