A/N: Hoped to get this out quick as my area is reported to be slammed with snow...and I have to drive in it!
Cool reading the reactions to the last chapter, people wondering when we're getting to Langley. It's coming!
David Vega was looking over some forms when his phone lit up that there was a call waiting. He pressed the button below that contacted the front desk.
"Herb, what's up?"
"I got a call coming from Langley, Washington. They're asking for you by name."
(Seriously? Who do I know up there? And more concerning, who knows ME?)
After two hours of his eyes hanging out of his head pouring over paperwork, David could use the break and told reception that he'd take the call. He pressed the glowing square and connected to the out-of-state call.
"This is Chief Vega of the LAPD, West Hollywood. To whom am I speaking with?"
"Excuse me!" came a familiar female voice. "Thought us chiefs could be less...formal?"
This woman was somebody! Not just her voice but the sass, how she carried herself reminded David of someone. The man held the phone tightly to his ear as if that would make the lady come in ever clearer.
"Wh-Who is this?" David asked.
There was a pause.
"They must have you running ragged in the City of Angels, Vega! How could you forget me?"
"I don't even know who you are. How do you know me?"
"Know you?" the woman chuckled with verve. "Under the bleachers, James Madison High, I remember kissing you!"
The chief stood up, nearly dropping the receiver and deftly locked his door.
(No way! It can't be!)
"Helen Dubois," David nodded.
"Heh, heh, good job chief!"
"How did...how are...what the hell...?"
Helen just laughed.
"Just as articulate as I remember."
The man took a deep breath and sat down, trying to calm himself. He wasn't expecting a call and he certainly never would have prepared for this blast from the past.
"Jeez, Helen! How the hell are you?"
"Pretty busy, but pretty good."
"Been a long time," he coughed.
"Yes, it has."
"Wait a second, I was told the call was from Langley. Weren't you in Yakima?"
Helen sighed.
"Oh I moved out of that place a time ago! And...you aren't the only one who followed their dream."
That was right. Back in the day, they both talked about becoming cops. Many of the others in school thought they were joking and even funnier, they imagined them as partners. Less Law and Order, and more Police Academy.
"They treating you right in Langley, Helen?"
"I guess so..." she chuckled. "They only made me the chief!"
"Whoa!" David grinned, the reference to them both being chiefs earlier flying over his head. "Isn't that crazy? Well, congrats! I bet precinct is in good hands."
They both laughed for a minute, remembering how nice it was to talk. Helen got quiet for a bit before getting the nerve to get more serious.
"Listen...uh...I'm sorry I wasn't at the funeral. I just...didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable."
David sat back in his chair.
"You used to never give two shits what anybody thought," he smirked, looking at an old picture of him and Holly. "I mean it wasn't like you were the other woman."
Before David and Holly were an item, throughout much of high school he and Helen dated. They were all from the same group of friends, but when her father's job moved out to Washington State they just broke things off. Plenty of adults wouldn't undertake a long distance relationship, let alone a couple of teenagers. In time, Holly and David got close and eventually married.
Helen did check in on those she left behind in L.A. from time to time. But she never wanted Holly to assume anything and always called the house; never David's personal cell, not that she would have the new number anyway. Even now, she was calling the station. David was fiercely loyal to his wife, and nobody tried any funny business. A part of them both missed what they had but would also admit that David marrying Holly was a sound decision. Her death aside, the man had no regrets.
And he got two amazing daughters out of it.
"What we had was a long time ago," David admitted. "But I'm not going to pretend it didn't mean anything at the time."
"So much so you would do a favor for an old friend?"
The chief leaned forward, elbows resting on his desk.
"And what can I do from way down here, Helen?"
The vivacious woman chuckled.
"Well, not you personally. But maybe you can send some help our way."
"Does this have to do with the two missing girls?" he asked.
"More like two very deceased women in my neck of the woods."
He could hear the chief pacing around on the other end.
"Look...there are hundreds of individuals tied up in that Bellevue mess. It's only a matter of time until this search party breaks down, but I can't wait that long!"
David tugged at his ear before reaching for his coffee which had long cooled off to the point of disgusting. He visibly grimaced at the taste but needed the caffeine and this was all he had within arm's reach.
"You've got a killer on the loose?"
"More like a goddamn lunatic!" she spat. "All my years, I've never seen such cruelty. No mercy applied, no dignity left."
Chills snuck up David's back from just her words. He was sure she saw the brutal photos and never forgot them.
"The truth is, David, we just don't get this kind of...thing up here. It's not a big community!"
His fingers drummed the surface of his desk.
"How many men in your homicide division?"
"One," she eventually answered with embarrassment. "Well, two currently. There was that import from Vancouver."
"Holy shit, Helen!" he exclaimed. "Understaffed much?"
"Well, what do you suggest I do?" she shouted back. "The old ones retiring in record numbers and the upstarts are few and far between. A lot of folks don't wanna be cops these days. Can't say I blame them."
"That's the thing about trying to be a good example," he lamented. "Sometimes you do it by yourself."
"Don't lecture me, mister man! Try being the black chief of police in a mostly white town! AND a woman to boot."
To say there were growing pains was an understatement but through determination and being damn good at her job, that powerhouse won the respect of the seaside town. And her people knew better than to disappoint her.
"So, what do you say? Anybody you can spare?"
David hummed in contemplation.
"I happen to know an excellent one."
"Who?"
"Tori Vega," he cautiously answered. While he was confident in his previous statement, David knew this would be a hard sell.
Helen groaned on the other end.
"David, this isn't a joke."
"Who's joking?" he shrugged.
"I know I'm coming to you in my hour of need, but that doesn't mean I'll indulge in some vanity..."
He stood up again as if she was in the room with him.
"THIS IS NOT SOME NEPOTISM BULLSHIT, HELEN!" David shouted, grateful for the closed door. "Look..." he said, bringing his tone down a lot. "I would recommend her even if she wasn't related to me."
The police chief up north tapped an itchy finger.
"So, you're telling me...Tori...your Tori...little miss cheekbones, is your best of the best?"
"I wish you could see my pride over the phone."
"Oh, I felt it when your voice changed after I questioned about her."
David cleared his throat.
"It's just that...almost from the beginning, I knew this was not going to be easy for her. She's a good person, Helen. The kind of badge that sends a dirty cop running."
"OOF! I'm starting to get the picture."
"It was rough," he added. "But she made her bones, she earned that detective position. Helen, Tori's always been sharp, dedicated."
"What's she doing now?" Helen asked. "I mean wouldn't you want her close so you can keep an eye on her, papa bear?"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"She's on medical leave but will be coming off very soon."
"The hell happened?" she asked, genuine concern in her voice.
"Tori went undercover and in doing so pissed off some people. Powerful people. The kind of people who would put out a hit like it's a bodily function."
In a rare occasion, the woman was speechless. She just let that wash over her while her old friend paced around his office.
"Her car was run off the road. It was totaled and her arm was hurt. And despite that, she saved the other passenger."
Helen thought back to that bright-eyed kid she saw grow up on Facebook when David mentioned her. It was hard to believe this was the same girl. But she wasn't a girl anymore, was she? Tori Vega was a woman. A woman who could get things done and would help someone without hesitation.
"She's a good cop," he iterated. "Believe me. I just...I've just been worried since this whole undercover business fell apart. Nothing came of it yet, but there was always that possibility, you know?"
"Yeah," she sighed.
"Tori isn't the type to take a vacation," David huffed, shaking his head. "She's itching to get back to work, so why not have her put her skills to good use up there? If nothing else, it will save my sanity. I like the idea of her getting out of L.A. for at least a little while."
"Okay, okay, let's arrange this transfer."
"Thank you," he smiled.
The woman's giggling unnerved him slightly.
"What's so funny?"
"Now you have to tell your blood that you're sending her away!"
She was making her list and checking it twice.
Ever since Tori got news of her transfer up to Washington State, she did what she did best: threw herself into heavy research.
Living down here in the southern pocket of the Sunshine State her whole life up to this point, Tori never ventured beyond it. Now, she was entering unfamiliar territory in every conceivable way. Particularly, the climate. Autumn was here and temperatures would begin to drop to at least 50 on average.
What if she stayed into the winter? Would there be snow?
Tori made a shopping list of clothes to purchase. She had some long sleeve shirts and a jacket. But the Latina would need something heavier for being outside, maybe some gloves. She studied her clothing inventory and worked out what she had to buy so that she had enough appropriate attire to get her through a whole week.
Her father told her that she would be put up in a motel in town. Room rates were fair, but David managed to negotiate a real bargain as the motel management were receptive to having a cop stay there. Anything that Tori neglected to bring, she was certain that there would be stores in Langley. It wasn't like it was the middle of nowhere.
Speaking of Langley, Tori looked online at the town website. On the homepage, there was a graphic that showed with pride: LANGLEY, WA: The Village by the Sea
(Well, isn't that charming and cozy?)
They were pretty much known for their cultural festivals and celebration of its natural beauty. Apparently, it was quite the vacation destination. Tori pondered what that must feel like for the residents. Then again, people eyed Los Angeles with a romanticized gusto that the locals didn't understand.
David didn't know anything about Langley. He was in a similar boat to Tori. All he could tell her was don't get on the chief's bad side.
"Great."
Traylor was walking downtown when her foot landed on an uneven spot and her ankle went sideways for a second.
"OWW! DAMMIT!"
She stopped and squatted down to massage the throbbing spot. Brakes squealed to a stop, and she was faced with a tire.
"Are you alright?"
The woman looked up and smiled at the tall man.
"Oh, hey. Haven't seen you in a while."
"You didn't break your ankle, did you?" he asked, helping her by the arm.
Traylor shook her head.
"Just took a wrong step," she huffed. "Not even sprained."
With his other hand, he opened the dark blue door.
"I can give you a lift."
"Thanks," she nodded.
A/N: Yep, in this continuity there is no Hollywood Arts. We have the Langley Police Department, with Helen Dubois as the chief. And just like the show, Tori will be the new kid on the block.
I know I skipped the scene where David and Tori discuss the assignment, but I didn't want this story to have too many of these lengthy phone conversations. They can get a little tedious and frankly are my least favorite to write. I prefer when characters are in the same room, so they can work off of one another in more ways than tone of voice.