Dakota's Way 1 - Dakota's Way

by Robin Hicks

  Chapter Forty-Two

  It was around eleven o'clock and Koty was getting way over this whole situation, and Bob was starting to look a little too relaxed with the drinks that she had been making him. 'It's time to end this little party and get control.'

  "Hey Bob. You know, I don't hold you responsible for shooting me. That sonofabitch Coleman is the one to blame. He's the one that went and got all crazy then. And like you said, he would have killed you if you tried to help me."

  "Yeah well, no one else believes that. All they know is I'm the one who pulled the trigger on a cop, and that's all that's gonna matter to them."

  Koty slowly stood up. "Can I fix us one more drink? Like I said before, I've had a bitch of a week and this is what makes me relax. Do you want another?"

  "Yeah, but just one more. I've gotta keep my head, and when your brother gets my money for me, I'm out of this place."

  He handed Koty his glass and she walked to the bar. 'It's now or never Silvers.' She sat her glass on the coffee table where she had been sitting and as she went to hand him his, she lunged and smashed his drink into his face, grabbing the gun in his hand at the same time.

  The gun went off, hitting the window by the front door. She elbowed him in the throat with all of her might. Bob was doubled over in pain, and when she got the gun out of his hand, she hit him on the back of the head with it, knocking him to the floor out cold.

  She dropped to her knees, holding the gun to his head. Her almost healed ribs screamed, and her whole body started to shake as tears suddenly filled her eyes as the nights events finally caught up with her.

  At the sound of gunfire and breaking glass, Jason was the first one to run into the house with Monty on his heals. By now, Koty was doubled over and crying hard.

  Monty dropped to her side and pulled her into his arms. She held her brother tightly and they both cried together. Monty didn't know what he was going to find when he heard the gun go off. His heart was beating so hard he almost lost his breath. Seeing Koty on the floor and crying, he wasn't sure if she was hurt or just shaking up.

  "Hey Koty...hey, are you ok?"

  "Yeah."

  Four officers had Bob Wheatly cuffed, and were hauling him out of the house when Chris and Kasey came running through the door. Chris went straight to Koty, but Kasey stopped by the couch and just stared wide-eyed, not knowing what else to do.

  'Oh sweet Jesus, be all right Baby!' She didn't know what she would have done if something happened to Koty, and she still felt that somehow this was partly her fault. If she hadn't pushed Koty away, maybe she wouldn't have even been here when this creep showed up.

  All of the 'what ifs' kept running through her mind over and over. All she wanted to do was to go to Koty and hold her. She wished she could drive away her hurt and sorrow.

  Koty stood and reached for her drink that she had made before everything went down and chugged it. Composing herself, she went to make herself another. "I'm ok guys, really."

  She looked right at Kasey and felt a shiver run through her body. She would not go to her though, or fall apart in front of her. 'I will not let her see just how weak and pitiful I am.'

  Kasey stared back at Koty, and saw the fear in her eyes mixed with some other emotion, but wasn't sure what. She pulled her gaze away and leaned against the wall with her arms across her chest.

  Koty left Monty and Chris talking to Jason, and told them she would be right back and walked into her bedroom. A moment later, Kasey walked in behind her and turned to see Koty shaking some pills into her hand then take them.

  "Koty, what are you doing?" She gently asked.

  "It's just some sleeping pills Kasey, I'm very tired and I just want to go to sleep, that's all."

  "Give those to me Koty, I can't believe you would even think about taking anything with what you have had to drink."

  "I just want to sleep. Can I take something for my ribs? My side hurts."

  "No damn it."

  It was said in a harsher tone than Kasey had meant, but she couldn't believe Koty would even consider taking anything. The doctor just turned and walked back to the living room.

  Kasey felt totally helpless not knowing what to do or say. She didn't think that Koty should be alone tonight, but who was she to mention it. It wasn't her place and she needed to remember that.

  Jason placed his hand on Koty's shoulder, "I just talked to the captain and he said for you to take tomorrow off."

  "No."

  "What do you mean no? Come on Koty, you're not Super Woman, you need a break."

  "Bullshit Jason, I've had three weeks worth of a break already. I haven't even been back to work that long, I need to just work."

  "Sorry Silvers. Captains orders, sooo..."

  She fixed herself another drink, then changed her mind and dumped it down the sink. Scrubbing her hands over her face and through her hair, Koty looked at everyone including Kasey. "Look guys, I really appreciate everyone being here, honest, but I am just so tired and all I want to do is go to bed. I want to be alone right now."

  Everyone just looked at each other not knowing what else to do or say. She was a big girl and could make up her own mind.

  Monty stepped forward and said, "All right guys you heard her, let's go. "Hugging Koty, he told her to call him if she needed anything.

  "Jason, I'll give my statement tomorrow ok?"

  "Alright Koty, I'll see you then."

  As Chris and Kasey got into Chris's truck to leave, Chris noticed the concerned look on Kasey's face. "She's going to be alright Kase, but how about you, are you ok?"

  Kasey hesitated momentarily and leaned her head against the back of the seat. 'Do I tell Chris about the sleeping pills that Koty took, or do I just forget about them? God what a night.'

  "I'm not sure how much Koty has had to drink tonight, but she was getting ready to swallow a couple of sleeping pills, but I stopped her. I'm not sure what her frame of mind is right now."

  Chris reached over and gave her a light squeeze on her arm. "I know that wasn't the smartest thing for her to try and do, and she knows that. If she told you she didn't take them then, she probably won't now. Even at Koty's lowest point, she has a much better frame of mind than most people with all of their senses. "I'm sure she'll be ok but I'll have Monty run by here on his way to work in the morning to check on her. Ok?"

  Starting the ignition and pulling away from the curb, she asked Kasey if she wanted to be dropped off at her house, or to go pick up her car. "Just take me to your house and I'll pick up my."

  When Chris and Monty climbed into bed, Monty pulled her close and cried again. All Chris could do was hold onto him and let him get it out of his system.

  She knew of Monty's grief over Koty, though Monty was probably unaware of just how much she knew. She could not be with him for all of these years and not know what his mind was thinking. He was a part of her as if they were one. What he felt, she felt.

  Hopefully this was all behind them now and they could get on with their lives. Koty had been through way too much for one person. She really felt though that in the end, it would all work out ok for everyone. 'I don't know what makes me think that, but I have to believe it.'

  When Koty had chosen to become a detective, everyone was more than surprised. They originally thought the reason she chose a dangerous profession was because deep down she still felt responsible for their parent's death.

  'They were on their way to pick me up because I was too damn impatient weren't they?' She had told Monty over and over.

  Chris kissed Monty lightly and snuggled even closer. Finally they both fell asleep.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Kasey hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. Over and over in her mind, she kept seeing Koty's eyes. Eyes that were so full of fear, of hurt, and something else.

  All Kasey knew was that she could have drowned in the sadness that was there. There was definitely sadness. So much so that Kasey wanted to just grab Koty and hold onto her
so tight that it would melt away from Koty's body, and she could see her smile again.

  'She has the best smiles. Her seductive smile, her playful smile, and even the smile she gives when she is really upset with something. That one can stop a grown man in his place. That smile never reaches her eyes, but you could sure feel the power of it. God I miss all of those smiles.'

  With mixed emotions, she also couldn't help but to keep hearing the voice on the other end of the line the night she had called Koty's room. The voice that ran her blood to a freezing point.

  "This is Tina, who is this?"

  Try as she might, she just couldn't shake the raw pain that she felt that night, and she couldn't seem to push that voice from her mind. This whole situation really sucked and it just wasn't fair. 'Since when is life fair Kasey girl?'

  She wanted so damn bad to believe Koty, but the vision of Tina kept popping up. Tina was a beautiful woman, and she and Koty had spent three years together.

  Hadn't it been Chris who originally thought Koty wanted to get Tina back? That Koty had been devastated with the breakup? After hours of tossing and turning, Kasey had finally drifted off to sleep.

  When Kasey awoke at seven in the morning, Koty was still on her mind. Unable to shake her feelings, she made a pot of coffee and contemplated calling her.

  What would she say to her? Maybe Koty didn't want to hear from her. Maybe Koty would just tell her to get lost, that she needed to get on with her life. 'Fuck it.'

  She poured her first cup of coffee, grabbed the cordless phone off of the counter, sat at the table and attempted to dial Koty's number three times before she actually got the courage to complete the call.

  "Hello?"

  "Hi Koty...it's...um Kasey."

  "Kasey? What time is it, is something wrong?"

  "I'm sorry that I called so early, but I just needed to know that you were alright."

  "I'm fine Kasey, really." Koty said yawning.

  "Um...look Koty, last night Jason said that your captain told you to take the day off, and I wondered if you were going to?"

  Koty hesitated a moment before answering. "I don't know, why?"

  "I thought...I just thought that if you were, maybe you would have lunch with me?" Kasey asked nervously. When Koty hesitated Kasey quickly added, "It's ok if you don't..."

  "No Kasey, I'll meet with you. I need to go to the station for a while, and give my statement. Meet me at the Olive Garden around twelve thirty. I'll be there."

  "Ok...Ok Koty, I'll see you later then," and she hung up the phone. She was more than a little nervous about lunch, but she had to see Koty if only for a little while.

  ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗

  It had been a somber lunch; they had talked a little about the night before and what had happened with the whole case. They had talked about the clinic that Kasey and Chris were opening, but neither one spoke of what had happened to their relationship.

  Kasey was afraid of upsetting Koty since she had been through so much, and Koty was afraid that Kasey was over her and didn't want to hear anything about it.

  Kasey had given Koty a hug, and kissed her on the cheek goodbye then drove off even more confused than ever. She had wanted nothing more than to follow Koty back to her house and hold her. She had wanted to make love the way they did before. Since she had taken the rest of the day off, she decided to take a long drive to wherever it took her.

  As she pulled up to her house, she found a strange car parked in her driveway. Pulling in behind it, she couldn't see who the driver was with the sun glaring down across her windshield.

  Suddenly a long, jean-clad leg descended from the door, and long flowing hair, the color of the morning sun followed. Kasey sucked in her breath and her hands clenched the steering wheel.

  'Oh my God.'

  The woman shut her door and walked up to Kasey as she got out of her car. They both stood there momentarily just looking at each other.

  "Hello Samantha, what are you doing here?"

  "Hi Kasey, how are you?"

  Kasey was speechless for a moment and shoved her hands in her pockets. Before she could think of anything to say, Sam spoke up.

  "I was in town for a business meeting and I looked your number up in the phone book, so here I am. I still have Lee's number, but I figured that she wouldn't give it to me. I'm sure she is still very protective of you isn't she, not that, that's a bad thing."

  Samantha brushed her hair off her face with her fingers and tossed it behind her shoulders. Something that she had an unconscious habit of doing.

  'She is more beautiful than she was before. God how she had loved this woman,' Kasey thought. Had. Past tense.

  Kasey started up the walkway and told Samantha to come in. She unlocked the door and let her in before her.

  When she shut the door, Sam turned to her. "Can I at least have a hug hello?"

  They hugged and Kasey realized that it really was good to see her again. After all, they had been the best of friends before they became lovers, and Kasey had missed the times they used to sit for hours and just talk.

  They both took a deep breath and finally pulled away. Samantha held her at arms length and casually looked her up and down. Grinning, she said, "You're looking really good there Kase, how's life been treating you lately?"

  Kasey smiled and pulled away. "Sit down Sam, would you like something to drink?"

  "Tea would be nice if you have any."

  Kasey handed Samantha her tea then sat in the chair across from her with her coke. There was at least a million questions running through her head, and she finally just came out and asked, "So how is Annie doing?"

  Samantha didn't answer at first. She took a long sip of her drink then smiled.

  "We broke up about a year ago, for good this time." Sam laughed. "You can get that look off of your face sweetheart. I'm not here to try and win you back. I know what bridges I have burnt. I really just wanted to see you again. I was kind of hoping that maybe we could renew our friendship though; I think maybe I miss that more than anything. I've been thinking about you a lot here lately, so when this meeting came up, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to find you and see how you have been doing. So, here I am."

  "You know, I'm still pretty pissed at you, and hurt. I'm not quite sure how to take you."

  "I know Kasey, and you know I can't blame you one damn bit, but, you know that I was always honest with you about everthing. I never lied to you about anything. We were such great friends first, and that is what I want again. I'm not here for any other reason."

  Kasey smiled and relaxed. "I would like that very much Sam, I too have really missed that friendship. We had a lot of fun times together."

  "Great, can I take you to dinner then?"

  Kasey stood and took the glass out of her hand. "No but I will make you dinner here. Where are you staying?"

  "Actually, I had planned on driving back tonight just in case you refused to see me. I can stay over at the Holiday Inn on Newtown Rd. I don't have to be back to work until Thursday morning so I could stay there and we could play catch up."

  "Look Sam, I have a guest room so why don't you stay here until you have to leave?" Kasey told her as she handed her another drink.

  "I don't want to wear out my welcome Kasey and I don't want you to think that I was suggesting anything."

  "It's ok Sam. Besides, it would be nice to be able to sit and talk with you again. We could pop some popcorn after dinner and watch a movie if you want."

  Grinning from ear to ear, Sam said, "You're on then. Do you still have Fried Green Tomatoes?"

  "Of course I do, you know it's my favorite movie."

  "Well then, let me just get my bag from the car and we can have us a good ole slumber party. I hope you're not real tired cause I've really missed you and I have a feeling we'll be up kind of late talking."

  "Go get your bag and I'll start dinner."

  They were in the kitchen talking while Kasey was fixing their dinner. Talking with her
hands, Kasey turned and spilled the barbecue sauce all over the counter, the floor, and her hands.

  Samantha busted out laughing just as the phone rang.

  "Shit." Kasey said with the sauce dripping off her hands. "Would you please answer that while I clean up all of this goo?"

  Still laughing, Sam answered the phone. "Hello?"

  "Uh...who is this?" Koty asked, thinking that she dialed the wrong phone number, but was sure she didn't.

  "This is Samantha, do you need to speak to Kasey?"

  Koty hesitated a moment before answering. "Um...sorry, I have the wrong number." Then she hung up.

  Kasey was drying off her hands. "Who was it?"

  "She said she had the wrong number, and just hung up. I get the feeling that she had the right number, but maybe wasn't expecting me to be answering your phone."

  Sam placed the phone back on the charger, and Kasey checked the caller I.D. and it showed 'number unavailable'. Koty's cell phone number never showed up on it, but neither did a lot of other numbers.

  'Hmm...I wonder.' For a moment there she got a little anxious thinking that it might have been Koty. 'Nah, I'm sure it wasn't her.'

  "Look Kasey, is my being here tonight with you going to cause any problem with anyone? If it is, I can go to the hotel."

  "No Sam, it's not going to be a problem really, it's ok. Come on, dinner will be done in about an hour, lets go sit down with our drinks and relax, alright?"

  "Okey dokey."

  ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗

  Koty sat back in her chair and wondered if this was Kasey's ex. If so, what was she doing at Kasey's. Supposedly she lived up in Richmond somewhere, and Kasey had told her that she hadn't seen or heard from her since she had left to go back to her girlfriend.

  She guessed that explained why Kasey was in a hurry to leave after lunch that afternoon, she couldn't wait to go see S.A.M.A.N.T.H.A. Could they be getting back together? Surely not. 'Shit! Touche Kasey!'

  Koty went to make herself something to eat and when she pulled out a can of tuna fish, she just started to eat it right from the can. Part of the way through, she looked down at the can and shook her head.