Impromptu

028. Garden - Dark Shadows Epilogue

2012-01-11T13:04:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran Callahan, Nathan Davis, Leslie Callahan
Prompt: 028. Garden
Word Count: 384
Rating: G
Type: Series: 33 of 33
Summary: Fran makes a career change and wants Nathan to remain shirtless.
Warnings: None
*This is the end of the Dark Shadows series, thanks to everyone for reading!

Fran stood up and patted her hands together, shaking off the dirt that was clinging to them. She watched her mother shower her precious plants with water as she wiped a few beads of sweat from her brow. After the fiasco with Chaz, she and Nathan had been giving their relationship a try-so far, so good. Leslie had invited them along with Elena and her family and Nathan’s parents for a cookout.

“I’m glad everything turned out okay and you’re not hurt. Thank God Nathan showed up when he did,” Leslie said, looking at the small garden with satisfaction.

“Yeah, I’m lucky to have him, he really cares about me,” Fran replied, silently cursing herself for taking so long to recognize it.
The back door opened, the man she was so grateful for poked his head out and called to them, “Are you two gonna pull weeds all day or what? Lunch is ready when you are.”
“Okay, we’re coming, keep your shirt on.” Fran said, giving him a sly grin. She never ceased to amaze at how much she wanted him to do exactly the opposite, anytime he wanted to go shirtless was just fine by her.

He returned the smile and went back inside, on cloud nine that the awkward start to their romantic relationship was beginning to vanish, they had seemed to make the transition from “just friends” to a lot more easier than either one had thought.
“So, you’re not mad at me for joining the Academy?”

Leslie put down the watering can, “Oh honey, of course not. You know, life isn’t as simple as a garden-you plant it, nurture it, it grows. Life is complicated…full of hard decisions and you have to make your own choices and live your own way.
“You do what you were born to do, you’re lucky you figured that out now, most people live their whole life not knowing what they were meant to do. Your father would be proud of you no matter what, you have to know that. No more guilt Fran, he knows you made the right decision, he’d be proud of the woman you have become.”
Fran smiled as tears flooded her eyes, she grabbed her mother and hugged her as hard as she could, “Thanks Mom, I love you.”

*~*~*The End

033. Honor

2012-01-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Fran Callahan, Chaz McQueen
Prompt: 033. Honor
Word Count: 1,632
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 32 of 33
Summary: Will Nathan make it in time?
Warnings: Language, Violence

Time seemed to pass in slow motion as Nathan made the drive to her apartment, breaking as many laws as possible, he made the thirty minute route in about fifteen. He pulled up to the large building, noticing a few windows with glowing lights. Not being sure which ones were hers right off the bat, he hurried inside to the elevator to make sure she was home.
He finally made it to her floor and knocked loudly on the door, gaining no response. He tried again, knowing her bedroom being on the second floor made it harder to hear. A neighbor popped their head out in the hallway, apparently annoyed by his persistence.

“What do you want, buddy?” The man asked warily.

Nathan pulled out his badge and flashed it at the man, “I’m Detective Davis, have you seen Miss Callahan this evening? She would have been in a while ago.”
“Nope, haven’t seen her or that big guy she lives with.”

Shit. “Okay, thank you. Go back inside and lock your door Sir, it may be dangerous to be out here.”

The man complied, Nathan heard him bolt the door. He pulled out his sidearm, stepped back and gave Fran’s door a good, hard kick.
The first floor was dark and appeared empty. He swiftly went inside, gun poised in front of him. He scanned the living room, made his way into the kitchen…nothing.

He suddenly heard muffled voices coming from the small opening above the spiral staircase. His pulse pounding furiously he instantly went into police mode, heart slamming in his chest, he quietly padded up them two at a time.
His eyes took in the entire room in a flash, he zoned in on the figure beside Frannie, crouched at a bedside table, “Freeze! Stand up slowly and put your hands up…” He said, finger on the trigger as he moved slowly closer, trying to stay focused on the man and not lose his composure by looking at her. If he looked at her, his emotions would surely take over…

“Turn around, slowly.”

The man did as he was told, Nathan immediately noticed he was holding a knife- a long, pointy dagger. He turned around to face him, knife still in hand.
“You!” Nathan exclaimed at the sight of his face, all this time he had no idea exactly how much danger she had been in, his stomach dropped to his knees as he looked into the eyes of the man he had been hunting, under his nose the entire time. “Drop the knife.” He said, eyes narrowed, anger boiling just below the surface.

Chaz looked back at him, enraged to see that man in his house again, he could sense he wanted Fran, knew the “just friends” thing was absurd. Now here he stood, pointing a gun at him, giving him orders. “I don’t think so. You see, you’re interrupting my little lesson, I’m going to show her what bad choices she made. And now you get to watch as I tear up her pretty skin, inch by inch.”
Nathan slowly moved closer, hand gripping his gun gently but firmly, the adrenaline surging through his veins while he weighed each option in his mind. He heard Frannie crying softly, his eyes darted to hers against his will, he felt his chest tighten as he saw the fear in her eyes. “Drop the knife,” He said again, locking eyes with Chaz, he flexed his finger around the trigger.
“Go ahead and shoot. I know you won’t, you don’t have it in you, you’re weak.”
Chaz turned slowly towards Fran, knife poised above her. In one swift move, Nathan fired the gun at his knees, and sent him down to the floor in agony. He quickly moved to the bed, kicked the knife from Chaz’s hand and pulled his arms behind him, locking him in handcuffs.
“For your information, I’m not weak, and whether you live or die isn’t my decision to make. Not that I expect you to understand.” Nathan said, shoving him into a sitting position, he put his gun away and went to untie Frannie.
His heart in knots, he removed the gag and the rope and pulled her into him, not giving her a chance to pull away, even if she had wanted to, which he somehow doubted. He held her gently as he felt her crying against him, he whispered over and over, “It’s okay Frannie, it’s over.”

She leaned into his chest, the warmth a welcome comfort, a place she felt safe…a place she could trust. She cried more, the overwhelming emotion inside her breaking free, she had been so foolish to push him away for so long.

A voice rattled the tender moment, “Hey, are you just gonna fucking leave me down here! My leg hurts, you shot me asshole, you have to call somebody, I have rights!”

Nathan pulled away from her slowly, wiping the tears that stained her cheeks, “Would you leave us alone for a minute?”

She took a deep breath and shook her head, not wanting to even look at Chaz, she went to the bathroom to wait until he was gone.
Nathan turned back to the floor and squatted down to the maniac in custody, “You want another one in your other leg? How about I go for a set and just put a bullet in all your joints? You’ll still live, not that I would have it that way,” He leaned down inches from his face, his anger surging, “Don’t push me asshole, you tried to kill the woman I love, if I wasn’t an honorable man, you’d be dead.”

He got up and pulled out his cell phone, making the call for a squad car. Then, he turned back to Chaz and said the most gratifying words he could ever think of, “You’re under arrest for the murders of Natasha Bowen, Angel Hudson, Nadia Korskii and Paulina Evans. And for attempted murder of Fran Callahan. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law, so I would shut the fuck up, you insane bastard.”

Chaz just looked back at him, not saying a word. His knee gushed blood as he leaned back into the wall, groaning.

*~*~*
A few moments later, it was all over. The backup had arrived and put Chaz into a squad car, taking him downtown to seal his fate. Nathan had a report to make but first he needed to talk to Frannie. He found her sitting on the couch, in the same sweats and tank top he had last seen her in.

He paced the floor in front of her, not knowing where to begin. I love you Frannie, I almost died when I thought something had happened to you.

“Sit down for shit’s sake, you’re making me nervous.” She said, gaining a strange look from him, he had never heard her use such language.
He sat down next to her, the look in his eyes glowing with pure, raw emotion. “I don’t know where to start…I’m sorry about what happened, it being him. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling.”

Fran listened, she knew this was it, the conversation she had dreaded. But it was happening and she couldn’t fight it any longer. “I’m glad it’s over,” She said, shifting towards him slightly, “I think I’m still in shock, about it being Chaz and all, I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner.”
He looked down at the floor, nerves on edge, he just began to blurt things out, “Frannie, life is too damned short. I almost lost you, I can’t think of anything worse,” His voice cracked as he nearly choked on the words but he found the courage to say them somehow, “I…I love you Frannie and I want to be with you and only you...forever.”

Tears filled her eyes at his confession. He loved her, not liked or wanted to test things out first. Her thoughts a jumbled mess, if he had been brave enough to take the risk, how could she not? Maybe she had to throw away the “what ifs” and dive in head first and give happiness a real chance. She sat quietly, looking back at him, still speechless at how he really felt.
He searched her face for a response, she wasn’t saying anything, which was driving him crazy. He probably shouldn’t have said anything, she obviously wasn’t ready to give him a chance, after all she had just been through. Idiot. Great timing Nate. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that…I should give you time to get over this, God I’m so sorry…” He stood up and began to pace again, cursing himself for not being able to wait any longer. After nearly losing her though, he didn’t have much of a choice.
Fran smiled to herself, she had been so surprised by him that she hadn’t had time to think up a response. She got up and grasped his hand, stopping him from walking in circles. She looked into his eyes and stroked her hand gently around his cheek. Without a word, she placed her hand on the back of his head, feeling the coarse hair between her fingers, she pulled him down to her and kissed him deeply, the contact sending chills down her spine.
His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, the touch of her lips on his own igniting a passion deep inside him. The girl he loved was in his arms and safe, she was opening her heart to him and no longer pushing him away. Life was good.
Fran ended the kiss slowly, her face still merely inches from his, she said, “Don’t apologize…I must have loved you my whole life.”

Part 33

035. Sixth Sense

2012-01-11T13:02:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Fran Callahan, Chaz McQueen
Prompt: 035. Sixth Sense
Word Count: 451
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 31 of 33
Summary: Nathan goes with his gut.
Warnings: Language, Violence

Nathan had lost track of time going over the files of the four victims. His head hurt, he was in need of a shower and countless hours of sleep. His stomach twitched, he couldn’t shake the nagging that he should call Frannie. Yes she was probably asleep and he truly wanted to put off telling her about the suspect turning out the way it did but something still told him he should check in on her. The main reason being the real killer was still out there and she could be in danger.

Paranoia be damned, he picked up his desk phone and dialed her number. Preparing a normal, “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you” speech, he waited ring after ring. No answer. At the sound of her voice he took a breath to speak but realized it was only the answering machine, “Hey, you’ve reached Fran Callahan…

*~*~*
“…Leave me a message and I’ll call you back.”

Beep.

Fran watched Chaz from her bed-their bed with absolute terror. She couldn’t believe it, all this time she was hunting for a killer and he was under her own roof. He had been ranting and raving nonsense since she came out of the bathroom, after he had tied her arms and legs up and thrown her to the bed.
“I did this for you! All for you, why can’t you see that? I thought you were different Fran, not like those vain models. You said you didn’t want the life anymore, didn’t fit in with them and I catch you going around behind my back in a vulgar blond wig going to the same disgusting club as them! Did you think you could fool me?”
She began to defend herself, not that she had anything that would help her situation, when he pulled a gag from his pants pocket and wrapped it around her mouth, “Don’t make it worse by lying Fran, you’re an empty, selfish shell, just like the rest of them. They all deserved to die but my first mistake was thinking you would see why.” She watched in horror as he picked up a long, pointy dagger from her bedside table.

*~*~*
Nathan put down the receiver, he was never a message-leaving kind of guy. He stared back at the phone, that twitch in his gut relentless.

She has to be home by now. She must be asleep.
He glanced at the time, two hours since the undercover mission had ended and he had said goodbye to her. Not enough time to fall into such a deep sleep she wouldn’t hear her phone, considering her apartment was only about thirty minutes away from the station.

Fuck it, I’m going over there.

Part 32

010. Dark

2012-01-11T13:01:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran Callahan, Chaz McQueen, Nathan Davis, Kristian Evanovich
Prompt: 010. Dark
Word Count: 988
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 30 of 33
Summary: Another road block in the investigation, Fran's relationship hits a speed bump.
Warnings: Nudity

Fran’s house was quiet and dark when she finally arrived that evening, after the excitement subsided, she was ready for some peace and quiet. She went upstairs to take a hot bath and unwind, noticing that Chaz wasn’t in bed. That’s odd. She thought, trying to remember if he had said he was working tonight. Maybe she had misunderstood. After all, her mind had been on the undercover mission one hundred percent. She wasn’t about to count Nathan in that percentage, even though she was ashamed to admit he was usually in about thirty percent.
She ran the water until it turned cold, leaving her hair up in the bun from being tucked under the wig, she lowered herself into the tub, ready to wash away the grimy feeling of that man’s lips on her skin. She was happy she had helped catch him but there was still an unease inside her of how dangerous the situation had become and how quickly it had gotten that way. Being a police officer was quite possibly the most serious occupation out there, one mistake and kiss yourself goodbye. She had a newfound respect for what her father had done his entire life and why he wouldn’t have wanted her to do the same. However, she still had to admit there was a part of it that had felt so right.
A few scented candles she had lit glowed in the dark room, casting their dancing shadows on the walls, creating a relaxing yet somewhat eerie atmosphere. She sank in the water, the warmth easing the tension in her muscles.
“Where have you been?” The voice rang through the quiet bathroom like a shot. She nearly jumped out of the tub and looked towards the door, to see Chaz standing against the frame.

“Chaz…you scared me! I didn’t know you were home, I looked for you when I came in. Anyway, I had to go see a friend from work, she was having a bad fight with her husband and wanted to talk. Are you okay, you look tired.”
“I’m fine, I just have something I want to talk about when you’re done.”

Fran watched him curiously. She couldn’t quite put her finger on the emotion in his voice, he seemed upset about something but with him it was always hard to tell. “Sure, I’ll wash and be right out.”

*~*~*
“The knife doesn’t match.” Nathan had put in a rush on comparing the knife Charles had attempted to use on Frannie to the stab wounds on the murder victims.

“Are you serious? He felt like our guy though.” Kristian said, sitting down in an empty chair across from Nathan’s desk. They had gone back to the precinct to put the finishing touches on their case, only to have their main suspect blown out of the water.

“I know, he sounded like the one. All that rage and domination. But they’re sure, the knife we’re after is long but is more pointed at the tip, like a dagger. This one was just a regular butcher knife from the kitchen,” He rubbed his temples, the frustration overwhelming. “It gets worse. His DNA doesn’t match the hair we found at the crime scenes. He’s just another creep on a power trip who likes to dominate women.”
Kristian sighed, another dead end, “I’ll go write up a whole new list of charges, resisting arrest, attempted rape and murder will be just fine, might give the guy a wake up call.”

“I hope so, give him a few years and he’ll probably be right there with our guy murdering innocent girls.”
Kristian left and Nathan glanced at the clock, only an hour had passed. He thought about Frannie and what she would say when he told her the bad news. And worst of all that he couldn’t allow her to hunt for the real killer, he had nearly gone insane worrying about her and couldn’t take it anymore.
He flipped through his case notes on all four murders, one by one, starting with the first. He looked them over side by side, trying to come up with a pattern. They were all young females, between 20 and 25, different ethnic backgrounds, which was odd for a serial killer. All models at the same agency.

His investigation of Miss Raven had turned up nothing, her financials were clean, everything neat and tidy. He couldn’t shake the feeling she was hiding something but then again, a woman like that was likely to have a closet full of skeletons. That guy she had working for her didn’t seem large enough to threaten a woman either, considering most city dwelling women knew some form of self defense.
He groaned, nothing popped out at him, no red flags, nothing of importance. He rubbed his eyes and looked down at the desk scattered with papers. Sasilia’s name had landed on top of Paulina’s in a curious position.

All the names end with an “A”. Or do they? What was the first, Natasha…

He flipped through the pages again, landing on the second victim’s file, Angel. No, not unless it was a nickname.

He looked through the folder until he came to her DMV photo, not a nickname. Damn, now I’m just grasping at straws.

*~*~*
Fran put on some see-through black lingerie, she wasn’t in the mood for an argument but seriously felt the need to be comforted. Spraying some perfume on her neck for good measure, she went into the bedroom to try and avoid what she knew was coming.
She looked around but didn’t see Chaz anywhere, he had lit a few candles and must have gone back downstairs for something. She shrugged and walked over to the bed to turn down the covers.
A whisper close behind her sent a chill from the back of her neck, all the way to her toes, “Why did you have to disappoint me?”

Part 31

039. Taste

2012-01-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fallon Christopher, Mystery Man, Nathan Davis, Kristian Evanovich, Officers
Prompt: 039. Taste
Word Count: 1,730
Rating: R, 18+
Type: Series: 29 of 33
Summary: Fran enters the lion's den.
Warnings: Language, Nudity, Violence, Sexual Content

Fran watched as the stranger unlocked the door to his apartment. She was thankful at least he was in front of her so he wouldn’t see her hands shaking, she couldn’t remember ever being so frightened. The novelty of this idea seemed ludicrous to her now that she was about to enter the lion’s den practically unprepared.
He opened the door and she reluctantly followed him inside, the click of the doorknob behind her echoing in the silent room, sealing her fate. She sat down on the couch and crossed her legs, noting he hadn’t locked it behind them. Breathing a small sigh of relief, she looked up at him as seductively as she could manage, “Nice place, you live by yourself I assume. You aren’t married or anything, are you?”

The stranger laughed slightly, throwing his wallet and keys in a small basket on a side table. “No, I’m not married, you?”

“Of course not, just had to be sure, that’s all. Do you have anything to drink?”

“Sure, make yourself comfortable, I’ll get some wine.” He said, leaving her in the small living room alone.
Her breathing increased rapidly, the danger of the situation heightened all of her senses, and she felt herself going automatically into panic mode again. She whispered to the microphone in her chest, “Nathan?”

Less than a second passed before she heard the familiar, comforting voice, “I’m still here Frannie, you’re doing great. Just say the word and we’re on him, we’re coming up the stairwell right now.”

She breathed a sigh of relief and tried to remember that it only took a moment for her and the stranger to reach the apartment from the stairs, Nathan would be there in half the time or less when she said the code word.
The man came back, wine glasses and bottle in hand. Fran noticed he had changed into a pair of sleep pants, with no shirt. He sat the glasses down on the coffee table and poured some into both, handing her one. She had to try not to laugh, hadn’t she said she would rather have been at home with a good book and a glass of wine? Too bad this wasn’t her home and this man wasn’t Nathan…or Chaz. Scolding herself for thinking of Nathan first, she shook off the thought and tried to chat up the stranger. “So, we never really introduced ourselves, I’m Fallon. What do I call you, handsome?”

He sat back on the sofa and took a sip of wine, “No, I thought we were in a hurry to get down to business. My name is Charles but I thought we were gonna skip all the chit chat and have some fun. Was I wrong…Fallon?”

“No, of course not, I just wanted to know what name I should be using, you never know how good of a time we’ll have.” Fran nearly gagged on the words as she sipped some wine to wash out the bad taste they left in her mouth.

“It’s a good vintage, isn’t it? I bet it doesn’t taste as good as you though.” He said, putting down his glass, he leaned in closer to her and took hers as well. He then slid in next to her, put his arm around her waist and began slowly kissing her neck.
Fran stiffened at the feel of his hand on her bare midsection, the hot, wet kisses made her stomach churn. Her mind raced for an idea as he continued to kiss her skin, his lips moving their way across the exposed parts of her breasts. If this continued, he would surely find the wire…and that would be the least of her problems.

“Um…do you have anything to eat?” She said, stroking the back of his hair.
He looked back at her, panting, he was obviously aroused and unwilling to stop now, “Are you fucking kidding? Are we gonna do this or not?”

“Yes but I have this thing about eating and having sex, I really love fruit and whipped cream. It’s such a turn on to lick up every bit of juice that gets left behind.” She said, her cheeks flushing slightly at the thought of Nathan listening to this. If she made it past tonight, he’d never let her live that one down.

He thought about it a moment and sighed, “I’ll go see if I have anything, it sounds too good to pass up, I can think of a few places I’d like to lick some juice from.” He licked his lips and looked her up and down before he left, and she had to use every ounce of strength not to grimace.
Fran sighed with relief as he left again for the kitchen. She got up from the couch and stretched, cherishing the release of the man’s groping hands. She admired some photos on the wall to pass the time.

She didn’t hear him come up behind her, instead, she suddenly felt his hand grab her waist, as he pressed his erection into the back of her, pulling her against him. Her pulse pounded at the slight show of dominance, she could feel his frustration thick in the air between them and wasn’t sure what he would do next.

“I found some fruit and whipped cream, just like you like it,” he whispered, brushing back her hair from her neck, he licked a trail from the top of her shoulder to her ear, bringing up his other hand slowly.
She glanced down and her eyes grew wide at the sight of a large kitchen knife in his hand, making its way closer and closer to her neck. Her heart pounded in her chest, she couldn’t speak, couldn’t move.

Her blood ran cold at his voice in her ear, “No more fucking around, it’s time for you to make good on all that damn teasing.” He said as he grabbed her arm roughly, turning her to face him.
She stared back at him in horror, the knife pointing at her aggressively, threatening her if she didn’t do unspeakable things. She knew she couldn’t say the word until he actually made his move, she was scared but he hadn’t actually touched her with the knife or attempted to hit her. She had to play along until the right moment and try to get his anger to escalate.

“Okay, take it easy. How about you put the knife away, I’m not into that.”
“I don’t think so, you’ve been teasing me since we left the club, I think I’ll keep it just in case you feel like backing out on me again, you little slut.” He said as he slipped off his pants. They fell to the floor, revealing his straining erection. Fran nearly fainted at the sight, she couldn’t believe this was happening, just the thought of coming near this man’s naked body made her shiver from the inside out.

He watched her reaction curiously, knife still poised, ready to assure he got what he wanted, “What’s the matter, not big enough for you? Come on, you’re such a fucking tease! What did you think I wanted from you, to talk? Get on your knees, bitch.”

Fran looked back at him, her anger and disgust rising. She narrowed her eyes at him, “No,” she raised her chin and dared him to make her. She prayed to God he wouldn’t.

He stared back at her, mad as hell now. He stepped within inches of her and raised the knife slightly, “I said, get on your knees.”
Fran’s heart raced, she knew Nathan was listening, it was probably all that was saving her from bursting out into tears. That and the fact that she wanted to help throw this fucker in prison, “No.” She repeated, firmly and slightly louder.
His eyes widened as he burst with rage, “You fucking bitch! I said-” he brought the knife to her throat, grazing the tender skin.

Fran ducked to the side, dodged the knife and yelled, “Eagle has landed!”
Immediately, the door to the apartment burst open and the undercover team poured through, guns at the ready. Nathan came in first, followed by Kristian and the others, “Freeze! Hands up asshole!” he yelled as the man stood up, and complied, two officers ran to handcuff him and helped pull his pants back on.
They escorted him out, reading him his rights as he was yelling back at Fran, “You set me up, you bitch! I haven’t done anything!”

Kristian bagged the knife and handed it off to another officer, “Thank God that’s over. You did great, Ms. Callahan, everyone appreciates what you did.” He said, leaving her and Nathan alone.

Fran hugged herself, still quivering with fear and shock, mixed with adrenaline.
Nathan moved in to hold her and against her better judgment, she let him, “I’m so sorry Frannie, I heard everything. I never should have asked you to do this.”

She leaned her head into his shoulder, “I’m glad you asked me, he’s caught now and everything’s going to be fine. But I have to admit I’ve never been so afraid in my life, how do you do it everyday?”
He gently pulled away, still holding her slightly, “Well, I don’t seduce suspects everyday if that’s what you mean, usually I just cuff ‘em and be done with it. What you did was amazing.”

She smiled and had to admit it did feel pretty good to know she had it in her to do something great, “It was kind of exciting, I’ll confess. Standing up to him, I could almost feel that I was the one in control even though he had the knife.”
Nathan just laughed, leave it to her to come through something like that and be excited about it, “Speaking of excited…I didn’t know you had a food fetish.”

“Don’t you dare, Nathan Isaiah Davis! I couldn’t think of anything else to get him to lay off.”

He smiled, biting his lip as the line replayed in his memory, “Frannie likes to lick up all the juice…” he sang to a made up tune, as he threw his arm around her shoulder, “Let’s get out of here, Cadet, I think you’ve earned the rest of the night off.”

“God, you’re awful!” She laughed as they walked together out of the apartment of terror.

Part 30

015. Hatred

2011-12-20T07:18:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fallon Christopher (Fran), Nathan Davis, Kristian Evanovich, Mystery Man
Prompt: 015. Hatred
Word Count: 1,005
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 28 of 33
Summary: Fran's undercover mission is put into action and stirs up someone's inner hatred.
Warnings: Language

Fran tried not to squirm as a female officer placed a wire tap in some very private places. As she finished, Fran glanced at herself in the mirror of the ladies restroom, she had tried to find as provocative an outfit she could without completely losing all her standards. She had settled on a black bra top and leather skirt, the trashy look complete with heavy makeup. She sighed, she was utterly embarrassed to even leave the room like this much less be seen in public by complete strangers, the things they would think of her.
She sucked in a breath and left the safety of the restroom to meet the undercover team that was waiting. Nathan and Kristian were standing together, along with a few other officers that had changed from their regular uniforms into plainclothes. To her surprise, no one whistled or made any snide comments, it was almost as if they admired her, a silent salute that respected what she was about to do.

She could barely meet Nathan’s eyes as she walked over to him, her hands unconsciously fidgeted at her bare waist, never could she remember feeling so vulnerable and exposed.
Nathan grabbed one of her hands instinctively, emotion bottled up inside him ready to explode at any second, “There’s still time, we can send in one of ours, you don’t have to do this Frannie.”

She took a deep breath and calmed at the feel of his hand on hers, “No, I’ll be fine,” she blew out a long, much needed sigh, “I’m ready.”

Nathan crossed his brows, he couldn’t believe he was about to watch her attempt to catch a serial killer, “Okay, let’s do this.”

*~*~*
Nathan had dropped her off two blocks away from the club and she watched him vanish into the night to his post, along with the other officers. They were out there watching somewhere but Fran still couldn’t seem to stop her heart from pounding in her chest. Despite knowing he was only a minute away, the sights and sounds of the late night city were still frightening for a woman who was very much alone. She started walking, wondering why these girls would do it in the first place, she would much rather be curled up safely at home with a good book and a glass of red wine.
She came around the corner, the loud pulse of music vibrating from the walls of the club, the neon lights glowing softly onto the sidewalk. She panicked for a moment and leaned up against the wall, “Nathan?” she breathed into the small microphone in her chest.

She instantly heard his voice through the small piece they had placed in her ear, “I’m here Frannie, what’s wrong? You remember the code word, don’t you?”

She calmed down, even though she couldn’t see him, she knew he would be there in a second if something happened, he was always there for her no matter what, “Yes, I remember. I’m okay, just having a mild panic attack. I’m going to head inside now.”

“Okay, just remember to take deep breaths, we’re right with you every step of the way.”
She headed up the steps to the club, ready to do something great and make a true difference, what she knew she was truly destined for. As she stepped inside, a pair of eyes watched her from the street as she disappeared through the door.

What the fuck is she doing here?

He felt his head pound furiously as he realized she was undeserving; a hollow, vain, empty shell like the rest of them.

Dressed like a common whore, how could you do this to me! Look what I did for you and this is how you repay me!

*~*~*
Fran sat down at the bar, trying not to observe the room so obviously. There were a few people dancing, a couple of men chatting, pointing at some pretty girls. Nothing out of the ordinary. It occurred to her however, that this killer had to be just that, ordinary. He was probably handsome, charismatic, a regular guy that would blend right in…
“Hi there. May I join you?” A deep voice pulled her out of her thoughts like whiplash, she turned around and looked up at just such a handsome, ordinary looking man.

Fran shivered slightly, she didn’t expect it to happen so soon, she nearly faltered on a reply, “Um, of course.” she flashed him her fakest smile and tried to be charming despite her stomach lurching at the thought of what this guy could be thinking of doing to her.
Nathan’s blood boiled as he listened in on the conversation, the guy offered to buy her a drink, she accepted. He could hear in her voice that she was nervous, why did he agree to let her do this? He started to breathe rapidly, his anger stewing just below boiling.

“Hey, you okay?” Kristian stared at him from the passenger’s seat, “She’s all right Nate, nothing’s happening.”

Nathan sighed, “You’re right. I just had no idea it would feel like this. Just hearing this bastard…if he lays one fucking hand on her…”

“He won’t, that’s why we’re here, remember? She knows what she’s doing. As soon as he makes a move, she’ll let us know.”

Nathan bit his fingernail as he heard Fran say the one sentence he never wanted to hear-
“How about going back to your place?”

The man perked up his eyebrows and a wolf-like grin spread across his face, “All right then, nothing like a direct woman.”
He paid for their drinks and bowed slightly to her to go in front of him. She complied and prayed to her legs to stop shaking so she could actually walk outside. The man hailed a cab and they got inside, leaving the club and the rest of the world in the dark night behind them.
Nathan grabbed his police radio, “Let’s move people, if anyone loses this son of a bitch, they’re fucking fired.”

Part 29

008. Friends

2011-12-03T13:32:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran Callahan, Nathan Davis
Prompt: 008. Friends
Word Count: 734
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 27 of 33
Summary: Fran comes up with a stupid yet smart plan.
Warnings: None

The buzz of a vending machine echoed in the small room, an added irritation to an already depressing conversation. Nathan had come to talk to Fran, mostly about the recently found girl but he also secretly hoped he could sneak in something more serious as well.
They sat caddy corner from one another in the waiting area of the Windy City Journal, a space where interviews were normally held or possibly someone waiting to speak with a journalist. Today it was occupied by two lifelong friends who had come to an odd crossroads in their relationship, bound by an important mission and sidetracked by undeniable attraction.
Fran tried to think of something to say to break the silence. She had seen the poor girl at the Agency just the night before, talking about going out like most of them do. That’s it, business as usual, “I overheard Paulina say she was going to the Metro Club yesterday, it must be the place they all go after work, although I can’t be sure since they still haven’t quite warmed up to me yet.”
Nathan bit his lip, he had so much more to talk about but this was just as important. If only he had more time, “That’s a start at least, we found her at her home but the way these crime scenes look, it appears they go to a public place and meet this guy, then invite him home. Or he convinces them to go to their place instead, too risky to start dumping bodies in alleys.

We need to check out this club, see if there are any regulars, talk to the bartenders. It’s a great lead Frannie, better than anything else we’ve got. I knew I picked the right girl for the job.” he said, regretting the decision even more than he had this morning.
“I agree, sounds like a good place to check out. But don’t you think I should go? I mean, if a police presence is noticed, the killer could move on to another location to find girls.”
Nathan’s jaw nearly dropped, “No way, that’s entirely out of the question!”

“Nathan…”
“No Frannie, absolutely not. Do you have any idea of how dangerous that is, what am I saying, of course you do! Have you gone mad?” He got up and paced a small circle in front of her, shaking his head as if it would banish the crazy notion from his thoughts. He knew it was a good plan but he could never put her directly in the line of fire like this.
She got up and grasped his arm gently, her face serious yet still warm, “Look, I understand the risk, if I thought it wasn’t worth doing, I would never have suggested it. You don’t want anymore to die, right?”
He looked back at her, the bitter truth of what she just said cutting him to the core, “Of course not. But this can’t be the only way…”
She cut him off, “No but it’s a good way. You can have backup, make me wear a wire, all that cool police stuff. This is no different than any other undercover operation, except I’m not a cop but I know how to look out for myself. You can walk me through what to do, step by step, I won’t take any unnecessary chances, trust me.”

Nathan looked back at those big, brown eyes and he couldn’t refuse them. His gut said not to let her, this was insane and yet part of him knew it was a brilliant idea, “You win. But it will be exactly as you said, if not more. I’m gonna keep an eye on you like a hawk. Nothing, and I mean nothing is going to happen to you on my watch.”

Fran smiled, she knew he meant it and was good enough to live up to his word. This would work, it had to. “Tonight then?”
“Tonight,” he replied, noticing her checking her watch. He knew she still had more work to do, so much for any talk of romance, “Hey Frannie,” he said as he turned to leave.

“Yes?”

“We’re friends, right?” he asked, noticing a spark of something across her face. Or perhaps not.

“Of course. Why?”

He looked down at the floor slightly, “No reason. See you tonight then, come by the station and I’ll have everything ready.”

Part 28

004. Lost

2011-11-08T10:56:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis
Prompt: 004. Lost
Word Count: 395
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 26 of 33
Summary: Nathan gets some fresh air and does some thinking.
Warnings: One iffy word

It happened again. He knew it would, things were progressing too slowly. The longer it took, the more this would happen and it made Nathan furious. They were exhausting every resource, going back over every trail with a fine tooth comb and still no suspects, no new leads, all the while a lunatic was out there murdering beautiful, young models.
Another model, he thought to himself as he stood on the girl’s front porch for some fresh air. And not just any model, another one of Janet’s models. He pulled out his cell phone and made the call to put a tail on her every move; if she was involved in this, he would find out one way or another.
As he hit the “end” button, he nearly felt like crying, not an everyday occurrence for him. Paulina Evans is dead, number four at the hands of a ruthless killer who was outsmarting him somehow. This killer was different, covering his tracks every inch of the way. Even the one hair they had found wasn’t in the system, no good without a suspect to compare against.
He sighed looking off in the distance, the sun would be coming up soon, a new day filled with things to do awaited. He thought of Frannie, he still hadn’t had the chance to sit down and talk with her, the longer this case went on, the more danger she would be in. What if the killer chose her next? The thought was enough to drive him insane from the beginning but lately the feeling was gnawing away at him, consuming his very being.
He had the idea of taking her off the undercover operation but knew it was too late. If the killer had noticed her, he might see it as a red flag, something he could never risk. He groaned, he wanted this guy caught, hog-tied and thrown in a jail cell where he could never hurt anyone again.
He thought of Frannie again, when was he going to tell her that he’s in love with her? How would she react, would she accept him or want to remain only friends? The questions and the guilt ate away at him as he went back inside.

I’d be the luckiest bastard if she did want me after the danger I’ve put her in, practically using her as bait.

Part 27

023. Sin

2011-10-31T08:23:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Mystery Man, Beautiful Model
Prompt: 023. Sin
Word Count: 618
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 25 of 33
Summary: Another view inside a disturbed mind.
Warnings: Alcohol/cigarette use, sexual references

A noisy SUV passed him on the street, music blaring, probably a group of teenagers out raising hell. Not many other kinds of people were out at such a late hour, women looking to offer a “good time”, bums just waking to see what kind of trouble they could get into next. It was the perfect time of night for him to prepare. He stopped to go into a seedy bar, one that was chock full of the many types of people one would expect to find.
He looked around, amused at the sad mix of patrons, to him they all lacked vision and a purpose. Wasting their time and youth on empty pleasures like alcohol and sex, constantly going nowhere. He sat down at the bar next to a dirty man who was drowning himself in Jack Daniels, surrounded by a cloud of smoke.
Barely able to hide a grin at the pitiful display, he ordered a beer and lit up a cigarette himself. Glancing at the pathetic man beside him, he sipped the beer slowly and took a long drag on the cigarette, just enough to calm his nerves for the night ahead but that was all he would allow, he never wanted anything to get in the way of his pleasures, he had to stay alert and sharp or he knew he would fail.

He pushed the beer to the man next to him, “Here, have one on me,” he said, getting up, putting out his cigarette in an ashtray.

“Thanks, you’re a real life saver!” The man exclaimed, overjoyed at the abundance of liquor before him.

He shook his head and turned to leave, the television above the bar catching his attention. He smiled as he listened, the news anchor was appalled by such gruesome acts that were plaguing their fair city. She called it a sin. He shrugged and continued on his way out, observing the disgusting clientele that filled the tiny bar.

A sin, huh? What about prostitution? Men and women that are common whores who justify having random sex with a stranger by “having a good time”. And let’s not leave out the worst of them all, vanity.
He walked outside, ignoring a scantily dressed woman playing pool who seemed more than interested in showing him her ability to have a good time. Disgusted, he walked on, his recent train of thought fueling his anger to continue what he had to do. He had to punish them, make an example of their bad choices and poor scruples.
He headed north to the place they liked to party, most of them were such sluts it was nothing to entice them to take him home, he knew another one would be there tonight, they always were. The “beautiful” people, supermodels of high fashion. Empty, self-centered, greedy bitches is what he saw, murdering them wasn’t a sin, to him it was plain and simple justice.

The more he succeeded, the more excited he became, he was winning, always two steps ahead. Soon he would be able to tell her everything, show her what he had done for her, she would finally see and then they could be together forever and she wouldn’t care about the fashion world anymore. He would make sure of that, she had to understand it was wrong, disgusting.
He stopped in his tracks as he saw her, the gorgeous one from the new swimsuit calendar. Miss July. Short brown hair, a tiny waist and ample breasts. He instantly got an erection just watching her walk inside, she was so beautiful and the thought of what he was going to do to her tonight made his pulse pound in his ears.

Part 26

037. Sound

2011-10-14T17:37:00.001-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran Callahan, Nathan Davis, Leslie Callahan
Prompt: 037. Sound
Word Count: 949
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 24 of 33
Summary: Fran goes home and the sounds of the present take her back to the past.
Warnings: Brief Language

“Yeah, that’s all…for now.”

Fran exhaled as Nathan’s voice ran over and over through her thoughts, that sly grin vivid in her memory. She had an idea what else he wanted to discuss and just the thought of it made it hard for her to breathe. Why couldn’t they just stay good friends? Anything more would just complicate things and she knew what a risk it would be to admit to him she had any feelings for him other than platonic.

Did she have other feelings for him? No, they were just very close, nearly lifelong friends. At least that’s what she told herself. The memory of him brushing his finger against her cheek that day in his office, simply tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, why would such a simple gesture cause her stomach to knot and make her pulse race? She knew the answer.
She walked along the sidewalk to her apartment and literally groaned aloud, receiving some strange looks from a passerby. She could care less, she barely noticed the man she was so lost in thought. Why did she have to have feelings for him now? Why, why, why? Things were great with Chaz, sure they had arguments but nothing to make her want to end it. He had been so good to her, she couldn’t just drop him like a bad habit and ride off with Nate into the sunset.
She took the elevator up to her floor, feeling confused, scared and most of all…alone. She overheard the neighbor’s two children playing in their apartment, the sound of laughter as they chased one another filled the small hallway.

Squinting her eyes, she thought of a time when that was her and Nathan, playing until dark in her backyard, chasing fireflies, tossing around a football.

She heard the boy shout as she opened her door, “Ha ha! I got you, I win!”

She laughed as she had heard it before, a long time ago but she still remembered those summer nights as if they were yesterday, the best years of her life.
“Tag, I win!” Nathan yelled as he tagged her just as she was about to reach the tree they had made the base.
“Ugh! You always win! I’m done with this game.” Fran pouted as she flopped down on the grass. She felt too old to play anyway if she were truthful, but he could always con her into almost anything.
He sat down next to her, looking up at the sky, a brilliant pink and orange sunset covering its vast space. “Hey Frannie,”

“Yeah?”

“What do you want to do when you grow up?”

She thought a moment, her father’s constant reminder of what she couldn’t do always in the back of her mind. “I guess I want to be a model.”

“Oh. That’s cool. I know what I’m gonna be, a cop just like my dad.”

“Yeah…” her voice trailed off, she could have guessed that’s what he would want to do, if only she could convince her father it’s what she wanted too, maybe someday he would let her.
Her mother Leslie broke the silence, calling them in for dinner. As they walked side by side, Nate tagged her shoulder and ran ahead, “You’re it!”

“Hey, no fair!”
Fran laughed to herself at the memory, her apartment a stark contrast, cold and empty. Chaz was working, she would be alone for a few more days while he finished his long shift. The thoughts of Nathan brought a smile to her face, that was what she loved about him. He could always make her laugh, knew what buttons to push to get a rise out of her, knew what made her uneasy and worst of all, what made her cry.
“God, why can’t I stop thinking about you, damn it!” She sat down at her dining table and buried her head in her arms, letting out another sigh, she had let out so many since seeing him at her office, she had lost count.

The tears came, against her will. She was trying so hard to push him out of her mind but somehow he just kept coming back. That didn’t make it any easier, the fear of ruining their friendship loomed over her constantly. She couldn’t bear to think of losing him, she didn’t want to imagine a life where he wasn’t there to lean on, to laugh with, to share things with. He had been her best friend for as long as she could remember and now it felt as if it hung in the air by a thin thread, threatening to be severed at any moment.

At some point, she knew they would have to deal with whatever it was that was happening, she could tell he was reaching the end of his patience to wait. But there was no way she could make the outcome good in her mind, if she let him know how she felt, even if she could put it into words, that would be awkward enough. If he accepted her feelings, and they tried to have some sort of relationship, what happened when things didn’t work? She would never see him again, there’s no way they could go back the way things used to be. Was she willing to take that chance? Was he?
She groaned and went upstairs, cursing the next door children for triggering such a frustrating train of thought. She ran a hot bath, lit some candles, climbed in and let the tears flow. If only her father were here to tell her what to do. If only Nate hadn’t started looking at her differently, if only…

Part 25

021. Greed

2011-09-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Kristian Evanovich, Janet Raven, Blake Livingston, Fran Callahan, Secretary
Prompt: 021. Greed
Word Count: 1,389
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 23 of 33
Summary: Nate and Kristian ruffle a lot of feathers and meet a new suspect.
Warnings: Language

Nathan eased the Explorer into a vacant space across the street from the Raven Modeling Agency. He finished the last of his old coffee, running on fumes and caffeine, he turned to his partner who was nearly asleep in the passenger seat. “Remember, we’re here to ruffle a few feathers so try not to drool too much over the best suspect we have.”

“Hey can I help it if the woman is gorgeous?” Kristian replied, opening the door with a smile.
Nathan shook his head and walked beside him for what he hoped was the last time he had to see this place under such circumstances, it was a crying shame that some psychopath had chosen these beautiful girls to play out his homicidal fantasies.
They walked up to the front desk, the secretary gave Nathan the once-over and buzzed Janet’s office before he even greeted her.

He gave her a smug grin and nodded his head in approval, “Much obliged,” he said as they went upstairs without an invitation.

“What was that all about?” asked Kristian.

“Oh, you know, common police courtesy type of thing, I’ve got fans all over this city, didn’t you know? They see me coming and jump to it, brother.” he laughed as he knocked on Janet’s office door.
Barely waiting for a response, hoping to catch her doing something, anything, Nathan turned the knob and entered the lair of the enemy. He immediately noticed a new face in the room; a man, handsome yet somewhat scrawny, standing beside her, looking at papers on the desk.

“Detectives.” she said bluntly, obviously annoyed by the intrusion.
“Afternoon Miss Raven, would you ask Brad Pitt here to wait outside, this will only take a minute.”

The man narrowed his eyes at Nathan as he straightened his back, “I’ll stay if you wish, Miss Raven.”

“No, that won’t be necessary Blake, I believe these officers know I am a very busy lady.”
Blake huffed and strutted past Nathan, trying to assert his dominance over the larger man and failed miserably. Nathan nearly had to choke back a laugh as he left the room.

He turned to face Janet and helped himself to an empty chair across from her, “New plaything, huh? And here I thought we had something special.”
“Mr. Livingston is my personal assistant and has been for many years. I assume you did not come here to crack jokes?”

“You’re right about that, I did not. Have you heard anything from Nadia Korskii lately, Miss Raven?”

She crossed her brows angrily, “Of course I haven’t, I do watch the news Detective. Am I to think you want another alibi from me, then?”
Nathan leaned back in the chair, looking around dramatically for a moment as Kristian took the other empty seat. “While I’m at it, yeah I think I do. So, where were you?”

“I don’t have much of a nightlife as I answered before, I was at home, alone and in my bed, wrapped around silk sheets. Would you like any more details, or will that do?”

“I find it hard to believe a beautiful woman like you would turn in early, do you expect me to believe in this line of business you get into bed before nine?”
She stared back at him, incredulously. He seemed to have diminished slightly in her eyes, she wasn’t giving off any hints of romantic interest as before, she almost regarded him as a leftover piece of rotting meat one finds by surprise in the fridge. “My nightlife is my own affair and I don’t give a damn what you believe, Detective. I’ve given you my statement and as I’m sure you understand, I’m innocent until proven guilty and you may as well know after all your harassment, I intend to be in touch with my lawyer.”

Kristian piped in, “Well that’s your choice of course, you aren’t being formally charged with anything. You do realize that would make you look even more guilty to us?”

She arched a brow in his direction, unaffected by his threat. “I have nothing to hide but I refuse to endure any more of these surprise interrogations. You have no right to hound me like this.”
“We’re just concerned Miss Raven, what with your models dropping like flies and all,” Nathan said, standing. “Have you thought about the moral implication of continuing business like this, you haven’t even given them any kind of memorial and yet still cranking out the print ads and commercials.”

Kristian joined him, backing slowly towards the door, sensing the time to exit drawing near.
Janet remained seated, arms across her chest, perfect manicure resting on her soft skin, “My bills don’t cease because a few girls have been killed, quite the opposite actually. I still have a business to run in light of this tragedy and memorial ads are being planned for television and magazines. You have to do these things delicately when a murder is involved Detective, it isn’t as if they had something simple as car accidents. I have to think of my reputation before anything else.”

Nathan’s insides wretched at the thought of business before mourning the loss of a bright, young life. No, he didn’t understand. “I think you should at least consider hiring additional security for these girls.” he said, more of an order than a suggestion. His thoughts immediately went to Frannie and the danger he knew she was in.

“Thank you for your thoughts, now if you’ll excuse me,” Janet said, signaling the end of her additions to the conversation.

Kristian and Nathan complied and left the office, stopping outside the agency.
“I can’t believe that snooty, rich bitch! I don’t care how pretty you think she is old friend, I’m shocked at how inconsiderate and selfish she is.”

“I know, she is a greedy little thing. She’d fit right in with Russian mafia, running the show.”

“Speaking of running the show, she seemed awfully chummy with Brad Pitt before we busted in. Maybe that’s it, she’s getting him to do the dirty work?”

Kristian mulled the thought over, “It’s possible, I still can’t figure a motive for all this though, how does she benefit from their deaths?”
“She doesn’t have to. Hell, we see freaks that kill somebody because they are wearing the wrong color shirt. My money’s on Miss Raven and I’m gonna stick to her like a bad stain on a mattress. Let’s go, I’ve got an important stop to make before five o’clock.”
Nathan hurried to the lower level of the Windy City Journal, making it just in time to see Fran packing up her notes for the day.

“Hey! Glad I caught you. Can we talk for a minute?”

“Sure, sit down. What’s up?” Fran asked, her mind already racing.
“I’ve just had a visit with the Raven woman again. Frannie, I want you to be especially careful over there, she isn’t putting on any extra security and this woman is driven purely by money, she doesn’t give a shit about those girls. I mean if you see anyone hanging around or anybody gives you the creeps, even if they work there, give me a call right away and I’ll be there.”

Fran smiled, glad the conversation was as simple as concern for her well being, after last night with Chaz, she felt better than ever about their relationship and wasn’t ready to have a heart to heart with Nate about anything. “I will be careful, I’ll look over my shoulder and confide in no one.”

“Good. I’m serious, this is turning into a high priority case, it’s going to get a hell of a lot of media coverage and worse if we don’t bag this guy soon.”
“You’ll find him, I know you will. Was that it, I’m running a little late.”

Nathan bit his lip, of course that wasn’t it. “Yeah, that’s all…for now.” he smiled, that same devious, secretive grin she had memorized.

She eyed him strangely and laughed, waving a goodbye as she grabbed her purse and hurried up the stairs, leaving him alone in her cubicle.
He leaned back in the chair and groaned, his chest tightened with anxiety as he fiddled with the plant on her desk, causing a single leaf to fall slowly, softly to the floor.

Part 24

029. Legacy

2011-07-26T09:36:00.001-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Francine Callahan, Taylor, Elena, Kendall and Kris Nielsen
Prompt: 029. Legacy
Word Count: 1263
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 22 of 33
Summary: Fran finally visits her sister and spends time with her niece and nephew.
Warnings: Some nudity (after the visit! LOL)

Fran took a taxi to the quaint suburb on the outskirts of the city where her sister lived. Glad she had grabbed her umbrella, the skies had opened up with a vengeance almost as soon as she had left her apartment.

The cab stopped and she paid the fare, opening up the umbrella quickly as she swung open the door and headed up the front walkway. Fran had always loved the look of her sister’s home, it was everything she imagined a family house should be- in a nice, quiet, safe neighborhood. It was the kind of place a kid could grow up and know their neighbors, play in the street without fear. The kind of place she wished she would be able to have, some day.
She rang the bell and her nephew Kris opened the door, a wide grin on his lips, curving underneath his button nose. “Auntie Fran!” he exclaimed, wrapping his small arms around her. He had grown since the last time she had seen him, a sign she had been away far too long.

“Let me look at you, why…you’re practically a man now, almost as tall as your dad! How old are you now, almost twenty?” she smiled, messing his hair playfully.
He laughed and ran his hands through his hair, smoothing it back down, “You know I’m only nine, Auntie Fran! Mom and Dad and Kendall are making supper but Mom says it’s not ready yet so we could go hunt bugs or something.”
“Kris, honey! It’s pouring down rain, I’m sure your Auntie Fran doesn’t want to catch a cold just to find some creepy crawlies!” Elena laughed, overhearing their conversation. She wiped her hands on a dish towel and gave Fran a hug while Kris shrugged and went upstairs to his room to play.
Half an hour later, the rain hadn’t stopped and dinner was on the table. They all sat down, three conversations going on simultaneously as it usually did at any family get together. The kids were sneering at each other across the table, the teenage Kendall aggravated at every comment made by her little brother. Fran just laughed, she remembered the days when she didn’t always get along with her sister.
Elena’s husband Taylor broke up the squabble and smiled warmly at Fran, she supposed he was as nice a brother-in-law as a girl could ask. “How’s the newspaper game going these days, Fran?”
Fran nearly bit her lip, work was far from her mind lately, what with the undercover operation and her confusion surrounding her relationship with Nate. Where to begin? She took a sip of wine and went with the generic reply, “Oh, same old, same old. No real new scoops.”

“What about those girls being murdered, any new suspects yet? Have they caught the guy?” Elena asked.
Fran grinned, for once she could actually answer truthfully, “You know I couldn’t tell you sister dear, even if there was. But enough about work, I came to see my fabulous niece and nephew and I’m afraid we haven’t had enough fun yet by their standards!”
After dinner, Fran went upstairs to help Kris get ready for bed as he had begged her, naturally she couldn’t say no. “Your room is the coolest! You like outer space?” Fran asked, admiring all the planets and space décor around the small but cozy room.

“Yeah! I’m gonna be an astronaut and visit Jupiter some day!” he exclaimed as he sat down on the bed.

Fran laughed, to remember a day when outer space didn’t seem a thousand miles away, “You know, nobody has ever been to Jupiter, you’ll be the first!”

“Duh,” he replied, rolling his eyes. “That’s why I want to go there.”
“I see,” she said, sitting down beside him. “Climb in kiddo and I’ll read you whatever book you want, as long as it’s not some humongous novel.”

“Yes!” he hopped under the covers and picked a book about going into space, what else. Fran complied and read him the story and smiled at his eyes growing heavy as the night moved on. She kissed him on his forehead and said goodnight, leaving his room to join Elena back downstairs.
“He’s asleep?”

“Yep, out like a light. Where’s Miss Kendall?”

Elena shrugged, the teen years a trying period on her nerves, “Probably upstairs plugged into her Ipod or talking on the phone, you know, the two things she just can’t live without.”

Fran laughed, “Yeah, when we were her age, you had to actually go out with real people, nowadays you can just let your fingers do the talking and cut out having to leave the house.”

“Tell me about it, that girl doesn’t leave her room for less than a hunky teenage boy who has his own car.”
Fran sighed and settled in on the sofa, watching the rain come down in heavy sheets on the living room window. “How I envy you, Laney.” she said, curling up nearly into a ball on the cushions.

“What? Why in the world would you envy me, listening to this madness every night?”
“Well, the house seems so full and happy, you’re making a legacy out of this little house, a place where your kids can grow up and come back to when they have kids, like Mom and Dad had. At this rate, I’ll die an old maid, childless and living in a shack with forty cats.”

Elena laughed, her sister’s observations absurd to her, “Come on Fran, be serious! You’ve got plenty of time to have kids.”

“I suppose…what’s it like, being married I mean.”
Taylor popped his head around the corner from the kitchen, hardly able to resist chiming in, “It’s the greatest thing in the world!” he said with a little too much enthusiasm as he went back to drying the dishes.

They both chuckled, Elena shook her head, “You see, that’s what it’s like. But it is pretty rewarding and worthwhile if you can get past all the silliness and squabbles.”

Fran nodded, the thought of the fight she had with Chaz fresh in her mind. They always seem to argue over the smallest things. “Thanks Laney.”

As she left her sister’s house, Fran felt somewhat better. If she wanted to be married, she had better work on what she felt was worth fighting about and what she could overlook.
Pick your battles Fran, pick your battles. She thought as she took the elevator to her floor and unlocked the door. The apartment was dark, Chaz must have already went to bed. She sighed and went up to the bedroom, he was in bed but she could sense he wasn’t asleep.
She undressed and slid under the covers beside him, the warmth of his body a welcome comfort after being out in the cold rain. She felt him stiffen at her touch, a clear sign he was still angry. She whispered in his ear, “I’m sorry.”

He took a deep breath and rolled over to face her, gently caressing her cheek, “I’m sorry too, I shouldn’t have gotten so mad, I overreacted like you said.”

“No you didn’t, it was my fault. It won’t happen again, I promise.”
He kissed her sweetly and pulled her close to him, sliding her hips over until she was on top of him. His fingers gently stroked her breasts as he admired the curve of her body in the moonlight, “Make love to me Fran,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her closer and closer until they became one.

Part 23

042. Deception

2011-07-03T09:31:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran Callahan, Nathan Davis, Chaz McQueen
Prompt: 042. Deception
Word Count: 811
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 21 of 33
Summary: Fran's secret meeting causes an upset.
Warnings: Brief language

“When did you hang that up?” Nathan smiled as he studied the picture of Fran with her father that was now on display in her living room.

“After I had a talk with Mom, she gave it to me.”

He paced around the floor, taking in every detail of the unfamiliar room, “That’s good, I knew you two would be all right even though you’re both more stubborn than a pair of mules.”
Fran rolled her eyes and sat down, “I’m only stubborn about things that count. Anyway, I thought you wanted to talk about work.” she said, changing the subject.

“Of course. Work, work, work,” he said, taking a seat beside her on the sofa, the shrinking space between them a welcome distraction for him, “But I rather like to play.”
She groaned and shifted positions, uncomfortable as usual with his slight but still obvious advances. “Yes, I know you do but we really need to talk about these girls. I am having zero luck getting close to them, they are so stuck up to anyone who comes into their tight little circle.”
Nathan nearly yawned, the prospect of a little harmless flirting gone, “I have faith in you, true we don’t have a lot of time but you’ll think of something to get them to open up. All it takes is one girl and you’re home free.”

“You make it sound so easy, I’m not so sure.”

“I am. I know I picked the right girl for the job. I have to thank you again for doing this, if I didn’t know any better I’d think you were doing it for me.”
She lowered her eyes at him, “In your dreams, I told you why.”

“Hey, a guy can never have too many strokes to his ego.” he glanced at the clock on the wall, evening approaching faster than he wanted. He stood up and stretched, a rough night of work ahead of him, “Frannie, I know you don’t need me to tell you but please be careful. This is a very dangerous game we’re playing.”

“I know, I won’t do anything reckless. You don’t have to worry about me.” she stood up to see him out.
He turned around to face her again, cupping his fingers gently around her face, “I always worry about you Frannie…” his voice trailed off as he caressed her cheek with his hand, the soft feeling of her skin against his caused his heart to pound as that urge to taste her lips overwhelmed him again.
She put her hand over his, the simple gesture a small acceptance of his affection, although she slowly moved it away as she smiled and said, “Well, I’ll try not to give you anything to worry about. Goodbye Nate.” she slowly closed the door behind him and let out an enormous sigh, unsure of the mixture of emotions rolling around inside her.
On his way out, Nathan was on cloud nine, she hadn’t exactly pushed him away this time, definite progress in his eyes. There was something he could see in her smile, her eyes, that told him she had feelings for him that went beyond their friendship.
He absently noticed a figure walking towards him, a large, wide frame. A man with dark brown hair, a scruffy beard.
As the man passed by, a flash went through Nate’s memory, along with one word. Boyfriend.

He nearly stopped on the sidewalk to vomit. He had completely forgotten all about the bastard, he was so consumed by Fran. He knew she cared about the guy, but did she love him, that was the real and more important question.
“Why was he here though, I know you’re friends but that doesn’t explain it!” Chaz could barely keep his anger from exploding through the walls, he had never even met the guy and he was in his house alone with his girlfriend.

“I’m sorry, you’re right, I shouldn’t have asked him over while you weren’t here. But I already told you we’ve been friends since we were kids. That’s all, I swear.” Fran crossed her arms, thankful at least this scene hadn’t taken place while Nate was with her, God only knows what he would have said to stoke the fire.
Chaz calmed down somewhat, still very jealous that another man was in his apartment while he was away, the thought of it made him angry no matter the reason, “So I can invite my girl friends over now, right? Is that how that works?”
Fran narrowed her eyes at him, “You don’t have any. At any rate, I think you’re overreacting. I don’t have time for this anyway, I’m having dinner at my sister’s house, I have to go get ready.” she turned around and stormed up the stairs to her bedroom and closed the bathroom door behind her.

Part 22

040. Sight

2011-06-19T07:15:00.001-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Kristian Evanovich, Fran Callahan, Christina Jones, Kyle Holland
Prompt: 040. Sight.
Word Count: 1249
Rating: MA 18+
Type: Series: 20 of 33
Summary: Another murder, Nate has two uncomfortable conversations.
Warnings: Language, simulated blood/gore, partial nudity

Nathan pulled up to the address, his stomach in knots. This was the third girl that had died all because he couldn’t stop the monster running loose. This case was eating away at him from the inside out, never had he had as much difficulty finding a good, solid lead. Each scene he had to endure like this one made him furious, there was no reason he could find to inflict so much pain and suffering onto another human being and it was his job to make sure it didn’t happen again, which at the moment he knew he was failing at miserably.
Feeling the weight of anticipation for what he knew he would see, Nate walked up the sidewalk to the house and saw Kristian leaning against the wall of the small front stoop, looking nauseous.

Neither of them spoke, the loss of a bright, young life carried between them along the chill of the early morning air. Kristian began shaking his head in disgust and Nate caught the sheen of tears in his dark eyes.

“I just…can’t…believe it. She was so…beautiful.”

Nate patted a hand on his shoulder, though he knew it would offer little comfort. He turned and headed inside, taking a deep breath.
He winced as he stepped through the entry, the heavy smell of blood thick in the small area. He slowly moved forward, covering his nose best he could to attempt to block out the foul stench.

Walking through the officers collecting evidence on the main floor, he started up the stairs that led most likely to the bedroom, the room that should have been the poor girl’s sanctuary turned into her worst nightmare.
Nate nearly vomited as he reached the landing, the smell increased to unbearable in the little room. His eyes adjusted to the lighting and were overwhelmed by the amount of blood covering the walls, floors, almost every inch of the entire room.

“Good God…” he whispered at the sight of it all. Through the bloodbath, the only thing he saw were her eyes, blank, emotionless, staring out at nothing.
Then he noticed a familiar smirk not far away, one he wasn’t in the mood for, “Davis.”

Nate folded his arms across his chest, his lips twisting in disgust at the sight of the constant prick, Kyle Holland, “Don’t say another word, no distasteful jokes, do not even sneeze in my direction.”
Kyle sneered, holding a hand to his head as if to stop a bad headache, “Don’t fucking start with me ‘Mr. Big and Bad’ Davis, this is fucking disgusting, you think I’d make a joke about this shit? I’m out of here, you can handle this damned mess, ass hole.”

Nate watched him storm down the stairs, slightly stunned. Well that was a first. He thought as he tried to survey the room without gagging.
He went back downstairs to take a breather and gather his thoughts. Finding Kristian outside, he could sense his anger resurfacing. “We have to find this bastard.”

Kristian nodded in agreement, the mention of work pulling him slightly back from the sadness that had overwhelmed him, “I know man, I know. I never thought someone could be capable of something like this. I mean, I thought we had seen it all…”

“Me too, old friend, me too.”
Walking down the staircase to the lower level of the Windy City Journal, Nathan smiled as he caught sight of that long, brunette mane he had come to adore. His eyes naturally wandered lower, admiring the slight curves of her hips, the lean shape of her legs that appeared even from far away to be smoother than silk.
She turned abruptly as she heard him approach, “Jeez! Do you like to sneak up on everyone or am I just that lucky?”

He smiled at her, that sideways smirk that said more than he would give away, she had seen it enough to know he was hiding something.

“What?”

“N-nothing. It’s just you’re the best looking thing I’ve seen all day, let’s put it that way.” he said, the smile fading slowly as he tried to push the images from earlier out of his mind.
Fran rolled her eyes, unsure how to respond. She could tell he was joking but the statement had a slight innuendo that she wasn’t ready to address yet. She sat down behind her computer, turning her chair around and asked him to do the same in the vacant chair beside the desk.

He sat down, thoughts racing from the previous night’s events; Christina abandoning him once again and the horrific death of that poor girl. “Frannie…”

“Yes?” she waited, sensing the serious tone, she nearly grimaced at the possibilities of this conversation.

Nathan sighed and thought a moment as he looked around the office, his impatience growing as it was, he decided now was not the best time to make some kind of proclamation of love, not in front of her coworkers and not when he had important work to do. “So…tell me about this girl, you said on the phone you talked to her?”
Fran paused, taken aback by the question. She tried to hide the confusion and looked at her notes on her desk to focus instead, “Yes, I did talk to her, briefly. She mentioned going out that night and wouldn’t tell me where.”

Nate listened as she continued and tried his hardest to focus on the areas located above her slender neck.
“Thanks for coming here.” Nate said, leaning against his mailbox as the sun began to set on a most eventful day.
Christina sat down on the front steps of his townhouse with attitude, clearly still upset over his little slipup, “Whatever. So what could you possibly have to say that was so important?”

He sighed, her demeanor a constant reminder as to how he allowed himself to get mixed up with her in the first place, “I just wanted to apologize for letting this go on as long as it did. I think we both know this was a mistake, probably from the start.”

She shrugged half-heartedly, “I guess.”
“I know this will just break your heart then but I can’t do this anymore, it’s over Christina.”
“Wow, I came all this way to hear that? You knew I didn’t want to be in love…or you should have. We had awesome fucks, big deal, you could have said that shit over the phone.” she said, standing up to walk away.
Nathan stood there, stunned. Nothing like the cold, hard truth smacking you square in the face, “Yeah well, I’m not that kind of guy, I figured you deserved some common decency but I guess I was wrong.”
She turned on her heel, still reeling from the thought of him being a hypocrite, “Decency? What the hell do you call cheating on me? You think you’re so much better than me…I told you it wouldn’t get serious but you always made me think you loved me and only me. And now I find out that’s what you’ve been doing, you’re fucked up way more than I am, man!”
He stepped in close to her, using every ounce of his restraint to not slap her, “I never cheated on you. How dare you accuse me of that anyway, if all we did was fuck, what the fuck was there to cheat on?” he said, turning away as he headed inside, leaving her shocked and alone on the sidewalk.

Part 21

013. Passion

2011-05-15T10:14:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Christina Jones
Prompt: 013. Passion
Word Count: 528
Rating: R, MA (18+)
Type: Series: 19 of 33
Summary: Nathan's true passion is revealed through no fault of his own.
Warnings: Nudity, sexual content, mild language

Christina cried out his name as they made love and reached that point of pure ecstasy they always seemed to be able to attain, even though their relationship was crumbling slowly. Sliding under the covers, Nathan curled up beside her, holding her close to his body. She could feel his heartbeat slowing, his breathing returning to normal as the fatigue of work and stress took over and sleep came quickly.

She sighed as he began to snore lightly, one time never seemed to be enough to satisfy her even though it was always amazing with Nate, the constant pressure and workload of his job made for one very tired and quick sexual partner and she despised it.
Pulling away from him quietly, she laid on her back and stared at the ceiling, listening to him breathing softly. A moment passed and although it was only carried on a whisper, she heard the one word he breathed in his sleep as clear as a bell, “Frannie…”.
She could tell he was dreaming and what kind of dream it was, the question being, who in the hell is Frannie? To her knowledge, Nathan had always been faithful to her even though she would admit she hadn’t been exclusively his for months. He just was never there when she needed him, now she had an idea of perhaps why.
Her eyes narrowed in anger as she threw the covers back, stood up and pulled on her underwear and clothes that were tossed in a pile on the floor. She grabbed her car keys from the dresser, went downstairs and slammed the back door behind her.
A shrill ringing sliced through the quiet night, pulling Nathan out of his deep sleep. He glanced at the clock, the numbers red and blurry. 2:15 a. m. Shit.

He answered the cell phone he kept next to his bed, along with his sidearm, “Davis.”

It was Kristian. Another girl had been found in her home, another life snuffed out like a candle. “Yeah, I’ll be right there, give me half an hour.”
He hung up, rubbed his eyes and realized he was alone, the empty bed beside him an unusual occurrence. Confused, he got up and stretched, dialing her number.

He waited…one ring…two…she finally picked up, the anger in her voice evident even in the greeting, “What?”
“What? What happened to you, that’s what, I wake up and you’re just gone?” he asked, barely able to disguise the pain, he was so tired of her running out on him.

“Why don’t you ask Frannie,” she said, the name sounded as if it was disgusting for her to even speak aloud.
He stared at the phone as she hung up, the realization of what he had done hitting him hard, he must have said her name while he was dreaming of her. He laughed out loud at the ridiculous situation, for more weeks than he could remember, all he had wanted was to break it off with Christina and convince Fran that they could have something special.

I guess that’s that. He thought with a smile as he hurried to the bathroom to take a shower.

Part 20

025. Strangers

2011-04-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fallon Christopher, Janet Raven, Nadia Korskii, Models
Prompt: 025. Strangers
Word Count: 871
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 18 of 33
Summary: A new model seeks employment at the RMA
Warnings: Sensuality, Alcohol & cigarette use.

She stepped back and admired the picture of her with her father that she had finally found the courage to hang up in her living room, straightening it slightly. She scratched absently at the blonde wig Nathan had helped her pick out, completing the disguise, fully transforming her into Fallon Christopher- supermodel extraordinaire. She giggled at his choice of names for her alias, it sounded ridiculous to her, he had insisted it was “very hip and model-like”.
“Here goes nothing, God help me and give me strength for what I’m about to do,” Fran whispered to herself, leaving the apartment. She locked the door behind her and prayed that no one recognized her.

“You have a very impressive portfolio, Miss Christopher. I like your look, it’s different and I think we may just have a place for you here.” Janet Raven sat behind her large desk, nearly scaring Fran to death with merely her presence. She shifted slightly in her chair, being opposite one of the most powerful women in fashion affecting her nerves. If she had been here truthfully, this conversation would have been a dream come true.
“Thank you, Miss Raven, I’m flattered.” she said politely, crossing her legs to attempt to stop them from quivering.

Janet stood up and extended her hand across the desk, “Fallon Christopher, welcome to the Raven Modeling Agency.”
After filling out a mountain of paperwork, Fran began to snoop around the agency, noting offices that were off-limits, where the photo shoots took place. She was overwhelmed by the vast size of the building and in awe at every inch decorated with incredible detail. If she were honest with herself, it was almost exciting to be in the fast paced world of modeling again; the makeup, the wild hairstyles, the gorgeous clothes and shoes that were only worn for a few moments but were still appreciated and drooled over, nonetheless.
The end of the day nearing, she headed into the common room where the girls kept their belongings while they worked, much like a locker room in high school; individual groups standing about gossiping, admiring themselves in the mirrors, snubbing any newcomers.

Fran was completely used to all of it. The “new girl” was lucky to even get a recognition much less find a new friend in this business, each one was pretty well out for her own advancement.
She took her purse out of her assigned locker, pretending to look for something while she listened to the small group of girls. She could hear enough to know they were talking about her, she rolled her eyes and brushed it off, she hadn’t had to deal with girls this catty in a long while but it was still easy to ignore them. She found a piece of gum in her purse and opened it, the fresh burst of mint a welcome refreshment.
She stood up, closed her locker and checked her makeup in the mirror and overheard one of the girls say she was “going out to party” that night. Fran’s ears immediately perked up, this was exactly why she was here, to find out what was going on and just how much danger these girls were really in. She turned around and approached the group, knowing the response she would probably receive, “Where are you going, sounds like fun.”

The girl looked back at her, incredulous she would trespass on their conversation, “None of your business, new girl.” She walked away rudely, complaining to her groupies about the “nerve of some people”.
Fran sighed and left the locker room, disappointed with her first day’s work. She would have to find some way to bond with these girls or kiss her undercover career goodbye and possibly see another one meet the same fate as the two others.
Nadia Korskii blew a puff of smoke from her lips as she walked down the sidewalk, still wondering why that annoying new girl had to butt in on her conversation, like it was any of her business where she was going to party, she’s a grown woman.
And grown women like to party. She thought as she caught the eye of a handsome man who was standing against the wall of the club she about to go in, covered in shadows and enjoying a smoke also. She cast him a sultry look as she flicked the cigarette and strutted past him, up the stairs to the entrance. If he was interested, he knew where to find her.
The atmosphere of the club engulfed her as she stepped inside and she immediately wanted some stiff alcohol and a hot guy to dance with. She sat down at the bar and ordered a drink. Looking around, she was slightly disappointed with the selection but as a large, muscular figure came into view, she began to get excited.
She looked up at the stranger in front of her, it was the gorgeous man from outside. She gave him her sexiest smile, biting her lower lip slightly, as slowly and obvious as she could manage. “Hi.” she said, crossing her legs very deliberately as she leaned against the bar.

“Hi. Can I buy you a refill?”

“Sure, have a seat, handsome.”

Part 19

046. Dawn

2011-03-26T13:30:00.001-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran Callahan
Prompt: 046. Dawn
Word Count: 689
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 17 of 33.
Summary: Fran finally buries the past.
Warnings: None.

A crow squawked in the distance as Fran slowly walked through the cemetery where her father was buried. After Nathan pressing her to go undercover, she hadn’t slept the entire night, her mind racing through the possibilities of failure and success. She knew she had a chance to help catch this killer and protect those girls but it was extremely dangerous to put herself out there with no training or experience with criminals and some would even say it was foolish.
She passed the lonely headstones one by one, endless rows of names and dates, each one with its own story to tell. She went by a smaller one, the early morning fog lingering over it almost as if to hide the sadness it encompassed. The small tombstone read, “Our Loving Angel - Sarah Jeanette Parker; April 1997-May 1997”.
Fran sighed as she moved onward, the thought of losing a child after only one month weighing down on her, she had known her father her entire life and it hurt deeper than she could have imagined, how could anyone go on after only having one short month together?
She finally saw her destination, a large tombstone that stood tall beside another that was being saved for her mother. She breathed in deeply as that crow squawked again, closer this time, she looked to her left and saw it land on the perimeter fence, watching her intently. “Oh, go away, a little privacy would be nice,” she said, waving the pesky bird off as she knelt down in front of her father’s grave.
“Hey Daddy, it’s me,” she said, a tear rolling down her cheek, she quickly wiped it away, “There’s so much I want to tell you…I miss you. I wish you were here to tell me what to do.”
She sat quietly in the still, refreshing morning air, listening to her surroundings, the smell of freshly cut grass invading her nostrils. She sighed as she stared at the headstone, no answer coming to her questions, only a reminder of the great man that rested beneath. John Callahan, Loving Husband and Father, Dedicated Officer of the Law.

Dedicated Officer of the Law. Innate Truth and Justice. The words reverberated in her head, the same ideals in her own heart and soul. She knew deep down what she had to do, her father taught her to believe in what is right and to give her best in anything life throws at you.
She took her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed the number.

“Davis.”
“I’ll do it,” her heart pounded in her chest at the brief moment of silence, she could almost see him smiling smugly to himself, he had worn her down and she couldn’t believe she was agreeing to this.

“I knew you would see things my way. I’ll get you an alias and we’ll have to put together a portfolio to show Miss Raven, she’s holding an open call next week, so we have to work fast.”
“Your way? Ha! Well I hate to break it to you Mister, but I’m doing this for those girls, not you.”

More silence, she could picture the grin getting wider, “Oh, of course. Naturally you wouldn’t want to do this for me.” The sarcasm in his voice caused her own lips to curve into a smile.

“Well, just so we’re clear on that. And a ‘thank you’ would be nice too.”

“Thank you, Frannie.”

“I told you to stop calling me that.”

He laughed, “You didn’t think I would actually listen though, did you?”
She shook her head and laughed herself as they hung up, she looked back at the tombstone in front of her, feeling relieved. Her father would know and understand that she felt the need to do her part, he lived practically his entire life devoting it to the safety of other people.

She smiled leaving the cemetery, feeling lighter than air; she was talking to her mother again, Nathan was still her best friend and now she had a chance to really do something important. Things were starting to look up for a change.

Part 18

017. Conspire

2011-03-17T18:21:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran Callahan, Nathan Davis
Prompt: 017. Conspire.
Word Count: 1026.
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 16 of 33
Summary: Fran makes progress dealing with her grief.
Warnings: None really, some sensuality.

“I understand Frannie,” Nathan said, resting his elbow on the table. “He was important to me too, I looked up to him as much as my own father.”
“They were great friends, I know Luke meant a lot to him. As many years as they worked together, he always said he knew he had a partner who had his back.” Fran smiled looking out at the calm waves, gently rolling back out to sea. She shivered slightly, standing up to move further from the incoming breeze and partially to increase the distance between her and Nathan.
Fran leaned against the wall of the nearby store that sold trinkets and fishing supplies. Nathan followed, not ready to give up his fight just yet.

“Do you remember that summer when I was nine, I guess you were about thirteen…anyway, we all came over to your house one evening and your dad was grilling hamburgers and hot dogs.”

She smiled as the warm summer night crept into her memory, the sounds of crickets, the smell of the grill, her sister and Nate laughing, throwing water balloons at each other around the yard. “I remember,” she said, the thought of the days long past warming her heart even though they seemed a lifetime ago.
“I’ll never forget it,” he continued, “I had never had a hot dog before and thought they looked weird and then your sister told me they were made of real dog meat. I remember your dad being so nice, he gave me his hamburger and ate a hot dog instead, even though he really didn’t want it.”

Fran laughed, a real laugh, the kind that had been missing for longer than she could remember. “He was so bummed about his hamburger but he just couldn’t make you eat that hot dog!”
They both shared a laugh, the very act of it made Fran feel lighter than air. These were the times she longed for, being around a true friend who knew her practically inside and out.

“Do you know why I told you that story?”

She shook her head, “No…why did you?”
“Your dad meant so much to me, that’s always how he treated me, like the son he never had. I know what you’re going through, I miss him a lot too. I just hate seeing you down like this, I wish there was something I could do, anything to make you happy again.”

She sighed and fought back the tears, happy tears, “You already have. I know I’ve been out of it lately, it’s just hard to deal with, I feel like my whole world is turned upside down.”
He stepped closer to her, that delicate personal space between them shrinking once again. “I just want you to know you don’t have to do this alone, I’m here…I wish you would let me bear this pain with you, Frannie.”

She looked up at him, his eyes glistening in the dim glow of the nearby streetlights. They were earnest and endearing, complete and utterly trusting. Against her will, she felt that familiar wall crack and crumble, much as it had when she had talked to her mother. She started to cry and instinctively fell against his chest hard, the overwhelming need for comfort greater than her resistance to the confusion she felt for him.
Nathan held her close, keeping his arms softly around her, he was almost afraid to move, if he lost control, he could ruin things permanently. She looked up at him and he wiped away her tears, the need and want to kiss her pounding in his eardrums as his pulse quickened. She was so close, so near, mere inches away from his lips, it would only take a second…

“I’m sorry Nate, I have been such a pain…can you ever forgive me?”

He loosened his hold on her slightly, sensing her need for comfort was over. “Of course, we all deal in different ways, you don’t have anything to be sorry for.” he said, giving her space as he leaned back against the wall, glad to have the moment to recover himself.
She smiled warmly and breathed in the night air deeply, feeling incredibly better than she had in days, maybe even weeks.

“There is still something I just don’t get,” he said after a moment, desperately wanting to change the subject, “why didn’t you become a cop, I always figured it was a given, my father encouraged me and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

“I…promised him I wouldn’t. He asked me not to do something so dangerous and I gave him my word. He always wanted his family to be safe, even living here isn’t what he wanted, my mom and I have had our share of arguments because of it.”
“Well nothing is a hundred percent safe, you could get hit by a bus on the way to your ‘safe’ desk job.” he grinned as she looked back at him incredulously. “Fran, I think your dad would understand if you wanted to make a difference, he would want you to follow your heart.

“Besides, you still haven’t given me an answer and I don’t plan on accepting a ‘no’, you know I like to get my way.”
“I don’t know Nate, I have no experience going undercover or working with police, what if I screw everything up or get caught, or get somebody else killed, I could never live with myself.”

“Look, all you need to do is be a model, something you already know how to be. Just hang around these girls, see where they hangout, what they do after work, that kind of thing. I really need to find out more about the owner of the agency, without inside help, I can’t touch her. Please just think about it, I know you would do anything to help these women, you’ve been where they are and know how hard it is.”

Fran sighed - a big, deep, regretful sigh. “I’ll think about it.”
“That’s more like it, I’ll be expecting an answer bright and early tomorrow.” he said, tapping her on the end of her nose playfully.

Part 17

032. Sunset

2011-02-22T13:57:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran Callahan, Nathan Davis
Prompt: 032. Sunset.
Word Count: 647
Rating: G
Type: Series: 15 of 33.
Summary: Fran watches the sun go down and gets an unexpected proposition.
Warnings: None.

Fran watched the sun disappear slowly beneath the horizon, making its way towards the other side of the Earth. She looked up at the evening sky and breathed in the salty air coming off the breeze. After a long day at work, she went to a small harbor off the coast, the small fishing pier one of her favorite places to think.
Walking over to the corner, she leaned over the edge of the pier. Lost in the lapping waves against the long columns below, she steeled herself against the cool, evening breeze. Engrossed in her thoughts, she didn’t hear him come up behind her, didn’t feel his gaze on her bare arms, didn’t feel the need that pulled him towards her.

“Nickel for your thoughts.”
The sudden voice nearly made her fall over the small rope, “Nathan! Geez, you scared me!” she exclaimed, grabbing her chest. “What are you doing here? And by the way, it’s a penny for your thoughts.”

He smiled warmly and stuck his hands in his pockets, “Well, considering it’s you I’m talking to, thought I’d be generous. Anyway, I wanted to talk to you, I figured you might be here.”

She smiled back, he always knew just the right thing to say; a second ago, she could have throttled him for scaring her. “Uh huh, since when is four more cents generous, I’d at least expect a dollar from you.”
Nate shook his head and laughed, “Okay, mentally noted. Frannie wants a whole dollar next time. Oh, I forgot, I’m not supposed to call you that anymore.”

She made a face, a cross between a grimace and a smile. “Ha ha, very funny. So, are you going to tell me what you wanted to talk about?”

Of course. Back to business as usual, he thought, asking her to join him at a nearby table.

After they sat down, Nate cleared his throat, he knew she wasn’t going to like this conversation one bit. “I had an idea, something I need your help with. I’ve cleared it with the Mayor and your boss,” he paused, delaying the inevitable as long as possible, “I want you to go undercover on these homicide cases I’m working.”
Her brows crossed in utter confusion, “What? How can I help, what are you even talking about, how is that possible?”
He sighed, he knew it wouldn’t be easy getting her to agree. “There have been two girls murdered as you know, they were both models. We have no leads, no witnesses, we’ve got nothing to go on. Since you have modeled, you can give us an inside look at their world, I have a strong feeling someone in the agency is involved in this. Please Frannie, at least think about it, no one at the department is qualified enough to get a job there, you know what a female officer looks like, very rarely can they pass as a model.”

Fran blinked in disbelief, she never expected him to want to discuss something like this. “I don’t know, Nathan…”
“Come on, I know you have that itch in your blood like me, you would have made a great detective, like your father.”
She flinched visibly at the observation. It stung and the worst part was, he saw it.
His tone softened, he even reached across the table, caressing the top of her hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring him up. I know it’s still hard for you.”
She slowly pulled her hand away, the contact a hundred times worse than when he had simply tucked her hair behind her ear that day in his office.

The sun slipped down below the nearby ocean, bathing them both in darkness as the streetlights began to come on. Fran sighed deeply, “It’s not just hard, it’s nearly impossible…I just don’t know what to say for you to understand.”

Part 16

009. Light

2011-02-11T17:14:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Janet Raven, Models, Secretary and Photographer
Prompt: 009. Light
Word Count: 1,183
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 14 of 33
Summary: Nathan pays Janet another visit and gets blinded by the light
Warnings: Language

The early afternoon sunlight cast a blinding glare on the large windows of the Raven Modeling Agency, causing Nathan to shield his eyes as he looked up at the enormous structure for the second time. He opened the chic glass door to the entrance and noticed the girl behind the reception desk try to hide a grimace as she recognized him.

He smirked to himself, he supposed there was nothing like a nosy cop to upset the delicate balance of privacy and seclusion these models obviously needed to function on a regular basis. He strode up to the desk, loving the fact that he was able to get under someone’s skin so easily.
“Hi there, I need to speak with Miss Raven again.”

The girl arched an eyebrow, not hiding her attitude as well as the repulsion, “You do have an appointment?”

“Nope, afraid not. This is one of those little, inconvenient, police investigation-type things where we just like to drop in and have a chat. I assume she’s in her office?”

After a big sigh, the girl picked up the phone on her desk, punched a button and announced the irritation, “She’ll be down in a minute to oversee a photo shoot, she suggests you have your ‘chat’ then, the photographer is on a very strict schedule.”
“Of course, who isn’t these days?” Nathan nearly bit his tongue off to keep from spitting bullets at the girl, did she realize he was running on no food and a few sips of coffee? Strict schedule? What the hell would she think of his schedule, working all hours of the night with no sleep and running into countless dead ends. He should have sneaked one of Kristian’s damned doughnuts.

The elegant Miss Raven finally descended the stairs into the reception area, once again looking very manicured in every way possible.

Very good decision to fly solo, Nathan thought as he noticed the same interest in her eye she gave him at their first somewhat awkward meeting.

“Detective…Davis, isn’t it? What an absolute pleasure to see you again,” she said, extending her hand gracefully.
“The pleasure’s all mine. Hell, this is ten times better than digging through a dumpster to look for a murder weapon or some guy’s wallet,” he smiled as she made an unpleasant face and quickly recovered her hand as if to save it from such a disgusting image.

“Yes well, I can assure you that I would not know about such things. Please come with me, we can talk during the photo shoot, my photographer is in a bit of a hurry today, I’m afraid. Time is money, after all.”
Nathan blinked his eyes twice as he followed behind her, “Did she really just say that?” he whispered to himself. If he had any doubts about her motivations, they were immediately put to rest. Janet Raven was all about wealth. The question was, how far would she go to acquire it?
She opened a door off a small hallway, releasing a dull roar. Two female models in swimsuits were posing in front of a backdrop, shutters clicking, lights blinding from every angle. Nathan watched, nearly in awe at the chaos and wondered how people make so much money by standing around looking like a deer caught in headlights.

The photographer stopped shouting orders as he saw Janet, “Miss Raven, please talk to your girls, they are not giving me what I want!” he said dramatically, sitting down behind a computer, he began to go through photos on the monitor.
Nathan waited patiently as Janet spoke with the models, he laughed to himself as he watched the photographer groan at the computer screen. Nathan shook his head at the “artist” type. He thought the girls looked pretty damned hot in just about any position, what the hell was he complaining about?
“Is it always this hectic?” he asked, as Janet finally came over to him.

“Oh, just another day in paradise, everyone whining about something or other; the lights are all wrong, the suits don’t fit right. What was it you needed to talk to me about, I told you everything I know about Natasha.”

“I’m actually here about Angel Hudson,” he waited for her reaction, there wasn’t one.

“Angel? What could you possibly need to know about her?”

“She’s been murdered, we found her at her home this morning.”
“Oh God, how awful,” she said, letting a moment pass as she watched his face, “Wait a minute, you aren’t suggesting I had anything to do with this?”

Nathan’s mind raced at her reaction, she seemed genuinely surprised at the news but the woman was so hard to read and she obviously had her priorities in order, sympathy for other human beings didn’t seem to top the list, “I can’t deny that it’s odd the two girls worked for you, that seems to be a very strong coincidence.”

Janet stiffened visibly, appearing offended, “What motive would I have for getting rid of my models? They make me a great deal of money, it’s the very foundation for my business; no models, no food on my table.”

“I apologize Miss Raven but we have to look at this from all angles, I’m just following up on the fact that they both worked here, it’s standard procedure. I just need to ask you a few questions and I’ll be out of your hair.”

She huffed slightly, starting to become very annoyed, “Very well, as long as you get on with it.”
“Where were you last night between midnight and 3 A.M.?”

Her eyes narrowed at the implication, “I was at home…in bed.”

“Can anyone confirm that?”

“Obviously not, I was asleep and alone.”

Nathan scribbled on his notepad, the interview going south from what he had hoped, “Do you like doughnuts, Miss Raven?”
“What the hell kind of question is that?”

“Sorry, n-nothing. Let’s move on, anything you can tell me about Angel, did she give you any trouble, have any fights with anyone…things like that.”

“No, nothing like that. Angel was a new model but she was very professional, she wanted to go far and had the exotic looks to get there. I’m afraid there isn’t much to tell, it’s tragic.”

The photographer interrupted them, asking her about a photo on the monitor. “Yes, I like that one, the lighting is perfect. Fabulous, that’s the one then.”

He went over to shake the models’ hands and yelled “That’s a wrap!”, which nearly made Nathan laugh out loud, they really did that too?

Janet turned her attention back to him, seemingly less interested in him now that he’d officially asked her for an alibi, “If that’s all Mr. Davis, I need to get back to work.”

“Yes that’s all, for now. Thank you for your time, I’ll show myself out.”
He watched her leave the small room, his blood turning cold at her icy tone. He had a sinking feeling she was hiding something, he couldn’t quite imagine her killing a young girl but still, something about her still rubbed him the wrong way.

Part 15

006. Choice

2011-01-24T07:06:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Kristian Evanovich
Prompt: 006. Choice.
Word Count: 642
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 13 of 33
Summary: A small but very important decision is made
Warnings: Language

“They are so slow today, how long does it take to fill up a paper cup with some damn coffee!”

“Relax Kristian, by the time you figure out what kind of doughnut you want, we’ll all be rotting six feet under.”

Kristian rolled his eyes at his partner as they waited in the long line at the local coffee house that shared its lot with the public library. It was a pretty nice place, considering it was located right in the heart of the gritty city, they saw any and all kinds of customers come and go throughout the day and today it seemed everyone within a three-mile radius wanted some of the freshly brewed coffee.
Nate and Kristian were finally next to order, they stepped up to the counter and Nate gave the man his order, putting Kristian on the spot, “Should I get jelly filled or powdered sugar?” He tapped his chin as the crowd behind him let out a collective groan, “Jelly…or powdered sugar?”

“Come on! Just get both for shit’s sake!” Nate laughed at the absurd amount of thought his partner was putting into the decision.

“Fine! Just give me one of each please,” Kristian narrowed his eyes at Nate as the barista tried to hide a grin.
Coffee and doughnuts in hand, they sat down at a small table to talk about the case. Nate sipped the hot liquid slowly, enjoying it much more than the quick mouthful he’d had earlier that morning.

His mind was working on overload now that he was beginning to wake up, “Clearly it’s no coincidence that two girls who worked at this modeling agency are found dead and in nearly the same way, I’ve got a bad feeling about this…what’s the motive? Insurance payout? Maybe Janet has some kind of contract on them, she certainly didn’t seem upset by the first murder.”
“That is true but I’d think she would lose money if her models die, not gain anything by it. But who knows all the ins and outs of that business, like you said she could have purchased some kind of bullshit insurance or something.”
Nate’s brows wrinkled in thought, “I have to get her to talk, we’ve got nothing until the DNA comes back on that hair we found, even then we probably won’t get an I.D. on it but I’d bet my pension it’s a match for the first one we found at Natasha Bowen’s house.”

Kristian nodded his head in agreement, it seemed obvious now it had to be the same killer, the question was who and what on Earth their reason was, “You still want me to tag along?”
Nate thought a moment and remembered his first meeting with Janet Raven, “No, I think you’d better leave this one to me, I might have the right card up my sleeve. You on the other hand might drool a little too much if you see her again, could turn her off.”

“Hey, can I help it if I like women? Especially ones that hot, all manicured and put together, she probably wears matching bras and panties too, you sure I can’t tag along?”

Nate shook his head, he was never so glad to have skipped the inherent womanizer trait from his father, he couldn’t quite understand thinking of women in that way. Sure he enjoyed having sex with a beautiful woman but he always wanted that deeper connection, something he wasn’t sure he could ever have, “I’m sure, why don’t you go on to the precinct, I’ll meet you back there…it’ll give you some time to finish those doughnuts.”

“Suit yourself but I’ll have you know I can be quite the charmer, I could speak a little Russian to her, drives the babes wild!”

Nate smirked, “I’ll keep that in mind if good, old-fashioned flirting doesn’t work.”

Part 14

030. Angel.

2011-01-01T11:29:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Kristian Evanovich, other officers, another victim
Prompt: 030. Angel
Word Count: 860.
Rating: R/MA
Type: Series: 12 of 33.
Summary: A new victim is found.
Warnings: mild language, graphic blood and nudity

Nate’s stomach lurched as he parked across the street from the group of small row houses, the bright happy colors they were painted almost like a cruel joke, considering the gruesome scene he knew waited for him inside. He ducked under the crime scene tape and opened the front door to the small house, the shocked tone of Kristian’s voice still in his head, he knew whatever was behind those walls was beyond anything he could ever imagine.

He stepped inside, the small living room was darker than he anticipated, due to a considerable lack of windows. It was so dark it took him a moment longer than usual to process the scene, of course he noticed the officers examining the furniture, looking for evidence. The longer he observed the room however, he noticed more; the spilled wine glass on a small coffee table, a pile of what looked to be women's clothing thrown carelessly in the floor, the eclectic blend of furnishings the owner had chosen around the room. Then his eyes went to his left, he noticed the overturned plants, a large bookcase that had been pushed so hard it had fallen against the corner of the room, the streaks all over the walls that were stained crimson.

An officer greeted him with a quick nod and crossed over to the living area, collecting more evidence and he instantly noticed the small trail of blood that led into a room in the back of the house. He walked closer and the smell became more pungent, like the last murder, nearly unbearable.

He stepped over a floor lamp, another item that had been knocked over in the apparent struggle between attacker and victim, that’s when he saw her; a beautiful African American girl, early twenties, lying naked and dead on her kitchen floor, an enormous puddle of blood around her.

“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Kristian’s voice pulled Nathan out of a trance, he hadn’t realized anyone was even standing in the room, he was so completely shocked by the poor girl’s appearance.

“Yeah it is…I can’t even begin to imagine what he did to her, you saw all the knocked over furniture, it would take a lot of strength to knock that bookcase over like that, looks like she gave him quite a fight.” Nathan said, rubbing his eyes, “So bring me up to speed, what have we found?”

“We haven’t found a murder weapon, of course. Bastard obviously took it with him, no male clothing either, just the pile in the living room of hers, which would explain how he got out of here without being covered in blood. Besides, most of it is on the floor and the walls, I can’t imagine there would be much left after all that.”
“Definitely looks like the same guy…he lures them home, gets them to have sex and then goes all ‘Ted Bundy’ on them, washes up, gets dressed and waltzes out like it was nothing. Neighbors hear anything, these houses are pretty close together.”

“That’s where big bad Kyle is, he wasn’t happy about it but I told him it was either that or swipe through all the blood spatter for fibers, naturally he chose the latter. I’ve been thinking, could this one be a hate crime, it is much worse than Natasha Bowen, looks like it was more personal.”

Nate sighed, his brain working on overdrive, “Or he’s escalating in his anger, I don’t think this was racial, why go to all this trouble? Hate crimes are usually a drive-by, something quick with a gun in a car so they can get away fast and leave no witnesses. No, I think this is something else and call me crazy but it feels the same as Natasha…not exactly, but there’s just something about her laying like that and how beautiful she is, it‘s odd.”
Kristian pursed his lips, “Well, there may be a reason for her looks, I haven’t gotten to the best part yet.”

Nathan looked at his partner, a sly grin on his face, “No way…”

“Yes, way. Our latest victim here is Miss Angel Hudson, a brand new model for the very exclusive Raven Modeling Agency, only started a few moths ago which would explain the difference in housing from our first victim, she hadn't been there long enough to make the real money.”
“Well, well. Let’s go get some coffee and pay Janet Raven another visit.”

“As long as I can get a doughnut too, don’t get cheap on me,” Kristian said as they left the small house, his quick wit and dry humor always did Nathan some good, it’s the main reason he liked him as a partner, it made a rough work day more enjoyable.

“Sorry, I didn’t say anything about a doughnut, have to watch our figures you know, besides you wouldn’t want to be the worst cliché in the book, now would you?”

“Who cares? Next thing you’ll be telling me I don’t get a shiny gold watch when I retire, I'm Russian, I am a cliché in this country. I’m getting the damn doughnut- maybe even two, I’m starving!”

Part 13

031. Sunrise.

2010-12-12T14:17:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis
Prompt: 031. Sunrise
Word Count: 489
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 11 of 33
Summary: The sun comes up and brings sorrow with it.
Warnings: None. (Other than a shirtless Nate)

Chirp. Peck. Peck. Chirp. Peck.

Nathan squinted his eyes in the early morning light, some bird was out on the rooftop under his bedroom window, probably pecking a piece of seed that was too big to swallow, either that or some unfortunate bug. He groaned and turned over in his bed onto his stomach, he had slept less every night after that gruesome murder scene, a faceless killer haunting his dreams. That and constant thoughts of a beautiful girl he wished he had the gumption to just gather in his arms and kiss.

He got out of bed, it wasn’t time to go in to work but he knew better than to try to sleep. He glanced out the window, scaring the fat little brown bird away, leaving its piece of corn on the small landing. Nate laughed to himself, what had made the thing pick his window of all places? He stretched and went downstairs to the kitchen.
Starting a pot of coffee, he fumbled around in the refrigerator for eggs and some bacon, which luckily he had. He hadn’t been sleeping very well but his appetite wasn’t affected, he was hungry as hell and intended to remedy that as soon as possible.
He sat at the counter island slowly sipping the fresh, hot coffee and enjoying the comforting breakfast. His thoughts drifted again to the murder, the investigation was going painfully slow, wasting time they probably didn’t have. It had already been a week and the leads were going nowhere fast, the evidence collected at the girl’s house was still being processed and he and Kristian had spoken with all the people they could find who were connected to her.
His stomach lurched as his cell phone rang, it was Kristian and at this hour, he automatically knew what that meant.

“Yeah…”

“Nate, we found another one, someone just called it in.”

He squeezed his eyes shut and suddenly lost the desire to finish his eggs, “Right, give me half an hour…how bad is it?”

There was a long pause, “It’s bad…worse than the last one.”
Nathan hung up his phone, that second of surprise to know that someone’s life had just been taken passed over him with a cold shudder. He threw the plate in the sink, eggs and all, then went upstairs to shower.
A few minutes later, he was dressed and heading out the door, the bright new sunlight peeking over the horizon offering little comfort. The city was waking, he noticed the familiar sounds of a few early risers, most probably heading off to work, or maybe out for an early morning jog. The dull buzz that took over the city streets during the day was slowly starting, the fast pace a welcome inconvenience to most who inhabited it. Most people he knew loved the pace, it made them feel alive somehow; Nathan despised it sometimes and today was one of those days.

Part 12

012. Forgiveness.

2010-12-05T12:55:00.001-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran and Leslie Callahan
Prompt: 012. Forgiveness
Word Count: 374
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 10 of 33
Summary: Mother and daughter reach an understanding and clear the air.
Warnings: None.

“Fran…wait!” Leslie called after her youngest daughter as she watched her walk down the stairs, grabbing the photo of her late husband on that happy birthday, she hurried down to stop her from leaving.
“Take it, I’m sure it would mean a lot to him if you wanted to put it up somewhere,” Leslie’s voice nearly trailed off, she wasn’t exactly sure what to say to get her stubborn daughter to understand and the last thing she wanted was to lose her for good, “I miss him too honey…more than anything.”
Fran took the picture and placed it on top of a box, looking down at it. It would be a while until she felt good enough to actually hang it up but the memory did make her smile, almost laugh, that face he made as he blew out those few little candles. Maybe it was time…
“Oh, Mom…” Fran sighed, grabbing her mother and hugging her tightly. All her strength started to buckle, it finally gave way and she started to cry, something she rarely did but couldn’t control anymore, she had held it inside for far too long.
A moment passed and Fran realized she had been so foolish, holding her mother she caught the familiar scent of that fresh soap she always used, a comforting smell she could never forget. She still had her mom and her sister, her niece and nephew and a pretty great boyfriend. She would always miss her father but she was glad she still could count on her family after all the harsh words and arguments, something she wasn’t quite sure she deserved.

“I love you Fran, I hope you know how much…I care about you so much I just don’t want to see anything happen to you, I’m sorry I was so angry when you moved away.”

She wiped away her tears, the small release enough to take some of the heavy burden of guilt away, “I love you too, I know you care about me…I understand why you were mad, I didn’t know what to do…I still don’t. I just can’t figure out how to deal with this.”
Leslie gently let go and smiled warmly at her, “Maybe we can figure it out together.”

Part 11

003. Broken.

2010-11-23T07:59:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran and Leslie Callahan
Prompt: 003. Broken.
Word Count: 455
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 9 of 33.
Summary: Mother and daughter have a first visit in a long time
Warnings: None

Looking around the kitchen she grew up in, Fran’s heart sank. It was hard to come back here, all the memories, the familiar smells. She had called her mother after talking with Nathan again, something she knew she was supposed to have done a long time ago. Leslie had asked her to come over and help take some boxes up to the attic, probably her father’s things that were too painful to look at everyday.
Fran picked up a heavier stack of boxes and followed her mother upstairs, the awkward silence between them hanging heavy in the air, the past few months of arguments and sorrow weighing down on them both.
The musty attic was filled with even deeper memories for Fran, old things that were packed away and forgotten; her mother’s violin that she used to play nearly every night, an old toddler’s drawing table that Fran and her sister would create masterpieces at. She nearly began to cry looking over the stacks of boxes that seemed to contain her entire life, happy memories of the one person she had loved the most. And now he was gone and all she felt was alone.
She wiped her eyes and held back the tears, after all she had come to patch things up with her mother, not make it worse. She stacked a couple of boxes in a corner as a picture frame caught her eye, a photo of her and her father on her first birthday, blowing out candles on a huge cake.

She started to cry, the strong will inside her cracking from holding it all in for far too long, “I miss him so much, why did this have to happen?”
Leslie sighed as she watched her youngest daughter holding the picture, clinging onto it for dear life, “Fran, I know it’s hard but you can’t keep doing this, you have to accept that he’s gone.”
She put the picture back down, how could her mother be so harsh, surely she understood how it felt, “Why are you so angry with me? It’s not wrong to miss someone you care about, don’t tell me how to feel!”
“Fran, I’m not saying it is! I’m not angry, I’m worried about you, you picked up and moved without telling anyone, you know we never wanted you to live in the city and that’s exactly what you did, I just don’t understand.”
“I’m not a child anymore, you can’t tell me where I can live, Dad would have understood,” she said, although the doubt in her mind told her otherwise. Either way, she was tired of feeling guilty for making her own choices.

She turned around and left the attic, her mind a confused mess.

Part 10

038. Touch

2010-11-14T04:54:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Fran Callahan, Nathan Davis, Michael Powell
Prompt: 038. Touch.
Word Count: 880~ish
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 8 of 33.
Summary: A single touch creates a lot of surprises.
Warnings: None.

Eight o’clock came as Fran dragged into work, bleary-eyed from the previous night’s sleep, or lack there of. As she entered the first floor of the Windy City Journal, she tried to dodge her editor, Michael Powell as he came out of his office, without any luck.

“Fran, anything new on that homicide case, I’ve got people breathing down my neck for a front page zinger,” he asked abruptly, disregarding any morning niceties.
Good morning to you too, thought Fran, still in a sleep fog and feeling cranky, “No sir, I’m afraid I haven’t gotten the chance to speak with the detective in charge yet, it’s on the top of my list for today.”

“Good, get down there first thing and do what you do best,” he turned on his heel and hurried back to his office to answer a ringing phone.
Groaning, Fran took the stairs down to the press room and grabbed her clipboard and pen that always sat faithfully on her desk, locked her purse in the top drawer and headed back up to go see the one person she had been avoiding as long as she could.
Tapping her foot absently on the stone floor, Fran waited patiently outside Detective Nathan Davis’ office, she could hear him talking on his phone through the wall. The other officers on the floor scurried around, one was typing away on his computer while a couple of other ones were in a heated discussion.
She heard the doorknob turn and her heart nearly skipped a beat as she turned around and saw him, rugged and handsome as ever, “Sorry it took me so long, come on in,” he stood in the doorway barely giving her enough room to pass.
“No problem,” she quietly looked around the small office as Nathan shut the door behind them and leaned on his desk, “It’s been a while Frannie, I don’t think I’ve seen you since…well, the funeral,” he said softly as he watched her stiffen slightly.

“I wish you wouldn’t call me that,” she said, the memory of her father’s voice still fresh in her mind.
He smirked to himself and wondered why she had always been so stubborn and strong, she hadn’t even cried at her father’s funeral, “Sorry, won’t happen again, Francine,” he laughed as the name felt ridiculous on his tongue, she would always be Frannie to him, the one he had grown up with and shared many memories.

He stood up and stretched and walked closer to her, admiring the slight smile at his sarcasm that was on her lips. They had always had a close relationship as children, their father’s being friends, they had spent a lot of time together, nearly inseparable. He wondered to himself when she had gotten so beautiful, it seemed he thought about her more frequently now that his relationship with Natasha was all but over, could barely get that pretty smile out of his head.
He cleared his throat, more to dismiss his inner thoughts than actually being necessary, “So, how have you been?” he asked, brushing a stray piece of hair from her cheek, the touch of his hand clearly making her uncomfortable as he noticed her take in a sharp breath. He stepped back, leaning on the desk again, to increase the distance between them, as she obviously couldn’t handle him being so close or intimate.
Her voice barely above a whisper, she managed an answer despite her heart pounding at the surprise of his touch, or rather her reaction to it, “I’ve been better, but I’m okay,” she found her voice returning the longer they stayed apart, enough to get back to business anyway, “So do you have a statement for my paper?”
Nathan pursed his lips, annoyed they didn’t have more time to talk, “Sure, the victim was a young, white female, twenty years old precisely, a budding model with a bright future and we’re following up on all leads.”

Fran scribbled the stats on her notepad and stopped, looking up at him, “That’s all?”
“For now, I can give you more after her family has been notified and we have more evidence,” he knew it would frustrate her to know so little but it was the usual statement the press got and he wasn’t about to take any heat from his Captain over leaking too much too soon, “Speaking of modeling, why did you stop, you always had the face for it.”

She sighed, business was over, back to the uncomfortable personal stuff, “I just wasn’t cut out for it, didn’t really fit in with the crowd. Besides, I wanted to do something that was at least a little exciting.”
He took a breath to respond and as if on cue, his phone rang. Glad for the interruption, Fran smiled, “Thanks for the statement, I’ll let you get back to work.”

One ring…two rings, Nate ignored the phone, not wanting their time to end so soon, there was still so much he wanted to say, “Hey, no problem. Maybe we can get together sometime and catch up?”

She paused for a moment, wondering why she felt so shy, she had known him practically her entire life, “Maybe…” her voice trailed off as she left the office.
Four rings…five. He sighed and picked up the annoying phone, “Davis.”

God I miss you, Frannie.

Part 9

043. Memory.

2010-10-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Francine and John Callahan, Chaz McQueen
Prompt: 043. Memory
Word Count: 819
Rating: PG
Type: Series: 7 of 33
Summary: Fran has a flashback of her father and still feels the guilt.
Warnings: None. I don't think it comes across in the pics but the flashback is in a hospital if anyone is wondering. :)

Drenched in sweat, Fran threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed, that same dream she always had fresh in her mind. She felt her stomach twinge with guilt as she remembered those words she had spoken to her father a few years ago, I promise.

She sighed and rubbed her eyes wearily as she got up, her boyfriend Chaz’s steady breathing in the bed next to her, a small comfort. She lightly kissed his forehead and quietly padded down the spiral staircase to the kitchen.
The first level of her apartment was dark, the dim glow from the street lamps outside gave just enough light for her to make it through the living room without bumping into anything. She poured a glass of red wine and sat down at the table, her mind racing. She sipped on the cool liquid, staring at the painting in front of her, just hanging on the wall, not a care in the world.
She groaned aloud and placed her hands to her head, wiping away a few tears in frustration. How could she make such a promise that she knew she could never keep? How could she disappoint her father like that? The never ending questions gnawed away at her, like they always did. She felt the uneasiness returning, but she knew this was more than just the dream; the reality, was much, much worse.
He looks so fragile and frail, nothing like the man who used to let me dance on his shoes or swing me around in the air. I hate this, why him, it isn't fair!
“Frannie…”

“I’m here, Daddy.”

“I want to tell you something,” he paused and coughed, getting weaker by the minute, “I know you and your sister hated growing up in that small, dinky town but…your mother and I knew it was just a better place to raise you, don’t be angry with us.”
“I’m not angry Daddy, of course I understand now, you don’t have to worry about that.”
He was quiet a moment, I could tell he was thinking, he knew what I really wanted to do, I could never hide anything from him, “Frannie, please just promise me one thing?”

I hesitated…and he could see right through me like always, “Anything,” I finally said, although I knew I would regret it.
“Please don’t do what I did, I wasted so much time wanting an 'exciting' job when I found out that all I truly wanted was to be with your mother and raise you girls. I know you Frannie, you want the same thing I did when I was young. Please just promise me you’ll find some boring, desk job. I want you to be safe, that’s all I ever wanted, my little Frannie.”

He touched the tip of my nose, just like he did when I was a little girl. I felt the tears coming, I couldn’t help it, I loved him so much and couldn’t imagine saying goodbye yet.
I laid my head down on his chest, so small compared to how I remember it and the tears started to come, “I will, Daddy…I promise.”
She could still feel the warmth of his hand in her hair as she realized she was in her kitchen, “Chaz! God, you scared me!”
“Sorry baby, I just wanted to make sure you were okay, I could hear you crying from the living room.”

She wiped her eyes noticing it was lighter outside, still surprised by the vivid feeling of the flashback, the simple touch of a hand putting her close to the edge of insanity, “I’m okay, just fighting the same old dream. What time is it?”

He yawned, “It’s 4:30, you should try to get some sleep, you look exhausted.”

“Gee, thanks. What are you doing up and ready so early, I thought you had the day off?”

He smirked, wondering if every guy thought their girlfriend was as cute in such a sleepy daze, “I told you yesterday, remember? The boss asked me to work another 48 hour shift and I said that I needed the overtime.”

“Oh yeah, sorry I forgot. I’ve been thinking about my dad a lot lately, can’t seem to get it out of my head.” She stood up and stretched, practically falling into his arms, “I wish you could come back to bed with me, I’ve been missing you, you know.”
“I know, I miss you too. But work is work. I should have a few days off after this, so save me some of that sweet sugar.” He kissed her softly and said goodbye, leaving her alone again.
She went back upstairs and crawled into the bed, the sheets now cold and uninviting. She curled the blanket tightly around her and closed her eyes, the fatigue of no sleep overpowering her racing thoughts as she drifted back into darkness.

Part 8

027. Solitude

2010-09-19T07:09:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Christina
Prompt: 027. Solitude
Word Count: 524
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: 6 of 33
Summary: Nate welcomes the solitude of his home.
Warnings: Mention of alcohol, some language

An empty driveway could mean only one thing; his house was sure to be quiet and calm. Nathan pulled his Explorer into his regular spot and stared at the vacant space beside him where a big, flashy Range Rover usually sat at this time of night. He opened his door and sighed, slamming it shut.

Out again, I suppose. Just as well, I could use the time alone to get rid of this migraine.
He shuffled up the path to his back porch, the small courtyard a welcome sight in contrast to the hard city that stretched out beyond its perimeter. Beside the steps, a fountain’s constant trickle of water calmed his nerves as he crawled up the steps to his house, exhausted and in desperate need of a shower.
Feeling refreshed after a long, hot soak, Nathan fell into his sofa and turned on the T.V. After channel flipping for a few minutes, he turned it back off and went upstairs to look over some case notes and photos; he was dead tired and it was late but his mind was still fuming over the murder, he wanted to catch this bastard quickly and nail him to the wall.
He laid out his files and papers on his bed and sat down on the plush mattress, suddenly missing the company he had initially been happy to do without. He took his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed the familiar number, hoping she wasn’t too preoccupied to answer.

After a few rings, he almost gave up but soon heard the husky, clearly alcohol infused voice, “Hey baby! Why you callin’ so late?!”
He could hear loud music in the background and muffled voices…he knew she wasn’t alone but he wasn’t surprised. He had expected for months that she had been running around on him, staying out to “party” later and later every time. “I’m ‘callin’’ because you aren’t at home and it‘s 1 A.M., Christina. When are you coming back, I’d really like to see you before I go to bed.”

Losing patience, he heard a commotion in the background but no answer to his question came. He nearly hung up before he heard her intoxicated voice again, “Sorry honey but I gots to go, I’ll see ya later, ‘kay?”
The line went dead and he dropped the phone on the bed, “Sorry? Fuck me,” He laid back on the headboard, and rubbed his eyes, wondering why he was so angry. It wasn’t as if they were engaged or anything, she didn’t even technically live with him, just kept some things there like toothpaste and a few clothes. Still, the thought of her with another guy, or maybe a few other guys, made him fume. They had mind blowing sex but it was becoming clear to him that was all it was, just sex. And he knew deep down he wanted more, so much more.

He stretched his arms, pushed all thoughts of the drunken Christina out of his head and welcomed the quietness of his room, there was a killer out there who had to be stopped before it happened again.

Part 7

034. Imperfection.

2010-07-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Kristian Evanovich, Kyle Holland, Janet Raven, Cute Secretary
Prompt: 034. Imperfection
Word Count: 1155
Rating: PG-13
Type: Series: Part 5 of 33.
Summary: Hunting down leads and imperfections are desirable.
Warnings: Some language, sexual references, really bad pictures.

*Sorry, I worked long and hard on these pics and Gadwin decided it wouldn't save them to my destination folder, so I had to use my backup in game screens. :(
If anybody can help me with that, I'd love to know if something like that has happened and how you fixed it, it did save the pics to the clipboard, just not to my folder. Should I change my capture keys? Any ideas?

Nathan sat at his desk, head planted firmly in his hands. The gruesome scene of the previous night’s slaughter fresh in his mind…the smell, he would never, ever forget that smell. A familiar migraine creeping its way up his temples made him groan aloud, he needed sleep and a lot of it. That and maybe an ice cold beer or two, or a vacation.

The phone on his desk thundered in his ears, “Better be important,” he mumbled, fumbling with the receiver, “Davis.”
Kristian Evanovich’s voice echoed from the other end of the phone and even though he was speaking quite normally, the sound made Nathan’s head pound, “Get down to the Raven Modeling Agency on 5th Avenue, turns out our victim was an aspiring model, I’m going to have a chat with her boss if you feel like tagging along.”
“Yeah, all right. Be there in a few.” Nate hung up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, at the very least this was important. He popped a couple Tylenol and took a slug of coffee to wash them down, grabbed his car keys and headed out of his office. Migraine or not, it was work time.

Looking up at the imposing, modern Agency, Nathan’s jaw nearly dropped. So this is how the other half live, he thought, opening the big glass door to the building.
Inside, there were a few officers milling about, taking statements, no doubt unnerving the uppity models by interrupting their very important day. He walked over to the reception desk and told the attractive secretary who he was and asked where he would find Kristian. Politely but clearly annoyed by the police presence, the girl took him up a massive flight of stairs that led to a second floor of what appeared to be offices, where he saw his partner patiently waiting for him in the hallway.

“You look like hell,” Kristian whispered, following the secretary to the end of the hallway.

“You look…Russian,” Nate replied, yawning off the insult. He knew his partner over two years and still found himself annoyed by his comments, depending on his mood. Today, he was in a bad mood.
The young girl knocked on the set of double doors at the end of the corridor and opened them to reveal the most swank office Nate had ever seen. He was so in awe of the décor, he almost overlooked Kyle Holland standing next to whom he assumed was the owner; she looked like a money-hungry businesswoman if he had ever seen one.

Annoyed, Nathan and Kristian once again observed the irritating man in action as he was clearly getting under the woman’s skin, “You know more than you’re saying, now out with it!”
The woman regarded him angrily, arms folded across her breasts, her raven hair tossing about as she turned up her chin at him defiantly, “I don’t know who you think you are, speaking to me that way but I’m not telling you another word!” She sat down in her plush office chair, crossing her long legs, daring him to say something else.
Enraged, Kyle began to speak when Nathan pulled him aside to a corner of the office, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“You know, playing ’good cop, bad cop’. You guys do it all the time.”

“You need two cops for that, you dumb shit. Now get out of here and let us get to work,” Nate growled, stunned by how much more ridiculous the man seemed to get each time he saw him.

Kyle huffed and left the office and even though his tough cop routine wasn’t working for him, he had inadvertently made a good set up for Nate and Kristian.
Nate looked across the large desk at the woman, a slight grin on his lips. “I’m sorry if he upset you, Miss…”

She looked back at him, admiring his handsome features…his muscular build, the square line of his jaw, “Raven, Janet Raven. I own this Agency and also run the business. Please sit down, I can see you two are gentleman, not like that Neanderthal,” she said, motioning to the two chairs on the opposite side.
Nathan smiled, he liked her already, although he had a feeling it wasn’t quite the same as what she was thinking, “Thank you, Miss Raven. Now we would just like to ask you a few questions about…” he glanced down at his notes, he couldn’t even remember the girl’s name, that damned migraine, “Natasha Bowen.”
Janet’s face was impassive at the mention of the dead model’s name, just another face in the crowd to her, “Yes, poor girl. What would you like to know, detectives?”

“Well, anything you can think of that would help. What was she like, who did she hang out with, any problems with threats or stalkers. Anything like that.”
She thought a moment, or rather acted to think for a moment, “Natasha was a fairly new model, not very much experience. Although she had a great look and had what it takes to make it big. But no, I can’t think of any trouble she had with threats or anything of that nature. She was basically your average, budding model with a bright future ahead of her,” she said, already missing the income she wouldn’t be getting from such a bright future.
Nathan fought back a sigh. So far, this case was going nowhere, fast, “Thank you Miss Raven, here’s my number if you think of anything else you can think of that will help,” he said, getting up and handing her a card across the desk.

She smiled politely and showed them out of her office, closing the door behind them, giving Nathan a once over before shutting it completely.
“What’s that look for?” Nathan asked as he noticed Kristian’s smug grin.

“Did you not notice that body? That woman is damn fine!”

Nathan chuckled, he wasn’t much for the ‘perfect’ appearing female, he liked a more down to Earth kind of girl, “That’s a one track mind you’ve got there, did it escape you that this case is dead in the water so far? Besides, she’s not my type, she’s got greed written all over her face. If you don’t have any dough, you can forget that one, my good friend.”
“Shit, you’re such a downer, I’d still like to bend her over backwards and teach her a thing or two.”

“Nice, real nice,” Nathan shook his head in disapproval as he went to get back in his SUV.
He thought about Janet and he supposed that most men probably would have drooled over her. But that’s not what he wanted. He wanted someone real, somebody with flaws, who wasn’t afraid to be who she was, with nothing to prove. His thoughts went back to a little girl he knew long ago, someone who could always make him laugh.

Part 6

022. Love.

2010-05-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

Title: A Promise
Genre: Poetry/One Shot Stories
Characters: A Woman in Love
Prompt: 022. Love.
Word Count: 246
Rating: G
Type: One Shot
Summary: A woman anxiously awaits the day she will meet her love.
Warnings: None.

The sun rises and I grow excited, it means that I am another day closer to seeing you. I go about my routine as usual but I can’t stop thinking about you for a moment and that time when our eyes will finally meet.
I think about what life will bring us, where will we go together, what will we do? Will we laugh together? What will we talk about, what memories will we share? It matters not to me, as long as I’m with you.
You will never have to worry, I will be there with you every step of the way, this I promise you. When someone tears you down, when you feel like the world stops spinning around. When you feel like you haven’t got a friend, not a shoulder to lean on, I will be there, on that you can count.
I will love you no matter what, when we have our first fight, whenever we say goodnight. Through the good times and the bad, whether you are happy or sad, I promise I will be there for you, without a doubt.
The time has not come for us to meet but I know it will arrive before either of us know. My only wish, my only desire is that you can feel the endless love I will give for you when we finally meet face to face.
My daughter, my son…either way, I promise I will love you just the same.

011. Betrayal.

2010-03-07T13:13:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Francine Callahan, Elena Nielsen
Prompt: 011. Betrayal.
Word Count: 1,115
Rating: G
Type: Series: 4 of 33
Summary: Two sisters go shopping and have a somewhat serious discussion.
Warnings: None.

Elena pulled her knee up to her chest as she sat impatiently on the sofa, watching her baby sister fuss about in the entry way mirror. “We’ll never get out of here if you keep that up. Come on, you know you look gorgeous anyway.”

“Oh please Laney, if you didn’t hide behind those frames, you know you would be a knockout. Besides, you know I can’t leave the house looking like a mess, just because I don’t model anymore doesn’t mean that I don’t feel like people aren’t constantly looking at me with a magnifying glass,” She finished primping, tucking a stray strand of long brown hair behind her ear, “Why do you think I called you way ahead of time?”
Elena stretched and got up from the couch, walking around the room, eagerly waiting to go shopping. Being a married mother of two, the opportunity to spend time with any girlfriends, much less her sister, was very limited. “Yes well, us old married hags don’t have to impress complete strangers when we shop,” She said, tapping a finger on the computer desk that was tucked into a corner, “Are you almost done, Fran?” She sighed, placing a hand on her hip.

“Yeah, yeah, keep your shirt on. I just want to leave Chaz a note in case I’m not here when he gets home from work.”
“Boy, he must really be something for you to be so considerate, if I left Taylor a note every time I wasn’t going to be home before him, my hand would fall off.”

They both shared a laugh as Fran finished scribbling a “Love Fran” on the notepad. “There, now we can go, little Miss Impatient.”

“Finally. At this rate, my kids will be graduated and off to college before I get home.”
“This is the one?” Fran asked as they walked through the busy downtown streets, passing by all sorts of inner city people; businessmen in suits, the occasional oddball that wore every color of the rainbow on their head. An unattractive redheaded man whistled and made an obscene gesture as they walked past him. They rolled their eyes and giggled, ignoring him to continue their conversation.

“Yeah, Botanica. It’s supposed to have that new wrinkle cream that you wear overnight and they are instantly gone the next morning.”

“Please Laney, like you have to worry about wrinkles!” Fran laughed, following her older sister inside the modern, expensive looking store.
Elena looked over the counters with interest, the many bottles of creams, lotions and moisturizers overwhelming. “I think this is the one,” She said, picking up one of the small containers on display. “Gag! $75, better be worth every freakin’ penny!”

“Please don’t tell me you’re actually buying this crap?” Fran asked, surveying the rest of the store with scrutiny. If it didn’t have Louboutin on the tag, she wasn’t interested in forking over that kind of cash. Shoes yes, wrinkle cream? Absolutely not.

Elena laughed as she picked up a smaller jar of the miracle cream at a bargain of $45 instead. “Some of us have to actually try to be beautiful, sis. I know that’s a foreign concept to someone who has been a model though.”

“Hey, I went through some pretty awkward years to be who I am today. Remember Donkey Face Frannie? Not exactly the kind of nickname a little girl wants on her record,” Fran said jokingly as she picked up a bottle of shampoo, unscrewing the lid to have a smell. She gingerly placed the bottle back on the shelf after hearing a sales girl behind her clear her throat rudely. “Smells like piss anyway.” She mumbled to herself, turning back to Elena who looked like she was actually considering buying some of the pee in a bottle.
“Laney, how’s mom doing?” Fran asked out of the blue, causing her sister to put the shampoo down and give her a worried look.

“You might know if you called her once in a while or stopped by the house, you know. You’re going to have to see her eventually, Fran. You can't keep avoiding her like this.”

Fran sighed, trying to skip getting to the bottom of things like she usually would when her emotions are involved. “I’m not avoiding her really, I just don’t think she wants to see me right now, that’s all. I mean she’s got every right to be angry with me, I basically am betraying my father just by being here in the city. He never wanted this life for us Laney and I promised him…I promised…”
“Hey, Dad would be so proud of you and Mom knows that, she’s just upset because he tried so hard to keep us away from all the bad things in life and protect us. Maybe if you explain to her that you appreciate all he did and that you aren’t trying to go against what he wanted, she might understand.”
Fran paused for a moment, letting it all sink in, thinking of the last thing she said to her Mother, months ago. “You really think so? I feel like a black sheep or something just by being here. Dad was so adamant about us having normal, safe, boring jobs, he practically forbade us from becoming cops. I mean, I’m not doing that but investigative reporter isn’t far off, it’s still pretty dangerous work.”

“Trust me little sis, the sooner you go talk to Mom, the better. You know she’s really lonely since Dad…” Her voice trailed off into a reminiscent sigh as she went over to a makeup counter.
“Tickle Me Pink lipstick, now that’s a sure way to turn back the clock.” Elena said to herself, picking up a tube of the pastel product.

“Sure, all the way back to junior high.” Fran remarked, watching her sister with a smile. The extremes that women go to, she thought as she waited on Elena to make her purchase, the same sales clerk giving her a nasty look for not buying anything.
Outside, the two sisters faced each other, not wanting the rare shopping trip to end. “You know Fran, you can come by anytime you want, Taylor has been getting off in time for dinner here lately, maybe you could stop by next week or something and see the kids too, they miss their Auntie Fran, you know.”

“I know…I will Laney. I’ll call you later and let you know what day I can make it,” Fran said, her mouth almost turning into a pout. She really missed having someone to lean on and talk to about anything.
She leaned in and pulled Elena into a hug, “Thanks Laney.”

“Hey, anytime, little sis.”

Part 5

036. Smell.

2009-12-04T12:40:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Nathan Davis, Kristian Evanovich, Kyle Holland, Police Officers
Prompt: 036. Smell.
Word Count: 1,135
Rating: R.
Type: Series: 3 of 33
Summary: The police are left to pick up the pieces.
Warnings: Photoshop Blood, Language, Nudity

His eyes took in the scene across the street as he parked his Ford Explorer as much out of the way as was possible. For a murder scene, it was reasonably quiet, not many neighbors out nosing around. He had gotten the call about half an hour ago, dragged himself out of bed and threw on whatever clothes he could find, his body used to the automatic mode that every police officer entered when it was time to “do the job”.

He yawned while crossing the street, ducking under the yellow police line as he greeted the female officer, who was standing officially with her arms folded behind her.

Nothing like a woman cop, always something to prove. He thought to himself as she held up her hand to stop him, “Excuse me, this is a closed crime scene…”

“I’m Detective Nathan Davis,” he said, flashing her his badge, “I believe my partner is waiting for me inside.” He yawned as he tucked the badge back into his back pocket.

“Sorry sir, I was confused by your clothing, please forgive me.” She apologized, assuming her previous position.

He nodded and forced a half smile as he went up the front steps, shaking his head. This is how sleep deprived detectives dress when they‘re dragged out of bed in the middle of the night. He thought, ineffectively trying to smooth out a wrinkle in his sweater.

He entered the very small foyer of the house where his partner Kristian Evanovich was waiting impatiently, his arms crossed, one foot up on the whitewash wall behind him. “Took you long enough, sleeping beauty.” He teased, his faint Russian accent causing his groggy partner to smile.

“Yeah well, us good old American boys like our sleep, ya know. By the way, nice Pitt Bull at the door, who is that girl, your mom? I had a hell of a time gettin' in here.”

“Ha ha,” he laughed sarcastically, moving away from the wall, “Maybe if you’d dress like me the ladies would take you seriously. You ready for this one?” he asked, pointing up the stairs.

“I was born ready.” Nathan said, heading up the stairs. The smell hit him hard as he neared the second floor. Blood. And from the overwhelming stench, a lot.

He steadied himself, preparing his eyes for what he knew he would see, his demeanor changed from the light mood with his partner to stone cold serious. He observed a female officer he had seen a few times dusting a side table for prints, opening drawers and going through random items, as he looked around the second floor bedroom. He brought his hand up to his nose as the odor became nearly unbearable, he had seen plenty of murders but this one had to be the worst.

He heard Kristian’s footsteps behind him as he surveyed the scene in front of him. The poor girl on the bed…he sadly observed the brutal mutilation of her body, so much blood, more than he had ever seen.

“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” Kristian said quietly as the two partners stood beside each other, sobered at such a level of hatred.

Nathan shook his head in agreement as he slowly went to talk to the other detective on the scene, Kyle Holland; major asshole, dickhead and all around irritation to any party involved.

“Ah, look who rolled out of bed. Nice raggedy jeans, Davis, very professional.” Kyle sneered, holding what looked to be a fresh, hot cup of coffee.

“Well, some of us have to actually go beyond regular duty, Holland. Not everyone has the benefit of already being awake and having time to stop at a gas station for coffee and a jelly donut when they get a call.”

Kyle narrowed his eyes and huffed at the retort. “Fuck off, I would have jumped out of bed if I’d been at home and you know it.”

Kristian watched the two from a safe distance, the tension in the room palpable. It was obvious they had some kind of animosity between them, each respectable cops but at two opposite sides of the personality spectrum.

Too tired and annoyed, Nathan gave up the challenge first and focused on the victim. He kneeled down beside the bed and felt a wave of grief and nausea overtake him. From what remained of her, he could see that the girl was young and was probably very beautiful. A sickening, senseless act of rage was all he could imagine this was, only an unstable mind could have done this to another human being.

“Have you found anything yet?” Nathan asked the other officer across the bed, who was collecting any amount of evidence he could find.

“Not anything substantial, whoever did this was very clean, and knew what precautions to take to not leave anything behind.” he replied, collecting a sample of the victim’s blood.

Nathan sighed in frustration, he’d seen cases like this before that went nowhere. No concrete evidence, nothing that would hold up in court anyway and even if they caught this son of a bitch, he could plead insanity or some shit and get off with a slap on the wrist. It was almost enough to make him quit but there was something inside him, something in his blood that wanted to see justice for the innocent.

He rejoined Kristian, trying to ignore the nagging in the pit of his stomach. He watched Kyle talking with the other officer that was collecting fibers. “Something about him isn’t right,” he said quietly, “Almost like he enjoys seeing them like this or...something.”

Kristian turned to face him and said, “Careful what you are saying my friend,”

Nathan sighed, “I know. But there’s just something that I can’t put my finger on about him, he’s too smug and sarcastic about all this.”

The officer that was gathering evidence interrupted their conversation with good news, “Sir, I’ve got a hair. It’s not blond like the victim’s.”

After a few hours of working the scene, searching for more evidence and coming up with much of nothing, Nathan took what they had found and headed to the precinct. The “Pitt Bull” was watching him intently as he made his way down the stairs, “Was it as bad as they say, I heard one officer threw up.”

Nathan thought a moment as the smell of the blood oozed it’s way back into his nostrils, he would never forget that smell. “Yes. Yes it was.”

He climbed into the Explorer, the endless day he had ahead of him looming over his head like a storm cloud. He cranked the engine as that nagging feeling returning. He knew this was only the beginning and he wasn’t sure he wanted to know what he was up against.

Part 4

016. Death.

2009-11-07T17:21:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery, Romance
Characters: Mystery Man, Natasha
Prompt: 016. Death.
Word Count: 808
Rating: R - Very Adult!
Type: Series: 2 of 33
Summary: A dangerous man listens to his inner voice with some disastrous consequences.
Warnings: Nudity, Graphic Sex, Violence, Simulated Blood

“Is this seat taken?” She looked at him from across the counter seductively, her manicured fingers resting flat against the cool surface.

He shook his head without saying a word. Better to play it cool with this one.

She arched her eyebrows in curiosity as she slid onto the empty bar stool beside him, turning to face him, leaning in close to emphasize her interest. “My name’s Natasha, what’s yours, handsome?” She asked, lowering her eyelids.

He cleared his throat, contemplating on what it would be tonight. “Rick. Call me Rick.”

She smiled at him, pleased with her choice for the evening, he had a deep, sexy voice that befit someone so attractive. She turned back to the bar, leaning her elbows on the counter. The bartender waited patiently for her order as she looked sideways at “Rick”.

“Would you like a drink?” He asked politely.

“Maybe…but how about one at my place?”

He smiled, it was going to be easier than he had originally thought.

He walked with her the few blocks to her townhouse; a tall, skinny brick structure that looked like it had seen many things over the years. He looked up at the second floor where a few lights faintly lit up the room inside.

She noticed him looking and pointed upwards, “My bedroom. I always leave on a light or two, makes me feel safer when I come home. Do you want to see?” She asked, moving up the wrought iron stairs.

“That all depends, do I have to go to bed like a good little boy?” He teased, admiring her as she unlocked the front door.

She giggled softly, “No, not if you had other things in mind.”

He followed her inside. Other things indeed.

She led him upstairs and he immediately cornered her by the railing. Wrapping his arms around her slim waist, he pulled her against him, pressing her into his hips. He was fully aroused, the promise of the night to come was exciting him immensely and he couldn’t control himself. He wanted to feel himself inside her and then…

She kissed him passionately, anxious to see this muscular, handsome man naked before her. He slowly turned her around to face the railing as he lifted her blouse over her head and lowered her jeans to the floor.

She waited breathlessly as she stood inches from him, she heard him throw his clothes near the bed and then she felt him against her.

Desire taking over them both, he slowly moved inside her, gently caressing her from behind. He kissed her neck, his lips brushing past her ear as he whispered, “Come with me.”

He took her hand and led her over to the bed where he laid down, his body begging for her to join his. She slowly obliged, placing herself on top of him, she increased the pace, rocking back and forth. She moaned aloud, placing her hand gently on his face, while admiring his many tattoos.

“Damn, that’s sexy!” She said, her fingers stroking the ink on his chest.

“Thanks,” He breathed, looking into her eyes. Too damn bad she had given into the evil, she was so beautiful, “You like it from behind?”

“Oh, yeah.”

He turned her over and as she lay face down on the bed, he leaned back down to the floor, grabbing the knife he had concealed in his jeans, placing it quietly on the blanket. “You ready, baby?” He asked, entering her once more. She felt incredible, it really was such a shame.

She moaned and cried out from the intense pleasure, clearly disregarding any neighbors who may still have been awake. He picked up the knife as he climaxed, he let out a heavy sigh as he tugged on her hair playfully, lightly tracing her back with the tip of the blade.

She giggled slightly, “That tickles, what is…”

Her breath caught and she lost the words when she felt a deep, cutting pain in her back. Confused as he turned her over roughly to face him, her face twisted in fear and horror as she saw the knife above her, he had it aimed directly at her chest.

She screamed loudly as he plunged it between her breasts.

And he stabbed her again…and again. He brought the knife down, over and over, her blood splattering everywhere, until it covered the bed.

He wiped most of the blood from himself, his hands more stained than the rest, he got dressed and went downstairs to wash up before he headed home.

Out on the street, he listened. A dog barked in the distance.

Dark, quiet houses. The street lights had gone out, time for most anyone to be tucked away safely in their beds, sound asleep.

He smiled to himself as he walked down the sidewalk.

Guess we didn’t wake the neighbors.

Part 3

026. Fragile.

2009-09-04T19:12:00.001-07:00

Title: Dark Shadows
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Romance
Characters: Mystery man and woman
Prompt: 026. Fragile.
Word Count: 417
Rating: Overall Rating is R, 18+
Type: Series, Part 1 of 33
Summary: Someone's mental state is quite fragile.
Warnings: Entire story will contain violence, sex and nudity, blood, language and lots of other adult content. Please don't start reading if those things offend you, this part is okay but most won't be!

Warnings for this part - mention of alcohol, cigarette use, twisted thoughts.

You have to do it, don't be weak.

"No. No, I can't!"

You know they deserve it.

He scrubbed his hands vigorously as the voice in his head pounded louder and louder in his ears. He knew it was right, they all deserve it.

"I have to do it." he whispered, turning off the water.

That's good, you're doing the right thing.

He nodded his head in agreement as he heard another voice coming from outside the bathroom.

"Are you all right, it's late. Are you sick?"

Never been better.

"No, no, I'm fine. I'm going out for a while to meet some friends for a drink."

There was a long pause, he could hear her sigh behind the door. "Oh, okay. Have fun then."

She didn't understand. Would she ever? He was doing this for her, he would have to make her see, make her appreciate what he was doing. He picked up the knife from the counter and went to get dressed.

He lit up a cigarette as he went outside, walking down a dirty alley on his way to the place he knew he would be able to succeed. The smells were overwhelming; garbage cans knocked over, spilling their rotten contents all over the concrete, drunken fools who used the walls for a bathroom. Disgusting.

That's right, it is disgusting. They deserve to die.

The voice reverberated through his mind, over and over until he thought it would explode. They had to die, they had committed the worst crime ever.

He made it to the club and waited. If he was patient, he knew one would come, they always did. He leaned up against the brick wall, listening to the pulse of electronic music from inside. He took a long drag on his cigarette and flicked it across the sidewalk, heading into the club.

He had seen her, the first one to die. She was beautiful but he knew her secret. She was guilty, she used her beauty to make money and cared only for her own advancement in the world, stepping on anyone who got in her way. Vanity, the root of the worst kind of evil.

He watched her mingle amongst the club's patrons, going from one dance partner to another, disgusted by her blatant display of sexuality.

He sat down at the bar and ordered a drink, he knew what she wanted, he didn't have to pursue her. She would come to him and he would give her what she desired.

Part 2

002. Ends.

2009-08-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

Title: Moonlight
Genre: Romance
Characters: Onatah, Edward, Aponi, Tokori, Hateya, Lauren
Prompt: 002. Ends.
Word Count: 905~ish
Rating: MA
Type: Series: 2 of 2
Summary: Consequences are revealed.
Warnings: Violence, some nudity, adult themes.

*-*-*

Onatah waited once more, the same as she had for many, many nights. She made the now familiar trek to the secret hiding place she and Edward had made their own private sanctuary.

“Edward, my love, how much longer can this go on? I know we must tell our people or we can never fully be together. I am afraid.”

Edward sighed as he held her close to him, he knew the chances of their people blessing a union between them were slim, they would be lucky if it didn’t instigate a war. “I am afraid too, we have each other though, together we will persevere. I love you dear Ona, and I will do whatever it takes for us to be together.”

Onatah breathed easier next to the comfort of his chest. She sighed deeply as they said their nightly goodbyes and each started the journey to their separate resting places.

*-*-*

Edward started a fire at his campsite and sat down, warming his hands. His mind a jumbled mess as he listened to the distant sound of water from the nearby ocean, far below the cliff side.

He lay back and looked up at the stars sadly, wishing that the world around him was as uncomplicated as the sky. No prejudices, no excuses, no hatred, just tranquility and peace. He sat up suddenly as he heard a twig snap in the distance. He listened for a moment, his eyes squinting, trying to search the dark surroundings for a bear or wolf. Finding none, he shrugged and lay back down on the ground.

He let out a breath of frustration over his situation when he suddenly saw a large human form above him, their hands out in an attacking manner.

Adrenaline surging through him, Edward struggled with the man, finding himself losing the upper hand. A glint of moonlight exposed the man’s face, he was an Indian, large, muscular and angry, apparently with Edward. His mind racing, he saw the wild look in the man’s eye, he must have seen him with Onatah, the other Indians he had encountered had not been half as aggressive toward the settlers.

“W-why are y-you doing this? I mean y-you no h-harm.” Edward choked out, the other man’s large hands around his throat.

His chest heaving, anger surging through his blood, he squeezed the white man harder. “You do not deserve her,” he growled, in a good attempt at English. “She was to be mine!” he exclaimed, forcefully throwing Edward near the edge of the cliff.

Fear swelling in his heart, Edward grabbed the edge of the steep cliff as he fell, one look over the side nearly causing him to faint.

I am going to die. He thought as he could hear the imposing Indian coming up behind him, his jealousy and anger a frightening weapon. He grabbed Edward once again, a firm hold that was difficult to escape. They fought, Edward trying his best to avoid the punches of the stronger man.

In a wide motion, the Indian swung his fist at Edward, causing him to stumble, pushing him dangerously close to the cliff’s edge. He lost his footing and fell backwards.

I’m sorry…Ona, I love you.

*-*-*

“Onatah, please listen…”

“No! Do not touch me, Tokori!” she said, running away from her village towards the thick woods.

Onatah’s mother, Aponi, heard the argument and went to investigate. “What have you done?” she asked sternly as she watched her daughter disappear into the night.

*-*-*

Onatah collapsed over the side of the cliff, seeing the still form of Edward on the rocks far below. She immediately began to cry, her heart breaking piece by piece. She heard rustling behind her, turning around to see Tokori with her mother and father.

“Leave me alone, this is your fault!” she sobbed, bringing her knees up to her chest.

Tokori hung his head in shame and obeyed, he stayed a safe distance away, behind her mother and father.

“Daughter, please understand, Tokori was protecting you. These settlers cannot be trusted, they are dangerous.” Hateya said softly, defending the one he would have chosen for her husband.

Onatah stood up, tears flowing freely down her flushed cheeks. “No father, you are wrong. He was not protecting me, he has just taken away my heart, my soul.”

Hateya sighed, his daughter had always been headstrong but to fall in love with such a man was going too far. “Please come to your senses, they are not like us, that man deceived you.” he said angrily, pacing in front of her.

“You’re wrong! He loved me! We…loved each other.” she said sadly, turning around again to look down at Edward, her true love…dead. She looked up at the stars, shining brightly in the dark night sky. Simple, peaceful, quiet stars. She envied them.

One was shining down, a little more brightly than the others.

Oh, Edward, my love.

She turned around to face her father. Her chin held high, tears flowing from her brown eyes, she said, “You know nothing, father.”

*-*-*

Lauren listened to the tour guide as she peered over the stone wall to the cliff, far below, she couldn't comprehend his words as a wave of sadness washed over her.

“The legend of Onatah and Edward has been carried on through many generations, their forbidden love a sad reminder of segregation and prejudice in our society that is present still. It is said that they became two stars, watching over the land as a symbol that love knows no bounds.”

014. Lovers.

2009-07-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

Title: Moonlight
Genre: Romance
Characters: Onatah, Edward
Prompt: 014. Lovers.
Word Count: 1,000~ish
Rating: MA
Type: Series: 1 of 2
Summary: Two lovers meet under the cover of night.
Warnings: Part 1: Sexual situations, some nudity.
Part 2: Violence, adult situations, partial nudity.

She waited impatiently for the cover of night to fall. Her heart pounded with anticipation as it had every night since she had met him. How long had it been? She had lost count of the days, possibly even weeks. All she knew anymore was the comforting sounds of the dark night that surrounded her small village; an owl’s solitary hoot, an occasional howl from a coyote in the distance, a rushing creek nearby and the steady chirp of crickets.
The moon shown brightly above, a steady witness of her secret nightly meetings with the one who had captured her heart. It peered down on her seemingly with disapproval as she opened the flap of her teepee, surveying the others around her for any sign of movement. There was none, the rest of her village was sound asleep, only a few horses stood awake, nickering softly

Swiftly and yet quietly, she padded barefoot along the dirt path that lead through the woods to their secret meeting place. She knew the route by heart, nearly able to navigate through the many trees and bushes with her eyes closed. With passion guiding her, she followed the stream along until she reached the familiar clearing which led to the secluded patch of woods that concealed the furtive nature of their romance.

She looked upwards, her thoughts soaring with excitement. She was in love with a pale face, a white man who had come from a strange, mysterious, far away land. And one who had in fact come to claim her people’s land as his own and dig it up in search of gold. Despite his intentions, she happened upon him one day in the woods, her curiosity overwhelming the fear inside her, she had spoken to him against her better judgment and found him to be quite different than the rest of the men who had accompanied him. They were drawn to each other from the beginning, a match seemingly made in Heaven, yet doomed to be torn apart by skin color.
She waited to approach the area until she was certain that no one had discovered their meeting place. A ray of moonlight caught his brown hair, she quietly observed him standing against a tree, looking at peace with himself. He certainly seemed to appreciate the land more than the men he had arrived with who only came in search of riches and adventure.
“Edward,” she whispered as she approached him with caution, checking the surrounding woods to make sure they were alone.
He turned towards the sound of her voice, an endearing look crossing his rugged, masculine features. “Onatah, my love. At last.” he smiled as she rushed into his strong arms. “I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me.” he teased, twisting a strand of her long, raven black hair around his finger playfully.
“Never Edward, you know I would never forget you.” she said breathlessly, burying her small, round face in the warm comfort of his broad shoulder. The men in her village were physically appealing to her of course, but this stranger was so very different from anyone she had ever seen and the dangerous nature of him and the gentle way he would hold her just intensified her attraction.

He held her closely for a long moment, the sounds of the night and the cover of darkness comforting them both. They only had a few precious hours together before the dawn; when the sun would rise, they would have to disappear, only to endure another day without the other. It was becoming tiring and strenuous on them both. He had to constantly make excuses to his men about why he was delaying the digging process and she had to endure her mother and father continually insisting she marry one of the men from the village and start a family.
He took her hand and led her further into what had become their sacred place. A place where they could be together, away from the prying eyes of their divided people. A place where they could love and share their most intimate moments with one another.

Lighting a fire, Edward sat down on the soft ground and motioned for her to join him. Smiling, she complied, settling next to the warmth of his body. She felt at ease with this man, despite how wrong her people would think it was. He was the enemy, a stranger, a demon who came to take her home for his own. And yet, he was beautiful.
“Ona, my love, I have missed you so.” he said softly, as she turned around slightly to face him, sitting on her knees.

“I have missed you too. The darkness takes so long to come, I think I cannot wait anymore or I will go mad!”

He laughed, that glorious, rugged sound of a weathered cowboy as he removed his hat and ran his fingers through his hair. He made her weak like no one before him ever could. He gazed into her dark, exotic eyes, looking right into the depths of her mind.
“Love me, Ona. Please, I need to feel your arms around me, taste the sweet honey of your lips once more.” he whispered, leaning in towards her as his slightly rough lips touched the softness of hers.
She moaned quietly as he kissed her gently, heat rising through her core as his hands slowly removed her dress from her shoulder and tenderly caressed the swell of her breast. He placed her down carefully as he removed his own shirt and pants, the warmth of the night on his naked skin only heightening his excitement.
He looked down at her, his eyes heavy with passion and emotion, all because of the love she had given him. He had found a rare, beautiful flower to call his own in this foreign land he had come to and he would never, ever let her go. He knew deep down, eventually they would have to let their people know. One could not live a double life forever.
But for now, right this moment- he would love her, like there was no tomorrow.

Part 2

Christina Jones

2009-01-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

Age: 21
Occupation: Sales Clerk
Marital Status: Has casual sex with Nathan Davis (as she would put it)

Bio: Young, impulsive and headstrong, Christina is a wild child. She enjoys drinking, loud parties and hot guys and in no particular order. Spoiled from an early age, she hates not getting her way and feels deserving of anything she desires. Frustrated with Nathan's passion for his career and the time it takes him away from her, she spends many nights satisfying her urges elsewhere.

Kyle Holland

2009-01-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

Age: 26
Occupation: Homicide Detective
Marital Status: Nothing serious

Bio: Arrogant, ornery and usually a pain in the butt to anyone who meets him, Kyle's job always seems to be hanging by a thread, he's constantly on suspension for his attitude and lack of commitment to his cases. If he took work more seriously, he could make a great detective but he doesn't cope very well with the stress a cop has to deal with on a daily basis.

Some would call him lazy, he will tell you he's just laid back but he does have a temper that's quick to ignite given the right circumstance. He doesn't get along with Nathan or Kristian, who share his department and he is constantly giving them grief for inexplicable reasons.

Nathan Davis

2009-01-01T14:12:00.000-08:00

Age: 24
Occupation: Homicide Detective
Parents: Luke Davis, Eleanor Davis
Marital Status: In a shaky relationship with Christina Jones

Bio: Growing up around Fran and her sister, Nathan spent many hours playing with the Callahan girls, he always looked up to their father and respected him, as much as his own parents. Now an adult, he's very mature for his age and is unhappy with his current relationship; he wants more than casual sex and knows deep down Christina isn't interested in anything more. Much to his own surprise, he has lately developed feelings for Fran, which he keeps to himself in fear of ruining their relationship.

A good cop with a good partner, Kristian; Nathan likes his job although the recent murders he is working on are tougher than anything he's ever faced. He enjoys a quiet night at home as opposed to going out and sometimes wants to leave the city completely and relocate somewhere with less smog and loud neighbors.

Janet Raven

2009-01-01T14:08:00.000-08:00

Age: 36
Occupation: Owner/CEO of Raven Modeling Agency
Marital Status: Single but always on the prowl

Bio: From an early age, Janet always wanted complete control of everything. Ridiculously spoiled by her parents, getting practically everything she could imagine, she became accustomed to having her way, the word "no" does not exist in her vocabulary.

Well educated and now very successful in her career, Janet is a money-oriented business woman with men and fashion on the brain. She lives for jewelry, designer clothes and shoes, and enjoys quick relationships with handsome, muscular men but she never mixes business with pleasure.

*Note: Janet is a sim I downloaded, I can't take credit for her beauty! She is from Ravensworth Generations, a fabulous story by the ever-so-helpful Phoenix. Her character from that story inspired me to use her this way in my own story, I've always thought she was a gorgeous sim and plays a great maneater!

Luke Davis

2009-01-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

Age: 59
Occupation: Homicide Detective (near retirement)
Marital Status: Married to Eleanor Davis
Children: Nathan Davis

Bio: Upset over the loss of his friend and mentor, John Callahan, Luke is living with his wife Eleanor and is very proud of his son Nathan, who followed his footsteps into the police force. He cherishes the gun John gave him when he quit the force and will most likely pass it on to Nathan one day.

Although not appearing in Dark Shadows, he has passed on some of his characteristics to his son, though Nate seems to interact better with women than his father had in the past.

Elena Nielsen

2009-01-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

Age: 32
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom
Parents: John Callahan (deceased), Leslie Callahan
Siblings: Francine Callahan
Marital Status: Married to Taylor Nielsen
Children: Kendall Nielsen, Kris Nielsen

Bio: A self proclaimed nerd, Elena always felt inferior to her younger sister growing up, hiding behind big glasses and fading away into the background as her sister stole the spotlight as a teen model. More comfortable in her skin as an adult, thanks in part to her husband Taylor, who loves her and their two children more than anything; she and Fran now have a good relationship and she misses being around her all the time.

Worries that her mother and Fran will not patch things up between them, she can't stand to have her family fighting.

Leslie Roberts Callahan

2009-01-01T12:28:00.000-08:00

Age: 65
Occupation: Retired Divorce Attorney
Marital Status: Widow, was married to John Callahan
Children: Francine Callahan, Elena Nielsen
Grandchildren: Kendall Nielsen, Kris Nielsen

Bio: Leslie moved to the big city after living in the country most of her life, partly to leave behind bad memories. She met her husband John as he was working on a murder investigation, she found a woman's body in the alley beside her office building which strangely brought them together, and throughout a string of murders, being kidnapped and almost killed herself; by a man who blamed her for his parents' divorce, she married John and they moved back to the country to raise a family.

She is currently packing up her late husband's belongings, trying to keep her spirits up despite losing her best friend and soul mate, is having a hard time reconciling with her youngest daughter after his death.

Loves her two grandchildren and is always harassing Fran to give her more.

Francine Callahan

2009-01-01T11:42:00.000-08:00

Age: 28
Occupation: Investigative Reporter for the Windy City Journal
Parents: John Callahan (deceased), Leslie Callahan
Siblings: Elena Nielsen
Nieces/Nephews: Kendall Nielsen, Kris Nielsen
Marital Status: In a relationship with Chaz McQueen

Bio: Fran started out modeling when she was in her teens but soon found she didn't fit in with the crowd and knew she wanted to do something more exciting like her retired detective father had. She grew up in a very small town and always gave her parents grief for making them live in such a "boring" place. Despite not having an exciting childhood, her favorite memories are of her long time friend, Nathan Davis, with whom she has known as long as she can remember since her father was very close with his, they spent a lot of time around each other as kids.

Currently in a relationship, Fran loves her boyfriend and wishes they could spend more time together, wanting all the support she can get while trying to deal with the death of her father, which has strained her relationship with her mother as well.

She seems to be in a rut, dealing with the loss of her father, she lives with the guilt of a promise she made to him that she knows she cannot keep and is seriously unsatisfied with her job. Also is having trouble coming to terms with feelings she may or may not have for her friend Nathan, a recent meeting with him left her strangely confused as he seemed to look at her differently than he used to.