Fake Fan Fiction ❯ FAKE in Love: Act XII, Costumes and Bait ❯ Chapter 4

Warnings and Disclaimers: I'm not Sanami Matoh. I'm not making any money off of this. This is yaoi. Set in the FAKE in Love timeline. So sleepy, too sleepy to be clever…

 

The phone jangled loudly and Ryo jerked out of sleep, his eyes blinking quickly. He felt Dee stir next to him and Ryo yawned as he rolled onto his stomach and picked up the phone.

“Hello?...Ah, Bikky, let me guess, you want to do something today and you forgot to ask permission last night…Because I'm psychic…Look Bikky, you woke me up, I'm tempted to say no just on principle…I know it's after ten…No, I don't work today…Bikky, why are you calling?...And when will you be back?...Okay, fine. Be good. I'll see you then,” Ryo said with a yawn. “Bye.”

He hung up and flopped back into his pillow, sighing as he shook his head.

“That damn kid,” Dee murmured. “I was having a really good dream.”

Ryo chuckled quietly. “Have you ever noticed how much of the day we spend laying around in bed?”

“Just making up for lost time,” Dee said. “It took me almost two years to get you into bed, I'm damn well going to get back every minute I missed.”

Ryo chuckled again and arched, his whole body shifting with the movement. Dee watched as sinewy muscle shifted beneath soft skin, the movement almost catlike as Ryo stretched and buried his face back in his pillow. Dee rolled closer, the bed shifting beneath his weight.

Ryo glanced at the clock and then closed his eyes. They could sleep all day if they wanted to, and at this moment, he definitely wanted to. If Dee would just quit moving around so much he could probably fall back asleep pretty quickly.

Dee pulled one of Ryo's arms around him, resting it across his chest as he sighed with contentment. He molded his body to Ryo's, one leg thrown over his partner as he smiled.

“You're very demanding in the morning,” Ryo murmured. “We should get up.”

“Mmph.”

“Maybe do some laundry.”

“Mmph.”

“Pay bills.”

“Mmph.”

“Get something done before tonight.”

“Mmph.”

Both remained still, lounging lazily together as the sun played across the blinds. Ryo sighed.

“At least we should shower and get dressed,” he said sleepily.

“How about breakfast in bed instead?” Dee asked.

Ryo smiled and chuckled a little. “Alright.”

His eyes slid closed as Dee rolled away, a long sigh escaping Ryo. He heard some shuffling and then a strange tearing sound as the bed shifted and pulled under Dee's returning weight. He frowned and opened his eyes and Dee held out half the Nestle Crunch bar.

“Bon appetite,” Dee said with a grin.

 

Ryo juggled the grocery bags as he walked, a light frown on his face as he glanced around the street.

“Dammit,” he muttered as one of the bags ripped loudly.

He fumbled a little more with them and somehow managed to successfully keep everything from spilling out. Evening was darkening overhead, the city now lighting up with electricity and brilliance as Ryo walked. His movements were closely observed by a dark car that always remained a couple blocks back.

Ryo sighed and barely managed to flag down a cab without dropping anything. He shoved all the groceries inside and climbed in after them, quickly prattling off his address. Grocery shopping was always a lot easier when Bikky or Dee came with. Of course it was also more expensive; his son and lover were horrendous impulse shoppers. Ryo sighed and leaned back in his seat.

The car rolled steadily after the cab, carefully always keeping it in sight.

Ryo paid the driver and gave him a standard tip, smiling a goodnight as he climbed out and tugged his groceries after him. He juggled them again, his fingers struggling to pull out his keys, which he quickly clamped between his teeth. He was half-way to the apartment building door when the long car pulled to a stop behind him. He paused and Dee sighed heavily as he and Rose climbed out.

“Strike one,” Dee said tiredly. “Here, give me those.”

He took one of the bags from Ryo's arms and pulled the keys from his mouth.

“Thanks. I almost dropped everything about six times.”

“I noticed,” Dee said with a grin.

“He kept trying to get out of the car and help you,” Rose said flatly.

Dee shrugged. “Couldn't help myself. Should we try again tomorrow night?”

It was the stupidest plan on the face of the Earth in the entire history of mankind. At least, in Dee Laytner's opinion. Vones had made no appearance anywhere since they had successfully found evidence that pinned him with a murder rap. He had made no moves, except an attempt at acquiring a certain brown haired sharpshooter. So the plan was actually pretty obvious. Ryo wandered around alone, running errands or shopping, as Rose and Dee observed from a distance. It had taken practically two weeks to get the Commissioner to agree to it, and Dee found himself wishing Rose had been more firm with his refusal. Despite how competent his partner was, despite his strength and intelligence, Dee didn't like risking him like this. It was a stupid plan.

“You can't grocery shop two nights in a row without it looking suspicious,” Rose said. “You'll need to go somewhere else.”

Ryo brightened. “How about a bookstore?”

“God help us,” Dee moaned.

 

Ryo handed over the paperwork and Rose sighed as he read through it.

“Outstanding job, as always Detective.”

“Thank you sir.”

There was a loud knock at his door and Rose shook his head and leaned irritably back in his chair.

“Diana, if this isn't work related don't even bother to come in.”

Ryo smiled and Diana scowled as she pushed the door open and stormed into Rose's office.

“You arrogant ass, of course it's work related. How'd you know it was me anyway?”

“No one knocks like you do, Dee Dee,” Rose said sweetly. “It's one of your darling traits.”

“Oh Berkey, you tease. I'm a married woman,” she giggled. “Anyway…”

She dropped a file on Rose's desk and brushed a well manicured hand back through her hair.

“Take a look, Alicia Grant's back in town. We're pretty sure that Vones will make a move for her as soon as he can.”

“So the FBI's staking out her place?” Rose asked.

“Yes, though she's not pleased about it,” her eyes slid to Ryo. “I thought a phone call from an old friend might help to calm her down.”

Ryo shrugged a little. “I guess I could, but I haven't spoken to her since…”

His voice faded and he shrugged again.

“Don't worry,” Diana said with a half smile. “I'm sure she remembers you. She was very fond of you Ryo, her own personal little tracker. She said no one has ever been able to find her as fast as you could.”

Diana grinned. “There's that sexy blush.”

Ryo shot her an annoyed glare but Diana just chuckled.

“Well, that's everything,” she said. “I just wanted to keep you appraised on what the FBI's up to and maybe find out what you PD boys are doing. Come on Berkeley, you can't expect me to believe that you don't have something in the works.”

Rose smirked and stared silently back at Diana. A long moment passed and she scowled at him again.

“Fine, keep your little secrets, but knowing you, you'll need FBI back-up before it's over. I'll tell them to patch you through to me when you call. Bye boys, I'm off to lunch. I'll tell Drake you said hi.”

“Bye Diana,” Ryo said and lightly pecked her cheek. “It's always nice to see you.”

“It's nice to see you too,” Diana said. “Don't forget to call Alicia.”

“I won't.”

“Bye Diana,” Rose said.

Diana paused in the doorway and gave Rose an almost sheepish grin.

“By the way Berkeley, I dropped your name and phone number to a girl down in the receptionist pool, I thought you might be interested. She'll call you sometime this week.”

Rose glared at her and Diana laughed as she shut the door.

“Damn that woman,” Rose grumbled. “Ever since she got married she's become certain that you can't possibly be happy unless you're attached to someone else.”

Ryo laughed and shook his head. “She just wants you to be happy.”

“I just want her to leave me alone,” Rose said simply. “Here, take these back to your partner and tell him to learn some basic penmanship, I can't read his chicken scratches.”

Rose paused and then smirked again.

“On second thought, I'll do it myself.”

 

“Ryo?”

Ryo paused and glanced over, a shadow drifting across his face as Erin Richardson stared at him. Erin flinched and stared down at the floor.

“Er, I think I owe you an apology,” Erin said stiffly. “For Halloween, I, well, I had too much to drink, and…I don't know what I said, but I'm sure that I deserved it.”

Ryo stared at him and Erin sighed heavily.

“Really, I'm sorry.”

Ryo nodded slightly and started back down the hall. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was just another ploy.

 

Dee leaned back in his chair and watched as Ryo dialed the phone, a slightly nervous expression on his partner's face. Ryo sighed and rested his chin in his palm, his eyes meeting Dee's. He gave Dee a small smile and then jumped a little.

“Hello? Yes, this is Detective MacLean for Mrs. Grant…Yes, I'll hold.”

“They put me on hold too,” Dee said. “I think I had--”

“Yes, hello? Alicia, hi, it's…yes, that's right.”

Ryo gave Dee an apologetic smile for cutting him off and then laughed.

“Yes, the bloodhound, that's me.”

“Hello Ryo, how have you been?” Alicia asked brightly.

“Alright, alright. And you?”

Ryo frowned a little. His voice was echoing strangely through the phone and he couldn't help but think that he was talking to Alicia through a speaker phone. This would make things more difficult; he'd have to be especially careful about what he said.

“I'm fine, now what are you calling about?”

“Well…Alicia, do you think that you could take me off of speaker phone for this?”

Alicia chuckled quietly. “You always were a sharp one. Don't worry, it's just me here, I'm on the treadmill so it's easier to talk like this.”

Ryo's frown shifted and he sighed.

“Alright, fine. Alicia, have you ever heard of a man called Terrance Vones?”

“Vones? Yes, he's a major player on the other side of town, of course that's just what I've overheard in certain circles that I am currently acquainted with.”

Alicia chuckled again and Ryo couldn't help but smile.

“Of course,” he agreed. “I wouldn't dream of insinuating that you were somehow involved in anything illegal.”

“Good boy. Now what about Vones?”

“I…I'm having a hard time with this.”

“Why?”

Ryo sighed again. It pained him to know that he was speaking to a woman who was friendly and full of life, a woman who laughed easily and was comfortable in most any social situation. And yet, this was the same woman who had pulled the trigger and shot her husband in cold blood. And the same woman who was currently one of the city's most notorious crime bosses. Should he really be giving her information that could help her? Ryo closed his eyes. Of course, better the devil you know. For all her faults, Alicia was a savvy criminal, and violent crime had actually decreased since she had taken over. According to the rumors, she held the reins tightly on her people and didn't stand for unnecessary violence. She claimed it was a policy that she had adopted from her late husband. Ryo couldn't help the bitter flicker that raced through him.

“Look, Alicia,” Ryo said finally. “Just keep an eye out. Vones is trying to make a move and there's…well, there's only one person left in his way.”

A long pause passed between them and Ryo waited.

“I see,” Alicia said finally. “That explains the FBI attention. Tell Diana you did your duty, and I won't mess with her agents. So what have you been up to Ryo? Anything exciting?”

“No, no,” Ryo said. “Just the usual.”

“I'm going to a benefit tonight,” Alicia said. “It's supposed to be all glamorous, but I'm betting it's going to be exhausting.”

Ryo laughed. “How exciting.”

“And how will you be spending your evening?”

“I'm probably going to check out a bookstore,” Ryo said. “I'm looking for a couple of new books to read.”

Alicia laughed. “Now my evening really does sound horrendous. Thanks for calling Ryo, I've got to go now. It's time to start jogging for real.”

“Goodbye Alicia.”

“Goodbye Ryo.”

Ryo hung up slowly and glanced at Dee.

“Well that's done.”

 

Alicia stared at the man seated across from her.

“How's that?” Alicia said. “Are you satisfied?”

Terrance Vones smiled slightly and shrugged. Alicia shook her head.

“Honestly, this infatuation is going to get you into trouble.”

“Now we know what they're up to,” Vones pointed out.

“I already knew,” Alicia said. “It's not surprising that they can't imagine that you've got a partner in this.”

Her eyes flashed suddenly. “A partner you had better not double cross.”

“I'm not stupid,” Vones said and played a little with the phone, a small smile on his lips.

She knew what he was thinking and she knew there was no point in trying to stop him.

“Sometimes I wonder,” Alicia grumbled.