Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 12:21 pm
A/N: Yay! Updated in a month. 
Usually this fic gets updated every three but I was in the writing mood, it being my fourth fic updated, are you guys proud? 
Now I must say, this is the longest chapter I have ever written. EVER! So enjoy because it's funny, witty, suspenseful, Siskel & Ebert give it two thumbs up, lol. Wait, it's Ebert & Roeper now. Anywho, this I think is the creme of the creme, the theories should be going through the roof so my little detectives, put your thinking caps on and your spectacles b/c the clues and hints are endless in this chapter. 
We're evil I tell ya!
Aerosmith, take it away! Dream on! Dream on! Dream on!
Stop it, you're making me blush, LOL.
Well, thanks for the feedback kiddos, now on with the reading.
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<center>Chapter 21
Outside Art Gallery - 6:53p.m.</center>
"You sure you're not coming?" Michael questioned Courtney as he leaned against the passenger side with his head ducked to see her shake her head.
"It's not my kind of scene, Guerin," she answered indifferently before looking to the steering wheel and then back to him, "and it's not yours either."
Michael sighed at the sound of her persistence to isolate him from anyone but her. Shaking his head, he pulled out his cell phone from his back pocket to catch a glimpse of the time and then looked to her as he tucked it back in his pocket.
"What?" She questioned in offense from the annoyed look Michael was casting her way, but he didn't reply. He simply shook his head again in disappointment and closed the passenger side door. "Michael?" She called out, leaning to her side to watch him hold the gallery's glass door open for an upscale couple before he entered. "Fine! Go to your hooker then." She shouted, seeing a pedestrian looking her way in disgust. "What the hell are you looking at?" She yelled brutally as she turned on the ignition to the car and pulled out abruptly from her parking spot.
<center>Inside the Gallery</center>
Her sudden obsession was getting tiresome for him. True he noticed in their years of being partners that she had started to develop feelings for him, but he never responded towards them and it seemed to be working out fine despite that. He wondered if Max was right in his theories that her possessive behavior is escalating due to the threat she feels from Maria being around him. It was a crazy theory, but hearing the sounds of screeching tires, which he was absolutely certain it was from Courtney driving off angrily, caused him to consider talking to his Captain in regards to her obnoxious behavior.
Shaking the thought from his head, he began looking through the crowd from where he stood, in search of Max and the pixie that had magically bewitched his best friend, but ended up focusing on the shapely form of a petite blonde that had her back turned towards him. Tilting his head to the side, admiring the woman's assets, he coolly made his way to her and tapped confidently on her shoulder as he plotted his approach.
"What?" He heard the sweet smelling blonde answer before she turned around and revealed herself to be none other than his bickering enemy, Maria DeLuca. "What?" She repeated in frustration as she held her cell phone against her chest.
"Uh-have you seen Max?" He quickly replied after clearing his throat.
"He's probably pronouncing his love to Liz in the cliché corner there," she answered with a sarcastic snort, pointing to section of the gallery that displayed photographs of kissing couples before she returned to her phone call. "Alex, it's me, again, for like the hundredth time already. Where the hell are you?" Exhaling in desperation to know over Alex's well being, she nervously rubbed the smoothness of her neck and glanced to Michael when he snorted in annoyance. "I'm so worried about you," she continued, turning her back to Michael to continue leaving her message, "and Liz is beyond pissed so you better call us to let us know that you're okay, okay?"
He should've just walked away and left her to continue pining over Alex since he spotted Max at the bar, but he found his feet firmly planted on the ground, waiting for her to finish. Why, he didn't know, but as he waited, he looked over the silky dress material that wrapped her body approvingly, wondering again on how could Courtney possible feel threatened by her and why he suddenly felt the urge to cringe every time he heard her say Alex's name. It was a feeling that made him regret not joining Max at the bar, but when he looked towards the bar again, Max was no longer there.
<center>Other end of the gallery</center>
Liz had definitely seen terrible things in her time as an evidence technician, Doug Shellow's mangled remains including, but never had something so diminutive as a face being blurred caused her to be unrulingly afraid and angry at the same time.
Pulling out her cell phone from her tiny hand bag, she dialed for Claire's office line, ready to tear her a new one verbally since no one else but Claire Green could leak out a key item to the media for career recognition.
'You reached Claire Green...'
"Pick up," Liz muttered over the recording and then collected herself when she heard the tone to commence speaking, "Claire, it's me. I don't know what you're trying to pull, but releasing those photos is absolutely unethical. Expect to find a complaint filed to Clay and the review board tomorrow."
"Hey, is everything okay?"
Despite the chattering around her, she was startled by the sudden sound of Max's concern voice. "Jesus, you scared me," she voiced, turning to see Max balancing a champagne glass in one hand and a martini in the other.
"Sorry," he apologized with a small chuckle before noticing her attention to the drinks in his hands, "Oh, um, I wasn't sure on what to get so I got champagne and an apple martini."
"Um, an apple martini sounds great right about now," Liz replied with humoring relief before she relinquished the martini from his hand and carefully sipped the green liquid, making sure she held the lemon wedge in place at the brim of the glass.
"Thirsty?"
"Sorry," Liz blushed as she covered her lips with the back of her hands, "just a little nervous."
"Nervous? Why?" He questioned with an amused chuckle as he shoved his free hand in his pocket.
"I guess I'm feeling a little out of place here," she confessed as she looked at the two chic women that passed by them and then looked down at her dress.
"What is it?" Max questioned after she set her empty glass on one of the waiters trays that passed by her.
"I don't know what I was thinking in wearing this," she replied as she desperately tried to straighten a wrinkle in her dress, "I might of well just shown up in jeans and a t-shirt."
"Are you kidding? You look amazing tonight."
"Max, stop it. I'm a mess. Your friends are probably wondering what you see in me."
"First of all, none of these snobs are my friends, and if it were up to me, I'd be home right now, in bed, with you in my arms." He confessed, seeing her head lower to hide her flushed face. "But I promised Isabel I'd see her opening." He added, lifting her head up softly by her chin to see her rosy cheeks. "If you're really uncomfortable, I can call Michael to pick you and Maria up..."
"No. No. I'll stay and enjoy art with you." Liz smiled as she rolled her eyes playfully and then redirected her attention to the disturbing photograph that had become oblivious to her in Max presence. "Um, do you know anything about this piece?"
"Uh, no, not really," Max hummed as he looked quizzically at the photograph.
Looking carefully at the exposure, she began mentally checking off the things she was sure Michael would be demanding once he saw the photograph himself. Tracking the location the picture was blown up in would be damn near impossible to her. Not only would they have to call every Kinko's in the Bay Head area to ask if anyone blew up a picture of faceless person, they would have to also have to call every small chain business in the same field and even consider technicians, police, and every photographer in New Jersey that owns their own darkroom.
Mission Impossible indeed.
"I noticed it's not like any of the other photographs in her collection." Liz pointed out as she looked to him from the corner of her eye, assuming he probably saw the photograph as just a simple black and white picture and nothing more.
"Well, she does have some pictures that are veiled over there," he informed her as he pointed to the covered panels that were guarded by two gallery security guards and a line of velvet rope, "Maybe they're the same thing."
"Yeah, maybe," Liz replied with a shrug as she lowered her head.
"Maxwell?" They both heard before they noticed a 5'8", slender red head approaching them in a snug classical 1930's dress. "Max-well Evans." She announced after eyeing him up and down. "So, who's your friend darling?" She asked without looking to Liz.
"Alana Mocca," Max spoke nervously as he placed his hand on the small of Liz's back, "this is Elizabeth Parker."
"Nice to meet you." Liz replied courteously.
"Well, well, well, Maxwell Evans. Don't you just look...mmm yummy," she purred waving her cigarette holder about like a wand.
"Funny you should say that, Alana." Liz interrupted.
"Alana Mocca darling." Alana chuckled devilishly.
"Oooh, ok. Alana Mocca," Liz repeated as she looked to Max and flashed him an fake smile, "I was just telling Maxwell Evans how yummy he looked too. Wasn't I, darling?" Liz asked with a big smile, and sarcasm laced in her tone before she laughed along with Max's nervous chuckle.
"Um, Liz," Max coughed out as he pointed to Alana with his champagne glass, "Alana Mocca is the gallery owner. She hosts Isabel's work."
"To tell you the truth, Darling. Isabella Evans has been lacking in the art department if you know what I mean. I mean if me and you didn't have that glorious month in Alcapuco," she paused to pick lint off of Max's shirt, causing Liz to shift her weight, uneased by how flirtatious the woman was being with him. "I doubt anyone would've ever heard of Isabella Evans."
"I'm pretty sure her name is Isabel." Liz corrected.
"You're hosting her, aren't you?" Max reminded in Isabel's defense as he felt Liz attempt to pull away, something she would've done if it wasn't for his secure hold on her waist.
"Yes, yes, after her faceless pieces, it was hard not to." Alana chuckled before she snatched a champagne glass from one of the waiters that walked by.
"Faceless?" Liz replied in a gulp, noticing Alana's use of 'pieces' and not 'piece', meaning there was more then one faceless picture on display.
"Yes. The idea is absolutely brilliant. I mean who are we really but a bunch of faceless people. Society today allows clothing, style and location to define who we are."
"Yo," Michael announced loudly before he rest his arm on Max's shoulder and then looked to Maria when she stood by his side.
"God, Michael. Do you have to be that loud?" Maria snickered with her arms crossed.
"Well, well, well, Michael Guerin. I see you're still the same." Alana hissed as she folded her arms in offense.
"Holy shit, Alana Mocca," Michael laughed, surprised to see her. "You're not still pissed about that ticket Banks gave you, are you? You keep treating her bad and she'll keep handing you those."
"So it was her I just saw at the bar. Tell me Detective Twit, where is the little Doberman now? Outside with a leash I hope." She questioned, twiddling her fingers in disgust as she scanned Michael's appearance in distaste. "You know you should really put her to sleep."
"Hi, I'm Maria," Maria announced, extending her hand with an ear to ear grin. "Enemy of my enemy, my friend?"
"Pardon me?"
"Don't mind her." Liz replied instead, pulling Maria back. "Enemy of your friend, so your enemy," Liz whispered to her.
"Oh, gotcha," Maria whispered back before giving Liz "the wink" and "the gun" and then miraculously changed her demeanor with a scolding glare.
"Friend of yours Michael Guerin?"
"Why, you need one? Because I can always call Banks, she's working at the moment," Michael responded in humor as he held his arms wide open to display himself fully, "but if you want, I can be a darling and tell her to call you," he offered before scratching his eyebrow and pointing to her, "should she ask for Alana or Alice?"
"Michael," Max warned, knowing exactly what Michael was referring to.
"Well, I see this conversation has reached the same level as our police department, worthless," she snickered as she glared at Michael. "Darling," she called to Max before she looked to him, "when ever you're done with the appetizers, you know where to find me to get a cuisine," she purred and then turned on her heel, wiping her hair to hit both Max and Michael.
"He'll look you up," Michael shouted as she walked away, "under Maguire, right?"
"What's he talking about?" Liz whispered to Max while Michael started arguing with Maria.
"Her real name is Alice Maguire." Max whispered back.
"Hey, shut up already," Maria ordered to Michael, elbowing him on the side, "people are staring."
"So?"
"So, if you want to be embarrassing, wait until I leave at least," she huffed as she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
"She's right Michael," Max supported, "we're here for Isabel, remember?"
"Come on, Maxwell. I made nice with her and as for Isabel, I really don't think she would've minded either. You and I both know that if Isabel were here, she would be saying the same thing to her."
"Who the hell was she?"
"She's the host for tonight's opening," Max answered Maria and then looked to Liz when she managed to slip out of his hold. "That's all she is."
"But she was your girlfriend at some point right?" Liz questioned in a calm tone to hide the fact that she was upset.
"Not exactly."
"Michael?" Liz called out, questioning him instead for her answer.
"Huh?"
"Oh, so now you're deaf?" Maria instigated.
"I didn't hear her, alright."
"She's standing right infront of you."
"I can see that."
"Good for you, you got one out of five senses working. Maybe you want to go for two, can you smell the bullshit? I know I can."
"Keep talking and you're gonna be tasting prison food," he threatened, arching both his eyebrows, "that's sense number three if blondes can count that high."
"Of course I can, how else could I grade your IQ, and keep threatening to arrest me. I mean is that all you got? Lost ammunition sweetie?" Maria taunted. "Oh no, don't arrest me," she patronized with a laugh before snorting, "please," Maria retorted as she scanned Michael up and down, "you wish."
"Maria, if I arrested you, New Jersey drivers' would be thanking me." He declared before he turned to look to Liz, "Look, Liz, forget Alana. She's a huge nut job, out of many, that Max made the mistake of getting involved with--"
"Thanks Michael," Max spat.
"--but believe me when I tell you Liz," Michael continued, ignoring Max's glare, "that both me and Isabel have made him pay for it. Isabel more than me because, hey, it's no secret, Isabel frickin' hates her with a passion."
"I can relate to the feeling." Maria mumbles under her breath.
"Anyway," Michael voiced, not answering back to Maria's comment because he didn't know whether she was referring to him, Courtney, or Alana. "My point is, Isabel hates her, I make cracks of her and Max avoids her, so you can stop being angry now."
"I'm not angry, Michael," Liz explained as she look directly to Max, "it's just, if he knew she was hosting this party, he should've told me, instead of having me stand here like an idiot and watch her flirt and touch him before I find out who she is."
"The man is a Political Interpeter for Christ's sake Liz, cut him a little slack." He pleaded, dodging Max's fist, when he atempted to punch him on the arm, and then continued to defend him. "You know he thinks you're adorable, so I don't see what the problem is."
"Uh, recap, flirting and touching." Maria reminds.
"Does she ever shut up?" Michael questioned rhetorically to both Max and Liz before shaking the remark from his head he had planned to answer to her in return and then held his hand by his head in frustration. "Help me out here Max, I mean, am I dating the girl or are you?"
"I mean, I don't know what else to say," Max started as he turned to face Liz, "I met her a while back, it was nothing, definitely not how she made it out to be. I know I should've mentioned it but it slipped my mind."
"And the flirting and touching?" Maria reminded again.
Touching Max's shoulder when he heard him exhale, Michael took a step forward and then pointed behind him with his thumb as he said, "all you gotta do is say the word Maxwell and I'll get my buddy Fly from narcotics," he offered, making Max laugh, "with his help, she'll get five years tops for possession."
"Michael," Liz warned.
"What? With visitations." Michael shrugged.
"Michael," Max warned as well, but with humor laced in his tone.
"The offers on the table," Michael reminded with a wink and then took a few steps back, waving his hand before him to insinuate to Max that the floor was his.
"There wasn't any touching or flirting," Max declared, causing Liz to gasp in disbelief.
"Oh, really?" Liz questioned before she moved infront of Michael and started to imitate Alana's behavior with him, "so all this, and this, and this..."
"Okay, okay," Max chuckled pulling her away from Michael, "I get your point."
"I didn't," Michael exclaimed, "show me again," he asked before Maria smacked him on the arm. "Why are you hitting me?"
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I can get your attention please," someone announce, stopping Maria from answering Michael. When the all turned to see it was Alana, standing infront of the veiled photographs and security guards. "First of all, I wanted to thank you all for coming tonight. It's been a pleasure, but if we can now get the lady of the hour to come up? Isabella, darling, where are you?" She asked, scanning the crowd as she covered her eyes from the spotlight that was on her. "Isabella?"
"Where is she?" Michael whispered to Max, who shrugged and began to look around from where he stood.
"Isabella?"
"Uh, over here."
"Do you see her?" Liz asked on her toes, unable to make out who the crowd was making way for.
"Oh, there you are darling," Alana giggled sophisticatedly as flashes of cameras dazzle in the applauding crowd.
"There she is," Max declared before he started to clap as well and then leaned closer to Liz. "Your friend, Alex, is with her."
"Really?" Liz questioned with surprise and then grabbed on to Maria's forearm as she got on her toes again to see him.
"What?" Maria questioned.
"Alex is there."
"Really?" Maria responded in the same anxiousness and then held on to Liz as the both tried to see passed the people in front of them. "I see him!" Maria cheered. "Alex!" She and Liz both waved to him, calling his name a few times before he finally spotted them and waved back. "He looks hot." Maria commented, never seeing him in a suit before.
"It's an art show, not a Chip n' Dale concert." Michael snickered as he crossed his arms in annoyance.
"Good evening," Isabel greeted once she reached the microphone, "tonight has gone really well, met a few people, sold a few pieces, but I'm pretty sure that's not what you want to hear right now," she stated making the crowd laugh. "You all came to see the unvieling," she added, displaying the curtains behind her, "but before I can cue the guards, I have to thank the people that inspired me to do these particular pieces." Straightening up, she scanned through the crowd until her eyes landed on Liz, standing beside Max. "The lovely Miss Elizabeth Parker," she announced pointing to Liz.
With the spotlight on her, Liz froze at the sound of her name and became suddenly mute to the questions Maria and Max were asking her.
"But," Isabel spoke again, making the spotlight return to her, "the person that actually made these pieces magic, my model, a real charmer, Mr. Alexander Whitman," she introduced before pointing to him and joining the crowd as they applauded.
"This guy is getting annoying," Michael retorted to Max in his ear.
"Come on, let's get closer," Maria suggested, grabbing Liz's hand to make her follow her.
"Hey," Max called out with a small laugh at the sight of Maria stealing Liz away into the crowd, "come on," he commanded as he signaled Michael to follow behind him.
"Maria, hold on," Liz giggled on how quick Maria was getting through the crowd. "And now, without further adu," Liz heard as she accidently bumped into a curly haired blonde. "Oh, sorry," she apologized, keeping her eyes on Maria's back.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Faceless in the Nude," they both heard, reaching the front of the crowd the second the veils were pulled off.
"Oh my God," both Maria and Liz gasped, stunned at the sight of four enlarge photgraphs of a naked, faceless man.
"There you are," Max proclaimed with joy when he spotted Liz, but immediately noticed the tears consuming in her eyes, "Liz, what happened?"
"What?" Michael questioned when he looked to Max, who looked as confused as he was before he finally looked to where Liz was still drawn to. "Shit," he cursed before he pulled Maria to him and let her bury her face in his chest to cry.
"It's Alex," Liz moused out in anguish when she recognized the background behind the faceless man, it being the inside of Alex's apartment, the same spot where they walked in on him posing for Isabel.
"Hey, what's going on?" Alex questioned, hopping down from the stage and then helping Isabel down right after.
"Alex," Liz called out dispiritedly before Maria quickly turned to face them, looking to Isabel in repulsion.
"Is this some kind of sick joke?" Maria questioned in tears.
"What?" Isabel responded in bewilderment.
"She didn't know, Maria," Michael defended.
"Maria, what's going on?" Alex questioned holding her back by her shoulders.
"Liz?" Max questioned instead, hoping for an explanation himself.
"It's nothing Maxwell," Michael answered instead as he and Liz exchanged looks, "she didn't know," he repeated in assurance.
"I know," Liz answered back in a low tone as she nodded and then turned to face Max, "it's getting late, I should go."
"Okay, let me get the car-"
"No. Max." Liz called out, stopping him from speaking as she looked sadly to her hand that was pressed on his chest and covered by his instantly. "I mean with Maria and Alex," she added before her eyes connected with his.
"Why?"
"Maxwell," Michael spoke, "just let her go tonight," he advised, causing Max to break his gaze from Liz to give him a confused look, "I'll tell you later."
"Okay," Max mumbled, looking to Liz again. "Just be careful," he bid, knowing she wasn't safe as long as Kyle was still missing.
"I'll call you." Liz promised as she stood on her toes and kissed him, a kiss she intended to be a short, brief one if Max hadn't held on to her to deepen it. "I'll call you," Liz repeated with her forehead resting against his, kissing him one last time before she finally pulled away.
"I'll call you later," Alex whispered to Isabel and then followed quietly behind Liz and Maria, meanwhile, Max watched helplessly as they squeezed through the first few people in the crowd and then turned to Michael for an explanation when they longer could be seen.
"What the hell was that about Michael?" Max asked demandingly.
"What did I do?" Isabel questioned right after.
"You know that case I'm working on, right? The one with Maria's friend and Liz's ex?" Michael questioned rhetorically while cracking his knuckles and then continued when Max and Isabel both responded with a nod. "Well, the whack job that popped them leaves these behind."
"Leaves what?" Max questioned as he shook his head, utterly confused.
"Pictures of vics without a face," Michael informed them, seeing Max and Isabel exchange looks before they looked back to him, "it's where we went this morning," he reminded to Max.
"Jesus, Michael," Isabel replied nervously, "I didn't know. It's just when Liz asked me about it, I just-I just thought it sounded like a cool idea."
"They'll cool off by tomorrow," Michael assured them with a shrug, "they just freaked out seeing Alex like that, that's all. Him being the apple of their eye or whatever and the pain in my ass."
"Shit," Max cursed as he rubbed the stubble on his cheek.
"What?"
"Alana's coming." He answered, pointing with his chin.
"Guys, if you want, you guys can go." Isabel suggested as she hugged herself.
"Really?" Max questioned unsure.
"Yeah, either way I have to stay behind with Misses Multiple Personalities over here and close up."
"Okay, but you're staying at our place tonight right?" Max questioned, getting a nod from Isabel in return. "I can sleep on the couch, doesn't seem like Uncle Kals coming back tonight either," he speculated with a shrug.
"Another girl?" Isabel questioned with a giggle of disbelief.
"The man has game." Michael added with admiration before Alana appeared behind Isabel.
"Isabella," Alana sighed in disappointment as she held her by her shoulders, "we got buyers from New York and you're chit-chatting with the family," she declared with a rich chuckle before she turned Isabel to face the crowd. "The good thing about family is," she spoke as they both started to walk, "they're always there, but buyers darling aren't, so go mingle."
<center>~~~~
7:50 p.m.</center>
"Oh my God, Isabella, you were a smash darling!" Alana cheered, sitting on the stage as she waved her cigarette holder about and watched as Isabel covered her photographs.
"Yeah, we sold more than I expected," Isabel replied in excitement as she walked over to the next photograph and cover it with a blue cloth that protected them from dirt and dust.
"Oh, honey, pick up your feet when you walk. I can hear you move from here."
"You know what?" Isabel retorted as she looked to the side pensively and then turned on her heel. "Why am I doing this?" She asked before dropping the art covers she had in her hands on the floor. "Shouldn't you be preserving my art?" Isabel questioned pointing to Alana before she stomped off toward the door that led to the gallery's back room exit. "I'm out of here," she voiced before pushing through the door.
"Isabella." Alana called out when she left. "Isabella, okay," she surrendered as she heard her voice echo throughout the empty gallery. "I promise I'll help, now come back," she called again as she tilted her head back and chuckled of amusement, a chuckle that immediately muted when she heard the heavy back room exit door close. "Isabella?" Alana called out as she stood up and started to head to the back but stopped when she heard the heavy metal door open again. "Isabella, it was a joke," she added apologetically with relief, waiting for the Isabel to come back out. "Isabel?" She questioned before she gasped at the sounds of the main light switches from the power box being turned off one-by-one and then the metal door closed again. "Isabel," Alana called out in a nervous panic as she turned a full 180 slowly to see that she was almost left in the dark, if it wasn't for the soft display lights that were still on. "This is not funny anymore," she argued angrily as she pushed the back door open and looked around, not seeing Isabel at all. "Bitch," she hissed as she moved to her coat hanging on the hook beside the back room exit and pulled out her lighter, "she's lucky she's worth money," she mumbled to herself as she ignited the lighter and moved to the power box, turning the main lights back on.
It was when she turned on the last switch that she yelp, startled by the loud sound of something falling in the gallery, "fuck," she muttered to herself, clutching her chest as she moved back out to the lighted gallery.
Poking her head out the door, her eyes instantly narrowed on the enlarged photograph that had fallen from it's display before stepping out completely and walking over to it. Looking at the back of the enlargement, she eyed at the label, reading "Not Nude Faceless - SN#34A836" before she picked it up and then lightly brushed the surface with hand before placing it back on display.
"What the hell?" She voiced after a double take to the photograph, noticing it was different from the one she had seen earlier. Different as in all the faceless pictures she set up for the show were of a man, meanwhile the one she was looking at was of a woman in a linen dress.
Stepping closer to look at the background, Alana's head snapped to the direction she came from when she again heard the sound of the backroom metal door opening again. "Isabel?" She whispered with a shiver before the main lights shut off again, this time, leaving only the display light that she was standing by on. She immediately pressed her back against the wall, squinting her eyes with attempts to see the back door in the dark, attempts that were put on hold when she heard the front door unlock and the sounds of the busy street spill inside before they were muted again by the closed door.
In tears, Alana slowly slid down to the ground, hearing the loudness of the footsteps clattering on the hardwood floors, and then began crawling into the dark. "Shit," she whimpered, knowing her crawl was limited by the restrictions of her tight dress.
Resting on her side, she catiously attempted to rip a slit on her dress while she looked below to the lit display since she no longer was able to hear the foots steps.
"Come on," she pleaded, biting her lip and she commenced with the first rip, that was minute compared to the second, which to her was as audible as the footsteps. "Shit," she winced knowing she had given her location away and then frantically crawled on the floor. "Shit. Shit." She cursed crying when she heard the footsteps again, only quicker, and then yelped again when she felt a pair of hands grab her both her ankles. "No!" She shouted in fear as the hands held her ankles securely. "Please," she pleaded before her cries were muffled by other pair that grabbed her by hair and covered her mouth.
Usually this fic gets updated every three but I was in the writing mood, it being my fourth fic updated, are you guys proud? Now I must say, this is the longest chapter I have ever written. EVER! So enjoy because it's funny, witty, suspenseful, Siskel & Ebert give it two thumbs up, lol. Wait, it's Ebert & Roeper now. Anywho, this I think is the creme of the creme, the theories should be going through the roof so my little detectives, put your thinking caps on and your spectacles b/c the clues and hints are endless in this chapter. Oh, sweetie, there you go under estimating us again.tequathisy wrote:Firstly there's no way the killer is Isabel (right?)
We're evil I tell ya! Dream on.tequathisy wrote:I really hope the guy at the airport isn't Cal. Seeing how he's MIA and all. But maybe if he is then we'll find out personal details about him like what he does for a living!!
Aerosmith, take it away! Dream on! Dream on! Dream on! Ha!!!! LMAO!janesdilemma wrote:Cal/yep... so dead
Awww, you think we're that evil?janesdilemma wrote:Max/Where are the clues to his job?I'm beginning to think it was a ploy to mention his 'interpreter job status' as a means to send us in one direction while you girls hit the back door. SURPRISE?!
Stop it, you're making me blush, LOL. She was cruchin' on him before the party and hooked up with him later on.janesdilemma wrote:Did Izzy hook up with Alex before the party? I cant remember... Cus if it was before, and now the blurry faces... hmmm.. *strokes chin*
I like where your heads at, lol.iequeen wrote:Ok knowing the two of you the killer might be some guy that we met in the first chapter for 2 seconds.
Well, thanks for the feedback kiddos, now on with the reading.
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<center>Chapter 21
Outside Art Gallery - 6:53p.m.</center>
"You sure you're not coming?" Michael questioned Courtney as he leaned against the passenger side with his head ducked to see her shake her head.
"It's not my kind of scene, Guerin," she answered indifferently before looking to the steering wheel and then back to him, "and it's not yours either."
Michael sighed at the sound of her persistence to isolate him from anyone but her. Shaking his head, he pulled out his cell phone from his back pocket to catch a glimpse of the time and then looked to her as he tucked it back in his pocket.
"What?" She questioned in offense from the annoyed look Michael was casting her way, but he didn't reply. He simply shook his head again in disappointment and closed the passenger side door. "Michael?" She called out, leaning to her side to watch him hold the gallery's glass door open for an upscale couple before he entered. "Fine! Go to your hooker then." She shouted, seeing a pedestrian looking her way in disgust. "What the hell are you looking at?" She yelled brutally as she turned on the ignition to the car and pulled out abruptly from her parking spot.
<center>Inside the Gallery</center>
Her sudden obsession was getting tiresome for him. True he noticed in their years of being partners that she had started to develop feelings for him, but he never responded towards them and it seemed to be working out fine despite that. He wondered if Max was right in his theories that her possessive behavior is escalating due to the threat she feels from Maria being around him. It was a crazy theory, but hearing the sounds of screeching tires, which he was absolutely certain it was from Courtney driving off angrily, caused him to consider talking to his Captain in regards to her obnoxious behavior.
Shaking the thought from his head, he began looking through the crowd from where he stood, in search of Max and the pixie that had magically bewitched his best friend, but ended up focusing on the shapely form of a petite blonde that had her back turned towards him. Tilting his head to the side, admiring the woman's assets, he coolly made his way to her and tapped confidently on her shoulder as he plotted his approach.
"What?" He heard the sweet smelling blonde answer before she turned around and revealed herself to be none other than his bickering enemy, Maria DeLuca. "What?" She repeated in frustration as she held her cell phone against her chest.
"Uh-have you seen Max?" He quickly replied after clearing his throat.
"He's probably pronouncing his love to Liz in the cliché corner there," she answered with a sarcastic snort, pointing to section of the gallery that displayed photographs of kissing couples before she returned to her phone call. "Alex, it's me, again, for like the hundredth time already. Where the hell are you?" Exhaling in desperation to know over Alex's well being, she nervously rubbed the smoothness of her neck and glanced to Michael when he snorted in annoyance. "I'm so worried about you," she continued, turning her back to Michael to continue leaving her message, "and Liz is beyond pissed so you better call us to let us know that you're okay, okay?"
He should've just walked away and left her to continue pining over Alex since he spotted Max at the bar, but he found his feet firmly planted on the ground, waiting for her to finish. Why, he didn't know, but as he waited, he looked over the silky dress material that wrapped her body approvingly, wondering again on how could Courtney possible feel threatened by her and why he suddenly felt the urge to cringe every time he heard her say Alex's name. It was a feeling that made him regret not joining Max at the bar, but when he looked towards the bar again, Max was no longer there.
<center>Other end of the gallery</center>
Liz had definitely seen terrible things in her time as an evidence technician, Doug Shellow's mangled remains including, but never had something so diminutive as a face being blurred caused her to be unrulingly afraid and angry at the same time.
Pulling out her cell phone from her tiny hand bag, she dialed for Claire's office line, ready to tear her a new one verbally since no one else but Claire Green could leak out a key item to the media for career recognition.
'You reached Claire Green...'
"Pick up," Liz muttered over the recording and then collected herself when she heard the tone to commence speaking, "Claire, it's me. I don't know what you're trying to pull, but releasing those photos is absolutely unethical. Expect to find a complaint filed to Clay and the review board tomorrow."
"Hey, is everything okay?"
Despite the chattering around her, she was startled by the sudden sound of Max's concern voice. "Jesus, you scared me," she voiced, turning to see Max balancing a champagne glass in one hand and a martini in the other.
"Sorry," he apologized with a small chuckle before noticing her attention to the drinks in his hands, "Oh, um, I wasn't sure on what to get so I got champagne and an apple martini."
"Um, an apple martini sounds great right about now," Liz replied with humoring relief before she relinquished the martini from his hand and carefully sipped the green liquid, making sure she held the lemon wedge in place at the brim of the glass.
"Thirsty?"
"Sorry," Liz blushed as she covered her lips with the back of her hands, "just a little nervous."
"Nervous? Why?" He questioned with an amused chuckle as he shoved his free hand in his pocket.
"I guess I'm feeling a little out of place here," she confessed as she looked at the two chic women that passed by them and then looked down at her dress.
"What is it?" Max questioned after she set her empty glass on one of the waiters trays that passed by her.
"I don't know what I was thinking in wearing this," she replied as she desperately tried to straighten a wrinkle in her dress, "I might of well just shown up in jeans and a t-shirt."
"Are you kidding? You look amazing tonight."
"Max, stop it. I'm a mess. Your friends are probably wondering what you see in me."
"First of all, none of these snobs are my friends, and if it were up to me, I'd be home right now, in bed, with you in my arms." He confessed, seeing her head lower to hide her flushed face. "But I promised Isabel I'd see her opening." He added, lifting her head up softly by her chin to see her rosy cheeks. "If you're really uncomfortable, I can call Michael to pick you and Maria up..."
"No. No. I'll stay and enjoy art with you." Liz smiled as she rolled her eyes playfully and then redirected her attention to the disturbing photograph that had become oblivious to her in Max presence. "Um, do you know anything about this piece?"
"Uh, no, not really," Max hummed as he looked quizzically at the photograph.
Looking carefully at the exposure, she began mentally checking off the things she was sure Michael would be demanding once he saw the photograph himself. Tracking the location the picture was blown up in would be damn near impossible to her. Not only would they have to call every Kinko's in the Bay Head area to ask if anyone blew up a picture of faceless person, they would have to also have to call every small chain business in the same field and even consider technicians, police, and every photographer in New Jersey that owns their own darkroom.
Mission Impossible indeed.
"I noticed it's not like any of the other photographs in her collection." Liz pointed out as she looked to him from the corner of her eye, assuming he probably saw the photograph as just a simple black and white picture and nothing more.
"Well, she does have some pictures that are veiled over there," he informed her as he pointed to the covered panels that were guarded by two gallery security guards and a line of velvet rope, "Maybe they're the same thing."
"Yeah, maybe," Liz replied with a shrug as she lowered her head.
"Maxwell?" They both heard before they noticed a 5'8", slender red head approaching them in a snug classical 1930's dress. "Max-well Evans." She announced after eyeing him up and down. "So, who's your friend darling?" She asked without looking to Liz.
"Alana Mocca," Max spoke nervously as he placed his hand on the small of Liz's back, "this is Elizabeth Parker."
"Nice to meet you." Liz replied courteously.
"Well, well, well, Maxwell Evans. Don't you just look...mmm yummy," she purred waving her cigarette holder about like a wand.
"Funny you should say that, Alana." Liz interrupted.
"Alana Mocca darling." Alana chuckled devilishly.
"Oooh, ok. Alana Mocca," Liz repeated as she looked to Max and flashed him an fake smile, "I was just telling Maxwell Evans how yummy he looked too. Wasn't I, darling?" Liz asked with a big smile, and sarcasm laced in her tone before she laughed along with Max's nervous chuckle.
"Um, Liz," Max coughed out as he pointed to Alana with his champagne glass, "Alana Mocca is the gallery owner. She hosts Isabel's work."
"To tell you the truth, Darling. Isabella Evans has been lacking in the art department if you know what I mean. I mean if me and you didn't have that glorious month in Alcapuco," she paused to pick lint off of Max's shirt, causing Liz to shift her weight, uneased by how flirtatious the woman was being with him. "I doubt anyone would've ever heard of Isabella Evans."
"I'm pretty sure her name is Isabel." Liz corrected.
"You're hosting her, aren't you?" Max reminded in Isabel's defense as he felt Liz attempt to pull away, something she would've done if it wasn't for his secure hold on her waist.
"Yes, yes, after her faceless pieces, it was hard not to." Alana chuckled before she snatched a champagne glass from one of the waiters that walked by.
"Faceless?" Liz replied in a gulp, noticing Alana's use of 'pieces' and not 'piece', meaning there was more then one faceless picture on display.
"Yes. The idea is absolutely brilliant. I mean who are we really but a bunch of faceless people. Society today allows clothing, style and location to define who we are."
"Yo," Michael announced loudly before he rest his arm on Max's shoulder and then looked to Maria when she stood by his side.
"God, Michael. Do you have to be that loud?" Maria snickered with her arms crossed.
"Well, well, well, Michael Guerin. I see you're still the same." Alana hissed as she folded her arms in offense.
"Holy shit, Alana Mocca," Michael laughed, surprised to see her. "You're not still pissed about that ticket Banks gave you, are you? You keep treating her bad and she'll keep handing you those."
"So it was her I just saw at the bar. Tell me Detective Twit, where is the little Doberman now? Outside with a leash I hope." She questioned, twiddling her fingers in disgust as she scanned Michael's appearance in distaste. "You know you should really put her to sleep."
"Hi, I'm Maria," Maria announced, extending her hand with an ear to ear grin. "Enemy of my enemy, my friend?"
"Pardon me?"
"Don't mind her." Liz replied instead, pulling Maria back. "Enemy of your friend, so your enemy," Liz whispered to her.
"Oh, gotcha," Maria whispered back before giving Liz "the wink" and "the gun" and then miraculously changed her demeanor with a scolding glare.
"Friend of yours Michael Guerin?"
"Why, you need one? Because I can always call Banks, she's working at the moment," Michael responded in humor as he held his arms wide open to display himself fully, "but if you want, I can be a darling and tell her to call you," he offered before scratching his eyebrow and pointing to her, "should she ask for Alana or Alice?"
"Michael," Max warned, knowing exactly what Michael was referring to.
"Well, I see this conversation has reached the same level as our police department, worthless," she snickered as she glared at Michael. "Darling," she called to Max before she looked to him, "when ever you're done with the appetizers, you know where to find me to get a cuisine," she purred and then turned on her heel, wiping her hair to hit both Max and Michael.
"He'll look you up," Michael shouted as she walked away, "under Maguire, right?"
"What's he talking about?" Liz whispered to Max while Michael started arguing with Maria.
"Her real name is Alice Maguire." Max whispered back.
"Hey, shut up already," Maria ordered to Michael, elbowing him on the side, "people are staring."
"So?"
"So, if you want to be embarrassing, wait until I leave at least," she huffed as she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
"She's right Michael," Max supported, "we're here for Isabel, remember?"
"Come on, Maxwell. I made nice with her and as for Isabel, I really don't think she would've minded either. You and I both know that if Isabel were here, she would be saying the same thing to her."
"Who the hell was she?"
"She's the host for tonight's opening," Max answered Maria and then looked to Liz when she managed to slip out of his hold. "That's all she is."
"But she was your girlfriend at some point right?" Liz questioned in a calm tone to hide the fact that she was upset.
"Not exactly."
"Michael?" Liz called out, questioning him instead for her answer.
"Huh?"
"Oh, so now you're deaf?" Maria instigated.
"I didn't hear her, alright."
"She's standing right infront of you."
"I can see that."
"Good for you, you got one out of five senses working. Maybe you want to go for two, can you smell the bullshit? I know I can."
"Keep talking and you're gonna be tasting prison food," he threatened, arching both his eyebrows, "that's sense number three if blondes can count that high."
"Of course I can, how else could I grade your IQ, and keep threatening to arrest me. I mean is that all you got? Lost ammunition sweetie?" Maria taunted. "Oh no, don't arrest me," she patronized with a laugh before snorting, "please," Maria retorted as she scanned Michael up and down, "you wish."
"Maria, if I arrested you, New Jersey drivers' would be thanking me." He declared before he turned to look to Liz, "Look, Liz, forget Alana. She's a huge nut job, out of many, that Max made the mistake of getting involved with--"
"Thanks Michael," Max spat.
"--but believe me when I tell you Liz," Michael continued, ignoring Max's glare, "that both me and Isabel have made him pay for it. Isabel more than me because, hey, it's no secret, Isabel frickin' hates her with a passion."
"I can relate to the feeling." Maria mumbles under her breath.
"Anyway," Michael voiced, not answering back to Maria's comment because he didn't know whether she was referring to him, Courtney, or Alana. "My point is, Isabel hates her, I make cracks of her and Max avoids her, so you can stop being angry now."
"I'm not angry, Michael," Liz explained as she look directly to Max, "it's just, if he knew she was hosting this party, he should've told me, instead of having me stand here like an idiot and watch her flirt and touch him before I find out who she is."
"The man is a Political Interpeter for Christ's sake Liz, cut him a little slack." He pleaded, dodging Max's fist, when he atempted to punch him on the arm, and then continued to defend him. "You know he thinks you're adorable, so I don't see what the problem is."
"Uh, recap, flirting and touching." Maria reminds.
"Does she ever shut up?" Michael questioned rhetorically to both Max and Liz before shaking the remark from his head he had planned to answer to her in return and then held his hand by his head in frustration. "Help me out here Max, I mean, am I dating the girl or are you?"
"I mean, I don't know what else to say," Max started as he turned to face Liz, "I met her a while back, it was nothing, definitely not how she made it out to be. I know I should've mentioned it but it slipped my mind."
"And the flirting and touching?" Maria reminded again.
Touching Max's shoulder when he heard him exhale, Michael took a step forward and then pointed behind him with his thumb as he said, "all you gotta do is say the word Maxwell and I'll get my buddy Fly from narcotics," he offered, making Max laugh, "with his help, she'll get five years tops for possession."
"Michael," Liz warned.
"What? With visitations." Michael shrugged.
"Michael," Max warned as well, but with humor laced in his tone.
"The offers on the table," Michael reminded with a wink and then took a few steps back, waving his hand before him to insinuate to Max that the floor was his.
"There wasn't any touching or flirting," Max declared, causing Liz to gasp in disbelief.
"Oh, really?" Liz questioned before she moved infront of Michael and started to imitate Alana's behavior with him, "so all this, and this, and this..."
"Okay, okay," Max chuckled pulling her away from Michael, "I get your point."
"I didn't," Michael exclaimed, "show me again," he asked before Maria smacked him on the arm. "Why are you hitting me?"
"Ladies and gentlemen, if I can get your attention please," someone announce, stopping Maria from answering Michael. When the all turned to see it was Alana, standing infront of the veiled photographs and security guards. "First of all, I wanted to thank you all for coming tonight. It's been a pleasure, but if we can now get the lady of the hour to come up? Isabella, darling, where are you?" She asked, scanning the crowd as she covered her eyes from the spotlight that was on her. "Isabella?"
"Where is she?" Michael whispered to Max, who shrugged and began to look around from where he stood.
"Isabella?"
"Uh, over here."
"Do you see her?" Liz asked on her toes, unable to make out who the crowd was making way for.
"Oh, there you are darling," Alana giggled sophisticatedly as flashes of cameras dazzle in the applauding crowd.
"There she is," Max declared before he started to clap as well and then leaned closer to Liz. "Your friend, Alex, is with her."
"Really?" Liz questioned with surprise and then grabbed on to Maria's forearm as she got on her toes again to see him.
"What?" Maria questioned.
"Alex is there."
"Really?" Maria responded in the same anxiousness and then held on to Liz as the both tried to see passed the people in front of them. "I see him!" Maria cheered. "Alex!" She and Liz both waved to him, calling his name a few times before he finally spotted them and waved back. "He looks hot." Maria commented, never seeing him in a suit before.
"It's an art show, not a Chip n' Dale concert." Michael snickered as he crossed his arms in annoyance.
"Good evening," Isabel greeted once she reached the microphone, "tonight has gone really well, met a few people, sold a few pieces, but I'm pretty sure that's not what you want to hear right now," she stated making the crowd laugh. "You all came to see the unvieling," she added, displaying the curtains behind her, "but before I can cue the guards, I have to thank the people that inspired me to do these particular pieces." Straightening up, she scanned through the crowd until her eyes landed on Liz, standing beside Max. "The lovely Miss Elizabeth Parker," she announced pointing to Liz.
With the spotlight on her, Liz froze at the sound of her name and became suddenly mute to the questions Maria and Max were asking her.
"But," Isabel spoke again, making the spotlight return to her, "the person that actually made these pieces magic, my model, a real charmer, Mr. Alexander Whitman," she introduced before pointing to him and joining the crowd as they applauded.
"This guy is getting annoying," Michael retorted to Max in his ear.
"Come on, let's get closer," Maria suggested, grabbing Liz's hand to make her follow her.
"Hey," Max called out with a small laugh at the sight of Maria stealing Liz away into the crowd, "come on," he commanded as he signaled Michael to follow behind him.
"Maria, hold on," Liz giggled on how quick Maria was getting through the crowd. "And now, without further adu," Liz heard as she accidently bumped into a curly haired blonde. "Oh, sorry," she apologized, keeping her eyes on Maria's back.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Faceless in the Nude," they both heard, reaching the front of the crowd the second the veils were pulled off.
"Oh my God," both Maria and Liz gasped, stunned at the sight of four enlarge photgraphs of a naked, faceless man.
"There you are," Max proclaimed with joy when he spotted Liz, but immediately noticed the tears consuming in her eyes, "Liz, what happened?"
"What?" Michael questioned when he looked to Max, who looked as confused as he was before he finally looked to where Liz was still drawn to. "Shit," he cursed before he pulled Maria to him and let her bury her face in his chest to cry.
"It's Alex," Liz moused out in anguish when she recognized the background behind the faceless man, it being the inside of Alex's apartment, the same spot where they walked in on him posing for Isabel.
"Hey, what's going on?" Alex questioned, hopping down from the stage and then helping Isabel down right after.
"Alex," Liz called out dispiritedly before Maria quickly turned to face them, looking to Isabel in repulsion.
"Is this some kind of sick joke?" Maria questioned in tears.
"What?" Isabel responded in bewilderment.
"She didn't know, Maria," Michael defended.
"Maria, what's going on?" Alex questioned holding her back by her shoulders.
"Liz?" Max questioned instead, hoping for an explanation himself.
"It's nothing Maxwell," Michael answered instead as he and Liz exchanged looks, "she didn't know," he repeated in assurance.
"I know," Liz answered back in a low tone as she nodded and then turned to face Max, "it's getting late, I should go."
"Okay, let me get the car-"
"No. Max." Liz called out, stopping him from speaking as she looked sadly to her hand that was pressed on his chest and covered by his instantly. "I mean with Maria and Alex," she added before her eyes connected with his.
"Why?"
"Maxwell," Michael spoke, "just let her go tonight," he advised, causing Max to break his gaze from Liz to give him a confused look, "I'll tell you later."
"Okay," Max mumbled, looking to Liz again. "Just be careful," he bid, knowing she wasn't safe as long as Kyle was still missing.
"I'll call you." Liz promised as she stood on her toes and kissed him, a kiss she intended to be a short, brief one if Max hadn't held on to her to deepen it. "I'll call you," Liz repeated with her forehead resting against his, kissing him one last time before she finally pulled away.
"I'll call you later," Alex whispered to Isabel and then followed quietly behind Liz and Maria, meanwhile, Max watched helplessly as they squeezed through the first few people in the crowd and then turned to Michael for an explanation when they longer could be seen.
"What the hell was that about Michael?" Max asked demandingly.
"What did I do?" Isabel questioned right after.
"You know that case I'm working on, right? The one with Maria's friend and Liz's ex?" Michael questioned rhetorically while cracking his knuckles and then continued when Max and Isabel both responded with a nod. "Well, the whack job that popped them leaves these behind."
"Leaves what?" Max questioned as he shook his head, utterly confused.
"Pictures of vics without a face," Michael informed them, seeing Max and Isabel exchange looks before they looked back to him, "it's where we went this morning," he reminded to Max.
"Jesus, Michael," Isabel replied nervously, "I didn't know. It's just when Liz asked me about it, I just-I just thought it sounded like a cool idea."
"They'll cool off by tomorrow," Michael assured them with a shrug, "they just freaked out seeing Alex like that, that's all. Him being the apple of their eye or whatever and the pain in my ass."
"Shit," Max cursed as he rubbed the stubble on his cheek.
"What?"
"Alana's coming." He answered, pointing with his chin.
"Guys, if you want, you guys can go." Isabel suggested as she hugged herself.
"Really?" Max questioned unsure.
"Yeah, either way I have to stay behind with Misses Multiple Personalities over here and close up."
"Okay, but you're staying at our place tonight right?" Max questioned, getting a nod from Isabel in return. "I can sleep on the couch, doesn't seem like Uncle Kals coming back tonight either," he speculated with a shrug.
"Another girl?" Isabel questioned with a giggle of disbelief.
"The man has game." Michael added with admiration before Alana appeared behind Isabel.
"Isabella," Alana sighed in disappointment as she held her by her shoulders, "we got buyers from New York and you're chit-chatting with the family," she declared with a rich chuckle before she turned Isabel to face the crowd. "The good thing about family is," she spoke as they both started to walk, "they're always there, but buyers darling aren't, so go mingle."
<center>~~~~
7:50 p.m.</center>
"Oh my God, Isabella, you were a smash darling!" Alana cheered, sitting on the stage as she waved her cigarette holder about and watched as Isabel covered her photographs.
"Yeah, we sold more than I expected," Isabel replied in excitement as she walked over to the next photograph and cover it with a blue cloth that protected them from dirt and dust.
"Oh, honey, pick up your feet when you walk. I can hear you move from here."
"You know what?" Isabel retorted as she looked to the side pensively and then turned on her heel. "Why am I doing this?" She asked before dropping the art covers she had in her hands on the floor. "Shouldn't you be preserving my art?" Isabel questioned pointing to Alana before she stomped off toward the door that led to the gallery's back room exit. "I'm out of here," she voiced before pushing through the door.
"Isabella." Alana called out when she left. "Isabella, okay," she surrendered as she heard her voice echo throughout the empty gallery. "I promise I'll help, now come back," she called again as she tilted her head back and chuckled of amusement, a chuckle that immediately muted when she heard the heavy back room exit door close. "Isabella?" Alana called out as she stood up and started to head to the back but stopped when she heard the heavy metal door open again. "Isabella, it was a joke," she added apologetically with relief, waiting for the Isabel to come back out. "Isabel?" She questioned before she gasped at the sounds of the main light switches from the power box being turned off one-by-one and then the metal door closed again. "Isabel," Alana called out in a nervous panic as she turned a full 180 slowly to see that she was almost left in the dark, if it wasn't for the soft display lights that were still on. "This is not funny anymore," she argued angrily as she pushed the back door open and looked around, not seeing Isabel at all. "Bitch," she hissed as she moved to her coat hanging on the hook beside the back room exit and pulled out her lighter, "she's lucky she's worth money," she mumbled to herself as she ignited the lighter and moved to the power box, turning the main lights back on.
It was when she turned on the last switch that she yelp, startled by the loud sound of something falling in the gallery, "fuck," she muttered to herself, clutching her chest as she moved back out to the lighted gallery.
Poking her head out the door, her eyes instantly narrowed on the enlarged photograph that had fallen from it's display before stepping out completely and walking over to it. Looking at the back of the enlargement, she eyed at the label, reading "Not Nude Faceless - SN#34A836" before she picked it up and then lightly brushed the surface with hand before placing it back on display.
"What the hell?" She voiced after a double take to the photograph, noticing it was different from the one she had seen earlier. Different as in all the faceless pictures she set up for the show were of a man, meanwhile the one she was looking at was of a woman in a linen dress.
Stepping closer to look at the background, Alana's head snapped to the direction she came from when she again heard the sound of the backroom metal door opening again. "Isabel?" She whispered with a shiver before the main lights shut off again, this time, leaving only the display light that she was standing by on. She immediately pressed her back against the wall, squinting her eyes with attempts to see the back door in the dark, attempts that were put on hold when she heard the front door unlock and the sounds of the busy street spill inside before they were muted again by the closed door.
In tears, Alana slowly slid down to the ground, hearing the loudness of the footsteps clattering on the hardwood floors, and then began crawling into the dark. "Shit," she whimpered, knowing her crawl was limited by the restrictions of her tight dress.
Resting on her side, she catiously attempted to rip a slit on her dress while she looked below to the lit display since she no longer was able to hear the foots steps.
"Come on," she pleaded, biting her lip and she commenced with the first rip, that was minute compared to the second, which to her was as audible as the footsteps. "Shit," she winced knowing she had given her location away and then frantically crawled on the floor. "Shit. Shit." She cursed crying when she heard the footsteps again, only quicker, and then yelped again when she felt a pair of hands grab her both her ankles. "No!" She shouted in fear as the hands held her ankles securely. "Please," she pleaded before her cries were muffled by other pair that grabbed her by hair and covered her mouth.
gasp an update, lol. No, no, it's not a mirage, lol. It's really an update.
AND! In the last chapter, Michael calls Alex's place, where the girls stayed the night, to tell Liz that they found another body.