Taylor yawned and stretched contentedly to the other side of the bed only to find it cold and empty. She cracked open one eye, squinting in the bright light and focused in on the clock, only to sit bolt upright. “3:15pm?!” she cried to the empty room in alarm. “Don?”
Taylor got out of bed and padded barefoot into the kitchen, spotting the note on the fridge. “I got a 419 at 5 this morning – ugh! Hope I didn’t disturb you, love Don.”
“I don’t think you disturbed me at all,” Taylor muttered in disbelief. How on earth had she slept so late? She headed back to the bathroom and took a quick shower, then, not feeling hungry, headed out of the door, making it sure it locked behind her.
Collecting her car, she headed to the precinct, calling in for a coffee-to-go from the coffee shop across the street. She wasn’t surprised to find Flack at his desk. The other detective who was sat on his desk was a surprise.
“Can I help you?” The detective asked her. She was pretty. Long, curly dark hair and wearing a red top.
“I’m-”
“You’re Taylor Turner!” The detective exclaimed. “I pass your face every day on the subway.”
Taylor smiled in embarrassment as Flack got to his feet, “What are you doing here?” he asked her. Taylor handed him a coffee in answer.
“How do you know Taylor Turner?” The detective asked.
Flack grinned. “Met her on a case, and now she won’t leave me alone.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “We can rectify that if you want to?”
“Come here,” Flack laughed, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. “She’s my angel,” he told the detective who arched an eyebrow in response. “This, Taylor, is the department’s newly fledged Angell.”
“You guys are quite the comedians in this place,” the detective held her hand out. “Jessica Angell.”
Taylor smiled. “You’re working with these guys? They’re never going to let you forget your name.”
Jessica nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
“Well, from someone who’s been teased about her name from middle school, welcome to the club. If it makes you feel any better, they’ll probably come up with some lame nickname for you,” she offered sympathetically.
“Nancy Drew is not lame,” Flack pouted.
Jess laughed. “Don’t worry, Danny Messer, one of the CSIs, has already dubbed me the Angel of Death because I’m a homicide detective.”
“Charming. And yet not so surprising for Messer.” Taylor told her.
“So, is there a particular reason why you’re here?” Flack asked her.
Taylor, knowing exactly what he was referring to, shook her head. “Just thought I’d see how you were doing. Body at 5am?”
“Speaking of,” said Jess. “I’m going to drag that parole officer in here.”
“Give me a minute, and I’ll be right out,” Flack assured her.
“No worries,” Jess told him. “It was nice meeting you, Taylor.” She gave the journalist a bright smile and bounded out.
“She’s remarkably perky for someone who had to be up at 5am.”
“No,” Flack winced, “She’s still on the night shift from last night. She’s remarkably perky for someone on their twenty-fifth hour. What are you doing here, then? You here to see Lindsay?”
“Lindsay? What’s the matter with her?” Taylor asked, concerned.
“She’s been really off this morning,” Flack frowned. “Actually, I don’t think Stella is doing too well either.”
“Stella?” Taylor asked, her forehead wrinkling in confusion. “Have they had an argument?”
Flack shook his head. “Not that I know.”
Taylor shrugged. “I’ll wander over and see how they’re doing. You should go and catch your partner up.”
“She’s not my partner, you know.” Flack told her.
“Well either way, she’s waiting outside for you,” Taylor told him with another shrug. “I’ll see you later?”
Flack sighed. “I doubt it. I reckon I’m on for a double. I’ll call you later.”
Taylor followed him out before heading over to the crime lab. She spotted Stella first. She was in her office staring out of her window, but, Taylor suspected, not at anything in particular. “Stella?” Taylor called softly, knocking on the door.
“Hi Taylor,” Stella greeted her, smiling warmly. “You here to help with the case?”
Taylor shook her head as she sat down opposite. “No ghosts today. I came to see how you were doing.”
“I’m fine. What would make you think otherwise?”
“My source would think otherwise. And he’s a bit worried about you.
Stella softly shook her head. “It’s nothing. He shouldn’t be worried.”
Taylor glanced at the clock, “Did you get a call out at 5am this morning, too?”
“Yeah,” Stella affirmed as she stretched her arms.
“Come on, let’s go get some coffee.”
“I shouldn’t,” Stella sighed. “I’m waiting on a suspect Flack’s bringing in.”
Taylor grinned. “Well, Flack has just left the precinct, and wherever he’s going, he’s heading there in rush hour traffic, which, by my calculations, gives you at least twenty minutes to nip over the street to the coffee shop.”
Stella gave her a stare before nodding. “Fine. But you’re buying.”
“You know, I may even stretch to a bagel for you,” Taylor teased.
Stella grinned, “Sold.”
Taylor got out of bed and padded barefoot into the kitchen, spotting the note on the fridge. “I got a 419 at 5 this morning – ugh! Hope I didn’t disturb you, love Don.”
“I don’t think you disturbed me at all,” Taylor muttered in disbelief. How on earth had she slept so late? She headed back to the bathroom and took a quick shower, then, not feeling hungry, headed out of the door, making it sure it locked behind her.
Collecting her car, she headed to the precinct, calling in for a coffee-to-go from the coffee shop across the street. She wasn’t surprised to find Flack at his desk. The other detective who was sat on his desk was a surprise.
“Can I help you?” The detective asked her. She was pretty. Long, curly dark hair and wearing a red top.
“I’m-”
“You’re Taylor Turner!” The detective exclaimed. “I pass your face every day on the subway.”
Taylor smiled in embarrassment as Flack got to his feet, “What are you doing here?” he asked her. Taylor handed him a coffee in answer.
“How do you know Taylor Turner?” The detective asked.
Flack grinned. “Met her on a case, and now she won’t leave me alone.”
Taylor’s mouth dropped open. “We can rectify that if you want to?”
“Come here,” Flack laughed, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. “She’s my angel,” he told the detective who arched an eyebrow in response. “This, Taylor, is the department’s newly fledged Angell.”
“You guys are quite the comedians in this place,” the detective held her hand out. “Jessica Angell.”
Taylor smiled. “You’re working with these guys? They’re never going to let you forget your name.”
Jessica nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
“Well, from someone who’s been teased about her name from middle school, welcome to the club. If it makes you feel any better, they’ll probably come up with some lame nickname for you,” she offered sympathetically.
“Nancy Drew is not lame,” Flack pouted.
Jess laughed. “Don’t worry, Danny Messer, one of the CSIs, has already dubbed me the Angel of Death because I’m a homicide detective.”
“Charming. And yet not so surprising for Messer.” Taylor told her.
“So, is there a particular reason why you’re here?” Flack asked her.
Taylor, knowing exactly what he was referring to, shook her head. “Just thought I’d see how you were doing. Body at 5am?”
“Speaking of,” said Jess. “I’m going to drag that parole officer in here.”
“Give me a minute, and I’ll be right out,” Flack assured her.
“No worries,” Jess told him. “It was nice meeting you, Taylor.” She gave the journalist a bright smile and bounded out.
“She’s remarkably perky for someone who had to be up at 5am.”
“No,” Flack winced, “She’s still on the night shift from last night. She’s remarkably perky for someone on their twenty-fifth hour. What are you doing here, then? You here to see Lindsay?”
“Lindsay? What’s the matter with her?” Taylor asked, concerned.
“She’s been really off this morning,” Flack frowned. “Actually, I don’t think Stella is doing too well either.”
“Stella?” Taylor asked, her forehead wrinkling in confusion. “Have they had an argument?”
Flack shook his head. “Not that I know.”
Taylor shrugged. “I’ll wander over and see how they’re doing. You should go and catch your partner up.”
“She’s not my partner, you know.” Flack told her.
“Well either way, she’s waiting outside for you,” Taylor told him with another shrug. “I’ll see you later?”
Flack sighed. “I doubt it. I reckon I’m on for a double. I’ll call you later.”
Taylor followed him out before heading over to the crime lab. She spotted Stella first. She was in her office staring out of her window, but, Taylor suspected, not at anything in particular. “Stella?” Taylor called softly, knocking on the door.
“Hi Taylor,” Stella greeted her, smiling warmly. “You here to help with the case?”
Taylor shook her head as she sat down opposite. “No ghosts today. I came to see how you were doing.”
“I’m fine. What would make you think otherwise?”
“My source would think otherwise. And he’s a bit worried about you.
Stella softly shook her head. “It’s nothing. He shouldn’t be worried.”
Taylor glanced at the clock, “Did you get a call out at 5am this morning, too?”
“Yeah,” Stella affirmed as she stretched her arms.
“Come on, let’s go get some coffee.”
“I shouldn’t,” Stella sighed. “I’m waiting on a suspect Flack’s bringing in.”
Taylor grinned. “Well, Flack has just left the precinct, and wherever he’s going, he’s heading there in rush hour traffic, which, by my calculations, gives you at least twenty minutes to nip over the street to the coffee shop.”
Stella gave her a stare before nodding. “Fine. But you’re buying.”
“You know, I may even stretch to a bagel for you,” Taylor teased.
Stella grinned, “Sold.”
* * *
“I may not be a detective,” Taylor said a while later as they were seated in the diner, waiting for their bagels. “But I can tell something’s wrong, Stella.”
“I think your boyfriend’s the detective. That’s cheating,” Stella pointed out.
Taylor shrugged, “Maybe it is. But it doesn’t mean he doesn’t care.”
Stella smiled. “Flack’s a good one.”
“Yeah, he is,” Taylor smiled. “But much as I’d like to talk about him, that’s changing the subject.”
“You know it’s Mac’s birthday next weekend?” Stella asked her.
“No, I didn’t. But you’re changing the subject again,” Taylor said, giving her a disapproving look.
Stella mock glared at her. “You ever considered changing professions?”
“I wanted to be a jockey once. I was fourteen. Other than that, no. Have you?” Taylor asked, studying her friend.
Stella smiled, “Clever.”
“Well, have you?” Taylor pressed.
“Last night,” Stella told her quietly, stirring her coffee. “We had a case. A man was shot and the suspect was one of the wives.”
Taylor frowned, “One of the wives?” How many did this guy have?”
“Two. That he was living with, at the same time, in the same house.”
“Hang on.” Taylor frowned and stared out of the window. “Alright,” she said a moment later, turning her attention back to Stella. “Sorry, I had to have a moment to process that.” She took a breath. “Was it self defence?”
“It was murder by the other wife. But there was a moment when… it was something Mac said…”
“What did he say?”
“That she killed once, she could do it again.” Stella said quietly.
“Hey, I don’t know Mac half as well as you do, but he doesn’t think sometimes.”
“But what if he has a point?” Stella asked her, her eyes were lining with tears.
Taylor bit her lip and thought about it. “Stella, how long have you been a detective?”
“Nearly fifteen years. Why?”
“Well, I may be well off base with this, but how many people have you shot before?” Taylor continued.
“Three,” Stella told her quickly. “But they were all in self defence.”
Taylor nodded. “Exactly. Part of the reason I could never do what you guys do is that you occasionally have to shoot people. Aside from the fact that I would probably miss and kill someone else, it’s just something that I couldn’t do. I have a gun. It has been out of its box twice. And the last time, it had to be taken off me because I was shaking so much.”
“But I’ve never shot anyone in my own home before.”
“Stella, you’re alive because you did!” Taylor exclaimed. “And yeah, it’s quite possible that you’re going to have to shoot someone again, but you won’t do it if you don’t have to. I have faith in that.”
Stella nodded and grabbed her phone which had started ringing. “Bonasera… I’m on my way over.”
“I guess our bagels are to go?” Taylor asked her.
Stella nodded again. “Sorry.” She wiped her eyes, “Thanks, Taylor.”
“You know, I’m always here if you want to talk,” Taylor offered.
“I know. Thank you.” She got to her feet.
“I’ll grab the bagels. I’ll leave it on your desk if you’re still in the interview,” Taylor assured her. Stella nodded her agreement on her way out.
The bagels weren’t ready for another ten minutes. Taylor paid for them and headed back to the crime lab, pretty certain that Stella would be in the interview room, but decided to go and check, just in case. She was walking past one of the trace labs when she spotted Lindsay staring through the glass walls. She was about to go in when she realised exactly what she was staring and, and nearly dropped the bagel.
It was Danny. One of the gossip queens, Tia, was all over him… and he was all over her. Taylor stared in disbelief as Tia kissed him on the cheek and turned to leave, only to have Danny smack her ass. Taylor could hear the squeal she made from halfway down the corridor, but she wasn’t paying much attention to that – rather to Danny who was licking his lips as he watched her leave.
He stopped when he realised Taylor was glaring at him, hands on her hips. He gave her a nonchalant shrug, and then turned his attention back to whatever evidence it was that he was processing. Taylor took a deep breath and turned, heading to Stella’s office. Tempting as it was to go in there and hit him, she wasn’t about to do it with Lindsay in the room opposite.
Taylor was heading for the elevator, mid-way through writing a somewhat abusive text to Danny when her name was shouted down the corridor. She looked up and saw Lindsay heading for her, so she thrust her phone into her pocket. “Taylor, I need a favour,” Lindsay told her.
Taylor shrugged, “If I can help, I will.”
“I need a drink.”
Taylor shook her head in confusion, “You’re still at work.”
Lindsay frowned. “I’m calling it a night. Do you fancy a chick flick, a bottle of wine, and take out?”
“Alright,” Taylor agreed. Sadly, Lindsay did look like she needed a drink. “You going to tell me what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just need a drink and some company.”
Taylor sighed. “Come on, let’s go pick some movies.”
“I think your boyfriend’s the detective. That’s cheating,” Stella pointed out.
Taylor shrugged, “Maybe it is. But it doesn’t mean he doesn’t care.”
Stella smiled. “Flack’s a good one.”
“Yeah, he is,” Taylor smiled. “But much as I’d like to talk about him, that’s changing the subject.”
“You know it’s Mac’s birthday next weekend?” Stella asked her.
“No, I didn’t. But you’re changing the subject again,” Taylor said, giving her a disapproving look.
Stella mock glared at her. “You ever considered changing professions?”
“I wanted to be a jockey once. I was fourteen. Other than that, no. Have you?” Taylor asked, studying her friend.
Stella smiled, “Clever.”
“Well, have you?” Taylor pressed.
“Last night,” Stella told her quietly, stirring her coffee. “We had a case. A man was shot and the suspect was one of the wives.”
Taylor frowned, “One of the wives?” How many did this guy have?”
“Two. That he was living with, at the same time, in the same house.”
“Hang on.” Taylor frowned and stared out of the window. “Alright,” she said a moment later, turning her attention back to Stella. “Sorry, I had to have a moment to process that.” She took a breath. “Was it self defence?”
“It was murder by the other wife. But there was a moment when… it was something Mac said…”
“What did he say?”
“That she killed once, she could do it again.” Stella said quietly.
“Hey, I don’t know Mac half as well as you do, but he doesn’t think sometimes.”
“But what if he has a point?” Stella asked her, her eyes were lining with tears.
Taylor bit her lip and thought about it. “Stella, how long have you been a detective?”
“Nearly fifteen years. Why?”
“Well, I may be well off base with this, but how many people have you shot before?” Taylor continued.
“Three,” Stella told her quickly. “But they were all in self defence.”
Taylor nodded. “Exactly. Part of the reason I could never do what you guys do is that you occasionally have to shoot people. Aside from the fact that I would probably miss and kill someone else, it’s just something that I couldn’t do. I have a gun. It has been out of its box twice. And the last time, it had to be taken off me because I was shaking so much.”
“But I’ve never shot anyone in my own home before.”
“Stella, you’re alive because you did!” Taylor exclaimed. “And yeah, it’s quite possible that you’re going to have to shoot someone again, but you won’t do it if you don’t have to. I have faith in that.”
Stella nodded and grabbed her phone which had started ringing. “Bonasera… I’m on my way over.”
“I guess our bagels are to go?” Taylor asked her.
Stella nodded again. “Sorry.” She wiped her eyes, “Thanks, Taylor.”
“You know, I’m always here if you want to talk,” Taylor offered.
“I know. Thank you.” She got to her feet.
“I’ll grab the bagels. I’ll leave it on your desk if you’re still in the interview,” Taylor assured her. Stella nodded her agreement on her way out.
The bagels weren’t ready for another ten minutes. Taylor paid for them and headed back to the crime lab, pretty certain that Stella would be in the interview room, but decided to go and check, just in case. She was walking past one of the trace labs when she spotted Lindsay staring through the glass walls. She was about to go in when she realised exactly what she was staring and, and nearly dropped the bagel.
It was Danny. One of the gossip queens, Tia, was all over him… and he was all over her. Taylor stared in disbelief as Tia kissed him on the cheek and turned to leave, only to have Danny smack her ass. Taylor could hear the squeal she made from halfway down the corridor, but she wasn’t paying much attention to that – rather to Danny who was licking his lips as he watched her leave.
He stopped when he realised Taylor was glaring at him, hands on her hips. He gave her a nonchalant shrug, and then turned his attention back to whatever evidence it was that he was processing. Taylor took a deep breath and turned, heading to Stella’s office. Tempting as it was to go in there and hit him, she wasn’t about to do it with Lindsay in the room opposite.
Taylor was heading for the elevator, mid-way through writing a somewhat abusive text to Danny when her name was shouted down the corridor. She looked up and saw Lindsay heading for her, so she thrust her phone into her pocket. “Taylor, I need a favour,” Lindsay told her.
Taylor shrugged, “If I can help, I will.”
“I need a drink.”
Taylor shook her head in confusion, “You’re still at work.”
Lindsay frowned. “I’m calling it a night. Do you fancy a chick flick, a bottle of wine, and take out?”
“Alright,” Taylor agreed. Sadly, Lindsay did look like she needed a drink. “You going to tell me what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just need a drink and some company.”
Taylor sighed. “Come on, let’s go pick some movies.”
* * *
By the time they arrived at Lindsay’s the two were armed with enough takeout, wine and ice cream that they could have holed up at Lindsay’s for the rest of the week. And with the amount of chick flicks Lindsay had grabbed, they had enough to keep them occupied for just as long.
By the end of Mean Girls, they had eaten all the noodles they could manage and had consumed two bottles of wine. Lindsay was in the kitchen retrieving the third. “Men suck,” Lindsay stated, sitting down with a thud opposite Taylor.
“Interesting,” Taylor mused. “Wanna expand on that?”
“Men suck,” Lindsay shrugged. “Nothing more to say on that matter.”
Taylor pursed her lips and said nothing, instead accepting the fresh glass Lindsay was offering, and settled down to watch Pretty Woman.
“Fairy tales don’t come true,” Lindsay scoffed at the credits. Another two bottles of wine were gone, and, in Taylor’s case, she didn’t think she could drink much more. Lindsay, on the other hand, had a very different idea as she opened yet another bottle.
“Why? You ever been a prostitute who was whisked off her feet by a rich, good looking guy?” Taylor asked her.
“Richard Gere is not good looking.”
“A million women would disagree with you,” Taylor chuckled.
“Men just don’t act like that,” Lindsay told her stubbornly.
“Any men in particular?” Taylor asked her.
“All of them,” Lindsay told her with a scowl.
Clearly not enough alcohol had been consumed for Lindsay to crack. Sadly for Taylor, if she drank much more, she wasn’t going to remember anything if Lindsay did decide to tell her.
“Which are we going to watch next?” Lindsay asked her.
Taylor looked at the pile and pulled one out. Half an hour into A Walk To Remember, Taylor had tears streaming down her face. And so, it seemed, did Lindsay. “It always makes me cry,” Taylor told her. Lindsay just stared at the screen. “Lindsay, are you crying about the film?”
“Something like that,” Lindsay managed to mutter, turning up the volume.
“I know you’re going through something, Linds, and I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I’m here when you do.”
Lindsay looked at her and gave her a small smile. “I know.”
By the end of Mean Girls, they had eaten all the noodles they could manage and had consumed two bottles of wine. Lindsay was in the kitchen retrieving the third. “Men suck,” Lindsay stated, sitting down with a thud opposite Taylor.
“Interesting,” Taylor mused. “Wanna expand on that?”
“Men suck,” Lindsay shrugged. “Nothing more to say on that matter.”
Taylor pursed her lips and said nothing, instead accepting the fresh glass Lindsay was offering, and settled down to watch Pretty Woman.
“Fairy tales don’t come true,” Lindsay scoffed at the credits. Another two bottles of wine were gone, and, in Taylor’s case, she didn’t think she could drink much more. Lindsay, on the other hand, had a very different idea as she opened yet another bottle.
“Why? You ever been a prostitute who was whisked off her feet by a rich, good looking guy?” Taylor asked her.
“Richard Gere is not good looking.”
“A million women would disagree with you,” Taylor chuckled.
“Men just don’t act like that,” Lindsay told her stubbornly.
“Any men in particular?” Taylor asked her.
“All of them,” Lindsay told her with a scowl.
Clearly not enough alcohol had been consumed for Lindsay to crack. Sadly for Taylor, if she drank much more, she wasn’t going to remember anything if Lindsay did decide to tell her.
“Which are we going to watch next?” Lindsay asked her.
Taylor looked at the pile and pulled one out. Half an hour into A Walk To Remember, Taylor had tears streaming down her face. And so, it seemed, did Lindsay. “It always makes me cry,” Taylor told her. Lindsay just stared at the screen. “Lindsay, are you crying about the film?”
“Something like that,” Lindsay managed to mutter, turning up the volume.
“I know you’re going through something, Linds, and I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I’m here when you do.”
Lindsay looked at her and gave her a small smile. “I know.”
Originally posted 09/08/2007