x
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkOUUiXjpc
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT3RuUgife
[MARCUS]
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchjCyLbBkO
It didn't take any more than five minutes to find her after the show. She was by the rundown liquor store where they met the night before. Once more in the position he had found her. The river was flowing.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ549niXHrRd
"Cassie." He called out to her.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVySzJggmZq
She didn't respond. He reached out to her but she suddenly jerked away from him.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CFz8AJZUz
He withdrew his hand and instead went on to lean against the wall of the liquor store. It was pouring lightly.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2XOpWdHER
"Who would have guessed that you had a bird for a voice?" He cracked open smiled.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmINQGPa7T
"Stop pestering me and go away." She snapped back at him.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2blAjeOuft
"I would. If only you had put a little more clothes on." He came round and knelt by her feet in the rain. "Tell you what. If you get out of the rain, I'll stop bothering you."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkuRAI6Oz9
She started sniffing and wiping her face against her knees.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcEe4el3BF
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT81c63w6p
They were at his apartment. He went into his bedroom and got her a dry towel, a black shirt and a grey pair of sweatpants. As soon as he turned to face her she had stripped down to her lingerie, and for the second time that day, Marcus was caught off guard. Her figure was even more defined than he had anticipated.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrRAaHkokz
"If you need to change, the bathroom's over there." Marcus tried not to stare.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFawlbD7z6r
"Afraid you'll fall in love?" Cassie slowly walked over to him, eyes locked onto his and her movement as graceful as a cat. Her prominent curves swung to either side with every step she took closer to him, like a pendulum displaced sideways from its resting equilibrium position. It was...hypnotic.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bAIrv827p
"Something like that." Marcus managed to momentarily break from her spellbinding figure and reply.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFFYwD6Ffu
"Well, don't fall in love. Because everything that falls gets broken."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4fJCWsTjZ
She got the clothes he was holding and slowly walked passed him towards the bathroom doorway where she briefly stood, tilting her head slightly to the side and turning to give Marcus one last seductive look before closing the door.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdVkZlMKE1
Marcus suddenly realised that he was holding his breath as he slowly began to exhale. He needed some coffee.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu1pJZOdyR
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP5gqpCtGE
She sat on the chair by the balcony staring out into the drizzling night sky, coffee mug in hand. She had some bruises on her face. He knew he shouldn't have asked.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkblZr3ln8U
"Why do you do what you do?"
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiURZ1RGkoz
She kept silent for a moment. Still gazing at the rain form the balcony window. "To survive."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32sx2040Ps
"Well, Riverside is about to go through a metamorphosis. If you want to survive, I'd suggest you leave the first chance you get."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViAkTROtnC
"And go where?" She turned her head sharply to face him, slowly turning back towards the window. "There is no other place for people like us. Riverside, a city full of money, power, violence, corruption...this...this is the ultimate gathering point for the criminal underworld. You could say that this is a criminal's paradise. But for the rest of us, this city is a nightmare. One wrong misstep and the city will swallow you whole."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzboAcc2Oho
She looked beyond the balcony onto the street below and saw the busy night life as figures walked and ran through the rain leaving splashes and ripples where the water had accumulated. There was much to see. Working girls, dealers dealing, gangs roaming, pubs hosting, the city lights. Ah, the lights. They were a dream within in a dream. They gave off some sort of beauty in all this madness, and maybe, a little bit of hope.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHKCijhbpZ
"So this is what it looks like from a bird's eye view." Cassie motioned for Marcus to come over and have a look. He walked over and leaned on the frame next to her. "Bet you've seen this a thousand times."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQNa7Cgc4i
"I've had my fill of it." Marcus replied.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN4Ikdal2V
"Us." Cassie started, leaning in close to Marcus' face side by side both staring into the abyss below. "The little people, trying to find our way in this gutter. There is no solace above or below, only us, small, solitary, striving, perpetually battling one another.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsmiHsP81E
"You're a philosopher now?" Marcus half cracked a smile.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJZAP0BMgh
"I can be smart when its important." She teasingly nudged his shoulder with hers. "And this rain, I hate the rain."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvqzfMRKC7
"What's there to hate?" Marcus kept staring into the space. His thoughts began to wonder, briefly reminiscing his own origin in this city.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiB7PLpohI
Cassie turned to face him, staring deeply at his gaze. "It reminds us of our filth. That we are the rear end of civilization. Nobody knows, nobody cares, no one will come and save us."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVSf86tWhX
Marcus' eyes slowly lit up, as though finally remembering his true purpose. "Then we'll save ourselves." He turned to face Cassie. Both of their eyes were now locked into each other's gaze.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BVji39aZJ
She suddenly leaned in and her lips caught his, igniting an innate desire in both to find pleasure and comfort within each other's embrace. The kiss turned into lust, lust turned into hate, hate turned into desire, and desire turned into passion. The cycle was complete.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINYMQSfo1h
They both ran their hands through each other's clothes seeking intimacy, the bare skin upon the other. Her curves aroused him, his physic seduced her. They were now locked in an endless desire of fantasy, her moans echoing through the walls, his groans steadying pace, and the rain remained constant.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0yQeZqzv4
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlFLhGL16U
[LUKA]
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSvvGeB5WB
"Morning Luka." Ruth called out to her.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxGXIT2Gfx
Ruth was one of the clerks in the station that handled some of the basic financial transactions, preparing calendars, and scheduling appointments including sorting, filing, copying, and distributing citations, police reports, and other documents. She was the blood that flowed in the station's veins.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVg7DBTjK1
Like an ancient mythical sea monster finally awakened from its deep slumber, Luka slowly emerged from the pile of files and documents spread all across her desk. Her eyes were heavy and felt like they were attached to a pair of anchors. Her arms didn't fair any better as they were numb, most likely from the bad posture she had when she had fallen asleep the night before.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZM4tCiv3hE
"Hey Ruth, please tell me that you've got coffee?"
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAcrJg7wJx
"Right here." She handed her the cup she was holding but Luka did not make any motion to receive it.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWYAl2YZvq
"Uhmmm...just give me a second will ya, my arms are having a bit of a slow reboot."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfgu04EJAk
"Sure, I'll just leave it..." Ruth scanned through Luka's desk for an opening, "...here." She pushed aside some of the files at the corner of the table to create space.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSTfcl6p7z
"What time is it?"
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZahyn533rY
"09:15. And you've got a meeting coming up at 09:30 with a Mr. James Rhodes from the NPA."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb1H1nV9yT
"What? Wh-why?"
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr92xnOrBL9
"He says its regarding the Chen case."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOaoWUPBj7
"Oh terrific." Luka remarked sarcastically. "And why wasn't I told sooner?"
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDznKhwre5
"We tried notifying you on your line but couldn't get through.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4n3l7C6jh
Luka turned to her desktop telephone and realised that it was off the hook.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbPD4dDnpr
"Oh." She stared at it a few more seconds daring not to make eye contact with Ruth. "I... must have knocked it over while I was sleep."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbmjq7uECO
"Detective Quinn?" Just then a voice suddenly came from behind Ruth.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4S9u7DPdo
A man stepped into view and walked over to Luka's desk. He was tall, broad shouldered, dressed in a navy blue suit, white shirt coupled with a diagonally stripped grey and black necktie. The way he held his coat over his right arm gave off a peek into his physic, he definitely worked out.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IX9Rrnekx
"That's me."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjr1lExuuHh
"Hi I'm James, James Rhodes."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxcLj0gf6q
Lord have mercy. He had a perfect jawline too.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMiOUtYBkt
"I believe we have an appointment?"
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQO6TnAjAZ
"Y-yeah, I believe we do." Luka paused a moment as she assessed the status of her desk. "You know what, why don't I meet you in the conference room." She turned towards Ruth sending her a quick SOS morse code with her eyes. "Ruth, would you please show Mr. Rhodes to the conference room?"
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqn9JO3fHC
Ruth read her signal. "Sure, right this way Mr. Rhodes." She began guiding him away.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBAUNc9e5r
"Please, call me James."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPXLn9enD2
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujuM02dqX2
"Sorry about that, I had a bit of a slow morning." Luka entered the conference room to a seated James.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy67m9q52F4
"Not a problem. I hope you don't mind but I'd rather hit the ground running."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S0Mx56Pda
"Go for it." Luka settled down into her chair.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNj0GLEqLra
"The Director of Public Prosecution has appointed me as the lead attorney in the Chen case, and we're trying to ensure that we build a solid foundation against the culprit.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvaAkvTc0D
"Well from what I've read in the papers it seems like you already got your hands full."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfmnIx5Vxi
"You mean Goma?" James scoffed, "He's just a means to an end."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeaS6N2zzM
"Is that how you treat all the accused?"
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdezfg8fbu
"Hey! You bring them in and we clear them out, we are all doing our jobs here." James took a deep breath and settled down whilst gently rubbing his forehead. "I think we're getting a bit off tangent."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUAthJeriW
"It's your meeting."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xmClWLNlQ
James summoned all the calm nerves he could muster. "I think we got off on the wrong foot here. I came here because we can help each other out on the Chen case."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEIVRwn5po
"Oh really?" Luka folded her arms and leaned back into her chair slightly tilting her head to the side. "What did you have in mind?"
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57HDGCMC4F
"Well, for starters I can help ensure that your people don't go too far in bending the rules in the course of interrogating potential suspects."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ynHUtmbAR
"With all due respect Mr. Rhodes, I think we know how to do our job."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8t1XSgK0Th
"I'm sure you're all doing God's work here, but if we want to be able to ensure that these guys don't walk away, I need to ascertain that there are no breaches of protocol or judges' rules." He leaned forward. "It recently came to my attention that the manner in which the statement made by Vinny Goma was obtained was by means of duress."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTffc7y0Vt2
"I wasn't there during the interrogation."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMEuSta8Yg
"Well that's quite comforting." James replied sarcastically, "Let me start by saying that whatever went on during that interrogation has tainted the admissibility of Vinny Goma's statement and may be struck out by the judge come trial date. And right now, we need all the cards in our hands."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstQ5yg7UK9
She remained silent.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZVhTDZo8L
"Look, I didn't come here to point fingers. I'm just here to make sure that our case is airtight from the moment suspects are brought in for questioning. Let us save ourselves the time and trouble, we're on the same side."
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ic2o5DYAk
Luka unfolded her arms. "I'm guessing you'd want to have a look at the files then?"
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBiyS5zD6z
"I'd very much appreciate that." James replied with a smile.
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirMAG7oWgX
256Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytHsG4g3AS
