UNDERCOVER BELLA
Chapter 4
Beca woke four hours after having gone to sleep. She wasn't surprised since she had had a somewhat restless night. She sat up in bed and rubbed her face with both hands. She then sighed and got up to start her day.
Beca walked into the bullpen at seven-thirty and was surprised to see Chloe and Sergeant Posen sitting together at Chloe's desk.
"Good morning, Beca," Chloe said as Beca sat at her desk. "You're here early. Is everything okay?"
"Good morning, Chloe, Sergeant," Beca said, acknowledging them both. "Everything's good. I had a lot on my mind and couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd come in and talk to Lily about the, um-."
Beca stopped when she noticed Sergeant Posen staring at her.
"Are you worried about the DNA test results?" Aubrey asked. "Chloe told me about the DNA belonging to your brother."
"Stepbrother," Beca corrected.
"Stepbrother," Aubrey repeated. "Riiight."
"Brey," Chloe whispered. "Don't."
"I'm not doing anything," Aubrey said.
Beca cleared her throat, and Chloe looked at her. "Do you know what time Lily gets in?"
Chloe checked the time and said, "She's probably in her office now."
Beca nodded and picked up the DNA test results. "I'm, uh, I'm just going to go see if she has anything else for us."
"Wait!" Chloe said, standing. "I'll go with you. Give me five minutes?"
Beca nodded again and sat down. Chloe sat down and looked at Aubrey
"Now's your chance," Chloe whispered. "Tell her before we get too busy."
"No," Aubrey said.
"Brey, you have to," Chloe said. "If you don't, the Captain won't let you come back. Don't you want to come back?"
"Fine," Aubrey said, looking over at Beca.
Beca watched the exchange between Chloe and Aubrey and quickly looked away when Aubrey looked at her. The next thing she knew, Aubrey was standing in front of her desk, looking down at her.
"Did you need something, Sergeant?" Beca asked, looking up at her.
Aubrey put both hands on Beca's desk and leaned in. "Apparently, I need to apologize to you."
"But you don't want to," Beca said. "Do you?"
Aubrey straightened her stance and breathed in through her nose. She reached out and grabbed Beca by the shirt, pulling her up and forward until they were practically nose-to-nose.
"Brey!" Chloe called out as she jumped up.
"Sergeant Posen, my office," Captain Adams yelled from the doorway. "Now!"
All three detectives jerked their heads around to stare at the captain. Then, Aubrey turned her head back to stare at Beca.
Beca leaned back slightly to look down at her shirt bunched in Aubrey's hand. She then looked Aubrey in the eye with a raised eyebrow, saying, "Do you mind?"
"I know what you did, and I'm watching you," Aubrey said through clenched teeth as she released Beca's shirt, giving her a shove as she did.
As Aubrey walked away, Beca smoothed down her shirt and called out, "I am so looking forward to hearing that apology, Sergeant."
Aubrey stopped mid-stride and rolled her shoulders; she then proceeded to stomp out of the bullpen.
Chloe sighed as she watched Aubrey leave. She turned to Beca, asking, "Are you okay?"
"You should probably ask Posen that," Beca said, walking over to Chloe. "What is her problem anyway? I know what you did, and I'm watching you," Beca mimicked. "What the hell does that mean? I swear she's had it out for me from the minute I walked in the door."
"She's going through…something," Chloe said.
"Who isn't?" Beca asked. "I don't understand why she's taking it out on me; she doesn't even know me. And, after that little interaction, it appears she doesn't seem to want to get to know me either."
"It's...complicated," Chloe said.
"Oh, great," Beca said. "Thanks for clearing that up."
"Beca," Chloe said, then stopped and looked at Beca.
"I'm going to talk to Lily," Beca said, moving toward the door.
Beca was almost out the door before realizing Chloe hadn't moved. She turned, asking, "Are you still coming or what?"
~~ Undercover Bella ~~
Aubrey hurried to catch up with the captain. She caught her at her office door and stepped in, stopping a few feet inside. She turned to face the captain to find her with her back to the closed door and her hand still on the doorknob.
"I thought we had an agreement, sergeant," Captain Adams said, sighing before she walked behind her desk. "What I just witnessed between you and Mitchell did NOT look like an apology. What is going on with you?"
"She betrayed three of her fellow officers and got them killed," Aubrey said. "I can't just act as if I'm okay with that."
"You don't know the whole story of what happened," Captain Adams said. "Or even what Mitchell's involvement entailed."
"I heard everything from my cousin, who worked at the 12th when it happened," Aubrey said.
"Who is your cousin?" the captain asked.
"Madison Posen," Aubrey responded.
"I don't know what your cousin, Madison, told you," the captain said. "But she lied if she said Mitchell was at fault."
"Why would she lie to me about it?"
"Maybe because she was involved in what Mitchell uncovered," Captain Adams said.
"What?!" Aubrey gasped.
~~ Undercover Bella ~~
Beca didn't speak to Chloe as they made their way to the elevators to go down to the morgue.
"I'm sorry about Aubrey," Chloe said as they stopped at the elevator.
"Why do you always do that?" Beca asked, clearly frustrated, as she pressed the button to call the elevator.
"Always do what?" Chloe asked as they stepped onto the elevator.
"Apologize for Sergeant Posen," Beca said as Chloe pressed the button for the morgue. "Either that or you explain her actions away by saying it's complicated. Does she ever take any responsibility for her actions, or does she just let you explain everything away for her?"
"That's not fair, Beca," Chloe whined, turning to look at Beca as she spoke. "You don't even know her."
"She doesn't know me either," Beca said. "But it didn't stop her from making assumptions about me before she even met me. Does that seem fair to you?"
Chloe opened her mouth to respond but stopped when Beca put her hand up.
"Never mind. I already know what you're going to say; it's complicated."
Chloe didn't get a chance to respond as the elevator doors opened; Beca stepped off, quickly making her way to the morgue. Chloe slowly followed behind her.
Beca reached the doors to the morgue and stopped. She took a deep breath and turned to wait for Chloe to reach her.
"I'm sorry," Beca said as soon as Chloe was in front of her. "Between this case and Jesse hassling me about-" Beca stopped and sighed. "Jesse hassling me about someone I'm related to being a murderer, and now having to deal with Posen, I'm frustrated and took it out on you. It was wrong of me, and I am sorry."
"I appreciate that," Chloe said. "Can we forget about that for now and see if Lily has anything more for us on our case?"
Beca turned and opened the door.
"After you," she said, waving Chloe in.
"Detectives, I'm glad you're here," Lily said when she saw them. "I was just going to call you."
"What have you got for us, Lily?" Chloe asked.
"We got the DNA results from the cigarette butt found at the last murder scene," Lily said.
"Did you get a hit?" Beca asked; Lily nodded. "Whose DNA is it?"
Lily picked up a file and double-checked the results.
"The sample is from a woman named Emily Junk," Lily said. "She's in the database because she was arrested two years ago for the destruction of private property. It also seems Ms. Junk is related to Lori Junk, our second victim."
"Emily Junk is the woman who wants to talk to me," Beca said, looking at Chloe.
"It's not surprising," Chloe said. "She told you she's trying to get some women off the streets. I'd be more surprised if we didn't find her DNA somewhere nearby."
"You're right," Beca said. "Can we go back to the bullpen? I want to look up her police record to know who I'm dealing with. And then we can discuss what I should say to her when I meet with her."
"That's a good idea," Chloe said, looking at her watch. "Jesse should be in by now, and we can bring him up to speed on the DNA results and figure out our next move." Chloe looked at Lily, asking, "Did you have any other results for us?"
"Nothing that pertains to the case," Lily said. "I'm sorry some of these tests are taking so long, but we are working with a reduced staff at the lab."
"We understand," Chloe said.
"Thanks, Lily," Beca said as she and Chloe left the morgue.
~~ Undercover Bella ~~
Jesse was waiting for Beca and Chloe when they returned.
"Beca," Jesse called out as soon as he saw Beca.
He stood, waving Beca over to him. Beca quickly shifted to go over to him.
"What?" Beca asked as soon as she was in front of him.
"Sergeant Posen apologized to me," Jesse said excitedly. "She said she was going to find you. I think she wants to apologize to you, too."
"Only because she was ordered to," Beca said, turning toward her desk. "I have a report to look up while Chloe fills you in on the latest info we got from Lily."
"Oh," Jesse said and hurried over to Chloe's desk.
Beca went to her desk and pulled Emily Junk's police report. She read it while Chloe filled Jesse in on the DNA results that Lily shared with them.
"So, are we adding Luke as a suspect?" Beca heard Jesse ask.
"Not yet," Chloe said. "All we have on him is that he had safe sex near the crime scene. Since it was with the girl who was murdered, we'll definitely keep an eye on him, though. And maybe we'll learn something when Beca and I interview him on Sunday."
"Sounds good," Jesse said.
Beca stood and looked at Jesse. She had expected him to start spouting off about how her stepbrother was a serial killer. She mentally shook her head and walked over to Chloe's desk.
"Now that you two are finished with that," Beca said. "What about Emily Junk? How do you think I should play it with her?"
"What did her police report tell you?" Chloe asked.
"She apparently was involved in a protest two years ago," Beca said. "The police were called when some of the protesters threw rocks through some windows. Junk was arrested and booked along with several others. All of them now have their DNA and fingerprints in the database. Junk spent a couple of days in jail before her sister posted her bail. Two days later, Emily's lawyer got her case dismissed for lack of evidence."
"I suggest you hear what she has to say, and we'll talk about it when you get back," Chloe said. "Okay?"
"I can do that," Beca said, nodding her head.
"We should have Beca wear a body camera," Jesse said. "That way, we can watch to make sure this Junk woman isn't leading Beca into some kind of trap or something."
"I hadn't even thought about that," Chloe said, looking at Beca. "I think it's a good idea, Beca. Jesse and I can sit in a car nearby and watch everything to make sure you stay safe."
Beca looked at Chloe and shrugged.
"It couldn't hurt," Beca said. "I know you expected her DNA to be found around the hookers, but if she is somehow involved with the murders, we could use the recording as evidence. I hate to admit it, but I agree with Jesse on this."
"Oh, wow!" Jesse said, chuckling. "Did THE Beca Mitchell just say she agrees with me? Looks like Christmas came early for me."
"Hardy-har-har," Beca said, smiling at Jesse.
~~ Undercover Bella ~~
It was almost ten when Beca went over and sat at Chloe's desk.
"Can you help me with the body cam?" Beca asked quietly while looking around the room. "We need to leave no later than 10:30 to get me to the coffee shop to meet Emily Junk."
"I'll get Jesse-"
"No," Beca said quickly, checking to make sure no one was paying attention to them. "Just you. I want to talk to you, and I don't want Jesse around to hear it."
"Oh, okay," Chloe said, looking over at Jesse before standing. "I want to grab some coffee before we get you ready to meet Miss Junk. Beca, care to go with me?"
"Um, sure," Beca said.
The two left the bullpen and went straight to the tech unit to get Beca ready. Chloe grabbed a gold cross necklace and a laptop from the officer on duty.
"Thank you," Chloe said to the officer. "Come on, Beca, follow me."
Beca followed Chloe to a small room. Chloe set the necklace and laptop on a table and sat down.
"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"I really want to know what Sergeant Posen's deal is," Beca said.
Chloe stared at Beca, then sighed and said, "She was involved in a shooting that messed her up."
"What happened?"
"It was about six months ago," Chloe said. "We were involved in a foot chase with a murder suspect. Brey and I were gaining on him, and he ran around a house and into the backyard. He continued running and ran toward the fence that stretched across the backyard and led into a park. Aubrey yelled for him to stop, but he jumped the fence and turned, pointing a gun at us. Aubrey, I, and the guy all fired. Apparently, my bullet hit the guy, and he went down, firing his gun again as he did. We both hopped over the fence and ran over to him. That's when we heard someone yelling and crying. We looked over to our right to see a woman holding a young girl in her arms."
"Did you or Posen shoot the kid?" Beca asked.
"The angle I shot from wasn't consistent with where the girl was located," Chloe said. "But Aubrey was, and she spent two weeks believing it was her bullet that hit the girl since the crime scene guys couldn't find it anywhere. She wasn't in a good place and spiraled more when we found out the little girl had died two days after the shooting."
"Oh, man," Beca said.
"When the ballistics report finally came back, it showed that the suspect fired the bullet that killed the little girl. The ballistics team assumed it was the bullet he fired as he was falling. Since our body cams showed the entire incident, the Internal Affairs' shooting review board cleared both of us of any wrongdoing involving the little girl's death. But it still messed with Aubrey's head after spending two weeks thinking her bullet had killed the little girl."
"Wow, that would fuck anyone up," Beca said. "Was she here this morning because she's coming back to work?"
"Not yet," Chloe said. "She went to see a psychologist, and the first thing they told her she had to do was to apologize to the Captain for her behavior. She did, and the Captain told her to apologize to all of us detectives because of how difficult she's been toward us. If she did that, then they'd call it square and would discuss when she could come back."
"I'm assuming she's already apologized to you," Beca said, picking up the necklace Choe had placed on the table.
"She did," Chloe said. "And she told me she apologized to everyone but you and Jesse."
"So, why didn't she apologize to me this morning?" Beca said. "What is it about me that pisses her off so badly?"
Chloe didn't respond as she took the necklace from Beca.
"Let's set up the camera," Chloe said.
"Are you going to answer my question?" Beca asked.
Chloe looked at her and sighed again.
"Brey, um, heard some rumors about you, and I guess she has her mind set on you being that person."
"Those fucking rumors are why I took the detective position here instead of my old station," Beca mumbled.
She ran a hand through her hair and looked at Chloe. Chloe was looking down at the necklace and inputting something into the laptop. Beca watched Chloe work, and suddenly the laptop's screen came to life, showing Chloe's jean-clad legs.
"See this stone?" Chloe asked, holding up the necklace and pointing to a red stone in the center of the cross.
Beca nodded.
"That's the camera."
"Really?" Beca asked, looking closely at the necklace. She could see her face on the laptop and grimaced.
"So, do I have to do anything special for it to work?"
Chloe turned the cross over, and the monitor went black. She showed Beca a small button.
"When you're ready, you just press this, and it comes on. Everything you see will automatically upload a live feed to this computer. Jesse and I will watch from the car, and we can get to you quickly if needed."
Chloe pressed the button to turn off the camera.
"Okay," Beca said and pulled her hair up so Chloe could hook the necklace around her neck.
"Okay, you're good to go," Chloe said. "We should grab some coffee for Jesse and me. Then we can get you to the coffee shop, and we can get situated."
"Um, before we go," Beca said. "I was wondering if you would want to get a drink some night after work. Just you and me so that we can talk privately."
"I'd like that," Chloe said. "I can't do it tonight because I have a standing best friend's night with Aubrey on Fridays. Are you busy tomorrow? I know a quiet place where we can get a drink and talk. Maybe even get something to eat."
"You don't want me on the streets tonight or tomorrow night?"
"I don't think you need to be," Chloe responded. "If the killer keeps to his routine, we have a few weeks before he'll kill again. Let's take the weekend off and plan to be out every night next week to get the working girls comfortable around you. Maybe they know something that could help us, and we can catch this guy before he has a chance to kill again."
Chloe closed the laptop and stood as she picked it up. Beca stood as well.
"Okay," Beca said. "I'm good to go for that drink tomorrow. Just text me the time and place to meet you, and I'll be there."
"Okay," Chloe said, smiling. "It's a date."
Beca smiled and said, "Definitely."
~~ Undercover Bella ~~
Jesse parked the car half a block from the coffee shop and turned to look at Beca in the backseat.
"We'll be able to see everything you see," he said. "But, if you need us to come in, just use the safe word, and we can be there in less than 30 seconds."
"Turn the camera on, Beca," Chloe said as she opened the laptop. "I want to make sure everything's still working."
"Okay," Beca said, pulling the necklace from under her shirt.
Beca pressed the button on the necklace and let it fall to her chest.
"How's that?"
"Perfect," Chloe said, looking over her shoulder at Beca. "You should go in. Emily will be here soon."
"Okay," Beca said, opening the car door.
"Wait," Jesse said. "Give me your badge and gun. We don't want Emily to know you're a cop, at least not yet."
"Good call," Chloe said as Beca handed over her badge and gun.
Beca exited the car and made her way to the coffee shop. She was just about to enter when her phone pinged with a text. She stepped to the side of the door and looked at her phone.
Chloe: Stop playing with your necklace; we can't see anything with your hand blocking it
Beca looked around, and Chloe waved at her from the car.
Sorry, Beca texted back
Beca put her phone back in her pocket and went inside the coffee shop. She looked around and didn't see Emily, so she got a table and ordered a coffee from the waitress.
After a few minutes had passed and no Emily, Beca checked the time on her phone.
Suddenly, there was a flurry of activity at the door, causing Beca to look over. She stood when she saw Emily walk in with a man close behind her. Emily looked around and smiled when she saw Beca.
"Hey," Emily said as she hurried over to Beca. "Sorry, we're late. We had a small disagreement on whether Chicago should come with me."
"Who?" Beca asked.
"Oh, sorry," Emily said. "Where are my manners? This is Chicago Walp, my boyfriend. Chicago, this is, um. I'm sorry I never got your name."
"It's, uh, Becky," Beca said. "Becky Brown."
"It's nice to meet you, Miss Brown," Chicago said, looking Beca up and down.
Beca grimaced when she saw Chicago checking her out.
Meanwhile, Jesse and Chloe kept their eyes on the laptop in the car.
"Is that guy checking Beca out?" Chloe asked, her brow furrowed as she watched.
"Looks like it," Jesse said, trying to hide his smile at Chloe's obvious jealousy. "We need to check him out. He and the Junk woman might be involved in the murders."
"Maybe," Chloe said. "We'll run his name through the database when we get back to the station."
Inside the coffee shop, Emily and Chicago both ordered coffee. Beca waits until the waitress has left the table before turning to Emily.
"So, um," Beca said. "You wanted to talk to me."
"Yeah," Emily said, putting a lock of hair behind her ear. "As I mentioned the other night, my sister was working the streets and was murdered. I've been keeping tabs on other murders that appear similar to hers, and I've found four so far, all involving prostitutes."
"Okay," Beca said. "So what does all this have to do with me?"
"You look a lot like Lori and those other girls that have been murdered," Chicago said. "They were all petite brunettes that worked the streets. Emily wants to make sure that no other girl is killed, so she talks to them and looks for ways to help get them off the streets and maybe save them from meeting the same fate as her sister."
"I appreciate that," Beca said. "But I can't find a job doing anything else. And I need whatever I can earn on the streets to pay my rent and buy food."
"You could deliver newspapers or work at McDonald's," Chicago said. "Anything would be better than being a whore."
"Chicago!" Emily cried, jumping up and grabbing Chicago's arm to make him stand.
Beca was shocked and sat there, unable to speak. Emily started pushing Chicago toward the door.
"Just go," Emily said as she pushed him. "You promised. . . "
Chicago turned and raised his arm as if to slap Emily. Beca stood as soon as she saw Chicago's arm go back. And just as Emily flinched away, Beca grabbed Chicago's arm, twisted it behind his back, and shoved him facedown onto the table. Chicago struggled to get out of Beca's grip.
"Get off me, you whore!" Chicago yelled.
~~ Undercover Bella ~~
"Chloe, wait!" Jesse cried as Chloe jumped out of the car and ran toward the diner.
Jesse caught up to Chloe just as she opened the door. They both entered but stopped when Beca looked at them and shook her head.
"I'm good," Beca mouthed.
Jesse nodded slightly, took Chloe's arm, and walked with her to a table on the other side of the coffee shop.
Beca leaned down over Chicago and quietly said, "If I ever see you raise your hand to another woman again, I will cut off your balls and shove them down your throat. Do you understand?"
Chicago struggled a bit, and Beca pulled up on his arm, causing him to cry out in pain.
"I said, do you understand?"
Chicago looked over his shoulder and nodded his head, saying, "I understand."
"Good," Beca said as she released the man's arm. "Now, I suggest you leave."
Chicago stood, rubbing his shoulder and glaring at Beca. He turned to Emily.
"Let's go, Em," Chicago said and started for the door.
"I think I'm going to stay and finish my talk with Becky," Emily said.
Chicago pulled open the door and stomped off.