A/N: Now, we check on Jade over in New Orleans.
Jade and Luanne were relaxing on the red couch of her rented apartment. Things went swimmingly from that first encounter at the bar. Jade had been dating Luanne Miller for a month now, getting together twice a week and talking semi-nightly on the phone and sending the occasional text during the daytime. This Friday night marked the very first weekend they would spend together. Luanne had no other commitments and didn't have to be back for work until Monday. That was two days and three nights together, alone.
"So, he didn't hang himself?"
While it could get graphic at times, Luanne was genuinely fascinated by Jade's line of work. She had a rudimentary idea of what a medical examiner does but so much was clouded by movies and television.
"The police found the body on the floor with the noose around his neck. It was confirmed in the autopsy that he died of strangulation with the rope from the scene. But one of the investigators said something didn't add up when he viewed the tipped over chair and the broken piece of rope sort of hanging from the rafters."
Luanne leaned in with bated breath, momentarily derailing Jade's train of thought. Her perfume infiltrated her nostrils, and it was such a sweet aroma.
Jade cleared her throat before continuing.
"They found out that the victim had no history of depression or anything. And when I studied the body, there were no lacerations on the wrist or self-inflicted stab wounds, nothing!"
"I don't follow," Luanne admitted with a shrug.
"In most cases, suicides show a pattern of previous failed attempts" Jade clarified. "I've seen cases of men shooting, stabbing, splitting themselves open and even throwing themselves from a bridge only to survive!"
She held her chest with wide eyes.
"Sweet Jesus! That has to be a whole world of hurt."
Jade nodded.
"The lead detective was wondering if this suicide was really a covered-up homicide. So, I turned the rope over to a colleague who works in the crime lab."
"Mmmm!" she pointed while swallowing her wine. "Like CSI?"
"That show has done more harm than good," Jade sighed. "Colors people's thinking that we're miracle workers. But it's not like that."
Luanne took another sip, feeling as involved as if she were watching a drama unfold on TV.
"So, what did they find?"
"She ran it under a microscope and the fibers didn't show significant stress. See, when someone hangs themself, the rope gets very taunt. If they're lucky, they neck snaps instantly from the force but other times, they are left to helplessly strangle."
"That's horrible!"
"Oh, yeah..." Jade agreed.
"But the evidence didn't support a genuine suicide attempt. Not only from that but when were it came apart. The rope didn't snap, like it was meant to look. It was cut."
Luanne's breath hitched.
"They did a hasty hacking of the fibers in the rope. They knew exactly what they were doing! So many crimes scenes like these are disturbed by someone finding the victim, cutting them loose and moving the body to try and resuscitate them. That man was murdered and the killer made sure not only to strangle him to death with the same rope, but compromised its integrity so that it would break over the course of time, well before he was discovered."
"Holy shit! Did they find out who did it?"
"Yeah, thank God" Jade nodded. "It was his business partner, looking to push him out of the company profits." Jade then waggled her eyebrows. "Bet you won't guess how they fingered him."
"How?"
Jade shifted her seated position as she felt her left leg was beginning to fall asleep.
"The killer had a hobby. He enjoyed sculpting models out of clay. There was still some of the clay under his fingernails apparently, and we found some on the clothes of the body! That was when he confessed to police. He's in for a life sentence."
Luanne was floored by the story, running her hands through her thick blonde hair. It had a lot more volume than Jade's golden mane, which hung straight down cresting on her shoulders.
Over the course of the evening, the subject matter became less morbid.
Jade was aware that Luanne was previously married but thought best not to pry, not sure if it was a separation or he had died. She never brought it up, focusing more on them instead. But after some wine and feeling very comfortable the last few weeks, the older woman finally decided to spill the tea.
Luanne explained to Jade that she was divorced after twenty-five years of marriage. They had been growing apart for some time but when she caught her husband in bed with his much younger colleague, she did not hesitate. A lengthy divorce later, Luanne was left the house and 50% of the financial assets. While she was secure enough to retire early, she refused. Luanne was good at what she did, and she enjoyed it very much.
"The most satisfying closing I made was my own, having that deed in my hand."
Jade chuckled as the pair clinked their wine glasses.
"So, between happ-" Jade corrected herself. "So, between married and... now, when did you figure you were into women?"
The mature lady closed her eyes and a sultry laugh that got Jade's motor running.
(How can one woman be THIS fucking hot?)
"You might not believe this but sometime after I caught Joel with that girl."
Jade's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Luanne nodded with a gleam of mischief in her eye.
"Believe me, I was very upset that he did that but also...well...I was also...mad that it wasn't me with that girl. What did he have that I didn't?"
"Well, as a doctor I'd be happy to elaborate..."
She playfully pushed Jade, the both of them giggling.
"You didn't make a play for the other woman?" Jade dared to ask.
"Oh, please! Woman, indeed." Luanne scoffed. "She was twenty-one! A child as far as I was concerned." She shrugged. "I didn't reject the idea of someone younger than me but...you are definitely no kid."
Jade felt herself turning red as Luanne's eyes gleefully roamed her body, taking in her alluring curves. While Jade couldn't come to terms with her recent good fortune, Luanne was thinking similarly.
"So..." Luanne drawled in that lovely southern way. "You've known for a long time compared to me. How did you figure it out?"
Jade scratched her cheek and smirked.
"Pretty sure it was when I was ten and I went to the movies and saw The Rundown."
A golden brow lifted.
"The Dwayne Johnson movie?"
Luanne giggled when she said that, reflecting on how odd it was that this guy was in a bunch of movies that took place in a jungle setting.
Jade nodded, "Uh-huh. Rosario Dawson was the guide, and she was..." she started blushing. "She was really something."
"And what, pray tell, did you see in Ms. Dawson?"
The medical examiner chuckled nervously, not quite coming down from the high at how well things were going.
"Her eyes were striking, but...those lips."
She covered her mouth and looked with regret over to her date, only to see that she found it amusing.
"And?" Luanne pressed.
"It wasn't until months later that it hit me. I wanted to kiss those lips, and I came to the realization that I liked girls."
Luanne laughed.
"I bet her sexy dance scene in Rent gave you a nosebleed!"
Jade looked down in humiliation.
"I may or may not have the soundtrack downloaded into my phone that I play...regularly."
"You are so cute!"
She looked back up in shock.
"Really?"
"Come here..."
Luanne put her hand around the back of Jade's head and closed the gap between them until their lips locked like magnets. Jade was pretty stoic as the more experienced older woman's mouth took control and her soft pink pillows moved effectively. The good doctor never felt better as the wet and warm pleasure built up to a tongue sliding into her mouth. Luanne's organ asked Jade's rather aggressively to dance, and they did.
Jade's hands found their way along the small of Luanne's back. That woman had a big smile, big eyes and big hair. But she felt small to hold. She could hear the hum of Luanne, clearly enjoying where Jade's hands found themselves.
Jade swallowed, eyeing the door to the bedroom.
"You're a really good kisser," Luanne said.
(I am?)
"I am?"
The pale woman was a little dumbstruck, as she thought Luanne was doing most of the work.
She then noticed where Jade's focus was at and turned to see.
"So, you want to move this party to the bedroom?"
Jade looked like she was going to pass out.
"Well, come on."
Luanne stood, holding onto Jade's hand. Even though this was technically Jade's place, she allowed herself to be led by the blonde siren.
The next morning, Jade woke up and felt beside her. Much to her dismay, it was vacant. She sat up with a frown, still naked as a jaybird. That was when then she heard it.
And smelled it.
There were some goings on in the kitchen. Jade bit her lip as she grabbed some sweats and threw them on. She followed her senses to find Luanne standing by the stove in a black apron and nothing else! That made the medical examiner blush.
"Good morning," sighed Jade with a bit of gravel in her voice.
She turned in surprise.
"Oh, no! I wanted to surprise you with breakfast in bed, silly."
"And just what is for breakfast?" Jade asked, sneaking a peek. "Is that French toast?"
"Why, yes it is!" Luanne smiled. "But all you had was this...Focaccia bread. But that will do in a pinch!"
Jade's mouth watered as the thick slices were pulled from the egg batter and gently placed onto the sizzling skillet. In another, Luanne had another hot pan frying up some bacon.
"Anything I can help with?"
The cook waved her away.
"You can help yourself to a seat, missy! Just a few more minutes."
Jade grinned, unwilling to argue and found a chair that gave a good view of the lovely mistress of the kitchen.
"When did you get up?"
"Oh, I'm an early riser!" Luanne proudly told her. "Just can't stand alarms going off and rushing. Like to start the day with calm and stillness."
Jade was something of a nite owl, often attributed to her work ethic. You'd have to throw a grenade into her bed if you wanted Jade West up by a certain time!
An earth-shattering yawn suddenly escaped Jade's mouth, too big for her hand to cover up.
"Oh, my!" her house guest chuckled. "Someone should have stayed in bed!"
"I've been told my whole life dreams are worth chasing," Jade told Luanne. "Not my fault she decided to wander out of bed."
Now it was the cook's turn to blush.
"Since you're so sweet, maybe you can round up the syrup" Luanne smirked.
"I've also got some honey," Jade mentioned, while leaning into the fridge.
"Thanks, but I had plenty of honey last night."
Jade banged her head on the inside of the refrigerator, grunting and groaning from the unexpected pain. She turned around, rubbing her head while holding the maple syrup with the other.
"Are you alright?" Luanne asked with concern.
"Yeah, just hit my head like a dumbass."
One delicious homemade breakfast and a couple of aspirin later, the pair were back in bed just enjoying the laziness of this directionless Saturday morning. Jade had never brought a woman to bed before (and probably neither had Luanne) and it was wonderful. Awkward and full of bumps in the road, but it was an intimacy that she had only dreamed of.
Luanne may be sixteen years older than her but that was fine for Jade. Her painful experience in her youth made gravitating toward a more mature romantic partner easier. Luanne was a classy, sure of herself, and responsible. Jade could really see herself falling for someone like this.
The early days of them dating were exciting with lots of dancing and making out. But these quiet moments were also nice.
"Hey, Jade?"
"Yeah..." she sighed with her eyes shut.
"Do you...um...like this apartment?"
Jade stretched, snuggling up closer to her companion.
"There are rats, but they clean up after themselves..." she drolly said.
Luanne looked down at her with a smile.
"If you ever think about...you know...upgrading or anything. I've got connections."
"Why would I..." Jade yawned before drifting back to sleep.
The real estate agent kissed her ear and brought the covers up for both of them.
Something was on Luanne's mind, but she figured it can be a discussion for another time. Right now, she was in this gorgeous woman's bed and nothing else mattered.
A/N: The Rundown memory with Jade was a little autobiographical. That was the first time I became aware of Rosario Dawson.