Sorry it took so long for me to update. I also own Richard Matthews and Red Mist's cronies. No action in this chapter.
The hospital sorted out my arm quick enough, they made me wear an arm sling. I walked out to find Mindy dressed like a geeky teenager stood in front of an old, black Ford Fiesta. She smiled warmly at me, it was nice to see her smile, a very rare treasure.
I was not looking forward to explaining the sling to my boss.
"What the fuck happened to you?" Richard Matthews, the Chief of Department, chuckled. He was stood in the doorway to my office, his presence made the room feel smaller, but brighter.
"I slipped in the shower." I smiled bashfully at the large black man. He laughed heartily and walked away He was in a good mood… I thought, the man was usually friendly but not that happy.
Unfortunately, Bud took his place at my door. "What happened to you?" He asked solemnly.
"I slipped in the shower." I told him simply, I opened the Red Mist file, hoping Bud would take the hint and go away.
"Did you now?" He asked incredulously. He shook his head then added, "Christopher D'Amico is here to see you."
At first I wondered if I had heard him correctly, "Frank D'Amico's son, Chris D'Amico?"
"Is there any other? He said you asked him to come in for questioning." Bud looked at me like I had gone mad.
"Oh, right, yeah. Er, one sec. Take him to interview room one. Thanks." I closed the file, I soon found myself sorting out my hair and de-crasing my uniform.
As I was about to walk into the room Bud ambushed me, he handed me a handful of pictures and asked, "Do you want me to go behind the mirror?"
"No, I want to do this alone. I don't want to put anyone else in danger." I really just wanted to be alone with Chris but he didn't have to know that. "Could I have a guard outside the door though?"
"Ok, yeah. Just so I know, how well do you know Chris D'Amico?" He asked and I smiled knowingly turning and opening the door to the interview room.
"Please sit down, Mr. D'Amico." I said to the man who was staring into the mirror.
"Oh, we're doing this formally, Inspector Conway? How many people are behind that mirror?" He said mischievously, a playful glint in his hazel eyes.
"No one, hopefully. If you want me to check, I will."
"No need, if you trust your colleagues, so do I."
I never said I trusted them. "So, how did you find out about my line of work?" I smiled, trying to match his cool composure.
"I do own half of New York. It's very easy for me to find one incredibly talented, incredibly beautiful inspector." He leaned forward with a crooked grin. I realised I wasn't breathing. I didn't remember him being this forward or arrogant, unfortunately, I was finding it incredibly attractive.
"Chris. Why are you here?" I asked, not letting my voice show how weak I was feeling.
"Why did you take my case?" He leaned, back but kept his cocky smile on his face.
"So you admit you're Red Mist?"
"I never said that." His words sounded agitated but he looked impressed by my rebuttal. I couldn't lock Chris up without evidence (many had tried before me), even though I did know who he was, the one thing no one but The Purple Eradicator could get.
"Red Mist destroys thousands of people, good people. I want to put a stop to it." My last words took the cocky look off of his face. "I'll ask again, why are you here Chris?"
"I want to co-operate. I'll answer a few questions you've been yearning" He moved forward again and his eyes smouldered,"to ask me for years."
"Alright, what do you know about Red Mist's girlfriend?" I made it sound like I was slightly jealous (which I was) but I had a plan.
"What, the Jade Vamp? She means nothing to him. He just wanted a fuck, now she won't leave him alone. How do you know about her?" His voice had taken on a low, sexy tone but I stayed clear headed and ignored his question, he knew perfectly well how.
"Do you know what her real identity is?"
"Sorry, I don't know that much." Something told me that he had no idea who she actually was and wanted to keep it that way.
"So you have no 'other half?'"
"Nope, free and single. I lost the woman I-" He started and I interrupted.
"Do you know anything about Red Mist's accomplices?" I said, he looked annoyed that I stopped him mid sentence.
"I only know their superhero names." He obviously was lying.
"That will do for now." I told him tolerantly. I pulled out the pictures that Bud had handed me, it turned out they from a surveillance camera in the park the night before. My heart skipped a beat but I put them all on the table.
"That is Hit Girl and her poodle Kick Ass." He told me pointing at the figures. He had a knowing grin on his face.
"They acquaintances of Red Mist's?"
"No, they're enemies. This is The Jade Vamp-ire," again he choked on the last syllable. He added, "Cobra," he pointed at the cowardly little man who had ran away from the fight.
"Eagle," The large man who had attacked me.
"Mighty Mole."
"Mighty Mole?" I asked sceptically. The man was short but didn't look mole-like.
"Yeah, he choose his own name." Chris rolled his eyes, he gave me a few more names and then finished with, "And this is The Purple Eradicator. I'm sure you've heard of her."
"She a friend of Red Mist's?" I was starting to become irritated. He was going to blow my cover soon.
"They used to be mortal enemies, but now I'm not really sure." He said moving forward and staring into my eyes.
"What do you mean by that?" I felt my blood begin to boil.
"I think she would join Red Mist, if her morals didn't make her feel guilty." He said simply and sat back in his chair. I couldn't argue with that, it was the truth, but he was still irritating me.
I looked at the pictures carefully, in the last ones I could see my shoulder dislocate, me running away, Red Mist slapping The Jade Vampire and then the whole crew running away. "Why did Red Mist slap The Jade Vampire?" Suddenly the cold interview room felt very warm.
"I don't know, I wasn't there. Maybe she did something he didn't like." Chris replied softly, all hint of arrogance vanished.
"Maybe…" I whispered. We stared at each other for a few moments.
"I missed you." He told me gently.
"Don't. Don't go there." Just like every time someone told me how they felt, I tensed up.
"Penny, I know you missed me too, that's why we're doing this." He was slightly more forceful and was not going to give up.
"No, we're doing this because you are Red Mist." I was tense, becoming angry and I couldn't understand why. This is what I had wanted for years, for him to tell me how he felt, but I was shouting at him instead.
"Where's your proof?" He said, matching my irritation.
"I know who you are, Chris. There's no point lying to me."
Chris stood up, his hands pressed onto the table, glaring down at me, "Until you have proof I'm not saying anything."
I stood up to so we were at eye level, "Then you'll be singing like a bird soon enough."
We were glaring into each others eyes when suddenly we both moved in and locked lips. Our lips moved together wonderfully, the way I remembered. My able hand was in his hair memorising every bump in his skull. I felt his hands on my neck, keeping me attached to him. Our tongues touched and shivers went down my spine, awakening every lost feeling between us and all the heartache I had felt. I could feel tears stinging my eyes from pure passion and lost love. I found myself crawling onto the table between us to get closer to him. He moved his hands down to my shoulders careful not to hurt me and onto my waist. I placed my hand on his neck and kept him where he was, willing him to never let go.
Eventually, we broke apart, breathing heavily into each others mouths. I didn't know what to say, I didn't trust myself to say anything. I was so turned on that all I could think of was, Wow, do you think anyone would noticed if I ripped his clothes off and just- Shut up, shut up, shut up!
I pulled myself apart from him and stood on the floor, my knees shaking. "Well, thanks for coming in. Have a nice day, Mr D'Amico."
"You too, Inspector." He left quickly and I sat down with a groan, Not good, definitely not good.
I heard a knock on door and Bud's head popped 'round the door. "You ok?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I just saw D'Amico leave in a bit of a daze. Did he stress you out? You're a bit red in the face and your hair's a bit messed up." Thank God for Bud's naivety.
"Yeah, but I now who all these people are, it'll make life a little easier." I sorted out my hair and sighed. I could still feel Chris all over me, in a very good but bad way. Bud nodded and left the room.
I sighed, returned to my office and called the kick-boxing club to ask if I could have a refresher course. By the time I left kick boxing I was a black belt but now the moves were fading from my memory. My arm would make it difficult, but I could cope.
I needed to train, Red Mist and The Purple Eradicator were still enemies, whatever Chris thought.
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