Darkness Past

by Sherryl Hancock

  ***

  After a week at Kana and Palani’s, Cat was feeling a bit smothered. The first few days at the house, Kana had been extremely attentive, even coming into the room she was staying in and lying down behind her, holding her. Cat had spent a great deal of time listening to the radio and just lying on the bed, trying to get her mind around everything.

  She thought about what had happened, and the time in the hospital. Kana had been ever present, but Elizabeth hadn’t attempted to return after Cat had ordered her out. She hadn’t been there for her when Cat had needed her—Cat’s mind frequently veered away from that thought. The idea of Elizabeth in a hotel in San Francisco with some man… Jesus, she’d smelled the man still on Elizabeth when she’d come to the hospital. How could she? That was the question that kept circling in Cat’s head. After everything that they’d been through, to have Elizabeth let her down when she needed her most. It was the ultimate betrayal. It made her sick.

  “I need to drive,” Cat said, one evening after a week of lying in bed “recovering.”

  Kana looked up from her laptop. Palani looked back from the stove where she was cooking dinner.

  “Uhhh…” Kana hemmed. “Your Blazer is still at forensics,” she said, grimacing.

  Cat nodded, looking resigned.

  Kana stood up and grabbed her keys off the counter. “We can take the Navigator.”

  “K,” Cat said, holding up her hands. “I want to drive. I need to breathe… I appreciate it, but I really don’t need company.”

  “I won’t say a word,” Kana said, grinning. “And if you decide to stop off and get plowed, I’ll drive you home.”

  “I don’t want to talk,” Cat clarified.

  “We won’t talk,” Kana said.

  “I need to crank my music.”

  “I’ll get my ear plugs.”

  Cat sighed. “Okay, you can come, but I drive.”

  “You drive,” Kana said.

  Kana walked over, leaning down to kiss Palani on the lips. “We’ll be back, babe.”

  “I’ll keep dinner warm,” Palani said, smiling up at Kana. “Be safe.”

  With that Kana and Cat walked out of the house.

  Cat plugged in her iPod. She carried it everywhere she went. Fortunately, it had been left in the Blazer and had been retrieved by Kana the day after they’d rescued Cat. For the next two hours, Cat drove at breakneck speeds, the window down, her music blaring. Both she and Kana smoked.

  Cat’s selection of music ran the gamut of genres, going from Mötley Crüe to Nelly to Evanescence and up into old favorites like Journey, Quiet Riot, and Def Leppard. Kana could see that some of the songs meant more to Cat than others. One of the songs, Matchbox Twenty’s “Disease,” seemed pretty accurate at that point.

  What Cat loved about Matchbox Twenty was how Rob Thomas’ lyrics seemed to talk right to your soul. “Disease” was all about how hard it was to leave someone who you knew was bad for you, like a disease.

  It was an addiction of sorts, one that was almost impossible to break. And Cat was dealing with that. She was handling everything, and she was doing it alone. It worried Kana no end. The following week she needed to get back on the road with Midnight. Kana was concerned that Cat would simply continue in the state she’d been in, a limbo between life and non-life. Cat was operating in a kind of haze, and the last thing Kana wanted her doing was going back to work in that mode. It would get her killed. At that point, Kana wasn’t sure if Cat cared.

  Like the song said, her world was coming down on her. Cat had put her faith, love, and trust in Elizabeth, and Elizabeth had betrayed it totally. Kana knew that wasn’t something Cat was going to just get over. She wasn’t talking about it either, and Kana was fairly sure that wasn’t going to help matters any.

  A solution presented itself two days later. Kana was on her way to the airport with Midnight and Tiny when her cell phone rang.

  “Sorbinno,” she answered.

  “Is this Kana Sorbinno?” asked an unfamiliar voice.

  “Yes,” Kana answered, glancing over at Midnight.

  “Ms. Sorbinno, this is Sable Sands. I was told that you could put me in contact with Cat.”

  Kana’s mouth actually dropped open, then she grinned.

  “And how did you come by my number, Ms. Sands?”

  “I contacted Chief Masterson, to ask about Cat. I heard that she’d been hurt. He told me she was staying with you.”

  “I see,” Kana said, still grinning. “Well, as it happens, I can tell you anything you want to know.”

  “I want to see her,” Sable said in a no-nonsense voice.

  Kana was surprised, pleasantly so, by the rock star’s straightforward approach. “When?”

  “I’m in town right now,” Sable said.

  “I’ll give you my address. My girlfriend is home.”

  An hour later, Sable walked into the bedroom Cat was staying in. Cat was lying on the bed, wearing gray shorts and a black tank top. Her long blond hair was pulled up into a ponytail, and she wore no makeup. The fading bruises on her skin were still evident, but not as terrifying as they’d originally looked the week before.

  Cat heard the door open and glanced up. Her eyes widened as she moved to sit.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked Sable.

  “I was in town and heard about what happened,” Sable said, by way of explanation.

  “You were in Europe,” Cat replied, her tone circumspect.

  “And now I’m in town,” Sable said smoothly as she walked over to the bed and sat down, her gaze trained on Cat’s face.

  Cat dropped her eyes from Sable’s, not liking the searching look the other woman was giving her. Sable touched her cheek gently; Cat flinched, not in physical pain, but emotional pain. She’d been holding in so much, and having someone touch her so tenderly right now was too much. She pulled back, moving away from Sable’s hand.

  Sable nodded, as if understanding or at least accepting Cat’s response. Kicking off her sandals, she sat on the bed, her back to the headboard.

  “This is Evanescence, isn’t it?” Sable asked about the song on the radio.

  Cat nodded.

  “Amy has an incredible voice,” Sable said.

  Again Cat nodded, moving to lean against the headboard too.

  The ended up sitting there listening to music for the better part of two hours. Cat had her iPod plugged into the Bose Wave radio in the room, so all her favorites were playing. It gave Sable some insight into her state of mind. The songs were angry, heartbreaking, and sad. Linkin Park’s “Don’t Stay” came on, and Sable was surprised by the vehemence with which Cat sang the words. They spoke of wanting the other person to stop wasting her away, like Liz throwing her love away with both hands.

  The song ended, and Cat closed her eyes, swallowing a few times. Sable said nothing, only watching. Another song started, and Cat seemed calmer again.

  “So,” Sable said conversationally, “your chief tells me you’re on leave for another two weeks or so.”

  Cat nodded, not looking pleased about the idea.

  “Ever been to Europe?” Sable asked, her tone so casual it took Cat a minute to realize what she’d just asked.

  “Have I what?”

  “Been to Europe,” Sable repeated, her rich chocolate eyes staring directly into Cat’s. “I want to take you there.”

  Cat’s mouth opened as if to say something, then she shook her head, like she didn’t understand. “Why?”

  Sable shrugged, looking around her. “I think you could use a change of scenery.”

  Cat looked perplexed. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Because I’m an extremely eccentric rock star, haven’t you heard?” Sable asked with a wry smile.

  Cat narrowed her eyes.

  “Just come with me,” Sable said before Cat could level some kind of accusation at her. “No strings, no hassles, I swear.”

  Cat had to admit it was tempting. Right now everything was
weighing on her. Elizabeth had come to Kana’s house the day before. When Cat refused to see her, Elizabeth had attempted to force her way past Kana. That had been a mistake. Kana had yanked her back by a handful of hair. Cat had interceded then, not able to allow Kana to hurt Elizabeth, regardless of what the girl had done. Kana had ordered Elizabeth out of her house. Elizabeth had pleaded with Cat to talk to her. It had been an ugly scene. One Cat wasn’t anxious to go through again.

  Three hours later, Cat was on Sable’s private Gulfstream jet on her way to New York to make a connection to Europe. It was a surreal experience to say the least.

  Cat lay sleeping. It was four in the afternoon in Rome, but her body was still on California time, and it was stubbornly refusing to adjust to the nine-hour difference. It was 1 a.m. in San Diego at that point.

  Sable walked in, her eyes sweeping the open, airy room. She located Cat lying on the bed, her arms thrown up over her head. Smiling, Sable put down her keys and walked over to the bed. She glanced in the gilded mirror on one wall and took in her appearance. She looked damn good for a forty-year-old woman. She wore a black miniskirt with a chain that looped down her flat belly, black strappy high-heeled sandals, and a rich copper silk blouse. Her long mane flowed down her back, and her makeup was, as usual, perfect and exotic. It took a lot of work and money to look this good, but she knew she did.

  Kicking off her sandals, she lay on the bed next to Cat. Thus far their relationship had remained platonic. It had been four days since they’d arrived in Rome, and Sable had no intention of pushing Cat into anything. She knew that the attack Cat had sustained, combined with the subsequent betrayal by her girlfriend, was not going to be something she’d get over quickly.

  There was no denying, however, her attraction to the beautiful blond cop from San Diego. She’d thought of her constantly since the night they’d gone out. Sable had made it a priority to contact the department to check on the status of the case of her bodyguard being shot, simply because she wanted contact with Cat. Cat had only called her back twice, telling her nothing had turned up on the men who had shot her bodyguard, but she was still checking.

  Then had come the day when Sable had called from Paris to check in with Cat. One of her co-workers had answered her line and had subsequently transferred her call to Dave Dibbins, who’d ended up telling her that Cat had been hurt. Sable had asked to speak to Kyle Masterson at that point. Kyle had been the one to tell her that, no, Cat wasn’t at her apartment, she was staying with a friend. He’d given her Kana’s cell phone number.

  It had been Cat who’d told Sable why she was staying with Kana and Palani rather than with her girlfriend. Sable had been circumspect about the breakup. It was obvious Cat was still hurting over it, and Sable had no intention of pushing her luck.

  Propping herself up on one elbow, Sable watched the younger woman sleep. As if sensing her there, Cat stirred, turning over on her side to face Sable and opening her eyes.

  “Hey,” Cat said tiredly.

  “Hi there,” Sable said, smiling. “Time change still nailing you?”

  “Uh-huh,” Cat said, rubbing her eyes, looking very young without makeup. “How did your, um, thing go?”

  “My thing,” Sable said, grinning at Cat’s word, “went fine.”

  “It was a TV show, right?”

  “Yes,” Sable said. “Kind of like your Billboard Top Forty type of thing.”

  “Ohh,” Cat said, nodding.

  Sable smiled, touching Cat’s cheek impulsively. “You are so beautiful,” she said softly.

  Cat smiled slightly, looking tired still. “I’m glad you think so,” she said, her tone unconvinced.

  “I do.” Sable brushed her thumb back and forth over Cat’s jawline. “You don’t think so?”

  “I’m no judge,” Cat said, shrugging.

  Sable narrowed her eyes. “Don’t let her betrayal change your feelings about yourself, Catalina.”

  Cat swallowed, wincing. “I just don’t feel too beautiful right now, Sable.”

  “Well, you are,” Sable said, her voice strong.

  Cat still looked unconvinced.

  “Why don’t we do something today?” Sable said, glancing at her gold Cartier watch. “It’s still early enough to get out and do something.”

  Cat nodded and moved to sit up; Sable’s hand on her arm stopped her. Turning to look back at Sable, Cat found herself caught in a kiss. Sable’s lips were gentle, searching, yet sensual at the same time. She felt Sable’s hand slide through her hair, her other hand at Cat’s waist. When their lips parted, Sable looked back at Cat.

  “I want you to know,” Sable said huskily, “that just because I haven’t come on to you since you’ve been here, doesn’t mean I don’t want you.”

  Cat gazed back at her, then a smile tugged at her lips. “I didn’t figure you brought me here as a public service, Sable,” she said, her tone holding a hint of her former spark.

  Nodding, Sable laughed.

  In the end, Sable took Cat shopping. She had an intense desire to dress Cat in the most exquisite clothing she could find. They went through shop after shop, and Sable encouraged Cat to try on anything she liked.

  Cat came out of the dressing room in the private showroom of a very fashionable Rome boutique. She was wearing a black silk minidress that was backless and had a plunging neckline. On her feet she wore Jimmy Choo high heels. Sable was floored. Cat noticed the look on her face and grinned.

  “You like it?” Cat asked, her eyes sparkling.

  Sable stood up and walked toward Cat, as Cat turned back to look in the mirror. Sable came up behind her, putting her hands to Cat’s waist, then sliding them down over her slim hips and down her thighs. Cat stared in the mirror, her breath catching when Sable’s hands touched the bare skin of her legs. Sable’s hands continued to travel downward. She kneeled so she could slide her hands all the way down to Cat’s ankles, her eyes watching Cat’s in the mirror. Sable leaned forward, and her lips touched the skin at the back of Cat’s knee. Her tongue slid upward; Cat closed her eyes momentarily. There was something very erotic about the situation. A dressing room that, while it was private, the staff had a key to, a dress… heels… Sable’s hands were traveling up her legs now, her thumbs on the insides of Cat’s thighs. Cat gasped as they slid up past the material of the short skirt.

  Minutes later, Cat’s hands were braced against the mirror and there was no thought of anyone or anything but what Sable was doing to her. It was an extremely erotic experience, one Cat could never have imagined. That was Sable’s style: expect the unexpected.

  ***

  Kashena went back to guarding Sierra a week and a half after Sebastian came home. During that time, she had only talked to Sierra on the phone, and even then they were very careful. Kashena wasn’t convinced that Christian Collins wouldn’t carry tales back to the AG, and she didn’t want to find out by way of experience. By this time, too, Sierra’s husband, Jason, had been home three days.

  The morning Kashena reclaimed her job as Sierra’s bodyguard, Christian had already driven Sierra into the office. So Kashena was able to drive her home. Once in the Suburban Kashena was using to drive Sierra in, Sierra turned to her, very aware of the cameras in the garage.

  “Can we go somewhere?” she asked Kashena.

  Kashena looked over at her for a moment, then nodded.

  She drove them to her house, knowing Linda was out. Linda had been out a lot lately. Kashena was fairly sure she was ready to move on again, and Kashena was more than ready for Linda to do just that. Things between them had been barely civil since Kashena’s rejection of Linda’s idea of them getting married. Linda was just biding her time, Kashena suspected, until something better came along. For that reason, Kashena was sure to keep her available cash and credit cards locked up. She didn’t trust Linda not to clean her out before she left. She wasn’t allowing that to happen.

  “Is this okay?” Sierra asked as they got out of the car.

  “Yea
h,” Kashena said. “She’s not here.”

  Sierra wanted to ask if that was permanent, but she knew it wasn’t her place to ask. Kashena had every right to continue seeing Linda, especially now that Sierra’s husband had come home. Sierra was determined not to bother Kashena about the other woman in her life.

  Walking inside, Kashena tossed her keys on the counter and reached into the refrigerator for a beer.

  “Do you want some wine?” Kashena asked, aware that was what Sierra drank.

  “Sure,” Sierra said, smiling.

  They took their drinks and went to sit out on Kashena’s back patio. It was a few minutes before either of them spoke. Kashena lit a cigar, feeling tense. She wasn’t sure if this was the speech about needing to stop seeing each other because of hubby coming home. It wasn’t something she was ready to hear just yet.

  Sierra glanced across the table at Kashena, who looked for all intents and purposes totally relaxed.

  “I’ve missed you so much,” Sierra whispered, her tone reflecting how hard it had been to be away from Kashena.

  Kashena looked across the table. There was mild surprise in her eyes, but it didn’t show on the rest of her face.

  “I’ve missed you too,” Kashena said, her voice soft.

  Sierra put her wine glass down, stood, and walked around the table. She knelt in front of Kashena, staring up at the other woman. Reaching out, she took Kashena’s hand in hers. Kashena tossed her cigar aside and took Sierra’s other hand. With that, Kashena pulled Sierra onto her lap, her lips finding Sierra’s immediately.

  They kissed for what seemed like hours, neither of them wanting to stop long enough to move into the house. In the end, they made love on the back patio, while Kashena thanked the spirits that she’d been wise enough to make the patio private and unviewable from the outside.

  Afterwards, they hastily adjusted clothing, and then Kashena led Sierra inside. They sat on Kashena’s couch. Sierra leaned her head against Kashena’s shoulder, snuggling into her embrace. Kashena sensed Sierra’s mood, feeling her turmoil.