A Year in the Life: February
Authors: Sim and Cam
Disclaimer: What do Sim, Cam, and Hal all have in common?? Ten points if you said 'a three letter name'. Zero points if you answered 'they all own the characters from Water Rats'. Everyone knows that Hal doesn't!
Authors Note: This is part two of Cam's groovy idea for a fanfic. Hope it lives up to your expectations Cam!
A week had passed since the timely end to the Sandman mystery, and Rachel showed up for her first shift since being hospitalized. As much as she hated sitting around in the hospital, and then at home, she was grateful for the alone-time she could finally experience.
Helen had visited many a time, as did her son, David, and Tayler even popped around to make a fuss. But Frank never called. He never came around, and Rachel wasn't sure if she was grateful for him respecting her wishes, or annoyed that he hadn't even called to see how she was.
So it was with a bit of trepidation that she opened the doors to the familiar offices.
"Rachel! You're back!" Tayler screeched at her, causing all the other officers to look up. Rachel smiled as best she could as Tayler inspected the lump on her head. "Geez, it still looks a bit nasty."
"It still feels a bit nasty." Rachel confided. "Helen?"
"Upstairs, talking to Jeff. I wouldn't interrupt them either, if I was you." Tayler advised.
"Okay then, thanks." Rachel dismissed the conversation, and headed into her office.
For a moment, she just stood in the doorway, watching as her partner looked over a report with great interest. His brow was slightly furrowed, and he narrowed his eyes at certain articles. This sight filled Rachel with ease. Here he was, her partner, Frank, doing what he does best. She would join him in this, and together they would catch some criminals.
Nothing else.
So why did she have the urge to race over to his desk, throw her arms around him, and tell him to forget the rules they had made?
"What are you frowning about?" Rachel was snapped from her reverie.
"Uh, nothing. Being back here. I'm missing out on A Country Practice right now." She grinned, looking at her watch.
Frank looked up and gave her a small smile. "So, how are you?" he asked, then thought better of the comment. "Am I allowed to ask that? Or is that against the rules?"
"Frank." Rachel muttered, starting to feel her headache resurface. "Don't be like that."
"Sorry." Frank conceded. "I'll behave."
"Hmm. I've heard that one before." She smirked, as did Frank.
"Okay, you've got me there." He paused. "So really, how are you?"
Rachel took a deep breath before answering. "I'm okay I guess. I've still got the bump on the head, and I get the occasional headache. But other than that, I'm fine." She stressed.
"So, are you coming inside, or are you just gonna do your work from the doorway?" Frank asked.
"You're a comedian Francis." Rachel commented, walking into the office and placing her bag on her immaculate desk. "What's this?" she inquired, holding up a bunch of papers dumped on her desk.
"You have to write your report on the Sandman case. I've given you a copy of mine. Well, what I remember of it anyway."
"That's right." Rachel cursed herself for forgetting. "He drugged you up too, didn't he?"
"Yeah, but I'll live. I only got one day off work though, unlike some people."
"Well, I do have the better doctor." She commented.
"Are you still seeing him?" Frank asked.
"What?" Rachel's head snapped up from the report she was reading.
"Are you still going to him? Or has he given you the all clear?"
"I have an appointment with him tomorrow." She replied.
"Sheesh. More time off! Who is this doctor anyway? Maybe I should switch."
"Dr Benjamin Thomas." Rachel informed him. "Anyway, what have we got to do today?"
"Uh, the case. Well, early yesterday morning, Tommy and Gavin pulled a body out of the ocean."
"Something different." Rachel muttered.
"Actually, it is. There were weird markings on his chest. Looks like the work of a cult, or the occult."
"Who would believe in that mumbo-jumbo anyway?" Rachel said, shaking her head.
"Well, not everyone's like you and me Goldie. Not everyone needs hard solid facts. Some people just go on instinct."
He finished softly. Rachel caught her breath, her heart starting to beat rapidly. Why did he do this to her? Just because she initiated the rule, why did he think she didn't care?
"So, where do we start?"
***
"We found him floating around this area here." Tommy pointed to a location on the map. "But the autopsy says that the body had been dead for days."
"So it could have drifted into our waters then?" Rachel speculated.
"Yeah, there's no saying where, or how, he was killed."
"The dive showed up nothing?" Frank guessed.
"Afraid not." Tommy said apologetically. "It had been floating for a few days, so who knows how it drifted in to us."
"So the autopsy's been done then?" Rachel inquired.
"Yeah."
"Has the body been identified?" Rachel turned her attention to Frank.
"Just this morning. A Josh Winters was reported missing yesterday. The mother ID'd him this morning." Frank informed her.
"What are we waiting for then?"
***
"There's a few cars around." Frank commented as they wondered up the driveway of the Winters' house.
"They've just heard that their son has been killed Frank!" Rachel hit him in the arm for being so insensitive.
"Hey!" Frank protested. "I was just thinking that it may be hard to get the parents alone."
"Nah! They'll want to find out why Josh was killed as much as we do." Rachel knocked on the door.
"How can I help you?" A frail looking woman answered. On closer inspection, she seemed to be no older than forty, but the stresses of the day had aged her.
"Hi, I'm Senior Detective Rachel Goldstein, and this is my partner, Detective Frank Holloway." Rachel flashed her badge as proof.
"Is this about my Joshy?" Mrs. Winters asked, catching a sob in her throat.
"It is actually. Is there somewhere we could talk?"
Mrs. Winters nodded silently, stepping out of the house, and leading the detectives around the back of the house.
"Mrs. Winters." Frank began.
"Jean, please." She interrupted.
"Okay, Jean. When was the last time you saw Josh?"
"Ooh. It would have been about five days ago now. He was going trail bike riding with some mates of his, and Kathleen."
"Was Kathleen his girlfriend?" Rachel asked.
"No, his sister. They're twins. They're not extremely close, but they have the same friends." Jean continued.
"Did he come back from the ride?"
"Well, no. Kathleen came back a few days later, and said that Josh was staying the night at a friends place. He's eighteen. He can look after himself. It's not too unusual for me not to see him for a few days. But no one had heard from him for over forty-eight hours. And now." Jean trailed off, trying to blink away the tears.
"This may be a hard question to answer Jean, but I have to ask it, and you have to answer it truthfully." Rachel explained, waiting for her to calm down.
"Yes?"
"Was Josh on any sort of drugs? Was his behavior becoming unusual?" Rachel asked as tactfully as she could.
"No, not as far as I know anyway." She answered.
"What was Josh's relationship like with your husband?" Frank asked.
"Not very good. They didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things."
"Is Kathleen around right now?" Rachel asked.
"In her bedroom, I think." Jean answered.
"Do you think it would be alright if we spoke to her?"
"I'm sure it would. She's as devastated by this as anyone. I'll show you her room."
***
"Hi, I'm Frank, this is Rachel. We're investigating your brothers death." Frank introduced. Both of them stood by the door, looking at Kathleen, who was seated on her bed flicking through a photo album.
Looking at her, Rachel could see the resemblance between the siblings. Both had thick, dark hair, almond shaped eyes, and a pale complexion.
"Oh yeah. You found anything yet?" she asked.
"Well, that's what we're here for." Rachel explained, in a non threatening voice.
"You told your mother that Josh was staying at a friends place three nights ago. Whose house was that?"
"I don't know. There was eight of us, and he just told me he wasn't coming home. I don't ask questions. He is eighteen." Kathleen replied.
"So you went trail bike riding?" Frank asked.
"Yeah, last week. Camped out one night, I came home the next."
"Do you have the names of these friends?"
"Yeah." She replied, and rattled off eight friends.
"One more question?" Rachel asked.
"Why not? You've already asked eighty-five."
"Was Josh acting strangely at all?"
"Not that I could tell. Or anyone else for that matter. He was just normal."
"Alright, thanks." Rachel turned to leave, Frank following close behind.
***
"There was something wrong with that girl." Frank concluded as they entered the office.
"Yeah, she knows something alright." Rachel agreed. "Just the way she was acting when we were asking those questions."
"I know! Talk about being bloody defensive."
"knock knock." Helen interrupted.
"Hi Helen." Rachel greeted her friend.
"Hi Rachel, good to have you back."
"What have you got for us?" Frank interrupted.
"More results on the body. It seems our boy was poisoned."
"Any idea how? Or what?" Rachel asked.
"No, not yet. But it was how he died. I'll let you know as soon as pathology calls." Helen told them, leaving the office.
"Poisoned hey?" Frank's mind began to speculate. "I think it's about time we called his friends."
***
"Well, how's that for a coincidence. I've called six sets of parents, and none knew anything about Josh Winters coming to their house." Rachel stretched out in her chair, yawning widely.
"Funny that. But we're overlooking one thing." Frank announced.
"What's that?" Rachel inquired.
"That it was one of those on the bike trip that he was staying with. It could have been anyone."
"True. But the way that Kathleen Winters was acting. Makes me think that it was something that happened on the bike trip."
"Yeah, well, I'm going to the pub. Are you coming?" he asked hopefully. It had been a good day. Apart from the first conversation of the morning, they fell back into old habits, fitting the pieces of the puzzle together like a team.
"Oh, well Frank. You know I'd love to but I'm still on medication and." Rachel tried to make herself sound as convincing as possible.
"It's okay Goldie. I understand." Frank said dejectedly. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah, see you then." Rachel watched him as he left. She stretched again, and looked at her watch. "Oh shit!" she exclaimed. She was going to be late.
How good would that look!
***
"Sorry I'm late." Rachel apologized as she took the seat opposite him at the busy restaurant.
"It's okay. It was your first day back. No doubt there would have been heaps to catch up on." He replied.
"Well, you know how it is." Rachel smiled.
"Yes I do. I remember taking a few weeks off once. The paperwork was piled so high by the time I got back, I ignored my patients for about a week." He grinned.
"Oh well. Their loss." Rachel grinned. "You were one of the better doctors I've had."
"I'd like to say the same for you as a patient." Dr Ben Thomas avoided her threatening gaze. "But you were just too somber for me."
"Oh well, I had things on my mind. Like a large lump and mild concussion for one. If I had've known that you were gonna ask me out, I might have tried to liven myself up for you." Rachel said sarcastically, yet playfully.
"No you wouldn't have. You would have sat there feeling more sorry for yourself than you already were." He observed.
"So you're also a master at psychology now?" Rachel quipped. "Is this how you treat all your girlfriends?"
"Only the ones that were under my care."
"You haven't had many girlfriends then, have you?" Rachel smirked, as did Ben.
"Okay, point taken. I can see you're going to keep me on my toes."
"You betcha." Rachel grinned, taking another sip of her wine.
She felt good, she felt comfortable. She felt in control. And she liked it when she was in control.
***
"What is taking pathology so bloody long!" Frank whined. It had been days since they found out their victim had been poisoned, and they still had no word on the substance.
"Be patient Frank. The body had been floating for days. There may not be many traces left." Rachel tried to calm him.
It was just then that Helen walked in.
"Helen?"
"More results from pathology. That symbol that was carved into Josh's chest, was filled with a substance from a certain type of berry. Apparently it stains. It's also quite poisonous."
"So what? Josh went to sleep and the next morning didn't wake up?" Frank asked.
"Seems that way. The poisonous berry, it looks remarkably like another berry used as a dye. My guess is, they got it mixed up."
"So we're not looking at murder then?" Rachel asked.
"Not sure. Someone still tried to hide the body." Frank put in.
"I'll leave you two to it then." Helen said, leaving the office.
***
"If I had have known that we'd end up hiking, I wouldn't have worn these shoes." Rachel complained as a park ranger lead them through the scrub.
"If you had have known that we'd end up hiking, you would have called in sick." Frank told her.
"What? You don't think I'm fit enough?" She challenged.
"Oh no. I know you're fit enough. You're just no good with creepy crawlies."
"This is coming from the man that refused to kill that huntsman in the office."
"It was this bloody big!" Frank made a large circle with his hands to indicate the size.
"Hardly!" Rachel denied.
"Excuse me." The park ranger interjected.
"Sorry." Rachel apologized.
"These are the good berries, the one you were talking about. They are safe to eat, and are good at staining." He began, pulling one off for closer inspection. "These are the bad ones. They contain a poisoning agent."
"But they look the same." Frank commented.
"They look similar, but if you look closer, one's more of an orangey color than the other, and this one has tiny yellow flecks."
"Oh yeah." Rachel could notice the difference.
"So they know what they're using, break it off, not knowing that it's poison." Frank concluded.
"Seems that way." Rachel admitted. "Are these all over this part of the bush?"
"No. The main lot are from this area, in a one kilometers radius. There's a few outside this section, but not very many at all. You'd need to eat about 20 of the things to put yourself in a coma." The park ranger finished.
"Well, I think we have our crime scene." Frank announced.
***
"Geez it's been a long day!" Rachel exclaimed, snuggling up next to Ben on the couch, and stretching out her legs.
"Frank's right, I'm not cut out for walking eight kilometers uphill!"
"Why didn't you drive?" Ben asked.
"We drove as far as we could. The only method to get the rest of the way is by foot, or trail bike."
"Poor Rachel." Ben gave mock sympathy.
"Yes, poor me." She matched his patronizing tone. "So anyway, how was your day?"
"Busy. Lots of admissions from Casualty. I was basically run off my feet."
"So we make a good pair then." Rachel grinned.
"Yeah, I think we do." Ben smiled down at her, then brought his lips closer to hers and kissed her. Rachel could feel her insides melt at the touch of him, a feeling she was enjoying all too much of late. They had only been seeing each other for three weeks, but already she was feeling content, happy even. Their relationship had been moving quite quickly, quite steadily, but right now, it was just what Rachel needed.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP…
Ben and Rachel broke apart, Ben resting his forehead on hers.
"It's my pager." He said regretfully.
"Go on, give them a call." She said reluctantly. He wasn't on the phone for long.
"One of my patients has just crashed and they need to operate. Sorry." He apologized, giving her a quick kiss.
"Hey, it's the thrill of having it off with a doctor." She called after him.
"I'll make it up to you, I promise!" Ben called out, and Rachel could hear the click of it closing behind him.
***
"We've managed to scrounge up a few uniforms from another branch to help you look for a campsite at that bush site." Helen and Rachel were in the ladies toilets the following morning.
"Oh good. Have you told Frank?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, he knows. In fact, he's over collecting them all now." Helen informed her.
"Frank?"
"Yes, Frank. He can drive you know."
"He thinks he can." Rachel smirked.
"How are you and Frank anyway?" Helen asked, changing topics.
"Why?" Rachel was instantly suspicious. Does Helen know something? Does she know what happened on New Years? And the time after that?
"No reason. I mean, you're still working well, but I hardly ever see you out at the pub any more. It used to be tradition for you and Frank… a-ha!"
"A-ha what?"
"You've got yourself a man."
"I don't know what you mean." Rachel turned and grabbed a handful of paper towel before Helen saw her face go crimson.
"You have got yourself a man. So who is he?"
"Helen?" Rachel turned to face her friend again. She saw straight through her. She couldn't lie. Not to Helen. "He's a doctor."
"Oh! A doctor! Quite impressive."
"Yeah, he is. He's nice, sweet, treats me well, he's a great doctor…" Rachel trailed off, surprised as to how enthusiastic she was to talk about him.
"Good in bed?" Helen asked.
"Helen!?" Rachel shrieked.
"It's a simple question. He seems to be good at everything else. I just assumed…"
"Well assume all you want, my sex life is private." Rachel dumped the paper towel in the bin and followed Helen out.
"Well, I'm happy for you anyway." Helen told her sincerely.
"Thanks." Rachel gave her a grateful smile. "Oh, and Helen."
"Yes?"
"Don't tell Frank. Not yet. I have my reasons."
"Okay, my lips are sealed." Helen announced, but she was unable to disguise the curiosity in her face.
"Goldie!" Frank called out from across the hallway. "I'm back. Let's go."
***
"This is better than the last time!" Rachel grinned at Frank, and lifted up her sneaked foot for effect.
"I wish I had've bought my sneakers. Wanna trade?" Frank asked.
"For those clod-hoppers? I don't think so." Rachel and Frank noticed that they were coming up to the section they were at yesterday.
"Okay guys, I want you to spread out, and look all over this section for anything that might show signs of campers. Anything." Frank instructed. The four uniforms they had with them nodded.
Frank and Rachel continued to walk ahead, also keeping a look out for anything man made. About ten minutes later, they hit a fence.
"What's behind this fence do you think?" Rachel asked.
"One way to find out." Frank shrugged his shoulders, and followed Rachel over it.
"Wow!" she exclaimed. About twenty meters in front of them was a cliff. Anyone that would fall off the cliff, would be swept into the ocean.
"What do you reckon? It would take one day of a good current to sweep you into the harbor?" Frank was reading Rachel's thoughts.
"At least. Maybe two." Rachel walked along the edge, trying to find anything that would indicate a fall.
"Detective Holloway!" one of the officers cried out. "We've found something."
***
"We found the trail bike hidden underneath a tree that had fallen down." Rachel was explaining to Helen.
"So what does that mean? He never left the camp?" Helen inquired.
"If he did, he went by foot." Frank said.
"Which is not bloody likely with a backpack as well as a sleeping bag." Rachel finished.
"Are you sure it's his bike?"
"Not yet, we're gonna pay another visit to the Winters' place before we knock off, see what they have to say." Rachel explained.
"I can see how it could happen. He ate the wrong berries, but why just him? Why not the others? And why did they hide his bike?"
"And it still doesn't explain the carvings on his chest." Rachel added.
"Right. We've got an hour. One more visit to pay." Frank announced, handing the keys to Rachel.
***
"Is this your son's bike Jean?" Frank asked straight out.
"Yes, it is. Where did you find it?" Mrs. Winters was perplexed.
"Out in the bush, where the kids go riding. It was hidden by a fallen down tree."
"Oh God!" Jean cried in anguish. "What happened to my son! Why did he die!" she began sobbing violently.
"We're trying to find that out." Rachel put a supportive arm around her, leading her back into the house. She was met at the door by Kathleen.
"Why can't you just leave us alone. Josh is dead. No amount of investigation is going to bring him back." Kathleen announced, before slamming the door in their face.
"Always a pleasure." Frank quipped, heading back to the car.
***
"Rachel! I haven't seen you in a while!" the barman said.
"Ah Vic, you know me, too busy."
"You've never been too busy for a beer." He smirked, handing her a pot over the counter.
"Cheers." She said, walking over to the table with Helen and Frank.
"So, another big day hey guys?" Helen asked.
"If I don't ever go hiking again, it will be too soon." Frank announced.
"It was eight k's Frank, you'd hardly call that a hike!" Rachel protested. Helen looked on, grinning. This was like the Frank and Rachel she knew!
"I'm just gonna have a talk to Tayler." Helen excused herself, leaving Frank and Rachel alone. In a social setting.
"Should I leave too?" Frank asked, almost timidly.
"Why would you do that?" Rachel replied softly.
"You know, the whole mixing business with pleasure thing."
"One beer isn't going to hurt. I think we've proven to ourselves that this can work." Rachel commented.
"Maybe." Frank took a long drink. "But are we ever gonna be friends again?"
"What do you mean? We're still friends now."
"No we're not. We're working partners. That's all. Shit Rachel, this is the first beer we've shared in almost a month!"
"Well, I've been busy." She protested.
"Doing what?"
"It's none of your business."
"Then why can't it be? Why can't we make it so that I know what's up in your life. Why can't we make it so we can share a drink, or dinner, or a video or something?"
Rachel took a deep breath. "Frank, you know…"
"I know it's never gonna be like it was before we…" Frank tried to find a tactful way to put it.
"Bumped uglies." Rachel added for him.
"In place of a better phrase, yes. But Rachel, I still care about you. I still enjoy your friendship. I miss you, you know."
Rachel stared into her beer, and let out a deep breath. "I miss you too. You've gotta know that. I just need some more time, Frank."
"Okay. We're still partners though, right?"
"Bloody good ones." Rachel smiled. "Look, I've gotta go."
"Yeah sure. Bye."
"Bye, say bye to Helen for me too."
"Sure, see you tomorrow."
Rachel got up and walked to the door, taking one glance back at the pub. Why did things have to become so complicated.
***
Rachel arrived home to the aroma of something Italian.
"Mmm." She sighed, slipping off her shoes. "Do I smell ravioli?"
"By the bucket load." Rachel walked into the kitchen, kissing Ben hello. Then she grabbed a beer from the fridge, and flopped down listlessly on the chair.
"Hard day?" he inquired.
"You could say that." She told him, her previous conversation had taken as much out of her as the hike. "You didn't have to go to all this trouble."
"Nonsense. I told you I would make up for last night." Ben winked.
"Well, you're a champ. Cooking was the last thing on my mind tonight."
"What was the first thing?"
"A nice, hot, bubble bath!" she sighed.
"Big enough for two?"
"In your dreams!" Rachel grinned.
After dinner was eaten, they again snuggled up on the couch watching television.
"This is bullshit. Like any doctor would dismiss those symptoms for wind!" Ben was determined to pick on every fault of A Country Practice.
"You know, it is on tape. I can watch it later." Rachel informed him.
"Don’t be silly. I'm having too much fun." He grinned, kissing her forehead. "It's appendicitis you dick!" he yelled at the television.
"This is coming from the Blue Heelers fan!" Rachel through up her hands in disgust. "Mt Thomas is hardly the epitome of realism either!"
A knock at the door interrupted their mock argument. Rachel went to get up.
"I'll get it." Ben told her. Rachel nodded, and continued to keep her eyes glued to the tele.
"It's for you. I think it's your partner." Ben told her, sitting back down.
"Frank?" Rachel's heart started to pound. What was he doing at her place? What gave him the right? Then she thought better of him. He always used to pop around for a visit. Why should now be any different. Apart from that fact that that very night she had asked him for more time.
"What is it Frank?" she met him in the hallway.
"Um…" Frank seemed momentarily distracted.
"Frank?" Rachel signaled that she was losing patience.
"I just got a call from the hospital. They just pumped the stomach of Kathleen Winters. Overdosed on sleeping tablets her mother had been taking."
"Shit." Rachel cursed.
"And that's not all. Guess what the doctors discovered on her chest?" Frank knew he wouldn't have to explain the markings.
"I'll meet you in the car."
She walked back into the lounge. "Ben, I have to go."
"What?" he whined.
"It's work, I have to go."
"Can't someone else go? I had tonight all planned out." He continued to protest at her leaving.
"And I had all last night planned out, but your work called."
"But my job's important. It's life and death." Ben was getting very annoyed.
"I'm sorry? And what do I do? Collect garbage? How dare you!" Rachel argued back.
"But you have other people that can take your place."
"And you're Mr. Indispensable?"
"Sometimes, yes."
"Well guess what? So am I. This is my case. Sometimes these things happen, and the sooner you grow up and realize that my life does not revolve around you, the better." Rachel walked out, slamming the door behind her.
***
"Since when does Doctor Benjamin start making house calls?" Frank asked. They had arrived at the hospital minutes earlier, and were walking up toward casualty.
"Shut up Holloway. I'm not in the mood right now."
"At least I know that I'm not the entire reason for you not socializing with us anymore."
"You give yourself too much credit sometimes Frank." Rachel muttered as they came to reception. "I'm Senior Detective Rachel Goldstein, this is Detective Frank Holloway, we're here to see Kathleen Winters." Rachel informed the girl.
"Yes, curtain five, three rooms to your right." The receptionist instructed.
Putting all other matters aside, Frank and Rachel resumed their professional relationship upon entering Kathleen's room. She looked incredibly ill, paler than she ever was, and hooked up to many machines.
"Kathleen. Remember us?" Rachel asked softly.
Kathleen nodded. "You want to know how Josh died, right?"
A feeling of relief washed over the detectives.
"The truth would make our jobs a little easier. And your conscience too by the looks of you." Frank told her as gently as possible.
Kathleen again nodded her head, letting the tears escape.
"Why did you try to kill yourself Kathleen?"
"We all went trail bike riding. Like we usually do. Once a month we go for a few days, and camp out one night. We've kinda got this ritual thing we do. We ride during the day, and at night, the eight of us have a few drinks, then we hold a seance."
"The markings on the chest. Are they from this?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah. Every month, some force determines who will be the next to be marked. It was my turn last month. This month it was Josh's turn."
"So you sliced him open?" Frank received a warning stare from his partner.
"With a knife, we break the skin, then we squash about forty of those berries, and mix it with the blood. Then, when it heals, it's like a tattoo." Kathleen gently pulled down the neck of her night shirt to show them hers.
"Doesn't it hurt."
"Not really. A little I guess. Josh kept on insisting that it was burning him. But none of us believed him, because he's not good with pain. But the next morning, he was dead." Kathleen choked on numerous sobs while Rachel made comforting circles on her back. "It's because of us that he's dead.
"But why Kathleen? Why do you do this stuff?"
"Curiosity at first. But then we could feel something, feel a presence. We did some readings, looked out for the signs, and found out what symbols represent what, and what materials you should use. Those berries worked fine with the others. Why did it kill him!"
"I don't know." Frank lied. Rachel looked up at him with a surprised smile on her face. She really hadn't been giving him enough credit lately.
Kathleen's parents soon arrived, and Frank and Rachel took it as their cue to leave.
"Why didn't you tell her about the poison berries?" Rachel asked Frank.
"She was distressed enough as it is. She didn't need to know that they weren't the right kind. Not now. Just as long as someone tells her before the next spiritual encounter." Frank rubbed his tired face. "Come on, I better get you home."
***
"So they just dropped the body over a cliff rather than tell their parents?" Helen asked.
"Yeah, apparently they didn't want them to find out what they got up to in the bush." Frank explained.
"Those stupid kids." Helen shook her head. "Thank God I don't have any."
"Oh shit! You don't think David would ever be that stupid?" Rachel suddenly got worried.
"Nah, he's too bright." Frank told her.
"He better be." Rachel quipped.
"I know I've been saying this an awful lot lately, but I'm going to the pub. Will I meet you guys there?" Helen asked.
"Maybe." Rachel said.
"Sure." Frank gave a definite answer. He had spent the whole day closing the Winters case. He needed a few jars.
"Frank, I'm sorry I didn’t tell you about Ben sooner, it's just…"
"No need to explain Goldie. As you said, it's none of my business."
"But it is. Or I want it to be. You were right. We always used to know what was going on in each others lives. I'm just being pig headed about all of this. We're bloody good partners. But I want us to be best friends again."
"We can try." Frank announced, grabbing his jacket off the back of his chair. "And you do know the first way to repair a friendship."
"What's that?" Rachel asked, noting the sly grin on his face.
"It's your shout."
***
At the Cutters Bar, Rachel was, for once, feeling relaxed. She was sharing a beer with her friends after a long case, and she was enjoying herself.
"Dream on Holloway!" Rachel laughed. "I swear that spider gets bigger every time you tell that story!"
"It was that big! You saw it yourself!"
"Yeah, because I was the one that had to kill the bloody thing!" Rachel protested.
"Uh, Rachel." Helen called, nudging her head toward the door. Rachel snapped her head around, and saw Ben walking in.
"Hello." He greeted, meeting her halfway.
"Hi." She said, still baring the grudge of the night before.
"Rach, I'm sorry about last night. It was totally juvenile and inconsiderate of me. You're job is just as important as mine, so I apologize for being so selfish." Ben seemed genuinely remorseful.
"Promise you won't do it again?" Rachel asked.
"Cross my heart, hope to die." Ben promised.
"You're forgiven then." Rachel said giving him a swift kiss on the cheek.
"So, are you going home now?" he asked.
Rachel looked around the room at her colleagues. She was sure none of them would mind terribly if she did leave. But then she caught Frank trying to appear inconspicuous.
"Nah, I think I'm gonna stay a little while. You want to join us?" she asked.
"No, I don't think so."
"You don't mind me staying, do you?"
"Not at all. Have a few drinks with your friends. Have fun."
"Thanks, I will." Rachel smiled, then walked back to the bar.
"So, have you come to say goodbye?" Frank asked.
"Why? Are you leaving?" Rachel was being a smart arse.
"Are you?"
"Nope."
"Well, that's a coincidence." Frank smiled.
"Grow up Holloway."
"Bite me Goldstein."
They smiled at each other, skulled their glasses, then ordered another round.
"First to pass out buys the next slab." Rachel challenged.
"You're on." Frank grinned as they gulped down another beer.
It was the end of February, and for Rachel Goldstein, the year was finally beginning to look up.
March
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