Zuko Halliwell asked me a question in one of the reviews and I wanted everyone in on the answer that I wrote back:
The reason I changed Mouse from a guy to a gal was because of some experiences I had in college. My roommate in college was a girl and she was a mechanical engineering major. She was one of 4 girls in the program, so to say the least the guys didn't really take her seriously. That was until she was kick some major butt on all the exams in her last two years. I wanted Mouse to be a loner like he was in the original series. He mainly stuck to his cave and didn't really come out that often. I thought of how a lone my roommate really was. In class very few of her peers talked to her and I went into the field of accounting which is fully populated by women; so I really couldn't relate. In short I thought a girl engineer who is kind of a loner because of her experiences would understand where Vincent was coming from. If you have any other questions about my thought process, please ask. I enjoy answering.
I don't think I will be able to update Chapter six till the weekend but I hope this holds you over for a little while. Loving all the reviews! Thanks all! This chapter is dedicated to bonesbemmettlover, my faithful follower. Hope you like!
My eyes were still closed but I could tell little streams of sunlight were seeping through the stained windows. I slowly opened my eyes slowly to look at the clock on the make shift night stand. Eleven o'clock in the morning. I rolled on to my back and covered my eyes with my forearm to allow my self to wake up slowly.
I had gotten back in around five in the morning. I listened carefully and I could hear TJ snoring. I was pretty sure, even if I didn't have enhanced hearing, I would still be able to hear TJ snore. TJ was still asleep because it was Saturday and he didn't have any classes or offices hours. I was contemplating going back to sleep myself until I heard foot steps outside. If Catherine wasn't currently giving me the silent treatment I would swear...It had to be her! I launched myself out of my bed and walked fast but quietly to the door.
I pulled the door open with just a little to much force because the hinges made an awful sound. I wasn't sure what I expected to see but I wasn't ready to see Catherine completely defeated.
"Can I come in?" She asked quietly. "Please?"
"Of course." I said as I moved aside and she stepped in. It was good to see her and smell the sent of her shampoo as she made her way past me. As she past I couldn't help but notice that she didn't touch me. I missed her touch. Soft but strong.
I closed the door and turned around and my heart fell when I saw her face was a mixture of defeat, sadness and anger.
"I didn't want to come here. I am sorry but I didn't have a choice." She said pleading. It looked as if she hadn't slept for maybe a couple of days.
"You're always welcome here Catherine." I said trying to sound soothing.
"I need your help." She looked up at me. "Its a kidnapping case. We think it could be connected to a serial killer case four years old."
"Why do you think that?"
"There was another girl that went missing three weeks ago, Jenna Austin, twenty one. We found her body last week laid out very similar to the old serial murders four years ago. Vincent, this new girl, Maria Garcia, was taken from the same club on Thursday night."
The worry and horror in her voice made something in me want to envelop her in my arms and not let go. I stepped closer and that is when the impossible happened. TJ got the jump on me.
"Could it be a copycat?" He asked plainly.
"No. The cops never released the most important part of finding the bodies. The killer always takes a lock of hair from each victim. Always from the left side almost in the exact same spot every time."
"How can I help?" I asked.
"We had a lead on the guy. A witness, a bartender on his smoke break, saw a black SUV pull up next to Maria and saw Maria hop in. We pulled the footage and were able to get a license plate number but uniforms just found the SUV this morning abandoned in an abandoned lot." She moved her hair out of her face into a ponytail and then crossed her arms. "I was hoping that you could take a look around the lot and maybe you could pick up on the victim's scent."
"Your lab might turn something up?" TJ offered.
"The lab means tests and tests means time. Time is something Maria doesn't have right now." She said as if she was explaining something for the fifth time. She was most definitely tired.
"Ok, I'll come with you. On one condition. I drive. You are to tired and shouldn't be driving when you are sleep deprived. Your reaction time is slower."
"You can't drive what if some one sees or notices you?"
"Fine, TJ will drive." I said looking at him with a don't argue for just this once expression.
"You cannot be serious." He said disbelievingly. But after looking back and forth between me and Catherine he dropped his crossed arms and sighed. "I'll get my jacket." he said with resignation.
Once we got to the lot Catherine gave me a bush that she said she borrowed from the girls apartment. As I got down I noticed there was still crime scene tape present. Catherine jump out of the car and didn't stop till she came to a spot where there were tire tracks and foot prints.
"This is where the SUV was parked early this morning."
I inhaled deep holding one the girls sent in the back of my mind. I hoped I would find her sent tangled with the sent left behind by the crime scene crew. But instead I smelt something that made my heart stop for a moment. I inhaled again, much deeper this time. No, No, I wanted to be wrong but I knew that I wasn't.
I looked at Catherine who was watching my every move. I sighed. "I can't pick up on her sent." I said.
"Are you sure?" Catherine said in disbelief.
"Yes. But I can smell bleach and lots of it."
Catherine's face fell at the end of my sentence and her eyes closed. Her whole body seemed to be wieghed down by my words.
"That means that the lab most likely won't turn up anything that can be used." She said with her eyes still closed.
"Hey!" JT yelled from the other side of the lot. Me and Catherine walked towards him at a hurried pace. As we got closer he raised up his hand and pointed at a traffic light not too far away. "Don't some traffic lights have cameras on them?" He asked hope coloring his tone.
Catherine's hopeful face fell, "Yeah and that one does but Department of Transportation said they couldn't get us a high resolution image until tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?!" JT said with slight surprise. "That's just insane. It doesn't seem like it should take that long."
"Its an important case they are working as fast as they can." Catherine said. I think more trying to convince her self than JT.
Suddenly the idea blind sided me. I reached in my pocket finding object I was looking for. I was so glad I didn't throw it away right when I got out side.
"What is that?!" JT asked.
"Its a burner phone." I said as I took it out of the box and pressed the power button.
"Catherine I know someone who can help but it might mean breaking a few rules to get the information you need..." I waited for her permission before I looked for the number.
"You know someone?!" JT's voice rose in surprise. "Who do you know?" he ask ready to scold me.
I kept my eyes on Catherine. She took only a couple of seconds to come to a decision and then gave me a determined nod.
I looked in the contacts listing and dialed the only number listed. The phone started to ring. and ring. and ring. I looked at my watch it was 12:30 she had to be awake. ring.
"Bruce!" Her voice came through the line in a happy and slightly shocked tone.
"Hi Mouse."
"Mouse?! Whose Mouse?!" JT was still reeling. I put my finger to my lips to signal him to be quite.
"Well I have to admit I have given my number out before to guys at clubs and never got a call back. And I give it to you and not 24hours later my phone is ringing. Its every comic fan girls dream come true."
"Mouse I have a favor to ask. It might involve tapping into the Department of Transportation's traffic light cameras." I waited.
"Ok...should be easy enough." she said probably wondering what I was waiting for.
"So you will do it?"
"I told you, anything you need I will help. Come by my place. I will start gearing up the tech cave."
"Um, I have a couple of people with me." I paused as I looked at both Cat and JT. Mouse didn't miss a beat.
"Bring them. Remember ask for me downstairs. I'll let them know you are going to be asking for me. See ya soon." With that the other line clicked and I knew she had hung up.
I looked up. Catherine was wearing a confused look on her face and TJ looked like he was about to pop a vain.
"Look this girl can get us the information we need but we have to go to her place."
"Girl!" They both said at once. Gees you would think I ran over a dog.
"Just get in the car and I'll tell you all about it on the ride over." JT threw up his hands and muttered something that sounded like "I don't even know why I try."
Catherine looked at me warily and then made her way back to the car with out another word.