Cold Hard Courage

[7] - Secret

[Beatrice Eaton]

Shauna holds Peter's blue button-down in a plastic evidence bag. She managed to snag it from his locker when he was busy speaking with Max. I spot the blood splatter that she talked about. She's right. This wasn't a bloody nose.

" What do we do now, Tris? " Shauna asks.

I turn around, looking at Matthew.

" May I speak with Nita? " I ask.

He nods, grabbing the phone. He dials a number, sighing as it rings.

" This is Matthew Carsen. I'm going to need to speak with Nita Rogers in my office immediately. " He says, humming in response. " Thank you. "

Nita was a CSI in my case. Tobias said she was good with her work but hard to work with under high stress. I pray that she can do what I need her to do. She's my last hope. The door opens and she enters.

" Hello, Matthew. You needed to speak with me? " She asks.

He looks over at me.

" Actually, she did. " He says.

I take the bag from Shauna, approaching her.

" Hey, Nita. " I say.

She sighs, biting her lip.

" Hey, Tris. " She replies.

We aren't even acquaintances. But we acknowledge each other's existence quite frequently.

" I suppose you've heard about Tobias. And Zeke? " I ask.

She nods.

" I have. I'm so sorry. " She says.

She grabs my hand, squeezing it.

" If there's ever anything I can do for you, don't hesitate to ask. " She says.

I nod.

" Actually, " I say, lifting the bag. " There is one thing. "

She looks down at it.

" The shirt in this bag belongs to Peter Hayes, the detective who lead the search for Tobias and Zeke. " I say. " Shauna said that when he returned to work after the funeral, nearly 2 hours later than everyone else, he had blood splatter all over the shirt. He said that it was from a bloody nose but our suspicions have gotten the best of us. "

She takes the bag, looking down at the shirt.

" Why him? " She asks. " Is there something extremely significant about him that points you in this direction of thinking? "

Shauna and I look at each other. I look back at Nita, nodding.

" Not only has he hated me practically his whole life, but he also hated Tobias. He always wanted to get rid of him. Maybe now he finally got a way to do it.

" Wait, you want me to what? " Nita asks. " You both understand that if Peter is even half as Dangerous as you say he is, we could all be killed, right? "

I nod.

" Yes, we understand. Please, Nita. If there's even a remote chance that they're still out there, we have to take it. " I say. " I can't raise a baby all by myself knowing that my husband might've actually been alive if I had just tried to save him. I won't do it. "

She sighs, nodding.

" I'll do it. You should get the results later than usual. " She says.

Shauna cocks an eyebrow.

" Why so late? " She asks.

Nita sighs.

" This is a private case. We're deliberately working against a police officer under little jurisdictions. Luckily, the DA is on our side so they can't prosecute us unless they find likely evidence that we put that blood there. " Nita says. " I'll have to work late shifts to be able to work without my co-workers noticing what I'm doing. Matthew will help out. I can get those results to you in about a week. " She says.

I nod.

" I can work with a week. What do we do once the results get in? " I ask.

Nita shrugs.

" Find a way to make sure that whatever we find comes to light. " Nita says.

I nod.

" We're gonna do this. We're gonna find out the truth. " I say.

[Tobias Eaton]

I spit out another mouthful of blood from my last punch to the mouth from Peter.

" Gosh, " I say. " Let's hope you don't hurt my teeth. I'm known for my sexy smile. "

My comment earns me another punch. I think my sarcasm meter has broke since I got here. How long have I been in here? A month? A week? A day? With no windows, it's hard to tell what time it is without the sense of light and timing.

" Wow, is that really all you've got? It's like you're punching your sister. Come on. Really give it some oomph! " I shout, antagonizing Peter.

Another punch comes my way, this time, followed by a hearty grunt from Peter.

" Now that one was good. " I say.

He shakes out his hands. He walks over to a table, looking down at Michael. Usually, Michael just sits at the table and reads a paper or works on his current work assignment. Ironic, huh? Conducting crime while he's trying to stop it. Michael doesn't look up from the newspaper.

" What, the funnies that good today? " I ask.

He looks up now, rolling his eyes.

" God, do you ever shut up? " He asks.

I shrug.

" Eh, it depends on my mood. Today I'm just really chatty. " I say.

He rolls his eyes.

" No wonder Dad had you gagged last time. " He says, returning to his paper.

Peter unwraps his hands.

" So, I heard that your talking is talking to some guy from the Coroner's office. I guess he's some big Hotshot from Washington DC. " He says. " I guess she's already moved on. "

My heart aches in my chest as I envision Tris with another guy. All of my endeavors to get to her for so long have fallen and this guy gets her in a solid week or month? What the Hell?

Do you think Tris would really get with another guy so soon?
No way, Man. She loves you too much to do that.
Technically, our marriage is over when one of us is dead.
But neither of you are dead, are you?
I'm dead to her and the rest of the world.
Maybe she doesn't believe that.