I love this fic!! Poor Hanson dragged into a female sport team had me grinning like a fool!!
As for Nikki, I've got an idea of who was her baby's father...
Now I'll only hope that Mackenzie will try to move again on Hanson, maybe locking him somewhere and trying to rape him or something with the others trying desperatly to find him, it could be great drama/angst moments to write.
I hope this will give you food against writer's block and that you'll update soon!!
Thanks Winged Golden Tiger. Haha he'd get a bit of a shock if he did!
Oh, holy cow! I just bet Johnny Depp would've loved THIS plotline. Too bad they didn't actually do it. Great job. Keep it up. Catch ya on teh flip side.
Aww thankyou Ghostwriter!
Glad to see you back!!..As always your story is very good!!..i hope that Tom's mother and her sister can get together and forgive and heal...Maybe Tom can meet his Aunt!!
Thanks as always Library Tech. I'll try not to leave it so long again.
Thanks as well to Dumblonde for pointing out my terrible continuity, which I will fix asap, and to Sparrows Soul, you busy little reviewer.
The young girl watched from down the street as the two police officers left the Stokely house. She waited until the car was out of sight before crossing the street and ringing franticly on the bell. She was nervous because she hadn't even spoken to Alison Stokely since her daughter was killed. She had no idea what to say and she wanted nothing more than to turn and run home, but her fear and panic quickly overpowered her nerves. She only had to wait a few seconds until the familiar face of her best friend's mother opened the door.
"Kelly!" she said with a sad smile, "How are you honey?"
"I'm doing ok. I'm so sorry Mrs S."
"I know honey. What can I do for you?" she said trying to seem bright.
"Can I ask you about Nikki's cousin?" Kelly was somewhat taken aback by the surprise on Alison's face and how pale she suddenly went.
"How do you know Tommy?" she asked, trying to hide her discomfort
"Tommy? No, your niece" this was met by a totally blank stare. "Your niece, Tamara?"
"Kelly, Nikki doesn't...didn't have a cousin called Tamara."
"She must have. She just started at school, I met her the other day."
"No my sister only had one child."
"A boy called Tommy?" Kelly said somewhere between confused and frightened
"Yeah. He'll be around 22, 23 now so I doubt you'd have met him at school, especially not yours" she said slight amusement on her tear streaked face. "He's a cop or something now. At least I guess so. Last I heard he was starting at the Police Academy."
"Last you heard? You don't see them?"
"Not for a long time sweetie. There was some trouble."
"You don't think your sister could've had another child?"
"I might not have seen the Hansons for a while, but I would've known if she had." she snapped.
"Hansons?"
"Yes."
"This girl's last name was Heyward" Kelly said puzzled.
"There, you see. You're upset honey, I know. You might have got confused."
"So Nikki only had one cousin?"
"Yes sweetheart."
"Called Tommy Hanson? Who's now a cop?" she said swallowing hard.
"Yes. Are you alright?" she asked concerned as her face paled. It all fit. Everything that made no sense about Tamara Heyward suddenly came together. Kelly swallowed her fear and forced a smile.
"I'm fine." she said as convincingly as she could. "It's just hard."
"I know, honey."
"Who are you talking to?" came a mans voice from behind Alison.
"It's just Kelly, Greg. She's just asking about my nephew."
"I don't mean to appear rude Kelly, but my wife is upset enough. Why don't you go home?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause any trouble." Kelly said apologetically.
"That's ok." Alison said kindly
"Goodbye Kelly." Mr Stokely said as he closed the door on her. As she stood there digesting the conversation she heard raised voices from the other side of the door.
"I thought you were gonna put all that in the past." came Mr Stokely voice.
"How can I when it's all come back to haunt me. I nearly killed my sister's only child with drugs and now my little girl is dead from an overdose taking our grandchild with her" she sobbed
"Stop thinking that way" he said lowering his voice. Not wanting to hear anymore Kelly turned and headed home. She needed to talk to Sam.
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Doug had just sat down to endure another hour of class when he was called to the front by Father Michaels.
"It wasn't me, I only just sat down" Doug said protesting his innocence.
"Mr Porter for once you are not the cause of the problem." Father Micheals said. "Your cousin is in reception. I'm afraid you're brother has been taken to hospital and he's waiting to take you to meet your father."
"Oh." said Doug, doing his best I'm shocked and worried sick expression.
"You're free to go Mr Porter, and don't worry you can catch up another day" he said kindly.
"Thanks Father Mike!" Doug said as he headed out the door.
When he arrived at reception he was met by Harry Ioki, who had evidently been posing as his cousin.
"A Vietnamese cousin? You expect them to believe that?" Doug said impatiently.
"Well, they believe Hanson's your girlfriend so why not?" said Harry with a grin. "Actually I think they were too shocked to question it."
"Lucky for us" Doug said shortly. "So what's going on?"
"You're biggest fan came through for us."
"Huh?"
"Dorian, she came through with the name of the guy who gave Nikki Stokely the drugs. That's what Sam Taylor went to tell the police"
"That was fast." he said surprised, then as a smile spread across his face "Penhall charm my man, works every time"
"Whatever, Doug" Harry said with a smile, "Come on, lets go rescue your good lady."
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There was a large crowd gathered around the hockey field as Helen led Tom up to the team's coach. Ms Neil, a tall very thin woman, had been leading her team in warm up exercises when she spotted the two girls heading her way.
"Practice began 10 minutes ago Helen" she said seeming somewhat irritated.
"Sorry Ms Neil, I was waiting for my friend, she'd like to try out for the team." Helen said with a smile. Ms Neil turned her attention to the young girl who stood before her. Tom felt nervous under the woman's gaze, and also extremely fed up of girls making him feel small.
"So are you just going to stand there are you going to join your team mates?" Ms Neil said turning her attention back to Helen.
"Yes Miss" she replied as she scurried away.
"Ok, Miss…."
"Heyward, er Tamara" 'she' replied nervously offering a smile.
"Right, well Tamara you ready to try out?"
"I'd love to, but I'm afraid I don't have my gym things with me"
"No problem, you can borrow the schools spare kit."
"That's very kind, but I can't, you see I've got err…" he stalled trying to think of a way out. Athlete's foot? Nah. Ingrown toenail? Oh, verrucca, perfect. "I've got a verrucca. Maybe next time though."
"Ok. You can stay and watch if you like."
"Sure." He breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Ms Neil join her team and then sat on the edge of the field. A few moments later he was startled by the sound of a familiar booming voice.
"Hey beautiful get off your ass and get over here."
Tom grinned as he jumped to his feet, never had he been so grateful to hear Doug's melodious tones. His relief was short lived however as he noticed the eyes of everyone on the field turn to focus on the new arrival.
"What you doing here?"
"I've come to bust you out!" Doug replied with a smile.
"Thank god! I owe you one man"
"So what do you say we ditch this place and I take you downtown" Doug said meaningfully.
"Best idea I've heard all day" Tom said as they turned to leave. They didn't get far when they heard Ms Neil shouting after them.
"Miss Heyward, where do you think you are going? Students are not allowed off campus during school hours. And you young man, I don't think you belong here do you?"
"Well no, that's why I was leaving" said Doug with a smile.
"Well kindly leave."
Doug was about to offer what he thought was a rather witty remark and Tom was desperately thinking how to get away when they heard
"TAMARA!" They spun round to see the imposing figure of Adam Fuller heading towards them. "I thought I told you I didn't want you hanging around this reprobate".
"I was just leaving" Doug said hurriedly. "Reprobate? If I knew what meant I might be offended" he said to Fuller as he headed off back to the car where Harry was waiting.
"I think we need to have a serious talk my girl!" Fuller said as he none to gently grabbed hold of Tom's arm. "Excuse me ma'am?" he said to Ms Neil, "My daughter and I have some things to discuss" he said before turning to glare at his daughter. "She won't be back this afternoon, can you let her teachers know?"
"Certainly" she replied, quite startled by the tall black captain.
"Sorry for the disruption?" he said before turning to Hanson, "Home now!" he spat as he dragged his daughter away. Hanson staggered after his commanding officer, wondering if his arm would still be attached by the end of the day.
"Wow you're tough!" Tom said managing to keep pace with the taller man. "I'm glad I'm not your son."
"That makes two of us then." Fuller said dryly.
"So what's going on pops?"
"Sam Taylor gave the police the name of the man who supplied Nikki with the rocks. They're holding him at Parker centre."
"So who is he?"
"His name's Carl Brookes, small time dealer works around schools and colleges mainly".
"Wow, big money then?" Tom said sarcastically.
"This is his third bust so he's looking at doing time. Not much time but we can use that, make him fill in a few blanks."
"Like what?"
"Well Mackenzie withdrew 10 grand from his account around the same time Nikki opened one paying in $8000."
"You think Mackenzie gave her the money?"
"Circumstantial I know, but it's the best we've got."
"So you're looking at this guy charging two grand for 5 rocks."
"That's my hunch."
"Wait a minute!" Tom cried in horror. "You're not expecting me to go in there like this?"
"Why not? Every guys a sucker for a pretty face."
"Not funny, captain."
"Don't worry Hanson. We'll swing by the chapel first so you can clean up. They know we're coming, but they can't hold him forever, so no preening in front of the mirror ok?"
"I don't preen!" Hanson said looking highly indignant.
When they arrived at the car Harry was unable to suppress his laughter as he witnessed Hanson's disguise for the first time.
"One more word Harry, and I swear it will be the last one you ever speak" Tom said glaring at his friend. Then with a wry smile "You came in the Deuce? That'll help my street cred"
"Hey this cars a classic!" Harry said pretending offence. "That look however" he said gesturing towards Tom " is classic horror!"
"Hey, that's the light of my life you're talking about" Doug said opening the door so Fuller and Hanson could climb in. "In you go dear" he said smiling sweetly at his partner. Tom gave him a sarcastic smile, and then looking thoughtful he asked
"Doug am I short?"
"Yeah. Why, where's this going?" he said with a grin
"Have I told you I hate you today? Tom asked giving him a withering glare before climbing into the back of the Deuce.
"Twice" Doug said following him into the car.
As Harry drove Tom and Doug filled the others in on what little they had.
"Sam Taylor wasn't the baby's father." Doug said
"How do you know?" Fuller asked
"He said so."
"Yeah, Kelly said the same thing" Hanson added.
"You sure they're telling the truth?"
"He said they'd never slept together."
"Does he know who the father was?"
"I don't know. He told me he wasn't, got upset then ran off."
"What about Kelly Morris, Hanson?"
"Pretty much the same thing. Oh apart from the sleeping together thing."
"Thank you Tom!" Fuller said, irritation clear in his voice.
"She did say she knew, but she couldn't tell me"
"So if it wasn't Sam's baby, who's was it."
"I think we should be looking at Mackenzie". Hanson said thoughtfully. "Kelly definitely has something over him and it seems like the most obvious thing. A priest getting an underage girl, a student in his care, pregnant. Wouldn't look good for him would it?"
"Hey, this might be a little thin" Penhall began.
"What?" Fuller pressed.
"Well, we think he gave Nikki $10000 right? Could have been for an abortion."
"Catholics don't believe in abortion." Tom told him dismissively.
"They also aren't supposed to hit on school girls Hanson" Fuller said, "Go on Doug".
"Minors need consent from their parents to before doctors will perform an abortion right?"
"Yeah, unless you go to one of those shoddy back street places." Hanson added.
"But she never got the abortion." Harry said from the front seat.
"She wouldn't be able to either. She was three months along. It illegal to abort when they reach that stage." Fuller told them.
"Exactly!" Doug said. "So what other ways can you get rid of a baby?" he said with a knowing look on his face.
"Drugs" Tom said with a sad smile.
"Yeah. It just went wrong and she overdosed. But like I said" Doug said, "Thin".
"Maybe, but it's the best we've got so far." Fuller said.
"Makes sense actually." Tom said thoughtfully. "Cos I really don't think this was murder. Mackenzie's definitely a creep, he may have been the father but I don't think he's a murderer"
"And she wasn't a regular drug user, we know that." Harry said.
"Penhall, what about the boyfriend?"
"No way captain."
"Why?" Fuller said
"Because I genuinely think he cared about her."
"You telling me that if Dorothy was having someone else's baby and wouldn't let you near her you wouldn't be just a little upset?"
"Sure I would."
"You don't think that maybe he might have wanted to help her get rid of the baby?"
"You think he gave her the drugs." Tom said
"Let just see what we can find out from this dealer first."
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When they arrived at the chapel Judy was sat at her desk filling out paperwork while Blowfish was up a ladder changing yet another light bulb, whistling as Hanson came past, receiving a withering look for his efforts.
"Hey guys. How's it going Hanson, thinking of making the leap to night clubs yet?"
"No, but he almost made the girls hockey team" Doug said grinning.
"I'm going to be having nightmares about that for the rest of my life!" Tom said shaking his head. "Bloody Helen Creswell. Coach you gotta let me badge this girl. She might know something or at least it will stop me killing her."
"You're not blowing your cover Hanson."
"Coach…." Hanson whined.
"No Hanson!"
"You didn't let me finish!"
"You don't have any excuse for getting out of this that I haven't heard already."
"I think these clothes are giving me thrush! You heard that yet?"
"Wow! Now that's commitment" Harry said as he and Doug choked back laughter while Fuller, doing his best to hide the laughter in his dark eyes, kept his face deadly serious as he said
"I think Hoffs might have something for that."
"Yeah, but I don't think it can help you Hanson." Judy said smirking. Hanson rounded on his Captain, his face a picture of horror and anger.
"You broke me!" He looked on confused as his partners and captain burst into hysterics.
"What?" he asked impatiently.
"Isn't he sweet?" Doug said patting his friend on the back.
"Very sweet" Harry grinned.
"What?"
"I don't think you have that problem Hanson" Judy said humouring him.
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"How?"
Penhall leaned close to whisper in his partner's ear. As he did so Hanson's face screwed up in disgust.
"I did not need to hear that"
"Very sweet and not too bright" Harry said smiling at his friend's embarrassment. "Just your type Doug!"
"Ok guys!" Fuller said becoming more serious. "I'm happy you can all laugh about this but a girl died here ok. Try to remember that. Hanson you've got 10 minutes, if you're not cleaned up by then you go as you are. And Hoffs why aren't you at school."
"Relax captain. I'm meeting the Witches of Eastwick in the forest in half an hour."
"Don't be late, and Hanson get a move on we don't want to scare the guy we just want him to talk" he said with a wry smile.
"Yes sir"
"Hey Penhall does he snore?" Hoffs asked as Fuller walked out of earshot.
"Now you're being ridiculous" Tom snapped.
"Actually it's more deep breathing than snoring" Doug said thoughtfully.
"Not helping Doug" Hanson said through gritted teeth.
"What? You fell asleep on that stake out the other night" Tom studied his partner with the familiar look of distain.
"I..."
"Hate me." Doug finished as he placed his hands on his friend's shoulders and began to lead him away. "You know, If you keep on saying that I'm gonna end up with a serious complex. It wouldn't hurt if you just told me how you feel once in a while"
"I just did"
"Go on. It's really not that hard. Come on three little words, that's all it is."
"Go away" Tom said dismissively
"That's two"
"Go away now!" Tom said heading towards the bathrooms.
"That was three" Ioki said coming up behind his large friend
"Ouch!" Doug said placing his hand over his heart. "So beautiful, yet so cruel!"