by Robin Hicks
"You donated a very large sum of money to the fund raising group to help pay my sons hospital bills. He had been severely beating in a hate crime and lost his leg because of it. My family owes you our deepest gratitude."
"Your son is Josh Haggen? I've met him a few times. You have a very brave son Captain, how is he doing?"
"He's doing just great. He's off to William and Mary studying to become a Criminal Lawyer. Now, for what I came for. I do believe that device you are looking for came from my office."
Koty and Laney looked at each other then back to the Captain. "And where is it now Sir?" Koty asked as she sat on the corner of her own desk.
"Now that Ma'am is a very good question. We got one at our station to try it out. Before we were even able to test it, it and all of the codes disappeared from my office.
"Now I really hate to say this but the only ones who had access to my office are people who work for me. Now that pulls my underwear into a huge knot knowing it's one of my people. I assure you that EVERY measure is being taking to find out who is behind this because I personally want to fry their ass.
"I don't take to kindly to being made a fool like this. You two will be one of the first to know if I find out who did it. All I ask of you is if you do catch the sonofabitch, you turn him over to me. I will do anything in my power to help you ladies."
Laney looked at Koty and the taller Detective nodded her head. "Well Captain we don't have a problem turning them over to you and this does help a lot. At least now we have somewhere to start and it has narrowed it down quite a bit.
"We really appreciate you coming over to us with this information. We know you didn't have to do this and I can't imagin how it feels to know it is one of your own Sir. You have our word they will be turned over to you if we catch who did this."
"Think nothing of it Detectives. Now I'll bid you ladies farewell and let you go get that Starbucks coffee you are craving. Think I'll stop there myself and get one."
He stood from the desk and shook both of their hands. "Detective Silvers, it was a pleasure to finally meet you, I would truly love it someday if you would be my guest at my house for dinner one night. I know my wife would love to talk to you. That invitation goes to you as well Detective Jacobs."
"Captain after all of this is said and done I just might take you up on it. Give your wife my regards." Koty told him as she opened the door for him to exit out of and he left.
Laney sat in the chair the large man just vacated. "Well, we wondered if it was a cop. This really does help a lot."
"Yes it does. Now let's go get that coffee and head over to Bridgewood."
Chapter Thirty Five
"Shit, why isn't she answering?" Laney paced back and forth in her living room. She had been calling Randi for the past hour. She pulled out the wrinkled up business card from her pocket that had Randi's cell phone number on it making sure for the fifth time that she was dialing the right number.
'I don't have her home number. Hell I don't even know that she has a home number.' She searched in her mind if she had seen a phone the last time that she was at the younger woman's house. She couldn't remember if she did or not.
Looking at her watch the Detective wondered if maybe she should run over to Randi's house. It was only seven pm so she knew that it wouldn't be too late to just show up. Making her decision she grabbed her keys off the hanger by the front door and left…
Pulling to the curb three houses down from Randi's, Laney saw her truck in the driveway. She sat with her SUV in idle trying to get up the nerve to pull up to the house. Just as she was getting ready to pull forward she saw a silver Honda pull in front of the house and park.
The passenger door opened and she watched as Randi stepped out of the vehicle. Then the driver side door opened and she watched as the woman got out then walked up to Randi and place an arm around her shoulder as they walked towards the house. 'Jodi, shit.'
Laney felt her heart rate speed up considerably and dropped her head to the steering wheel releasing a breath she didn't even know she was holding. She waited until the two women were in the house before smacking the steering wheel and pulling off…
"You ok Rands?"
"Yeah, it just bites big ones you know? She is the first woman I have ever truly been in love with and even though the sex was just incredible it isn't even about that. I guess I was just an experiment for her. I really thought she felt the same way Jodi. Nobody can make love like that and not feel something."
"Well Honey, maybe it isn't what you think. I mean you didn't really stick around to find out what was going on now did you?"
"Jesus Jodi I couldn't. I thought I was going to die right there and then. I'm just glad that other Detective was called away before I got to the door. I felt like I had just been sucker punched in the gut."
Jodi walked up to her best friend and pulled her into a tight hug. "Sure you don't want me to stay with you tonight Babe?"
"No, I know you have a hot date and I want to hear every detail tomorrow. Well… not every detail but you know what I mean. I'll be ok I promise."
"Kay, I'll talk to you in the morning. Call me if you need anything cause you know you are more important to me than some date right?"
"Right. Go home Jodi and have fun tonight."
"Bye Babe."
Randi fell onto the couch and propped her feet up on the coffee table. She noticed her cell phone sitting on the end table that she had forgotten earlier and it was blinking showing that she had a missed call.
She picked it up and opened it. Six missed calls to be exact. Six missed calls from Laney. Randi sucked in her breath and felt the tears well up in her eyes once again.
She went to throw her phone but tried to hold back at the last minute but it was too late. The phone flew from her hand, hit the wall then dropped right into a vase she had on a table against the wall. A vase that held flowers and was full of water.
She starred wide eyed with her jaw dropped for a moment. Suddenly she burst out into uncontrollable and hysterical laughter. Falling face down into the cushions she pulled a pillow over her head and that is how she awoke several hours later.
Dragging herself to her bedroom and stripping along the way, she climbed into her king size bed and pulled her body pillow close to her wrapping herself around it. One again the tears slowly slid down her face then and she closed her eyes…
'Well, she obviously isn't too upset! Jodi is always in the picture no matter what.' Laney was at odds with herself because deep down she really liked Jodi and Randi had told her that they were just friends. For some displeasing reason the term 'Fuck Buddies' came to mind.
"That's disgusting Jacobs, you really need to try and give Rand a little more credit than that." The Detective had spoken out loud.
'You really need to trust her.' Her inner mind spoke.
"Yeah well I'm not too big on the trust thing."
'She hasn't giving you reason to has she?'
"I haven't known her that long asshole. Look at what happened with Richard."
'She isn't Richard.'
"No she is not but that doesn't really prove anything does it?"
'You really like her a lot.'
"Well of course I like her Sherlock!"
'Maybe a little more than like?'
"What the hell are you talking about?"
'Maybe you are in love with her.'
"Now hold on buster…I never said anything about that, you are way out of line!"
'Am I? Just think about it for a minute. If you aren't in love with her why are you taking this so badly?'
"I'm not taking it that badly. I'm…just concerned. I like her and I'm really confused on this and don't know what she is thinking. I don't want her to think that I was kissing Richard."
'Why did you chase her away after you slept with her? If you truly think that you aren't in love with her why not let her to continue to think you were kissing him? That way she can get over you quicker.'
"I don
't want her to get over me damn it!"
'Because you are in love with her.'
"I. AM. Not. In love with her!"
'Are too.'
"Am not."
'Are too.'
"Am…AGGGHHH! Will you please SHUT UP!!"
"Jesus Christ I am absolutely losing my fucking mind! I am now arguing with myself. They are going to lock me up in some looney bin if I keep going at this rate!"
Laney shook her head then went into the kitchen to open a bottle of Merlot. She didn't know just when it was that her life turned totally upside down. She had never felt so out of control before. She had never felt so lost before. 'I have never felt so alone before. Not even with Richard.'
Bypassing a glass she just grabbed the bottle to take to the living room and plopped on the soft couch throwing her long legs up on the coffee table. Putting the bottle to her lips she took a long pull and tried to contemplate what she was going to do about this situation.
"What do I want to do about this situation? Hell, what can I do about it if she is unwilling to talk to me?"
Chapter Thirty Six
"Hello?"
"Sis? It's Monty. There's been... Chris has been in an accident can you meet me at General?
"Jesus Christ Monty! Wh…"
"Slow down a minute Koty it's not that bad. She is alright but... um, she is bleeding Sis. They're not sure about the baby. The fuc... the air bag deployed."
"Monty I'm on my way just sit tight. I'll call Kasey on my way." Koty was already running out the door when she hung up the phone. She had heard the tale tell signs of slight cracking in her brothers' voice.
"Hey Baby listen to me."
"Dakota what's wrong?" Kasey could nearly feel the tension in Koty through the phone and immediately knew there was something wrong."
"Kase she is ok but Chris was in a accident and is at General. I don't know all of the details yet but Monty said she is bleeding and there may be something wrong with the baby. I'm heading over there now and thought you would want to meet me there."
"I'll have Joan take over my patients and I'll be there in about fifteen or twenty minutes. Don't speed Sweetheart one Silvers in the hospital is enough. I love you."
"Love you too I'll see you in a few minutes."
Kasey knew it was a futile attempt to tell Koty not to speed but had to try anyway. The stubborn Detective would usually answer with 'it's OK, I have connections.' Not that she has been stopped for speeding since she was a teenager…
Koty walked into the waiting room to see Monty hunched over in one of the chairs with his elbows on his knees and face in his hands. 'Shit.' "Monty are you Ok?" She asked as she sat down beside him.
"Oh, yeah. My back is just a little soar. The Doctor is in with Chris right now, I just came out of there a little while ago."
"How is she and what are they saying?"
"She has some bruises and some kind of residue from the air bags in her eyes along with a red patch on her face where it hit her. They haven't said anything about the baby yet."
Koty heard a noise and looked over her shoulder to see Kasey and Laney walking through the door. Kasey came up and placed a soft kiss to Monty's cheek. "Hey big guy, want me to go see if I can find out what is going on?"
"That would be great Kasey thanks." Kasey stood and reached over to give a soft gentle squeeze to Koty's shoulder before walking away.
Koty looked up at Laney and smiled. "Hey Laney have a seat."
"Thanks, I hope you don't mind but Kasey called me to tell me what happened. Do you know anything yet?"
"No, the doctor is in with her now. Apparently she is OK we just don't know about the baby yet but Kasey might be able to find out something."
"Why don't I go and get you two some coffee?"
"I could stand a cup how about you Bro?"
"Yeah that sounds good." Monty reached into his pocket to give Laney some money for the coffee but she waived a hand at him. "I've got this one."
"Thanks…"
All three stood as Kasey came through the door with the Doctor. "Mr. Silvers I am Doctor McBride." The Doctor said as he shook Monty's hand. "Your wife is just fine and so is your baby. The bleeding was not caused by the airbag. I suspect she had already started to bleed before the accident and hadn't noticed yet.
"The stress of the accident probably made it a little worse but everything is fine. Some women do a little bleeding in their second trimester and if it continues or gets worse then she needs to see her Doctor. She is going to be sore for awhile and I gave her some drops for her eyes. Other than that she can go home as soon as I write up her release. Any questions?"
Monty finally released the breath that he didn't even know he was holding. "Christ what a relief thank you so much Doc. If we have any questions later my wife or Dr. Brooks here will be able to answer them I'm sure." Monty reached for the Doctors hand to shake. "Once again thank you."
"No problem, I'm glad everything turned out like it did. That airbag saved your wife's and unborn baby's life. According to her, her car was totaled. Ya'll have a good evening."
They all stood deathly still until Koty finally spoke. "Did you see her Durango Monty?"
"No, I got a phone call that they were bringing her here so I came straight from work. Guess I need to find out where they towed it to."
"I'm sure that is something that can wait until morning Bro. Come on lets go see Chris before you take her home…"
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗
"Just a minute. Shit." Laney said as she stubbed her toe on the table leg trying to get to the door. Peeking through the little peep hole her breath caught in her throat and hastily she opened the door.
"Hi, I know it's late but…"
"Randi come in please."
"I…"
"No wait Rand I have something to say first and then you can say or do whatever you want. I think you saw something the other day that wasn't what it seemed."
"Laney you don't have to…"
"Just hear me out please." Laney said softly. Randi just gave a slight nod for her to continue.
"That was my ex husband. He took me a little by surprise when he kissed me. It wasn't a pissed off kiss or even a come on kiss. He had just wished me good luck and I think it was a goodbye kiss. I didn't stop him but I didn't kiss him back. I think you walked in at just that moment when he did."
Laney became quiet and briefly thought that Randi wasn't going to say anything. "I'm sorry Lane. I did jump to conclusions but I think I upset you the morning after we made… the next morning. Then I didn't here from you and I didn't know what to think or do. I…"
Randi's sentence was cut off by soft lips claiming hers. What started as a quick kiss just to sooth the younger woman soon became a burning urge to reconnect. Hands and lips were everywhere at once and both women were gasping when they finally came up for desperately needed air.
"Will you stay the night Rand?"
The younger woman thought that she might cry due to the astounding relief she felt at those few words. In fact, she felt the tears slowly fill her eyes then spill over to her soft cheeks.
"Hey," Laney whispered as she gently wiped the tears away. "I didn't mean to make you cry. What's wrong sweetheart?"
"They are happy tears Laney. I just lo… I just have missed you so much and thought that maybe you thought it had been a mistake."
Laney placed both hands on the sides of the younger woman's face and thumbed the tears away. "You." She softly kissed her. "Could never be a mistake. Never," she husked out before capturing the tempting full lips in front of her.
Laney reached for her young lover's hand. "Come with me sweetheart, I've missed you too."
Many hours later the two women held each other with arms and legs entangled together. Laney, still unable to grasp the profound feeling of her skin against Randi's. "Do you have to open the shop tomorrow Rand?"
"I was supposed to but maybe if I have a better offer I could persuade Jodi to open. Why, do you have so
mething in mind?"
"Not particularly but I would like to spend the day with you. I don't care what we do as long as we can be together."
"Aren't you the sweet talker and I am quite sure we can find something to pass our time together." Randi said as she pulled herself on top of the Detective.
"I think that I love the way you think Miss Daniels…"
'And I think…no, I know that I love you. Just wish I was brave enough to say that out loud.'
Chapter Thirty Seven
"Stop! Ya'll are going to make me pee my pant's!" Randi said as she was holding her sides from laughing so hard. Randi and Laney were having dinner with Koty and Kasey at Monty and Chris's house. Koty and Monty were telling them stories about when they were kids.
Laney and Randi had been seeing each other for several weeks now spending most of their nights at each others houses. Koty had called earlier to say that Chris had invited them to dinner. Nobody had to work the next morning so they were just relaxing with some after dinner drinks.
Chris wasn't drinking and neither were Koty or Laney they were having ice tea. Kasey was drinking Grand Marnier while Randi and Monty were drinking Corona's.
Randi could feel her cheeks starting to get warm and thought maybe she should stop before she got too drunk. Looking at her watch she gasped. "Jesus, it's already midnight." Everyone else was startled to see it had gotten that late as well.
"Time fly's when you are in great company." Randi said as they all stood up. "Chris, thank you so much for inviting Laney and me for dinner that was really very sweet of you."
"Thank you two for coming and I'm glad to finally meet you. It's been a great night and I plan on having more of these. I'll have Dakota call you with details the next time also."
Everyone said their goodbyes then Koty, Kasey, Laney and Randi walked out to their vehicles. Laney kissed Koty and Kasey on the cheeks and Randi hugged them…
"Christ Randi! Are you trying to get us killed?"
"No, I just felt like touching you. I've wanted to all night tonight."
"You can touch me there once we get home. Otherwise you are going to make me drive us right off the road."
