Making a Deal

Thunder and lightning continue all around them as the cool north wind gusts through the starless sky; giving the night a chilly feel. Granny shivers as she lifts her cane towards her waitress.

Seeing the fire in Granny's eyes, Jackie steps away. She stumbles over the lifeless body when she takes a second step back. Regaining her foothold, the frightened waitress tries again. "Why... Why are you acting like this, so cold, heartless like you've completely lost your mind?" She suddenly recalls what her friend had said about dementia patients. That has to be it. "Why don't we get you home where you can lay down and rest?"

Granny steps closer "I don't want to go home; I want to stay and finish what I started."

"I think you'd feel a whole lot better if you lay down for a while." Jackie nervously smiles taking a step back.

"Stop treating me like a damn child. I want to stay and that's just what I'm going to do." Granny swings her cane through the air.

Jackie realizes the restaurant is a distance away when she glances behind her. I could scream for help. That'd only upset her more. Besides, I doubt if anyone can hear me over this storm. I'll just keep her talking until I get closer to the door, she thinks. Lightning flashes across the sky, thunder roars soon after as she nervously takes another step back. "What mission is that?" Jackie glances at the body between them. Do I really want to know?

"I'm going to get the damn drunks off our streets once and for all." Granny waves her cane around again.

Jackie remembers reading about a handful of murders in the local paper. She's not the killer, is she? She glances at the frail old lady and then at the man on the ground as she retreats a few steps back. She looks back to see the restaurant isn't too far away. I could make a run for it now. A fat girl outrunning a bullet, that's not a smart idea. Maybe one of my coworkers will come to my rescue. She looks towards the entrance again. I doubt they even realize I'm gone. She inches back a little more.

"I have to do something with you, first," Propping the cane on her shoulder, Granny takes a step closer.

"What... What are you going to do to me?" Jackie asks as she continues to back away.

"You'll see," Granny smiles, closing the distance between them.

***

Joe is fuming mad as he rides the elevator up to the main floor. Wait until I find out who's behind all of this. Telling me we have a break in our case only to discover it was all part of a prank. That was cruel, no, that's beyond cruel, it was heartless. Well, whoever planned this is in for it now. Joe sees Rachel in the hall when he steps off the elevator. "You did this, didn't you?" he questions, holding a life-sized doll in front of him.

Rachel snickers. "Did Mr. King of pranks finally get punked?" She laughs. A group of officers turns towards them.

Joe's face turns red when he notices a few officers listening in. Hoping to save himself further embarrassment, Joe sternly barks, "This isn't any of your concern." Everyone turns and walks away. Joe takes a step closer to the detective. "You set this up, didn't you?" He shakes the doll in front of her.

"That's what got you?" She laughs again.

"Answer me, damn it. Did you do this?" He shakes the doll again.

"I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't."

"Who did it then, who, who?" Joe demands.

"Are you trying to imitate an owl?" Seeing the fire in his eyes, she wipes the smirk off her face. "Look for yourself." She points to a sign pinned to its chest.

"Oh, he's in for it now. Yep, Jerry is really going to get it this time."

Rachel laughs. "You want to borrow Stinky?" She starts to hand him over when his tail flips in the air.

Joe pushes the skunk away. "That's ok."

"You don't want to hold my baby?" She pouts.

Joe glances at the wild creature. "Not particularly."

"He's really adorable and he loves to be cuddled, see." Stinky rubs against her neck.

"That's alright, I'm good," Joe says, backing away.

An ornery smile spreads across her face as she walks toward him. "Come on, Joe, just for a second."

"I said I don't want to." His legs hit the bench; he falls to the seat.

"You can hold him better now." Joe leans back as she tries to hand him over. "Don't worry, he can't spray you." She plops Stinky on his chest.

Crawling up towards Joe's neck, Stinky snuggles against him.

"Aw, he likes you, Joe." She sees him nervously shift around. "You'll probably get clawed or bit if you move around too much more."

"Get this thing off of me now, Rachel."

"Agree to a truce and I will."

"Never."

"I hope you have fun with Stinky." Rachel walks away.

"Don't leave him on me."

Rachel waves as she continues down the hall.

Joe glances down at the beast. I could throw him off me. He'd probably do a lot of damage before I could get a good hold. "Ok, ok. I promise not to get you, now get this damn skunk off of me."

Rachel races to his side. "I knew you'd agree." She laughs as she takes Stinky away.

I may not be able to get you, but Jerry still can. Joe smiles as he glances at the doll.

***

The storm is right on top of them; Jackie continues to back away. She looks over to see a small sapling nearly bent to the ground. "Why don't you put your cane down and we can talk about this indoors where it's safe? She anxiously glances around.

"There's nothing to talk about." Granny inches a little closer. Thunder roars all around them as debris flies across the alley. A weather alarm starts screeching in the distance.

She definitely has to go in now. "We better go inside before we get soaked or worse."

"Why, so you can call the cops on me?"

"I won't tell anyone about this."

"Like I'm going to believe you," Granny lifts her hand towards the handle.

"Wait, wait, I have an idea," Jackie exclaims, nervously glancing towards Granny's cane.

***

Joe and Rachel are sitting quietly in their sedan waiting for their killer to show. A cool night breeze gently sweeps through their window, bringing a fresh scent of spring rain with it; a remnant of a previous storm.

Joe sees Rachel is trying hard to stay awake when he glances her way. She's exhausted herself from talking so much. He chuckles.

Yawning, Rachel turns towards the window.

She sure is adorable when she's tired. I wonder if she meant what she said about wanting to date me. No, that's ludicrous, how could someone so beautiful be interested in me. He looks at Rachel again. I would be the happiest man alive if it were true. What am I thinking; this is Rachel, for God's sakes, my biggest pain in the ass. She sure is a cute pain. He pictures kissing her pretty face. Stop it, Joe, stop it; you know this is ridiculous, that it'd never work out.

Rachel glances at him. Joe quickly turns away, splashing coffee across the dash. That wasn't obvious. He starts sopping up the mess.

Rachel smiles. "You were kidding about our romantic date, right, Joe?"

"You said you didn't want a sympathy date with me, remember?"

"Right, I almost forgot," she sullenly replies. Rachel glances out her window and then turns back around. "If you were to... Oh my God, Joe, look." She points at a bloody man stumbling out of the alley.

"What is it?" He turns in his seat. Scrambling out of their car, they run towards the victim. "We need a bus at Rocking Pig Bar," Rachel blurts into her radio. They see at least a dozen victims spread across the alleyway when they get closer. "Make that two, no three. Oh my God, Joe, there are bodies everywhere," she cries.