The Queen Of Spades

Chapter 2, Continued, Again

I looked through the baskets in the car. There were two for me, and two for Nova. Nova's baskets had song lyrics that she was working on, some old CDs, a hoodie and her latest programming project. Mine had an old Gameboy, a stack of cards, a spare violin bow, and three throwing knives. We fit together so well, her and I. She would make the (not very good) lyrics and I would put music to it with my violin, and when we were on a case she would work comms while I did the blood work. We were a perfect team. How was I supposed to do this without her?

I put everything away and climbed on the roof to watch the stars, this was the only place in town you could because it didn't have any streetlights. We used to call this a train graveyard because no trains ever came down these tracks but there were old train cars, long ago forgotten. I put my hands under my head and interlocked my fingers. This was the only place that I felt at peace, this was the only place that I felt safe, like I could sleep without the nightmares. So I did, I closed my eyes and slept, and I didn't have a nightmare. I dreamt of Nova and I talking in the boxcar. She told me about her new boyfriend and I told her that she should bring him over sometime. We laughed and I put my head on her shoulder, watching her with her techno-wizardry as she tried to teach me how to code a video game. Then it was her turn to be puzzled while I tried to teach her how to use the throwing knives.

I woke to sunlight on my face. Crap, Nada and Oliver are probably worried sick. I closed my boxcar and ran back to the bridge, getting ready to jump onto it, grabbing the railing I pulled myself up and ran back to the house. Once at the house I knocked on the front door. Footsteps sounded and locks turned. Nada opened the door and glared at me.
"Oi, Nada, it's not that bad. You can turn the interrogation face off." I said, coming inside
"Like Hell it's not." Nada slammed the door, "Oliver is out looking for you right now. Not to mention, Lizzy is hysterical."
"Yeah, I know, I don't know what happened. Honest."
"Where were you?"
"I didn't mean to, I don't even remember going to the kitchen."
"That is not what I asked."
"I went for a run, had to clear my head."
"Then why are your clothes covered in dust?"
"I fell" I answered, walking towards the bathroom with my duffel so I could get dressed, "Is Lizzy okay?"
"She is fine. Are you?"
"I told you I didn't want to go to sleep." I said and with that I walked up the stairs and cleaned myself up for the funerals. The only difference in my clothing between today and any other day is that I was in a dress. As always I was wearing black, a reminder that I'm always ready for anyone's funeral. I looked at my hair and realized that nothing I did to it would make it look decent. Except, maybe, cutting it. I had always kept my hair long so that I could put it up to keep it out of my face but now it was dead and I needed to fix it. If you need a fresh start, this is how to do it. I took two hair ties and some scissors from the vanity drawer and in the usual manner I chopped it off. With a foot of hair in my hands I took out the hair ties and checked how even it was. It wasn't too bad actually so I combed it and brushed off the hair on my clothes. Before I walked downstairs I switched out my arsenal in my duffel to my purse. With everyone downstairs and a confused look from Oliver when he saw my hair we got in the car and drove to the funerals.