Past Lives Could Never Come Between Us

22

"Alright, where are--" Spike calls as he and Pauline enter the apartment. "Oh wow. He's not sleeping in."

But upon hearing some banging, Spike stomps over to the kitchen. "What the hell are you—I'm sorry, are you actually doing the dishes?"

"Soap and bleach." Max promises as he turns around. "Hello, gorgeous."

Pauline steps forward, "Pauline."

"Max." Max greets back. "I take it you're Foreskin's latest victim?"

Pauline chuckles, but at the glare from Spike, reels it back in and says, "Me and Spike are coworkers."

"Is that so?" Max looks interested. "What's the angle?"

"The angle is that I have an actual job and stability." Spike snaps. "Take the hint. And this whole phony gesture has been really nice, but I think it's high time you left."

"You're seriously kicking me out in front of your mistress?" Max jabs. "What happened to tact?"

With both Pauline and Max staring at him, Spike throws up his hands in surrender and concedes, "Fine. You win."

"Pauline, care to join me?" Max holds out an arm. "Heard there's a riveting news story tonight."

"Ooh, yes please." Pauline takes his arm and follows him to the living room.

Clark, Mario and Luigi approach Zara as she seems to have a free moment, but once Clark shows her badge, she makes a run for it.

But she's not fast enough, because Mario catches up to her in no time and tackles her to the ground.

But she's not so easily apprehended, as she proves when she kicks him off and pulls out a gun, making Mario back off immediately with his hands up.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Clark says, pulling out her own gun, succeeding in getting Zara to drop hers.

Luigi takes this opportunity to smack Mario upside the head, "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Mario rubs his head, still smiling, "Not a thing."

"Look, I didn't kill her, okay?" Zara says. "Or any of the other victims."

"Then where were you last night?" Clark asks.

"Out." Zara defends.

"Because you're such a social butterfly?" Luigi says disdainfully.

"If you don't believe me, ask my parole officer." Zara snaps back. "I was with him. Mexican food."

"Then why did you run?" Luigi asks.

Clark holds out a hand, "You can hand it over now or after I arrest you."

Zara sighs and pulls something out of her pocket, smacking it into Clark's hand.

"Answer me why Mulder visited you, and as far as I'm concerned, you didn't just violate your parole." Clark says.

"She just wanted to know what I remembered about Chasity's death. Same thing I told her: Absolutely nothing. I was so doped it was a miracle I didn't die. Believe it or not, this is an improvement."

"You really don't remember anything about Chasity's death?" Luigi asks.

"I found her with two pennies on her eyeballs and called 911." Zara says.

"That's it?" Clark asks.

" Yes ." Zara says exasperatedly. "Can I get back to work before my boss docks my pay now?"