Here I am to deliver Chapter 2. I want to thank laurzz and saderia for reviewing and hopefully the rest of you guys will too.
Disclaimer: Guess what? I still don't own and am not affiliated to any characters of CSI: NY. Boo! Off to my corner to cry yet again.
My eyes ran over the reflection given by the full length mirror before me assessing my attire. I gave slight swerves while smoothing out my knee length, halter dress smiling in approval at the results.
"Don't you look quite hot missy?" Turning to catch the voice my smile widened watching Ashlee approach me with a grin.
"I could say the same for you," I complimented taking in her little black strapless dress that held in her curves and ended with a slight slit against her knees. Her grin widened at my compliment as I sat at the edge of my bed to slip on my heels. "I still don't know about this club thing though Ash." I caught her rolling her eyes at me and was sure I was annoying her but the outing she'd set up wasn't me. Even the outfit I was currently wearing wasn't me and while I tried to mold myself to accept and feel natural I couldn't completely conform.
"Good thing I do then huh?" I stood from my seated stance and walked towards my dresser to set aside my jewelry. "Lindsay you need to go out sometimes! Don't you remember college, all the fun times we had? How we'd enter a room and all the guys would bow down to us? Don't you want to go back there?"
"Ashley we're not 18 anymore," I summed up simply, motioning through my jewelry box for my favorite pair of studs.
"It doesn't mean we don't look 18 have you looked at yourself in the mirror?" I paused my action to take a glance back at Ashley giving a smile. "Exactly! Now I'm not saying we have to take it back to college and bring them home. Just put a little liquor in your system, dance with a few hot guys, show them what they can't have, and come back home the successor. I don't need you sitting around at home thinking about can't keep it inside Messer." I didn't reply and instead grinned happily when I spotted my silver studs. I quickly inserted them into my ears and ran my fingers through my curls finalizing my look.
"Fine, fine just let's go. I don't want to think about Danny right now," I stood upward grabbing my purse from my bed and took the lead exiting my bedroom.
"Gladly." I knew Ashlee was currently feeling successful in her ability to pull me out from the confinements of my apartment. Not to say that I sat around at home all day but going to the club was a rarity for me. Being dressed in such a scandalous outfit was a very slim situation. "Maybe we can find you a real man huh?" I didn't respond and instead locked my apartment door and followed Ashlee's lead toward the elevator. I prayed as we walked that we didn't meet up with any of my neighbors, the last thing I wanted was anyone I'd have to see on a regular basis to see me in this outfit. "Girls night out Linds, it'll be a blast just watch!"
Strobe lights and loud music seemed to be in for the club with a mixture of blue, green, and yellow lights dancing across the room. With interlaced shoulders I followed behind Ashlee as she led the way through the club towards the bar. Only two minutes in the environment and I was ready to leave. So far one too many men have grabbed at my ass and I swore at the next hint of a hand against my backside I would attack. I genuinely believed my message was mentally received by every guy in the room because I made it the rest of the walk without being molested. I took a seat at one of the stools with Ashlee on the other surveying the room to see that it was filled with sex in a variety of positions on the dance floor.
"Sooo, what do you think?" She motioned herself to set her ears onto my lips so I could hear her. With a shrug of my shoulders I replied.
"It's a club." I watched her brows furrow before she shook her head in disappointment but chirped up instantly after.
"It's because you just got here Linds," Ashley motioned me around to face the bar. "Get a couple of shots in you and you'll be having the time of your life." I watched in a reserved manner as she signaled for the waiter to accommodate us and ordered numerous amounts of shots. The drinks were slid towards us moments later and downing the first and motioning to the second shot felt myself loosening up as Ashley mentioned.
"I want to dance!" I felt unwound, with no boundaries or problems and snatched Ashlee onto the dance floor with me. Hours went by and I couldn't keep myself from the dance floor until the need for a release overwhelmed me. "Excuse me," I yelled towards the stranger who held my hips and freed myself from him. My next step was to drag Ashlee along with me, we were officially club buddies and wherever I went she'd have to follow.
"What?" I faintly heard her yell and pointed in the direction of the bathroom hoping she'd get the message. I was ecstatic to see that there was no line and immediately moved to find and empty stall. "Hey here's…..oh my fuck!" Panic ensued me and I dashed towards Ashley to see what the problem was. I took a hold of her as she stood filled with shock and moved her back. My face fell and I had to compose myself for the better of both of us.
"Ashley I'm gonna need you to relax okay. I'll take care of this you just stand to the side." My eyes ran over the body in the stall. She looked so young; her clothing ripped apart and matted hair clinging to her forehead. Her lipstick was smudged over her face and from my analysis from the distant I could see slight semen stains on her. It didn't take too much to realize she'd been raped.
"Linds…."
"One second Ash let me take care of this first." I needed to move quickly and reached into my purse for my cell phone. "Yeah hi this is off duty officer calling to report a murder and from the looks of it rape inflicted…..yes…..yes….club Elixir on 16th street…..thanks."
"Linds….Linds I…" I watched as she ran over to and open stall and followed quickly. Pulling her hair back I stroked her back as she regurgitated continuously until she stopped then helped her wash her face.
"First time huh?" A light smirk played about my lips.
"Well excuse me but I'm not a cop so I'm not exactly immune to seeing thing like this."
"Oh believe me Ashers I'm not immune. I can't even begin to explain the emotions I'm going through right now. I've just learned to control myself." Ashley nodded her head in what I guessed was understanding.
"So what do we do now?"
"We wait for backup. I'm off duty and filled with one too many shots so there's nothing I can do." Leaning against the sink we waited and played keep away from others who wanted to use the bathroom to keep them away from the stall with the body. The last thing needed was the rest of the club to have knowledge of the body without backup. Twenty minutes later familiar faces entered the bathroom.
"Hey Lindsay…..wow!" A stiff smile graced my lips at Don's pause. For a while I'd forgotten my attire but was now in for a rude awakening. "I'm sorry it's just you….and the outfit…I mean…yeah…"
"Its fine Don umm just, let's get on with this please," I pleaded hoping he'd comply. The situation was awkward enough and any further talking would do nothing but intensify the awkwardness.
"Yeah, sure. Do you know what happened?"
"We found the body. I had to use the bathroom so I dragged her in with me. We were the only two in here from what I knew. Ashley," I stopped to point at her. "She opened that stall and we just saw her like that. I made sure it went untouched and unseen by anyone else, that's how we found her though." Don nodded, jotting down notes from what I told and put his notebook away.
"I'm gonna' have to talk to her," he informed me and I nodded in understanding since it was protocol.
"That's fine, I'm sure she'll cooperate but can you not mention this to anyone else please," I paused to show reference to my outfit and it was his turn to nod his head.
"Yeah sure…you look really nice though." A smile graced my lips at his compliment which I thanked. I stood back and watched as the once moderately sized bathroom became filled with people drawing it smaller in size by the amount.
"Hey Don!" I flinched at the sound of his voice, his accent bouncing off the wall. He was here, in this club, about to catch me with this outfit on. I wondered what I did that was so wrong that put me in this situation.
"Hey man, unlucky lady's in there. Lindsay and her friend here found her." Taking in a deep breath I waited for his eyes to set themselves on me and clutched onto Ashlee for support. I was sure she could feel my tension.
"Montana….wow!" He blinked repeatedly and I swore I saw his eyes linger on the cut that pulled at my breasts for an hour before moving to me as a whole.
"Hi," I murmured and wondered where the shyness I was now showing came from. Granted Danny messed with my mind he'd never be one to make me feel like a pre-teen all over again. I hated the feeling he brought onto me. "Umm, we walked into the bathroom and Ashlee opened the stall and found her." He simply nodded his head. "You doing this alone?"
"I was hoping we'd be doing this together but I'm guessing ya' got one too many in you by now huh?" Unable to lie I nodded my head with a shy smile on my lips. "Yah, I'll call for someone."
"So like can we go or something, I do have to get up for work in the morning." My eyes set themselves on Ashlee and I wondered what work she was talking about. She was always off on Sunday. Danny, it had to be because she wasn't fond of him.
"Yeah, did Don talk to you yet?"
"Yep surely did."
"You can go then, for now."
"Thank you." A soft giggle left my lips at the attitude that came with her thanks. "Come on Lindsay." She snatched me away immediately without giving me a chance to reply.
"Hey Montana," I heard Danny call and quickly freed myself from Ashlee's grip turning to give him my attention. He turned from the body he was catering too. His blue orbs set themselves on mine then raved over my body once over. He bit down on his bottom lips for a moment before continuing. "Yah look nice by the way." My face flushed into an instant blush at his compliment. I couldn't open my mouth to form words and felt like such a child unable to reply. All I could do was nod my head and hoped it was good enough. Unable to say anything else I walked away with Ashlee; our shoulder interlaced, and was happy to see the club was cleared.
"You sucker," Ashlee spat in disgust but I couldn't help myself. "Look at you beaming!"
"I can't help it," I whined as we exited the club. Ashlee shook her head but even her teasing couldn't wipe the smile Danny formed off my face.