A/N: I know some were curious as to what kind of "detective" Tori would become and don't worry, that's clarified here. Meanwhile, Jade gets acclimated to her new surroundings. Both of them are working but definitely stepping out of their comfort zones.
David Vega was true to his word and the very next month, his daughter became Detective Tori Vega, LAPD.
After Tori broke into her new position, she was courted by the vice squad. They essentially were there to keep activities like gambling, prostitution and illegal alcohol sales under control. She wasn't interested in those areas, but fighting problems like human trafficking and drugs intrigued her as they harmed people so much. Tori didn't feel one way or the other regarding pornography (as the vice squad viewed it) as long as it was consensual and children and animals were kept out of it!
There was also the other notable branch of detectives: homicide. Tori wasn't sure about that one. It wasn't like she didn't value their place or anything. What troubled Tori the most about homicide was that, no matter what, it was too late. This person was killed and while you could bring their murderer to justice, it won't bring the deceased back. At least with living victims, there was a chance. There was hope. Tori didn't like when people's lives ended with their misery. How was that fair? They deserved to have somebody looking out for them, to help them, give them their lives back!
Since her case involved extortion, it fell into the category of "organized crime" so Tori was free to continue investigating on her own. Had this been a more specific fraud, like insurance, this would have been handed to another agency outside of the police.
With this new title, Tori had access to resources unavailable to her in the past. As a beat cop, the best she could do was get a hold of someone at the DMV to run plates. Now, she was able to go into the department's extensive database as well as national databases. Through these digital archives, Tori could look into criminal records, missing persons reports, and more! Detectives did have the ability to work with as much as two other individuals. But Tori relished in the autonomy afforded to her with the new title.
Even when she collared a perp, Tori had to wait for backup. As a detective, and flying solo, she would have to be more strategic. Obviously in really tough situations backup would be required. What was she going to do? Arrest a room full of criminals single-handedly? Even if her gun had enough ammunition for every visible threat, it wasn't physically possible.
Despite this, Tori had to step up her game from a fitness standpoint. If she was going to rely on herself, then the woman needed to be stronger, faster. Her body had to be as sharp as her brain. The Latina began frequenting Gold's Gym after work, going from a few times a month to three times a week. When she was finished mulling over any leads about the mysterious lady and her apparent fraud scheme, Tori focused on strengthening herself.
First, she hit the treadmill for thirty minutes. This made up for the steps she was no longer getting by walking up and down the streets of West Hollywood. Tori took a ten-minute breather and drank some cold water. Then, her focus was on weights. Her calf muscles were not a concern based on her knack for staying mobile. However, it was time for some resistance for the parts of the body that often get neglected. Tori began with some dumbbell goblet squats. In the beginning, she started small with fifteen pounds, but overtime could handle 35 pounds which is a commonly recommended limit for that particular exercise.
A Dutch fellow who looked like Mr. Universe wandered over to her. His hair was as long as Tori's, only in stark contrast with a golden color that echoed to his ancient ancestors.
"Hello, do you need a spot-ter?" he asked in a very deep voice.
Tori was sitting on one of the benches, staring at the round weights at the time. She looked up at his icy eyes and strong chin. He seemed friendly and his English wasn't half bad.
"I've seen you before," Tori observed. "You make the other boys here nervous."
The big man shook with a jolly but husky laugh.
"I get dat ALL the time!"
Tori smiled back and stretched.
"If you didn't mind, I could use a spotter" she sighed. "What do you bench?"
He just folded his massive arms, the red tank shirt barely containing the dude.
"More dan you, I'm sure" he smirked.
"Then you can handle a hundred pounds?" Tori asked.
The man snorted.
"Please."
Tori cracked her neck and laid down, getting into position while her spotter loaded fifty pounds on each side. He wasn't totally fixed on her age or weight, but a hundred seemed like a safe bet at a glance.
"Name's Tori, by the way."
"Karl," he nodded. "Are we ready?"
With a blink and a nod, Tori confirmed they could begin.
The tan woman gripped the cold, textured steel and Karl helped her move it up from the holding. Now, his hands hovered only inches from her own ready to assist in case things went sideways. Tori breathed with her whole chest as she kept her arms steady, only allowing movement in her elbows. Karl nodded, seeing that she was using proper technique.
"How much are we doing?" he asked.
"TEN!" Tori grunted as her arms extended toward the ceiling for her first rep.
She took her time, managing roughly two per minute. Once Tori reached the end of her set, her forehead was sweaty. Karl helped with restoring the bar back to its safe station. The Latina rolled over, grabbing the white towel she had on the floor beside her.
"That's very good," Karl nodded. "Let's take a break before we continue, ya?"
"Two more sets!" Tori huffed, holding up two fingers.
"Yes, ma'am" he chuckled.
By the end of the workout, Tori was deservedly exhausted. After the bench press, Karl showed Tori the machines for the lat pulldown and the triceps pushdown. They went easy at first not to pull any muscles. Tori was more accustomed to the leg press and bench press, plus curling with the dumbbell. These new ones he got her into were different, challenging but fun.
Karl and Tori shook hands before leaving, the former giving the latter about a third of his strength, but Tori felt the grip all the same. He told her he's here most nights and if she needed a spotter, just give him a shout. Tori thanked him, picked up her bag and headed out. She didn't care that she was all sweaty. She much preferred her own shower than the one in the locker room.
Actually, Tori avoided the locker room altogether. For as long as she could remember, she always felt strange in those things. Plenty of people feel uncomfortable undressing in front of total strangers. Some had absolutely no shame and walked stark naked on their way to shower off. Tori never understood those types. When she began going to the gym, the officer was in the habit of showing up in her workout clothes, only bringing a bag. Inside were towels, an extra pair of sneakers, deodorant and a jacket in case it got cold later. On the right kind of night, leaving a gym covered in sweat was as chilly as jumping into a lake.
Tori remembered a day in the locker room when a gorgeous Colombian girl was beside her changing. She had such a disarming smile, and her skin was darker than Tori's eyes. The cop felt goosebumps springing up all over and she blushed hard. This wasn't her own embarrassment. Tori felt like she was intruding, like she was looking into the window of someone she liked. The lighter Latina just maintained tunnel vision while the super attractive stranger quickly changed and closed her locker with a loud slam. Tori licked her lips and dared to catch a glimpse of the girl from behind on her way out.
Being a detective in the making, Tori was able to absorb a ton of data from quick glimpses. She wondered if she had a photographic memory. And her fleeting looks at the bewitching girl gave the brown-haired woman volumes! Tori bit her lip and sighed, now realizing she was holding her breath the whole time.
That girl looked like she stepped out of a fashion magazine; a beauty that made you stop twice. You would be a talent scout, flipping through a cavalcade of pretty head shots. But that girl had your eyes linger on her picture. It was then Tori realized something about herself. As she thought about that girl all day, the officer came to the conclusion that either she was at least a little fruity, or it took an ethereal goddess to point her in that direction. Is it possible someone could be so objectively hot that they could attract anyone, regardless of orientation? Not that Tori believed in people being "turned," just that you only discover your true nature.
Still...
Anyone who would look at her and not feel something must not find women alluring.
(Oh...)
And that's the real reason Tori avoided the locker room at the gym.
The nearest airport was quite a way away, so Jade had her work cut out for her. She hopped on a bus that took her to the Clinton Ferry Terminal, where she boarded the massive vessel that took people (and their cars) across the water. This ferry bisected two of the main bodies that surrounded the island, the Puget Sound and the Possession Sound. Once Jade made it to the mainland, it was another two hours of buses (four in total) until she made it to the Paine Field Airport in Everett.
Greg offered to give her a lift, but she politely declined. Indeed, that would have gotten her to Everett in half the time and she regretted it in hindsight.
(Too late now. I'm already here.)
Jade checked the list of departure flights for Air Alaska, which only served from these parts down to the southwestern United States. She would have to get a connecting flight in Phoenix from a larger airline to take her the rest of the way.
"Trains, planes and automobiles?" she gritted her teeth quietly. "More like ferries, planes and fucking busses!"
She sighed and pulled her two heavy suitcases to the check-in area. Jade was accustomed to all forms of travel...except flying. She had never ventured anywhere further than a couple hours away from home.
Jade regarded the signs about having your boarding pass and personal ID ready to go, so the line could stay moving. After five minutes, it was her turn.
The beleaguered airport employee tilted his head, a look of resignation across his face at the sight of Jade's luggage.
"Alright, Miss..." the man with a bushy beard smiled professionally. Or, attempted to smile. "These are going to be checked," he nodded. "Allow me."
The guy in a white shirt and navy blue khakis schlepped Jade's biggest suitcase like it was nothing. A beep came on his computer. He tagged the suitcase and set it aside while he weighed and measured the other one. The measuring was a formality. He had seen thousands of suitcases; he could spot a carry-on from a mile away. And nothing about Jade's luggage appeared oversized. However, he had to be sure on the weight of every single piece stowed onto that aircraft.
"Okay, Miss..." he checked the boarding pass. "...West," a smirk then manifested. "Going east? How cute."
"Is that everything?" the blonde asked, unamused by his lazy pun.
"Uh, no. That will be an extra $35 for the bigger suitcase. Just makes it over the minimum!"
She cringed with the way the man stretched the word "just." Jade wasn't a fan of people (particularly grown adults) trying to be precious with the way they speak.
"Okay, fine!" Jade huffed as she swiped her debit card to pay the additional fee.
"Very good!" he smiled, sending the now tagged luggage onto the conveyor belt through the black curtain of mystery.
Not being a veteran of air travel, Jade watched with quiet wistfulness as her bags moseyed away from her.
(I...really hope I see those again!)
On the plane, because she was an attractive woman traveling alone, that made her a target for awkward conversation. If it wasn't smug businessmen hitting on her, it was old couples wondering why she was flying by herself. Didn't she have anyone who loved her? Friends?
And here she thought the biggest thing she needed to deal with was making sure nobody knew she was a doctor. Otherwise, Jade would be bombarded with medical questions the entire flight because who doesn't want free health advice? Reynolds explained to her that it's a real phenomenon so be careful. It didn't even have to be her field. She could be asked a relationship therapy or dental query, thinking a doctor is a doctor.
Fortunately, after the layover in Sky Harbor International in Phoenix they flight to Louisiana was less chaotic.
The majority of the people were likely exhausted from their travels, so the cabin was half asleep. The ones who remained awake were quietly reading their newspaper or magazine, while others busied themselves with a mobile game or listened to some music. Jade was fidgeting with the provided headphones to listen to the in-flight entertainment, as they had a list of movies and TV shows to choose from. This aircraft was a previous generation, so no Bluetooth capabilities. Years of wireless earbuds left the medical examiner a bit turned around when trying to locate the connector for the headset.
"Excuse me?"
The blonde looked up and swallowed at the sight of the tall redheaded woman with freckles in the blue uniform.
"Do you need some help?" she chuckled.
"I...uh..." Jade blushed without realizing it. "Was looking where to plug this in," she said emphasizing with holding the jack.
The ginger flight attendant made a knowing expression before gently taking the headset from Jade.
"This happens all the time," she smirked. "It's..."
Jade made a mild gasp when she bent over her lap to reach toward the bottom of the holding that stows the foldout tray. The doctor's eye couldn't help but take a brief peek at the lovely lady's behind.
"...right here!" the woman smiled.
"Thank you!" Jade choked out, trying to play it cool and failing miserably.
"You thirsty?" she asked her.
(Oh, you have NO idea!)
"Um, sure" Jade nodded in reply, putting the headphones around her neck. "Some...orange juice?"
The flight attendant smiled and nodded.
"Be right back."
The normally pale woman was beet red as she covered her ears with the personal padded speakers. Maybe starting up some horror movie or documentary will take her mind off completely simping for the redhead. Scrolling through the menu, she landed on a documentary about the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. Jade had heard about the event in passing but didn't look into the full extent of it.
The film opened with the intriguing fact that the 1883 eruption was considered the first "modern disaster." With the advent of widely distributed print newspapers and the telegraph; stories that occurred halfway around the world would reach people's doorsteps in a matter of hours. In fact, the initial explosion caused tsunamis in Java and Sumatra. Further along the Indian Ocean, islands some 3,000 miles away from the eruption, felt the shockwaves though much more muted. Those within sight of Krakatoa experienced a deafening sound unlike anything ever documented.
Jade jumped in her seat when the freckled lady came back with the small carton of orange juice with a wrapped straw.
"I'm sorry!" she chuckled. "Did I startle you?"
The doctor shook her head and graciously accepted the cold beverage. It was wet on the side, no doubt from sitting in a metal basin filled with ice.
"Thank you," Jade nodded.
"You are very welcome," the woman smiled back. "Have a good rest of your flight!"
She felt shivers as the tall woman with nice hair walked away.
(So, this is flying, huh? It's not so bad.)
Jade returned her attention to her documentary while sipping her juice.
Nearly everyone in the immediate vicinity of Krakatoa perished and survivors dealt with the aftereffects once explosions ceased in late October, months after the first eruption. The world witnessed a "volcanic winter," the Northern Hemisphere experiencing extremely low temperatures in 1884. California had record rainfalls as a result of Krakatoa. The documentary concluded with an ominous warning that there have only been a handful of recorded incidents of Krakatoa blowing its top in human history. There was no telling when it would happen again, and how would the twenty-first century react to an eruption of this scale.
She had an equal parts fascination and apprehension about volcanic eruptions since she was a kid. It started from learning about the great eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. Jade was floored that it occurred only four and a half hours south of her town. Auntie Bev assured her that she was safe and that there has been no activity for a very long time. Besides, St. Helens only started because of an earthquake the week prior which started a chain reaction where she began venting the highly pressured gasses.
Jade was always an inquisitive kid. When something scared her, she wanted to learn more about it. That prompted her to go the town library, where she found a big heavy book about active volcanoes. Chances were another kid her age in Kansas was boning up on tornadoes, or a kid in Bangkok learning about typhoons. Fortunately, in Jade's case Bev was correct and that nothing of note happened since 1980 and eruptions this devastating were quite rare in North America.
However, she did find out about the super volcano right underneath Yellowstone National Park. Now that one scientists have been keeping a watchful eye on. If that thing blows, the United States will experience its own Krakatoa for sure. Jade had a sleepless night or two from discovering that tidbit.
A big yawn crept over the medical examiner as the captain announced over the P.A. that they would be landing in New Orleans in fifteen minutes.
"So, much for sleep!" she told herself, struggling to suppress another yawn.
A/N: I based Tori's gym friend off a guy I knew named Karl, who was from the Netherlands. He had the long hair and pleasant personality, but he was absolutely no mountain of muscles! Congrats, Tori - you've got some of that WLW energy in you.
Enjoyed Jade being a real science nerd, with a side interest in volcanoes of all things. I did a deep dive about Krakatoa a while ago that was very interesting. And just like Jade, it was hard not to feel nervous when learning about Yellowstone's big secret just below the ground.