ACT VII

I, Elisa Maza, was privy to abuse and murder by police officers, but not my mentor's part in such a plague.

Selwyn Baker shot his wife to death. My career was based on a falsehood. But I needed to compose myself in order to bolster my trainee's conformity. Being in love with Jason kept me grounded.

"Bartering isn't one of my strengths," he said while driving.

"What do…oh, I'm sorry." I tucked his phone into his jacket pocket.

"Is it intrusive to ask what you found?" He fairly asked.

"A lie," I loathed being vague. "Pull over."

After stopping, we walked into a small park populated by animals and swaying branches. Its atmosphere reminded me of my Brazilian Rain Forest adventure alongside Angela, Bronx and Goliath. They weren't here but Conover was. I explained my history with Selwyn, the confession and his opinion of Jason.

"What...what are you gonna do?" He seemed flustered, couldn't blame him.

Return to Avalon and help protect an endangered species. Marry Jason to fulfill my fantasy of being a wife and mother. Walk the Earth like Caine from Kung Fu; hell, all of the above?

"Quit this stupid job. Selwyn was actually right about my secrets, my hiding things. In five minutes the bastard defined my entire career!" I sat on a bench.

"You're an astounding woman with colleagues, family, friends, even a mentor." Jason sat beside me

"Not a good mentor. He's a confessed murderer," I tossed up my hands in continued disgust.

"If he did the crime, he'll do the time," Jason emphasized with a karate chop in the air. "Do you have an urge to go down the same road?"

"Nope. It's not in me."

"Right. So it looks like Baker never taught you to be good. You already are. He taught you how to not be evil." He rested his right hand on my back.

"Tessie's gone forever," I noted.

"We'll mourn her death. But Elisa, we can't possibly fix this broken world," Jason assured. "We're better served to shape it by helping people."

Jason was right. Fresh in my memory was reviving Angela over two hours ago.

"You figured me out in two days, eh temp?" My left hand suspended midair before it patted his lap.

"Maybe I'm adept at stating the obvious," Jason answered. We stood and I hugged him around the waist. After a second, he returned the hug. "Hey, everything is going to be all right. You'll see."

"I'm delighted that you're here." I stood on my toes, brushed my lips across his right cheek and whispered, "thank you."

Jason's lovely face turned as red as my car. I didn't give two shits if Margot Yale, TMZ and Pope Francis saw me do that. But clearly it was time to return to work.

We were busier than before. We tracked down an abusive john and scared straight a juvenile shoplifter. I also worked on this difficult DI-7 case because the culprit was Demona. Busting her human form at Nightstone Industries wasn't an option. I also ached to arrest Xanatos but his flunky's statement had credence.

It was a dark night upon returning to the Twenty-Third. I called and texted Bluestone for his intel on the Hunters. Jason separated from me to run a quick errand, perfectly timed for me to check on Angela's recovery.

"Goliath? Angela? Anybody?" I called out to an empty sanctuary then sharply exhaled. "Terrific."

A strong chance that Angela healed and was going to demolish the Hunters; there was a very possible charge of possession of unregistered weapons against them. I was ridiculously tired, yet not particularly sleepy. Following clock out, Jason jogged up to me on the street.

"Any word on your friend?" He referenced Angela

"I think a good night's sleep helped," another fabrication.

"And are you all right?" Jason touched my shoulder.

"Sure. Don't worry about me," I detached myself from his grip, opened my car's door and refused to appear weak. "I'm a rock."

"Okay, well, see you later." Jason moseyed away, hands in pockets, disappointment in those five words.

"Hey! You want to have dinner?" I asked a few seconds after reaching out. It was unjust to dismiss the man who helped me. I was taking him home.

"You have a favorite place in particular?" He read my mind.

The silent drive went almost exactly how he first sat in my car, with our gestures and glances. We pulled up to my apartment complex.

"That's a big-ass restaurant," Jason deduced.

"That is my residence, dope," I admonished.

We interlocked arms 'til we entered my spacious apartment.

"Hope you don't mind. I just wasn't up to a crowded restaurant," I said while Jason closed the door.

"Not a problem, believe me," he responded.

"Besides, I've got one of the best stocked refrigerators on the East Coast. With friends like mine it's safer," I regretted having said; me and my meaningless inside jokes.

My cat unusually warmed up to Jason, who picked him up. "Well, who's this friendly guy?"

"This is Cagney," whom I approached to pet, and then I looked at Jason. "He seems to like you."

"Yeah," Jason leaned forward involuntarily or voluntarily?

"Here, I'll take him." Shyness overcame me, for some reason. I transported Cagney over to an ottoman.

Jason Conover stood behind me and spun me around. This beautiful man slid his hands to my neck, gently easing me toward his lips. Our lips and tongues, moving in sync, were electrifying. My fingers ran through his hair. My arms encircled his neck while he gripped the arch of my back. His left hand warmed the skin on my lower back. His erection, albeit encumbered by his pants, alerted me.

This was the moment Jason and I desired. Even though we hadn't proclaimed our love for each other, we wanted passionate sex. Then I…I…sensed something, a presence I've not felt since…

"Wait. We shouldn't," I said that? I moved away from him, closed my eyes and felt cold.

"What's wrong," Jason sounded rightfully pissed.

"Well, for one thing, we're partners." Again, I said that? Unacceptable!

"Temporarily; in a week you'll be back on night shift with Bluestone," Jason lightly embraced me.

Though he was correct, I brushed him off. Believe me, I never tease, so why the blue fuck had I stopped us?

"There's someone else," Jason answered, almost as if he were psychic.

"Yes," a prolonged enunciation. My hands clasped behind my tense neck. "No. Not really." I let loose a protracted sigh. "I mean, there's someone I care for deeply but it would be impossible to get involved with him."

Sweet merciful Jesus, I meant Goliath; the gargoyles' leader...Goliath!

Jason and I shut up for about ten seconds. I wasn't sure if he was angry. If so, I felt guilty. It was just...now I envisioned him as an antacid tablet dissolving in a glass of tepid water.

"Guess I got a little carried away. Sorry about that. It's just that there hasn't been anyone for me for a long time. You think you're used to it," Said with prominent angst, head bowed, eyes shut. Loneliness slapped him across the face. "Well, bad timing; I'll go now."

The temp, hands in pockets, slowly exited. I reached out to call him back as I did by the precinct, but I retracted my arm and went mute. It wasn't going to happen a second time. When the door clicked shut, I plopped down on my living room stoop. And just like that I was no longer in love with Jason Conover. It changed so quickly. The rights and wrongs were muddled, overwhelming.

My chest burned as if road flares were wedged in my lungs. I curled up on the floor and sobbed uncontrollably; an emotive eruption. It has been a minute since I'd cried this much. I laid down for God knows how long with tears glazing my face. When Cagney finally pattered up to calm me, I learned thirty minutes passed.

Well, I needed to move forward. My lie to Chavez needed to be that Conover and I weren't gelling. She'd definitely suspend me but the emotions should no longer interfere with my dubious job.

After I cleaned myself up, Lexington's ringtone signaled. I read the text, "We found two hunters. Goliath and Demona may have killed them."

No, Goliath, no! You and Demona?

"Where are they?" I sent.

"I'll tell you later, we're on our way home," from Lex.

When it rains it pours fire.

END ACT VII