So it's been an absolute chaos lately of balancing my part-time jobs, a ridiculous amount of uni work and a bit of a family crisis, and so when I last weekend sat down to edit this chapter and hated every single word of it I realized quickly that nope, I was NOT in the right headspace to give this the love I wanted and I'd be better off pushing it ahead. Things are still a bit chaos, but I feel like it's the more manageable type of chaos, so things are looking up - even more so once I finish my exams next week! :)
Anyway, I'm glad I waited with the editing because I had so much fun with it now and am giddy to share!
Chapter 13
Sunday, 1.57 PM
Haggar had been doing all this for family.
And wasn't it ironic? How in her quest to escape, to get out and hurt and kill the people who had hurt one of her own, she killed the only person left Keith could still call family.
The revelation echoed in his mind, simmered angrily in his gut as he and Lance walked through the doors to Bandor's recording studio. The room was crowded, three bodyguards near the entrance and Bandor and a producer hunched over the sound board just outside the recording booth.
"–maybe run the last eight bars of the chorus again with that harmony we were talking about and–"
The producer cut the sentence short at the sight of them, shooting an uncertain look to the bodyguards, morphing into a frown as they stood down at the flash of Lance's badge.
"Oh hey," Bandor said, unruffled, a smile even crossing his lips. "Didn't expect to see you so soon. Not that I'm complaining, of course."
Lance ignored the remark entirely, face impassive as he said, "Bandor, we need to talk."
"Is this about Rolo?" His gaze flickered to Keith and back again. "I got the message – it sucks, but I'm glad there's one less scammer out there. And I've got my guys here," he nodded towards the bodyguards, "so that stalker won't get anywhere near me. No need to worry."
"It's not about that." Keith crossed his arms. "We know."
Hesitation, just a moment too long. "Know what?"
Lance nodded towards the producer and the bodyguards. "I think you want to hear the answer in private."
"Okay then." Bandor huffed in amusement, before signaling to the others. Whatever mask had slipped for a second was perfectly in place once more. "Can you give us a minute?"
"Last time we talked, you lied to us" Keith began the second the door closed behind the others. Beating around the bush had never been his style after all, and he sure as hell wouldn't start now. "We know you and Haggar are related."
Bandor scoffed a laugh, as if that would smooth over his previous reaction. As if it hadn't been clear he knew exactly what they were talking about. "That's ridiculous. I think I would know if I was related to a psycho."
"Is it?" Lance narrowed his eyes. "From our research, it's a lot more likely than that fake backstory you and Rolo put out to the world."
"Well, it's the truth." Whatever mirth Bandor had felt about the situation was now gone, a flicker of anger taking its place. "So unless you have any proof, I suggest you–"
"We don't need proof," Keith cut him off. "We've got Haggar's DNA. It'd be just as easy to get yours."
Bandor glanced between them, bristling… then his face fell. His shoulders slumped.
"Tell us the truth, Bandor," Lance said, quieter now.
With a sigh Bandor sank down on the couch stretching along the far wall. Keith and Lance followed.
A beat passed.
"Bandor… is my stage name." Running a hand through his hair, his eyes were steady as he met their gazes. "My real name is Lotor. And Honerva… Honerva is my mother."
Mother.
The word felt absurd just to think in correlation with Haggar's name. But then again, there were a lot of bad mothers – bad parents – out there. Keith didn't have to look further than some of his previous foster parents to prove that.
Bandor – Lotor – swallowed, looking down at his hands. "I hated that place. Hated every minute of it. So, when mo– she was arrested, I saw my chance and got on the first bus out of there. Met Rolo at an open-mic night and he… he gave me the chance to start over: a new name, a new me." His jaw tightened. "I took it and didn't plan on ever looking back."
"Until the past came knocking." Gaze sympathetic, Lance pulled over a chair and sat down opposite Lotor. Keith followed suit.
"I didn't know what to do. She just showed up at my house, like… like nothing had changed. And when she found out about the leaks and the embezzling she got so angry. If she found out I'd– if I'd given her up–" Fear flashed through his eyes. "I just didn't know what to do."
"Hey," Lance caught his gaze, "we're not gonna let her get to you. Alright?"
But maybe we should.
Keith pursed his lips, thinking hard.
"Your mother trusts you," he said. "Doesn't she?"
Lotor frowned. "Well, yeah, I suppose."
"So if you called and asked her to meet up, she would come?"
"Why would I do that? Weren't you listening?"
"Because," Keith looked over at Lance, "we could set a trap. Get her to a place of our choice and take her down. For good this time."
Realization crossed Lance's face. "It'd be dangerous. Really dangerous. But… it could work."
An incredulous laugh pulled their attention back to Lotor, who was looking at them as if they were two steps from the madhouse. "No. No way." He got to his feet, moving a few steps away from them. "I'm not doing it. You have no idea what she's capable of."
Keith barely stopped himself from scoffing. As if he didn't know.
"If she finds out, she'll kill me. She'll kill me, alright? I'm– I'm not–"
"Hey," Lance said again, standing up too, hands out. "I know all this is terrifying, okay? I know confronting her is the last thing you want. But," he took a slow step forward, "you said it yourself. You wanted an out. This is your way out. Do this, and you'll be free of her."
"And if you don't," Keith crossed his arms, "you'll be charged as an accessory to murder."
"What? You can't–"
"We can and we will."
Now it was Lance's turn to turn towards him, the message on his face clear: Not helping. And Keith had to admit, he wasn't. But there was something about the way Lotor talked, the way all the little similarities to Haggar in his face, in his hair, in the way he carried himself now seemed clear as day… and Keith knew it wasn't fair, just as he knew you couldn't choose your blood family.
Still.
He kept quiet however as Lance focused back on Lotor, the two of them now opposite each other. "We want to help you," he said softly. "We want her off the streets as much as you do. But to do that we need your help."
Lotor shook his head.
"We need you." A short pause. Then Lance added, "Bandor."
Something shifted in his eyes then. Something Keith with a start recognized.
The feeling of hearing your own name as if it was the first time. Not the name you were given, but the one you chose for yourself.
"Alright," Bandor said, setting his shoulders. "I'll do it. But not today – I need to wrap up here, and then there's the filming tonight and… I-I need time."
"Oh that's right, Allura told me you're in that movie together!" Smiling, Lance reached out and patted his arm. "That's awesome, man, good luck with that."
An almost-smirk, and with it some of Bandor's usual confident air. "Thanks."
"So tomorrow?"
Bandor glanced over at Keith, hesitating, then nodded. "Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," Lance echoed, sobering once more. "We'll head back to the precinct and finalize strategies with our team, then get back to you with the details. We're gonna call in a police escort for you tonight at set though, just in case. I promise you; we'll do everything to keep you safe through this."
Bandor nodded in reply, but his frown betrayed the way his mind was churning.
:::
4.15 PM
"All set?" Keith asked quietly as Lance joined the small gathering Captain Holt had called for – the two of them, Coran, Matt, and Pidge – in the crime lab.
Lance nodded. "The officers just left for the movie set. I asked Acxa to keep an extra eye on Bandor; make sure he's doing okay. Well, as okay as you can be knowing you're setting your mom up for jail the next day."
Yeah, maybe not something to look forward to. Even if said mom was deranged and didn't deserve anything better.
Captain Holt's voice brought Keith back to attention.
"Thanks to McClain and Kogane's investigation," he said, "we have our best chance yet to capture Haggar. Tomorrow, Bandor will call her to meet up at a time of our choice at his mansion – that way we can keep civilians out of danger and have plenty of space to hide our people."
"And his house is right at the symbolic center of his life," Coran added. "Right where Haggar wants to be."
"Well, she won't be for long." Lance crossed his arms, self-satisfied. "Before she knows what's happening she'll be in our hands."
"Might not be that easy," Matt said, "'cause damn can she seriously wreck shop. But catching her off-guard might just give you an edge."
Keith met Lance's gaze. "We'll have to go there early tomorrow. Scope out the area and check for good ambush points."
As Lance nodded, Pidge frowned thoughtfully. "I could relocate Caller ID to the mansion, in case Haggar traces that. Then Bandor could be here instead, safe, when she comes."
Lance nudged their side. "Good thinking."
"Then we have a plan." Captain Holt met their gazes, one at a time. "I'll prep the SWAT team. And whatever happens… this ends tomorrow."
As the group erupted into resolute nods, words of confirmation and half-ironic "Go team"s (Matt), Keith tried to summon the anger, the determination that had carried him all the way through this case. That just a day ago would have burned brighter at Captain Holt's words.
Tomorrow he would have his justice. Tomorrow it would all be over.
But for the first time he found himself thinking: Then what?
:::
6.40 PM
The shadows were growing longer as Lance navigated them through the myriad of streets between the precinct and Hunk's – well, as Keith knew now, also kind of Lance's – apartment. Maybe it was the faint layer of smog dimming the city along with the falling dusk, maybe the buildings obscuring the pavements and people hurrying along them in their shade, maybe the overcast sky… either way, it felt like the world was reflecting Keith's mood back at him through the car window.
Sunsets had always been more straightforward out in the desert, especially in summer. Brilliant sun, followed by a short time of feet-long drop shadows, colored sky and dark sand… then nothing. Pitch black until the sun rose again the next day. Odessa was similar, only with more streetlights and car beams interrupting the dark.
And the comforting presence of the light from Shiro and Adam's window down the street, as Shiro bustled around doing who knew what into late hours. A light Keith on the bad nights would seek out from his own kitchen window. Sometimes on the good ones too.
Guess he'd have to stop that now.
"Hey. Mullet."
Breaking his gaze away from the blur of roads and buildings, Keith turned to face Lance, who was tapping his fingers gently against the steering wheel.
"What you brooding about?"
Unable to summon the energy to roll his eyes, Keith focused back on the passing streets. "I'm not brooding."
"Really? 'Cause I wouldn't blame you if you were." When Keith didn't respond Lance let out a quiet sigh. "Come on, man. I thought we bonded."
The corners of Keith's lips twitched at that, because yeah. He guessed they, somehow, impossibly, had. That didn't stop him from a self- and Lance-deprecating, "You mean us sharing our sob-stories?"
"Isn't that what bonding is all about? Laughing together, crying together… taking down sociopathic murderers in a million-dollar mansion together." Something must have passed across Keith's face, because Lance winced. "Shit, sorry. That was a joke. But I guess that's what you were thinking about, huh?"
It hadn't been, not really, but it felt far easier to blame the knot in his stomach on.
"Yeah, me too," Lance admitted quietly at Keith's shrug. "Honestly don't know if I'll sleep tonight. But we got this – not even Haggar can stand up to a whole team of us, right?"
Keith pursed his lips. "Right."
"You know what we should do," and the shift in Lance's tone could give anyone emotional whiplash, "after everything's done we should get some food, some drinks and get the whole case gang together – Hunk and Allura count since they technically helped us – and celebrate a little, you know? For cracking the case and sending Haggar back to jail for at least another– How long was she in?"
"Twelve years."
Lance whistled. "Damn, that long? I mean, not long enough obviously, but still… wouldn't that make Bandor, like, eighteen or something when she got arrested?"
"I guess."
"Huh. Guess he really did get out at the last minute. Anyway, we don't need to do anything big, but–"
Lance continued to talk, but Keith was no longer paying attention, his thoughts on the arrest report. The report he had read a hundred times, knew every little detail of, but with everything they knew now… it all shone in a completely new light.
"She confessed," he cut Lance off. "She wasn't arrested; she turned herself in. Why would she do that if she had a kid at home?"
"Well, I guess he wasn't technically a kid, but… yeah, that's weird." Lance was frowning now too. "And like Coran said: stabbing someone to death like that doesn't fit her either."
Keith leaned forward. Mouth dry. Thoughts moving too fast. "It doesn't. But do you remember the victim? It was her husband Zarkon… Bandor's father. He lost both his parents at once."
"Shit, you're right." Lance's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "So you're saying Haggar, like, killed him for Bandor? Just like she believes she's killing other people for him now?"
"No. I'm saying she took the fall."
Even from a side view, Keith could see the color drain from Lance's face. "You're kidding."
"It makes sense. The confession, the skipping town, the name change…"
"The embezzlement," Lance breathed. "We didn't know how Haggar found out. But if Bandor actually killed his dad back then, who's to say he didn't tell Haggar about it? That he didn't want her to go after Rolo?"
Like an attack dog. Maybe not for the first time.
Shit, what if Bandor had known about Sendak and Nyma too? If he had been involved in Haggar's attacks on both of them?
It could just be theories, could just be a leap to conclusions, but–
Keith clenched his jaw. "I think we need to have another talk with Bandor."
"Agreed." Reaching into his jacket pocket, Lance unlocked his phone and handed it over. "Call Acxa and tell her to bring Bandor in to the station. I'll try to find a good place to turn around."
Keith didn't bother answering, only found the number. Put the phone to his ear.
A signal went out. Two.
"Hi, McClain. Everything running smoothly here – next scene about to start shoot–"
"It's not him, it's Marshal Kogane. And this isn't a check-in. We need you to bring Bandor in to the station. Tell him it's routine questions for tomorrow or something," he added at Lance's look. "Just get him there and don't let him catch on something's up."
Acxa to her credit didn't hesitate, didn't question, her voice firm as she responded, "After they wrap up the scene, I'll head in. He won't– Hold on a second, Marshal. Something's up at the back door."
Footsteps – Acxa heading towards the back door, presumably – echoed from the other end and Lance caught Keith's gaze with a mimed 'What's happening?'. Keith shrugged. He had no idea, but he didn't like it.
Acxa pulled in a breath. "Marshal, it's–"
Her voice was drowned out by machine gun fire.
Automatically he pulled the phone away from his ear, the explosions still loud enough to screech through the speakers.
Glass shattering.
Something heavy falling. Crashing.
Screaming.
Then the line went dead.
Heart pounding, Keith turned around to look at Lance, who clearly had heard the last part too. "Allura," he said. "She's there."
Without another word he flipped on the sirens, cars diving out of their way as they wheeled around in a sharp U-turn.
:::
7.01 PM
The car barely came to a stop outside the movie studio before Lance was out and running, gun in hand and the same words that had repeated in his mind the whole ten-minute drive increasing in fervor: please don't be too late, please don't be too late, please–
He paused outside the front doors opposite Keith, the same apprehension reflected at him. The Marshal's hands around his own weapon were steady though, his nod firm as he readied himself. Lance took a breath, letting Keith's presence ground him for a moment, before nodding back.
They burst in at the same time.
And were met with silence.
Lance swallowed, hands on the grip tightening as his eyes darted around the room. To the camera lights, broken and mangled, sparks buzzing as they flickered. In, out. In, out. To the greenscreen, a jagged hole in its middle like the mouth of a shark. To the patches on the dark floor, looking suspiciously like…
Blood. That was blood.
What the hell happened?
"Lance."
Not daring to breathe, Lance looked in the direction Keith was pointing. At the slumped figure on the floor a few feet away. The mantra in his head now singing a different song: Not Allura. Not Allura.
Shameful relief mixed with worry as he got closer.
"Acxa," he said, taking her shoulder and rolling her onto her back. Pressed his free hand against the wound sluggishly dying the front of her uniform red. "Acxa, can you hear me?"
A quiet groan. Then dark-blue eyes, slitted, unfocused, finally found him.
"Hey. There you go. They really got you good, huh? But you'll be fine, emergency people are on the way and–"
A shuffling sound cut his rambling short, his whole body tensing as he searched the gloominess. Keith, standing watch above them, met his gaze briefly before creeping in its direction.
Acxa's hand closed around his wrist, sudden clarity in her eyes. "Haggar," she whispered. Voice barely carrying.
If he wasn't so tense – or maybe because he was – he would have laughed. "Yeah. Figured as much when the shooting started. Is she still here?"
Acxa shook her head, wincing at the movement. "The airport," she said. "She was working with… with Bandor. But…"
"But what?" he prompted, eyes flickering across the room again. No mullet in sight anywhere. "Keith? You still alive?"
"H-he said," Acxa bit back another moan as Lance pushed down on the wound again – the bleeding was increasing, dios, why was it increasing, "his name was… Lotor?"
Guess that meant good and bad news. The good: No crazy killer lurking about just waiting to blow their brains out. The bad: Haggar and Bandor – Lotor – were likely trying to escape the country. Which meant their theory about him was probably close to the truth.
Lance took another breath through his nose. The wail of approaching sirens barely registering through the fog in his mind. "Keith?" he called again. "Keith!"
And he appeared in the dusk, face pale but otherwise very much alive. "Other injured. Officers and movie people," he said as he walked over. "Some dead."
"Allura?" he asked, dread encircling his throat like a vise.
But Keith wasn't the one who responded.
"They… took her," Acxa said. "As leverage. I… I tried to–"
Motion and sound exploded around them as paramedics and police ran through the doors. Three of them crouched down next to him and Acxa and someone moved him aside to give them space to work but he couldn't focus on their faces because– because–
'Oh that's right, Allura told me you're in that movie together! That's awesome, man, good luck with that.'
Because he told him. He told him they knew each other.
In a daze, his attention drifted to Keith. On the grim set to his jaw. The storm brewing in his eyes.
"They have a fifteen-minute head start," Keith said. "Let's go."
