♠ C A R D ♠
She sat in the back of the police cruiser while the two detectives tried to determine what they were going to do with her. The handcuffs were uncomfortable, and she couldn't get to her pocket to get the thing she was trying to pull out. One of them walked back to the door and opened it up suddenly, causing her to jump a little.
"Hey, settle down in there, or we're gonna take you downtown now," he commanded. He had a thick accent and he was overweight. He smelled of cigarettes and coffee, and Kestrel's nose wrinkled, but she tried not to appear bitchy and nodded.
"It's just that, well, I'm hungry and I have some candy in my pocket, but I can't reach it," she said. She made sure to soften her voice, to look at the ground. She could appear submissive if she wanted to. She could pretend to be that stupid human.
His look didn't soften any. "You should have thought of that before you threw that girl into the table. You know she's lucky she doesn't have brain damage? You broads today, no class," he muttered. He waddled away.
Kestrel growled to herself. That stupid blonde bitch that had gotten in her way - gotten between her and that fine specimen of a man she'd zeroed in on. She didn't know why she wanted to kick her ass so badly, but she'd almost succeeded before the hottie had pulled them apart. Bad first impression, Kestrel thought to herself with a bitter laugh. Whatever. His loss. He can nurse blondie's wounds.
The fat cop was starting to piss her off. They weren't bringing her in, or she'd be halfway there by now. No, they wanted to humiliate her by sitting her in the car in front of the club while everyone came outside. Kestrel took it like a champ, though, and just relaxed in the seat. Finally, they both got in and the car lurched forward.
Whoops, guess I thought wrong. Oh well, I'll just have to call Bambi to come bail me out, she thought as she rolled her eyes.
At a stop light, she began to fidget again. The younger officer turned around to look at her. "What you doin' back there?"
"I just wanted my candy, but he wouldn't get it for me," she said, nodding at the fat one. She looked the younger one square in the eye, sizing him up. He was new to the job - she could tell by how he smelled. Like shoe polish and chewing gum. "If you get it for me, I'll give you a piece," she said with a hopeful smile.
"Sure, okay. Turn around, nice and slow," he advised. He ignored the look the man driving gave him and reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out a few pieces of candy. He held them up to the light - translucent and octagonal in shape, secured inside a clear plastic wrapper.
"Try the green one. It's delicious," she promised him.
He nodded and popped one in his mouth, savouring the taste as it hit his tongue. He didn't even offer her the candy she'd given him back, and instead seemed to return to his own thoughts in silence. This went on for about five minutes, and then Kestrel leaned forward.
"Let me out," she instructed.
The younger officer turned to the older officer. "Stop the car," he commanded.
"What?" the older man exclaimed. "Listen kid, you ain't been around long so let me fill you in on a secret - all broads with a pretty smile and a nice rack are gonna act all sexy until you give 'em what they want, then? Ka-bam, goodbye," he said. "Nah, be quiet." He waved his partner off and continued to drive. To his annoyance, they rolled up to another stop light. He didn't even see it coming when he was cracked in the head with his partner's billy club.
The young man exited the car, then opened Kestrel's door for her. He undid her cuffs and stood, silently, waiting his next instructions.
Kestrel patted him on the face. "There's a good boy," she crooned. "Ditch my paperwork. Go back to work like nothing happened. Forget you ever saw me," she commanded.
He turned, like a zombie, and began following her orders as she walked down the street and hailed a taxi. As she got in, she reached into her jacket and pulled out another piece of candy, along with a business card for Wicked Brew - Bambi Kane's side-business. Her special candy was to die for.
"Want some?" she offered the driver with a bright smile. "It'll be the best piece you ever tasted," she promised, the green candy pinched between her fingers as she dangled it before him.
