CHAPTER 4
"Serendipity." Fraser knocked on the door of the Royal Bedroom and waited for a reply. "Dippy." He called again. "May I please come in?" Fraser could hear her sniffing and sobbing on the other side of the door. He glanced down at Dief, sadly.
Dief yapped.
"I realise that," responded Fraser, "but it's impolite to simply barge into a lady's bedroom."
Dief yapped again, jumped up and pulled down on the door handle with his foot. The door swung open and the wolf bounded into the room and jumped up on the bed.
Serendipity was lying curled up in a ball with her face buried in the pillow. She turned her head slightly when Dief pounced and he proceeded to lick her tear stained face. With a small smile she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I didn't say you could come in," she said, addressing Dief.
"I do apologise," said Fraser, rubbing at his eyebrow with his thumb. "His manners appear to have eluded him. Although he is worried about you, as I am."
"Please go away," Dippy said quietly, to Fraser this time.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that," replied Fraser, gently but firmly.
Dippy's head snapped round to glare at him.
"I understand that you hit your head. It would be remiss of me to leave you alone until I can be certain that you're alright," Fraser explained.
Dippy sighed. "I guess Ray, like, told you what I did."
"Yes," replied Fraser. He sat down on the edge of the bed and Dippy rolled onto her back. Diefenbaker jumped down and stood protectively at her side.
"I don't know why I…" Dippy tried to explain, but she had no real explanation for him, not one that she could put into words. "I guess Ray hates me now, right?"
"Not at all," smiled Fraser.
"Is he still here?" she asked. "Or did he, like, run outta the door."
"He thought it would be best if he left," Fraser explained. "But we talked briefly and he wanted me to assure you that he'll be back here in the morning." He gently brushed the hair away from Dippy's forehead with his fingertips to reveal a large bruise that was rapidly turning a variety of yellows and purples.
"Is it bad?" she asked. "Have I, like, got a black eye? 'Coz I did that before when I slipped carrying logs for the fire. I nearly knocked myself out and then there was that time when I tripped over the rug and smashed the teapot and cut my finger open – look, I still have the scar."
Dippy held up her forefinger to Fraser to show him the evidence. He was about to say something, but of course she hadn't finished talking.
"I'm so clumsy, I can't help it, although, my brother is worse than me," she continued. "I mean, like, I'm pretty good at hurting myself, but Renfield is always falling over, or dropping stuff, or falling down stairs. He broke both his arms when we were kids. Not at the same time, 'coz that would be, like, totally the worst luck ever! The first time he fell out of a tree and then…I can't actually remember the other time. Oh and I have to tell you about this one time when I was carrying a tray of cookies and I was about to open the kitchen door and he opened it from the other side and knocked me flying. I really hurt my butt, I can tell you and the cookies went everywhere. He felt so bad about it, but it was just, like, an accident, right? And then there was this other time when we were curling and he slipped and then I, like, slipped too and we kinda slid into each other and he whacked me in the face with his broom. Oh my god, that hurt! My dad always calls us The Clumsy Cabbages."
"I had an uncle once who died wrapped in…" began Fraser, desperate to get a word in edgeways. Then he realised that story was irrelevant. "Actually that's not important right now. What is important is that I get you some ice for the swelling."
Dippy nodded and Fraser headed downstairs, leaving Dief to jump back up onto the bed.
Fraser iced Dippy's head and they talked for a while, or more accurately, Dippy talked and Fraser mostly listened. At least I can be certain she doesn't have a concussion…
"I know I shouldn't have kissed him," she said. "I just…he's so nice and we'd had such a great evening. I mean, I know it wasn't, like, a date, or anything and I didn't want it to be, but sometimes things just get confused in my head and I do something totally dumb and ruin things. I don't want Ray to think I was trying to come onto him, or anything. I guess I'm just, kinda…kinda lonely."
"Ray understands," Fraser tried to reassure her.
"We were talking about my parents," Dippy went on. "I think that's why I did it. Not that talking about my folks usually makes me think about kissing guys, 'coz that would be, like, totally weird and creepy. I just mean that I feel kinda scared and alone right now. When we were kids and they, like, went on one of their expeditions I always had Ren to take care of me, but since he moved down here there's just been me at home most of the time. I know I'm an adult and I can take care of myself now, but it's hard sometimes. Do you ever get lonely, Fraser?"
"Yes," replied Fraser honestly.
"They don't get it," continued Dippy. "They never did. That's, like, the whole problem. They used to take us with them sometimes and we all had some really cool adventures out there in the wilderness, but then we got older and we had school and stuff so they thought we should just, like, stay at home. They're not bad parents. I don't want to make it sound like they were, like, cruel to us or anything."
"Don't worry, it doesn't sound like that at all," smiled Fraser.
"They just weren't there all that much," said Dippy.
"I understand," said Fraser. "My childhood was also somewhat…difficult at times."
"Oh hey, I'm sorry," said Dippy suddenly. "I didn't mean to...y'know…I just wish they were here and I wish my brother would wake up and be OK and…and…"
"Ssshhh…" Fraser tried to soother her as she broke down again.
Dief whined and nuzzled against her face.
"I think you should get some sleep," said Fraser. "It's late. It looks like you will have some company tonight." He nodded at Dief who was showing no signs of leaving her side.
Dippy smiled at the animal. "You're the nicest wolf ever," she said.
Dief yapped.
"Oh don't be embarrassed," she replied with a giggle. "It's just the truth, that's all."
Dief made a quiet noise in his throat and made himself comfortable.
"Don't tell your brother that we're allowing this," added Fraser as he walked towards the door.
"Oh my god, he would freak out about wolf hairs in the bed!" exclaimed Dippy. "Goodnight, Fraser and thanks for everything and I'm sorry and I'll try to…"
"Goodnight, Dippy," said Fraser quickly before she had a chance to get going again.
xXxXx
On his way to the Consulate the next morning, Ray worried that he might be met with an awkward silence. He needn't have worried - Serendipity Turnbull was not big on silences, awkward or otherwise.
"Oh my god, Ray!" she squealed as he walked in the door. "I was awake, like, half the night thinking you'd never want to have anything to do with me ever again!"
"Forget about it," grinned Ray, awkwardly. He didn't really want to talk about it, but of course Dippy liked to talk about everything. "You made a, er, a mistake and, er, it's no big deal, so , er…er, how's your head?"
"It's OK, I think. You can't see the bruise, can you? I tried to hide it with make-up. Fraser put some ice on it for me yesterday. It kinda reminded me of home which was weird 'coz I never thought I'd get homesick and I've only been away for like, three days. Do you really still like me?"
"Sure," smiled Ray, laughing at how easily she'd gone off on a tangent.
"You are just the nicest person!" replied Dippy, throwing her arms around him. "I mean, that's what confused me last night," she added, blushing slightly. "I'm so sorry, Ray, I just feel all kinda weird right now and I really don't know why I thought I wanted to, like, kiss you, but I just did. I guess I got all confused because you're really, really nice, but you're totally old!"
"What?" exclaimed Ray, breaking their hug and feigning offence.
"Oh, that came out, like, totally wrong." Dippy blushed harder now. "I don't mean that you're old like an old guy," she tried to explain. "But you're, like, older than me, right? I mean, I'm twenty three and you're, like forty or something."
Now Ray's ego was crushed. "Hey, I've got a little way to go before I'm forty," he said indignantly.
"Really? Oh well, you know what I mean," she replied. "And I don't really want a boyfriend right now," she continued. "I had a boyfriend back home and he was, like, cute and everything, but we just kinda got bored of each other I guess and then he, like, got this great job in Thunder Bay working at the docks doing, um, well I guess it was something to do with shipping. So anyway we broke up and I was, like, sad, but then I figured there's plenty of cute guys out there and...oh my god, I almost forgot..."
Ray was puzzled as Dippy suddenly ran out into the kitchen, although his ears were glad of the break.
She soon returned carrying a huge pile of cupcakes. They had more soft, white icing than actual cake and were covered in chocolate sprinkles and jelly stars.
"I made these for you," she explained. "To, like, say sorry for the kiss and everything."
Ray smiled awkwardly. He wished they could just forget it ever happened. "Thanks," he said.
"I figured if you were gonna be, like, really mad at me I could get you to like me again by baking cupcakes," she giggled.
"I already told ya, just forget about it," repeated Ray. "I still like ya, OK?"
Dippy giggled again and held out the tray of cupcakes. She took a step closer to Ray so he could admire her handiwork, but somehow managed to trip over her own feet and the cupcakes ended up all over the floor.
Dippy stared at the mess for a moment…and then burst into tears.
"Hey, it's OK," said Ray and he walked over to her and put his arm around her shoulder. "It was an accident."
"But…but…but," sobbed Dippy, burying her head into his shoulder. "I wanted to…to make you happy, but…but I just can't do…anything…right," she wailed.
Just then Fraser appeared from his office. "Oh dear," he said as he surveyed the scene.
Diefenbaker came bounding over to the pile sponge cake, butter icing and chocolate sprinkles and promptly began to eat up the mess.
"It's like all his Christmasses have come and once," noted Fras er, rolling his eyes.
"You'll make yourself sick," said Dippy, giggling through her tears.
Dief stopped eating briefly to yap a reply.
"Well actually I made them for Ray," she replied, "but I guess he would've let you have one. Right, Ray?"
"Er, sure," replied Ray with a wink.
Fraser shook his head in disgust. "Back home one furry night crawler would have lasted you a week," he said.
Dief woofed and whined.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," replied Fraser, glancing at Dippy who was looking shocked at the animal's coarse language. "I do apologise," Fraser said to her. "He's spent far too much time among some rather unsavoury characters."
"So what's the plan for today?" asked Ray. "Hospital first?"
"Actually I've just been speaking with the hospital," replied Fraser. "And I have some rather encouraging news."
Dippy held her breath as Fraser told her all about the conversation he'd just had with her brother's doctor.
"Er, OK, so now tell us what that means in English," said Ray when he'd finished.
"I'm sorry," replied Fraser. "In layman's terms, there are strong indications that Constable Turnbull is coming out of his coma."
Dippy squealed with excitement and flung her arms around a startled Fraser. "So he's going to be OK?" she asked. "He's really waking up?"
"It's still very early in the process," explained Fraser, peeling her arms from his neck. "But a definite increase in brain activity was observed overnight. They're going to run more tests this morning and attempt to stimulate further cognitive processes. We can visit him this afternoon."
Tears were streaming down Dippy's face again, but these were tears of happiness.
Ray was smiling too. He and Turnbull didn't always see eye to eye, but the man certainly did not deserve what had happened to him, especially not following such a random act of violence.
"So how do ya feel about hanging out at the station this morning?" Ray asked. "Me and Fraser have really gotta put some hours into finding our shooter."
"The Police station?" asked Dippy excitedly. "Oh my god! I've never been to, like, a real Police station before. Well, I did the other night after…y'know…but that was different. Oh, Ray, that would be so cool! Is it dangerous? I mean with all those criminals, although I guess there'll be, like, loads of cops there too so it'll be totally safe, right? This is so exciting! What do I have to wear?"
"Er, just regular clothes," suggested Ray. He glanced at the combination of slightly faded blue jeans and equally faded grey shirt he was wearing. "Whatever you feel comfortable in, I guess."
"I feel most comfortable in my uniform," added Fraser.
Dippy smiled. "I totally love that brown uniform," she noted. "I mean, I love the red one too with those huge, baggy pants 'coz you look like a proper Mountie in it, but the brown one is kinda..." she trailed off and allowed herself a moment to admire the magnificent sight of Fraser, his perfect posture filling the brown jacket in all the right places. "Well, you look kinda hot," she added, blushing slightly.
"Actually I find the red serge much warmer," replied Fraser innocently.
"That's not what she meant," Ray pointed out with a grin.
"Oh," said Fraser. He cleared his throat with embarrassment and felt his cheeks flushing red.
Dippy giggled and skipped up the stairs to get changed.
"Just remember, buddy, it was me she kissed," grinned Ray.
"I have no idea what you're referring to," replied Fraser, tugging at his earlobe.
"OK, let me ask you a question," said Ray, his grin fading. "How old do I look?"
"Um, well that's very difficult for me to answer, Ray, because I know exactly how old you are."
Ray sighed.
This is gonna be one of those conversations I'll wish I'd never started…
"Well pretend you don't know exactly what day I was born and just tell me what you'd say if you had to guess," he pushed.
"I'm sorry, Ray, but it's very hard for me to forget a fact once I know it."
"Just try, buddy," urged Ray. "Would you say that I look forty?"
"No, of course not," replied Fraser. "You're not forty yet."
Ray shook his head in despair. "I know that, but…" Maybe he'd ask Frannie later, or one of the guys…yeah, one of the guys is less likely to give me a stupid answer…
He glanced briefly in the ornate mirror that hung on the wall. Well, he couldn't see any wrinkles, not bad ones anyway. Not 'old guy' wrinkles. Dippy was young and naïve – that much had been fairly well established in the last three days – so what did she know about it anyway? He didn't look old at all and he could still attract women his age - or younger, if last night's kiss was anything to go by – so all hope wasn't lost quite yet.
"Is there a particular reason why you asked?" Fraser studied his partner with concern. He recognised that look on Ray's face and it usually meant Ray was going over and over something in his mind…which was rarely a good thing.
Ray decided he wanted to change the subject. "Nope, forget it," he replied. "So, er, have ya ever thought about what it'd be like to have a, er, a sister…or a brother?" he asked.
"Yes. Often," replied Fraser honestly. He turned away from Ray so his friend couldn't see the loneliness that suddenly swept across his face.
Ray could have kicked himself. "Oh, sorry," he mumbled. Stupid thing to say to a guy whose mother died when he was a kid, Kowalski.
Fraser waved his hand dismissively, but he couldn't say anything to back up the gesture.
"Um, I think my folks tried for more kids, but it didn't work out," continued Ray. He'd started the topic now so he may as well finish it. "I mean, I don't think they wanted us to be like the Vecchios or nothin'…" he stopped and sniggered. "I'd have gone nuts growing up with so many people in the house."
"Me too," agreed Fraser. He often imagined what it would have been like to grow up with a sibling, but the thought of being one of four filled him with a slight sense of dread.
"But, um, it would be kinda nice right now, as an adult I mean, to have…" Ray trailed off and closed his eyes. "Still, I've got you, right buddy?" he opened his eyes and grinned. "You're the closest thing I ever had to a, y'know, a brother."
Fraser smiled and nodded in agreement. He thought for a moment. "Each of us has our own experience of the family unit," he observed. "Constable Turnbull and his sister had each other as they grew up, but it seems that their parents were frequently absent."
"Yeah, weird that," agreed Ray. "I mean, who has kids and then leaves them for days on end to go watch polar bears gettin' down and dirty?"
"We really shouldn't judge," noted Fraser. "We only have Serendipity's side of the story. Constable Turnbull rarely speaks of his family, but on the occasions that he has mentioned his childhood, he has made no reference to it being unhappy in any way."
"I guess Dippy just ain't cut out for the life she was born into," suggested Ray. "Her brother is not like her at all…" Ray trailed off and his brow furrowed into a frown as he pondered his last statement. "Actually he kinda is. I mean, if you think about it, they're more alike than Dippy would probably admit to."
"Indeed," agreed Fraser.
"There you guys are!" Dippy burst into the room. She had changed into a short, yellow skirt and a cut-off t-shirt that was so short even Francesca Vecchio would think twice about wearing it. "Are we, like, going or not?"
xXxXxXx
By the time they arrived at the Twenty Seventh, Ray had a headache. Dippy had talked at top speed for the whole journey. Even Diefenbaker had found it too much and he was deaf. Fraser had been trying to explain to Ray that he had found out more information about their three suspects, but Ray hadn't been listening.
Dippy walked into the station with wide eyes. She had been here once before, of course, on her first night in Chicago, but it had been dark with only the night staff on duty and she hadn't been thinking straight so she hadn't really noticed anything about the station house at all. This morning she took in every inch of her surroundings with wonderment as they walked up to the squad room.
"We should never, ever, take her to Disneyland," Ray whispered with a wink. "Looks like she might explode, or somethin'."
"Agreed," replied Fraser in a low voice. "Figuratively speaking," he added.
Ray pulled a face. "Stop talkin' Canadian, Fraser."
"Sorry."
Ray introduced her to Francesca. "Renfield's sister?" she exclaimed Francesca. "Wow. I mean, I didn't know he had a sister and we're…well, y'know…" Francesca looked deliberately coy. "We're close," she explained.
"Cool," smiled Dippy. She didn't pick up on Francesca's insinuation, much to the Civilian Aid's annoyance. "Renfield is so lucky to have, like, soooo many good friends in Chicago," she continued. "I think he was kinda nervous when he got this posting, but we were all, like, totally proud of him 'coz this is such a cool place to get posted to and he has such an important job at the Consulate, right? You guys are all so great, I guess you all, like, hang out all the time."
"Er…" Ray realised he shouldn't try to shatter her illusions. The only time he had ever 'hung out' with Turnbull was when he was under arrest and unable to leave the Consulate. Dippy didn't need to know that, though. "Sometimes we watch curling together," he said with an awkward smile.
"Ren loves curling!" exclaimed Dippy.
"Can you give her a quick tour of the place?" Ray asked Francesca, as Dippy wandered over to the notice board and was momentarily distracted reading all the 'For sale' and 'Lost/Found' cards.
"Yes, Ray. Of course, Ray," replied Francesca, sarcastically, making sure Dippy was out of earshot. "Because I don't have anything better to do today like working on your case for you!"
"Please, Frannie," begged Ray. "Just take her for half an hour. Fraser said he had some kind of, er, dirt on one of the guys. We need to check it out. I think you and her'll get on great."
Francesca sighed. "Half an hour, bro. That's all."
"Thanks," grinned Ray and went to join Fraser who had already logged onto the computer on Ray's desk, although first he'd had to find the keyboard which had somehow become lost under classic car magazines, police files and other assorted papers.
"This is what the Inspector and I discovered yesterday about one of the possible suspects," explained Fraser, pointing to the screen.
"Jonathan Bell is ex-military!" exclaimed Ray. "Sniper? Must've had sniper training. He's our guy, he's gotta be our guy."
"We have no actual evidence to that effect," Fraser pointed out. "Although I agree, given his background, he is a person of significant interest. He has a sister here in Chicago. I propose we interview her as soon as possible."
"He's got a sister in Chicago?" repeated Ray. "C'mon, Fraser! This is more than a coincidence. The guy is a trained killer and he could've gone anywhere to bag himself a Mountie, but he has a sister in this city, so he comes here and, er, takes a pop at Turnbull. I bet he's got another sister in Cincinnati, right?"
"No, Ray," replied Fraser, shaking his head. "I can find no connection at all between Mr Bell and the location of the second shooting at this juncture."
Ray slapped the desk in frustration. "OK, OK…c'mon, let's go talk to the sister."
"Ray, do I need to remind you of the need to approach this interview with an open mind?" said Fraser, picking up his hat and placing it squarely on his head. "This information in no way constitutes evidence to prove this man's guilt."
"I know," agreed Ray. "Don't worry, buddy, I know how to do the cop thing." He was almost at the door when he turned back and called out to Jack Huey who was sitting at his desk. "Huey, when Frannie comes back, tell her me and Fraser have gone to shake down the shooter's sister."
"Ray!" exclaimed Fraser with a frown.
"Kidding," Ray smirked. "Just tell her we'll be back later."
"I imagine Francesca and Serendipity are getting along very well," added Fraser.
"Yeah," agreed Ray. "Like a house on fire."
"No, Ray," frowned Fraser. "Very well."
"Yeah, that's what I said," replied Ray. "It's an expression."
Fraser's frown grew deeper. "Well it's a rather nonsensical one," he noted. "A house on fire is not something one would normally consider a good thing. Take it from me, I have some personal experience of such matters and the aftermath is somewhat…" but he was interrupted by Francesca running back into the squad room, a look of annoyance crossed with mild panic on her face.
"I've lost her," she announced. "Dippy Turnbull," she added, in case they needed clarification. "I turned my back for two seconds and she disappeared!"
Ray let out a growl of frustration. "That's exactly what she did to me the other night," he said.
"Honestly, she's worse than Maria's kids," continued Francesca. "If I'd known you wanted a babysitter I'd have called Ma."
"I suggest we split up and search the building," said Fraser. "Despite your allusions to the contrary, Francesca, she is an adult. She can't be far away."
Ray nodded and they all headed towards the stairs, but before they'd had a chance to split up, a shrill sound pierced the air. They all froze to the spot. It was the sound of a scream.