A/N: Hi! The second to last installment of this story! A one-off gone mad, I call it ;) If you want to leave me a review (and they are greatly appreciated!) I always respond, so if you don`t have an account, please check back in the reviews, if you do, check your pm-box! Hope you enjoy!
Week 4: Fluid, impulsive and expensive.
20th of May (Monday):
Weekends were too long, Courtney concluded while she casually observed her boss. She knew Alicia had confronted Kalinda with the knowledge of her finding Grace. But somehow, AGAIN, that seemed to not have had the effect Courtney had hoped for. Yes, there were more stolen glances, and it seemed like Kalinda was relaxing a little, the tension in her shoulders slightly less.
Alicia, however, was a whole different story. The woman was a nervous wreck and in desperate need of caffeine -that much was obvious- but the fact that Kalinda was talking with the FBI investigator in front of the coffee machine prevented her to go and get it. So it was Courtney, who, in the end, armed with two empty coffee mugs, entered the small room. The tension was palpable and Kalinda cleared her throat.
`Listen, Lana...`
`No, Kalinda, YOU listen. I`d help you if you let me, but we both know you won`t. Not really. Oh yes, some superficial bull-shit, some stupid information. Me, talking to some people, so that you won`t get prosecuted for that idiotic stunt you pulled with your ex-client. But you never let me in. And we both know why.`
The assistant was only mildly surprised to see the look the agent casted Alicia through the glass. For a moment, the lawyer held the gaze, before she cocked an eyebrow and pretended to focus again on the file before her.
'This is pointless.'
Lana pushed herself away from the table and took some steps in the direction of the door. Courtney quickly collected she had come for, which may or may not be more than the coffee, and turned around just in time to see Lana wince in response to Kalinda`s next words.
I`ll call you later.`
Her voice could have sounded stinging, but just seemed defeated when she looked back to the investigator and spoke before exiting.
`I am sure you will. If you`re not too busy `saving`her, that is.`
When Courtney finally brought Alicia the coffee she had craved, she saw the woman curiously observe her, but, this time, the assistant volunteered nothing.
She may or may not have recorder the complete conversation on her smartphone. She may or may not have saved the file on a USB she may or may not have been guarding under her clothes around her neck for a while now.
Later, Courtney saw how Alicia, after bring the coffee cup back to the small kitchen, took a detour and stopped at Kalinda`s office. Courtney blinked when noticed a glass of milk exchange hands. The assistant couldn't help but notice Alicia`s longing eyes when the investigator drank, while the lawyer, quasi-casually talking to Kalinda, leaned against the desk. She may or may not have practically choked in her cold coffee, however, when she saw Alicia reach out and clean some of the white beverage that had gotten stuck on Kalinda`s upper lip.
A bright smile adorned Courtney`s face after the rough coughing fit.
She should have known.
Being subtle sure was fluid work sometimes.
21th of May (Tuesday)
This time, the events had not been planned, but when Courtney saw the sports journalist talking with Will, she knew she shouldn`t let this opportunity pass her by. She knew the woman by face, name and reputation, and had an inkling this was just the push Alicia needed in order to get over something she was struggling with. It was obvious the lawyer was trying to hold on to her anger, and although at times that made Courtney raise her eyes to the heavens, she knew something more substantial had to be done.
It was not hard to foresee what was coming, and when the pretty woman had passed her desk on the way out, she may or may not have been so kind to give her the information when her boss would be free. With Tammi`s reputation and the glare she had witnessed in Alicia`s direction, Courtney was pretty sure the journalist would not leave that office without saying anything.
When, after the writer had left, she saw how Alicia`s eyes were drawn, time and again, to Kalinda, she knew she had been right. Her boss had been confronted with her own shortcomings. And therefore maybe was a little more open to take the next step in the direction Courtney was slowly pushing her. The assistant could see the pained fear reflected in Alicia`s eyes every time she caught sight of Kalinda. But she also saw the yearning guilty look the investigator casted in the lawyer`s direction whenever Alicia wasn`t paying attention. It was heartbreaking. But necessary. A necessary evil. At least that is what Courtney told herself.
At the end of the day she almost had to admit that, maybe, she had just send Tammi to Alicia to spite her, that, maybe, it had not been so constructive at all. But then her boss surprised her by, suddenly determent, getting up and making her way towards Kalinda. Courtney strained to listen.
'Look, it can't go back to the way it was before, there's just been too much. But I'd like to try to make it work.'
Courtney`s heart skipped a beat. But her boss wasn`t finished yet.
'It's just that everything has to be on the table. I can't be the only one being forthcoming, honest. Can you do that?'
The words were spoken challenging, and with a certain, biting amount of anger that made the investigator blink. But there was something in those dark eyes Courtney hadn`t seen in a very long time. Or maybe ever…
Hope.
Kalinda swallowed hard before she hoarsely answered. As if not betraying all the rules she lived by, by doing so.
`Yeah`
Courtney may or may not have -after Alicia had been long gone- been staring at the investigator, who still sat there as if stricken. She may or may not have waited, until the woman passed her, to pick up the phone and talk to and about a friend who may or may not be imaginary. She may or may not have dropped a hint that certain things were interested to know about someone. She may or may not have used the word `Flexible`.
When she heard the clicking of Kalinda`s boots pick up again, she smiled and placed back the phone.
She should have known.
Being subtle sure was impulsive work sometimes.
24th of May (Friday)
It had been several days since Alicia had taken the step to approach Kalinda, but it was obvious the two still were doing a weird little two-step and twirling around each other without actually touching.
Sometimes the assistant saw Kalinda open her mouth to suggest something, only to awkwardly close it again. Sometimes Alicia walked in the direction of Kalinda`s office, only to take a detour to the coffeemachine. Courtney sighed and may or may not have decided it was time for another push.
`Ah Kalinda, that witness you were looking to meet, called.`
Courtney smiled when Kalinda looked up, but had to hide the shock she felt when she looked into the dark eyes. The investigator looked like she hadn`t slept in weeks, and her skin was a shade more pale than the assistant was used to. The sunglasses lay next to her on the desk, and 3 laptops were linked together in what seemed to be a thorough investigation. The eyes seemed to need time to focus on her, and Kalinda blinked several times before she smiled a wary smile.
`He did? Let me guess. He wants drinks?`
Without even awaiting an answer she shut the laptops in a swift motion and got up.
`Are you ok?
The question escaped Courtney without intent and she bit her lip when she saw Kalinda`s surprised look. It seemed like the question was foreign to her, as if she was not used to people asking her that. That thought made the assistant sad, but the investigator sniggered and winked at her.
`I really must look like shit`
Before she could confirm or deny this statement –something that may or may not have taken a little longer than intended because of Courtney`s bodily reaction to the wink- Kalinda already had taken a small bag out of a drawer. Quickly and professionally she applied a layer of make-up that wouldn't be wasted on a movie star, and yet the Indian woman remained to look naturally beautiful. She accentuated her features, the sharp cheekbones, the shape of her eye, the full lips, and smiled when she saw Courtney`s approving nod while the assistant handed her the paper that held the place and time of the meeting.
She may or may not have given the exact same information to Alicia only moments after Kalinda had left. She may or may not have invented the witness who was supposed to show up at the alleged time. She may or may not have called a befriended bartender to extend apologies of said witness and keep the tequila flowing.
Later that evening, she may or may not have received a text telling her the word `Flexible` had fallen. She may or may not have received a tab as well.
Courtney shook her head as she pulled out her wallet.
She should have known.
Being subtle sure was expensive work sometimes.
To Be Continued with THE FINALE