Howdy everyone. Thanks for your interest in the story so far! I read the comment about breaking up some of the larger paragraphs and I appologize, I usually write with a lot more dialogue (as you will see in this chapter) than what was in the first chapter and I naturally break up my dialogue. So I went back and broke it up a little bit more so hopefully that helps. I also apologize on how big the chapters are, I usually only like to write between 1800-2500 words but these are all a lot longer just because the segments have a lot more content than usual. Also, I feel I should warn you, while this is an AU fic based on Fairy Tail characters, they might be written a little OCC at times and I will try to be better with that in the future, I promise. Please enjoy!
As always, I don't own Fairy Tail, it belongs to Hiro Mashima and I thank him letting me use his characters for my own creative expressions *bows*
It seemed like hours went by before Levy trusted her legs enough to be able to pick herself up off the floor and make it to her couch. She should have been crying but the tears never came, it was like a bad dream or a cheesy action movie she had been watching from the outside and all she really felt was numb. She looked down at her hands and knees and noticed for the first time that they were dotted with dried blood from when she was pushed behind the dumpster. Pushed by a giant man with a gun that was probably not very happy about being hit in the face with a ladies purse. Levy shivered and rushed to the bathroom, she needed to take a shower and wash the dirt off her body and the bad memories from her mind. She shampooed her hair twice and scrubbed her skin until it was pink and blotchy but it didn't make her feel any better. She toweled off and then got into her fluffiest flannel pajamas hoping that it would help.
She glanced at the clock on her nightstand and noticed that it was just after midnight but it felt to her like it was three in the morning. Just then she heard a scraping noise from outside the front door and her heart stopped, somebody was trying to get into the apartment. She looked around her room for some kind of a weapon to use and all she could see was a blue umbrella leaning against the wall, better than nothing she thought to herself as she grabbed it and crept out into the hallway. The door was slowly opening so she hefted the umbrella over her shoulder like a baseball bat and took aim, a blonde walked through it completely unaware of the umbrella just inches away.
"Lucy!" Levy cried out in surprise and the blonde looked up at the smaller woman, when she saw the umbrella still in the hitting position she shrieked and jumped back towards the hall.
"What did I do!?" The blonde asked in surprise, "Did I leave the kitchen a mess again? What are you doing?" Levy looked up at the umbrella in her hands and then dropped it like it was on fire.
"No! I mean, yes but this is not what you think, I'm sorry!" They both stared at each other for a second and became aware of noises coming from Lucy's purse, a small white dog's head popped out of the top and growled at them angrily. Levy reached out and grabbed Lucy's arm, pulling her back into the apartment before shutting the door and locking it up again.
"What is going on?" Lucy asked again, putting her purse down on the floor so that the little dog could hop out.
Levy tried to clear her fuzzy head before answering, "Where were you? It's after midnight." She couldn't believe that she had forgotten about her roommate of five years and then nearly bludgeoned her for coming home. Lucy looked at her like she had lost her mind again.
"It's Friday, a bunch of us went out after work since its ladies night over at the club on 20th. It was crazy busy today because of the long weekend and so we gave up when we couldn't get in. I would have texted you but you haven't gotten a new cell phone yet." Lucy took off her coat and hung it up on one of the pegs by the door; she turned and peered at Levy again with concern.
"Tell me what is going on, you tried to attack me at the door and you look like you've seen a ghost." Levy just stared at her, still trying to calm her beating heart and taking comfort in her oldest and best friend's concern, finally she felt the tears bubble up and start to pour out her eyes.
"Oh Lucy!" she cried and tackled the bigger girl in a crushing hug. "It was so awful and I was so scared." Lucy returned the hug and patted her back awkwardly, "You are really starting to freak me out Levy, please tell me at least something."
Levy pulled away and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, "W-we should p-probably sit down." They went back to the couch, the little white dog jumping up between them and curling up into a tight ball before falling asleep. Levy took a deep breath and then started to tell Lucy about what had happened behind the bookstore. When she got to the part about the gun Lucy's eyes went wide with shock and her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my God! What did you do?"
"I couldn't do anything, I was so scared, then this guy came out of nowhere and pulled me behind the dumpster, but then he had a gun too and started shooting at the other guy, it was crazy!" Levy knew she was babbling uncontrollably but she needed to get it all out. "And then it stopped and the guy tried talking to me but I hit him with my purse and ran away." They sat there and stared at each other for a long minute.
"So," Lucy started so quiet Levy almost couldn't hear her, "You didn't call the police?"
Realization hit Levy and she did an internal face palm. "No! I didn't even think of the cops! Ugh!" Of course she needed to call the cops and tell them what she saw, but then again, was that the safest thing for her to do?
"So, what are you going to do?" Lucy asked, echoing her own thoughts.
"I guess… tomorrow I should go to the police." Levy answered just as quietly. Even though she knew it was technically the right thing to do, her gut was giving off the warning bells of doubt. The Fiore Police Department, especially the Magnolia precinct didn't have the best reputation and Levy knew from personal experience that they weren't the most helpful or dedicated organization. Lucy took her right hand in both of hers and gave it an encouraging squeeze, "If you want I can go with you…"
Levy shook her head, "No, you should go to work." She would never forgive herself if she dragged Lucy into this mess any more than she already had. "It's going to be busy because of the weekend. Besides, one of us has to make the rent," she did her best attempted at a smile but knew that she hadn't pulled it off.
"Screw the rent, you need me more than the Salon does," Lucy growled.
"You just want to get out of work." Levy didn't have to try as hard to smile this time when she thought about Lucy's job as a shampoo girl at a large and classy Hair Salon downtown.
"Any excuse I can get, that man is tyrant… Who goes by the professional name Cancer? A crazy assed person, that's who," Lucy griped about her boss, trying to be normal. "Are you feeling better?" She asked the blue haired girl sincerely.
Levy nodded, "I am, but you don't have to come with me tomorrow. I can go down there by myself."
"We'll see," the blonde answered and Levy knew that the conversation wasn't over. She sighed and laid back on the couch, then felt Lucy cuddled up next to her carefully because of the dog between them. They sat there in silence until both of them fell into restless sleep.
An unmarked black car pulled up behind a circle of police cars with their lights flashing brightly; it hadn't even been a half hour since the shooting and the alley behind the book store was packed with police and onlookers. A tall redheaded woman got out of the driver's side gracefully, her sharp brown eyes taking in the scene before her without missing a detail. She still hadn't stepped away from her car when another pulled up beside her, this one was dark blue with a "World's Best Dad" rear licence plate and a child's car seat in the back. The corners of Erza Scarlett's mouth piqued up in amusement as she watched her partner climb out and notice her standing there waiting.
"No minivan?" She asked with feigned surprise. Gray Fullbuster gave her a slight grimace as they walked together towards the taped off area.
"Don't start, you're lucky that I made it here as fast as I did. I wasn't going all the way back to the station to switch out my car," he growled at her and then yawned.
"Don't tell me you were already in bed?" Erza continued with the teasing despite his frosty expression.
"Huh, I have a wife and four kids under six, plus I just got off a double shift. I think that I'm actually asleep right now and this is all a bad dream." They ducked under the florescent police tape after flashing their badges to the silent cop standing guard as another uniformed officer motioned them over and they joined him.
"Sorry to disappoint you Gray, but there is a very real dead gangster under that tarp. I think you guys might know him." The officer leaned down and pulled up the top corner of the tarp just enough to show the face.
Gray sucked in some air in surprise. "Zoldeo… What would he be doing in a place like this?" The officer shook his head and let the tarp fall back. "Beats me."
"Are there any witnesses? Did anyone see anything?" Erza asked, she was all business now; her voice cold and serious.
"We're still canvassing the area, but so far nothing much has come up. Even though it's a heavy populated area it was late, dark and quick. Officers were on scene not even ten minutes after the first call came in reporting gunfire but it was already clear except for this guy. Do you think it was a hit?"
Erza shook her head slightly. "That doesn't make any sense, too populated, too much of a risk, especially for a gang hit. We are missing something here, are you sure that there are no witnesses? I find that hard to believe." The officer shrugged and just then another uniformed cop joined them.
"I think I might have something," the cop was young, barely looking old enough to even be in uniform.
"What is it Romeo?" Gray asked, "Give us some good news." The young cop flashed him an impressive smile. "I've got an old guy who was walking his dog around the time of the shooting; I think he might have seen something."
"I'll go and question him," Erza spoke up and motioned Romeo to lead her to the potential witness.
"And I'll go talk to the ME and see if we are clear to move this body out of here yet," Gray called after them as they walked back out of the circle, Erza raised her hand in response but said nothing.
"She sounds like she is in a real good mood," the uniformed officer remarked dryly. Gray sighed and looked around for the coroner.
"She's coming up for promotion again, really feeling the pressure to take it this time. I think that makes her crabby."
The officer shook his head. "If she was smart she would have taken it years ago, no offence, but someone with Erza's potential is really wasted in the Magnolia precinct, I'm surprised that the Chief of Police hasn't forced her into Crocus before now."
"Don't think they haven't tried but Erza has some powerful friends in high places. Plus I don't think even the mayor could force her to do anything she didn't want to do." Gray and the officer looked at each and then away. No one talked about Erza and the mayor, ever, not unless they wanted the full wrath of the Queen of Fairy Street to fall down on them.
"And," Gray continued still watching for the medical examiner to come and claim the body. "How many times have you turned down Detective? Two? Three? Kind of the pot calling the kettle black my friend."
The officer smiled, flashing his teeth. "We weren't talking about me though and I enjoy being a training officer, somebody has to make sure that the younglings know what the hell they are doing. Why? Are you hunting for a new partner?"
Gray laughed. "Hopefully not anytime soon… Besides, out of all the potential candidates what makes you think I would pick you?" He answered, straighfaced and serious.
The officer slapped a hand over chest and pantomimed being shot in the heart. "Ouch, hit me right where it hurts why don't you? Anyway, everyone knows that you Fairies stick together so I'm probably not even on your short list."
The smile faded a bit on Gray's face. "Yeah, that's the way it was supposed to be." A girl dressed in blue Crime Scene overalls came over to inform them that they were finished and the coroner had arrived to take the body away.
"Finally," Gray breathed. "I'll go let Erza know they are ready to release the scene and let the body go. See you back at the station, Mest."
Mest Doranbolt sent Gray a quick army salute as he watched him walk away, "Good luck."
Erza followed Romeo back out to the circle of squad cars to where a white haired old man was waiting with another uniformed cop.
"We can take it from here," she told him as they approached, he nodded and walked away.
"This is Mr. Gilberts, he lives over on Peppercorn and was walking his dog at the time of the shooting." Romeo informed Erza.
Gilberts looked Erza over and whistled loudly, "Are you sure you're a cop young lady? You look way to pretty to be working in a job like that." Erza could barely contain an eye roll and grimace. Please not one of these, she begged the universe, not tonight.
"Mr. Gilberts," she replied smoothly without letting her voice show an ounce of annoyance. "I'm Detective Erza Scarlett of the Fiore Police Department, Officer Conbolt tells me that you may have seen what happened here tonight? Would you like to tell me about it?" The white haired man cracked her a big smile that revealed several missing teeth and really bad breath.
"I'm sorry sweetie, but I didn't see any of that shooting stuff. All I saw was a couple arguing over by the dumpster."
Erza choose to ignore the term of endearment and focus on the facts. "A couple? What were they doing?"
"Well, like I said, it seemed like they were talking or something and then she swung her purse and hit him right in the face before running off into the trees, he called after her and then took off in the opposite direction. I wouldn't even have even known somebody had been shot if it wasn't for the police car that showed up a few minutes later."
"So, you didn't see or hear any of the gunshots?"
"No ma'am, my ears and eyes ain't what they used to be, the only reason I noticed these two was because Spotty, that's my dog, likes to sniff around that dumpster to do his business so were heading over there."
"Can you describe what they looked like? Could you pick them out of a photo?"
"I don't know, it was dark and I wasn't really paying attention. The guy was big, at least a foot bigger than she was, with dark hair and he was wearing dark clothes. She had lighter hair but still a dark shade, maybe blue? And she was wearing a dress, I did notice that as she was running away," the old man said with a chuckle. Of course you did, Erza internally sighed, not much to go on but still more than they had ten minutes ago.
"Can you tell me again which way they went?" The old man pointed towards a building that was almost completely shielded by trees. "She ran into there, between the trees. And then he went that way," he pointed down the alley into the opposite direction of where they had found Zoldeo's body. "I don't know if he turned into a street or which way he went, like I said, I wasn't paying much attention to the details."
This time Erza sighed out loud after looking where he was pointing, both directions were probably dead ends. "Thank you for your time Mr. Gilberts, here, take my card and let me know if you can remember anything else and please leave your information with Officer Conbolt so that we can let you know if we need to speak to you again."
Gilberts took her card and stuffed it into his front pocket. "Well look at that, my age and I'm still getting all the pretty girls' phone numbers." He gave her another grin and Erza had to force herself not to gag a little. Thankfully Romeo seemed to get the hint and led the old man away to get his personal information. When Erza turned around to go back to the body she saw Gray was walking towards her instead.
"They just informed me that they will be moving the body and releasing the scene, any luck with the witness?"
Erza shook her head slightly, "No, but we might have two more potential witnesses." She told him about what the old man saw beside the dumpster.
"Well, if the timeline is correct they have to have seen the shooting, I mean that dumpster can't be more than 20 feet away and in direct view of the crime scene." Gray turned to look down the alley. "Want to go check it out?" Erza nodded and they walked down the alley towards the lone dumpster. When they got there, Gray took his flashlight out of his pocket and illuminated the area behind it. "It definitely looks like something went on here," he commented. "The dirt here is disturbed and is that a fresh bullet hole?" He pointed to a dint in the dumpster that was silvery in the moonlight from the missing paint.
"It does look fairly recent," Erza agreed, taking a closer look. "We should get Crime Scene down here and let them check it out, see if there are any other signs of a connection between this mystery couple and our shooting. If they were standing here they would have seen the whole thing, maybe even enough to ID the shooter." It seemed like too much to ask for but they could get lucky.
"That would be nice," Gray agreed. "If you go talk to them I will follow the body back to the office. I doubt we will have the autopsy by morning but at least I can get started on the evidence."
"You just want to get the paperwork started so that you can get back to your warm bed," the teasing tone was back and Gray had to smile. "You caught me, not all of us live in downtown high-rise apartments and can live on 4 hours of sleep a night."
"Go ahead then," Erza answered. "I don't think we are going to find out anything else here tonight."
"We might get lucky, you never know," Gray commented as he started walking back towards his car.
"You never know," Erza agreed, but she had the nagging feeling that it was too much to hope for in this case.
So, I know the thing with Mest/Doranbolt is a little weird but we only have one of his real names and to me he will always be "Mest" so I decided to use both, although "Mest Gryder" will play a role later on.