Beneath The Mask

chapter 26 RD

R:
::wakes up and when she notices came
ron is here she is relieved::
::makes breakfast::
C:
::finally gets up::
::on automatic, sure she has work today::
::so comes out, ready for work::
::when she sees ray she remembers....oh::
::....its sunday::
...hey. thx 4 making breakfast
R:
No problem
...
You ok?
C:
Yeah, im fine.
::but she gobbles and guzzles the food and water::
R:
::doesn't mention it::
::just glad she's back in one piece::
C:
::when she is done eating::
I gotta go check on Jim. He got into it with someone. And I gotta go get me another phone. Some idiot got sold of it and took it apart
::@@::
R:
::that explains it::
Ok
Be careful
C:
I will be.
:: grabs purse::
See you
:: takes off::
:: goes to Jim's new place cuz he's of primary importance::
J:
::is in middle of his breakfast::
::will answer the door::
#lol#
C:
Hey
::warm/calm smile::
How're u doing?
J:
Fine, you?
C:
Finally got some food and water in me
::making light of it::
J:
Good
...you didn't have anything all day yesterday did you?
C:
...
::shakes her head::
#lol, ok#
C:
::she comes in and its clear she's scanning him for injuries::
J:
::notices this::
Don't look so concerned I told you im fine
::grabs his bowl of breakfast::
C:
You said that last time when ur hand was cut pretty deep
::said plainly::
J:
::smirks::
Well no cuts today.
::takes a bite of his breakfast::
C:
::@@::
::sits at the table so he cn finish breakfast b4 she forces him to undergo treatment::
Know how they got me?
J:
Not exactly. How?
C:
they texted me to meet them at the café. had something to do with you. They claim the Eraser said they could trust me.
J:
...
::nods::
C:
I shoulda dialed them or called u first. Basic percautions neglected
::shrugging it off::
J:
Regardless, I'm finding out who it was.
Today.
::finishes the bowl and takes it to the sink::
C:
James
::hand gentle on his arm::
::voice calming and kind::
J:
...
What?
C:
They hurt u far more than they ever hurt me.
::leads him to go get his injuries doctored::
J:
::doesn't argue anymore::
C:
::tends diligently to his various scrapes and bruises from the fight::
...I want u to remember something. Just because u promised to take care of me doesnt mean you neglect urself.
::gentle loving smile::
Because as long as I'm around, I intend on taking care of you, too.
J:
::smirks::
Ok
C:
::now finished::
Now then.
I dont really have much going on today. Would u like to join me in my search for a new cell phone?
J:
...
::he would spend time with her but he needs to find the traitor and make that whole idiot bunch pay::
Sure
C:
::smiles::
Great
::clearly plsd::
#if u havent started to re yet add#
are you ready now or are u wanting to wait?
J:
I'm ready

C:
::takes his hand and they go out cell shopping::
::in the meanwhile::
How *did* u find me neways?
J:
Your friend raven helped
C:
::grins and shakes her head::
I should have known. She didnt ask near enough questions this morning.
J:
::chuckles::
We found the van on a few security cameras to tell where they were heading
C:
Ah.
i never did see what the van looked like from the outside. But I did get a good look at two of my captors.
J:
What did they look like?
C:
::describes the two cuz idk, we nvr said::
J:
::nods but neither sounds familiar::
C:
But we know three things for sure. They know that finance guy, u, and the Eraser.
J:
Right
C:
I'm sure that narrows who down quite a bit.
And they are horrible kidnappers
::chuckles::
J:
::chuckles::
::mentally halfway through his plans to take care of this::
C:
::finally finds a phone she likes::
::puts it in camera mode::
::holds it up::
What do u think of this one?
J:
::chuckles::
Looks good
C:
::snaps his picture and grins::
Yes you do
::shows him her stolen pic::
J:
::@@::
::shakes head w smil::
C:
::giggles and buys the phone::
::putting his and rays number in it immediately::
::she'll add the rest later::
::but she's learned her lesson::
::james is under Great Dancer and ray under The Geek::
J:
So what's on ur mind now?
C:
...just really random stuff.
::totally brushing it off::
::but she'll say if he asks::
J:
::smiles::
No really what?
C:
.....well.
I was just wondering about the accuracy of the measurement of an atom.
J:
::smiles::
You think maybe its not too accurate?
C:
::laughs::
More like how in the world did they manage to measure it and how on earth do they know they're right?
## lol
J:
::chuckles::
C:
you know, you didnt even bat an eye. The last time I said something off the wall like that I completely threw their game
::actually plsd about this::
J:
::shrugs w smirk::
C:
::half chuckle::
That's the sort of stuff Xander and I would talk about. All the time.
J:
Sounds very interesting
C:
...if i didnt know any better, i'd almost ask if u helped him disappear.
::suddenly kinda solemn::
J:
...
C:
...but I've found him online too easily, well. Considerably easily for someone that had no detective history.
J:
Oh?
C:
yeah.
i just wished i knew where he was and that he'd talk to us again.
J:
He wont talk to you?
C:
no.
...i could count how many times i've talked him since he left on one hand. he never picked up, never responded. For the most part I've quit trying.
J:
::quiet::
C:
::deep breath like moving on::
But the good news is I'm guarinteed to see him at least one more time in my life
J:
....when's that?
C:
::slightly embarassed now that she brought it up::
...the day I get married
::walks a little faster cuz is awkward about it::
J:
...
::there's that word again::
C:
...I mean, Xander didnt make the promise but his dad told me he would make Xander come and Xander kinda listens to his dad.
mom pointed out that means Derick invited himself to the occasion, but idc. He's like an uncle to me and if it means Xander comes then let him
::kinda rambling now cuz she feels awkward::
::now wishes desperately she hadnt said anything::
J:
::nods kinda even tho he doesn't really understand::
....im kinda thirsty, you mind if we stop for a drink?
C:
Sure
uk, im kinda thirsty too.
::she cnt believe she said all of that::
::mentioning Xander was fine but the whole wedding thing?? Srsly??::
::mentally kicking herself::
J:
::of course he just kinda brushes it off::
::but he can't deny his thoughts bring it up on occasion::
::stops in a little place for a drink;:
C:
::just gets a bottle of water and guzzles it::
...
::fills it up with tap::
::drinks half of that::
...
::fills it up rest of way to take with::
J:
...you weren't kidding
C:
::slightly mervous chuckle::
...yeah, um.
Wow, the sky's clear today
J:
...
Really.
::like this is me ur talking to::
C:
::kicking self again::
::srsly? Weather talk? With Jim of *all people*??::
::that was our very first conversation!!::
...maybe not so clear
::^she's really meaning her thoughts/feelings aren't so clear cuz is embarassed but idk if jim will catch that::
J:
::he does pick up on the general idea::
## but idk what to do about it lol
J:
There's no need for it not to be
::smiles::
C:
::looks dwn::
Im sry.
Idk what's gotten into me
#lol, the irony. She's a psychotherapist and she doesnt know whats wrong with herself#
J:
Its ok
::smiles and takes her hand::
C:
::and she does feel better now::
::even succumbing to a bit of a smile::
J:
::after spending a little more time with cameron, they part ways::
::he honestly can't believe the way he's been since he met her::
::sure he's dated
he gets word back who the traitor was::
::the one he nicknamed happy::
::.....happy won't be around much longer::
y aren't usually kidnappers, they usually spend their time with fraud::
::which explains what they were doing with mr tycoon::
::asks Jonathan to do a li
before but never... never like this::
::which stirs him even more to sniff out the culprits::
::eventually he discovers the actual kidnappers (1 & 2) the
ttle dirty work for him and find out who the two were involved with::
::he examined everything and decided he could still trust Jonathan::
::that night,
ell most of you.
...one of you is a traitor. Sell out. Back stabber.
::the group all glance at each other::
So, whoever it is, would you care to confess?

::everyone is quiet, glancing at one another::
....no?
...
::shrugs::
Thats ok I already know who it is.
::just then there's a shot::
::"happy" falls to
J:
::sets up a late meeting with some contacts::
::when they are all there, he begins::
...I'm sure you're all wondering what brings you here tonight?
-W
the floor::
::shot in the back, right through the heart::
::poetry in death::
::of course it was a sniper, practically his signature::
::Jim sighs::
Mee
ting adjourned.
::said casually as he tirns and leaves::
::the other members never said a word::
::they all look at eachother now::
::Jim goes home, trus
ting that this will likely be the last time he'll have to eliminate one of his own::