Chapter Seventeen
Janet rang Chris just before 5 and regretfully told her she couldn't make dinner. "
I'm disappointed. I really wanted to spend time with you, but because of my... long lunch break, I'm not getting off until after 7. I have to wrap some paperwork here at the station. But I'll definitely see you tonight," she had said.
Chris was disappointed as well and went to work with a heavy heart, wondering if Janet would turn up and when.
* * * * *
It was 8 o'clock in the evening and Chris was now standing in her usual spot in the living room, alone, watching the long driveway. The guy they were after had gradually stepped up his campaign over the weeks since James had taken on the case. It was no longer just Kate Levens he was after, but now the investigators as well. Chris felt that their guy was near the breaking point, and knew from experience that anything could happen if he went over the edge.
She watched Charley walk past the window outside, the big man going around the doctor's house as part of his job. She remembered he had gone to see his older brother that afternoon and picked up her walkie-talkie. "Hey, Charley. How did things go with Bryan?"
"
I mentioned the type of paint we're looking for. He said he would have to order it personally and it would cost a pretty penny, probably in the region of a grand... maybe more. He's going through his records tonight to see if he's done a car in the colour we're looking for."
"So we might have a lead?"
"
I don't know, Chris. It's unlikely he used his own name or address, unless he's a complete dunder heid!"
"Yeah, but if the guy went to your brother, it means he's probably local. Wouldn't Bryan have noted the license plate number as well?"
"
Eediot! I never thought of that, lass! I'll give him a call tomorrow and find out."
Chris smiled as she always did when Charley's Scottish brogue slipped into his speech. She set her walkie-talkie down on the window-sill and stretched, her shoulders popping and the stiffness disappearing. Rolling her neck, she watched as a pair of headlights came down towards the house.
Goddamn! It's just her car and my heart's already pounding!
Janet swung around and parked next to Chris' car.
Her face a mask, Chris opened the front door for Janet, then turned and walked back into the living room.
Janet followed her in. "What... no hug? No kiss?" she asked seductively.
Chris turned to look at her. "I'm working. I have to be professional."
"Or you don't want them knowing." Janet walked closer.
"What happens between us is our business. No, I don't want them knowing, especially as your mum's our client."
Janet smiled and nodded. "Do I get to have you when this case is done?"
Chris returned the smile. "You can shout it out to the world."
"Good. I'm going to run upstairs and say hello to mom."
"Uhh... hold on. How long are you going to be staying here tonight?" Chris asked, grabbing Janet's hand and threading their fingers together.
"Maybe all night," Janet replied saucily. She pulled her hand away and left the room, racing up the stairs.
Left alone again, Chris glanced at the trees and saw something move out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head quickly, she frowned and watched the darkness closely, not sure if there had been anything out there. She picked up her walkie-talkie. "Charley, are you out by the front trees?"
"
No. I'm checking the pool area. Have ye seen something?"
"Don't know. It was out of the corner of my eye."
"
Could be your mind playing tricks."
"Yeah, probably. Gonna check in with Patrick." She switched frequencies. "Patrick, where are you?"
"
Just coming round the front. Why?"
"Thought I saw something by the trees."
"
I'll check it out."
Holding onto the walkie-talkie, Chris watched Patrick's stealthy walk towards the trees. He directed his torch beam around, illuminating the whole area as he turned this way and that.
"
Nothing out here, Chris." He walked on, carrying on with his patrol.
Janet walked quietly back into the living room and stopped behind Chris, her arms sliding around her new love's waist. Nuzzling the investigator's neck, she whispered, "You are so huggable!" She kissed Chris' neck softly.
Chris slid her hands over Janet's which covered her stomach. "I'm working."
"Carry on then. I'll just hug you and nibble on your neck. Ignore me."
Chris turned in her embrace. "You're not funny. What if you distract me from something? A minute ago I could have sworn I saw something."
Janet let her go. "Really? Are you going out there to check?"
"Patrick did already. He didn't find anything."
Janet smiled and slid her arms back round Chris. "Well then, we can hug for a minute or two if he didn't find anything."
Their tender hug turned into gentle caressing, then soft kisses were exchanged. Before it got totally out of control, Chris pulled away smiling. "I better go and do my check."
"I'll come with you." They walked upstairs holding hands, their fingers entwined and goofy smiles on their faces. Chris reluctantly released Janet as they reached Kate's office and knocked on the door.
"Yes?" the doctor asked from within.
Chris opened the door and looked in. "Do you need anything, Doctor Levens?"
"No, thank you, Chris. I'm fine." The doctor went back to typing at her computer.
Chris and Janet moved on to a bedroom. "You said earlier you already knew everything I told you about the car that was chasing Laurie. What else have you found out?" Janet asked, as Chris switched on the light and checked the room was secure.
"I'm not at liberty to say, Ms. Levens. That information doesn't concern you." Chris smiled charmingly.
"I shared with you," the policewoman pouted.
Before Chris could reply, the room plunged into darkness. "Goddamn it!"
"Chris?" Janet said nervously.
Chris rushed forward and took Janet's hand. "Come on. I've got to get to your mum." They rushed out of the bedroom and into the hall, Chris' torch showing them the way along to the doctor's office. "Doctor Levens?"
"I'm all right. What happened?"
"I'm not sure, but I'm hoping it's just a power cut. Let's go down to the living room," Chris suggested. "If you could follow me and stay behind me at all times, just in case."
Charley and Patrick were already waiting in the living room as the three women came down the stairs. "The indoor pool lights went out," Charley said.
"Yeah, the whole house went out. I think it's a complete power cut. Why don't you jog up the drive and see if the other houses are out?"
"You remember what happened last time he came to the house. Do you think that's wise, one of us going?" Charley asked nervously.
"For Christ's sake, Charley! Patrick, will you do it?"
"Sure, Chris." He turned to leave.
"Wait. I'll go with you," Chris decided.
"You can't go!" Charley and Janet blurted out. They looked at each other, frowning.
"It's just a power cut!" Chris argued. "Come on, Patrick." She followed the big man out, both investigators turning on their torches before making their way up the driveway.
"Do you really think it's a power cut?" Patrick asked in a whisper.
"That was my first thought," Chris replied. "If I'm wrong, our guy's probably lurking out here somewhere."
* * * * *
Charley paced the living room, stopping every couple of minutes to stare worriedly out the window. "Charley, why don't you sit down? I'm sure they're fine," Kate tried to reassure the investigator.
"We don't know that. Chris might be wrong. It might have been him who cut the power." Someone knocked on the front door. Charley spun around, looking at Kate and Janet, then at the window, unsure of what to do.
"
Charley, will you open the Goddamn door!"
Charley frowned and picked up his walkie-talkie. "Chris?"
"
Yeah, Charley. It's me, and I have good news."
Janet jumped up from the sofa and rushed to open the front door. Kate had found some candles and had set them around the living room. Everyone sat in the romantic glow and listened to what Patrick and Chris had found out.
"It is a power cut," Chris said. "I know it's a pain in the arse, but totally dealable."
"What are we going to do? Still patrol?" Patrick asked, frowning.
"No. I think we should all just sit here. With three of us here in the living room, he won't be able to get to Kate," Chris told him. "What do you think, Charley?" she looked at her colleague.
"Yeah. Hopefully they'll fix the problem in half an hour."
Patrick sat in the armchair that was off to the side of the room. Kate and Janet curled up on the sofa and Charley sat on the floor. Chris stood at the window, still keeping watch.
"How's Laurie doing?" Kate asked.
"She's okay. Has a concussion and a broken arm," Charley replied, eyes on Chris' back.
"When will you be going to see her again? It must be difficult when you work nights."
"I'm going tomorrow," Chris said, turning around.
"Are you? Do you want me to drive you?" Charley asked.
"No," she replied, noticing the look on Janet's face. "I was going to go home and sleep first, then go when I get up."
"Have they said how long they're going to keep her in the hospital?" Janet asked.
Charley shook his head.
"You were telling me earlier you've been put on the case?" Kate said to her daughter.
"I knew you weren't listening! Yes, I mentioned Laurie was a friend of mine and that I'd like to help, so Randy and I were put on it."
"Just you two?" Patrick puzzled.
"We're not a big force. It's all the Sarge is willing to put on it."
"She could've been killed!" Patrick put in.
"We think it was a drunk driver. Whoever the driver was, hit her car, panicked when she crashed and drove off."
"What does it matter," Chris said, attention back outside. "We're looking into it anyway."
* * * * *
Patrick looked down at his watch. "So much for half an hour!"
"How long has it been?" Charley asked, stretching.
"An hour and a half!"
"There's nothing out there, Chris. Why don't ye shut the curtains?" Charley said gently.
Chris didn't argue. She closed the cream-coloured curtains, then joined him on the floor.
Kate stood up and stretched. "How about a stiff drink, seeing as I can't make you tea or coffee. Chris, why don't you light the fire to give us a bit of extra light and warmth?"
Charley gratefully got up and went to help Kate, while Chris started up the fire.
"Did you and Joey find anything this afternoon, Patrick?" Chris asked, as she started putting more logs in.
"No. Nobody wanted to help us. I guess they thought we were the police in civvies."
"And no tyre marks?"
"No. There might have been, but the bad weather and traffic coming and going, by the time we went to check..."
Kate and Charley walked back in with the drinks. They set the glasses down on a side table, small amounts for the investigators that they would make last over the course of the evening. Charley moved over to a chair and sat down, nursing his glass.
"I need to use the bathroom," Janet suddenly blurted out. She stood up and looked at Chris. "Will you come upstairs with me?"
"Uhh, sure. I should do a check. Charley, can you keep an eye on the fire?" He nodded. Chris led the way, her torch lighting up the stairs for them. At the top, Janet dragged Chris back against a wall and kissed her urgently. She moved along the wall towards her bedroom.
"Wait. Where are we going?" Chris whispered, her arms around Janet, her hands gently rubbing up and down the policewoman's back.
"To my room."
"We can't. I'm working. And what if one of them finds us or if they hear us?
Janet kissed Chris' neck. "I want you!" she moaned, pouting.
"Ohhh... baby," Chris tilted her head to the side. "I want you, too. But we can't. We'll be missed downstairs, someone will come looking, it will all end in tears."
"How about... we stand here for a couple of minutes then?" Janet slid her hands up the back of Chris' shirt, caressing her naked back.
Chris murmured her agreement before sliding her tongue into Janet's mouth, moaning as Janet's tongue rose to meet hers, massaging, teasing. As they rocked against each other, they moaned quietly, each of them grabbing at the other for more contact.
"I'm glad you two have worked things out..." They sprang apart, startled. "But Charley is getting agitated down there."
"Uhm... Doctor Levens... uhm... it's not..."
"Chris, my daughter likes you. A lot from what I can gather," Kate said in amusement. "You have two more minutes while I use the bathroom, then we should all go back downstairs." The doctor smiled at the pair and walked along to the bathroom.
Janet pulled Chris close and kissed her passionately. "When am I going to see you again?" She slid her hands back under Chris' shirt, her fingertips tracing their way up and down her spine.
Chris let out a trembling breath. "I'm working tomorrow night."
"That's not what I mean!"
Chris softly kissed Janet's neck, her hands stroking their way up her sides. "God, I want you!" the blonde mumbled against Janet's lips.
"I want you." Janet kissed her softly. "You don't always work nights, do you?"
"No, not always. It's different with each case." Her hands slid under Janet's bra, her fingers finding erect nipples.
Janet gasped and kissed Chris hard, desperately. "Have I told you how much I love your accent?"
Chris laughed and shook her head, her warm lips making their way down a warm throat.
"Well, I do. It sends shivers down my spine, especially when you talk in a low voice."
Chris pressed her lips to Janet's ear, and using a low voice, said, "I'll have to remember that," before lightly running her tongue up the edge of the soft flesh.
The sound of the bathroom door being unlocked forced them apart. Kate walked out and over to them. "Are you two ready?" she asked, looking at both. The couple nodded and reluctantly followed her back downstairs.
"What the hell took you so long?" Charley ranted, as they walked in, his eyes on Chris.
"Charley, I told you I was going to do a check while I was up there," Chris responded. "Don't worry so much."
Kate sat back in their places on the sofa. "Have you got any other cases going on?" she asked curiously.
"There's the Mayor's missing daughter," Charley told her.
"I thought she had just run away?"
"That's what it's looking like, but we've been hired to find her, so the case goes on."
Kate suppressed a smile as she watched Chris and Janet together. Janet sitting at the other end of the sofa with Chris on the floor between her legs. Her daughter was unconsciously playing with strands of Chris' hair.
"The boss isn't taking on any other cases," Chris spoke up. "Our full attention is on finding your guy, Doctor Levens."
* * * * *
By 10.30 the power still hadn't returned.
"I think the safest thing is for both of ye to sleep down here," Charley said to Kate and Janet. "We'll put Patrick in the kitchen so he can watch the back door and I'll sit in the hall and watch the stairs and the front door. That leaves Chris to sit in here with ye two ladies."
"I suppose it'll make your job easier," Kate replied, standing up to stretch. "I'll go upstairs and get a few pillows and blankets."
Chris looked at Janet. "Do you have a book I can borrow?"
"Sure. Do you want to come upstairs and choose one?" Janet smirked.
"Uhhh..."
"Yeah," Charley answered for her. "You can do a final check before we lock down the living room," he suggested.
Chris followed Janet back upstairs and into her room. "Finally got me in here."
Janet smiled softly. "Yeah, thanks to Charley."
Chris walked over to the pine bookcase and glanced at the lines of books as she swung her torch beam back and forth. "Got a favourite?"
Janet pointed to a Patricia Cornwell book. "I love her books. I get so absorbed in them, I just don't put it down once I start. I love all her characters."
"What are they about?"
"They fall under crime. The main character is an M.E. and works alongside a police officer..."
"And solves the crimes. I get it."
Janet picked one up. "This one's good, should keep you entertained. Though, I'd prefer to do that myself." Laughing, she handed the book to Chris and kissed her quickly.
Once the two women returned downstairs, Patrick retreated to the kitchen. Kate curled up on the couch with a medical journal she hadn't had a chance to read, using a couple of candles and light from the fireplace to see by. Charley, Chris and Janet played cards and talked quietly.
* * * * *
As the night wore on, Kate crashed out on the sofa, the medical book left on the floor. Janet curled up on a blanket on the floor next to Chris, her hand near Chris' leg, her fingers occasionally moving and caressing.
"Are ye tired, Chris? Ye can sleep if ye want," Charley whispered, getting up from the chair he was sitting in to stretch.
"The boss sent me home, I slept this afternoon. You must be tired though?"
"Not really."
"You sure? You had to drive all the way over to Bryan. How is he, by the way?"
Charley smiled. "He's tickety-boo. Says hello and wants you to call him."
"He does?"
"Yeah. He heard about your new car, wants to take it for a spin."
Chris smiled. "Haven't seen him in a while. Maybe I'll go out and see him on my next day off."
Charley sprawled out on the floor then, his head on Chris' lap. "He'll be pleased to see ye."
"How's your mum?" Chris asked quietly.
"She's okay. She's started up a poker club! All her friends gather on Thursday nights and play cards."
Chris smiled fondly and stroked the blonde locks of his floppy fringe.
"Chris?" Charley looked up at her.
"Hmmm?"
"I'm not going to let this guy hurt ye."
"What? Why would he hurt me?"
"He's after us, Chris. He knocked me out, killed Harrison, hurt Laurie..."
"I'll watch out for you then, okay?"
Charley smiled his cheeky grin and nodded.
"You better get out to the hallway. You look like you'll fall asleep if you stay here any longer," Chris said softly, stopping her stroking of his hair.
Charley stood up and looked at the sleeping doctor and the supposedly sleeping Janet. "Yeah, you're right. Ye sure ye don't want to sleep?"
"Positive. But let me know if you start drifting off." Left alone with the two sleeping Levens women, Chris finally picked up the book Janet had given her to read.
"You're really close, huh?" Janet's voice suddenly whispered up to her.
Chris looked down at Janet. "How do you mean?"
"You know his mom, his brother..."
"I know your mum and your housemates." Chris smiled. "Only met Charley's family once when we took a trip up to Scotland. I know his eldest brother 'cause he lives here in town." She looked around the dimly lit living room, making sure they were alone and Kate was still asleep. "Come here."
"What?"
Chris tilted her head, a small smile on her lips. Janet sat up, leaning in so Chris could kiss her. "Now you should sleep," Chris whispered, as she pulled back. "Don't you have to work tomorrow?"
Janet nodded and settled back down. "Night."
"Goodnight." Chris read the book Janet had lent her, one hand holding the book, her other being held possessively by Janet, until the fire died, the candles burnt out, and she could no longer see the words.
Continued...