A/N: Again, thank you for reading and reviewing. I've had this chapter in my mind and had it partially written for months. I'm glad to finally finish it.
Enjoy.
Part 6: Gone
Chapter 18.2
Saturday, March 16th, 2002
Sara returned to the conference room with a cup of coffee and found Morgan gone. Nick and Warrick were having a conversation across the table, and Brass was on his cell phone. Teri Miller had left and she wondered if she was going to meet up with Gil once he returned from getting Lindsey. She tried not to think about it too much and instead returned her attention to the case.
She sat down beside Warrick and asked, "So, what about new developments?"
"Oh, yeah, we got a witness," Warrick said as he stood to grab the case files off the table. "Name's Carolina Sanchez." He handed her a file from the stack as he sat back down. "She was a prostitute who was hired by City Attorney Todd Piccone to spend an evening with Vic Patterson."
"The Eagle?" Nick asked in surprise.
Warrick eyed him as he said, "The one and only douchebag."
Nick's eyes shot up and said, "We never worked an assault case."
"That's because there wasn't one," Warrick told him. "Carolina went to the Wilcox station, reported it to a Uniform and then was taken to see the Captain. The Captain of the station at the time didn't think it was viable. She thought Carolina was making a false report to collect a paycheck. Sent her home."
While Warrick caught her up to speed, she'd opened the file and been reading it when she came across the name of the police captain. "It was my mother?"
Warrick nodded. "She didn't know."
"It's not her job to make assumptions. It's her job to investigate an assault claim, no matter who the suspect is. The officer wrote in the initial report that she had bruising and a black eye. Evidence of beating. There was blood."
Warrick didn't say anything as he looked over at Brass who'd been on a phone call.
Brass pocketed the phone as he returned to the table, but he didn't sit down. His hand gripped the chair as he told her, "We're looking into it. As of now—"
"What'd you mean you're looking into it—"
"As of now," Brass said again, cutting her off, "Captain Kramer is stepping down. She's no longer in charge of this operation. I am."
"Why?" she asked. She looked at Warrick who shook his head. "You know I can just ask her, right? I'm going to find out." She regarded her dad once again and saw his internal debate.
Then it came to her. She looked back down at the file, the report, and saw the date. Thinking back, she remembered when her mother had been promoted and moved over to Parker Center, RHD and the big leagues. "It was right after. She dismissed the assault complaint against Vic, one month later, she has an office at Parker Center…right down the hall from the Chief."
"Your mother always knew how to play the field," Brass said. "I had to do it."
"Do what?"
"Report it," Brass said. "It might be nothing, but I had to go to IA. We need to make sure—"
"That she's not dirty?" she asked as she shook her head. "This is—"
"Believe me, Sara, I know more about who your mom is than you."
"What about—"
"Enough," Brass nearly yelled. "I'm in charge now. I'm your Captain. No more needs to be said."
The hard glare he gave her silenced any sharp retort she had to say. Brass was right. He knew his wife better than anyone, and if he felt he had to take this to IA then that meant something was bothering him about the whole thing. He was willing to be called a rat in the department. He was willing to go against not only a fellow officer, a Captain, but his own wife, in order to find out the truth. It was commendable but also very dangerous. That's why he wasn't happy and looked like he hadn't slept in a few days.
Instead of going on the defensive about Annie once again, she let out a breath before she told him, "You're right. And I'm sorry. Does Grissom know it yet? She's his contact."
"I've made all the necessary phone calls. Annie didn't put up a fight. Easy transition, which makes me think she's clean and this was just a precaution."
She gave a nod as she tried to let it go; for now.
"What in the hell are we doing here? Why aren't we meeting at Parker Center?"
Sara turned to see several other people entering the room. One was a very young-looking girl wearing a white t-shirt and jeans. She didn't look a day over fifteen. The other was a Latino man in a suit.
Brass was the one who answered the man's questions as he said, "Parker Center has too many eyes and ears. Going forward, we'll be meeting here."
The two detectives eyed Brass as the woman said, "Captain Brass, Danille Winters with Vice. You can call me Dani."
The man said, "Detective Vega. Narcotics," as he shook Brass's hand.
Brass went around the table and introduced everything else. "Nick Stokes, CSI crime lab. My call to bring him in. I want only him and CSI Morgan Brody on this. Any need for a CSI, call one of them. That's Detective Warrick Brown, Homicide, and his partner Sara—"
"We know who she is," Winters said as she eyed her.
Vega said as he shook her hand, "You're the one they put undercover to work with Grissom."
"Uh, yeah," Sara said, a little surprised and taken back by the recognition.
Vegas nodded towards Winters, "They put Winters undercover with him first, before you were pulled in. They were to make a big impression on that lawyer, Piccone."
Realization at what he was talking about dawned on her as she said to Winters, "Grissom told me about that. It worked. We overheard Piccone telling Vic Patterson that Grissom could be trusted due to that incident."
Winters nodded. "Good. One step closer to nailing the bastards."
Sara didn't know why, but hearing it for herself, coming from Winters, settled the unease in her chest and stomach that'd been there since the start of the investigation. There had been so many doubts and fears that'd welled up inside given the nature of the case and not really knowing Grissom. Trust but verify was a cops motto, and this was all verification that Grissom had been telling her the truth about everything.
"Detective Steels wanted to be here, but she's deep undercover right now, can't get out," Winters explained. "And don't let my youthful looks fool you. I'm twenty-seven years old and have been a cop for five years."
Over the next hour they spent going over everything about the case, what they knew about Gina Sinclair, and lastly the banquet that evening. Brass looked at her as he asked, "You're up. What's the play?"
Sara leaned back in the chair as she thought about it. She'd been thinking about it for days. How was she going to integrate herself into the conversation among the rich and powerful. What was the play? Her main targets for that evening were only Mr. Gleason, hockey player, and Mrs. Michaels, the wife of a famous TV personality. She'd studied what Gil had collected about the couple. She also knew what Gil and Officer Winters had done in order to get them a foothold into the lives of Todd Piccone and Vic Patterson.
"Well," she said, "Mr. Gleason's a hockey player with no endorsements. Grissom is the owner of Monarch Coffee–"
"An endorsement offer?" Winters asked. "That's the big plan?"
"It's an opening. It'll entice him to pay attention to us. The more his eyes are on us, the more he'll want to get us alone to have a conversation. Hopefully, he would've made a phone call to his lawyer, Todd Piccone, before that happens."
Brass was eyeing her like a suspicious father as he asked, "And what exactly will you two be doing that'll cause him such interest?"
Sara nearly smirked as she said, "Being physically comfortable with one another." All eyes raised around the table. Her dad didn't take his eyes off hers even when she asked Vega, "How far has he gone on an assignment?"
Vega let out a deep breath as he thought. "Grissom's been doing this for a long time. I know from my own experience with him, he's willing to go as far as he needs to go, as long as no one gets hurt, and all parties are in agreement. But if what you're asking is if he's crossed lines, then my answer to you is no. He hasn't." He then asked her, "What're you going to say if asked about your relationship with Grissom?"
She's been thinking about that. "If asked, I'm going to tell a version of the truth that they'll want to hear."
Warrick jumped in as he said, "What I don't understand is how is everyone supposed to be okay with Grissom being a criminal? Yeah, I know it's all suspect, but the main point of him being undercover is to infiltrate criminal underground networks, yet he's Mr. Personal Driver of Catherine Willows, who has a daughter, and he's owner of one of the biggest local coffee companies."
"Makes him the perfect infiltrator. He's an important man to protect," Winters said, "and a man who can pay an attorney very well to keep his indiscretions quiet—"
Vega cut in, saying, "I've been working with Grissom for years, not just this case. He told me that he and Catherine have an agreement if either are questioned. They both have secrets. Catherine's father is Sam Braun—"
"Sam Braun," Warrick said in shock. "The casino mogul?"
"You know him?" Vega asked.
"Hell yeah, I'm from Las Vegas. I know all about Mr. Braun and his mob family. I thought he only had two sons."
"Catherine's his only daughter. She's been out here since the early 80's. Thing is, Grissom's been her friend and driver all this time. So, like I said, they both have secrets."
"And besties take their secrets to the grave," Sara said, echoing Warrick's earlier comment to her.
"Exactly," Vega said. "The deal is, if asked how Catherine can be Grissom's friend, let him drive for her if he's a suspected criminal, they say 'if one of us flips on the other, we both go to prison'. Both are guilty by association just by being around one another. Catherine keeps clear of it, but Grissom's supposed to lean into it, you know what I mean? He's the one who has to protect his cover. That's why the setup with Winters. Anyone who looks into Grissom's criminal record will come across the Motel Butcher case. Arrested but never charged, no other suspects. Throw in the little op with Winters that the attorney Piccone was called in to help cover-up, and it's safe to say that the rumor mill will take care of the rest. People like the scum we're after will think he's one of them, accept him into their group, and hopefully he'll get an invite to Preston Manor. Aether. That's our main goal. We can't just storm it without probable cause."
Nick asked, "Why don't you just bust a few of these guys we have on film? We've got evidence of illegal drugs, rape of a minor. Someone will roll on Mrs. Sinclair."
"Tried," Vega said. "Suspect took her own life while in custody. We're afraid if we bust more, it'll set off alarm bells and the Sinclair's will skip. We want all the evidence we can get. Right now, it's conjecture and circumstantial when it comes to the Sinclair's. Hell, even if someone does rat them out, with no evidence it's he-said, she-said. Sinclair's walk. They aren't in any of the pictures that prove guilt. Everything we have on Aether is speculation."
Warrick said, "Well, we have a way into her life now. We have positive ID, or at least cause to believe with this facial age composite that she is Abigail Abernathy. We can at least question her about the original case."
Brass nodded. "Yeah, we could, but that could also raise alarm. Why don't we hold off on that for now. Come at her with it if for some reason this falls apart and we need another way in. Our main job right now is to protect this operation and all the undercover agents working it. We don't want to alert her or draw suspicion onto anyone, especially tonight."
It wasn't long after that when everyone started filing out of the conference room, leaving only Sara and Brass behind. When they were alone, he said, "So tell me–"
"We're seeing each other," Sara told him before he could ask. "Anything other than that is none of your business—"
"I'm your dad—"
"And that's exactly why you don't belong in my bedroom."
"And he does?"
"That's how relationships work. It involves intimacy. In and out of the bedroom. Are you sure this isn't about you and mom?"
He raised his voice slightly as he said, "Don't make this about me. This isn't about me—"
"I don't owe you an explanation when to come to my love life," she stressed, raising her voice to match his. "Who I love isn't up for debate."
They stared at one another as she realized what had come out of her mouth. She's never been in love, not since she was a teenager and thought that she'd loved Hank. She's dated other men since but never to the point of love. She'd closed up her heart somewhere along the way and put up walls. With Gil, she had no walls. He was just there inside her heart without even trying.
"You love him?" Brass asked incredulously. "You just met the man!"
Had she? She's felt like she's known him her whole life. "No. I haven't. He's been here with me since we first met, all those years ago. I can't explain it to you because I can't even explain it to myself, but he feels like home. He's safe. And I know he loves me, probably more than anyone else I've ever met. I'm happier with him than I am alone."
That was what did it. She saw his resolve breaking and anger diminishing. "Sara," he said as he stepped up to her. She could see the struggle in his eyes. Despite his rough exterior, he was an emotional guy. He also loved her. "You're sure?" he asked.
"Positive."
"Okay," he said with a tight nod. "I get it. I do. No one could've told me not to fall in love with Annie. Not even my ex-wife."
She almost smiled but held back. "When did you know?"
"That I loved her? After our first date. Within five minutes of it, actually. I knew I was going to marry her. Nancy was a woman I had loved but she wasn't the right woman for me. Our love was always tainted. Rocky. Bitterness, anger, and a whole lot of resentment. She liked cops, and this one cop wasn't enough. We didn't grow stronger. We grew to hate one another."
"You two will be okay."
He gave a nod and smiled a little. "Yeah," he said before pulling her into a hug.
Hours later, Sara stood in her bathroom, staring at herself in the mirror. She never thought in a million years that she'd be wearing a red $5,000 Vivienne Westwood crêpe satin minidress, but there she was standing in one. She also got a new pair of black heels and a shoulder bag. Her whole entire outfit cost over ten grand.
So many thoughts, doubts and fears and second guessing went through her brain as she looked at herself. The dress, the makeup, the heels, and everything. It was too much. Yeah, she looked hot, but this was not her at all.
There was a knock at the front door as Joni barked. Leaving the bathroom, she hurried to let her date in. Pulling the front door open, she was immediately met by the most stunning blue eyes she'd ever seen. Gil had shaved the beard off and his hair was cut shorter. His hair was a natural salt-and-pepper color but his face looked so young still. He was handsome as hell.
He'd looked sexy with a beard, rugged, and even a little dangerous. But now, he looked…gorgeous. She never thought that she'd use that word to describe a man, but there he was. Absolutely gorgeous, especially in the tuxedo.
Gil's blue eyes had traveled all the way from her eyes to her feet and back up again. /Beautiful./ An inquisitive sly smirk twisted up his lips. He made a gesture. /May I come in?/
Oh, hell, she was still standing in the doorway. She made the 'a' fist against her chest and signed, /Sorry/ before /Come in./
He asked, /Are you okay?/
/I'm fine./ She was just fine.
He reached into the tux and pulled out a black box. Her eyes widened in surprise as she met his eyes. She'd already gotten earrings at the store and hoped he hadn't gotten her another pair. The ones she had on were already too expensive. A shaky hand took the box. She opened the lid, and a clear sapphire butterfly necklace glistened up at her as she forgot to breathe. It was beautiful.
He made a gesture; one she figured meant "let me", before he removed the butterfly necklace from the box. Stepping up behind her, Gil wrapped the necklace around her neck that dangled just short of her cleavage. Her hair was already up off her shoulders, and she felt the heat of his breath against her neck. His hands caressed over her arms, making her body tingle, as he placed a kiss on her shoulder, just below the strap. His kiss sent a ripple effect all the way down between her legs where it pooled and ached.
Meeting his eyes over her shoulder, she saw a similar ache. She felt his hands brush her back as he zipped up the dress for her. When she faced him, he pointed to his bow tie. It was undone.
/Please/ he asked. She smiled as she took the two ends and tied it for him. /Thank you./ He stepped away, making her nearly moan at the loss of his presence, as he signed, /Wait outside./
She gave a nod before stopping him. "Gil, wait. Um, I haven't been able to tell you yet who Abigail Abernathy is."
/It's Gina Sinclair./
"Teri told you?"
He nodded. /She wanted to have lunch with me. I hope that was okay. She told me she was married. I told her I had a girlfriend. She was happy for me./ He let out a breath as he shrugged. /Then I went to my barber's and got a shave and haircut. Do you like it?/
She looked him over again and told him, /I do. You're very handsome./
He nearly blushed as he gave a nod and turned to leave, only stopping long enough to pet Joni before he was out the door. It didn't take her long to finish getting ready. Her hands were shaky as she pulled on the heels. Eying herself in the mirror once again, she let out a deep breath, stilled her nerves, and gave a nod. She could do this. It wasn't the job she had to prepare herself for, but the man who was waiting outside for her. Compared to him, and the way he made her feel, the job was a piece of cake.
All she needed to do was grab her shoulder bag and keys. Joni whined to leave with her, but she told her, "No. Stay."
Carol would be over to get her when she got home from somewhere. She forgot, it didn't matter. Gil was standing at the fountain, hands in his pockets. The lights from the courtyard were casting a soft glow around the cobblestone and brick. He turned to face her once she was off the last step.
His eyes lit up as he offered her the crook of his arm. Wrapping her arm in his, they left through the side gate. Getting the back door for her, he guided her into the backseat. /I have to pick up Catherine and Lindsey. I'm to drop Lindsey off on at a friend's house on the way to the Obsidian Club./
She gave a nod before he shut the door. He rounded the car and got in. Once in the driver's seat, he slipped on his sunglasses, started the music, and then pulled away from the curb.
Gil took his usual route to Catherine's house in the hills. He pulled around the driveway, facing out, and then told her, /They'll be right out/ before hitting the truck button and getting out of the car. She watched as he stood beside the car door as he waited for Catherine to leave her house.
This was Gil in full chauffeur mode. The guy was friends with Catherine and probably didn't need to put on the show of being her personal driver, but he did. He opened the back passenger for Catherine who slid in beside her as Lindsey got into the front passenger seat.
"She always rides shotgun when Gil drives her," Catherine explained.
Gil opened the truck then shut it before getting into the driver's seat once again.
Lindsey turned in the seat and saw her. The twelve-year old girl looked just like her mother with blond hair and blue round blue eyes. Around her neck were headphones and in her hand was a portable CD player. "Hello. I'm Lindsey."
"Sara," she told the girl.
"Gil told me you're his friend. Are you his girlfriend?"
"Lindsey," Catherine warned.
"What?! Mom, come on, it's no big deal. I think it's cute. Gil needs a girlfriend."
Sara felt herself blush as she saw Gil watching her through the rearview mirror.
He signed to Lindsey who signed back as she laughed. Once everyone was buckled in, Gil headed up the driveway and out the gate as he took a right turn out onto the s street. The sun was starting to set and the shadows on the road were more prominent. Sara was certain that at night it was hard to see the road through the trees.
Lindsey grabbed Gil's MP3 player and turned it off as she produced a CD. The one that had been in her CD player. She put it in and hit play. The girl slid on a pair of sunglasses and started rocking out as "Get the Party Started" by P!NK blared through the speakers.
Sara thought that Gil was going to turn it off, but he didn't make a move to change the music as he kept driving. "He's okay with Lindsey taking over his car radio?"
"When I was pregnant, he played Mozart. Said it was for the baby."
She regarded Gil in the front seat as she smiled. The man was such a push-over. Big softie. She found that she liked that about him.
Lindsey's friend Jude lived not too far from their destination in the Pacific Palisades. The house was a two-story white mid-century modern with an angled flat roof and dark thin windows sandwiched between two bungalows off a residential street in Rustic Canyon. It looked newly built. She was surprised that it wasn't some other mansion on a hillside.
"I'm going up to the door with you," Catherine told Lindsey as Gil got out of the car.
"Mom, no!" Lindsey already had her door open. "I can walk to the door by myself!"
"I don't know Jude and I've never met her parents—"
"You're always doing this! It's embarrassing!"
Gil had opened Catherine's door and held out his hand to help her out of the car. Catherine's dress was equally as stunning as hers, though black, sleeveless, and very shiny due to the sequins. When they'd been shopping, Catherine told her that her dress cost nearly thirty grand. Her jaw had dropped. And it still dropped as she thought about it.
Lindsey slammed the car door shut. Through the rearview, she saw Gil withholding Lindsey's backpack as he signed to her as he knelt down to be level with her. Catherine was already halfway up the driveway, waiting for her daughter. Gil signed something to Lindsey who signed back /Okay. I'm sorry for slamming your door./
Gil then stood and handed her the backpack. /And apologize to your mother. She's right. She doesn't know these people. At least she wants to know who you're spending time with. It shows she cares./
"Whatever," Lindsey said while signing as she turned to head up the driveway.
Sara watched as mother and daughter headed together to the front door as Gil watched by the car. Gil wasn't wrong about Lindsey Willows having behavior problems. If this was what she was like going to that fancy rich therapeutic boarding school, then she couldn't imagine what she'd been like before attending.
Catherine and Lindsey disappeared inside the house for several minutes before Catherine walked back out, minus her daughter. She and Gil conversed before he opened the back passenger door for her once again.
Gil sat in the driver's seat and reconnected his MP3 player. He then selected a song before he backed out of the driveway. As they headed to the club, INXS "To Look at You" started playing.
~"What is the name to call
For a different kind of girl…"~
They arrived at the Obsidian Club just as the sun was setting over the ocean. It was stunning. It was a 1920's Mediterranean style mansion with a stucco and stone exterior with red-tiled roofs. It had Spanish style gardens with fountains, fireplaces, and string lighting. The mansion was located on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, specifically Santa Monica Bay. There was a walkway with stairs that led down to the beach. It was surrounded by trees and had a great cliffside lawn where tables and chairs were set up as well as inside and on the courtyard patio. The place was elegant, and charming, and she could not believe she was there.
~"Who knows the feelings
But never the words…"~
She felt nervous as Gil pulled the car around to the valet parking and got out as he handed the keys to the valet. He opened the door first for Catherine before they walked around to her side of the car. Gil helped her out of the car and held out his arm for her. Standing on the red carpet that traveled down the length of the rose-lined walkway, and waiting for Catherine, was Disco Placid. Catherine slid her arm around his as they started down the walkway.
~"To look at you
And never speak…"~
Gil leaned into her and kissed her neck. She glanced at him and saw his wink. There were paparazzi taking their pictures as she finally slid her arm through Gil's arm. He smiled as he walked her up the red carpeted path towards the club.
~"Is so good
For me tonight…"~
There were several entrances to the building and Gil chose the one that was at the back of the building. They passed through a garden and under a canopy of trees before being met by a security guard. She nearly gasped when she saw it was Archie.
Archie smiled when he saw her and said, "Hey, Sara, you're looking fine. Love the dress."
"What're you doing here?"
He pointed to the jacket and name tag. "I'm with security."
"How?"
"You know, the usual. Hacked a few networks, stole a security clearance card, made a copy, and knocked out the real guard. He's in the bushes behind me." Upon seeing her shocked look, Archie grinning. "I'm kidding. I swear, it was nothing illegal. I work with Atticus Security. We do all these events. Helps to have an inside man."
She eyed him before turning to Gil, asking, "Is he ever serious?"
Gil just shrugged.
They ascended a staircase and ended up on top of the courtyard patio. Her breath caught at the sight. The trees, the lights that lit up the patio and as she stepped over to the edge, she saw that it overlooked the cliffside lawn and further out, the setting sun over the water.
~"To look at you
And never speak…"~
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Gil's eyes not on the view but on her. There was a softness to his face that she hadn't noticed before given the beard. And now that she saw it, she was falling head-over heels again for the man.
He stepped over to her and slid his hand down her arm, setting her skin on fire. He knew exactly what he was doing as he smiled. Taking her hand into his, he ran it over the banister. It was black, looked like glass. That's when she noticed the floor of the patio. It was made out of obsidian rock. It was shiny and smooth, and not the rough rock that'd been found in the trash bag with Jane Doe.
~"Is so good
For me tonight…"~
He intertwined their fingers before heading into the grand formal room that they entered through a set of double glass doors. It was a formal dining hall with round tables that sat ten; white linen covered the tables. They decided to take a tour of the place as they were among the first to arrive. On the opposite side of the dining hall were glass doors that lead out onto the Spanish garden courtyard. There were more tables and a fireplace where a wood fire burned. A wet bar was along one wall as string lights that lit up the night.
~"What is the name to call
For a different kind of girl…"~
Gil got two beers from the bar and handed her one as they ventured further around. Back inside the dining hall, they found another set of doors that lead to a balcony with a heater and outdoor seating. Through the white curtain that blocked off the dining hall from the rest of the mansion, they entered a room with chandleries, a grand piano, more tables and chairs, couches, and several fireplaces. Wall art adorned the walls as a piano player sat at the bench.
Sara noticed the floors inside as well. There was obsidian flooring throughout the interior of the mansion. She tapped Gil's arm, making him look at her face. She asked, "Who's the architect?"
He signed, /T-O-D-D S-I-N-C-L-A-I-R./
~"Who knows the feelings
But never the words…"~
Most of the attendees had gathered in that room thus far. She saw several of their suspects, including Mr. Wayne Gleason and Mrs. Audrey Michaels who were their main targets for the evening. They were supposed to befriend the couple. At the moment, the couple wasn't coupling seeing how they were there with their respective spouses. But the glances they shot one another across the room told her that at some point that evening they would be together.
Turning to Gil, she said, /Maybe we should get them alone. I can start up a conversation with Mr. Gleason while you go introduce yourself to Mrs. Michaels./
Gil thought about that strategy for only a moment before nodding. He caught sight of Catherine and signed for her to, /Come here./
Catherine spoke to Disco Placid before walking over. She had a cocktail in her hand. "Just letting you guys know the itinerary for the evening. Tonight's dinner is at eight. Then the fundraising begins at nine. And party through the night. So, do as you will just be safe. Now, what do you want?" she asked Gil. "I'm mingling."
/I want you to introduce me to Mrs. Michaels. Sara's going to become friendly with Mr. Gleason./
She asked, "Is Gina Sinclair here?"
"She declined the invitation," Catherine said as she glanced around the room and spotted both of their targets. "Sara, are you okay being alone?"
"I'm not alone," she said as she smiled at Gil before backing away across the room. She signed, /If I need help, I'll signal you with the word 'help'./
Gil smirked before moving away with Catherine leading the way.
~"Who do you ask when there's no one
Left to turn to…"~
As she approached Mr. Wayne Gleason and the man he was conversing with, she got a good look at the man she had to wine and dine. Mr. Gleason was taller than Gil at six-foot. His tuxedo had tails, which she did not like, and in his hand was a cigar, equally as nauseating as what he liked to do with children. His eyes were a deep brown, his hair black and slicked back. He had bushy eyebrows and a thin mouth. He wasn't handsome, nor ugly. He had a look though. An odd sort of look that wasn't quite rugged but not scruffy looking either. The man was a hockey player, she figured he'd been hit in the face one too many times with the puck. Whatever his look was, she wasn't the least bit attracted to the man. However, she had to befriend the guy.
As she eased up behind the man, acting like she was admiring the decor, she overheard Mr. Gleason's friend as he said, "I seriously don't understand why she brings him along. Staff should never be invited to these events."
"I heard Gil's more than the staff. Word is Catherine and Ed are divorcing, and her driver's the reason why."
~"You ask me and I'll always try to hear…"~
She cleared her throat, causing both men to turn to her. Their eyes immediately went down her body and it took everything she had to plaster on a fake smile on her face instead of breaking the beer bottle across their goofy looking faces. "Actually, Gil and I share the bed. Catherine's involved with her producer friend, and Gil's not just her driver. You do realize that the coffee being provided to this club, to this event, is Monarch Coffee. And do either of you know who it is that owns one, if not the largest Los Angeles based coffee brands? Gil. Monarch Coffee is his. He's President and CEO of the company. I'm surprised you didn't know that?"
Both men turned to eye Gil across the room. "He's a millionaire?"
"He likes keeping a low-profile. Takes his privacy seriously. Driving around his best friend is something he enjoys doing. He gets to meet a lot of prospective clients that way. Like attending these events. He's here tonight because he wants to expand the company and is looking for potential investors. Shareholders. My guess is Monarch is going to be as big as, if not bigger, than Starbucks. That's a lot of opportunity for anyone interested. Don't you think so? Tell me, Mr. Gleason, as a hockey player, do you have a stake in the coffee brand that your sport advertises?"
"No, in fact, I don't."
"Shouldn't you have the opportunity to be part of a brand that'll allow you to have a stake in? You're making it money, why shouldn't it be in return making you money? I'm sure if you ask, set a meeting, you can talk to Gil about a possible sponsorship, that is unless you already have an endorsement?"
Mr. Gleason shook his head, saying, "I don't have any endorsements for any beverage brands at the moment."
"We could change that. Do some TV ads, collect a check." She then took a long moment to look him over as he did with her. "Think about it," she told him before walking away. She didn't look back to know that Mr. Gleason was watching.
~"Past money and colors and make believe
Good cheap values for a thrifty clown…"~
An hour later, they were seated at the round table covered in white linen. Catherine and her date were also at the table along with members of Catherine's newly signed band, The Narrows. They were performing that evening on the great lawn once dinner was over. Sara noticed both Gleason and Audrey watching them. Gil had told her that he had slipped Audrey Michaels a note when Catherine stepped away to get a drink. Though he didn't tell her what was on the note, it got Audrey's attention.
Looking at Gil, she said, "I think they're exhibitionists." He frowned in confusion. "Exhibition-ists."
He shook his head. He had no idea what she was saying. Sara fully understood now how Gil's mind worked when reading lips. It was the same how her mind worked when reading his signs. There were gaps. It was like the game show Wheel of Fortune. Even with gaps where there were no letters, your mind was still figuring out the puzzle based on the clue and the letters shown on the board. But the gaps were still there. Just like his signs. She knew enough, and the context, to fill in the gaps and form the whole sentence to know what he was saying.
Right then, Gil was trying to fill in the gaps to form the whole word. He didn't understand the context and had no clue since it was sudden and came out of nowhere. So, to help him, she told him the definition, "When you are aroused by the idea of others watching you undress or perform sexual acts. The voyeur and the exhibition—"
Gil signed a word before fingerspelling 'exhibitionist'. Now he understood.
She nodded. "That's why they gave you a good peep show at the hotel. They didn't care who was watching." Sara thought it was time they upped their game as she turned to Gil and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. When his eyes were on hers, she asked, "Can you read my lips?" He nodded. "Good. When I was in college, I joined the Mile High Club. Boston to Miami, I had sex with some guy I barely knew in the plane's bathroom. I'm pretty sure they heard us all the way into the cockpit."
~"To look at you
And never speak…"~
His eyes widened in surprise before she kissed him hard on the lips. Reaching down, she grabbed him through his pants, making him buck up into her as he groaned, very loudly. She was laughing as she pulled away. His eyes were heavy with desire, and it showed in his pants.
Catherine sat stunned. Sara just shrugged as she picked up her drink and took a sip.
Gil leaned into her, his hand on her thigh. A smile crept up her face as she felt his lips on her shoulder. Sara was certain he wouldn't be able to take his hands off her for the rest of the evening.
~"Is so good
For me tonight…"~
Mr. Gleason was trying to keep up with them all night, but his wife wasn't having any of it. It seemed that he'd married a woman who didn't enjoy public displays of affection.
After dinner, they stood in the courtyard next to the fireplace. Gil's hand rested on the small of her back as he leaned against the wall. Sara was pressed up against him, her right arm hidden inside his tux jacket. Her eyes were on Mr. Gleason as she saw his wife leaving the party. Gil's eyes were on her.
He asked, /What'd you want to do?/
She turned her head to look into his eyes. With her heels on, they were the same height. Wrapping her arm around his neck, she kissed him passionately, inciting another loud audible moan. Her hand stayed in his hair as she pulled her mouth away from his. "I think Mr. Gleason's ready. His wife just stormed out."
A small smile tugged at the edges of Gil's mouth as his eyes took in her face. His hand cupped her face as he leaned in for another kiss. His eyes drifted over to Mr. Gleason. She chuckled at the wink he gave the man.
Once his eyes were back on hers, she said, "You can be such a tease." And that was the point.
Then, he moved off the wall but kept his hand on the small of her back as he pressed it lightly, guiding her where he wanted her to go. As they left the courtyard, her eyes darted over to Mr. Gleason. He was watching them leave with a predatory stare that would've been welcomed had she actually wanted the man's attention.
~"To look at you
And never speak…"~
Gil showed her to a room down a long corridor. Like the rest of the mansion, it had floor to ceiling windows that showed the gorgeous view of the grounds. They were on the first floor, and she could see out onto the great lawn where the bands were playing. The lights were off. The only lights were coming from outside the big open windows.
~"Is so good
For me tonight…"~
Gil handed her a note. 'I will never have you do something you aren't comfortable doing. I will never re-victimize you. You're the one who has the power here. Not me. Tell me what you want to do, and we'll do it.'
She felt the well of tears in her eyes as she read the words. She didn't know why it hit her so hard, his consideration of her feelings. That's when she realized that she'd been the one dictating all the physical contact over the course of the evening. Gil was afraid that this situation would re-victimize her. She didn't know exactly what had happened to her as a child, but there was real concern in his eyes as they stood facing one another.
The door behind Gil opened and she saw two people walk inside. Wayne Gleason and Audrey Michaels. She instinctively moved into Gil's arms and pushed up against him to kiss his lips. His hands slid down her back, causing her to shiver.
"Are we interrupting?" Audrey asked.
~"What is the name to call
For a different kind of girl
Who knows the feelings
But never the words…"~
Sara kept her arms around Gil as she pushed him down into a lounge chair near the window. She moved to sit on his lap. As she addressed the two other people in the room, her right hand played over Gil's neck and hair, while her left rubbed his chest through his shirt. All the while, she felt Gil's hand on her thigh, his lips on her neck. He was making it very difficult to think straight.
"No, no, interruption at all," Sara said. "Mr. Gleason, did you decide whether or not you want our endorsement?"
Wayne Gleason stared down at her like she wasn't even a woman for a moment. His eyes were dark and wandering over her like she was nothing but an object. It made her skin bristle as she plastered on a fake smile. "It's still under debate."
"I see. And, um, what can we do to help you decide?" she asked. Gil hadn't even bothered to take his focus off her body.
Audrey was eyeing Gil, watching the way he made her body feel under his tortuous manipulations. "He's deaf, right?" she asked as she leaned into Wayne, rubbing his chest the way she was rubbing Gil's.
"That's right."
"Then how does he know how to pleasure you so well?"
Sara wasn't expecting that question, but her answer was, "It's not really about what we say to each other, but what our bodies are saying. He's highly attuned to non-verbal communication."
Audrey smiled as she said, "I know exactly what you mean."
~"What do you fear in the simple
Still of a summer's night…"~
"How did you two meet?" Wayne asked.
Sara had been anticipating the question ever since Detective Vega brought it up in the meeting earlier. The only way they'd believe her is if it was the truth, or a version of the truth. Giving it some thought of how to spin the truth into a lie that they'd believe, she absently undid Gil's bow tie.
Gil was trying to watch her lips, but she turned away, making sure he couldn't see. It hurt her to say the words, as she knew she was further pushing the lie that the man she loved was not only a criminal but a pedophile. She still remembered the look on his face, the anger, when she'd confronted him a week ago and accused him of being the 'Motel Butcher'. It hadn't been an act. He did not want her to think those things of him. But these two people, Wayne and Audrey, had to believe it. They had to believe Gil capable of such horrendous acts.
She had to lie. "We met one Saturday afternoon here in Los Angeles. It was at the library. I'd stolen from him, but he caught me. I was a bad girl, stealing a grown man's wallet. He wanted to punish me, and I let him. I was ten years old. I will never forget it. Our first time. I've been obsessed with him punishing me ever since."
Wayne and Audrey exchanged a look of disbelief, but she saw the glint in their eyes. They were interested. Audrey's eyes darted to the windows as she said, "Everyone can see in."
Sara smirked as she said, "Then we better make it good."
Pinning Gil to the chair, her back to their guests, she caught his eyes as he touched her face. He signed, /We can stop./
/When I say so/ she told him right before she slammed her mouth into his.
~"I understand I sympathize for a daydream
Fairytales and I love you…"~
She unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt. Her lips kissed his chest as her hand yanked opened his belt. He grabbed her waist as he groaned. Sliding off his lap, she landed on her knees in front of him. He asked, /Are you sure?/
In response to his questions, she unzipped his pants and reached inside and felt how hard he was. Locking eyes with him, she saw that he was only looking at her.
/Trust me?/ he asked. It was probably for several reasons, and she trusted him on all of them.
She gave a nod.
/I trust you. Just me and you. No one else./
~"What is the name to call
For a different kind of girl…"~
His words centered her in a way that helped her to push aside any doubts. How far was she willing to go? She knew right then, with him, it was all the way.
She licked her lips, his eyes only on her, as she took him in her hand.
~"Who knows the feelings
But never the—"~
"What in the hell are you doing?"
At Catherine's voice, she immediately shot up and returned to Gil's lap as he dropped his head back. The sound that escaped his mouth was painful to what she'd denied him. He was angrily disappointed for the interruption. She started laughing. She couldn't help it.
"Catherine," Sara said as she eyed the woman. "We're just having some fun. And you're interrupting. Unless you're here to join us?"
Catherine shot her a glare, saying, "Oh, no thank you. Besides, I've seen him naked plenty of times."
Audrey and Wayne both looked at one another before he said, "This is a private matter."
Catherine crossed her arms and said, "I can see that. You, her, them, and a captive audience." She glanced towards the windows.
Sara didn't want to look. She felt Gil zipping up his pants as he breathed heavily into her neck before kissing it. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his neck as his hand moved dangerously up her thigh.
Gil eyed Catherine in anger, something she's never seen him do before, as he lifted his hands off her to sign.
Catherine appeared apologetic while signing, and speaking, saying, "I know it's your private affairs. And I'm sorry for busting in like this. Believe me, I've learned my lesson from the last time I accidentally walked in on something I was never supposed to see, but this is important." She then only signed, /It's Lindsey. She's having a meltdown at her friend's house and her parents are upset. They want me to come get her./
Gil nodded as he stood. Reaching into his tuxedo jacket, he removed a card and handed it to Wayne as they moved past the couple.
Sara hooked her arm with Gil's as she walked by, saying, "Give us a call when you're ready to make that deal."
Once they were out of the mansion and heading towards the car, Catherine said, "I'm sorry, but my daughter comes before the job."
"We understand, Catherine," Sara said, speaking for both her and Gil. "Is Lindsey okay?"
Catherine shrugged, saying, "She's had these meltdowns before, but never like this. She can be unpredictable at times."
"That doesn't sound like a simple behavioral issue."
Gil left her side to get the car, telling them, /Stay here, I'll pull the car around./
As they waited, Catherine told her, "We don't know what it is yet. Could be something as simple as ADHD or as complex as Bipolar. She gets aggressive, outbursts, defiance, but not typical of a pre-teen. She became a bully and started failing in all her classes…She's unable to regulate her emotions."
Sara gave a nod as she said, "That's why the therapeutic boarding school."
"They're better equipped to handle her outbursts and…everything else. I've tried my best, done everything—"
"You don't have to defend yourself to me, Catherine. It must be hard, for both of you."
Catherine's smile was tight as she gripped her purse strap. "Yeah. It is. Thanks."
Gil's Mercedes Benz stopped beside them and before he could get out, she already had the door open for Catherine to get in the backseat. She shut the door and then got in the passenger side. The drive to Lindsey's friend's house was eerily quiet. It gave her too much time to think in the silence. Reaching over, she turned the radio on and selected a random playlist. They arrived at the house and Gil parked in the driveway. Catherine got out and hurried towards the front door.
"I need air," Sara said as she opened the car door and got out. She was cold. Her body started to shake until she felt his tuxedo jacket on her shoulders. He moved to stand in front of her so he could see her face. She grabbed the jacket and smiled at him. "Thanks."
/That was tough back there. I know that whatever you said, all you had to think about, it must have been hard, but you got through it. I'm proud of you./
She wiped the tears that's fallen off her face. "It's the only way I can move forward, fight through it. I'll be okay."
His soft smile reached his eyes as he said, /You're a strong woman. I admire that./
"I had to lie about you."
He gave a nod. /I know who I am, Sara. You don't have to protect me. I do this so I can protect those who can't protect themselves. I want to think that you know me too now. The lies don't matter./
More tears fell at his words. Gil wrapped her into a hug and held her as tightly as he could until she heard Catherine and Lindsey walking out of the house. As she wiped her cheeks once again, he kissed her head before getting the car door for her.
M83's "Gone" started playing as they headed towards Catherine's house. Lindsey was seated beside her mother with her head in her lap. There were tears on her face. Gil's hand reached out and grabbed hers. He gave it a tight squeeze and she squeezed it back.
They turned onto Mulholland Drive and Sara tried to relax as she rested her head back against the seat. The winding roads were so dark that the high beams didn't even seem to be enough. Gil, being the cautious driver that he was, took the turns slow and easy, only speeding up to ascend a hill, slowing down on the drop. Headlights appeared in the rearview as two cars rounded the turn behind them.
One car, it was red, made an illegal pass as it sped past them in the on-coming lane. Gil slowed slightly to let the red car get ahead of him. The red car moved in front of them, and she saw it was a Buick. It got a couple car lengths ahead of them as the car behind them stayed a few feet back. From the headlights and the height, she would say the car behind them was actually a truck.
Red brake lights lit up the road. Gil slammed on the brake to keep from hitting the car. The truck behind them didn't stop. It plowed into the back of the car. Sara's head hit the back of the seat as her body jerked against the seatbelt. A scream shattered the night as glass shattered over her head. Her whole body shook as the car lurched forward and spun before rolling onto the side. Her body jerked against the seatbelt and then nothing.
It was so quiet and dark she'd thought she'd gone deaf and blind. Her head was spinning. It took her a moment to realize she was hanging sideways. Blinking the blood and glass out of her eyes, she saw through the shattered windshield the headlights lighting up the trees. Beyond the trees was a void of darkness that the light disappeared down into. They were in the trees.
"Mommy!"
Sara heard Lindsey's voice in the backseat and tried to crane her head around the seat to see what was going on in the back. They were sideways. Her arm was dangling. It hurt to move it. A soft moan rumbled in the dark beside her. It was Gil. He was resting on the door. Under him was the ground. The air bags had been deployed but he looked hurt. There was blood on his face.
"Mommy?! Mommy, wake up!"
With each scream the panic grew in Sara's chest and head as she reached for her seatbelt.
"Sara! Is Gil okay?" Lindsey asked.
"I don't know," she said. There was a noise in the dark. Footsteps running.
"Lindsey," Catherine's slurred voice finally answered. "Lindsey, are you okay?"
"Mommy," Lindsey said in relief. "You're bleeding." There were tears in her voice. The girl was crying.
Sara heard the backdoor open and then a man's voice.
The man asked, "Is everyone okay?"
Finding her voice, Sara got out, "Hey! Help! We need help. Call the police—"
"Mommy!" Lindsey's scream shattered the night as she felt the kicking against the back of her seat.
"Lindsey," Catherine cried out. "What're you doing?! Lindsey! Why are you taking my daughter?! Let her—"
"Mommy! Ahhh! Help! Stop!"
She heard Lindsey fighting, yelling, screaming, as she found the buckle and unlocked the seatbelt. She dropped across the seats and landed on Gil. He groaned under her weight. "I'm sorry," she told him as she pulled herself up using the seat with her good arm. The other one wasn't working right. Her wrist hurt. She saw the backdoor open and through the shattered back window saw two people retreating fast up the hill to the road. One of them had Lindsey.
"Mommy!"
"Lindsey," Catherine called out as she tried to get up. She was also on the driver's side and had hit the ground.
Sara pushed the passenger door open and climbed out of the car, one of her heels fell off as she climbed through the opening and dropped down to the ground. She started running towards the road, but it was too late. By the time she felt the pavement under her feet, the truck and red Buick were gone.
Lindsey was gone.
Through the dark trees behind her, she heard Catherine's frantic plea, "Lindsey!"
TBC…
Disclaimer songs mentioned/used: "Get the Party Started' by P!nk, "To Look at You" by INXS, and "Gone" by M83.
PS: I based the Obsidian Club off of the real Bel-Air Bay Club located in the Pacific Palisades.