Chapter 15 - Exhale
Victor's POV
She has been in there for over fifteen minutes. There really is no reason for this to take so long. I know for a fact that she was the first in the bank this morning.
I look in my rearview mirror and see two black town cars pull up. Who ever thought that black town cars are good 'unmarked' vehicles should have their head examined.
Four people get out of the cars and I look at them. Two I recognize from the three (yes three) times I've been in a court room. They work for the DA. The other two I don't recognize. But since they are all talking to one another, I'm assuming that they are all cops.
"Shit." I say.
"What?" Mario asks.
I shake my head. "This isn't good."
We watch as they walk past us and into the bank.
I wait a moment and then I go to get out of the car. Mario grabs my arm.
"Where do you think you're going?" He asks me.
I look from him to the door of the bank. "I need to get her out of there." I say to him.
He shakes his head. "If they know that she isn't the real Stackhouse girl, who do you think they will be looking for next?" He asks me.
I shake my head again. "There could be a million reasons those cops to be going into the bank," I say to him. "She will be nervous. I need to get her out of there."
He shakes his head. "You ain't going in there. You do and get pinched, we're all dead." He says.
I look at him for a moment.
"Paulie said no loose ends. She is pinched, she's a connection to you and to us. No loose ends."
I look at him and then back to the door. In all the time that she and I've been together, we've never gotten pinched. Close, well hell, to close for comfort. But we've never been caught. I was always too smart and she's too good at being a chameleon and taking on another persona. Hell, she can make me believe she's someone else. She can change everything. From her looks and mannerisms, to even her food preferences. Hell, even the way she has sex changes. I smile a little. It's like getting a new girl without all the hassle.
I shake my head to clear it. I need to focus.
I'm about to debate him when I see two of the men walk out with Rena in tow.
I roll the window down a little. They're tinted, so the cops wouldn't be able to see us. Rena took a cab from the hotel and we told her to call when she was ready for us. Mario didn't want to wait. So here we are.
"I don't understand what's going on." She says to the cops. "I really have a lot to do today. Why do I need to come to the station?"
"We need to clear up a few things." Says one of them. "I'm sure the ADA will clear everything up for you, miss."
She shakes her head. "Well, I need to call my fiancé. He has been badly hurt and I really need to get to him. I hope this won't take to long."
"Just this way," he says without commitment.
"Is she talking about Compton?" Mario asks.
I shake my head. Because honestly, I don't know.
"No, you don't understand." Rena tells them as they move her past our car. "I'm Sookie Stackhouse. Do you know who my fiancé is? He's Bill Compton. I'm sure if you let me call him, he'll tell you that he needs me. I'm needed, don't you understand? I really don't have time for this."
"Miss, you need to come with us." One of the cops grabs her arm a little tighter. He looks to another one coming out with an older gentleman. They are talking but we are too far away to hear.
I can hear Rena arguing with the cops as they put her in the back seat. The other two finish with the man at the door and one of them is getting on his phone.
"Get us out of here." Mario says. "We need to tell Paulie what's going on."
I turn on the car and then look at him. "NO!" I scream at him.
He looks at me with an expression that tells me that he isn't in the habit of getting yelled at.
"Look," he says. "This is a major problem. You promised Paulie that the money was a done deal. That he would have his what you owe him plus interest." He motions to the window. "It don't look like he's getting anything. I gotta tell him what's going on."
"Just give me a few more days." I say to him. "I can get this all fixed and Paulie will have his money. Just tell him we need a few more days." I say to him as I reach to the side of the seat for the gun I stowed there when we got into the car this morning. This fool thinks I would go anywhere without my piece, he's sadly mistaken. The only reason I didn't pop him and his friend is because Paulie knew what the hell was going on and where we were. Now, well, now it's different. If It's coming down to Rena or this dude, guess who I'm going to pick. Really not a hard decision to make.
I pull out of the parking lot and head out toward the warehouses just on the other side of the train tracks. It always makes me smile and laugh. Broken down warehouses on the other side of the tracks. Kind of cliché, but really sort of sad. I've known these warehouses for years. Hell, my father used to manage them. That was years ago now. He hasn't been around since I was old enough to know much more than how to tie my shoes. Better off that way. But this place, yeah I know this place. Good thing for me that Mario doesn't know this area too good. He didn't grow up around here. Hell with that accent, he sticks out like a sore thumb anywhere then Harvard Square in Boston. If you weren't a kid and ran around these streets like river rats, you don't nothing about them. They are all but forgotten. Except for the old man who owns them, three distributors and well, me.
The old warehouses are pretty much safe this time of the morning. Since Katrina, nobody comes down here much other than to do storage or pickups from the distributors. Hell, I don't even think the owner comes down much. When my Dad used to run these strips, there was security on duty twenty four hours a day. Now, hell if you call the police, they may show up next month. But Mario don't know any of this.
"Look, Paulie likes you. He gave you a chance to make this all right. But business is business. He already lost Bruno. If that chick of yours sings….."
"She won't." I say, cutting him off. "She is better at this con shit than I am. I'm telling ya man, she'll probably convince them that she is Sookie Stackhouse. By the time she's through with them, they'll let her go with an apology." I say to him. "Probably drive her back to the bank and help her out with the f'ing bag." I ain't lying. I've seen her do more with less. As long as she sticks in character it'll happen.
I pull into the warehouse complex. As I figured, there is no one at the gate. It ain't even locked and the pass-key system hasn't worked in over a year. I pull slowly passed the gate, take a left and start heading down the main strip of buildings.
"What we doing here?" He asks me.
"I've got a rental down on the end. I keep it for emergency stuff. You know, stuff I don't want to store with me, if you know what I mean." I pause, looking at him as he nods his understanding."
"You keep a place in your name? Ain't that risky?" He asks me.
I shake my head as I pass the last row. Hanging a right, I pass three burnt out buildings and one that looks like the homeless have been using for their current resident. "What have I been saying to you? I'm smarter than that. What idiot would use their real name? Nah, man, I use a name I took about five years ago and everyone thinks that dude is dead. Don't you worry about that." I say to him.
"So you keep a place down here?" He motions with his hand. "Wouldn't some place I don't know, cleaner be better?" He asks.
I reach the end of the strip and take another right and then an immediate left into the oldest part of the strips. "Nah, it's fine. No one would be looking back her. But more importantly, I've got some stuff incase we ever got pinched. I…I got a stash of emergency cash there. It ain't all I owe the boss. But we can wire it to him in good faith."
Mario laughs. "If you had cash, why didn't you fork it up to Paulie in the first place?" He asks.
I shake my head. "Like I said, emergency fund. This is an emergency. At the very least, it should be able to buy me a few more days to clean all of this up." I say to him.
Mario doesn't say anything as if he's contemplating what I've said. Finally he looks over to me.
"How much you got?" He asks.
"Half of what I owe." I reply.
He's quiet as I pull up in front of one of the buildings. Turning off the ignition, I turn to look at him.
He gives me a smirk. "You give me the money and I'll get Paulie to give you a few extra days. Can't promise nothing. But I could probably get you up till mid week to make this all go away."
I nod. "Good, then help me, will ya?" I ask.
Mario nods and steps out of the car. I pull the keys and open the door. As I step out, I move to grab the gun and put it in my jeans while I'm still hidden behind the door.
I move with Mario to the door. Opening it, I step aside to let him pass. He nods and walks in. He doesn't even ask why the place is unlocked. Probably thinking about how he's going to spend the money I'm giving him. I'm no fool. He is just as much of a crook as I am. He just takes his orders from someone stronger. Guess the idea of close to a million dollars without any strings attached is enough to challenge anyone's loyalties.
I move in behind him as both our eyes adjust to the difference in light. It only takes a minute until I can see enough to notice him looking around and can tell by the way his head is moving back and forth that he's trying to figure out what is going on. Without hesitation or a word, I lift the gun and fire three shots into the back of his skull. The noise echoes off the walls causing me to temporarily deafen. Not that it would matter. You tag someone that close smack in the head, they don't make a sound.
I watch as his body falls to the floor in a heap. They make it look so dramatic on TV. But in real life, you blow into the back of someone's head, there really isn't much of a head left. Especially when you are using plated hollow points. Okay, if I'm truthful, it's a little bit of an overkill. But most effective. No one is gonna be able to identify this dude by his face, that's for sure. Now all I need to do is make sure his fingerprints are not identifiable as well. I go to the corner of the room and stop in front of a large barrel canister. It is foul smelling, but will do the job. I drag it over near the body, flip the lid and dump the contents on him. Moving away quickly as to not get any on my shoes. I learned the hard way that this shit will burn through leather likes it's paper. One mistake I don't intend to ever make again. Shit burned my feet and I couldn't walk for almost a month. Good thing I had my Rena to take care of me. She is one hell of a girl that one.
I walk to the far side of the building and wait about ten minutes. It usually does it's job in five, but I'm a cautious fellow. I sigh and lean against one of the posts. I hate leaving the body here. But there is no way I'm messing the rental with his remains. Better to dissolve what I can here and then torch the place. It ain't like they can trace this place to me anyway. I smile when I think of the name I used. According to anyone who would be looking, Randall Curtis died over ten years ago in a fatal car crash. He and his girlfriend were traveling from Dallas to NY with two friends. Randall and his lovely girlfriend, Celeste, didn't make it. I laugh. If they only knew the truth.
Ten minutes go by and I know that it's been long enough to eliminate anything that could tie this guy to me, Rena or even Paulie. All the authorities are gonna know is that there was someone in the warehouse when it went up. I walk past him and stop. The stench is bad, but I don't care. I need to look at him.
"You said, no lose ends." I say softly to him as I bend down to get closer to what is left of the man. "You really think I was going to let you get my Rena? Really? You are stupider than you look. Okay, well looked. Now you just look like, well, goo." I smirk at my little joke and then lean back. "I don't care who Paulie is or what he can do. That is my girl and you don't get to say if she lives or dies." I start to walk away and turn back to look at the smoldering mess on the floor. "That's my right. Not yours."
I walk out to the front of the building, smiling when I see that the pump for the delivery trucks is just across the way. It may be rundown back here. But people still use the space. I know that the dude who owes the entire line of buildings on the opposite side of the street runs diesel trucks up and down the coast delivering produce. He uses this place to distribute between one truck and another. Not the best place to put produce. I mean the place is nothing back brick and wood. No refrigeration anywhere. How he gets away with it, I've got no clue. But then I've always said; there are all types of crooks. Maybe he just don't care.
Going over, I pick up the large pump nozzle. I laugh to myself. The idiot must think he's the only one down here. Why else would he leave the pump unlocked. I pull the hose as far as it will go, lifting the release switch I point it at my building and let the fuel fly. Jesus, this stuff is as bad as the canister. I let the front of the building get saturated before I turn off the pump.
Returning the pump to its place, I move back to the rental and move it down near the entrance. I pull a lighter out of my bag and walk back down the row. I had made sure that there was a line of gas so I didn't need to get close. Flipping the switch on the lighter, I light the trail and wait until it hits the front of the building. The age of the structure assists in the burn and soon the entire front in engulfed in flames. I watch for another few minutes until I see that it isn''t going to go out. I turn and walk back to the car.
As I head down the street, I wonder how the hell I'm going to get to my Rena. She is good. But damn if she's ever gotten pinched. She's going to freak out. I'll need to get to her as quickly as possible. But the only question is, did she talk. My Rena, the one I've known since she was a little passed pigtail age, wouldn't say a word. This chick; this girl Compton has turned her into, I don't know. Hell, she actually thought I was going to let her go. She thought I would fade away and let her be with that idiot. She should really know me better than that. After all these years, she's been mine and that's how she's going to stay.
I smile when I think of those bogus divorce. No matter where she goes or what she does. Rena is mine.
I pull out onto the main strip and head back into town. Now, I need to get my game together and make a plan. Then my girl and I will need to get what we can and lay low for awhile. That is, of course, after I figure out a way to get my hands on all that money.
***0***
Lorena's POV
"I honestly don't know what I'm doing here." I say to the man standing in front of me. "I mean this is really ridiculous. I need to make a phone call. I'm allowed to do that, right?"
"Ma'am," he says, "I'm sure that the detective in charge will be in shortly. Can I get you anything?" He motions for me to take a seat in the chair farthest away from the door.
"I really don't understand what's going on." I say to him.
"Please Ma'am," he says to me. "I'm sure everything will be cleared up soon." He says.
I sigh. Well, it's clear that no one is letting me out of this room. I sigh and go to sit down. "I sure hope you know what you're doing. I don't think you understand what an important man my fiancé is. He is not going to be pleased that I was detained like this. He has been badly hurt and I know that he is waiting for me to get to him." I sniffle and that man hands me a napkin. I look at it. Evidently he is not one to carry handkerchiefs. He really isn't the gentleman my Bill is. Really, a napkin.
I take it from him and dab at my eyes.
"Would you like something to drink, Ma'am?" He asks me.
I nod at him. "A cup of tea would do well to calm my nerves. I really hope you all don't keep me here much longer. I need to get to my Bill." I say and look away from him.
I hear the door close. Getting up, I walk to the windows and look out. The window is small. Not nearly as nice as in Bill's townhouse. The breakfast room is my favorite, however. Bill and I've spent so much time there. That is, when he's home. I so miss him when he's away. But soon we'll be married and heading to Washington. Then we'll have more time together. Especially since I've decided to give up my books. It was a childish endeavor. Once not suited for a Senator's wife. I know that. It will please Bill that I've finally seen the light.
"Oh my Bill," I say to the room and turn back to the door. "I really don't have time for this. I have to get to you. What could have happened to you that you are so hurt? I know that you will need me." I smile to the image behind my eyes of Bill taking me in his arms on our wedding day. "You always need me."
***0***
Anabeth's POV
"Anything?" I ask the detectives with me.
He closes his phone. "The attorney for Compton isn't here yet. But that was Brinks on the phone. That bank president called just after they opened. Someone came in trying to get to the Stackhouse account." He says.
"Well?" I ask looking at him.
"They have her in custody. They found several documents in her purse with the name Sookie Stackhouse on them. They also found another driver's license."
"Did they run it through the system? We need to get a warrant and get to this woman's place. We need to know what she has in connection with Bill Compton."
The detective shakes his head. "No need to find out the connection, Ms. Mason. The driver's license indicates that she's Lorena Ball-Madden. Isn't she the perp's campaign manager?"
I look at him for a moment as the smile I feel bubbling up spreads across my face. I nod to him. "Yes, she is. Get units over to her place." I say and pick up the phone.
Frank left me here last night to get back in case we needed him in New Orleans. I didn't think he would stay long. We may be here for a few days waiting on Compton and his attorney. Well, it isn't like he's going anywhere. From what limited information the doctor would give me, he has a broken leg and arm. There is no way he could move around on crutches or in a wheelchair.
The ADA up here was true to his word and is not going to fight me on jurisdiction. He just wants to know about the crash. Evidently, with the five cars in the collision, Compton was the only survivor. Pretty good damn luck, if you ask me. But then again, now he's looking at half a dozen charges and maybe more in the mix. If we can pull a consipiracy charge on Ms. Ball, we may have enough for a Richo charge. I'll need Frank for that.
The phone rings twice before he picks up.
"Early, Mason." He says.
"Yeah, well I've been at the hospital since before dawn, Frank." Before he can give me one of his cute retorts, I continue. "Listen, we got a hit at the bank. She's down at One Police with Brinks and probably Monroe. You able to get down there?" I ask him.
I can her shuffling as he gets out of bed. "I'll be there in ten." He says. "Any idea who it is."
I smile. "Yup."
"Well?" He asks.
"Lorena Ball-Madden." I say to him.
He is quiet for a moment. Then I hear doors opening. "I'll be there in five." He says.
"Thought you might be." I say to him.
He hangs up as I look down the hall and see a small figured man walking toward me. He's suit doesn't fit right and his coat is wrinkled. His hair needs a good cut and you can tell that eating the right foods, if any at all, may be a secondary thought for him. The smell coming off of him tells me that he prefers his lunches liquid.
He looks at me as he moves passed me and smiles. "ADA Mason," he says and stops in front of me. "New Orleans PD so backlogged that you are doing sentry duty outside my clients room. This really could be considered harassment. At the very least we could argue you are stalking him." He smiles again.
I look him up and down. The sniveling little man hasn't changed in fifteen years. He was a dirt bag when he entered the public defenders pool then and he's still a dirt bag now.
"Leslie Houck," I say to him. "You were called in for Compton?" I ask pointing to the door.
He shrugs. "It ain't a PD job. Doing this one as a personal favor for Carter Lewis." He says with a little gleam in his eye.
I let out a little laugh. "When are you on Carter Lewis' speed dial?" I ask him.
He shrugs. "All I know is what I know. Now would you allow me to speak to my client alone? I know this is a hospital but you don't have to keep watch on him all the time, now do ya? From what I hear he ain't going anywhere anytime soon."
I sigh. "I'll have the detectives outside his door. But I'm telling you. He's already been given him his rights. As soon as the doctors say, we are extraditing him back to Louisiana."
He smiles at me. "Of course, Ms. Mason. You know I always accommodate the staff of your office."
"Cut the shit, Houck. You got copies of the charges?" I ask him.
He nods and taps the side of his aged briefcase. "All right here." He goes to walk away and looks over his shoulder. "Anything else I need to know before I go in there?"
I shrug. "Nothing that I can think of." I say to him.
He nods and goes to the door, opens it and walks in. Several seconds later, both officers walk out and stand on either side of the door.
"You didn't tell him about the chick?" The detective asks me.
I shake my head. "Until we know if she's in bed with Compton or not, it's best we keep that information to ourselves. Houck could argue that it was Lorena that took the money and set him up. Until we know more, we aren't giving that little weasel anything to help him."
I turn and walk away. "Call me when they're ready to talk."
"Yes Ma'am." I hear behind me. I pick up the phone to call Brinks.
***0***
Leslie Houk's POV
I walk into the room. Before I say anything to the man laying in the bed, I look at the two others in the room.
"Would you mind leaving us so I can talk to my client?" I ask them.
They hesitate for a moment so I continue. "ADA Mason is right outside that door," I say as I point. "She will confirm that I've been assigned to this case. Now would you mind?" I ask.
They both rise and leave. I close the door behind them and turn to the man in front of me.
"How are you feeling, Mr. Compton?" I ask him. "Can I get someone to get you something to make you more comfortable?" I ask.
"Who the hell are you?" He asks.
I smirk. "Forgive me." I say and hold my hand out to him. "I'm Leslie Houck. I've been hired to represent you."
He doesn't shake my hand. I would think someone with the upbringing he has had wouldn't be so rude.
"Hired, hired by who?" He asks me.
"I received a call yesterday from Carter Lewis. He asked me to come up and represent you in these matters. He was most generous with my retainer. I 'm your council." I say to him.
He shakes his head and stops in mid shake. Evidently it hurts.
"I've no idea who you are. I've been attorney for some years, Mr. Houck. I think I would have heard of you. Why didn't Lewis get me Middleton or Fine?" He asks.
Yeah Middleton or Fine would have been great representation for Compton. His family had enough to afford their fees. But for some reason, they came to me. "I am sure I don't know," I say to him. "As your council, I would suggest we get to this. We've got a lot of ground to cover before the ADA looses her patience."
"What if I don't want you?" He asks me. "I am a lawyer myself you know."
I sigh and pull out a piece of paper. I put it on the tray in front of him so he can read. Once he's done, he looks back at me. "What the hell does this mean?" He growls at me.
"It means, that the Louisiana bar is suspending your license to practice baring an ethical review." I say to him.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me." He says and pushes away the paper.
"I assure you," I say to him. "The ethical judicial board is no joke." Being in front of them more times than I care to count has made me sort of an expert.
I hold out another page. "This letter came to your campaign office late yesterday," I say and put that too down on the tray. "Evidently, the GOP wants to investigate your campaign finance records. Everything was handed over to their office as of nine this morning."
He tries to sit up a little straigher. "They can't do that!" He screams.
I laugh a little. "They can, Mr. Compton and they have. Just these two things alone could bury you. If you are found to have performed unethical tasks, you are looking at a fine and a loss of your license. That's the least of it. Depending on the findings, there could be jail time. The GOP, I gotta admit, I'm not sure with that will wash out to be." I say and sigh. "So, let's get to the other charges."
"Wait a minute. Aren't you going to do something about these two things." He waves his good arm in front of the papers.
I shrug. "There isn't anything I can do. When you are called before the ethic's board, I can be with you. But they will investigate and ask questions later. The GOP well," I shrug again. "Campaign finance is a big hot button. Not sure if there is anything we can do to stop it at this point. But if there isn't anything to hide, there's nothing to worry about."
I take his silence as agreement and move along.
"Okay, we've got forgery, embezzlement and about four or five other charges. First things first. If you have the money, I would urge you to give it back. Especially if you have the money from the Foundation. That could be a federal issue. Not sure how the DA is going to play this. But I think that if we can give them the money, we may get away with eight and a half to twenty." I say and shut the folder.
"Eight and half to twenty what?" He asks.
"Years, of course. You think you are going to get them to kill all the charges? I mean I thought you were smart man. Well maybe not smart, you did get caught." I say and shrug.
"I didn't get caught doing anything. I need to speak to Sookie. Once I do, then everything will be fine."
I shake my head. "There's a restraining order preventing you from seeing or speaking to her. I advice you to obey it. You don't want that thrown in the mix."
"You really think I'm just going to roll over and play dead?" He asks me. "I'm running for US Senate. I've got a thriving law practice and a fiance to get home to. So just tell me how we can make all this go away."
I blink twice at this guy. He's really serious.
"Mr. Compton, I don't think you understand the severity of the charges. Nothing si going to go away. They have found what they needed to level charges against you. My job is to make the blow as light as possible. You are going to jail. The question is, for how long."
"I've been beaten, kidnapped, almost died and arrested for crimes I didn't commit. Don't you even care that they are railroading me? That I'm a rich, young and very powerful lawyer and they are going to send me to jail for no more than a misunderstanding."
I sigh. "No, Mr. Compton I don't care. I've got a job to do and I'm going to do it."
"But I'm innocent."
I shrug. "Still don't care."
***0***
Richard Brink's POV
I watch her from the other side of the glass. She has been smirking and talking to herself for the last twenty minutes.
I hear the door open beside me. "She hasn't touched the tea you brought her." I say as I turn to my partner.
Lionel Mathers has been on the force for a little less than five years. I've been on the force for fifteen. I don't know whose ass he had to kiss to make it this far, but it must have been a big one.
"I know," he says to me. "You heard anything from the brass?" He asks.
I shrug. "Just got a call from Sims. He's with the ADA. I'm waiting to hear what the game plan is now." I say to him. "But I think we all know what's gonna happen. Next step is going to be to get a warrant for her place. Maybe we'll find out more there."
"Your sure that this aint that Sookie Stackhouse?" Mathers asks me. "I mean, how do we know this isn't her?"
I look at him then back at her. "Do you know who Sookie Stackhouse is?" I ask him.
"Well," he huffs. "I've never seen her. But I heard that she is some blond writer."
I nod. "Dude, she's been all over the internet and the news the last few days. I'm telling you that," I point into the room, "isn't her."
He huffs. "If you say so. But if this turns out that she's who she says she is, we are going to have major egg on our faces." He says, turns and walks out the door.
I shake my head when I hear my phone ringing. I look at the ID. "Sir," I say to DA Pierce. "What can I do for you?"
"I'll be in the precinct in ten minutes," he says to me. I can hear him getting into a car. "What do we know?" He asks me.
I tell him about getting the call from the bank. That Mathers, I and two other detectives went to investigate. I continue to tell him how she's going on and on that she's Sookie Stackhouse and further on how we found a driver's license of Lorena Ball-Madden's in her back.
"Sir, Mathers was concerned that this was the real Stackhouse woman." I say to him.
"No chance in that. I met the girl. She knows everything that's going on. No way she would have been there. She wants this over more than we do." He pauses. "I'm going to call the judge. He should be willing to give us a warrant for her residence."
I nod. "What do you want us to do with Ms. Ball?" I ask him.
"I'll deal with her. You and Mathers just get ready to head out. Send over two unies to sit on the place until I hear back from the judge. But don't enter her place until I got warrant in hand. I want nothing and no one fucking this up. This is two big. If the shit comes down, a lot of heads are going to fall. Louisiana politics are never going to be the same." We said goodbye.
Dialing quickly, I get dispatch to send over two unies. Jerry, the dispatcher says he already was on it. When he heard what we were dealing with, he took it upon himself to secure a possible crime scene. I smiled as I hung up. Jerry LeMond had been a cop longer than I'd been alive. A strategic bullet during the riots after the flood bought him a desk job. But he's still a good cop. The best, in fact. There are about three dozen guys who have worked and turned to Jerry for advice over the years. I know I feel better knowing he's on dispatch. He looks out for us and we him. It's true what they say. Don't matter who you are or where you come from; cops all bleed blue.
I took one last look into the room to see her pacing the floor. She hasn't really made to much noise since her first initial rant. But now she seems to be mumbling something to herself. She hasn't sat down but she isn't being excitable either. I'll need to have someone go in with Pierce when he gets here. There's just something about the girl that screams "bat-ass crazy." I wait as she takes another lap around the room before I head out into the division room. Walking over to my desk, I see Mathers on the phone.
"I don't know what to tell you," I hear him say. "There isn't anything I can do."
He looks up from his conversation and sees me walking toward him. "I got to go," he says quickly and hangs up.
I don't much care who Mathers was talking to. That is, until I take a closer look at his face. He looks like a scared puppy.
"Everything okay?" I ask him.
He nods. "Yeah, ah," he looks around. "Any word?"
"Pierce just called. We are going to go over to her place once he has the warrant." I say to him.
He nods. "Yeah, ah, well it will probably take a few hours before we can get the judge to sign it right?" He asks. "I mean we don't usually get warrants quickly."
I look at him as if he's sprouted another head. At the very least, lost the one he's got.
"Dude, do you understand the magnitude of this case? Compton, his father, mother and that chick in there," I point over my shoulder, "are in a world of shit. Compton & Compton are a very high profile law firm. This Sookie Stackhouse is not only a writer but she and her brother are involved in those clinics and stuff. That Foundation of theirs is in multiple states. The way the ADA was talking, she's surprised the feds having come in and taken over."
Mather's eyes widen. "What, why?" He asks. "This shit went down in our city."
I shake my head. "Don't matter none. That Foundation gets grants from Federal funding. If what Mason says happened actually did, well." I shrug.
He sighs. "So, um what about this woman's place?"
"Jerry already sent unies over. It will be fine until we can get there."
I can see a funny look pass over his face but it's gone as quick as it came. Before I can ask another thing, I watch as DA Pierce walks in.
He nods to both of us, walks into the Captain's office, grabs something off the fax machine and walks back to us.
Handing me the paper, he smiles. "Judge Marcome didn't even hesitate," he says. "You're clear to go in. No restrictions. According to all accounts, she lives alone. So no expectation of privacy. Find me something guys." He says.
Folding the paper in half, I nod as I look to Mathers and we head out. I hope to God we find something, anything that will tie this chick to Compton. What I wouldn't give to nail his ass to the wall.
***0***
SPOV
I roll over and see the sun once again blazing into the room. Behind me, I feel my beautiful man against me. I smile thinking about all that has happened since I met this man. Could my life be any more of a complete one-eighty. He has made so much of a difference in my life. How am I ever going to repay him.
"Your thinking hard," he says and pulls me closer. "To early. Go back to sleep."
I snuggle back into him. "We've got a lot to do today." I say to him. "We need to get up soon."
He pulls me even closer and soon I can feel what parts of Eric are actually awake. I let out a low moan which begins Eric's hands moving up my stomach and to my breasts. Each hand cupping one of my ample mounds. I am most appreciative of the size of Eric's massive hands. What is that saying? More than a handful is a waste? Well when your walking, talking God is massive, you are thankful that you have more than a handful. Oh, yes you are.
"Sookie," he says as he begins to kiss my neck as he so elegantly removes my top without skipping a beat of his ministration on my breast. A small part of me wonders where he learned that trick. A bigger part. You know, the part that lives south of the boarder, doesn't give a damn. As long as all his tricks are played on me.
"Baby," I moan as I feel him tugging at my boy shorts.
"Need you," is all he says.
Soon, my shorts are gone as well as his clothes. Now how did he manage that one? Once he has raised my leg and lines himself up, I don't seem to care much.
"Ah," is all I can say when he moves into me from that angle. I feel so full, so complete. How did I live this long without this sensation? Why do people do anything else?
Suddenly, all logical thought leaves my head as I feel the impending pull from my lower parts.
"Shit, Sookie," he growls from behind me. "How…ugh…how do you get so fucking tight?" He growls again. One of his hands moves lower to my mound and one touch sends me over the edge. He follows me withing heart beats.
Lying there, still connected, I feel his arms pull me closer to him. "I love you so much." He says softly. "I've no idea how I lived without you."
"Well," I say as I rub his arm. "I know I didn't live until I found you."
After another round of love making, Eric and I finally made our way out of bed, into the shower and down and out of the loft before clothes began to fly again.
Once in the car, I look at him. "You sure you're okay with helping out today?" I ask him. "You don't have to, ya know."
He looks sideways at me. "Of course I'm going to help, Sookie." He says and grasps my hand with his. "I love you. Jason is your brother. That makes him my brother. They just had two babies." He emphasis the word two. "We will do what we can for them."
I look at him for another second as he raises my hand to his mouth and kisses it. "We are connected now Sookie. What's mine is yours and what's yours is mine. That includes friends and family. Though I think Jason is going to be easier to get along with than my parents."
I laugh slightly. "They aren't that bad. I mean your mother is fine and your grandmother is a hoot."
"Yes, but my father…"
"Will come around." I say and place my other hand over our clasped ones.
"What if he doesn't?" He asks me.
I shrug. "Then we'll deal. It will be him that's missing out. But I won't let his stubborn self get between us."
He looks at me quickly and then back at the road. "Neither will I."
We drive the rest of the way in silence. As soon as we pull into the driveway, I see the rest of the gang there. Once out of the car and duties distributed, we all take off to our appointed tasks.
It's close to dinner time when everything is done. The house is spot clean, the yard looks awesome and there are enough meals in the freezer to last them at least two weeks. I know full well that we will all be helping out more. But this is a wonderful start.
We all decide to head to the hospital first and then we will head back to Bon Temps and Merlottes for a late dinner and some unwinding time.
The hospital finds Crystal in a state. She's been trying to nurse the babies. Katie is being agreeable. Patricia on the other hand, well. She's being as stubborn as her names sakes.
"Hey, it's going to be okay." I say to her softly, pushing her hair out of her face. "She'll figure out where the good stuff is. If only to get some from her sister." I wink at her.
This makes her laugh. Everyone excuses themselves and they take Jason out with them to get some coffee. I smile my thanks, expecially to Eric. How strange it is that he knows exactly what I want and need so early in our relationship.
I watch him walk out the door when I hear Crystal laugh again. "It's like you two are in orbit around each other." She says staring at me.
"What?" I ask her.
"Orbit. You both orbit each other. He moves, you move. It's almost like you two are magnets. I really can't wait for you to dance together."
I smile at her. "Yeah, it's weird, isn't it?"
She shakes her head. "No honey, not weird, perfect."
I turn my attention away from her to the stubborn girl in my arms. "What is going on in that pretty head of your's, my princess?" I ask her. "You want your sister to get bigger than you from the get go? Your Momma has what you need, now you let her give it to you." I stand, still looking into the little cherub's eyes and move over to crystal. As smoothly as I can, I move the baby into position.
"Now," I nod my head. "You know what to do, don't you?" I smile at her. The child's eyes look away from me and into her mother. A moment later she'd latched on and was sucking away.
I turn my gaze away from the baby and up to Crystal. I've never seen a more perfectly content face in all my days.
She continues to look down at the baby. "You're a miracle worker. You know that?" She says softly.
"Nah," I say to her. "She just needed her first pep talk from Auntie Sookie." I say.
Crystal holds the baby's hand as she feeds. "I don't care what you say, Sookie Stackhouse. You will always be my personal miracle."
Everyone returns a little while after and Jason is more than pleased that Crystal has gotten their little one to nurse.
With promises to return the next day, we all head out to the cars and make our way back to Bon Temps for the night.
Sam and Laf are happy to see all of us when we come in. The place has little to know customers, so both join us for dinner. After which we all head back to the dance floor.
Alcide's new girl joins us there. She wanted to help out with the clean up but she got a freelance gig and didn't want to pass it up. Couldn't blame her really. She's gotta make a living.
We dance around a little. Amelia, Tara and I even do our rendition of Coyote Ugly dancers to hoots and hollers from the guys.
Then Laf decides to slow down the beat a little. I hear the first stanza of the song and immediately fall into Eric's arms.
Everyone falls in love sometime
Sometimes it's wrong, and sometimes it's right
For every win, someone must fail
But there comes a point when
When we exhale (yeah, yeah, say)
Shoop, shoop, shoop
Shoop be doop, shoop, shoop
On instinct, my hips follow his. It's like we are one person. His hands on my back guide me around the room but I never stop looking at his eyes.
Sometimes you'll laugh
Sometimes you'll cry
Life never tells us, the when's or why's
When you've got friends, to wish you well
You'll find your point when
You will exhale (yeah, yeah, say)
Shoop, shoop, shoop
Shoop be doop, shoop, shoop
Hearts are often broken
When there are words unspoken
In your soul there's answers to your prayers
If you're searching for a place you know
A familiar face, somewhere to go
You should look inside yourself
You're halfway there
Sometimes you'll laugh
Sometimes you'll cry
Life never tells us, the when's or why's
When you've got friends, to wish you well
You'll find your point when
You will exhale (yeah, yeah, say)
Shoop, shoop, shoop
Shoop be doop, shoop, shoop
Shoop, shoop, shoop
Shoop be doop, shoop, shoop
The song ends and I see Laf coming towards us.
I immediately know somethings wrong. "What?" I ask.
"That was Ana. We need to be in New Orleans by two tomorrow." He says.
"Why? What's happened?" I ask him.
He shakes his head. "She needs to do this by the book, Sook." He says looking from Eric to me. "She wants us in her office to talk to us."
I look at Eric and I know my anxiousness is rising.
He pulls me close. "Don't worry, my love, nothings going to happen to you."
I don't know how I can tell him that I'm not worried about me. I'm worried about everyone else.