In Charge

10.Sunny Side Rain

"What happened to your neck?" Andrew asked Regina, right as she entered the station.

She greeted a few fellow officers and made her way to him. "Oh nothing. I think it's a rash."

"Would you like me to get you a medicine for it?" He said, almost making a phone call to the closest pharmacy.

Her hand stopped him, and said calmly, "I'm fine, Andrew. Don't worry. Let's begin, shall we?"

They sat back down, pulling out various records and checking the time line and who was associated with Adele Fitch. She finally got her prints and she came over the picture of Melanie Fitch. She looked older with a hair chopped in a stylish pixie form. Her eyes were familiar. That's when it clicked. She was the girl in the photo with Andrew. Younger version, no doubt.

Regina looked over at Andrew, who was talking to a co worker at the moment and thought for a bit. The way they held each other in the photo, looked a lot like as if they were lovers. The girl from the beginning created a sort of nag in Regina's system. A pull in her gut. She couldn't let go of the feeling. She needed to know more of this girl and there is only one person who she can find it out from.
-*-

The door snapped shut.

Xander was sitting in the dinning room, with some papers scattered about him. He had gone through the tunnel again, just to see how he could have missed it. Similarly, he found two more tunnels. One in the kitchen and the other at the further end of the bathroom. Too many tunnels for an old mansion.

It got him thinking. He might have thought he was part of the personal life of Adèle but now that he knew nothing. He seemed helpless. As if everything that had occurred could been a lie. He had found some old clippings and photographs from her study when he saw Regina make her way to him. She carried a determined expression.

"We need to talk about Melanie."

He scrunched his brow. "Why?"

She didn't say anything just plopped her phone in front of him. When he took a look at the screen, he saw it was shot of a picture. An old photo. He immediately recognized Andrew and Melanie. The third guy's face was still blurred and he couldn't make that person out.

"Is there something going on between Andrew and Melanie?" She asked. Her stance business like.

He took his time to answer. "They were not dating but I can tell you they were pretty close. Practically grew up together."

It was true.
When he had arrived here, he was caught with the beauty of Melanie. She had this childish attribute to her that enticed him. She always had her hair short, and she was small built but a really eye catching beauty. She was raised by her aunt, Adele herself. Her own mother had passed away while giving birth to her. She grew up in this mansion and when he came by her, she introduced him to Adele, who took her in.

Their relationship was at first glances but things took turn when he was paid a visit by Melanie at one night. He wasn't sure what she was doing out here in his cottage but from the way she wore her white night gown, he tried not to believe that was what she was up to.
Of course, his instinct was correct. She had begged him to take her with those wide doe like eyes and soft mouth. He promised to take care of her and cherished her at the time.

He had always known of Andrew being her friend but he also knew Andrew at times got jealous when Melanie chose to spend time with him than Andrew. He didn't think of it much at first, because when he casually raised the topic to Melanie. She shut him down so quickly he barely could get in words. That was Melanie. She had a tongue that made words so fruitful, she stirred him high.

He was lost for her but Xander never loved her. No, he never loved another soul in his life. He didn't even know what love was. Till this date, he was fine without it. He was sure he could manage it till his death.

"Hmm.. sounds a bit weird. Can I ask if it ever bothered you since you were dating her?"

"Why would it bother me?"

"As social dynamics recall, having a male friend with a boyfriend in the mix calls for trouble."

"Are you calling my relationship with her to be insecure?"

"I never said that."

"Well, you insinuated it."

"Why are you getting angry? I was only asking." Her voice calm and tranquil. She has faced many questions which were flared back at her in insult or anger, both together even.

He got up from his chair, it screeched against the floor. "I'm not. Why are you prying into Melanie's case again? I thought we established she was off the suspect list."

"We never established that. You might have." Before she mumbled, "In your head."

"I heard that."

She sighed. Reasoning with Xander was not in her books right now. "Look, all I'm saying is that there maybe somethings happening here that is hidden. That you are unaware. I'm unaware. The only way we can get the truth is to not go on biases."

He kept looking at her. She sensed he was close to relenting. She continued. "I get how close Melanie was to you. I'm not accusing her of anything but my job reinstates that I don't over look anything and take everything under consideration."

She moves in closer, placing a hand on his thick arm. "Try to understand."

His eyes moved intently across her face, reading her. Xander knew Melanie couldn't possibly do anything that hazardous as killing her own aunt but McQueen had a point here.

"Alright, detective. Let's do this your way."

Surprised by his admission and not putting up a fight, she beamed at him. Xander's breath hitched when she did that. She looked radiant and so damn beautiful that it made him want to kiss her.

Taking her hand off him, but continued to smile. "Great to have you back on the right track with me, sergeant. Now, let me show what I have been thinking-"

He cut her off. "One thing."

Pleased that she had him on her side, she would probably give anything to him right now. She asked. "What's that?"

"Kiss me."