by Robin Hicks
Three hours later, Randi grabbed her purse and was walking out the door to go open 'The Old Past' Antique Store. Business has been real good lately despite the robbery. Granted Randi was more alert to customers that came and went, but she was bound and determined that those men were not going to have that much control over her mind…
"Morning Randi." Linda said as she came through the glass door and the chimes rang.
"Hi Linda, how was your date with Peter last night?"
"Oh man, A.B.S.O.L.U.T.E.L.Y. wonderful. Just fabulous!"
"Well, I guess it went ok huh?" Randi laughed.
"Randi, he's the best thing that's ever happened to me. And my mom loves him, so that is a plus."
"I'd say. There's no shipments coming in today so it should be pretty quiet."
Linda watched as Randi buzzed up and down the isles tagging a few items here and there, disappear in and out of the office a few times, and then back to the counter.
"Geeze Randi, how much coffee have you had this morning?" The young college student asked her boss.
"Don't ask, it was a lot. Look, I have to run out but like I said earlier, it should be pretty quiet today. If you have any problems, call my cell phone, and I'll come back. Otherwise I'll be back in plenty of time to close. Ok?"
"Sure thing Boss Lady. Hey, why don't you just kind of take it easy today, you've been running yourself pretty ragged here lately."
"You saying I look like shit?"
"You…couldn't look like shit even if you rolled in it."
"Mmm, no wonder Peter loves you so much. It's a good thing you're taken young lady, and bat for the other team. You're good for my soul."
'Yeah, but if I did bat for your team, you would be just my type.'
"You wait Randi, that woman that is PERFECT for your soul is just around the corner beautiful."
"Sweet talker. Bye…"
Chapter Twenty Five
"Silvers, Jacobs, there's a Mrs. Preston here to see you two."
"Mrs. Preston, Ma'am," Koty referred to Dylan. "Please have a seat, what can we do for you?"
"My daughter called me last night Detective. Seems you were right on the money. As I was making some phone calls around to some of her closest friends, she called me. She's terrified that her father will find out about Trent, and keep him away. The boy is not a bad boy at all, like I said he was accused of something that he didn't do."
Koty looked between the two women then asked, "Mrs. Preston, why doesn't she just come live with you? I mean, she turns eighteen in two months anyway."
"Because the bastard has custody of her."
This time Laney spoke up. "Ma'am, no judge in his right mind is going to do anything now that she is seventeen. If she wants to move in with you, and you want her to, there is really nothing your husband will be able to do about it legally."
"You mean she can come live with us?"
"I don't see why not, but you should speak to your lawyer for more specifics."
Leanne buried her face in her partner Dylan's chest and cried. Dylan circled her arms around her lover, and held her close. "It's going to be alright Baby, we'll go see Myra today."
Koty cleared her throat a little to get the attention of the two women. "I will need to see Kelly and Trent before I can officially close this case you understand."
"Yes Detective, we understand. We will bring them in ourselves won't we Dylan."
"Yes Baby, we will." The tall woman said smiling at her lover.
The women finished, shook the detective's hands, and stood to leave. Before they turned, Koty stopped them, pulled out one of her cards, and wrote something on the back of it.
"Some friends of mine are having a party on this day. My partner and I, as well as Laney here will be there. We would love to have you two come as well. It's just a lot of food and good friends. I know you'll have a good time."
The two women got matching huge grins on their faces as Dylan reached for the card in Koty's hand.
"We don't know what to say, but yeah, we'll be there."
"Great, have a nice day ladies."
As the women left, Laney shook her head and turned to Koty. "You just charmed the pants right off of them two. No wonder all of the women are in love with you Silvers. That shit just comes so naturally to you, that you don't even realize that you are doing it."
"Shut up Jacobs."
"Holy Shit. OH MY GOD. You are blushing! You wait till I tell Kasey about this, the powerful Oz is blushing."
"Like she will believe that."
"Oh…Kasey believes everything that I tell her."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Oh…nothing."
"Jacobs."
Ring. Ring.
"Sorry Koty gotta answer my cell phone."
'Ha, saved by the bell.'
"Hello?"
"Hi Laney, its Kasey. I called you because I don't want Koty freaking out on me. I had to bring Chris into the emergency room this morning. She passed out at the clinic. Can you drive her over here, but don't tell her where you're going until you're already in the car?"
"No problem, we're leaving right now, see you in about ten minutes."
Laney closed her cell phone, and looked at Koty. "Come on Silvers."
"What? Who was that?"
"Just come on, we have somewhere to go." With that, she walked out the door with Koty rushing behind her.
"Shit Laney, wait up…"
Laney had just turned onto First Colonial Road when Koty finally got her to answer her question. "Are you going to tell me where we are going now Laney? You're making me nervous."
"We're going to the emergency room. Kasey had to take Chris there a little while ago, she passed out."
"Shit! I knew something was wrong yesterday, why didn't she call me? Why did she call you!?"
"Because you would freak out just like you are doing right now Silvers. You would have busted every damn traffic law there is if not get us in an accident. She was worried about you."
"Worried my fucking ass! That's my damn Sister in Law we are talking about who just happens to be pregnant."
"Don't you dare be pissed at Kasey for this Koty, she did the right thing." Laney glanced at her partner.
"Bullshit!"
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
"Where's Chris Kasey, what's going on?" Koty bellowed as soon as she came in through the doors to where Kasey was sitting in a chair in the waiting room.
Kasey glanced between her lover and Laney. 'Uh oh.' "The doctor is still with her Honey." She said as she stood to go to hug Koty. When Koty stiffened, Kasey pulled away hesitantly.
"Honey we should know something soon."
"Why didn't you call me Kase? What happened? I told you yesterday that something was wrong, why DIDN'T you CALL me?"
"Honey, I wanted you to get here safely, I didn't want to have to worry about you too."
"Damn it Kase, I…where's Monty? Have you called him yet?"
"He's on his way he should be here any time now. Baby, I'm sorry." Kasey approached her lover again to pull her into a hug. This time Koty wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and pulled her close, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her lips.
"No, I'm sorry. I know I can be a complete ass sometimes."
"Yeah but you're my ass and I love you, she's going to be ok Honey."
A short thin woman with a white lab coat and clip board in hand, came through the doors and approached the three women reaching for Kasey's hand. "Hi Kasey, you are here with Chris Silvers Right?"
"Hi Kara, and yes. Chris is mine and my partner here, Koty sister in law. How is she doing, and what happened?"
"Chris is fine for now; you can go back and see her as soon as I'm through here. They will be working on her release papers in a few minutes. Let me tell you what we think is happening here.
"Chris's blood pressure was elevated quite high when you brought her in here. 170 over 100 to be exact. Her pressure is down and stable for now, but she n
eeds to see her doctor a.s.a.p. for a follow up. As far as her passing out, that could be a number of things. The pregnancy in itself along with the stress and the combination with the high blood pressure isn't a good combination.
"Now I know that I don't have to explain to you Kasey what high blood pressure and pregnancy can mean, but I will explain it to Koty, and your friend here. First, does Chris have high blood pressure?"
Kasey looked to Koty for this answer, and Koty shook her head. "No, she doesn't. Could this just be a fluke thing Doctor?"
"Yes, it could be, that's why I want her to follow up with her doctor. If she doesn't normally have high blood pressure, and starts now, it's what we refer to as Gestational Hypertension. This must be closely monitored by her doctor.
"Hypertension can cause harm to the mother's kidneys, and other organs. It can also cause low birth weight and early delivery. In severe cases the mother can develop Preeclampsia, or, toxemia of pregnancy which can threaten both mother and fetus.
"Now, Preeclampsia doesn't typically start until after the twentieth week, but it can be a very serious complication. Now that is not what I am saying is going to happen, but it is something that needs to be monitored and watched. Kasey I'm sure you can answer more questions if there are any. Right now I know you're anxious to see Chris, so I'll take you back there."
Laney placed a hand on Kasey's shoulder, and gave a light squeeze. "The two of you go back there, and I'll send Monty back when he arrives. Go on now."
"Thanks Laney."
Kasey reached for her tall lover's hand, and followed the doctor through the doors then down a long hall to the emergency room cubical that held individuals with different stages of emergencies. Koty had not spoken a word since the doctor had approached them, and Kasey squeezed her hand, and pulled her a little closer to her side as they walked.
"She's going to be alright Honey we will make sure of it. We'll make sure she makes that doctors appointment in the morning, and she can tell us a lot more, ok?"
Koty just nodded, and squeezed her lovers hand back. She was afraid to speak. Afraid, that if she opened her mouth, she would cry. Nothing could happen to Chris. Monty would never be able to survive it. Hell, she would never be able to survive it.
Monty, Chris, and Kasey were the only family she had left, besides Jamie and Trish and she wasn't prepared for anything to happen to either one of them. Now her little niece or nephew is involved as well…
Chapter Twenty Six
Chris was released with the promise to make an appointment with her doctor first thing in the morning. Koty assured the attending doctor that Chris had no choice but to make that appointment if Koty herself had to make it for her.
After hugs and many promises to take it easy for the rest of the day, Monty took his wife home while Kasey decided to have lunch with the two detectives.
Through out the whole lunch, Koty seemed distracted, and Kasey knew that her partner was thinking about Chris and her condition. Kasey knew that as long as Chris took it easy, and followed her doctor's orders, she should be just fine.
Convincing Koty of this however was a completely different story. Since the whole ordeal with the Roy Coleman case, Koty tended to be a little overly protective when it came to her family. She seemed to always be looking over her shoulder like something was going to happen at any giving moment.
Right when Kasey thought that the tall detective was finally starting to relax a little, this happened with Chris. Kasey knew that she would have to work a little bit harder at trying to ease her partners' fears that something bad was going to happen to one of her family.
Kasey just hoped that this wasn't something that would start Koty to drinking heavy again. Koty's drinking habits earlier in their relationship had a lot to be desired. The tall woman just recently cut way back, only drinking occasionally. Kasey prayed that this wouldn't set things off.
The doctor was brought out of her quiet thoughts by hearing Koty laugh at something Laney had just said to her. She just caught the tail end of the conversation, but it was something about Laney swinging, and Laney blushing a crimson red.
"Sweetheart, would you leave Laney alone, why do you insist on picking on her?"
"Because Baby, she has a crush on one little Miss Randi Daniels."
Kasey rubbed her hand over her face to hide a smile because she was sure that Koty was right on the money on this one, but kept that smile to herself. "Honey just leave Laney alone, and quit picking on her…So what's going on now?"
Laney wadded up her napkin then threw it at a smirking Koty. "She's picking on me because Randi has asked me to the Tides game on Saturday, and I decided to tell her yes, that I would go with her. And, just because I decided to go, your wife here thinks that I have a crush on her. Like two grown women can't go to a game together without something going on."
"Hey wait a minute," Koty protested. "I think two women can go to a game together without something happening, I just know that there is something between you two, even if you two don't see it."
Koty threw the napkin back at her partner. "Besides, look at how much you blush when ever her name is just mentioned. Much less if you see her walk in a room."
Koty then lost her cocky grin. "Besides Laney, even if you are, which I'm not saying that you are, but even if you are…well…you know that Kasey and I are behind you all the way, and will help you in any way. It's not easy when you first figure these things out about yourself. So…just know that we will help."
Laney lost her smile, and briefly all color left her face. Suddenly a huge grin split her face. "You sappy shithead, just finish your lunch and drop the subject."
"That's a great idea," Kasey interjected. "Let's finish our lunch Sweetheart because I have to get to the clinic. Susan is filling in for me until I can get there, and I don't want her overwhelmed…"
Koty walked her wife to her car then pulled her into a tight hug. Leaning down she placed a quick soft kiss to the doctor's cheek, taking note of many people standing around in the parking lot watching them intently.
"Ok Baby, I'll see you this evening when I get home." Koty released her tight hold, but still held her at arms length.
"Ok Detective, but promise me you won't dwell to much on Chris's condition while you're at work."
"I…I'm not…" Koty just gave it up though because she knew that Kasey had her. "Alright Baby, I'll try not to."
Kasey reached up and kissed her lover lightly on the lips, not giving a shit what people saw or thought. "Thank you for not trying to deny it, I'll see you tonight." Then she climbed into her Mustang, and drove off.
Koty walked back to Laney's SUV and climbed in. "Ok Jacobs, let's go see what our friendly city has waiting for us. Call in, and let them know that we are off lunch."
"Let's do that, but Silvers? You call in that we are off lunch; I'm the one that's driving."
"Yeah yeah, just a small technicality. Just drive James…"
The two detectives drove to a liquor store that had just been robbed and, the clerk had been shot. As they arrived, the area was already surrounded by three police units.
Fortunately for the clerk, he was only hit in the shoulder, and would be alright. He was standing outside talking to an officer as Koty and Laney arrived at the same time as the paramedics.
A description had already been giving, and units were searching for a young white male in camouflage pants and, a black hoody jacket. He was last seen running through the parking lot of the Plaza, then across Virginia Beach Blvd.
Unfortunately, traffic was still thick from the lunch hour and they lost sight of the shooter. Moments later, a unit called in that they spotted him running through Pinewood Gardens Apartments.
Just as two of the units at the liquor store were getting ready to respond, a call came in that they caught him, and had him in custody. Koty and Laney, no longer needed, headed back to the station…
Chapter Twenty Seven
Saturday morning arrived with Laney feeling
just a little apprehensive, and a little excited about the upcoming baseball game with Randi. 'Well, it's not like it's a date or anything right? I mean…well…it's not is it?'
Just as Laney was rinsing out her coffee cup her phone rang, and brought her out of her musings. "Hello?"
"Hi Laney its Randi."
Laney felt the smile come to her face, and the blush that instantly followed. 'Oh Christ!' "Hi Randi"
"Are we still on for today? You're not going to back out on me are you?"
"No, I told you last night that I would go, and I'm actually looking forward to it. It's been awhile since I've been to a ball game, by the way; who are they playing?"
"The Richmond Braves."
"Oh boy, and who are you going to be rooting for?"
"Well the Tides of course! Who else?"
"Um…you and I might have a problem then Randi."
"Oh no way 'THING', don't you dare tell me you are going to be rooting for the Braves!"
"Fraid so Dear, this is going to be sooo much fun, don't you think?"
"Oh, you are a brave one Honey."
'She called me Honey again.' Laney smiled to herself.
"Be ready in an hour Detective, I'm coming to pick you up a little early, I won't take no for an answer."
"Pushy little thing aren't you?"
"Don't start with the little jokes 'Thing'.
"Ok Sparky, see you in an hour…"
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
"No way Blue! That was a foul ball, you need glasses!" Randi was standing while yelling at the umpire who just called a fair ball down the third base line, bringing a Richmond Brave to first base putting a man on first, and second.
Laney was finding it hard to contain the laughter that was building up with Randi's antics. 'Feisty, and cute.' She could no longer deny that she thought Randi was attractive. Very attractive.
"Face it Sparky, it was a fair ball. Maybe I'll buy you a pair of glasses."
"Fair my a…butt. If it was the Braves that hit that ball you would be singing a different tune, and you know it."
"Yeah maybe. But. It wasn't the Braves so sit down like a good little girl and eat your hot dog."
