Blood Hold - Chapter 1
Grace was in the middle of her morning routine when Rikki arrived at the office. The coffee aroma tantalized Rikki's taste buds. She wished she liked the taste as much as the smell. As it were, Grace knocked-back the whole pot, while Rikki guzzled Diet Mountain Dew.
"O-si-yo (hello), hoe-down." Rikki ragged on Grace, speaking in Cherokee. She was wearing a red bandana shirt - it reminded Rikki of a hillbilly hoedown with hay bales and fiddles.
Grace held up a finger and continued de-bugging the office with the Super Sweep equipment as she did each morning. Rikki was paranoid with good reason, at least every other month they found a phone tap, a listening device or tracking devices on their vehicles. Grace was fixated on the lights that began to bounce, a bug was discovered. She bent at the waist to look underneath the coffee table, mounted underneath was a wireless audio transmitter.
"I said hellooo..." Rikki sensed dread on Grace's face then she caught the sight of the lights blinking on the Super Sweep. "Aaahhh crap, I spilled my coffee! Grace, nu-la (hurry), help me with this!" Rikki yelled as Grace pointed down at the coffee table.
When Rikki spilled her imaginary coffee, it was code for 'time to pow-wow in the equipment room'. High-tech electronic locks kept the equipment room secure. If you weren't Grace or Rikki, you weren't getting in.
"Geeze Louise, I can't believe you just spilled that whole cup of coffee. I'll get a towel." Grace played along.
Rikki entered the codes to unlock the equipment room door, and then did a little jig to the sound of the locks that hummed then clanked as the deadbolt receded.
"I love that sound," Grace responded to Rikki's dance with a whisper.
"Me too...it's so definite and official...we're like real private dicks." Rikki joked about her long career as a private investigator and bounty hunter with Grace at her side as the voice of reason.
The lock made its final adjustment. Rikki raised her arms and shook her hips for the grand finale. Grace couldn't help but giggle as they bolted inside and shut the door. The back wall of the equipment room was lined with shelves stocked with every gadget imaginable.
Rikki's motto was "You're Only As Good As Your Equipment." Across the room a counter top held three desktop computers and two laptops, each with its own specialty. On another wall was an over-sized sofa where Rikki had spent more nights than she cared to admit.
As Rikki fumbled around for the light, Grace folded her arms and glared at her.
"Gaw, I feel your vibe invading my space even in the dark...No, I haven't called Jaxon back," Rikki whispered as she turned around to face Grace.
Jaxon Drywater lived on Lake Tenkiller and helped Rikki clear her name when Greg Hayes accused her of murder six months earlier. Truth be told, he had Rikki from "hello" but she wouldn't acknowledge or act on it. He was a Cherokee man; six-foot tall, silky black hair and eyes to match. It was his integrity Rikki found appealing. His strong, sexy jaw-line didn't hinder matters either - everything Rikki ever wanted in a man. They had a connection from the moment they met but until six months ago they hadn't realized the passion they shared. Now Rikki shut him out and wouldn't even return his calls, which infuriated Grace.
"It's been six months, call him already. I'm so sick of being in the middle of this madness, Rikki," Grace whispered back. "Furthermore..."
"Furthermore? You don't say "furthermore". Does that mean you really mean business?" Rikki was amused. "A girl's gotta do whata girl's gotta do to protect herself from the mens."
"Why do you always sabotage your relationships?"
"We kissed, that was it...it never was a relationship. It was just a-da-ta-we-do-di (kiss). You know full well I've been married three times and have no intentions of doing that again. I don't wanna get close to anyone. However, I did call Jackson last night...for a booty call...guess I forgot to tell you." Rikki whispered with a big grin, exposing pearl white teeth and one dimple on her right cheek.
"What? You called Jaxon Drywater for a booty call and didn't tell me. What happened?" Grace was thrilled more for Jaxon than Rikki.
"Well, I called Jackson but it was...Brad Jackson...doesn't that count? Jaxon...Jackson all the same...just men." Rikki cracked herself up.
"You're the frickin' hoe-down. I give up. Let me say one last time...Jaxon cares for you more than you deserve...whatever...I'll stop trying." Grace threw her hands in the air.
"Well thank God you're finished...'cause we have to figure out who bugged the lobby. Did anyone come in this morning? Oh, yeah, I was just kiddin' about the booty call thing...it didn't happen. I actually spent a lovely evening with Chase and Avery."
Rikki's son, Chase, was sixteen and her daughter, Avery, fifteen. The love Rikki held back from everyone else gushed out onto her kids. They never knew anything other than being raised by a single mom who strapped on a weapon every morning. It was the three of them against the world.
"You're impossible...and nobody's been here this morning. You didn't write down what locks you locked last night...so I couldn't unlock the door. Good job, Sherlock."
Seven deadbolt locks decorated the front door of the office. Four different ones were bolted each night then coded on a dry erase board in Rikki's office. A little over-the-top, yes, but that's Rikki.
"So it had to be yesterday. There's no signs of forced entry. Besides someone would have to be crazy to try and break in here with all our security...think back, who came in yesterday?" Rikki racked her brain to remember.
"Mailman, that one kid that skateboards around here came in and tried to sell me some candy. Those attorneys came in...doubt it was them though."
"I'm rulin' out the mailman...what about this kid? I'll find him later and grill him till he cries." Rikki was fuming on the inside. "Let's just leave the bug in place and talk about off-the-wall crap. Make 'em wish they weren't listenin'."
"This should be fun. Okay, I'm ready...let's go." Grace maneuvered toward the door.
"Let's do it, too it." Rikki trailed behind her.
"Rikki, have you banged the mailman? You ruled him out awful fast. Sad I even have to ask such a question." Grace mumbled.
Giggle. "Ask me when we get to the lobby. Oh, yeah...I should tell ya, I had the dream about my mom last night," Rikki warned.
"Oh great...that's never a good sign of what's to come," Grace said as they walked out of the equipment room. The door automatically locked behind them.
"I think it's a great sign...it means I've got a challenge ahead of me...I love it." They reached the lobby and changed the conversation right on queue.
"Grace, should I go home and change my clothes? These coffee stains are not attractive." Rikki performed for the eavesdroppers.
"It's up to you...I hardly even notice it though." Grace giggled under her breath. "Hey have you ever banged the mailman?"
Way to dive right in to that conversation, Grace. Rikki released a deep throaty giggle. "Funny you should ask...no! But he has nice thighs. Have you ever noticed his massive muscular thighs?"
"Oh gawd...I know! We love good thighs." Grace played along.
"I know...I really wanted to reach out and touch someone the other day when he delivered the mail in his sexy little uniform shorts." Rikki looked at Grace widened her eyes and smiled. Grace put her head in her hands trying not to laugh out loud.
"Oh Mylanta,you ain't right!" Grace lured Rikki away from the conversation. She knew Rikki would elaborate, taking the conversation to a whole new level.
Deep throaty giggle again. "Don't ask if you don't want to know. What the heck?"
"Hey Rikki, have you noticed the cuss bucket has been empty for like a week now? You just said heck instead of hell. I'm proud of you."
"Wow, I didn't even think about it...cool. I have noticed I have a lot more dollars to spend. Hey look what I can do..." Rikki kicked her leg behind her, tilted her head and smiled. Grace's brows folded inward as she compared Rikki's actions to a four year old child.
"You're stupid! I've got cramps...think I'm gonna start my period." Grace tossed in just for grins. She knew it would disgust Rikki.
Rikki snarled her lip and rolled her eyes at Grace. "I wondered why you look so bloated. Are you craving red meat and chocolate?"
"Shut-up! Well...yes, maybe a little."
Wonder if they've heard enough of this crap. Rikki flashed a glimpse at the listening device. "Hey come hither, I wanna show you a new format I came up with to do my reports. "Rikki skipped to her office on an energy overload.
"I wondered what you were working on so hard," Grace said as she shadowed Rikki to her office. She had no clue what Rikki was talking about, but played along anyway. "You need a Ritalin!"
"Evidently you think I got too much oomph in my step?" Rikki sat in front of her computer and began typing with the speed of bionic fingers:
Let's go for a drive.here's got to be a van or something around here receiving all this good information. I don't need a Ritalin...you do!
"Wow that looks really good. I like it a lot." Grace answered in code, actually meaning, she agreed they should look for the culprit.
Grace pushed the activation button on the alarm as they wondered out the back door. Rikki leaned against the nose of her truck then looked around for something out of the ordinary. Both giggled at the stupid conversation their stalker had to hear for their entertainment.
A flicker from a reflection and a thunderous crash made Rikki leap towards Grace. The truck window shattered as she snatched her up and flung her to the ground. Rikki landed on top of a scared-stiff Grace. Grace laid in fetal position in front of the truck. On her belly Rikki crawled swiftly around to the driver's side of the truck, expecting Grace to be behind her.
"Stay down!" Rikki yelled above the ringing in her ears.
She pulled a 9mm from the back of her jeans and hid behind the truck searching desperately for the culprit. The Apache Indian blood in her boiled - this was war.
Grace covered her head, her ears rang, her guts churned and tears filled her eyes. Rikki lay under the truck and searched for the shooter's feet. Through narrow eyes she scanned down to the back of the truck then back up again.
"Nnnnn...nnnnn...ooooo!" Rikki blinked. It all happened so fast.
Grace's red cowboy boots that matched her red bandana shirt were sandwiched between a pair of black work boots.
Sweet Jesus, he's got Grace. Breathe. Think. Tsi-sa (Jesus) give me strength.
"Rikki Rankin! If you're such a bad ass...show your face!" Greg Hayes yelled. "Now or Grace gets a bullet in the head!"
Rikki gradually stood to her feet. She looked through the windows to see Greg Hayes holding Grace with one arm and his hand over her mouth. He held a .357 revolver to her head with the other hand. Rikki's wits were on overload - how could she get Grace away from him?
Grace was milky white with fear bulging from her tear-filled eyes.
Rikki coolly walked around to the front of the truck where Hayes held Grace hostage. Her finger caressed the trigger of the 9 mm pistol at her side. Backing down wasn't an option.
Dead a-s-ga-ya (man), Rikki's eyes were narrow and black, lips taut and she was focused. Lord I need a straight shot, just one good shot.She was aware the only way out was to kill him. He wasn't going to allow them to walk away.
"Rikki drop your gun! You are not in control now.Tell me how it feels! Do you wanna see Grace get a bullet through the head?" Hayes rattled on aimlessly.
He's nervous, can't follow through with a thought. Be careful and confident. Rikki coached herself as she analyzed his erratic actions. Hayes continued to ramble. She turned a deaf ear to him.
Come on Grace, look at me. Trust me. Get it together. Grace's terrified eyes darted in every direction, trying to figure out who had a death grip on her.
Grace finally got trapped in Rikki's stare. She was determined to focus on Rikki. There you are...come on, Grace, follow my eyes. Rikki shot her eyes to the ground and straight back up to Grace's eyes. She hoped Grace's attention wasn't lost breaking eye contact like that.
Grace knew Rikki was her lifeline and she wasn't about to break contact. What Rikki? What do I do? Get me out of this! Rikki perceived the questions and terror in her eyes as the tears vanished and she scrutinized Rikki's actions.
That a girl Grace...watch me. I'm not leavin' here without you...tla a-s-ka-i (no fear). Rikki scarcely nodded her head to let Grace know it was going to be all right. Once again she shot her black eyes to the ground. She knew Grace was getting it from the look in her eyes. They've had the capability to communicate without words for years. They knew each other that well.
"I said drop your gun or I will pump lead into Grace's head!" Hayes screamed, his anger magnifying at Rikki's calm demeanor. He wanted so badly to see her sweat, to see fear in her eyes before he killed her. Rikki would never give him that satisfaction.
It's time, Grace. We only get one shot at this. Please don't let the fear stop you. Rikki nodded slightly at Grace again.
I'm ready Rikki. Grace blinked hard.
Rikki raised her gun. Lord, I gotta have perfect timing, guide this bullet.
"Tell ya what...I'll shoot her myself...if that's what I have to do to kill you. It will be my pleasure, really. Think you can beat me?" Rikki still locked into Grace's eyes as she challenged Hayes. He wouldn't expect that from her. She raised her gun further and aimed it at Grace's head.
"What the...? There's no way you'd pull that trigger...you are a wild Indian!" Hayes was shocked that Rikki pointed her gun at Grace's head.
Grace went limp and pushed her weight against Hayes then dropped to the ground with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Rikki drew in a deep breath and squeezed the trigger as she exhaled. Her eyes were big as she watched the bullet that seemed to be moving in slow motion. Not yet please don't get there yet...Oh God...don't let it hit her. Get down Grace!
Hayes, dumbfounded, realized he lost his grip on Grace and Rikki had fired a shot. He pointed his gun at Rikki, his blood was scorching, and he so badly wanted to see her die.
Now! Now! Hit him now! Nu-la (hurry)! The bullet struck Hayes in the heart, where only milliseconds ago Grace's head was resting. Hayes staggered backwards and hovered in the air before bouncing off the concrete to his death. Grace landed on the ground at his feet.
Did that really just happen? Rikki was stunned trying to comprehend what had just transpired. Blood splattered on Grace's head. Please let Grace be all right. I know I didn't miss. Breathe. She was scared to take a closer look. A moment of self-doubt had her breaths short and shallow.
Rikki approached Hayes' body and booted his gun out of reach. She reached for Grace; she lay on the cement unresponsive.
"Grace! It's over get up! Get up!" She panicked, but managed to grab her cell phone with shaking hands and dial 911.
"It's Rikki Rankin, I need assistance at 91st and Memorial...my office is behind the strip mall."
"What is your emergency?"
Rikki paused she didn't want to say it out loud. The truth of just killing someone was unsettling. "I shot someone."