Two days later
Tuesday
Safehouse A
"Is it working?" I asked Marty.
"It just came online a few minutes ago!" Marty replied.
The tracker that we had inserted into Miranda's suit, while she had been unconscious, had just activated itself after the required delay.
I hadn't anticipated that we would be attacked at the CPD warehouse and I had had to apologise to Voight, for destroying part of his warehouse. He had just laughed and told me not to worry, a wall could be rebuilt, whereas people could not.
Four days later
Thursday
West Ridge
"She's gonna have to die, Dave."
"I know."
"Could you do it...? Considering..."
"Yes, I could! She is not my Miranda... My Miranda died, a year ago..."
"Dave, I'm really sorry that you've been put in this position, it really fucking sucks!"
That afternoon
West Ridge
"Hi!"
This was gonna be awkward; especially considering recent revelations! I could see that Dave was in an emotionless state, but I knew that Dave could snap his friend in half, in an instant! Personally, I felt like doing that, but it wasn't my fight; it had been Dave's Dad and he was Dave's friend. Yes, I felt kinda responsible for his Dad's death, but right now, I knew better than to rekindle that argument!
Marty was standing beside Todd, who understandably looked a little apprehensive. Marty had met him at the train station and on the way back had told Todd that Dave and he had recently found out about his past duplicity.
"Hi Todd, I..." Dave started.
"Look Dave, I've been wanting to say that I'm sorry for so damn long. That's why I've been avoiding you guys, since that night at the warehouse. I know that I was responsible for your Dad's death, Dave. I never realised how fucking whacked out Chris D'Amico really was, until that night..." Todd tried to explain.
"Don't Todd, you – you were taken in, just like many others - by that bastard: Chris D'Amico – we didn't exactly help either – we kinda pushed you away and we're sorry for that!" Dave said. "But you came through and helped us in the end and that's what matters. Over the past year, I've learnt that allies are few, but enemies are many and we all make mistakes. If I had never put on that damn wetsuit, Dad would never have got involved – I can't blame anybody else. Just as I feel responsible for the death of Mindy's father, but she doesn't hold me responsible; we've moved past that."
"Thanks, Dave."
"I had a chance to save Dave's Dad, but I refused to help Dave, in his time of need. This was despite the fact that he had selflessly helped me, in my time of need, years ago. We make decisions and have to live with them. Chris D'Amico was evil, just like his father and he was skilled at spreading his evil. We all need to look forward, never backward and learn from our mistakes." Mindy said, looking at Dave sadly.
"I'm moving on Todd; you comin' with me?" I asked with a grin.
"Hell yeah!"
That evening
D-JAK
I had finally found the place.
I was still getting used to driving around Chicago and learning the streets. My parents had persuaded me to learn some self-defence, as part of the deal for allowing me to go to university in Chicago. I should have started university way back in August, but things happened and I was now starting in January. It also kinda sucked that I knew nobody in Chicago.
I looked up at the sign, above the door. This place seemed to have a good rep, despite only having been open a few weeks, but more importantly they offered discounts to University of Chicago students. I pushed open the door and walked in, it was quite busy inside. I could see a class with young kids, most with white belts, underway to one side. They were currently watching a pair of older kids, a boy and a girl, demonstrate some Taekwondo movements – both kids had blue belts. I noticed that the lady at the reception desk was busy with somebody else, so I watched the class while I waited.
"Megan, leave Curtis alone! I won't tell you again, pay attention!" A female voice called and it was a voice that I vaguely recognised.
There was something familiar about the two instructors too, but just then a boy came up to me.
"Can I help, I'm Kyle!"
He was dressed in a white Taekwondo-gi, with a yellow belt.
"You normally help walk-ins?" I asked.
"When they are as hot as you, yeah!"
I tried not to react to the compliment, but felt myself blushing anyway!
"What are you, fourteen?"
"Nearly fifteen!"
"Bit young for me!" I said.
"Worth a try! Anyway here's Paige; she'll help you!" Kyle said, then walked off with a smile.
The lady from the reception desk had appeared while I had been 'chatting' with Kyle.
"Hi, I'm Paige, how can I help?"
"I'm looking to join, I think," I replied.
"No problem... Hold on! Curtis, hands off my daughter! Cameron, Tommy – pay attention to the class! Sorry... Those four can be trouble! Come over to the desk and I'll get you enrolled."
"Thanks!" I replied.
"Mindy, over there, is our senior instructor and usually takes the self-protection classes for the women," Paige explained.
Something clicked in my mind.
"Mindy Macready?" I asked.
"Yeah, you know her?" Paige asked and I saw a guarded look in her eyes.
"We were at the same high school, in New York. That must mean that the other guy is Dave Lizewski! Damn; I always knew those two were right for each other!" I said. "My name's..."
"Erika? Erika Cho?" I turned to find myself face to face, with Dave.
"Yeah - wow Dave, you look really good – put on a bit of muscle, too!" I said without thinking – he did look kind of hot.
"You look very good, too, Erika!"
"And I'm his fiancée! And yes, we are fucking!" Mindy said, appearing behind Dave and scowling at Erika.
"Tension, people, let's ease that tension!" Paige advised.
"Sorry, just staking my claim!" Mindy said and held out her hand to me and I shook it.
"Erika. We never really met, but I know I said some things that I now regret!" I said.
"I did get to hear what happened in the corridor that day and in Dave's defence, he wasn't fucking a ninth-grader - at least not then!" Mindy said, with a smirk.
"So, you all know each other?" Paige asked.
"I've known Erika, since before I met Mindy. She used to be Marty's chew toy!" Dave explained with a grin.
"Oh, that should prove interesting!" Mindy commented.
"Why?" I asked.
"Marty lives in Chicago, too! He attends the University of Chicago," Dave explained.
"Oh, cool! Me, too. I thought that I wouldn't know anybody in Chicago!"
"He's all but engaged to an ex-Chicago Cop!" Mindy added.
"Oh, I see! We were only together for just over a year. You guys seemed to all but vanish around the time that Motherfucker shit blew up in New York!" I said and saw a few exchanged glances and smirks, between Dave and Mindy.
"It'll be good having you here, Erika. We'll have to get you over one evening, for a meal. I'll get Marty over, would be a nice surprise for him – and Kim!" Mindy said, with an evil smirk.