The Florencia Lozano Homepage - Fan Fiction
Chapter 28
Cherry glared out at Tea from inside Bo Buchanan’s office as she walked into the police station in the early morning. Tea had changed into jeans and a sweater, washed the heavy make-up off her face and combed out her hair and Cherry didn’t know her at first, but as Tea got closer Cherry’s fuzzy senses began to sharpen and she recognized her seductress of last night. Cherry stuck her tongue out at Tea childishly like a snotty street punk, but Tea just turned away. Bo was waiting for her.
“She just woke up, I let her sleep it off. She hasn’t said a thing, Tea, refuses to say a word. Won’t even tell me her real name.”
“Bo, she was Blair’s cell-mate in prison.”
Bo walked over to a uniformed officer and asked him to call Statesville Women’s facility and find out who Blair’s cell mate was.
“Thanks, Tea.”
“Look, Bo, Cherry’s terrified of going back to prison. She comes off as tough, but she’s nothing but a scared, messed-up kid. I’m sure she’ll talk if you threaten her with prison. She also solicited me for sex, asked for money, so, you can tell her I’m prepared to file a complaint against her if that’s what it takes…”
“Tea, I don’t know how you got all this information, but, I don’t appreciate you playing detective. You’re picking up Todd’s bad habits, taking the law into your own hands and I don’t like it. Next time, you call me if you suspect anything. Are we clear?”
“Sorry, Bo, but, it all happened so quickly I didn’t have a chance to think about it. But, of course, you’re absolutely right,” she said sweetly, placating him.
They stood around awkwardly for a few minutes waiting for Cherry’s information to be faxed in. Bo walked over as Cherry’s rap sheet came up. After a few minutes he gathered the papers together, looked them over and walked back over to Tea.
“Her name is Cherilyn Gueist…she’s twenty-one. A lot of priors, mostly drug possession, prostitution…nothing violent. It says here she has an extensive juvenile record, but, it’s sealed.”
“Bo, she told me that Blair is her…uh...mistress. Don’t ask me to explain, but suffice it to say they have an intimate relationship. She said she saw Blair being raped but Blair warned her not to tell anyone. Cherry knows everything and she’s scared enough of prison to spill it.”
Tea looked up at Cherry who was sipping a cup of coffee, her blue eyes filled with rage, but also, fear.
“Well, she hasn’t asked for council yet so let me see what I can do before the public defender’s office gets wind of this.”
Bo and a uniformed officer walked back into his office and closed the door. Tea watched as Bo held up Cherry’s rap sheet and spoke to her in what seemed an intimidating manner. Cherry sat down, her tiny frame shrinking into a chair, cowering as Bo walked around and glared down at her, her fear and mistrust of authority, and men, palpable.
Tea sat down, exhausted from lack of sleep, leaning her head back against the wall and closing her eyes. She drifted off for a few minutes...
“Tea, are you awake?” asked Bo, shaking her a little. “Come on, let’s get you some coffee.”
Bo helped her up, took her into a small conference room down the hall and poured her a cup of coffee.
“What did she say, Bo? Did she talk?”
“Well, she told me some really bizarre story. Said Blair hired some guy she knows named Ram, that he roughed her up and had sex with her. According to Cherry, it was all Blair’s plan to frame Todd.”
“Yes, I’m sure that’s what happened, Bo,” said Tea, her eyes drifting a bit. “You know, there was a guy at the Black Key Club, the bouncer, he had horns tattooed on his head, rounded horns like a ram’s. Perhaps he’s the guy Cherry was talking about. ”
“I’ll check it out. Look, Tea, I need to corroborate this information before I can release Todd. You know that. I’m going to the hospital to confront Blair, see what she has to say before she gets wind of what’s going on. I want you to stay here! Do you hear me? Stay out of this, Tea.”
“Okay, Bo. But, I know Cherry’s telling the truth. Todd had nothing to do with this.”
A police officer suddenly came running into the room.
“COMMISSIONER, SHE’S GONE, THE SUSPECT’S GONE! She ran out of the office when I wasn’t looking…the little shit, she just disappeared….”
Tea followed Bo as he ran out into the squad room and saw the open door to his office, Cherry’s empty coffee cup still rolling around on the floor.
“Damn it, Gary, she couldn’t have gotten far. Put out an APB on her, find her goddamnit!” he shouted. The station was almost empty this early in the morning but a few officers jumped into action aware of Bo’s anger.
“Tea, I’m going to the hospital. Stay here and wait for me,” said Bo, as he rushed out with a uniformed officer behind him.
* * * *
Tea lay asleep in Todd’s arms, snuggling beside him in the narrow bunk in his jail cell. She had told him all that happened, her bizarre adventures at the Black Key Club and Cherry’s involvement with Blair, then closed her eyes and passed out with exhaustion.
Todd held her gently as she slept, stroking her hair and listening to her soft breathing.
“I love you,” he whispered, kissing her forehead lightly as she continued to sleep. “I love you for always believing in me like you do. You’re the only one.”
His eyes filled with tears as he nuzzled her cheek with his unshaven beard and she began to stir.
“Todd?”
“I’m right here,” he said, pulling her closer.
Tea raised her head, then laid it back on his chest.
“I miss my baby…and Starr,” she said, getting teary-eyed.
“Me too.”
“I miss our bed.”
“Me too.”
“Where’s Bo? Isn’t he back yet?”
“Nope. It’s only been a few hours, go back to sleep.”
Tea sat up and rubbed her eyes, running her hands through her hair.
“God, I must look a fright.”
Todd sat up beside her.
“You don’t. You look good...in fact, I could do you right now…”
Tea laughed and slapped his chest playfully. She stood up and stretched.
“Todd, I don’t understand what’s going on. Bo should have been back already.”
“St. Blair is probably making up some elaborate lie that will send me to prison and get her canonized…”
“No. Todd, Cherry told Bo everything and I think he believed her. Blair can’t weasel out of this, not this time.”
Todd stood up.
“Thanks, Tea.”
“For what?”
“For trusting me…for not walking out on me…”
“You can count on me, amor. Always.”
“Yeah…I know,” he said, walking over and taking her in his arms. “Always.”
They held each other, their trust in one another overwhelming them.
They heard the familiar sound of the outside door sliding open, letting them know they had company. Bo, Hank Gannon and a uniform came strolling in. Bo opened Todd’s cell and they all entered.
“Todd, you’re free to go.”
Todd didn’t move, but only glared at Bo.
“Why? Did that lying bitch finally tell the truth?”
“Not exactly. She…uh…changed her story.”
Tea walked over.
“She what? What did she say?”
Bo looked at Hank who just shook his head in disgust.
“She said that she didn’t remember everything till this morning due to the large bump on her head. The medical report confirms that she had a severe concussion that could have affected her memory. Anyway, she said when she woke up in the parking garage that the last person she remembered seeing was you, Todd, so…she assumed you had assaulted her. Now she remembers a tall man with a black hood on his head. And she claims Cherry’s lying, that she felt sorry for the girl and gave her a job cleaning her apartment. That’s the extent of their relationship according to Blair. She thinks that Cherry set her up with this guy, to rob her or something.”
“And you believe her?” asked Tea, incredulously.
“No, I don’t believe her. I think Cherry must have tipped her off after she ran out of here, but, until I find her, or this Ram character, I have to go with what Blair told me.”
“You’re an idiot! Leave it to Llanview’s finest to botch the job again…”
“Shut up, Manning! I said you’re free to go now get the hell out of here! Get your ass upstairs, get your personal belongings and go. I’ll take it from here. I don’t want the two of you ANYWHERE near Blair, Cherry or this Ram guy. DO YOU HEAR ME?”
“Querido, let’s get out of here,” said Tea, pulling an enraged and volatile Todd out of the cell and heading for the door.
2003 Copyright by Trog
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