A/N: I made it! Survived the snowstorm.
Really wanted to get a big chapter out before Christmas. Should have another update further along in the week.
If you celebrate, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Love you guys!
Tori had spoken with Mr. Dennings in the management office that she would be out of town for a matter of weeks, maybe more. He reminded her that the lease wouldn't be up for another four months, if she was inclined to renew. Tori asked if there was a way she could pay over the phone. The man shook his head, and the Latina decided to just send a cashier's check through FedEx. It will have a tracking number for her own benefit. She then filled out a form saying she is vacating her apartment for the time being, and that any activity such as someone entering should be followed up with a call to her cell. Dennings admitted that she was a model tenant and would hate to lose her. She shook the older man's hand and thanked him for being a much better landlord than her previous one.
While on one of her several trips downstairs with her luggage, Tori bumped into Nenita.
"Oh, hello!" the officer waved pleasantly.
"Hay nakú!" Nenita beamed. "How are you?"
Her neighbor eyed the suitcase, and a frown came about her.
"You're going away?"
"Yeah," Tori nodded. "Work."
Nenita looked at her with confusion.
"I thought you were a police officer here?"
"I was..." Tori scrunched up her face and shook her head. "I mean I am... I just...there's a town up north that needs some help so that's why I'm going."
Her neighbor just chuckled at how both sweet and absurd that sounded.
"Well, I just hope you don't work yourself up too much, trying to save everybody." Nenita's face got a bit serious. "Take time for you, too."
Tori sighed with a smile that was less forced than intended.
(I think you and my dad would get along fine.)
"Okay, I'll remember."
The smaller airports were booked, so Tori got a one-way ticket to fly Spirit Airlines from LAX to Seattle-Tacoma International. A three-hour plane ride sounded a whole lot better than twelve hours by train or a day and a half of driving. She might make it in seventeen hours flat if she didn't stop to rest or go to the bathroom, but that sounded like a nightmare. To drive that much without stopping, while remaining awake, all the while in very unfamiliar territory was too much for her first week back on the job.
Her father saw her off at the terminal, giving her an encouraging dad hug. She handed him her mailbox key. Since Tori pays the majority of her bills online or over the phone, she wasn't expecting much but just check in on it once a week or so to prevent the slot from filling up. David will call if anything looks urgent that needs to be expedited to her. Tori thanked her for everything.
David was there when she was in grief over her mother passing. He helped her study while at the police academy and picked her up when she felt like quitting. And most of all, Tori was thankful for him not babying her. From the beginning, the Latina refused any preferential treatment. She insisted that she sink, or swim based on the same criteria as every other officer on the force. And while the pacific northwest wasn't the first place, she had in mind to visit, it was her first murder case.
Tori had boned up on being a homicide detective for years, deciding to get her sea legs by working with vice and transitioning to homicide. This was a little sudden against her initial plans, but she wasn't going to be alone. She would have two men on this case. Tori figured it would ease her into this world by not being the one in charge. For a while she swore to never again work with a partner (let alone two), but this was the LAPD. Maybe this was the fresh start she craved.
For once, Tori Vega could be the cop she always set out to be without her harmful reputation biting her in the ass. It wasn't harmful to her character or abilities. Not in the slightest. But when you're surrounded by other cops, the worst thing can be anything that hurts that comradery. Imagine going to work, where almost everyone hates your guts, and they are all armed along with body cams that can be turned off whenever they want.
When her flight had landed, her eyes were glued to the sight just outside the aircraft.
Gorgeous green trees lined the edge of the runway and beyond those was the water. Such a pristine blue body that glimmered from the afternoon sun. And beyond that were mountain ranges in the distance. Tori actually wasn't sure if she was still looking at the United States or catching a glimpse of our neighbors to the north. Despite being named after the big city known for the Space Needle and other grand structures, the airport was far from it. The mountains were the tallest thing for miles around, the buildings in and around the airport were dwarfed by the trees. The control tower was the biggest man-made thing for about 15 miles.
Out here, nature reigned supreme, and it was breathtaking.
In the terminal, Tori had a few extra steps given her...unique contraband. She was here for business, not pleasure so packing her gun was a real issue she had to deal with.
Off duty cops were permitted to travel with their firearm, but there was a whole process that had to adhere to TSA regulations. The piece and all ammo had to be locked in an approved case with double combination padlocks. Also, the Sky Marshall, who was an armed officer that remained anonymous to the other passengers, needed to be made aware of Tori and her concealed weapon. After landing, TSA agents pulled Tori aside for VIP clearance where they went over her luggage and made sure the checked gun was all that she brought on board that was considered a weapon.
It was a pain in the butt, but Tori did what was necessary for safer air travel.
Her next stop after procuring her luggage, was to get a rental car as she had quite a way to go still. The man at the Hertz store had a white Fiat Panda. Unlike the blocky earlier models of the 1980's, this one was sleeker, and the white color combined with the black tires made the name "Panda" seem fitting. Looking at the hatchback, figuring that will be a lifesaver with her massive, wheeled suitcase, she took it. Tori put down the deposit, refused the extra insurance, and signed an agreement to return the vehicle full and without damage beyond normal wear.
She wasn't crazy about driving a Fiat, as she grew up hearing that old joke from her father: Fiat stands for "fix it again, Tony." But Tori needed a vehicle as this wasn't the kind of place that lent to walking everywhere and at four bucks a day, how could she resist?
The car handled fine. It was the most petite SUV Tori had ever been in, but it suited her needs. She was more enamored with the view on her way to Langley. Given the time of year, she had hoped to see the changing leaves, but those kinds of trees weren't as common as the evergreens and there were plenty of them. On first glance at the mountain range in the distance, Tori thought they had snow on their peaks, which wasn't unheard of. Turned out it was an illusion. She was really seeing the pure white clouds hanging lower than she had ever seen.
This wasn't just a different part of the country, but of the globe. Tori made a mental note to be on top of the weather reports out here.
It was hours yet until twilight when Tori pulled up to the Langley Motel.
Even if Google Maps on her phone hadn't informed her, the big green, red and blue neon sign did. The "NO" below the Langley part of the sign was glowing red. The detective gulped, hoping that her father's arrangements went through without a problem. Otherwise, she was screwed. This was about the only place to stay in town. There were larger, more expensive venues but they were booked solid for a wedding.
The motel had an interesting architecture, looking like it was repurposed from an old western town. It seriously reminded Tori of a John Wayne movie, like that would have been the saloon, that would have been the jailhouse, etc. Overlooking the block of accommodations were some trees and shrubs, and a couple of cacti because they had to shoehorn a tiny bit of that motif.
It had a rustic-cozy vibe, looking like a bunch of tiny cabins strung together.
She parked the Panda and walked into the main office.
"Hello there!" grinned the bearded man behind the counter. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm Tori Vega..." she began, reaching for her ID. "I have a..."
"OH!"
The clerk sprang to life and rushed over to her.
"It's you! Did you have a good trip?"
Tori blinked, unprepared for the man's sudden enthusiasm. He was pleasant at first sight, but he looked like he took a swig of Cuban coffee when she wasn't looking.
"Uh...yeah..." she squinted cautiously.
"Sorry, my name is Clay and welcome to the Langley Motel!"
Clay turned and bent over the counter to retrieve a printout.
"We have your reservation all taken care off!" he handed the paper over to her. "Let me show you to where you will be staying."
They walked out of the office and strolled down a couple of doors until he stopped at a light green door with the number 2 on it.
"Here we are..." he smiled, turning the key and opening it.
Tori's jaw dropped when she saw the inside.
She was expecting a shit ball motel room: a bed, a TV and a bathroom. Maybe a chair in the corner.
This place was like a mini apartment. Admittedly, it was nicer than her place back in L.A. There was a fluffy red loveseat with a matching chair. In between them was a cute little square glass coffee table. Fresh flowers in a small clear vase stood on it. In the corner was a 24" flat screen perched on a small wooden table. There was a tasteful reading lamp next to one of those pretty but unassuming hanging pieces of art, the kind you see in doctor's offices or motels.
Next to that was a larger round table, a darker red than the nearby furniture. This too had flowers on it.
A few feet beyond the living space was the kitchenette. There was a petite freezer/refrigerator with a white microwave on top. Next to that was a free-standing range. The oven was typical, the large door on top and the storage drawer below for special pans. Next to that, the rest of the wall was a countertop with a full sink. Above it was a little cupboard, a window that can be shut with a curtain and a fire extinguisher mounted to the wall.
(Everything you need for a kitchen, nothing you don't.)
The entire floor was hardwood with white ceilings and pale-yellow walls. Olive green accents permeated the space, such as the cabinet and the door frames. It was colorful but not overbearing. Honestly it was very airy and light, giving Tori a sense of peace.
"What do you think so far?" Clay asked.
"I've stayed at my share of these things, and they were never this nice!" Tori remarked.
The man beamed with pride.
"We aim to please, especially for someone who came all the way from Los Angeles! That must be exciting, right? The big city?"
Tori looked back at him, being a genuine small-town chap. She flashed a civil smile.
"It can be overbearing at times. But this looks like it will be a pleasant change of pace."
Clay clapped his hands in remembrance.
"OOPS! Nearly forgot! Excuse me while I get something and please check it out."
He hurried out the front door, Tori shaking her head when he was gone. She wondered if everyone around here were this friendly.
She sashayed over toward the next room, which harbored a decent sized bed and a nice accompanying bathroom. There was a closet...kind of. It had a rack for hanging clothes, like you've seen in rented rooms before, but this was recessed into the wall. Tori was curious if they meant to put a curtain or thin shutter style of door and just never got around to it.
But, then again it had a five-hook coat rack in the wall right across from the foot of the bed. This room felt like apartment meets doctor's office meets hotel, but it was so nicely decorated and inviting, Tori fell under its spell. Unusual choices aside, this motel was very charming.
"Hey!" waved the man.
(And the employees are quite eager.)
"Looks like you're ready to get settled in, so here is your key..." Clay smiled, handing her the room key. "Please have a pleasant stay and welcome to Langley!"
"Thank you very much," Tori nodded as she put the key in her pocket.
Clay waved once more and took his leave, leaving the front door open. Just as well since Tori would have to begin unloading her car.
That was when she noticed something on the red table beside the flowers that wasn't there before. As she lived and breathed there sat on a small white plate a sugar cookie in the shape of the big Langley Motel sign outside, complete with the appropriate frosting colors. Tori chuckled at the generously sized cookie. She set it down to take a quick picture of it with her phone, telling herself to send that to her dad later. He'd get a kick out of that.
"They really go the extra mile, huh?"
Over at the crime lab, Jade was examining some blood samples under a microscope.
They were obtained by police at the scene of an armed robbery gone wrong where the robber shot the owner of an impound lot and fled. Once inside, they took pictures and collected evidence. One of the first officers at the scene noticed a bloody fingerprint on the button that activates the automated fence. They made a point to document this image but unfortunately, some idiot pressed the button when they saw their pals show up to let them in.
This major error caused a super-imposure, which eradicated the integrity of the fingerprint.
(You FUCKIN' morons!)
Had they preserved the latent left on the button, they might have been able to catch their robber/killer. But the idea of the thief in question pressing the button to leave made investigators ponder how he got inside in the first place. There was no sign of a break-in. The suspect just walked out like he owned the place.
But he didn't. The real owner was laying in the morgue downtown.
So, Jade was working with what physical crumbs they could gather. The blood she was looking into came from the victim. Her knowledge on hematology was a bit rusty, so she consulted some manuals to check her findings.
"Hey, Fran!"
"Yes, Jade?" an older woman in a lab coat asked.
"I think I might have something."
Fran sauntered over to the medical examiner.
"Talk to me!" she told the blonde.
"I was looking at Mr. Tomasso's blood from the scene and...is he an anemic?"
The slender woman scratched her orange hair.
"Mmmm, let me check..."
She rushed over to her computer and reviewed the breakdown of the autopsy and also Mr. Tomasso's medical history. Fran glanced at every note doctors put in his chart over the years. It was a whole rigamarole to get medical records to be handed over, even for aiding an investigation.
"Nope, nothing!" she said.
"A-HA!" Jade grinned. "Well, the sample I have here is apparently NOT Tomasso because this person has an iron deficiency."
"Let me see..."
Jade scooted out of the way in her rolling chair to allow her colleague to examine the blood.
"Oh my god..." Fran gasped. "How is that possible?"
"Simple," sighed Jade. "Those clowns tested some of the blood, figured all of it had to be Tomasso's and moved on."
Had they given all of the blood collected this much scrutiny, they could have figured this out sooner. But this turn of events proves that this sample and other samples recovered from the scene share similar DNA markers. In other words, these two individuals are related by blood. Since Mr. Tomasso wasn't an anemic, his killer may be.
"If I were you," the blonde smirked, folding her arms. "I'd have detectives revisit Mr. Tomasso's family. See who is taking an iron supplement. And if they aren't they should be!
When Fran exited the lab with this major find, Jade let out a big sigh.
It was a lot of work, very tedious stuff. But it was worth it for moments like this, when all of that effort could mean retribution for the victim and comeuppance for the criminal. It didn't make sense, at least to her. Someone related by blood to Mr. Tomasso killed him and robbed him. And for what? Some money?
Jade knew money was important to get by but to end another person's life like it was nothing...
She learned a long time ago that no act of valor, no best intentions will ever bring back someone's lost son, daughter, parent...aunt? What if something violent happened to Auntie Bev? Jade would hope if she wasn't in her position that somebody was seeking justice on her behalf.
Tori had finally finished unpacking, utilizing the various spaces for her personal belongings. Clothes hung in the closet and the rest were in the drawers provided in the bedroom. Her carryon which had most of her important identification, her shield, her charger, her laptop and her standard issue Glock 19 was on the big red table.
The gun was put back into its lock box and placed under the bed for safe keeping. She then collapsed onto the plush loveseat and turned back to face the fridge, which she knew had to be empty.
"Right...I'll need to get some groceries."
Tori had long eaten the complimentary cookie from the front desk and sighed as she held her stomach.
"Fuck it!"
She grabbed her keys and was about to leave but hesitated. Her head leaned toward the direction of the bedroom. Tori shrugged and set up her holster to hold both her badge and gun. Unlocking the metal case, she grabbed her Glock and loaded it. Tori did a quick inspection of the mechanisms and put the safety on. The Latina then threw a black jacket over herself to better conceal it. She didn't want to alarm any of the locals. She wasn't on duty, but she wasn't stupid either.
Checking her phone, Tori found a market a couple of minutes away. She drove the Panda to the Star Store, which boasted a lot of nice-looking wares in the window. It wasn't just a corner store; it was an old fashioned mercantile where it sold a bit of everything.
Tori's eyes went right to the lines of fruits and vegetables.
"Good evening, Ma'am!" smiled an older man. "You must be new."
The tan woman blushed.
"Do I have that look about me?" she asked.
"Pretty much everyone blows in through here and I've never seen you before."
She flashed the proprietor the finger gun with a click of the tongue.
"You're sharp, sir. I actually came in this afternoon." She extended her hand. "Tori."
"You can call me Pat because well, everyone else does!" he erupted into a jovial laugh.
Tori thumbed by the road she had come.
"Staying at the motel and I need some provisions."
"Sure 'nuff!" Pat nodded. "Can't enjoy our town on an empty stomach."
The officer turned around, not seeing what she was hoping to see.
"I suppose you don't have any carts?"
The gentleman shook his head no.
"Folks tend to bring in their reusable bags here."
Tori licked her lips, "Suppose you sell any of those here?"
Pat nodded with a smile.
When she was done, Tori had four full canvas bags. She bought some carrots, potatoes, lettuce, mushrooms, as well as bread and milk and some minor items. On the other side of the establishment was all kinds of non-food items like clothes and dishes and boots. It was as if a neighborhood supermarket and a gift shop had a baby. Tori did procure a coffee mug that showed a rooster and read "Rise and Shine, Mothercluckers!" and a white apron with black vines on it.
This would more than suffice for now. Place was a bit pricey, but Tori was in a bind. On a better day with more time, she would drive the half hour to the Safeway over in Everett for a more comprehensive shopping trip.
Upon returning to her motel room, Tori sliced up some veggies and fired up the stove. The full kitchenette provided was also equipped with some flatware, plates and most importantly a couple of pots and pans. She was glad that this place had an area where she could cook a meal. Tori didn't mind takeaway but couldn't do that every night. She smiled as her dad always told her:
"Tori, sweetheart, don't do what every other cop does and consume a steady diet of Chinese food and whatever comes out of the snack machine. You need to stay healthy, to stay fit, so please always make sure you have proper food. Protein, vegetables, fruit..."
"But this donut has purple stuff inside. Isn't that a fruit?"
"Tori..."
"I'm just kidding, dad!"
Her hastily concocted stew was not how she envisioned. The broth was lacking as she neglected to find bouillon cubes. So, Tori's experiment turned into some nicely cooked vegetables. The cop shrugged and just ate it out of the small pot with a generous amount of hot sauce. This was some homegrown buffalo stuff that came in a glass bottle shaped like a chicken, which she thought was cute. It was sold right next to the jars of preserves.
Tori considered this first cooked meal in Langley was a marginal success.
Tomorrow she would head on down to the precinct to get acclimated with everything. Best to cap the day with a decent dinner and a goodnight's sleep. Tori wanted to kick things off on the right foot. This town would be a clean slate, and she wanted to make a good first impression.
Traylor struggled against her restraints for what felt like hours.
She prayed that her efforts would have weakened the ropes somehow, but nothing yet. It was especially disorienting that her eyes were covered with masking tape and a moist rag was in her mouth.
The woman was so dry of thirst that she siphoned the water from the rag just to wet her mouth. Maybe that was his plan all along, gagging her but making sure she stayed hydrated.
Speaking of which...
Not a peep from The Bastard in a while.
Was he somewhere else? Did he leave her alone?
Scarier, was he in the room and just very quiet? Watching her with the stoic patience of a non-entity? He may as well had been a chair if that were the case!
Traylor couldn't stand much more of this. The mental anguish was an unforgiving as the physical.
The uncertainty...
The not knowing...
(What is this sick piece of shit's angle?)
A/N: Traylor is alive...for now...
The Langley Motel and some other locations depicted in this story are based on actual places. I strived to be as accurate as possible!