No Way (#Wattys2015)

Chapter 17

Ella

I stay in the shower longer than necessary when we get back to the safe house. I wash everything at least three times and scrub so much my skin turns pink and even some of it peels off, bleeding. It's only after Shauna and Sam start pounding on the door that I finally get out of the shower and tug on my dark clothing. Shauna is waiting outside of the bathroom for me, dutifully, leaning against the wall in dark clothing, similar to mine.

She stands up straighter and walks down the hall with me, wearing the same serious look that she always wore right before we would go on an assignment for Gilver or I would go into the boxing ring.

"Update?" I ask, stopping at Claudia's door, knocking on it and waiting for her to answer. As much as I feel bad for her considering she lost her cousin and may lose her best friend, I still need her to help investigate.

"They finally brought Cori back to the safe house, the boys are ready, Andrew thinks he's okay to go so he won't listen to me when I tell him he can't." she reports, frowning.

I sigh in relief, knowing that Cori is okay and then nod in response to Shauna. I knock on Claudia's door again, louder and harder. Claudia finally opens her door, glaring at me.

"I'm not going!" she snaps, going to slam the door in my face, but I place a hand on the door and easily shove it back open.

"I don't really care how you're feeling, Claudia. I don't care if you're mourning right now. My sister is laying in a hospital bed on the verge of death and I'm the one who found my mom's dead body and I don't know about you, but I would love to know why a man I trusted decided to shoot them both. So you are going to pull it together and find out why your cousin was killed BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HE WOULD WANT!" I growl.

She stares at me, wide eyed, then nods slowly and disappears back into her room.

I turn and look at Shauna, who doesn't look phased at all. "Everyone's waiting for you in our room. Officer Valdarez and Officer Glaze are preoccupied. Anything else you need?'

"The folder you have on Oscar Torrez and I need you to wait for Claudia while I talk to the others." I say.

She nods and pulls the folder from her waistline, handing it to me. I thank her quietly before speed walking to my room where everyone sits on a bed or the floor, wearings serious, solemn looks. Everyone looks up as I walk in and I point to Andrew.

"You. I need to talk to you in the hall." I announce, handing the folder off to Sam and Jamie to look over.

Andrew looks hesitant but follows me into the hall and I shut the door behind us.

"What do you need?" he asks.

"For you to stay back." I hiss, crossing my arms.

His face hardens and he glares at me. "Ella, I'm fine. Ivy died and it hurts but-"

"But nothing. I need you here. You, Caine, Gabriel, and Adam are staying back so that the officers don't get suspicious. You will stay here if you disobey there will be consequences. Do you understand?" I snarl, glaring at him.

Just like Claudia, he nods slowly. I smile and nod, pushing the bedroom door open. "Good. Now, let's go back. We have a lot to do in a small amount of time."

***

In the end Antonio, Shauna, Jamie, and I go to Antonio's house and Claudia and Sam go to my house. I don't need as many people at my house considering it's already been looked over by my well trained eye the night my mom and sister were shot. Antonio reassures us over and over again that his mom will be at the hospital with Ana and while we cannot be completely sure that she is, we just have to hope so.