Bella Donna

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Heather made her way to work after a somewhat eventful night. She looked around the station, taking in the lobby and her colleagues milling about. Even though she had worked here for years everything felt new after the events. She wondered if anyone saw a change in her. She had certainly felt it, that feeling of accomplishment when punishing that psycho of a landlord. She shuddered thinking that she had paid rent to a killer all those years, funding him and his perverse pleasure of stalking Astrid.

Her friend would take weeks to recover physically and probably years mentally. Heather felt so bad about the whole thing even though Hiccup and the others had assured her that it was not her fault for failing to recognize any red flags.

As she walked towards the locker rooms to get changed into her uniform she noticed some eyes on her. She was used to the hostility after all that had happened with her previous partner but these gazes seemed different, more inquisitive than the normal stares of hatred she was used to.

"Detective Everette," Heather stopped and addressed the person, upon finding the out-of-place gaze. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Honestly speaking she didn't know this detective that well, only that he worked in the Fraud division as a detective 2nd grade.

"I just didn't think you were the type Officer de La Ranged," Everett spoke up while walking beside her into the thankfully empty elevator. "Shacking up with the Haddocks, huh?"

"What?!" Heather's head turned so fast.

"Don't worry, I won't blab," Everett shrugged. "I'm in their pocket too. What's he got on you?"

"What?! NOTHING!" Heather exclaimed, unable to believe she was having this discussion in an elevator at the Police station of all things. "And wait... hold on... you... you work for Hiccup?" Honestly speaking, she'd never have guessed. Everett seemed like a straight-laced cop from what she'd heard of the man.

"Best not to have this discussion right here and now. Look, some of the guys are having a poker night tonight at this address," Everett handed her a card with a handwritten address on it. "We didn't know you were on the take, but now that we do we'd like to get to know you better. Ya know what they say. Birds of a Feather,"

"I'm really not..." Heather tried to articulate, shocked at the implication her colleague was making. But the elevator had already reached its destination and the detective stepped out. Heather followed before the doors could close and before she even made it to the locker room to change the voice of her Sergeant alerted her.

"De La Ranged, my office now!" Was ordered loudly. Heather sighed as she turned about face and made her way through the bullpen. This was going to be some discussion.

During Heather's lunch break, she sped to one of the supply closets, got out her phone, and dialed a familiar number. "Hello," Fishlegs answered from the other side.

"Hi Fish, look I know this is sudden but put your boss on the line for me," She whispered even though she was alone in the cramped closet filled with mops and other questionable items.

"He's tending to Astrid," Fishlegs responded.

"Look, unless you want to have nuclear fallout because I don't know what the hell is happening you put him through right now!!!" She threatened. "Also give Astrid my love. I'll pick Damian up from kindergarten after work."

"I really don't think..."

"Fishlegs for the love of Thor, nearly a quarter of the precinct probably thinks I'm on the take now!" Heather growled.

It was silent for a minute before Fish uttered, "Can you hold for five minutes? The lovebirds are cooing at each other,"

When Heather finally got through to Hiccup she uttered "Hiccup haddock you have some explaining to do! Why do your men think I'm on the payroll?"