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May-9-2012 18:06

The office door slammed against the wall with a bang, and papers swirled restlessly across the desks of the darkened room. He looked up from his bottle of gin, bleary eyes just registering the figure outlined in the doorway. It was tall, and from the cast of the hips and tucked in-waist silhouetted in the black trench, it was a woman. She stood on black stilettos, and a black snood concealed her hair from view as surely as the netted veil did her face.

"Who is that?" he asked nervously, squinting his eyes. There was a pause, and then the figure moved forward, legs, hips rolling smoothly in an unmistakable way. He paled; rearing back in the chair so that it almost fell. He righted it with a clatter, fingers shaking.

"A ghost?" he breathed, suddenly terrified. Was the moonshine bad? Giving him the jake- was he hallucinating? The black ensemble of the woman suddenly seemed more foreboding than chic. "You...I thought you were dead!"

She moved forward, just inches away from him in the dim lamplight. Slowly, black satin-clad hands lifted up, grasped the edge of the veil, and pulled it back. Her glossy red lips shone in a vulpine smirk in the light.

"I never die. Nine lives, you know." Molly Maltese breathed in her sotto voice. "I've been to the end of the world, my dear, and I've brought back the case to end all cases for you."

Jun-22-2012 20:09

"Not really," Marc said. In truth, he had only heard of it. Marc knew nothing of the name, but he did know of doctors who only worked for the mob.

He held Molly as he kicked in the door. "Get some help!" he yelled, setting her down on a table in the first room.

Andrew grabbed the first man he saw and put a gun to his head. "Fix her," he snarled, "or I'll expose this underground medical facility for what it really is to the London P.D."

"I'm not a doc," the man said. "But I got one!"

"Hurry up!" Andrew yelled.

The man returned a moment later with another, wearing a white lab coat.

The doctor examined the bullet wound. "There doesn't seem to be much I can do," he said.

Marc pulled out his revolver, leveled it at the doctor's head, and pulled the hammer back. "If she dies," he said, "so do you."

"Killing me won't bring her back."

Andrew grabbed the man and slammed him against the wall, making his head hit the wall with a dull thud. "FIX HER!" he screamed in his face. "SHE'S IN SHOCK AND DYING!"

Jun-22-2012 20:25

Marc paced back and forth waiting on the doctor. Zeo had finally had his handcuffs removed and he slept on the floor in a corner. Riza and Vulkie sat quietly, Vulkie reading a magazine and Riza staring off as if she was in deep thought. Andrew stood near Zeo smoking a cigarette. It had been hours since Molly had gone into surgery.

The doctor appeared in the room, removing his gloves. He took off his surgical mask. "I've got good news."

"What is it?" Marc asked.

The doctor let out a deep sigh. "Well," he started. Then he paused for only a moment. "She's lost a lot of blood. Her recovery rate is high but slow. I found the bullet near her spine. How it missed anything vital, judging its entry, I'm surprised nothing vital was hit. She needs to rest a few days."

"Doctor, we don't have a few days! We-" Marc was interrupted by Andrew Corelli. "Marc," he said, "let it go for now. I don't think Mr. Billings is going anywhere for the next few days. Not after what happened today."

"Billings?" The doctor asked suspiciously. "Jack Billings?"

Marc turned to him. "You know him?" Marc asked.

"No." The doctor said quickly. Almost too quickly. "I've..only heard of him."

Marc saw right through his lie "You work for him, don't you?"

The doctor opened his mouth to reply but never could. A gunshot rang out in the room and half of the doctor's head exploded.

Marc and Andrew quickly drew their guns and turned to see Zeo standing up holding his. "He would sell us out," Zeo said.

"Andrew," Marc said, "get Molly, let's get out of here."

They got another safe house across town. It would work temporarily for Molly's recovery.

Jun-23-2012 08:08

There were gaps in his memory by the time Zeo was fully himself again at the new safe house, but he would never forget Riza's face after seeing another doctor while Marc and Andrew were busy interrogating the one treating Molly.

Zeo had no idea how Riza got her leg wound, but he had a strong feeling that he was to blame. When they first reached the clinic, Riza told a doctor that she fell and her abdomen was in pain. When the doctor realized she was pregnant, they went into an examination room and shut the door. Zeo wanted to go inside, to find out everything about Riza's condition, but at that point his body was still trapped in the remnant of the narcotic as if he was moving and speaking under water. When she finally came out, Riza looked as if the world was upon her shoulder.

Just as Zeo got up to go to Riza, a medic finally noticed Zeo's shoulder wound and forced him to go have it stitched up. Anesthetic was not even necessary as Zeo was already pumped with morphine. By then Andrew had un-cuffed Zeo. When he returned to the waiting room, Riza was staring off in deep thoughts. She could very well had a "Please do not disturb" sign hanging on her face. Zeo hunched in a corner pretending to sleep. The narcotics had mostly worn off and so was his courage to face Riza.

He was dying to tell her that no matter what had happened and what will happen, he would be there taking up whatever burden there is, all the way with her...

but did he dare?

Only half a day passed by at the new safe house and Zeo had incessantly thought of the rush he experienced back at Billing's basement. Jack's curse rung in his head. "You'll never be able to be rid of the desire for it the rest of your pitiful life... if it doesn't kill you first."

Everyone were fatigue and were back in their rooms resting. Zeo quietly unlocked the backdoor and exited the safe house. He could go to Bernie, he would have something that can quench that thirst.

Jun-24-2012 23:49

Zeo shifted his car to neutral and pushed it quietly away from the safe house. When he was at safe distance he would be able to drive it to town without being noticed. As he was about to get in the car, he looked back at the house and saw from Riza's window that her room was still lit.

He felt his craving coming on, but Zeo couldn't leave. Both Riza and the child needed him. At his current state, he wouldn't be a fit father, but if he was to leave now, he would never become one. Slowly he stood back up and quietly closed the car door. Zeo walked back to the safe house. Each step he took became heavier then the previous one.

What would he say to Riza? He knew already that his tongue would be tied. Zeo was always analytical and cool headed in all the work he did, including the not so glorious jobs in the recent month. That's what made him good at what he did. When it comes to personal life, he was a mess. Look what happened to Anais. He had blamed no one but himself for Anais and Josee's disappearances. He waited too long, he never confessed his feelings to Anais. The guilt was so strong that the only solution was to desensitize himself with narcotics, and now he was faced with another responsibility. He had decided right then and there that he would not make the same mistake twice... but what if Riza had already lost the child? He could still remember her face when she left the examination room. Zeo did not think he could handle the news if it was a bad one... perhaps Bernie has something to help him so he doesn't even have to find out; all he needed to do was to turn around and go back to his car... Zeo stopped that thought immediately.

The safe house loomed like a castle as he stopped in front of it and looked up. He entered from the back door in silence and returned upstairs. Light was flooding through the crack at the base of the door to Riza's room. Hesitantly, he knocked.

Jun-25-2012 16:26

The door opened and the smell of strong coffee filled Marc Lacrimosa's nostrils, Andrew Corelli handed him a steaming cup while looking at the medical instruments, the only other person in the room was Molly, she was sleeping.

"Thanks."

"How is Miss Maltese?"

"She'll be fine, but she needs some rest." Marc took a sip of coffee.

"So do you, you've been here since last night, go take a nap. I'll be here."

Marc shook his head "I don't think I could sleep."

"No one."

Molly's barely audible breathing filled the air for a couple of seconds, Marc cleared his throat.

"So... Andrew, what's the deal with you?"

"Do you mean why I'm here?"

"Uh Huh."

"Well... it was a favor for the friend of a friend, to track one Joseph Zeo, a former FBI agent, who out of the blue disappeared, I just asked to the NYPD for a couple of weeks off."

"That friend of a friend, does he have a name?"

"A friend passed me the job, but it looks like the client is a lawyer firm, Nichols & Newmann. " Corelli looked at his watch "and I'm supposed to report my findings."

"Who gave you the details?"

"A secretary for that firm, one Anne A. Niedermann, 5ft 6in, slim, brunnette, green eyes, right handed and thirty-something, she was really worried about Zeo... What's on your mind, Lacrimosa?"

"Nothing. I'm going to take a walk, let me know if something happens."

Jun-26-2012 06:04

As Vulkie took a glander from her hiding spot, she could see that Marc was furiously running towards Jack, knocked him out, and then began to shouts commands "Andrew, handcuff Joseph" Marc shouted, while pointing towards Joseph and Riza, who were looking at each other. Vulkie saw that Joseph had his hand on Riza's belly. Was there something wrong? "Vulkie, help Riza" Marc shouted after that and that made Vulkie snap back to reality.

There seemed to be no one left from the Hellfire club after Marc had punched Jack. "Seems they aren't anything without their precious leader" Vulkie thought, while rushing towards Riza. When she reached Riza, Riza snarled "I'm fine, I can walk myself", but Vulkie took her hand nonetheless and guided her towards a car. Marc gently kneeled down and picked up Molly in his arms and rushed towards the other car, that Andrew had unlocked.

***15 minutes later***

As Vulkie drove with Riza sitting next to her through London, she sweared in the car. "Goddamn traffic!" Vulkie said, while turning her steering wheel towards the left, to try and keep up with Marc and the gang. As they were riding through London, Riza rubbed her belly and took a second to slowly breath.

"Are you alright? What's wrong with your..." Vulkie began while taking a glance towards Riza's belly ,but Riza shouted "RIGHT, TAKE THE NEXT RIGHT!". Vulkie immediately focused on the traffic and took the next one right.

Andrew finally pulled up in an alley and Vulkie stopped the car right behind them. As Riza got out of the car, she tried to walk, but failed to do so and almost fell, if it weren't for Vulkie who rushed towards the other side and caught her. "Careful. That leg wound is taking it's toll!" Vulkie almost shouted.

Marc guided the team towards an underground medical facility which was probably illegal and while Andrew and Marc were busy with Molly, Riza and Joseph were taken into different rooms, leaving Vulkie all alone in a sort of waiting room...

Jun-26-2012 06:10

"Since this is an illegal underground medical facility.." Vulkie murmered, while looking for a cigarette from her handbag, "I bet they don't mind me smoking for a bit." she added and lit up her cigarette. As she puffed the cigarette, Marc and Andrew came walking out of the room.

***A few hours later***

Finally, everyone was in the waiting room except for Molly. The doctor came out and told that it was a miracle that nothing vital was hit and the bullet could've been removed. "She needs to rest for a few days" the doctor added.

"Doctor, we don't have a few days! We-" Marc was interrupted by Andrew Corelli. "Marc," he said, "let it go for now. I don't think Mr. Billings is going anywhere for the next few days. Not after what happened today."

"Billings?" The doctor asked suspiciously. "Jack Billings?"

Marc turned to him. "You know him?" Marc asked.

"No." The doctor said quickly. Almost too quickly. "I've..only heard of him."

Marc saw right through his lie "You work for him, don't you?"

The doctor opened his mouth to reply but never could. A gunshot rang out in the room and half of the doctor's head exploded.

Marc and Andrew quickly drew their guns and turned to see Zeo standing up holding his. "He would sell us out," Zeo said.

"Andrew," Marc said, "get Molly, let's get out of here."

As the team went outside, Vulkie stopped Marc. "Is it ok to hand Zeo a gun? Do we know that he's not acting weird like earlier on?" Vulkie asked Marc, while she took a glance towards Zeo, who was being pushed into a car. "I think he'll be fine for the moment, I've taken care of him" Marc added, while getting in his car.

Riza stepped into Vulkie's car and looked at Vulkie for a moment. "Don't... I'll hear it when you're ready" Vulkie said, while Riza looked forward again. The team of detectives then went towards another safehouse, a safehouse that was owned by Marc and off the record for anyone except him...

Jun-26-2012 18:07

Riza was startled out of her thoughts by a rapping on her door. She set aside the pillow she had unconsciously been hugging and walked over. It was late and Riza was tired. But she couldn't sleep. Not after the day she'd had. Being shot at was nothing new for her; it didn't faze her at all, though the fact that it had been Joseph shooting at her did.

Riza turned the knob and swung open the door. Upon seeing the man standing there, she had to fight a strong impulse to slam the door in his face. Her countenance momentarily mirrored the mixed emotions fighting inside her, and then softened as she saw Joseph's face.

She stood aside to let him in, perching on the edge of her bed as he shuffled over and sat beside her. They avoided making eye contact. Both waited for the other to say something, but neither did. He was afraid, but she was terrified. She had spent all day trying to untangle the plethora of thoughts whirling around in her head.

"How's your leg?" Joseph finally asked, breaking the silence. He gazed down at the gauze wrapped around Riza's leg.

"Fine," Riza said tersely, taking a sudden interest in the wallpaper. She paused. "How's your shoul—"

"I'm really—" said Joseph simultaneously, cutting her off. They fell into silence once more.

Riza was startled when Joseph took her hand in his. She felt something stir within herself and instantly pulled away. She was afraid if she looked at him, she might burst into tears; if she tried to speak any more, she would lose her words; if she tried to touch him, she might try to strangle him.

But then a realization hit Riza. Joseph was there, right beside her. More importantly, he had chosen to be there.

He reached for her hand again, holding it between both of his. This time she didn't pull away.

A cloud of unanswered questions loomed overhead, but the only one which had to be answered right then was...

"It's okay," Riza breathed, more to herself than to Joseph. She looked at him. "It's okay."

Jun-26-2012 19:36

Joseph felt the weight of the world lifted away from his shoulder when he heard that the baby was alright. If it was anything else, Zeo did not think he would be able to handle it.

Riza's hands felt icy. He knew the gunshot wound on her leg had taken a heavy toll on her. If the baby was fine, then by Riza's reactions back at the clinic, Zeo knew he was responsible for her fall. No verbal apologies would make up for what he did even if he was forced into it. Zeo could feel that Riza was still angry with him, as she rightly should.

"You need to rest now. It's getting late." Zeo said softly, "If it is alright with you, I want to stay here tonight... Just sitting here by the bed is fine!" He quickly added.

Zeo was a very focused man, and at the moment, all his attention was on Riza and the health of the little one inside her. He knew he could fight his addiction as long as he could fix his mind on them. Everything else was out the window, including the thought of Anais.

Anais... Josee... Zeo didn't think he would ever see them again, and he knew Anais would take good care of his daughter anyhow. At the moment only what's in front of him was important, and he felt at peace.

Jun-27-2012 13:44

Molly came awake with a gasp that turned into a high-pitched whinny of pain as the bandages at her chest pulled. She lay there for a moment, basking in the washes of pain as she steeled herself to rise and examine her surroundings.

"Upsy daisy." she breathed, and hoisted herself up with a wheeze, green eyes darting around in curiosity. She saw, to her surprise, Andrew Corelli sitting in a chair nearby, chin tilted forward as he slumbered. "What are you doing here?" she murmured to his slumbering form but he slept on, oblivious.

Molly shuffled her way to the door, making her way down the hall on silent feet. As she passed Rizas door, she heard the low murmur of voices. Josephs and Rizas. She smiled to herself and moved on into the main room, where she sat at the table with a pen and a notepad.

"When in doubt, make a list." she said grimly. She hoped everyone enjoyed their night of respite and reunion, because from the way things were shaping up, in the morning they would be dispatched to the headquarters of the Helfire Club.