I own Reuben, Lavender Lewis and the crazy guy in Chris's office.
Hope you enjoy this crazily long chapter.
I heard Bud scramble up onto the roof, noisily, but I stayed put for a little while, I didn't want to make him suspicious. I heard him get out the "Crime Scene Do Not Enter" tape and more cars arrive. I appeared from the alley after a while to see a long line of SUV's parked by the pavement, on both sides of the road. I climbed up onto the roof to see a squad of cops taking pictures and collecting evidence. There were even some CSI's who had been called, just in case. They were all holding torches, they were used to working in the dark.
"Sorry it took me so long to get here." I apologised, to Bud.
"Don't worry… about… it." Bud said slowly, looking at me. "Since when have you had leather pants?" His cheeks turned pink, even in the darkness I could see them light up.
"Oh, I was going out tonight, I've just come from a night club actually. Not too far from here. I'm trying to turn over a new leaf, the leather trousers are the first step." I explained through my teeth, I was reminded of Ross, from friends.
"It suits you." He coughed, nervously.
"Ma'am?" A young cop, called Reuben asked, checking me out momentarily. He brought me an evidence bag with taser residue in it.
"Thanks, and can someone get me the surveillance footage now, please?" I asked, half forcefully. The young man nodded and went to sort it out. I barked orders for a long time, being tired and in charge was not a good mix. I felt my eyelids start to droop, when my young CSI friend came to give me the news I had been waiting for.
"Inspector? We found human blood." Kathy told me softly. I felt a lump in my throat. "I also think we found some urine." Todd.
"Good job, show me where." I followed her towards the edge of the roof, where Todd had been sat. She showed me a small splatter of blood, where Todd's face would have hit the roof when Red Mist kicked him.
I walked back to where I had attacked Red Mist, "Is it just me or does that look like blood, too?" I asked pointing at a pool of blood where Red Mist had been sprawled on the floor.
The young woman used a cotton wool bud to pick up some drying blood and sprayed on a liquid, it turned purple, "Yep, it's blood. I'll get it all to the lab."
I nodded at the woman and walked back to Bud, I could see the sun starting to rise. "I think they've got this sorted. Will you do me a favour? Can you drive me home?" I batted my eyelashes, loathing myself, "It'll be time to go back the office soon and I don't think this," I pointed at the trousers, "is appropriate for the workplace."
My terrible attempt at flirting with him seemed to have worked. "Alright, I'll drop you off but you gotta drive yourself to work."
"Will do, boss." I joked, sleepily.
When I got into the house I napped for an hour before my alarm went off. I then changed and left the house quickly, still dazed and drowsy. I wouldn't allow a tear to leave my eyes until I had seen the footage, I couldn't let anyone know that I knew what had happened to Todd.
I entered my office in a daze and the tape, containing the footage, was on my desk. I watched it intently. Tears I had expected to fall were replaced with anger. After watching it I left in a hurry. Unfortunately, like always, I bumped into Bud, "Where you off to?"
"To see Chris D'Amico." I replied, coldly.
"You sure that's wise? Want me to come with you?" He asked, sweetly, a hint of desperation in his voice.
"I'll be fine thanks."
"I don't trust him." Bud told me, as I tried to get past him. You shouldn't.
"Alright. This is your lucky day. I'm going now, so hurry up." I told him and Bud, literally, beamed with joy.
He rushed off to grab a coat and we walked to our different cars. Bud went to his black SUV, it looked like everyone else's in that godforsaken building, and I walked to my silver Dodge Charger. I would have driven with Bud but we both understood that when I was tired, I needed my space.
We arrived at the D'Amico tower, one at a time, I was first and I was hit with nostalgia. I remembered the last time I had been there, I had met Chris's mother and passed out in front of her, I groaned internally at the memory.
"You alright?" Bud asked me, I hadn't realised he had arrived but I was suddenly glad his large presence was beside me.
"I'm fine." I replied, making my way into the building. We were met by many guards and a pretty, blonde, incredibly skinny, receptionist.
I walked to the reception desk. "Inspector Conway," I showed the receptionist my badge and Bud showed his, "and this is Lieutenant Budberry, we're here to see Christopher D'Amico. He'll be expecting us." I smiled to myself, I knew Chris would expect us even though we hadn't made an appointment.
"One second." The woman behind the desk told us politely, her voice was horrible and whiney, completely different to what I had expected. Something about her reminded me of someone else. She picked up the phone beside her, "Mr D'Amico? An Inspector Conway an-… Oh… Alright…" The colour drained from her face, "Of course, I'll send them up now, I'm sorry sir." Tears started to moisten her eyes as she put down the phone. "Take the elevator up, Mr D'Amico is waiting for you." Her voice cracked as she spoke.
"Thank you very much." Bud said.
"What's your name?" I asked the woman.
"Lavender, Lavender Lewis." She replied, tearfully.
"What exactly did he say to you?" I asked but the girl couldn't reply for the loud sobs erupting from her.
Bud grabbed my arm and dragged me to the lift. "Don't get involved."
"He thinks he can treat people how ever he wants…" I found myself mumbling to myself and Bud moved back imagining I-don't-know-what. Most probably me biting his head off.
The doors opened to reveal the sounds of a singing woman and the smell of fresh bread, among other smells of baked goodies. Oh God, not again. I groaned internally, once again.
The woman's voice was joined by a man's. He had a charming voice and a lisp. "He can sing?" I whispered, not that I could understand what they were singing. There was a burst of light laughter from both people.
Me and Bud entered the kitchen to find Chris stood next to his mother taking a batch of croissants out of the oven. "Ah, Penny. Lovely to see you again!" Beamed Angie D'Amico from behind the island of cabinets, in the middle of the kitchen.
"'Again?'" Bud whispered to me.
"Likewise, Mrs D'Amico." I replied, ignoring Bud. I was too interested in the scene in front of me to care about his judgements.
"Hello again, Inspector Conway." Chris greeted me happily. I noticed how his smile turned to a scowl as he turned to Bud and nodded, "Lieutenant."
"Penny, are you alright dear? You look a little pale." Angie told me kindly, pushing a plate of croissants towards me over the island.
"I'm fine, tired that's all." I smiled, stifling a yawn. "I came to see Mr. D'Amico."
"Oh, you've gone all formal again, Penny." Chris chuckled and Bud stared at me.
"I apologise, could I speak to you alone, Chris?" I asked, through my teeth.
"Of course." Chris practically danced across the room and out onto the hallway, I guessed towards his study.
"What do you want me to do?" Asked Bud, grabbing my arm as I attempted to leave him alone with Mrs D'Amico.
"Talk to her, keep her occupied. Don't come running unless I shout for you. I'll sort Chris out." I told him and again attempted to leave, but not before Mrs. D'Amico thrust one of her baked goodies into my hand. I ate it politely as I walked down the hall, to find my old flame again. I distinctly heard Bud accept a croissant and some coffee.
Chris was sat behind his desk, a man was talking feverishly at him. I couldn't catch a word the man said but Chris seemed to understand, I guessed he had something to do with his drug department. "Thank you, you may leave." Chris said as soon as I entered the room, the man left quickly, shaking his head. He was short with dark bags under his eyes. His hair was a dark brown and his eyes were even darker.
"Please, sit down." Chris motioned to the chair on the other side of his desk, he then rose and shut the door behind me. I didn't sit, until he did. "So, what can I do you for?" Chris asked mischievously.
"Give me back my brother." I replied forcefully, ignoring the obvious innuendo.
"Something's happened to your brother?" He asked, faking surprise.
"I swear to God Chris, this is off the books, record and whatever else you can think of. I have no recording equipment, or anything. The nearest thing I have to security is Bud and the pistol on my ankle. I know you are Red Mist and you know who I am. So give me back my brother." I told him exasperated.
Chris stayed silent for a while. He stared at me until I got the idea that he was waiting for me to go on. "What do you want, Chris? We have some incriminating evidence on you, do you want me to get rid of it? Or money? What do you want, Chris, what?"
He stood up and sat in front of me, perched on his desk. "I want you to destroy the evidence and I want you…"
"Want me to do what?" I sighed.
"No you misunderstand me. I want you." He told me, leaning in slightly. His hazel eyes locked on mine.
"I can go halfway." I said a little too loudly and he stopped leaning in, I stood up and started pacing, "Let's compromise. I will hold the evidence hostage for a while until you give me back my brother, alive and then I will destroy the evidence."
He smiled crookedly, "And my request for… you?" He stood up and sauntered towards me. I held my breath as he took my hips in his hands. I couldn't speak, I felt just like that stupid 17 year old girl I had once been.
"No compromise on that part." I managed to breath. Let's face it, it was exactly what I had wanted ever since I had met Chris and if there was a possibility it was going to happen at that moment, I wasn't going to stop it.
I placed my hands gingerly on Chris's shoulders and he chuckled again, "You know, that's not where you want to put them." I blushed but only moved one hand to his neck and leaned in. I realised he had grown a bit, since I had last kissed him, I didn't have to stand on my tiptoes when we were last together. I felt him pull me closer towards him as our lips touched. One of his hands reached over to the small of my back and the other grabbed my ass. My hands stayed roughly in place, because I was too nervous to move them.
Something inside of me awoke, very suddenly, as we kissed timidly. I suddenly pulled Chris's face further towards me and breathed into his mouth with a slight sigh. Now I've done it. I scolded myself. I forgot the compromise I had mentioned and I lost myself in him. He pulled my ass up further and I felt his tongue on mine. They danced together sending shocks to the lower regions of my body.
My hand moved down his arm and grabbed his butt instinctively while my other moved into his hair. He removed his lips from mine and grinned. He kissed me lightly on the throat and took me into a room, by my arm, just off his study, covered in mirrors.
I had never expected it to feel so good. With Bud sex was just a thing we did when we felt lonely or bored. With Chris it was fun and felt... right. Like everything was exactly as it should be. When we finished I felt guilt rush through me thinking of the man sat in the kitchen.
Chris wouldn't meet my gaze. "Your boyfriend will be wondering where you are." He told me, solemnly.
"He's not my boyfriend, but you are right." I said bashfully while sticking on my clothes. We walked into his study and he led the way down the hall.
Before we got into the kitchen he turned to me and said, "Just so you know, there's no compromise in my world. So destroy the evidence or you don't get your brother back."
I was gobsmacked, I am a fucking idiot.
"Let's go, Bud." I said angrily, turning to my lieutenant, once Chris took his place by his mother.
"We'll be seeing each other very soon, I hope, Penny." Chris said, his crooked smile lit up his face, instead of making my heart flutter it just aggravated me.
"Sooner than you think." I replied, turning to go back to the elevator. But not in the way you think.
Hope you enjoyed it. Tell me what you think, reviews are love so if you love me you'll review.