Investigating Love ✅

Chapter 2

Raelle eyes the brunette standing next to her. Everything seems fine with the woman but still something is telling the blonde that this isn't just not tasty coffee.


"So, um basically, it's not much I have to warn you but we don't have anything else. Don't be mad if I called you here for nothing-" Scylla can't handle Raelle's non stop talking and cuts the girl off.


"Get to the point Collar. I don't have time for this. Some people have work to do." The brunette gets a little annoyed by her new partner regretting that Byron took a week off to spend it with his fiancé.


"Oh, right of course. Wait- are you trying to say that I'm use-" Raelle starts again but Scylla only groans and rolls her eyes.


"Collar, to the point." Ramshorn explains what she really wants trying to get out the news out of Raelle's mouth.


"As I said... right, okay to the point. Libba didn't run away for sure. Someone sent a request for ransom to Swythe's house. Izadora was still there and she just called me when you went to the bathroom."


"Okay, now measure, that's a good news or bad news?" Scylla starts walking back to her desk to gain her thoughts together. She needs some time to think what they should do next.


Raelle thinks for a few seconds while following the brunette. "Well, being that senator told about Libba's missing in media and he gave everyone his number... that's not so good since the kidnapper might not be the one that sent request." The blonde sits down in front of Scylla's desk and takes out her notebook.


"That's right- wait what?! Who let him give an interview?!" Ramshorn snaps out of deep corners of her mind and looks at Raelle waiting for an explanation. "You think it's just a new case, huh?"


Collar's eyes widen at the tone of voice Scylla talking to her with. "Put it down Ramshorn. You know who let them do it? You. You weren't here when he was giving an interview to the media, you weren't at their mansion when you should've told them not to talk to the press. It's your investigation and I have no right to decide, remember?"


Raelle gets up and walks away to her desk. She plops down on chair and takes out the files Izadora left on her desk. The blonde goes page by page reading the new information.


Scylla puts hands on her waist with anger in her eyes. Blood boiling inside her veins. How could she fuck this up so easily? The brunette smashes hands against the desk making the documents laying on it jump.


She grabs jacket off of chair and paces towards the elevator. "I'm not going to be your nanny." Scylla grumbles on the way and presses the button while eyeing the blonde at her desk. "Stupid child."


Once the door of the lift close, Scylla breaks letting out an exhale. "Fuck-" Her eyes watering again as some flashbacks from the last kidnapping she was investigating come back.


Years ago, Ramshorn and Byron were investigating different kidnapping. A young kid missing, he disappeared after classes were over. Some sick pedophile grabbed him at the exit of the building and held locked in his basement.


Unfortunately, when the detectives finally got to the man that kidnapped the kid, it was too late. Both, Scylla and Byron were destroyed by that fact. It was difficult for them to come back to work after what happened.


The guilt they felt every following day, even though the man was captured and locked up in prison for many years. It was a nightmare and the first time that Scylla picked up evening drinking at local bar.


*


Byron turns on his side to look at his beautiful fiancé. He smiles softly at the man next to his still asleep. "You're so cute when you sleep. You look so peaceful. I'd like to feel this way every morning."


The brunette gently moves some hair out of his boyfriend's face. He kisses Eliot's cheek as the boy smiles. "Oh, hello. Look who's waking up." Byron giggles lightly and nuzzles his face in Eliot's neck.


"Good morning, baby." Eliot turns to face Byron and cups his fiancé's cheek. "Last night- it was a mess... hot mess." The boy chuckles playfully while walking his fingers up Byron's arm.


"It's perfect that you took that holiday. We can spend the week in bed, I've got some ideas for the night." Eliot climbs up on top of the brunette and leans down kissing his boyfriend's lips.


"Oh, really? Show me. I'd like to know everything." Byron mumbles into the kiss with a small grin threw upon his face.


*


Raelle sips on warm tea she prepared for herself. She goes through some old files with other kidnapping cases to check if anything matches up with the on going investigation.


"Where is detective Ramshorn?" Sarah Alder stands in front of the blonde's desk giving her charge a questionable look.


"She's not at the station currently. She was here like about 2 hours ago. Scylla left and I have no idea where she is because apparently, as she said, she's not my nanny so I didn't carve." Raelle looks up at her boss with slight annoyance.


"Although, she was acting weird this morning. Maybe she's on her period right now or she's going through some break down. I don't know but you have to stop treating me like I'm supposed to look after her. I'm sure she's older than me." Collar goes back to reading through the files completely ignoring the fact that general is standing in front of her.


"If you read those documents properly you'd know why she's so nervous about this case. You cannot fail, Collar. I asked for your assistance in this investigation because I know your statistics bring excellent results. Clearly, they didn't point out everything." Alder raises her chin in slight victory over the girl and walks away back to her office.


Raelle's phone pings a signal and the desk vibrates. A text message appears on the blonde's screen. "Last night was fun. See you tonight?" The text says and vanishes after a few seconds.


Collar looks at down at her phone and sighs with a small smile remembering last night spent with a beautiful brunette. Raelle looks over at the paper she's holding then back at the phone. "Ah fuck it."


*


Scylla's driving back to the station after giving Mr. Swythe reprimand about their behavior and things that they shouldn't do. She pulls up in front of cafeteria and buys a 'sorry coffee and donut' for her partner.


Although, Scylla truly meant what she said to Raelle, she feels guilty for yelling at the girl. It's not her fault some stupid people reported that their child's missing.


Things get pretty intense when the investigation doesn't go as you planned. It's difficult to keep your emotions on hold when an innocent young girl is missing possibly kept somewhere hostage.


Ramshorn gets back in her car and sets up the snack she bought on the passenger seat. She drives off from the cafeteria's parking lot and heads to the station.


Slamming the car door shut, the brunette takes the gift she bought and enters the building. Scylla gets in the elevator and goes upstairs to the second floor. She walks over to crime department where the detectives work.


"I'm sorry, maybe I was too harsh for you but I'm having hard time lately." The brunette looks over at Raelle's empty desk and sighs. "Damn it, why does it always happen to me?" Scylla puts down the donut and cup of coffee on the blonde's desk.


She sits down in Raelle's chair and pulls out her phone she calls detective Collar. "Hey, it's detective Ramshorn, um Scylla here, I'm calling to say sorry for my earlier words. Sometimes I lose control but only if I care about something. This case is very personal for me and I don't want to mess this up. I bought you a donut and coffee but since you're not here I'll probably just eat it. Anyways, bye. See you tomorrow."


Scylla hangs up after recording a voice mail for the blonde. She sighs and gets up from the desk to visit archive. They need something to hold on, something that will give them an opportunity to catch the person that took Libba.


"Gregorio Shelbark..." Izadora stops Scylla before the girl could walk away from her place of work. "Sounds familiar, right? He's been arrested this morning and boys just got him here. He said that he wants to talk to you and that he knows who kidnapped Libba."


Ramshorn raises a curious brow at her co-worker. "Did he say anything?" Scylla asks to be sure if the boy will talk only with her.


"No, he's been quiet since the boys cuffed him after he attacked one of them. Also, he's quite tough they says, so watch out." The technician warns Scylla about Gregorio. "Come over to my lab after you're done with him, I have something for you. Oh, and bring that blondie with you, she might like to see this too."


The brunette nods and walks back to her desk. She grabs Gregorio's and Libba's files from the drawer and enters the room with the boy settled down on a chair with hands cuffed.


"Let's be honest, why only me? What is this? Do you think this is a game?" Scylla slams her hands against the table standing in the middle of the room. She puts down the files and sits down across from Gregorio. "You're silent but you're going to break."


"You don't have to ask. I want to help capture that criminal. I want to help you find Libba. She's the only person that ever helped me, so I have to help her, now." The boy rasps out because of his bruised face.


"What happened to you? Did you fight with somebody?" Scylla leans back in the chair and points to Shelbark's bloody face. "Did someone threaten you?"


"Yes, detective Ramshorn. I somebody tried to keep my mouth shut but I have to tell you-" When Gregorio was about to tell Scylla everything that he knows a lawyer bursts inside the room.


"Good morning, detective Ramshorn. I'm taking over that boy, from now on he's my client and won't tell you anything. Gregorio, keep shut. Don't talk with that woman." The man sits down next to his client and Scylla gets up.


"Then I'm afraid we don't have anything to talk about because we cannot get to agreement." The brunette grabs the documents and leaves the room.


Ramshorn walks over to her desk and sits down. She turns to look at the door of the interrogation room waiting for Shelbark and lawyer to leave.


"Oh here you are. I've been looking for you everywhere." Izadora catches Scylla's attention and puts down the files of the case with her report. "Read it, it's fucked up." The woman says and walks away disappearing in her lab.


Scylla sighs and pulls the files closer questioning if she's ready to know what Izadora put in there. The brunette slowly opens the documents and slides pages to Izadora's expertise.


"No biological trail, the room has been cleaned, chlorine existing all over the stuff in the victim's bedroom." Scylla leaves the files laying on the desk goes to the archive.


She walks down the stairs and turns on the light. The brunette traces her finger along the shelf with dust. Scylla waits for H's to appear and stops when her finger's stuck on an old case.


Ramshorn takes a deep breath and pulls out the files of the case. She opens the figures and skips a few pages to the expertise Izadora left over 10 years ago.


"No biological signs, clean room, chlorine." Scylla gets back to the flashbacks of the body they found. Young boy, kid with slashes over face, rope bruises around ankles and wrists, skin burnt with hot cigarettes.


"I had no idea you were investigating this case." Raelle shocks Scylla from behind and grabs the files.


"Damn it! Collar, don't do that again..." the brunette feels her heart race because of the adrenaline bring up by her partner. "That was scary. I thought you left."


"Well, yeah..." Raelle thinks half an hour back. Hot breaths against her skin, soft touches and gentle sucking. Multiple kisses over her lips and body. Squirms, moans and whimpers let out by a brunette girl. Ringing phone and Scylla's voice mail. "But I'm here now, right? That case is an example in college. It took you long to get to the point that it was Alban Hearst."


The brunette glares at Raelle. "It was 10 years ago. Salem's police department had poor finances so they were cutting off anything they could. Izadora was fresh meat same as myself. We couldn't do much with newborn detective, a fresh studying technician, one year police officer and the press behind our back."


"You know, maybe today you'd do better." The blonde tries to cheer up Scylla but it goes rather the opposite.


"Oh, really? We'll see how you will do. We're going to visit Alban in his prison cell." Ramshorn feels a boost of courage and leadership course through herself. "You're going to meet the great Alban Hearst." Scylla grabs the files and walks upstairs back to the police station.


"What do you mean? Isn't he like dead or something?" Raelle says a bit nervously about visiting the psycho. "It's not possible it was him, right?" The blonde feels a little tentatively while following her partner to the desk.


"We'll see if it was him or not when we get to talk with him. Over the years, I got to know him pretty well. Alban likes to brag, he's like a little baby lost in the fog when close up the exits he knows." Scylla grabs her phone and types in a number.


"Is he scary? Scars, wounds or like a deadeye? No? Okay..." Raelle starts throwing weird questions about the criminal as her fear turns into curiosity. "Wasn't he called the great name of Salem? After him people started to call this place haunted and spooky. I remember my last Halloween few years ago and some old women talking about Hearst." Collar gets so caught up in the case of Alban that she doesn't notice that Scylla's staring at her directly in the eye listening to the stories.


"Raelle, he wasn't a damn warlock. It's just a pedophile and psychopath. Grown up, things like werewolves and vampires don't exist." The brunette rolls eyes at her partner and smiles softly because of Raelle's silliness.


"But witches do. Maybe you don't see them everyday but they are real, trust me." The blonde says seeing Ramshorn smile for the first time since they met. "I'm pretty mature for my age..." she adds and becomes quiet when the call Scylla's making finally connects to the place she wanted to contact.


"Good morning, detective Ramshorn from Salem's police department here. I'm calling to ask about Alban Hearst, your prisoner. Is there any chance that I could talk with him?" Scylla leans against the desk and waits for the person on the other side to answer.


"What's the reason of the visit? It's for my report, I need to note it down." A voice on the other side rings in the brunette's ear.


"I need some details about his murder. There may have been found new evidence." Scylla gives the guy what he wanted while playing with her car keys. "Is tomorrow good for you?"


"Yes, of course." Quiet typing sounds in the background. "You can come visit Alban Hearst tomorrow morning. He doesn't have much to do anyways." The prison's receptionist hangs up.


Ramshorn puts down her phone. Raelle looks at her partner waiting for the girl to say something. "And?" The blonde asks not getting why Scylla's so silent.


"The prison is 5 hour drive from here. We'll leave tomorrow early morning to question Alban again. After that we need to stay in The Cession for the night since it's too far to come back and stay fresh to continue our investigation. Is that okay for you, Collar?" The brunette raises a brow at Raelle while she pretends to think. "You have no choice anyways, I'm asking to be nice."


Scylla sighs with a smile. "Oh, c'mon! You're such a carl!" Raelle playfully punches her partner's arm and walks back to her desk to catch up on paper work. "Cheer up Ramshorn!" The blonde laughs lightly and settles down.


The brunette looks down with a smile. "Grow up Collar!" They both laugh at each other and go back to work.


"It's good to see you two finally getting along. Do you think she'd make a good Salem detective? I could keep her here if she brings results." Alder offers to Scylla but the girl doesn't see a future of the department with a clumsy, childish but charming and cute person, yet. Or does she? All the things she just named inside her head.


"I don't know. We'll see how the investigation goes. We're seeing Hearst tomorrow. I need to check if he doesn't have anything to do with Libba's kidnapping." Ramshorn explains to her boss and friend.


"Okay, but you know he's been locked up for too long to have an influence on this. I'm not going to stop you but remember about our deal. Don't carve, Scylla. I'm telling you this as a friend, not chief." Sarah warns the brunette to watch out while they visit The Cession. "That place is full of witches. Don't get caught, I won't be able to help you this time."


The older woman walks away and Scylla rests chin on her palms. She sighs and looks at Raelle who's caught up in her work so hard that she's slightly sticking out her tongue. The brunette laughs quietly and checks up the full expertise that Izadora left for her.


*


"Listen guys, she says I'm childish. I'm not a kid anymore, yes, sometimes I have my worse days but I'm not that bad you know. I think she likes me though." Abigail and Tally burst out with laugh while sitting in a local bar with Raelle.


"Hey! It's not funny!" The blonde blushes slightly when her friends don't stop laughing. She hides head behind her glass of beer. "You're awful friends..." Raelle pouts.


"Aw, our baby Rae has a crush on her co-worker." Abigail teases the blonde and Tally does puppy eyes. "That's cute though." The red head adds and they all laugh again.


"It's good to have sisters out here even after military college. I know we have to hide but I just love you guys so much." Tally admits and reaches out for Raelle's and Abigail's hands.


"Oh, no. Your confessions always end with you crying at the table, Tal. Don't go too far with this one." Abigail wraps an arm around her sister.


"I'm going back to The Cession..." Raelle says out loud out of context.

"What?!" Both of her sisters shoot up straight in their chairs as the blonde already regrets telling them.

"It's just for the job. I need to question someone in The Cession's prison. Not a big deal, trust me. Plus, Scylla will be there too." Raelle tries to explain her sudden decision to visit The Cession.


"You know it's dangerous out there, especially that the Marshalls know how you look. They know what you can do and their work is too powerful, we don't know how to defend from it. That's just crazy." The brunette tries prevent her sister from getting caught.


"I'll be fine Abigail. I can defend myself." Raelle says a little bit outraged and offended.


"That I don't doubt. But can she defend herself?" The taller girl keeps pushing Raelle.


"Oh, you haven't seen her. Scylla's more badass than us three together. And she sassed me, can you believe that?" The blonde chuckles. Tally and Abigail look at Raelle with 'really?' faces and after a few seconds everyone bursts in laugh again.


"Are you talking about me, ladies?" Ramshorn sits down next to Raelle with a small smile. She's wearing a white button up with cuffed sleeves and blue jeans. "I'm Scylla. Nice to meet you." The brunette extends a hand towards Tally who takes it right away. "Tally Craven. Whoa, you're even prettier than Raelle described."


The blonde glares at her friend and if the look could kill...


"Abigail Bellweather." The taller girl introduces herself with raised chin as if she was in charge of the girls.


"Thank you. I live here my entire life and this is the only bar in Salem. I don't know what Raelle told you about me, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't all unicorns and rainbows. I've been a little harsh for her lately but I'd like to say it's because of work. Sometimes it's true and sometimes I just want to be rude for someone." Scylla chuckles lightly and looks over at Raelle who's cheeks are fully red right now.


A waitress comes over to their table. "Good evening, Miss Ramshorn. Usual?" The brunette gulps at the thought and taste of alcohol but she shakes her head.


"No, thank you. I'll have only water." Scylla smiles softly at the woman before the waitress starts to take other girls' orders.


Abigail eyes the brunette sitting in front of her and wonders what's so special about the girl. "Are you from Salem? You look familiar." Tally asks out of sense and leans closer to Scylla inspecting the girl's facial features.


"Oh, um... yes, I was born and raised here. After graduating from college I came back here to keep the criminals on hold. I really love my job." Ramshorn says with excitement and Abigail kicks Tally under the table.


"Ow! You little-" the girl on the other side of the table starts to fight and Raelle sighs out of embarrassment. Scylla chuckles lightly looking at the blonde and bites her bottom lip.


"I'm really sorry for them. Uh, how was your day?" Raelle asks out of ideas how to start a conversation with the brunette. Giving the girl the goofiest smile ever she stares at Scylla up and down.


"Well, we talked an hour ago so nothing much happened since then. But I went home, took a shower, put my pops to sleep, changed and came here. I don't live far away from here."  Ramshorn leans against the table resting chin against her hand and looks at the blonde sitting next to her.


"What about you? I know nothing except the thing they noted in your files." Scylla chuckles and locks eyes with Raelle who slowly sips on her beer.


"I was born in The Cession. I was raised there too until I conscripted for military college. After that I decided to become a detective if that makes sense." Collar leans against her seat and smiles back at the sweet blue eyed brunette.


"You refused a government work and the money, why? Isn't that easier than some cheap police department shit?" Scylla curiously listens to Raelle story. "I served too, not for long but I have some experience. The Cession was my home for over a year."


"They didn't mention it in your files. Is that some sort of a secret?" The blonde quirks a brow at her partner.


"No, but I don't like when people think I used to serve because they think I may be dangerous which is ridiculous. I've never even punched anyone, at least not that I remember." Scylla chuckles and finally gets her glass of water. "Thank you." She says to the waitress.


"Okay, enough 'bout that. Let's get to some nicer topics..." the brunette starts a new conversation between them four.


*


After Abigail and Tally decided to go home Raelle walks Scylla back to her apartment. "Thank you for inviting me. Although, I live here for 25 years I don't have many friends."


The blonde slightly tipsy waves off at Ramshorn. "Pff, don't talk about it. We had fun with you too. You're not just wooden detective you seemed to be. I'm glad it turned out this way."


"You don't have strong head, right?" Scylla laughs and steps aside when Raelle slightly sways herself into her side. "Maybe I should walk you home? It's not safe here past 10 pm."


Collar sighs with a smile. They both head towards Scylla's apartment and half way the brunette has to hold up her co-worker so the girl doesn't fall.


"Geez, how much do you weight?" Ramshorn grunts while almost carrying Raelle upstairs. "It's only muscle." The blonde whispers against Scylla's ear.


Scylla unlocks the door and looks over at Raelle. "After you." Ramshorn let's her partner walk in first and follows her inside of the apartment. "You can sleep in my bed, I'll take the couch. You're too pickled to walk home alone."


"Yeah, I hate it to break to ya, beautiful but there's no way out. You just locked the door and I see double things." Collar puts up a hand next to Scylla's head. "Do I look mature to you now?"


The brunette gulps and looks up at the girl in front of herself. She feels how Raelle pins her to the wall. "I think- you should watch out more, Collar." Scylla points a gun against her partner's stomach. "It's easy to get under Marshal's target."