Title: Seven Deadly Sins (Night Two)

Author: Birgitt Schuknecht

Fandom: due South

Rating: NC17 (slash)

Category: drama/series/AU

Disclaimer: The characters used in the following story are not mine. I do not make any money out of this. It's written for fun and for the fans of the show.

Spoiler: none (This takes place before the pilot.)

By Birgitt Schuknecht.

Night Two (26th of October)

Invidia (Envy)

Dead eyes. Again. Just like yesterday. They even had the same colour. No wonder. After all she was Mark's sister. For a long moment Ray had the impression of a deja vu. That impression vanished as he inspected the dead body before him for the second time.

The young woman who lay dead in her small apartment had been the victim of a brutal killer. All visible evidence indicated that she had been raped and then stabbed to death. Ray looked at her wounds, her torn and blood-stained clothes, her dishevelled hair... He stretched out his right hand to straighten the long blond strands that hung into her face, but than he stopped himself. The nightmares would be bad enough without touching her. Instead he stood, walked over to the next wall and slammed his flat hand on it. "If he'd only told me... Maybe I could have prevented..." He broke off.

"Ray," Huey tapped him on his shoulder and he turned to face his colleague, leaning with his back against the wall. "You have no idea what happened here. I mean, we don't even know if those two crimes are connected. Maybe it's just a..."

"A coincidence? No chance in hell, Huey." Ray knew that Huey was only trying to keep him in check, but still he couldn't hold back his retort.

"Still, we have no idea about the kind of connection we have here. The blood is dried and her body is ice cold. She must be dead for several hours. We have to wait for the Coroner's report before we draw any conclusions."

The impatient tone told Ray that his colleague's nerves started to wear off and wondered why the other man still bothered talking to him. But then he could also wonder why he was still on this case. After his behaviour at the restaurant Welsh had had enough reason to confine him to his desk for several lives to come. Ray had snapped out of his frenzy just in time before Huey and Gardino had started to handcuff him and brought him back to the precinct as a present for their superior officer. Nonetheless they'd given Welsh a detailed report. The stare Ray had got from the Lieutenant had told him that he was out of the game.

Not so. Welsh had sent out Huey and Gardino and hadn't even lectured him on his behaviour. He'd just offered Ray two alternatives. "You have the pick, Detective. One: You get your ass out of my office and join Huey and Gardino in the investigation, showing me, the rest of the world and above all yourself that you are a good cop who can handle his personal involvement in a case professionally. Two: If you decide to make up your own rules, you still get your ass out of my office and out of this precinct until further notice - without your weapon and your badge that is. Your choice, Detective."

Of course both of them knew that there was a third alternative. And Ray had every intention to take it.

They had found a key in Mark's apartment, belonging to a safe deposit box. The box had contained papers that revealed Mark's true identity, several savings books, shares and bonds. Ray had learned that he had been wrong when he thought he knew very little of his lover. He knew absolutely nothing about Markus O'Reilly who called himself Mark Simpson.

Mark - or Markus - was a rich man. The value of his possessions was about a quarter of a million in total. Lonegan, expert for white-collar crimes at the 27th, still worked himself through the notebooks that had also been in the deposit box and which contained information about Mark's financial transactions. One thing was certain. There was no way that Mark had earned all his money at the place he had been working.

That was the only fact that turned out to be true about him. Just like he had told Ray he had been a teacher in a small community in the outskirts of Chicago. There he had taught the children of some families who lead an alternative life and refused to send their children to a public school. They had paid him well, but not well enough to enable him to gather this fortune.

While Ray had found the deposit box Huey and Gardino had interrogated Zuko and his men. Ray hadn't been surprised to learn that their testimonies didn't offer any new information. After he had left Lonegan to deal with Mark's financial affairs he'd settled down to study the Coroner's report. The cause of death being obvious there wasn't any surprises in it. Mark had been in perfect health. No traces of drugs whatsoever. Ray had silently cursed. That would have been a possibility. Although he couldn't imagine Mark being a junkie. But then again he couldn't imagine him being a killer either.

Then Elaine had turned up with the address of Mark's parents. Ray had stared at the piece of paper until Huey had snatched it from him. "I'll do that. You check out his workplace and Gardino can question his neighbours."

Ray still marvelled how relieved he had been that Huey had taken that decision from him. Mark had never spoken of his family, despite Ray's weak attempts to find out something personal about his lover. He had suspected that they weren't happy about Mark being gay. Or maybe they didn't even know it...

He had been on his way back to the precinct from the community. The only unusual fact about the last day had been that Mark had left earlier. He had asked for it two days earlier without giving any explanation. But since he hadn't talked about his private life at all with his employers, they hadn't been surprised. They'd described Mark as nice, competent and keeping to himself. Nothing in his behaviour had indicated the tragedy that took place only hours after he'd left work.

While Ray had been pondering about possible explanations for his lover's actions Huey called and informed him that he was on his way to Mark's sister who also lived in Chicago. The parents had tried to contact her but she hadn't answered the phone. Ray had felt uneasy about this new information. He'd asked Huey for the address and told him to meet him at the apartment.

That had been about twenty minutes ago. He and Huey had nearly arrived at the same time. When no one had answered their call they'd broken the door with combined forces, guns in their hands. It had been a horrible sight. It still was.

Ray looked at the body that had once been Mark's younger sister, Catriona. "Tell me everything you know about her." He looked at his colleague, trying to ignore the helplessness he felt.

Huey shrugged. "As much I can gather it from what her parents told me, she was the only one who had accepted her brother's sexual orientation. Their father chooses to ignore the fact that his son was gay and the mother just seems to be too dominated by him to say otherwise. Catriona decided two months ago to leave for Chicago as well. The first two weeks she stayed with her brother before she found an apartment of her own. From what the O'Reillys told me I got the impression that the two siblings were really close."

Ray wasn't exactly addressing the other detective when he said, "He didn't even mention her to me. There were no pictures or letters... Nothing. Nothing personal at all."

"So?" Huey asked carefully, as if he feared to break Ray's line of thought.

"I mean it's like he was a man without a past, without roots. On the other hand, he was so alive when we were..." Ray broke off as he realised that he had spoken aloud. 'Yes, everything was all right when we were together. Mark lived for the moment, not caring where he came from or where he was going.'

As the forensics team and the Coroner showed up, he made his way out of the apartment. "I'm on my way, Huey. I just check with the precinct and then I'll go home." He didn't even wait for Huey to answer. He nearly ran down the stairs of the apartment building, got into the Riv and sped off.

Ray needed only a few minutes when he reported to Welsh. The Lieutenant didn't comment on his lack of discipline. Still, Ray was aware of the fact that he didn't approve. But he couldn't care less. Huey could deal with the formalities. He clearly had no mind for this.

During the drive to his neighbourhood he thought about the possible connections between the two crimes. Catriona O'Reilly had been murdered and probably raped. The deed of a lunatic? Ray started at his own thought. That was exactly the expression Frankie had used for Mark.

Could it be possible? That Mark had also murdered his own sister? Even raped her? No, that didn't make sense. If he had run amuck after he killed Catriona he would have ran into the next public place and started shooting without thinking. No way that he would drive a few miles, pick out the "Il sole e la luna", enter from the back and shoot at Frank Zuko who had been present by sheer coincidence.

Ridiculous thought. Ray was still convinced that Mark had wanted to kill Frank Zuko. But where was the motive? There could only be one explanation. If Catriona was dead long enough for Mark to have found her, dead or dying...

Ray brought the Riviera to an abrupt stop, nearly causing a collision with the car behind him. Mark must have had reason to believe that Zuko was responsible for his sister's death. That was the motive he had looked for. Ray knew he had no evidence and he was certain that it would be hard to come by. But it was enough for him to try an attack on his own. He was tired to wait for others to act, leaving him only with the option to react. Although he only had a fraction of the puzzle's pieces he was determined to give it a try. Maybe he could get a reaction from Zuko. Shake his confidence...

Ray was aware of the risks. He could lose his job. He easily ignored that fact. It was worth it. For a second he wondered about the possibility that he could screw up the case this way. No. Frankie wasn't so stupid. There won't be any evidence that the Zuko Empire was be related to a murder case.

Still, it was a blind shot. Ray had absolutely no idea of Frankie's motives - if he was in this at all. Ray sighed. It was such a long time since the two of them had been friends. He shook his head. He just had to do something. All this hesitation didn't help a bit.

Ray started his car again and drove over the Zuko residence. He stopped in front of the impressive building, killing the engine. He remembered it well. Too well. The ghosts of his past were still with him. Playing tricks with his mind. Again he could hear Frankie's gentle voice, trying to humour him enough to follow Frankie's lead. "Come on, Ray, it won't kill you. We'll be in and out of it in no time. It'll be fun. Just wait and see." He remembered clearly the boy's face back then, smiling and eyes sparkling. Ray had lost count how often he had let himself be persuaded to take part in one of Frankie's adventures. And it hadn't been always fun for them.

Ray banned his memories to a remote part of his mind and looked over to the house again. It was near dark now and nearly all the windows were lit. It seemed to be such a warm glow... The door opened and a man came out. He made his way over to Ray, leaving the door open. He came up at the driver's door. It was Charlie. Ray wasn't surprised and opened his window.

"Mr. Zuko wants you to join the family, Ray. They are just about to begin with dinner." Ray studied the man's expression, trying to calculate his intentions. But all he could think of was that he was reacting again, instead of acting himself.

"I'm coming. Lead the way." With that he got out of the car and followed Charlie to the house. He knew every inch of it. It hadn't changed a bit in the last twenty years. Expensive carpets, heavy and richly ornamented furniture, old paintings depicting the late family members. And every single room was lit by candles and candelabra.

They entered the dining room, Charlie still in the lead. Yes, the whole Zuko family was present. Not so different from the Vecchio tradition, but clearly different in style. All were dressed up to the occasion. The table was perfectly set and at the sight and scent of the food Ray's mouth watered. It had been more than a whole day since he had eaten something decent.

Ray forced himself to concentrate on his plan. Plan! That was such an unfitting expression for what he was going to do. But he wouldn't back off now. He just couldn't.

"Ray, what a pleasant surprise to see you again so soon. You know my family. My mother, my..." Frank Zuko stood and smiled at him with his usual radiant smile, pointing out his family members.

The detective had no mind for this. "Stop this, Frankie. I'm not here to exchange pleasantries with you. Excuse me, Mrs. Zuko, I have business with your son, so if you excuse us, we..."

Frankie wasn't to be stopped it seemed. "Ray, you can't do this to me. We can have dinner together just like in the old times. Then there will be still time to talk. Charlie, get Ray a plate."

Ray wondered for a second if he should play along. Then he remembered Mark's and Catriona's eyes. "No, thank you, Frankie. No dinner for me. Let's get it over with. It won't take long. Can we go to your office?"

Frankie slowly shook his head. "What a pity. But since you insist..." He left the dining room through a second door, leaving it open for Ray to follow. Ray entered the study that was used as an office. He closed the door behind him, shutting it right in front of Charlie's nose.

"How rude, Ray." Frankie grinned at him humourlessly.

"Yes, I know. But as I said I have no mind for games right now. I just returned from another crime scene."

"And?" Frankie's expression was pure innocence.

"The victim was Catriona O'Reilly. She's the sister of the man who tried to kill you yesterday." Ray heard that his voice shook a little with anger. 'Damn, you are supposed to play this cool.'

"And?" Frankie repeated, still smiling.

"There's only one possible explanation for Mark's attempt to kill you. He must think you're responsible for his sister's death." As Ray had expected Frankie broke into laughter.

"That's crazy, Ray, and you know it. Where's your evidence? Where's your warrant?"

"You don't deny it?"

"What? That I'm responsible for this crime? Why should I? You wouldn't believe me anyway, would you, Ray?" He had stopped laughing by now. "Ray, why don't you give up this little game of yours? You know you can't win this. All those years since you left..." Frankie shook his head in a gesture of regret. "And still you can't accept the fact that you're fighting a war you can't win."

"One day I will, Frankie." Finally his voice was firm.

"Not if you're playing by their rules."

"What makes you think I will play by their rules forever, Frankie?" Ray stared at his opponent. "I've learned a lot of your rules as well. Maybe it's time for me to use those."

"Don't be ridiculous, Ray. As soon as you ignore police regulations you lose your fight. It would be a final defeat for you." Ray couldn't reply to that. "You know I am right. Do you know what you are? You are jealous. You envy my power. You envy me because I have no qualms to destroy people's life. To destroy other people and walk away and go on with my own life."

And Ray realised that Frankie was absolutely right.

End of Night Two