CHAPTER 53

 When Carly had received a call from Emily that morning, she hadn't known what to expect. From the story she had shared with her the previous day, she had only feared for the worst. True she wasn't a big fan of Emily Hill,now Emily Gonzalez but when it came to domestic violence, she wouldn't wish that on anyone,not even her worst enemy. And that had been her first guess. At first she had thought of calling the police but then she asked herself why Emily hadn't done that in the first place. Maybe it wasn't something that required the police attention and so she had decided not to. Along the way, she had realized it was a stupid idea to walk into whatever was awaiting her without at least telling anyone. Carl was already gone to work and so she had to use her father's truck. She had called Dylan but the first call went unanswered while the second one was answered by a guy. What would  a guy be doing with Dylan's phone at that moment and worse still in her apartment where she was still sleeping? Was he the same guy she had gone to drink with the previous night. She had however convinced herself that maybe he was just her partner from work, maybe, and had gone over there to work on a case or something. She had finally focused on getting to Emily's  though casually and vigilantly in case she was walking into a trap. 

    When she had gotten there, she had found Emily clinging on to her kids tightly and bawling. Her first conclusion was that she had taken her advice and broached the divorce subject and maybe he had gone ballistic and attacked her. Well yeah, she had been attacked, evidenced by her split lip and crimson red face. She didn't have to be told that the two kids holding on to her were indeed hers because even at the age of nine,the girl Kimmy was already a spitting image of her mother. She looked like a younger cheerleader version of her mother but with pigtails. Her brother wasn't so different except that his hair was brown instead of black. 

     Now the concern she must have had the moment she saw Emily was registered in Dylan's face clearly. It was a surprise that she had gotten there long before the police who they had called earlier. Emily stood up slowly and stood next to her. At least she had stopped shivering but her voice was still weak.

               "Hey Dylan,"she said and tried to manage a smile but the split lip must have been making it really difficult. " Thanks for coming."

                "We didn't want to bother you but you are the only one we could tell about part of it," Carly offered. 

                 "What happened?"

   Emily sniffled,"It's Justin. He threw us out. Well,me but the kids didn't want to stay back. So I brought them here with me,it was the only place I could think of."

  Dylan nodded but wondered where this was going. She wasn't really equipped with what to do about domestic violence. They weren't friends either but the fact remained, she was a police officer. Looking around, the kids weren't anywhere in sight.

                  "Where are they now?" she asked.

                   "In the back room sleeping. They just settled a moment before you got here."

                  "And Justin?" 

                   "He could be anywhere. He fled the minute he hit me and realized that he had drawn blood but not before warning me that if he found me there he would make an example out of me. He accused me of wasting his family wealth." She paused to take a breath then went on. "Anyway I don't care about all that,I would be as happy sleeping on the floor but with my peace and mental health intact." Now that was knew. Since when did Emily not care about wealth? She knew she had changed but not to that extreme end. She still wore clothes from the most expensive fabric among other things. Emily then turned to Carly as if asking her something.

    Carly nodded,"Tell her."

                    "Tell me what?"

                     "When I came here a little after before six, the door was broken." She turned and that was when she noticed that. She had been too focused to get inside that she didn't even notice. She turned back to her. "Nothing was taken though, everything was intact except for a few boxes someone might have knocked over while passing."

                   "What else?" she asked now beginning to get impatient. Emily walked back to a shelf and produced a box. She shivered already guessing what it was about. This however was larger than what she had received and from how Emily held it,it seemed heavier.

Instead of answering, Emily handed her the box and she opened it without hesitating. She almost gagged at the smell that hit her. She looked away for a moment wrinkling her nose in disgust. Pig's blood only meant one thing and she definitely didn't want to go there. Both their looks said they understood as much as she did so there was no need to explain. Emily did have people who hated her but this particular one was vicious. It looked like she had another person to keep close and protect. She noticed something sticking out at the side of the box. She pulled it out.

                 "What's this?" she asked and looked between them but when they both shook their heads, she went ahead to open it. They moved nearer to her and she read it out loud. "Do what you do best and break your two little friends apart. Or else... your little cheerleader and cute jock will be gone forever."  

At the back was Emily's two kids and the moment she saw them, she became hysterical.

                  "What sicko is this and what is he or she asking me to do?"

   Dylan and Carly looked at each other in understanding. They already know what it meant but before they could explain it to Emily too,the police siren sounded in the distance. She quickly swung into action and saw Carly as the easier one to reason with so she covered the box quickly and handed it to Carly.

                   "Here, take this to my car and lock it there."

                   "Dylan, what are you doing? Isn't it wise to leave it for the police?"

                   "I'm an officer too Carly. Have you forgotten?"

                 "Yeah,but you are suspended!" Carly replied raising her voice a pitch higher. She placed the box in her hands then touched her arms and squeezed looking directly into her eyes. 

                 "Hey,trust me. Those guys will not do anything. I already told the chief about what was happening and he hasn't done a thing up until now. At this point I don't know who to trust besides you and you have to listen to me, okay?" Carly nodded. "They can't see this,if they do the whole thing will be dumped away like the rest. Please,trust me on this,if we stand a chance to uncover all this,we have to work alone."

                    "Okay, I trust you," Carly replied genuinely.

She turned to Emily,"You are in as much danger as we are and that means you have to work with us. Don't mention about the box to anyone or even the note you got. Carly told me about it. They will tell you to give a statement about what happened but don't mention about the other things, understand?"

               "I think I do,"she replied but Dylan wasn't convinced.

               "You are either with us Emily or you are on your own,"she said more sternly and Emily looked at her in fear. Not what she had intended but it worked.

               "Okay, I understand. I will only tell them about the break in and what happened with Justin."

                "Good,"then,"After this,you are coming with us to my place. The kids too."

       When she was satisfied that things would go the way she wanted, she left the store. Carly was already heading back inside, having secured the box in her car. She however  appeared shaken and she felt bad for going all stern officer on her.

              "Are you okay?" she asked.

Carly nodded,"I will be."

   She offered her arms for a hug and Carly immediately fell into them without hesitating. At least she had experienced things like this before but for Carly, it was all new. And to add to the fact that it was all happening during the first days she was back home, almost as if she had brought bad luck, she knew it could be overwhelming for her. She pulled her closer not only trying to comfort her but also needing the close contact.

              "We are going to be okay."

                "If you say so."

   She released her and met her eyes. She couldn't blame her for doubting her. She herself wasn't sure she wanted to believe that but with Kenny helping her, she had some hope.

                 "I'm not going to let anything happen to you or your son,I promise?"

                  "We are not going to be together all the time Dylan. And Teddy, right now I don't even know if he is safe. I feel like we are being watched even in our own home."

   That alarmed her,"What are you talking about?"

Carly sighed,"It was probably nothing or just a dog passing by but at this rate,I can't just make conclusions. Yesterday when you left,I was sitting outside with Carl when we heard a noise. We didn't say to listen but it was the feeling that came with it,so eerie and frightening. Maybe it is just my paranoia acting but I'm scared Dylan."

    Dylan saw the fear in her eyes but she knew it wasn't her own safety she was worried about. That much she knew about Carly and so, she offered what she thought would be best.

              "Maybe you and Teddy should come to my apartment and stay with me. I have an extra bedroom."

   Carly seemed to consider that for a moment but then shook her head,"We will be a burden to you and not only that. Even if we came to stay with you,my parents and Carl would also be in danger."

                "I know but it would make me feel better if you were somewhere I can see you. I would not have to worry about you guys because you are somewhere else,"she finally admitted what had been in her head all the time.

  Carly searched her eyes before asking,"What are you saying?"

                 "It shouldn't come as a surprise that I still care about you Carly. If anything happened to you,I don't know what I would-" the last part of her statement was swallowed in Carly's mouth which surprised her. The kiss came when she least expected it, taking her unawares but the moment their lips met, she didn't push her away. What she had been yearning for in a long time was fulfilled at that moment as she felt Carly's lips on hers. They were as soft as she remembered, fiery and yet filled with emotion and love. The feeling that washed over her when Carly's hand went through the hair in her head at the back near her neck was electrifying, sending a shiver running down her spine. It was then that she realized just how much she had missed her. Her mouth in hers rather. But just in that moment when she would have deepened the kiss, the first police vehicle arrived and coincidentally,it was the chief's. She hadn't seen or heard from him for some days now. She stepped aside from Carly as he came up towards them.

                   "What the hell Lewis? Is this really the time to get into that?" he asked then looked at Carly.

                  "The last time I checked I wasn't even on duty, probably even jobless." She hadn't intended to respond in that manner but she couldn't stop herself as he came to her furiously.

                  "Exactly, which is why I want to know what you are doing on this crime scene."

                    "I could have been here shopping for groceries,it is a store after all but I am here because the owner is my friend and she called me. You would have done the same."

    He shook his head then said before heading inside,"I will see you later." She turned back to Carly who appeared shocked by the exchange.

                   "Do you always talk to him like that?"

                  "No, I'm doing it only because I'm convinced he is hiding something. He might even know what's happening."

                 "