Closer to the edge

Chapter six-Choices

“Now,” Alexander began. “As you may know, Ingrid over there has been many people in her life. Stella Gates, Jo Reyes, Ingrid Matthews am I right?”

Morbid nods went around.

“Well what you don’t know,” Alexander continued. “Is that she’s got several souls inside her body. Each time she comes in contact with the remains of those souls, she dies a little. The universe is trying to fix its mistake. So, in about 4 months, there will be an appearance of a large barn just north of here. She has to go in this barn otherwise the universe as we know it will be gone and that means every single one of you will cease to exist.” He said.

“We’ll see her again…right?” Spencer asked in a meek tone.

“No,” Alexander snapped. “This will be it. You will never see her again. We’ve been trying to get a hold of her for the past few days to get her to listen but she refuses and somehow we’ve always been thwarted.”

“If by listening you mean assaulted and beaten you sure have a funny way of showing it,” Lassiter growled angrily at Alexander. “Some of your people have assaulted her.”

Alexander shrugged.

“I have no control over them. They make their own choices. But I do know that she has to go into that barn. Now, back to the situation at hand. Make your choice detective.” His tone hardened.

Lassiter clenched his jaws.

“You cannot force me to choose,” he snapped. “I won’t do it.”

“Do it or I will choose for you,” Alexander said in a dangerous calm tone holding up a small device in his hand which no doubt was the remote.

Lassiter turned to the others. They were worried and anxious and he realized he had no choice in the matter. If he didn’t choose, Alex would kill both…but if he did choose, one of them would die regardless. Lassiter faced Hannah. At that moment, Ingrid began stirring and she blinked a few times and her eyes focused on Lassiter. She looked startled for the moment, then resigned. She and Lassiter shared a look and Lassiter felt Hannah’s eyes moving from Ingrid to him.

He stepped forward, all the while his heart was pounding heavily in his chest. He didn’t want to do this at all.

“I’m not going to do this,” he growled shutting his eyes.

He didn’t and couldn’t do this. This was the most painful situation he had been in yet. Even more painful than getting shot at those times.

Hannah’s eyes filled with tears. She had managed to rub her cheek against her shoulder, easily sliding off the gag.

“Carlton, it’s okay. She needs you,” Hannah said motioning with her head toward Ingrid who was trembling violently in her seat. “She has a daughter to think about. Plus, I know you’re not happy with me.”

Lassiter’s eyes snapped open as he regarded Hannah.

“Hannah,” he said in a thick voice. “Don’t…”

Hannah shook her head.

“It’s alright,” she said offering him a smile through her tears. “Really.”

She yanked at the collar. Lassiter heard cries behind him from O’Hara, Spencer and Guster. He turned away, not wanting to see what was about to happen. An ear splitting high pitched whistle hit his ears before a loud ‘boom’. He heard Ingrid’s protesting screams which were muffled by the gag.

Lassiter slowly turned around and rushed over to Ingrid. He eased the gag out of her mouth. She let out a scream and slumped forward. Blood stained her clothes and flecks of it was on her cheek and in her hair. Lassiter avoided looking at the horrible remains of his wife and kept his eyes on Alexander.

“Let Ingrid go,” he threatened, his voice breaking but it still held malice.

Alexander smirked and raised the trigger.

“You didn’t pick so it doesn’t count,” he said snidely. “But I think I’ll make it interesting.” Alex said as he came over and untied Ingrid from the chair. Ingrid was quickly ushered behind Lassiter as he raised his gun and aimed it at Alex.

“This way, you don’t see it coming,” Alex said laughing. “Just remember old man, Ingrid needs to go into that barn in four months when it appears. Otherwise your entire universe as you know it will go poof.” He snapped his fingers. “It’s best to forget about her and not get too attached to her because she will be gone soon. I’ve been gracious enough to help her get to the soul that matters most. Toodles for now.”

Laughing he left the barn with the rest of his ‘followers’ but not before Lassiter heard a cry behind him. He whirled around in time to see one of Alexander’s followers raise a mallet behind Ingrid and prepared to swing it.

“No!” Lassiter shouted lunging forward.

Ingrid turned around as the follower swung the heavy object at her head. Lassiter heard O’Hara, Spencer and Guster let out a cry of horror and protest but it was too late. He heard a sickening ‘crunch’ and then Ingrid fell to her knees. Blood began flowing from her temple down the side of her face.  Lassiter dropped to his knees in front of her and caught her as she slumped forward into his arms. His arms wound around her tightly as her cheek pressed against his chest. She slumped a little more so that she was cradled in the crook of his arm. Lassiter’s arm was around her back, his hand grasping her biceps gently. The other arm was under her throat lightly cradling her chin in the crook of his arm; his fingers intertwining with her blond hair.  He held her while he felt her body convulsing violently in his arms. He shut his eyes and pressed his face into her hair.

“I’m so sorry, Ingrid,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m never going to forget about this moment.”

She made a soft gurgling noise in response. He felt a warmth pooling in the inner elbow joint of his arm and when he looked, he saw blood from the corner of her mouth. After several moments, Ingrid stopped convulsing and the light vanished from her eyes.

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Lassiter heard a noise and his whole body jolted awake as his head snapped up in alarm. His arms shot out in front of him, subconsciously trying to grab a hold of Ingrid. But he realized he was sitting at his desk and he was at the precinct. He frantically looked around. O’Hara was coming toward him.

“O’Hara,” he barked. “Where is Miss Matthews?”

“Who?” she asked frowning. “Who are you talking about, Carlton?”

“Ingrid. Ingrid Matthews,” he said irritably as though she should know who he was talking about for crying out loud. “She has a daughter named Emily?” he continued.

“I’m sorry Carlton I don’t know an Ingrid Matthews,” she said shaking her head. “Is she one of your girlfriends that ran away from you on your last date?” sympathy slipped across her face.

Lassiter growled and angrily got to his feet. At that moment, Spencer and Guster were coming toward him.

“Spencer!” he shouted. “Where is Miss Matthews?”

“Who buddy?” Spencer asked tilting his head. “Is she one of your blow up dates?”

“No,” he growled through clenched teeth. “Ingrid. Ingrid Matthews. She was with us for several days! She has a daughter named Emily.”

But they just looked confused.

Were they playing some kind of cruel joke? The last thing he remembered, vividly at that, was Ingrid’s skull being crushed by the mallet and her dying in his arms.  What the hell was going on here?

At that moment, an officer was leading a woman in handcuffs. Lassiter’s blue eyes widened. The woman had black streaks in her hair and was wearing a pair of leather pants and a black tank top. Her hair was fluffed around her shoulders and she had a nose piercing with a small diamond stud. But it was unmistakable…Ingrid.

“Her,” he snapped at them like they were retarded. “That’s Ingrid.”

“Uh no buddy,” Shawn said shaking his head. “Her names not Ingrid.”

“Her names Carrie Hunt,” O’Hara chimed in handing Lassiter a tan manila folder. “She’s wanted for arson, armed robbery and attempted murder. We just picked her up this afternoon.” She said studying her partner carefully. “Are you sure you’re alright Lassiter?” she asked in a worried tone but Lassiter just growled and stormed over to Ingrid.

“Ingrid?” he prompted as the officer stopped and Ingrid watched him precariously with a disdainful expression on her face.

“No,” she said coldly. “The names Carrie, copper.” She said and spat at his feet as the officer led her away.

Lassiter stood there, confused. The officer sat her down and went to get her booking paperwork…but Lassiter refused to let it go. He headed over to her and told the cop he’d take care of her. He grabbed her elbow and led her back to his desk. He sat her down.

“Lassie what are you doing buddy?” he heard Spencer’s confused drone. “She’s a wanted criminal…granted a hot criminal…” his voice trailed off as Ingrid smiled at Shawn in a flirty tone and batted her eye lashes at him. Lassiter crouched down in front of her.

“Do you know who I am?” he prompted her swallowing hard so that his Adams apple bobbed against the knot in his tie. Ingrid looked at him carefully and put on a smile.

“Oh yes I do know,” she said in a light tone and Lassiter felt elation filling his chest but then Ingrid’s expression darkened. “You’re a cop. A pig.” She said coldly straining against her handcuffs. Lassiter’s heart sank.

He grabbed her wrists and un-cuffed one wrist and cuffed her to the chair.

“Ingrid I know you’re in there,” he said quietly staring deep into her eyes. “Come on. Please give me a sign of recognition.”

Carrie held his gaze. What began feeling like an eternity, she made a sound.

“I-I’m sorry,” she said in a softer tone. “I don’t recognize you, but I do have this incredibly strong feeling that I know you somehow. I can’t explain it.”

Lassiter swallowed again and gave a nod. He did understand. Which was strange…even for him. But nothing about this whole situation was normal to begin with.

“Am I gonna be charged or what?” Carrie asked frowning. “Cause I got some business to finish up.”

Lassiter studied her.

He hesitated. She was watching him intently. Normally, this would go against every moral fiber in his body, but he exhaled and shook his head.

“No,” he said quietly.

From the look on Carrie’s face, he could see that this startled her and confused her.

“Carlton!”

“Lassie!”

O’Hara and Spencer’s startled cries hit his ears. He ignored them. He leaned forward and un-cuffed her wrist from the chair and placed the handcuffs on the desk.

“You’re free to go, Miss Hunt,” he said turning his face away and getting to his feet.

“Thanks,” he heard Carrie say in surprise but he heard the gratefulness underneath her tone.

When she’d left, he got bombarded with outrage, confusion and a few curious looks.

“Lassiter what are you doing?”(this was O’Hara) “She’s a wanted criminal. Why did you let her go?”

“Lassie, have you been sniffing that gun cleaner again buddy?”(Spencer this time)

Only Guster was quiet and didn’t throw in his two cents, which Lassiter was grateful for. Perhaps Guster sensed something. He was always more intuitive then Spencer anyway.

“No,” Lassiter grunted. “Please stop asking me about why I let her go.”

“But…” O’Hara began but Lassiter rounded on her.

“O’Hara I said shut it,” he snapped at her. “I cannot explain it nor do any of you believe me when I tell you that we know Carrie Hunt by another name…another person. None of you believe me which doesn’t surprise me…wait, actually I take that back,” Lassiter grunted as he turned to face them. “Spencer it doesn’t surprise me…but O’Hara, you’re another story.” He said as he shook his head and began walking away. He felt six pairs of eyes on his back as he headed down to the evidence locker. Going through that always helped him clear his mind and he really needed that now.

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Lassiter let his forehead press against the cold metal shelving of the evidence locker, trying to figure out what had happened. He remembered Alex saying that he got to a ‘soul’ that mattered the most. But why did he remember everything and not Ingrid/Carrie? What had happened that changed things like this?

A voice sneaked across his subconscious.

You fell in love with her. That’s what changed. Somehow you and Ingrid had bonded beyond anything else. Now she’s this Carrie Hunt, a wanted criminal who even said she had this feeling that she felt like she knew you but she couldn’t recognize you. Perhaps that’s some of that bond still inside her. Perhaps she feels the same way about you.

But Lassiter knew that last thought was wrong. There was no way Ingrid would feel the same way about him. No one wanted an old fart like him. Someone who was stoic and who rarely showed emotions when it came to romance.

Sighing, Lassiter trudged back up to the bullpen. It was late now. Most of the officer’s had left, except for Buzz McNab.

“McNab,” he barked at the burly younger officer.

“Yeah boss?” he said eagerly coming over to him with his hands on his holster belt around his waist.

“I want you to look up someone,” Lassiter said. “A woman by the name of Ingrid Matthews.”

“Is she an ex-girlfriend or something?” McNab prompted curiously.

“Just do it McNab and report back to me,” he grunted sitting down behind his desk.

“Right away boss,” McNab hurried off.

Lassiter rubbed his temples. He knew that Ingrid was probably dead…the real Ingrid. His stomach felt like it was filled with lead at this point. Sure enough, by McNab’s facial expression, the news wasn’t good. He was carrying a printed out paper.

“Here boss,” he said in a solemn tone.

Lassiter snatched the paper from the junior officer and his heart sank. According to a news article, Ingrid Matthews was murdered. She had died a few days ago. She’d been strangled with a rope, her body dragged out to an old mill just east of Santa Barbara and was assaulted and then buried. A passing family with their dog had come across the remains. There was a black and white photo and his heart leapt at the sight of it. It wasn’t Ingrid…or rather the girl he knew as Ingrid.  So, that could mean that she’s still alive…but where and how? Could her soul still be in Carrie Hunt’s body? Could she still be in there?

“Good job McNabb,” he grunted not showing the elation he felt.

“E-Excuse me,” A familiar voice said and he raised his eyes. Carrie was standing there. Lassiter got to his feet. “I-I just had a feeling to come back here…to talk to you.” She said as she nervously picked at the sleeve of her shirt. “Um, there’s some weird shit going on outside. I think you should take a look. I-I don’t think you’d believe me but I had to try.” She shrugged.

“No it’s fine,” Lassiter said quickly. “Show me.”

Carrie led him outside into the cool evening Santa Barbara air. Standing on the top of the stairs that led into the building, Lassiter’s eyes were immediately drawn to the sky. Slivers of color snaked across, like the northern lights almost.

“That doesn’t happen here does it? I mean normally,” Carrie asked tilting her head. “I know that that’s supposed to be seen in Alaska, not here in California.”

“Yeah you’re right,” Lassiter said slowly turning to face her. “What’s your theory on what’s happening?”

Carrie snorted.

“Again, I highly doubt you would believe me,” she snorted rolling her eyes.

“Try me,” Lassiter said, feeling a déjà vu sensation hit him again with those exact same words for some reason.

“I think somehow the universe got messed up,” she said. “So whoever messed it up has to fix it and now the world is going ape-shit until that mistake is corrected.”

Lassiter’s heart wrenched at her words. He nodded.

“You believe me?” she asked in an incredulous and skeptical tone.

“Yes,” he found himself saying.

Carrie looked at him.

“You know you’re very different from what I assumed for a copper,” she said blinking. “You’re not like the rest of the pigs.”

Lassiter just let out a soft grunt in acknowledgement. His heart began pounding in his chest as he locked gazes with Carrie.

Ingrid if you’re in there, please…fight to come back to us…I know you’re there…

His heart pounded harder in his chest. From the look on Carrie’s face, something was going on with her too. After several moments, she suddenly cried out and was doubled over. She was gripping the hand rail tightly so that her knuckles were white. Lassiter could only stand by and watch as her body jerked violently a few times. When she tossed her head back, both of her eyes were completely milky white. Blood started trickling down one of her nostrils. By now, he was alarmed and panicked but he was rooted to the spot unable to move.

As quickly as it began, it stopped and Carrie dropped to her knees at the top of the stairs. Finally able to move his muscles, Lassiter slowly sank to a crouch in front of her.

“Miss Hunt are you alright?” He prompted anxiously slowly and tentatively extending his hand out to touch her shoulder as if she was a feral animal.  When his fingertips just gently touched the material of her shirt, her head snapped up again. Lassiter’s hand was pulled back rapidly from being startled, but her eyes were normal now. She blinked a few times, and then her eyes focused on Lassiter. Confusion flashed across her face for a moment before a bright, ear to ear grin spread across her lips. She threw her arms around Lassiter’s neck and pulled him against her chest.  Lassiter was confused and shocked but when she spoke, his heart picked up speed again.

“Detective Lassiter!” she whispered. “I’m back!”

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Jo hugged the boorish detective tightly. She was back, but she had no idea what had happened. Slowly, she felt Lassiter’s arms encircling her; one arm around her waist, the other around her shoulders.

“Miss Matthews?” he asked uncertain as she heard doubt and confusion in his voice. She pulled back and nodded.

“Yep,” Jo said brightly. “I don’t know what happened, but I’m here. The last thing I remember was having a mallet swung at my skull then you, then darkness.” She frowned.

“For some reason, I remembered everything, but you were someone named Carrie Hunt,” Lassiter grunted. “You had no idea who I was, nor did anyone know who you were.”

“Weird,” Jo mused. “I wonder if it had something to do with the northern lights outside now.”

Lassiter just studied her. Jo felt self conscious after a few moments.

“Anyway,” she said clearing her throat. “I’m glad to be back…um, I’m exhausted though. Where am I staying?”

Lassiter snapped out of whatever stupor he’d gone into and offered her a faint smile.

“Where you stayed before,” he responded. “Henry Spencer’s.”

“Oh,” Jo said feeling her expression falter.

“Why?” Lassiter prompted quickly. “Where were you wanting to stay?”

Jo bit her bottom lip and kept her eyes down cast.

“With you,” she responded quietly. “I-If that’s okay.” She added quickly, not sure what his reaction would be to that.

Jo heard Lassiter let out a soft grunt and when she raised her eyes to his, he was adjusting this tie at the base of his throat. He looked a little awkward.

“I’m not the best choice,” He mumbled. “I-I’m not…it’s been a while…there are consequences if I…” his voice trailed off as Jo’s expression fell even more.

She forced a smile on her face.

“That’s okay,” She said shrugging a shoulder. “I understand.”

With that, she turned and began heading down the stairs.

She paused at the bottom and looked up at him.

“Henry’s will be fine,” She said softly.

Jo watched him for a moment. He seemed to be deliberating something, like he was having an internal struggle with some decision. A gentle evening breeze caught Jo’s hair and ruffled it. Why she was in these strange clothes, she didn’t know but right now all she wanted was a good night’s sleep and some food.  She watched Lassiter silently and his expression shifted as though he’d made a choice. Above her, dark storm clouds began rolling in. She could hear thunder rumbling and the temperature dropped. She hugged herself and felt a few shivers running down her spine. At that moment, the heavens opened up and she felt the heavy raindrops plunking on her head, dampening her hair and clothes. Lassiter finally began making his way down and he stood in front of her. He towered over her and Jo felt her heart skipping a beat as he reached up and gently swept some of her damp hair behind her ear.

There was a brief flash of light surrounding them, which Jo passed it off as lightning. Lassiter seemed to have caught himself and cleared his throat as he lowered his hand to his side.

“Screw it,” he grunted. “Let’s go.”

Lassiter led Jo to his black Ford Fusion. She climbed in and he drove home, which startled her but in a good way. While Jo knew he wasn’t the type to break rules like this, but what caused him to change his mind now?

Lassiter had grabbed an old shirt of his and handed it to Jo. The condo where he lived, Prospect Gardens, was really something else. It definitely had a man’s touch, sometimes a bit strong, but Jo didn’t mind.

“Bathrooms down the hall,” Lassiter grunted pointing. “You can dry off.”

Clutching the shirt to her chest, she nodded and smiled and headed off to the bathroom. She wrung out her hair and ran her fingers through it to untangle it. She spied the small diamond stud earrings in her ears glittering softly and the small stud in her left nostril. She pulled Lassiter’s old shirt on and it thankfully reached her knees. He was tall, but on her, it was almost like a night gown. Who was inhabiting her body after she vanished? Whoever it was, was one tough bitch. It was a strange sensation really. It was like waking up from a nightmare. By now her hair had begun slowly drying and she snuggled into the shirt.

She placed her wet clothes in the tub so they could dry out and stepped out of the bathroom and into Lassiter’s chest.

“Sorry,” she muttered.

“You’re on the couch,” he mumbled.

“That’s okay,” she said offering a smile. “Good night.” She gently reached up and placed a hand on his bicep before slipping past him. The couch had been made up for her with two pillows and a sheet and soft blue fleece blanket. She curled up and pulled the blanket up over her. Feeling safe and secure, Jo eventually fell into a peaceful sleep, not knowing things were about to get dangerous…and even stranger…as if it could.