Post by blackbetty on Feb 1, 2010 2:56:18 GMT -6
(Note from Melanie: Though I realize this post, and many of my others, are rather, uh, LENGTHY you could say... I don't expect anything even remotely as long in return. I know I have a really bad tendency of writing too much, so please don't feel intimidated at all! If you wanna respond, please feel free! Thank you!)
After pulling into the valet and surrendering her rental car keys, Melanie stepped through the front doors of the resort hotel. She'd only had about 5 minutes here earlier, just to drop of her bags, check-in and leave.
She approached the front desk clerk and leaned slightly against the counter, " 'ello. I'm Melanie O'Connell... I already checked in I just need to pick up my room key."
The petite brunette girl smiled brightly, "Certainly Mrs. O'Connell. I just need to see a photo ID?"
"It's just Miss. Hasn't been Missus in quite some time." Melanie spoke with an inflection of sadness in her voice. She reached into her inner jacket pocket, pulled out her wallet then fished out her driver's license to show to the girl.
"How many keys would you like Miss O'Connell?" the girl asked.
"One is fine." The girl swiped a new electronic key and handed it to Melanie inside a paper key packet with her room number on it.
"And of course, your bags have already been delivered to your room. Was there anything else I could do for you, Miss O'Connell?" The girl was far too peppy for Melanie's mood.
"No. I'm perfectly fine thank you," Melanie answered.
"If you need anything, let us know. Enjoy your stay at the Anatole."
Melanie just nodded before she picked up the small shoulder bag she'd taken with her from the car, and made her way to the elevators. Her room was on the 20th floor. High, but surprisingly many floors still to go to the top. After the short elevator ride, it finally reached the 20th floor where she stepped out and walked down the hallways to her room. 2037.
Once inside she set down her small duffle by the door. For once the department had decided to spring for something more comfortable than the usual motels they put her in. This was now her fourth, and thankfully last week on the road. Guess they thought she deserved a little pampering after all the BS she'd been putting up with.
The room was a one bedroom suite, with separate living space and bedroom. But it was the bathroom that impressed her most. Melanie could swear most of these resort bathtubs were meant to accommodate a small orgy. She could probably fit, her, Greg, a few others from the precinct and some of her pack buddies in there. Oh god! There was a mental picture that was not going to leave her for a long time.
She turned the water on in the tub and tested the temperature before corking the drain. As she let it fill, which might take fifteen minutes just for that, she dug an MP3 player from her duffle and plugged it into the stereo dock in the bedroom. She selected her "mood jazz" playlist and within seconds, Frankie's silky smooth voice filled the apartment-sized suite.
After she got undressed, she sprinkled some of the hotel provided bubble bath and bath salts into the water before sliding herself into the over-sized tub. Mmm. This was exactly what she needed. Due to her naturally warm skin, the water still seemed cool despite the fact that it was steaming. It felt really good on her skin and muscles.
Early evening had already set in. She had no imminent plans until tomorrow. So she let herself completely drift away in the moment. So absorbed in her temporary relaxation and world of bubbly warm bliss, with her music as loud as it was, she never heard when her phone started ringing about ten minutes into her bath.
She didn't emerge from the bath until the water had run chilly and her playlist ended, which was over an hour later.
When she exited the bathroom, she had a towel wrapped securely around her body and another that she used to dry her hair.
When she realized her phone was going off she rushed to her pile of clothes and dug through her jeans on the floor until she came out with a Blackberry cell phone. She glanced at the screen and her brow furrowed. What would her partner Greg be calling her about?
She pushed the answer button, "O'Connell speaking."
"What the fuck Mel? I've been trying to call you for over an hour?"
"Well, if you must know, I was in the tub. And thank you so much. It's good to hear your voice, too. I'm just peaches thanks, how're you?"
She heard the man sigh heavily on the other line, "I'm sorry, Mel, I've just been... worried."
Her brow furrowed deeply together, "What do you mean? Why would you be worried? Wha's wrong?" There was a long pause where Hammond didn't say anything and she had to glance at her screen just to make sure her provider hadn't dropped the call. Nope. Minutes were still ticking by. "Greg?" She prompted.
"I went by your house today. Charlie's been whining a helluva lot so I wanted to get some more toys for him so he'd feel more at home without his mom."
Melanie was starting to get worried. Something was definitely up. Greg was beating around the bush. Greg never beat around the bush. It was one of the things she admired most about him. He told it like it was, no bull shit. "Greg... What happened? Charlie's not hurt is 'e?"
"No, no! Charlie's fine, Mel. He's asleep on the couch."
Melanie sighed in relief. Her baby was alright. "Then what's with all the sighing? You're worrying me, and I know it has to be for a reason."
He sighed again, making Melanie hold her breath. "Someone was in your house." Melanie's face drained of all color. "The entire place was ransacked. Bookcases and dressers turned on their ends. Your couch cushions, pillows, even the mattress in your room were completely destroyed. It's like a bunch of animals attacked the place but it's too damn clean for anything like that."
Whoever had done this, it sounded like they were either looking for something or were trying to scare her. Too bad for them Mel didn't scare easy, because she happened to be one of the things that went bump in the night. She didn't have a chance to voice this opinion before Greg continued, "It's almost as if they were looking for something. We just don't know what." Mel didn't know either. Why the hell would someone ransack her home?
"Mel... I gotta ask you, and I need you to be honest with me, as your partner..."
"Of course, Greg. You know I'd tell you anythin'."
"Are you in some kind of trouble?"
Melanie scoffed into the phone, "Greg, please. We're Preternatural Crimes detectives. When are we not in some kind of trouble?"
"You know what I m-"
"No, Greg." Melanie interrupted him, all joking aside. "I'm not in any kind o' trouble. None that I'm aware of at least."
"Do you have any enemies?" He was in Detective mode. Never a good sign. "Anyone you can think of who would have a reason to do this?"
"Again, Greg. I'll repeat myself. RPIT detective. We tend to make lots of enemies in this business. It could be any number of people in that case. And please... Don' go Detective mode on me. You know I hate it when you do that." She could practically hear Greg rub his forehead in frustration. "I'm coming home."
"No! No!" Another sigh. He must really be stressing about this. "There are only a few of us that know where you are and what you're doing. I'd like to keep it that way. Right now Dallas is probably the safest place for you to be until the heat dies down."
"This is ridiculous, Greg. I can help. I'm comin' home."
"Please, Mel..." His voice was quiet, almost reverent. "Just stay where you are. Do your lectures. Be safe."
Melanie sighed heavily and swallowed hard. Greg never talked quietly unless he was serious, or concerned. It made Melanie take pause. "Alright, love. I'll stay. But I want constant updates, ya hear me? Any information, any at all... You call me immediately?"
"Of course, Mel. You know I will."
Melanie sighed in frustration, then suddenly smiled big into her phone, "So how's my baby boy? Can I talk to him?"
The man chuckled, "Sure." There was a pause before she heard a shrill whistle, followed by Greg's voice from a slight distance calling Charlie's name.
Melanie heard a soft jingling noise before a heavy sniffing sound echoed over her earpiece. "There's my boy!" She spoke in a high-pitched tone, like the one people used when talking to babies. "Is Uncle Greggie takin' good care o' you?" There was a loud bark followed by excited breathing, which made Melanie laugh. "Oh. I know, sweetheart! I miss ya too! Don' worry, though! I'll be 'ome soon." She made a few kiss noises into the receiver which were answered with more barking and heavy panting.
"Alright, alright. Away, ya damn mutt." Greg's voice came over her phone again.
"Hey! Charlie is not a mutt! He's a genu-wine Husky I'll have you know!" Melanie was very protective of her canine companion.
Greg chuckled softly, "Yeah well, you're riling up this genuine mutt that I had just managed to calm down. So thanks."
"You're welcome!" She grinned into the phone.
Greg chuckled again, "Now that I know you're ok, I've gotta get back to work. Are you gonna be alright?"
Melanie nodded, then realized he couldn't see that, "Yeah, big guy. I'lll be fine. Dun worry about me. Just take care."
"You too, Mel. Stay safe. I'll call if anything develops."
Melanie nodded again before she hit the end button on her phone.
She needed a cigarette. Several in fact. And bad... She dug through her suitcase that the bellman had brought up earlier until she came out with a Dark hunter-green, short silk robe. She wrapped it about herself and secured the rope around her waist. The robe ended just above her knee.
She removed the towel from around her hair and ran her fingers through it. She grabbed the pack of Parliaments from her jacket pocket and her lucky Zippo that was silver plated with a Celtic cross knotwork design molded on the front.
After grabbing a blanket she stepped out onto the balcony, plopped into a chair and wrapped herself in the Downy material, before she pulled a cancer stick out with her lips and lit it with her Zippo.
"Aw. Nicotine, my old friend. How I have missed thee this day!" She spoke in a rather Shakespearean manner before taking another long drag.
As she looked up at the rising moon she absorbed herself in thinking. She knew, without a doubt she was not going to be able to get any sleep tonight. Not after the phone call she'd just had. She glanced at the screen on her phone to see the time. It was early evening still and she dreaded the night ahead of her.
She knew right now, glancing at her almost full pack of smokes, that she was still gonna need more, if the long hours and stressful thoughts had anything to say about it.
She stuck her phone under her thigh and wished something. anything would happen. Perhaps Detective Patton whom she'd met earlier in the day would come across a case or something that he'd need help with? A bit doubtful perhaps, but you never know!
She sighed heavily. Maybe she should just get dressed and try to lose herself in a couple dozen glasses of Whiskey at one of the bars in town. On second thought, maybe not. She hadn't done the whole drinking alone at a bar thing since her Academy days.
She didn't have the luxury here of just calling Greg or someone from her Pack and asking them to meet her for drinks. Drinking alone was never a good idea in a preternaturally thriving city. Especially not in a preternaturally thriving city that had no idea who you were. In Seattle she could probably get away with it, no problems. Here in Dallas, however, was another story. No one here knew who she was save for a Detective or two. She hardly had an acquired respect or threat factor here.
It wasn't that she couldn't take care of herself, because that wasn't the case at all. She just hated posturing and putting herself in situations where the confidentiality of her secret could potentially be at risk.
fuck, it was gonna be a long night...
After pulling into the valet and surrendering her rental car keys, Melanie stepped through the front doors of the resort hotel. She'd only had about 5 minutes here earlier, just to drop of her bags, check-in and leave.
She approached the front desk clerk and leaned slightly against the counter, " 'ello. I'm Melanie O'Connell... I already checked in I just need to pick up my room key."
The petite brunette girl smiled brightly, "Certainly Mrs. O'Connell. I just need to see a photo ID?"
"It's just Miss. Hasn't been Missus in quite some time." Melanie spoke with an inflection of sadness in her voice. She reached into her inner jacket pocket, pulled out her wallet then fished out her driver's license to show to the girl.
"How many keys would you like Miss O'Connell?" the girl asked.
"One is fine." The girl swiped a new electronic key and handed it to Melanie inside a paper key packet with her room number on it.
"And of course, your bags have already been delivered to your room. Was there anything else I could do for you, Miss O'Connell?" The girl was far too peppy for Melanie's mood.
"No. I'm perfectly fine thank you," Melanie answered.
"If you need anything, let us know. Enjoy your stay at the Anatole."
Melanie just nodded before she picked up the small shoulder bag she'd taken with her from the car, and made her way to the elevators. Her room was on the 20th floor. High, but surprisingly many floors still to go to the top. After the short elevator ride, it finally reached the 20th floor where she stepped out and walked down the hallways to her room. 2037.
Once inside she set down her small duffle by the door. For once the department had decided to spring for something more comfortable than the usual motels they put her in. This was now her fourth, and thankfully last week on the road. Guess they thought she deserved a little pampering after all the BS she'd been putting up with.
The room was a one bedroom suite, with separate living space and bedroom. But it was the bathroom that impressed her most. Melanie could swear most of these resort bathtubs were meant to accommodate a small orgy. She could probably fit, her, Greg, a few others from the precinct and some of her pack buddies in there. Oh god! There was a mental picture that was not going to leave her for a long time.
She turned the water on in the tub and tested the temperature before corking the drain. As she let it fill, which might take fifteen minutes just for that, she dug an MP3 player from her duffle and plugged it into the stereo dock in the bedroom. She selected her "mood jazz" playlist and within seconds, Frankie's silky smooth voice filled the apartment-sized suite.
After she got undressed, she sprinkled some of the hotel provided bubble bath and bath salts into the water before sliding herself into the over-sized tub. Mmm. This was exactly what she needed. Due to her naturally warm skin, the water still seemed cool despite the fact that it was steaming. It felt really good on her skin and muscles.
Early evening had already set in. She had no imminent plans until tomorrow. So she let herself completely drift away in the moment. So absorbed in her temporary relaxation and world of bubbly warm bliss, with her music as loud as it was, she never heard when her phone started ringing about ten minutes into her bath.
She didn't emerge from the bath until the water had run chilly and her playlist ended, which was over an hour later.
When she exited the bathroom, she had a towel wrapped securely around her body and another that she used to dry her hair.
When she realized her phone was going off she rushed to her pile of clothes and dug through her jeans on the floor until she came out with a Blackberry cell phone. She glanced at the screen and her brow furrowed. What would her partner Greg be calling her about?
She pushed the answer button, "O'Connell speaking."
"What the fuck Mel? I've been trying to call you for over an hour?"
"Well, if you must know, I was in the tub. And thank you so much. It's good to hear your voice, too. I'm just peaches thanks, how're you?"
She heard the man sigh heavily on the other line, "I'm sorry, Mel, I've just been... worried."
Her brow furrowed deeply together, "What do you mean? Why would you be worried? Wha's wrong?" There was a long pause where Hammond didn't say anything and she had to glance at her screen just to make sure her provider hadn't dropped the call. Nope. Minutes were still ticking by. "Greg?" She prompted.
"I went by your house today. Charlie's been whining a helluva lot so I wanted to get some more toys for him so he'd feel more at home without his mom."
Melanie was starting to get worried. Something was definitely up. Greg was beating around the bush. Greg never beat around the bush. It was one of the things she admired most about him. He told it like it was, no bull shit. "Greg... What happened? Charlie's not hurt is 'e?"
"No, no! Charlie's fine, Mel. He's asleep on the couch."
Melanie sighed in relief. Her baby was alright. "Then what's with all the sighing? You're worrying me, and I know it has to be for a reason."
He sighed again, making Melanie hold her breath. "Someone was in your house." Melanie's face drained of all color. "The entire place was ransacked. Bookcases and dressers turned on their ends. Your couch cushions, pillows, even the mattress in your room were completely destroyed. It's like a bunch of animals attacked the place but it's too damn clean for anything like that."
Whoever had done this, it sounded like they were either looking for something or were trying to scare her. Too bad for them Mel didn't scare easy, because she happened to be one of the things that went bump in the night. She didn't have a chance to voice this opinion before Greg continued, "It's almost as if they were looking for something. We just don't know what." Mel didn't know either. Why the hell would someone ransack her home?
"Mel... I gotta ask you, and I need you to be honest with me, as your partner..."
"Of course, Greg. You know I'd tell you anythin'."
"Are you in some kind of trouble?"
Melanie scoffed into the phone, "Greg, please. We're Preternatural Crimes detectives. When are we not in some kind of trouble?"
"You know what I m-"
"No, Greg." Melanie interrupted him, all joking aside. "I'm not in any kind o' trouble. None that I'm aware of at least."
"Do you have any enemies?" He was in Detective mode. Never a good sign. "Anyone you can think of who would have a reason to do this?"
"Again, Greg. I'll repeat myself. RPIT detective. We tend to make lots of enemies in this business. It could be any number of people in that case. And please... Don' go Detective mode on me. You know I hate it when you do that." She could practically hear Greg rub his forehead in frustration. "I'm coming home."
"No! No!" Another sigh. He must really be stressing about this. "There are only a few of us that know where you are and what you're doing. I'd like to keep it that way. Right now Dallas is probably the safest place for you to be until the heat dies down."
"This is ridiculous, Greg. I can help. I'm comin' home."
"Please, Mel..." His voice was quiet, almost reverent. "Just stay where you are. Do your lectures. Be safe."
Melanie sighed heavily and swallowed hard. Greg never talked quietly unless he was serious, or concerned. It made Melanie take pause. "Alright, love. I'll stay. But I want constant updates, ya hear me? Any information, any at all... You call me immediately?"
"Of course, Mel. You know I will."
Melanie sighed in frustration, then suddenly smiled big into her phone, "So how's my baby boy? Can I talk to him?"
The man chuckled, "Sure." There was a pause before she heard a shrill whistle, followed by Greg's voice from a slight distance calling Charlie's name.
Melanie heard a soft jingling noise before a heavy sniffing sound echoed over her earpiece. "There's my boy!" She spoke in a high-pitched tone, like the one people used when talking to babies. "Is Uncle Greggie takin' good care o' you?" There was a loud bark followed by excited breathing, which made Melanie laugh. "Oh. I know, sweetheart! I miss ya too! Don' worry, though! I'll be 'ome soon." She made a few kiss noises into the receiver which were answered with more barking and heavy panting.
"Alright, alright. Away, ya damn mutt." Greg's voice came over her phone again.
"Hey! Charlie is not a mutt! He's a genu-wine Husky I'll have you know!" Melanie was very protective of her canine companion.
Greg chuckled softly, "Yeah well, you're riling up this genuine mutt that I had just managed to calm down. So thanks."
"You're welcome!" She grinned into the phone.
Greg chuckled again, "Now that I know you're ok, I've gotta get back to work. Are you gonna be alright?"
Melanie nodded, then realized he couldn't see that, "Yeah, big guy. I'lll be fine. Dun worry about me. Just take care."
"You too, Mel. Stay safe. I'll call if anything develops."
Melanie nodded again before she hit the end button on her phone.
She needed a cigarette. Several in fact. And bad... She dug through her suitcase that the bellman had brought up earlier until she came out with a Dark hunter-green, short silk robe. She wrapped it about herself and secured the rope around her waist. The robe ended just above her knee.
She removed the towel from around her hair and ran her fingers through it. She grabbed the pack of Parliaments from her jacket pocket and her lucky Zippo that was silver plated with a Celtic cross knotwork design molded on the front.
After grabbing a blanket she stepped out onto the balcony, plopped into a chair and wrapped herself in the Downy material, before she pulled a cancer stick out with her lips and lit it with her Zippo.
"Aw. Nicotine, my old friend. How I have missed thee this day!" She spoke in a rather Shakespearean manner before taking another long drag.
As she looked up at the rising moon she absorbed herself in thinking. She knew, without a doubt she was not going to be able to get any sleep tonight. Not after the phone call she'd just had. She glanced at the screen on her phone to see the time. It was early evening still and she dreaded the night ahead of her.
She knew right now, glancing at her almost full pack of smokes, that she was still gonna need more, if the long hours and stressful thoughts had anything to say about it.
She stuck her phone under her thigh and wished something. anything would happen. Perhaps Detective Patton whom she'd met earlier in the day would come across a case or something that he'd need help with? A bit doubtful perhaps, but you never know!
She sighed heavily. Maybe she should just get dressed and try to lose herself in a couple dozen glasses of Whiskey at one of the bars in town. On second thought, maybe not. She hadn't done the whole drinking alone at a bar thing since her Academy days.
She didn't have the luxury here of just calling Greg or someone from her Pack and asking them to meet her for drinks. Drinking alone was never a good idea in a preternaturally thriving city. Especially not in a preternaturally thriving city that had no idea who you were. In Seattle she could probably get away with it, no problems. Here in Dallas, however, was another story. No one here knew who she was save for a Detective or two. She hardly had an acquired respect or threat factor here.
It wasn't that she couldn't take care of herself, because that wasn't the case at all. She just hated posturing and putting herself in situations where the confidentiality of her secret could potentially be at risk.
fuck, it was gonna be a long night...
