1-2-3 Years...
Author's Note: There are few bookmarks throughout the chapter. They are mostly for picture illustrations for that particular scene composite by the talented Ms. Marisol. If you click on the picture you'll be back at the point of story where you were reading. The bookmarks will also reveal some background facts about where I got the idea from. I hope you enjoy the little perks that I have added for the readers in my webpage.
Chapter Twelve
Olivia needed to talk to Alex. Apart from begging and groveling that she had to do, it was necessary for her to see Alex and tell her personally about her plans before she changed her mind. But as each day passed by, reaching Alex became more and more oblique. The reason was Gina. Gina who somehow seemed to be answering Alex's cell phone, no matter what time she called. Gina whose place Alex was staying at, where even the doorman was instructed to not let her in. And it was Gina who was at Alex's office when Olivia went to see her.
"G! Tell me where Alex is right NOW." Olivia emphasized.
"She is not here so get lost." Gina answered as though Olivia was just anyone.
"This is not your office and I am not going anywhere till I see Alex." Olivia stood her ground.
"She is not going to see you."
"That is for her to say."
"She already has Liv. Get the hint. Stop stalking every woman you think who should listen to you." Gina warned as she walked passed Olivia to the door and opened it. "Get out."
"No."
"I'll drag you out if I have to." Gina walked right up to Olivia's face. That was the moment she had been waiting for. "Believe me, it would be my pleasure."
"Try and touch me." Olivia challenged without a flinch.
Gina took one more step to make good of Olivia's challenge when they were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Olivia!" Abbie greeted from the door that Gina had left open. Alex was standing beside her. She did not greet.
"What a surprise!" Abbie continued as she walked inside.
"Hi Abbie!" Olivia replied. "I had actually come to see Alex." Olivia explained just as Gina moved to the side allowing Abbie and Alex to be directly facing Olivia.
"And I thought you came to see me." Abbie complained pouting her face as a joke.
Olivia remained silent. She didn't join Abbie in her light chatter as she desperately tried to catch Alex's eyes, which were avoiding hers.
"Well, hope to see you around detective. See ya Alex." Abbie said as she retreated. She had assumed that Gina would follow her lead but Gina showed no sign of leaving. Abbie who had seen the couple dining in the Inn, thought Gina was clueless regarding the situation . So she decided to pitch in.
"Agent Ramsey." Abbie called on her chief investigator. Though they had a good working relationship, Abbie had never been comfortable with the agent to be on first name basis.
"Can I see you in my office?" Abbie asked.
"Can it wait?" Gina answered but her eyes were on Alex. "Alex and I had some work scheduled."
Abbie was surprised. Olivia was shocked. Alex was relieved.
"Right Alex?" Gina asked as though Alex needed to second her motion.
"Alex." Olivia begged with enough pleading in her voice.
"I got work to do." Alex said walking past Olivia and sitting in her chair.
Olivia turned to approach her desk when Gina stepped right in between.
"In simpler terms, she means get out." Gina said with a grin.
"G!" Olivia's frustration was about to find an outlet but she was once again stopped.
"Olivia...." Abbie said pulling the detective's hand. Abbie did not need to know the details of what was happening to know that either Olivia or Gina needed to leave the room. Though she had authority over Gina professionally, but it was Olivia whom she managed to pull out of Alex's office for peace.
"What's gong on?" Abbie asked once she was in a safe distance to let go of Olivia's arm.
"Nothing." Olivia snapped as though she was to blame. "Damn G!" She cursed under her breath as she walked away without any courteous 'bye' s or 'thank you' s.
Abbie stood surprised for the second time as she watched Olivia bang the door as she disappeared.
That was Olivia's day off. She had initially hoped that most of her day would have gone in explaining to Alex. But now that Gina had ruined that. She sat in her car wondering what she should do. Several minutes later she picked up her phone and dialed a number which surprisingly she still remembered.
"Hey Cyn! What are you doing?" She asked.
"Good. I want to see you."
"My place will be fine." Olivia hung up and drove out.
Abbie watched Olivia's car leave from her window as she turned to the inside of her office. Even though Olivia left, Gina was still there. She needed Gina gone to be able to reach Alex. She picked up the fax that was waiting for her when she had come back to her office. It bore bad news. Bad news that Abbie could use.
"Agent Ramsey to my office now." Abbie barked to her assistant.
She waited in silence till Gina walked into her office.
"What happened?" Gina asked the moment she was in.
Abbie simply handed Gina the fax.
"Detective Monahan was killed." Gina remarked reading the paper in her hand.
"Yes!" Abbie concurred. "I want you to go to MA, and try and find out if his death had anything to do with our investigation."
"I can send one of the agent..."
"No, I want you to go. I will talk to the DA there so that they co-operate with you. I suggest you leave as soon as possible. In fact now if you can." Abbie insisted.
"Now is not really a good time for me." Gina who had been distracted from her work hoped Abbie would not push her.
"No, you need to go." The scene earlier had confirmed that Gina needed to go. And Abbie wasn't about to hear otherwise.
Gina stormed out of the office. Abbie only waited another half an hour before she called Alex's office.
"Hey!" She greeted her colleague with a cheer. "What about you joining me for dinner tonight?"
"Oh! Come on Alex, it is not like I am asking you out on a date. It is just a dinner and that is of course if you don't have a date tonight."
"My treat now you can't refuse that can you?"
But Alex did. She refused couple more times but Abbie wasn't taking no for an answer. By the time she hung up the phone. Alex had agreed to see her.