"So, why don't you tell me, what you've found?" Piper asked Alex on the phone.
"Ah, it's not that simple, sleepy beauty. I can't just explain to you this fucked up codes, I don't fully understand it myself."
"And what do you suggest then, criminal mind?"
"Dunno, come around, see yourself?"
"As to your apartment?"
"Yeah, why not?"
"Uh, we're not so close to do such a thing? I mean, you know I kinda hate you."
"Can you just stop? No, if you have strength in you to wait until morning, it's your choice…"
"I'll be there in 30."
"That's what I thought."
Unbearable woman. Piper didn't remember how many times she had already told herself that during last few days. Alex Vause was exact antithesis of Piper, she was all she didn't like about people and she was all she sometimes wanted to be herself. And the fact that Alex was attractive as fuck wasn't helping at all. Piper sometimes caught herself thinking that it was alike typical college situation: you have a crush on a popular guy, but he's a complete jerk. She hated these thoughts, because she wanted to hate Vause, not to fall for her. She was a criminal and she was definitely a jerk. Fuck. They say extremes always meet, and that what scared detective Chapman the most.
Piper tried to calm herself with a fact that she just hadn't been in a serious relationship for a long time and it was a simple sign to start one. Not with Vause of course. Piper took a quick shower, dressed as fast as she could and made her way to Alex's apartment.
"You're late", Alex greeted her opening the door.
"Sorry", Piper answered sarcastically.
Her apartment wasn't what Piper expected to see. She thought it would be a huge flat with at least three rooms. But it was more like a studio, one big room with everything in it: kitchen, bed, dining space and so on. And there was very beautiful balcony which led to the roof as Alex lived on the last floor.
"Wow", flew out Piper's mouth.
"Hm?" Alex didn't understand at first what Piper meant to say. "Oh, you liked my little nest?"
"It's fantastic."
Alex smiled at that with a strange expression. No, it wasn't strange to see a sincere smile, but from Vause to Piper? Weird.
"Come on, have a seat, I'll bring the laptop with what I've discovered. Do you need something? Water, wine?"
"Wine? I have to go on duty in 3 hours from now."
"Right. I forgot you're so orderly."
"I'm a cop!"
Alex chuckled at that and left to grab her laptop. After a few minutes she sat on the couch next to Piper with opened laptop.
"So, here's the thing I've managed to decipher only one file so far and as I thought it's a list of names. And it's definitely not drug dealers' names."
"Why are you so sure?"
"I don't claim I know everybody who runs this business, but let's say, someone checked the names out for me."
"What the hell? You gave the evidence to someone on the side?!"
"Easy, don't yell, I'm not such an idiot. Again, my source just checked out the names."
"Great."
"Really, calm down. Anyway, I've found a gap, so it would be easier to crack other files."
"Pf, I'm fine. Give me the list of names, I'll run them through our base at the precinct. So, you have any theories so far about all of that?"
"Why, detective, I thought you didn't like early theories."
"I don't like to build them, but I'll gladly listen to yours."
"I'm not so sure yet, but most likely this guy got tired of his low position, didn't manage to quit and find another job, so he decided to start his own business from inside. Maybe he was selling information on the cartel, maybe he was selling their drugs to his own clients. Whatever it was, seems like he fucked up, his cover was blown, two shots in the chest, death."
Shit, that was hell of a theory. Vause was quite smart for a consultant who wasn't very experienced in this position. With every word Piper felt she might be wrong about her. No, it didn't mean she stopped thinking she was a jerk. But she was eager to help, she cared. Maybe she wanted to change, who knew.
"Hm, impressive", Piper admired.
"You're trying to make fun of me or what? Is it some kind of revenge?"
"No, I mean it, great job."
Alex didn't answer but sent Piper this strange smile again.
"Ugh, I think… If you know how to encode the other documents, it will be better to keep working. You can stay home today so not to waste any time. I'll go to the precinct now and come back to check on you in the evening, if you don't mind."
"You're my boss, remember? You can check on me anytime you want."
"Right, I better get going then."
Piper felt oddly uncomfortable. She didn't know why, Alex was too sweet, too kind, it wasn't her usual behavior and this fact unsettled Piper.
"Come on, it's 4 in the morning. As I raised you from the bed, you can stay, do whatever you want."
Again! She expected Alex to kick her out of the apartment and slam the door after her, not to invite to stay. Dammit.
"Ah, okay. I want to know then."
"To know what, detective?"
"More about you. Why did you become a dealer?"
"Don't you think this question is too delicate for the starters?"
"You told me that I need to trust you. Then show me. Show me I can."
Alex looked Piper in the eyes and she shuddered. Her eyes were magnificent indeed, so deep. You might think she could see your soul with them, to read all of your thoughts. Alex took a deep breath and put the laptop aside.
"It's very smart move, I give you that. Okay, as you took me at my word, I would tell you. But please, no judgement, no brainwashing or something like that. No comments at all."
"Pinky promise."
"You're laughing at me."
"No, I'm shutting up and listening."
"Well, I was raised by my mother, we were poor and life was a disaster. She died when I was 18…"
"Alex, I…"
"Don't. Just listen. She died and I tried to find my father. It wasn't very hard as he was quite a famous musician in his early ages. But when I found him, he was a mess. He was disgusting, he was drunk and obnoxious. He wasn't the man I was expected to see at all. He was on drugs and I met his dealer that day, I don't know why but he made me an offer that day. I was lost, I was all alone so I accepted it. I had got a dream life: I was reach, I had an opportunity to travel a lot, I was happy. At least for some time. That's all I can tell you for now. I don't want to dive in the memories."
They sat in silence for some time. Piper felt that the only jerk in this room was her. She had no right to treat Alex like this not knowing her story. She was right, she didn't know her at all. It all made sense know, woman's behavior and her imaginary wall from reality. Piper now saw a different person sitting next to her, a strong woman with tough life. If only she knew all of that the day they met, Piper wouldn't behave so stupid. But, it is always better now or never, so she decided she would be able to change things between them.
"So why did you decide to quit and surrender?" Piper asked in low voice finally.
"I'll tell you that next time, okay Pipes?"
Piper smiled for the first time after she heard Alex calling her that. It was cute in fact. And after their conversation she didn't mind anymore. It was clear Alex was upset a little bit after telling Piper the part of her story, but she promised not to comment on it, so she just nodded.
"You want something to eat? I bet you didn't have time for that this as called morning."
"Yeah, I'd like to."
"Bacon and eggs is okay with you?"
"Of course", Piper smiled lightly at the woman.
"I didn't know you can be so domestic", Piper said as Alex put a plate with the breakfast in front of her.
"Shut up and eat, sweetheart, you'll be late for work."
"Shit!" Piper cursed after looking at the clock.
She ate quickly, grabbed the list of names and headed to the entrance of the apartment, Alex followed her.
"Thanks again, you've done a great work. And I'm really sorry. I was a jerk."
"Yeah, well and I'm still a jerk so get out."
"Very funny."
"Go, you'll be late."
"Right, bye. Catch you later."
Things were getting better. Vause wasn't so unbearable anymore, they even could be good partners if Alex would stop to throw sex jokes anytime they were together. Her work wasn't a complete disaster anymore. It was a progress. She arrived at the station and started to work on Alex's list of names. Soon enough Nikki and John joined her and things went a bit faster.
"They're all bigwigs", Nikki concluded.
"Yeah… Looks like Alex was right, our vic was selling to his own clients."
"Alex, huh?"
"What?"
"You called her Alex."
"So?"
"You usually say Vause or 'that pain in the ass'."
"Meaning?"
"You don't hate her anymore."
"Maybe. I haven't decided yet. Have our specialists figured something out from the victim's laptop?"
"Not as much as 'Alex'."
"Stop it."
"Yeah, yeah. Any news from Polly?"
"She don't think she will be able to tell us something better than 'it was 9mm caliber'. Damn professional killer."
"So, this list is all that we've got."
"Yep. I think we can start to bring them in, maybe we'll drag something from one of them before their freaking lawyers show up and tell us to fuck off."
"Let's try."
They interrogated 9 of the 20 people on the list till the end of the day and things weren't very promising. All of them mostly were wealthy young people or businessmen, who denied that they used drugs or saw Tom Raymond before. Piper wasn't surprised.
"I hate this case already. Take the files with their cases, try to find something strange. Maybe some of them were charged before. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Night, boss."
Piper took copies of the cases with her and went to Alex. It was almost midnight but she was sure Vause was still awake. Besides, she promised to check on her. She went up to the last floor and knocked on the door.
"Look who's here, my favorite detective. Come on in. How was your day?"
"Not so great. We questioned some of the people on the list and the progress is 0%. What about you?"
"A few more hours of work and we'll have another list. This time list of places I suppose."
"Fuck."
"Don't you worry, we'll solve it."
"I hope so. I need to get rid of you after all."
"Funny. You're funny blondie."
"I try my best. Anyway, as there's nothing new, I should go."
"It's late, you can stay."
"What? All night you mean?"
"Why not? Something's telling me, you're not going to sleep. And I won't need to call you in the middle of the night to report you new details."
"Okay, you win. But I need to eat again."
"Are you fucking kidding me? I'm not your wife."
"Exactly, but it's not preventing you from making sex jokes!"
"So you've noticed", Alex grinned.
"That's not the point."
"Of course it isn't. Check out the fridge, there should be something to eat."
"I liked you more when you were domestic?"
"I was out of my mind, now go."
"Oh, and you promised me to tell the next part of your story by the way."
"Bullshit. I don't know what you are talking about."
"But…"
"Eat, then work. Don't mess with me."
Well, it was going to be hell of a night.
Review, please. And thanks for the previous ones. ^^ I'm not sure it's going very well. I feel like it's not intriguing at all. :D But I hope you like it anyway.