Chapter 33 Cosy danger
John;
Back to Monday, back to school and back to another day pretending that the weekend didn't happen. I spent most of it on the net talking to Iziah, thing was she didn't even know it was me she was chatting with, I'm picking if she did, she wouldn't be very happy about it. Hence why I've been very vague about the whole thing, she knew me only as DarkDragon, I wasn't ready to let that go just yet. So it was more shocking and a little nerve racking that at lunchtime she stalked over to our table and plopped down next to Randy, her silver orbs drilling into me.
"You lost?" Randy bit out, he was content with building a bridge with the others but not Iziah, simply because he knew there was no point, he was never going to be on her good side so why waste time trying.
"Keep up that friendly attitude Orton, you'll have them eating out of the palm of your hand" Iziah finally looked at him, her icy smile telling the story, "I think your mad because you've realised that Raven is smarter than you gave her credit for and she wouldn't go near you with a ten foot barge pole"
"Whatever. Enjoy your company Cena"
"Hey Orton, try not to get yourself killed, God forbid, you'd make me happy"
"Yeah whatever" Randy muttered leaving us alone, well alone at the table.
"So Iziah, how are you?"
She ignored my pleasantry, "Every fibre of my being wants to puke at once when I say this, but I need your..." Clearly the words were harder to say than she thought, "I need your..."
"Help?"
"That. Yes"
"Ok.
Iziah looked at me in surprise, she expected more fight but honestly I wasn't in the mood for arguing, least of all arguing with her. "So I'll meet you at your car after school?"
"Sure. I might be late, I have Political Science with Mr Jacobs and you know how he likes to go on and on"
Iziah finally let out a stray laugh, genuine and un-forced, "Yeah, I know"
We drove in silence, I had the feeling she didn't want to talk but for the first time I felt that it wasn't the company, she just had things on her mind. I kept driving, every now and then she would point and I would follow the direction of her peferct black fingernail. Finally I parked and Iziah let out a deep breath.
"Why are we here?"
Iziah didn't look at me, her eyes were glued to Fifth Alley, "Another little girl was raped, apparently there was a witness, I have some things to ask him."
"Iziah don't you think the police should deal with it?" I said gently, those silver orbs burned through me.
"Yes I do think the police should deal with it but sadly there not. According to my sources, not a damn thing is being done, not even help with the aftermath"
"Iziah, things like this take time"
"Yeah I'm aware of that, but did you know that after a rape has occured the police are meant to offer counseling? They are meant to see if the vicitm is safe, they haven't done that with Emma or Leslie"
"How do you know?"
"Because unlike those mother-fuckers wearin a badge, I asked." Iziah got out and looked at me, "Are you gonna sit there all day or are you gonna help me"
I killed the engine and slammed the door shut, "So straight into the alley then?"
Iziah looked at the dark alley, I knew what was going through her head, what happened to her, I knew before Randy told me because Izzy told me first, I guess I'm a better actor than I thought, "You got any money?"
"Why?"
She rolled those orbs at me, "Because theres only one way to get a drunk talkin, and I ain't got my wallet on me"
I fished out some money, her fingers grazed mine and like I was germ infested she yanked her hand back, muttering a thanks. A big step for her, so I let it go. Like a woman on a mission she crossed the street into the Tom's. I listened to her from outside making sure that Tom couldn't see me.
"Ah Iziah, how are you m'dear?" Tom said in his jolly voice, he reminded me a little of Santa, if he exsisted. Big round stomach, a long white beard and that voice of joy, kids loved Tom, it was his other shop keep Anthony they didn't like. Because he was an asshole. Plain and simple. Tom had two things that Santa didn't have, a loaded shotgun and weird store rules, like the sign hanging above him, Men caught staring at women's breasts, will be shot! Apparently, women go into the store to shop, not to be stared at, hence the sign.
"Hey Tom. I need a bottle of vodka"
"Sweetheart, I can't sell to you, you know that"
"Please Tom, I really need it"
"Honey I'm sorry, but you know the law"
Izzy muttered something unjust about the law, something Tom chose to ignore. "Tom, you know me. When have I ever asked for alcohol? You know I usually steal it, or just steal my Dad's"
Tom let out a sigh, putting a bottle of vodka on the counter, "Alarm has been faulty, I should get it fixed. Yeah, its just gone off, fourty seconds and it comes back, and what the hell is that?" Tom turned his back on the vodka and busied himself with the shelf,
"Thanks Tom" Iziah grabbed the bottle and rushed out. Almost banging into me. Was that a blush? "Ready?"
"Sure"
I followed her back across the street and to the entrance to the alley, for a moment she stopped to grab her bearings. "I might wait out here Izzy" I didn't want to stand in the same place where three children had lost their childhoods, it was just a little too much.
Iziah grabbed my hand, and thats when I noticed the tremble. She was still scared and I realised why I was here, she felt safer with me. At least a little bit safer. "Can you come in with me John?"
"Ok" I let her lead me into the alley, the stench of booze and urine hit me, I tried my hardest not to gag.
"Breathe through your mouth, its not as bad" Iziah said softly, I could only imagine what it must of been like for her when she was being violated, I don't think there was anyone this sick bastard was safe from, because I was just another enemy on his list. Right at the end near some trash cans was the lump that I guessed was the hobo.
"Um, guy?" Iziah called out tentively, he didn't even stir. Iziah stepped forward and looked down at the lump, her foot swung out making him sit up with pain rattling his system, now he was awake.
"What chu want? I'm sleepin here"
"Yeah well I have questions, and you have answers"
He sat up properly and his glassy eyes cast over her, "Lemme guess honey, questions about the little girl? How I found her? What she looked like? Did she say to me that she was raped?" He gave her a look of disgust, "You people are all the same, hungry vultures that don't give a shit about that little girl, know how I know? Because not one of you fuckers has even asked her name!"
Iziah just looked at him confused, "I'm sorry, but who do you think I am exactly?"
"Reporter scum" He spat out, "Piss off, I ain't speaking to you"
Iziah laughed, "I'm not a reporter, and I agree with you. Nothin but hungry vultures that don't give a shit." She pulled out the vodka and set it in front of her like she was showing off a grand prize. "You thirsty?"
I guess he liked the look of the booze because he suddenly regained interest. "The whole bottle?"
"Minus one shot. You tell me what I wanna know and you get the whole bottle, minus one shot" She looked to me, "You want one John?"
"No thanks"
Iziah shrugged, "One shot for me, and the rest is your's guy"
"My name is Frank" He stretched his hand out but Iziah yanked it away,
"You get this after my questions,"
"Now sweetheart"
"My name is Iziah," She spat out, taking off the cap but not letting the neck touch her lips she took a long drink. Shaking away the harsh liquid she gave the bottle to Frank. He took a long skull before putting the bottle beside him.
"Impressive" Iziah looked at him, "Does it still burn?"
"I've been drinkin for about twenty years now, I'm over the burn"
"I guess my five years of drinkin just don't cut it" Iziah shook her head, "I wanted to ask you what happened in the alley?"
"A little girl was raped, thats what happened"
"Yeah I know that and so does the town. I want to know what happened"
He let out a sigh, "I guess its my fault. If I hadn't of left then Leslie wouldn't of been raped."
"Wasn't your fault, if it wasn't this alley, it would of been another one. What happened?"
"He shoved some money into my hand and told me to get me and him some booze"
"Just like that? He didn't threaten you first, or bribe you, he just gave you money?"
Frank nodded, "Yeah, he looked really nervous. If only I knew why he wanted me out of this alley"
"When did you start sleepin here?"
"Uh.. a few days ago. I was on First to start with but I moved here, its warmer" Frank moved a little and right behind him was a generator of some sort, no wonder everything was more smelly, the heat cooked everything.
Iziah didn't say anything, I noticed that she wasn't writing this down like a normal person would have. "Ok one more time Frank" She let out a breath, "You came here a few days ago because of the warmth, and this guy just randomly gives you money to get you out of the alley and when you come back theres a little girl bleedin?"
"Pretty much" Frank gave her a harsh look "If you're gonna start puttin your blame on me, save it. I already blame myself"
"Did you rape her or Emma James?"
Frank clearly was offended, "How dare you! I may be a drunk hobo among other things, but I would never rape a child!"
"Then you're not to blame Frank. The only one that deserves blame is the monster that did it,"
"And you think you're gonna catch him?"
"I'm the only one doing anything about it, so yeah I guess I am gonna catch him, he better hope the piggies get him before I do. At least he'll still have the ability to breathe if they catch him"
We didn't say a word as I drove her home, she was too busy thinking about what Frank had told her, and I was busy trying to breathe without getting the smell of the alley trapped in my nose.
"It don't make sense" Iziah muttered looking out the window,
"What doesn't?"
"Why would he pay the hobo to leave when he could of just moved the location?"
"Maybe it holds a special place for him?"
"Police station!" Iziah cried out making me jump. "We have to go to the piggies"
"Alright calm yourself girl, I'm going" I spun around and headed towards the cop shop. "Why are we going here?"
"He pays the hobo to leave because he knows that the shop keep wouldn't sell to him, he had more time if he just paid him than he would have if he fought him. He was more nervous at Frank comin back." Iziah kept her eyes ahead but continued on with her theory. "You're right, he has a thing about that alley, in order to get it back"
"He's gonna get rid of Frank"
Iziah smiled, I wasn't stupid like she thought, "Bingo. If they keep an eye on it, the next one to go in that alley will be Frank's killer, it'll also be our rapist"
I pulled up outside Tocurra police station, wasn't much of a station but this was a shoe-box town so we didn't expect much.
"Can you come with me?"
"Sure" I got out and followed her, right up to the front desk.
Busty desk jockey, Candice Michelle looked up at us, "How can I help you?" Her smile turned into a smirk when she saw Iziah, "Are you saving us time now Iziah, just gonna turn yourself in?"
"Up yours Candice, I need to speak with Ray Duuket"
"And I need you to leave so I can work"
"Go back to the corner, that should help" Iziah snapped before barging past her and onto Ray's office. Candice screeched at her but Iziah didn't listen.
"Iziah, what can I do for you?" Ray smirked at her, spitting sunflower seeds into his trash can. "You murdered someone, again"
"I ain't murdered nobody, not from lack of trying mind you. I'm here to speak to you about your rapist"
"We're handling it sweetheart"
"Like fuck you are" Iziah slammed her fist on the table,
"Iziah we are very busy, so if you don't mind" Ray gestured her towards the door,
"If you don't listen to me, someone is gonna die and your rapist is gonna go free"
"What are you talking about?"
"The rapist has something about that alley, three girls in the same place, you don't think thats a little odd?"
"Coinecidence" Ray waved it aside making Izzy angrier.
"He paid Frank to leave!" Iziah shouted,
"So he could be alone"
"No! It was about time, he had more time if he gave up some dollars, if he had fought, he would have less time."
"Iziah, this is a police matter, you are a civillain, one with extreme mental anguish, please leave this to us"
"He's gonna die Ray, if you don't do something about Fifth Alley, Franks gonna die and your rapist is gonna go free"
Ray just looked at her, clearly he wasn't going to do anything with her information. "I don't know what Sherlock Holmes or Nancy Drew bullshit you've been reading Iziah, but I'd stop it, you're not a detective." He ran a hand over her silver ringlets, "You're more of the villian. And I really can't wait for the day I get to lock you away"
Iziah slapped his hand away and stalked out of station, I shot him an evil glare, another enemy on my hit list.
When I pulled up outside her house, she hadn't calmed down not that I expected her too. We had tried to get Frank to move but he wouldn't budge, he wanted to meet this bastard so he could take a good swing at him. The police didn't want to hear it, this is what she got when she tried to be helpful. No wonder she was always so bitchy.
"You ok?"
"Why the fuck didn't he listen?" Izzy fumed, "Now Frank's gonna die and his killer is gonna go back to raping children"
I wanted to comfort her but I wasn't sure that was the best thing especially since she was pissed off. "I told you so Cena"
"What?"
"Told you the piggies ain't doing nothin to handle it"
"Yeah I was wrong, one to you" Taking a chance I put my hand on her's, "But if it helps at all, I believe you and I think what you're doing is really good"
Iziah pressed her lips against mine, soft and un-sure but the moment I felt them I fell all over again. She pulled away and quickly got out of the car, now I knew she was blushing. If all favours ended like that, then I wouldn't mind helping her out.
A/N How many of you want to kill Ray Duuket? lol DW, I don't blame you...And yay, kisses between John/Izzy!