Chapter Two

A few weeks later, Sonja came into the office early to make some calls to England, where one of their suspects had allegedly fled. As she put her purse down, she suddenly realized she had to pee. Damn that early cup of coffee. Being the first one up, she felt obligated to make a pot for Chris. But, of course, he had then called to her and she went back into the bedroom. Skip to 20 minutes later, her plan to get in at 7 was turning into 8. The coffee had finished brewing and smelled so good, she had to drink some.

LaSalle, of course, was not interested in joining her.

"You do the early bird thang, City Mouse," he drawled from under the blanket. "I can mop up what's left in a few hours."

Back at the office, she went to the bathroom off the kitchen and heard the unmistakable sound of a woman retching. She recognized the gender specific noise having spent many unhappy hours in college trying to console her friends as they unleashed after a frat party or a binge. Still, whether bulimic or alcoholic, girls always gave out higher pitched and shorter bursts of sound than guys as their stomach contents reversed course.

Since there were only two women at the office, and she was one of them, Sonja quickly deduced who was tossing her cookies.

"Merri, are you OK? It's Sonja," she said to the door.

"Yeah," Merri croaked. "I...arrgggurgghhhh"

Sonja wanted to be a good friend, but she really had to pee and she didn't want to be rude and make her ill co-worker move away from the toilet. Plus, there was the clean up.

"I'll be right back," she said as she ran to the bath on the second floor. When she came down, she then grabbed a towel from the kitchen, soaked it in warm water, and knocked again.

"I'm back," she said. Hearing no reply, she opened the door slowly. Merri was sitting on the floor between the sink and the toilet looking gray and wrung out. Percy knelt down and put the towel around Brody's neck.

"Want to rinse your mouth out?" she asked as she got up and filled a paper cup with water.

Merri nodded weakly and took the cup. She swished the liquid around her mouth and spit into the toilet.

Sonja sat opposite leaning against the shower stall.

"Stomach flu?" Percy asked. Merri shook her head.

"Food poisoning?" Percy asked. Merri shook again.

"Betty, you out partying?" Merri sighed deeply, and then shook.

"I know you don't have an eating disorder," Sonja said. "Do you?"

Merri spoke this time, "No, but it is chronic."

"Crohn's disease?"

"I wish," Brody stood up, a bit wobbly, Sonja put the toilet cover down and eased Brody on it gently. She began to rub Merri's back gently.

"Well, I give up. Why else would you be throwing up in...the...morn...ing…"

The light bulb went on. "Oh shit, girl."

Brody nodded. "Yep."

Sonja had no idea that Merri was seeing anyone special or not-so-special for that matter. She wanted to ask who the father, but, you had to handle it delicately.

"So, can I ask, I mean, do you know…" she started.

"Who knocked me up?" Merri finished.

Or, not so delicately.

At that moment, there was a rap at the door. It was Pride. "Honey, how are you feeling?"

He popped his head in, "I made you some dry toast."

Sonja looked first at Pride and then at Brody.

"No fucking way!"

Brody had composed herself. "That's usually how it happens."

Pride came into the room and put his arm around Brody. "We've been together for awhile now…"

The tables were now turned. Percy crossed her arms. "How long?"

Pride made a face, "About seven months."

Just to make it a party, LaSalle's voiced sailed in from the other room.

"I brought beignets. Where is everyone?"

Sonja ignored him for the first time that morning. She looked Pride straight in the eye.

"Wait a minute. You gave LaSalle and me a big lecture, when you and the missus had already been together for months?"

At that awkward juncture, Chris entered the open door.

"What's everyone doing in here?"

Sonja turned to him, "Brody and Pride have been knocking boots for six months, and she's having a baby!"

LaSalle laughed, "No really, what's going on?"

To be continued. Eh, maybe