CHAPTER 3

” Lover, Fighter”

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“Let me show ya to your room.” Shane said, walking across the hall and holding up a stack of clothes as she followed Tina. They walked into the room, Shane putting the clothes on her bed.
I got some new clothes for you to try on,” Shane said,” Most of them are old police clothes, but you can always buy new stuff. Some are mine, but may be too small.” She laughed.
Tina admired the quaint little surroundings, thinking that it was similar to her apartment with Tim. ‘Tim.’ he thought, What will I tell him, when I’m so confused?’ I don’t know what I want.’ She sighed as she sat on the bed. Shane tilted her head, noticing the blonde’s change of mood.
“You okay?” She asked.
“I’m fine,” she asked.” It’s just that I need exercise. Feeling a little tense.” ‘gonna burn off dirty, lusty thoughts about Bette.’
“There’s a gym downstairs where we all train. I’m about to go in there myself and weight train, while we’re waiting for the boys to come back. Why don’t you join me?”
“all right, I’ll meet you in a bit!” As Shane left the room leaving her to go through the clothes. She felt strange, sleeping in another person’s bed, and she immediately missed Tim. ‘wonder what he’s doing now? Probably working. His job can get pretty demanding at the country club. Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard a noise. A scuffling noise that were heard from behind the bedroom door. ‘ Maybe Jenny?’ she thought, as she quietly tiptoed behind the door, ready to attack it’s adversary. She flung the door open, pulling out her hand gun and pointed to who was making the noise. She was surprised to find a small puppy dog, laying on Tina’s bathroom carpet. She looked at the golden retriever who returned the look and yawned.
“Hey, fella.” Tina smiled, holding out her hand to his nose, sniffing her. She grabbed his dog collar and read his name,
“Abraxys. What a funny name”
……………………………………….
Entering the gym, and holding Abraxys in her arms, Tina walked up to Shane at the weight bench. Shane spread her arms wide and took the puppy.
“Baby Boy!” She scratched behind his ears as he wagged his little tail, approvingly.” I was lookin’ all over for ya!” She looked up at Tina.
“Thanks, I was kinda getting worried.”
” No problem” She smiled,” I’ve always wanted a dog…They’re fun and playful, and cuddle up to you at night, follow you every where you go…”
” He’s my baby. If you want one…” Shane pointed at Bette, who was kick boxing, lost in her own little world. she giggled as Tina rolled her eyes.
“No, thanks,but I’m thinking you might want her!” Tina looked at her, laughing while Shane cleared her throat and her smile faded.
“You DO?” Shane quickly changed the subject and patted Abraxys.
” Um, I got this little guy behind the alley at ‘Milk.’ It was cold and raining and he was in this torn old box in the garbage unit…filled with rats and god knows what. Bette gave him a warm nice place to stay.” She nuzzled the puppy’s head,
“Isn’t that right, little man?” She said in a baby voice. Abryxys licked her cheek., Tina smiled, as her eye caught her attention to the past the mocha skinned girl with the dark curls in cute gymnast shorts and a very tight shirt. She doing a savage boxing workout with the punching bag, and Tina walked over to her, leaning on one of the beams in the ring. Bette was in the middle of punching, when she caught Tina at the corner of her eye.
“What are you looking at?” She looked down at her, wiping the sweat from her brow. Wearing a blue sports bra and matching biker shorts, her long blonde hair pulled to a ponytail, Bette broke eye contact with Tina, looked down at the floor. ‘God, what is she doing to me??’ She thought
“You, I thought you might be in the mood for some sparring.” Tina smiled, and Bette blinked at her, suddenly smirking.
” With you?”
“Yes, with me! Like there is anyone else.”
“No thanks.” She chuckled, turning back to focus on the punching bag before her.
Tina frowned.
“Hmm? Well too bad, assuming that I might win.” She walked back to the ring, beside Shane, who was listening to the whole conversation, thoroughly enjoying herself. Even Jenny heard Tina’s last comment, slowing down to a stop at the treadmill, her eyes wide.
“Or that you might lose!” the blonde added. Shane and Jenny looked at Bette and didn’t say a word. Bette was shocked with what Tina had said, and tried to control her emotion and her ego, as she quietly laughed.
“You think you can take me?” She scoffed.
“Bette, I think that I can kick your *****.”
Bette was shocked, ‘I so can take this little runt!’ She thought, ‘ Then we’ll see who’s ***** is red at the end of it!”
“all right, sweetheart,” She grinned confidently, “you’re on. After my workout we’ll get it on.”
“Great.” Tina smiled back,” I’ll try to be gentle on you.”
“You wish.” Bette remarked and went back to boxing, while Jenny went over to Shane, and giggled.
“all right, Tee!” Shane gave her a high-five ,and quieted her voice to a whisper.
“You’re like, my hero!”
“I thought Uma Thurman was your hero?” Jenny added,” and Lara Croft, and that chick from C.S.I.,and-”
“all right, all right, next to all of them, you are my hero!”
“Thanks.” Tina said, feeling like one of the gang as she picked up the pair of dumbbells. Shane sat, scratching Abraxys, and glared at Jenny.
“So why was Abraxys in Tina’s bathroom? You wouldn’t happen to know, would you Jenny?”
“No….” Jenny said, averting her eyes.
“YES….” She kept staring, until Jenny gave up.
“Ugh, I did it, ok? can’t help it! I don’t like dogs, they creep me out!”
” He keeps staring at me like he wants to devour me! It’s like he’s…he’s…some sort of demon!” she whined, and Shane held up the dog, with it’s cute, black little eyes.
“Look at him, Jenny! How could he possibly harm anyone?”
“Right….”
“Ladies, Ladies, Ladies!!!” A man came bursting into the room, holding a bunch of bags and groceries, and smiled, “I’ve got presents for ya!”
“Please tell me you brought food, Marcus?” Shane put the puppy down, and ran to the tall, extremely muscular, dark skinned man.
“Yeah, and I also got somethin else…” Marcus Allenwood Put the bags of groceries down, and pulled out a red box.
“Hello, sweetie, for you.” He held up a small box with wrapping paper. Jenny ran up to the large man, embracing him. She kissed his lips, and took the box.
“For you, Man,” He tossed the bag at Shane.
” Thanks, dude.”
“And for the Divine Miss B…” He walked up to the ring, holding out a long, wooden box.
“Is this what I think it is?” She picked it up, inspecting it.
“Yep!” He turned to Tina, who had been very quiet.
“Who is this?”
“Oh, uh, that’s our new member.” Jenny said, concentrating on ripping open the wrapping paper.
“Tina.” She said, shaking his hand.
“An honor to meet you, Tina! Welcome to the C.A.C.!”
“Aw, baby, you shouldn’t have!” Jenny gushed at her husband, holding up a diamond necklace.
“I love it, it’s so perfect! Did Lisa put you up to this?”
The man shook his head, “Nope, I missed our last anniversary, we may as well celebrate it!”
They embraced and kissed passionately.
“Uh, GAG!” Shane, pretending to throw-up, “ATLEAST go to your room, guys! Nobody wants to see that…besides, I’m off to eat!”
Shane picked up her ‘present’, a lap top, and a bag of groceries.
“Thanks for the gift, Marcus!”
“No, problem, Bud! And you, Miss..” He gestured to Tina.
“Kennard.”
“Miss Kennard, would you join me for a bite to eat?”
“Actually, I thought I would spar with Bette.”
She looked over at her, but she bluntly shook her head.
” Sorry, I uh can’t.” she said,” I have to work on this.” She gestured at the wooden box she was holding.”
Tina frowned, slightly disappointed, ” All right. But you still owe me.”
“I definitely do.
“tomorrow morning?”
It’s a date.” She smiled, that oh-so lovely smile of hers.
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” So, Tina…” what’s it like being a police officer in the academy?” Marcus asked, sitting with Jenny at the large meeting room, where they were seated at a round table. Tina grabbed the chinese noodles with her chop stick, shoving it in her mouth.
“Not bad,” she said, ” Allot of field work.
“Ah, really? I’ve never been, was in the Navy a few years back, wasn’t really interested in it. But it’s similar to helping people, which makes a big difference.”
“Well, the helping part, yes, but it’s not as similar to the C-”
” You said you have a boyfriend, what’s he like?” Jenny interrupted.
” Oh,” taken aback, she nervously smiled,
” Uh, he’s nice. His name is Tim Haspell, we’ve been together for over a year.”
“Things have been getting serious for you two?” Marcus asked.
“Well,Yeah.” Tina said, and they both smiled.
“Marcus and I have been together for seven years,” Jenny said, ” And we’ve been so very much in love ever since. I love you.”
“Love you too, babe.” As they kissed. Tina quickly swallowed the last noodle then, placed it down on the table, thinking that the couple needed some alone time.
“Well, I think it’s time to hit they hay.” She yawned.
“Ok, Tina, have a good night, hopefully Lisa will be back from his mission soon.” Jenny said pulling back from Marcus, ” I don’t know what’s keeping him.”
……………………………………….
the blonde police officer quickly changed into her sleeping clothes; a white tiny-cut T-shirt that read: ” FBI” on the right pocket, and sweat pants. ‘ Wonder what Bette is working on?’ she thought, walking out the door and to her room. Abraxys was sitting behind Bette’s door, watching her, wagging his tail.
” Guarding her, huh?” She murmured, picking the puppy up. She lightly knocked on the door.
” Bette, it’s me. Can I come in? I’ve got Abraxys with me.”
it was a few moments before Bette opened the door, wearing a tank top and jeans, her ‘sleep wear’. She looked at Bette, then averted her eyes and focused on the dog Bette looked down at Tina, gazing at how beautiful she looked. ‘ like an angel.’ she thought, admiring how her hair was tousled, emphasizing her point.
” You wanna let me in?” She asked, expectantly.
“Uh, sorry.” Bette mumbled, breaking her day dream, picking him up, as walked through her room. ‘ what a…slob..’ she thought, noticing all the piles of clothes and papers scattered through the floor and bed. Bette put Abraxys down, glanced at Tina, noticing her expression.
“You were expecting my place to be a palace?” she chuckled, “Cuz this is it!”
‘ and you’d be the queen.’ she answered in her head.
Slowly shaking her head, shyly,
“No. I mean, no I wasn’t expecting a palace.” she lied, and looked around, shyly. She noticed a photo of Bette and a short blonde haired woman beside her fireplace. The were in Tahiti or Hawaii, some place tropical as they posed for the camera. She walked up to the photo on the shelf.
” Who’s this?” she said, but just as she about to pick it up, Bette slammed the photo down.
” ‘this’ is none of your business!” She growled as she stared at the alarmed blonde.
“Sorry,” said, ” Maybe I should leave…”
“Yeah, maybe you should.”
Tina got up to close her bedroom door.
” Good night.
“‘Night.”
when the blonde left, Bette picked up the picture and sighed, looking at it.
“Good night, Alice,” she whispered, ” I love you.”
………………………………………..
” Uh! Uh! Uh! OH BABY, YES!UUH!”
Shane ‘s eyes opened, as she her head lifted up from her laptop. She looked across the hallway and knew what the noise was.
” WOULD YOU GUYS SHUT THE ***** UP? I’M TRYING TO GET MY BEAUTY SLEEP!” she yelled.
” Oh ***** Off, Shane! You’re ruining the mood!” Jenny called back.
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Shivering in the cold, dark, room, he looked around, trying to find a way out. He struggled, tugging against the ropes that held his wrists. He tried to call out, but it was muffled from the duct tape attaching around his mouth. Suddenly, footsteps could be heard, and he realized who it was. He began to panic, forcing and rocking against his chair, but it was no use. The footsteps got louder, more distinct, and finally someone opened the door. He closed his eyes as light illuminated the room.
“Well, Well,” A man’s voice spoke,” If it isn’t James.” Jane looked up to see Eric towering over him with a smirk. James started to scream, rocking the chair and pulling against the bonds.. Eric leaned over him, grabbing the back of his hair, tilting up to look at him.
“Now, James,” he cooed as he held out his gun, and stroked his cheek,” Calm down.What would your mother think?” James eyes went wide. “Oh right, I just killed her, didn’t I? Shot twice with a .44 caliber.” Eric chuckled and James went red, screaming and struggling with the ropes in an attempt that was for him futile. He put the gun on the table, as James watched, a satisfied smile on his lips. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a switch blade, waving it around to show he meant business. James quieted down.
“James,” he calmly spoke,” This is what I want for you to do.I want you to tell me all the information you gathered. Do you understand?” James looked at the weapon, practically shaking, and nodded.
“Good.” With one fluid motion, he ripped the duct tape from his lips, causing a sharp yelp from the captive man
“Well?”
“I don’t know anything, I-” Eric knocked his face on the hilt of the blade, he reeled back in pain.
” The information, James, or I will have to adjust your face in a particularly gruesome way. And I’m a lousy plastic surgeon, James.”
“Ok!Ok! I’ll tell you!” Eric tapped his patted his head.
“Officer Porter has been spying on you. Tailing you and everything! …she-”
“Porter? From the C.A.C? *****…”
Eric turned around.
“Anything else you’d like to tell me?”
“Yeah, there was this guy talking to her and Mutchutchon. Skinny lookin’ blonde fella wearing a black suit. They left before I could follow them.”
“Interesting, you’ve indeed served your purpose, James.”
Eric pulled the gun at James’ head, pulled the trigger with a loud BANG! that lit up the room.
“I think we’ll have to pay a visit to Miss Porter.”
……………………………………….
Eric closed the door, and turned towards a woman, leaning across the door frame. He grabbed her ***** firmly, pulling him towards her.
“Miss me, doll?” The woman smiled, running her fingers on his suit and chest.
“Did you get anything off him?” she said, and Eric nodded.
” You know it. Turns out Porter has been watching us.” He said,” And I heard some guy is working with her…”
“You heard wrong”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve been watching the surveillance footage, and it’s not a some ‘guy’.” She handed him a photo, showing Shane and Tina talking.
“Christina Kennard. Just graduated at the L.A. Police department.”
“*****…a cop. “
“Working for Chief Melvin Porter.”
“*****!!”
He looked at the photos, thinking.
” She has gotta disappear, Lenore. If she knew what we were planning, it would end us, hun.”
Lenore embraced him.
“I know, baby, I know. So why don’t you solve this situation, hmm? Quiet her down?” Lenore asked, her eyes dark as she smirked.
Eric returned a very masochistic smile.
“Yeah, she’s gonna be REAL quiet when I’m done with her!”

TBC