Breaking the Rules

Before moving on to any further questions Andy suggested they move into the lounge. Kelly settled herself on the lounge and Andy took one of the chairs opposite her. Leaning forward, elbow on knee, Andy asked Kelly to tell him anything and everything she could remember about the three victims. She started to tell him details about each girl in turn, little things, and without knowing it she was helping to provide a great profile of each of the victims. She spoke in a monotone voice though, almost devoid of feel, until she came to talk about Stella. A moment later there was a pause in her talking and Andy looked up from his notes and realized Kelly was quietly crying. ‘She was like a kid sister to me. It had always been my job to protect her as best I could and look what happened,’ Kelly cried. Her head was bowed and her shoulders slumped as she really started to cry in earnest. Andy quickly set aside his note and moved to sit beside Kelly. He placed a protective arm across her shoulders and she instantly buried her head into his shoulders and sobbed uncontrollably. Andy let her cry, until she was all cried out. He figured that was what she needed most right now.

Andy was very aware of Kelly cradled in his arms. The scent of her freshly washed hair was strong in his nostrils and the feel of her silky skin beneath his fingers as he stroked her arm was tantalizing. What was happening to him, Andy wondered. He’d always been intrigued by Kelly and her apparent differences to the other hookers. She had a certain quality; a defined grace about her and the fact that she was gorgeous didn’t help. ‘How about we call it a night and you get some sleep and we can talk again in the morning, ok?’ Andy said for his benefit as well as Kelly’s. He led her to the bedroom and said, ‘You take the bed and I’ll take the settee.’ Kelly was too exhausted to argue and the look she gave him said thank you better than any words she could have spoken. Andy tucked her into bed, brushed the hair away from her eyes and told her to get some rest, as he switched off the light and left the room.

Andy quietly went back into the lounge, not wanting to disturb Kelly. He badly needed another drink though, as he was feeling a little unsettled himself. He put this down to exhaustion. It had been an incredibly long few days, with everything that had happened. He poured himself another drink and turned off all the lights. He made his way to the settee by the moonlight that was shining through the window. He sat down heavily and then relaxed back against the settee, his head slumping on the headrest. He closed his eyes momentarily and sighed deeply. Thoughts of Kelly lying in his bed in the next room flashed through his mind. He quickly opened his eyes again, as he really didn’t want to go there. He took a large gulp of his drink and felt the burning sensation as it slid down his throat. It instantly warmed him through. Sitting there in the dark his mind began to wander back over the events of the last few days. He wondered again just how much danger Kelly was in. He’d known Kelly a long time. He reflected back over the years, back to when he’d first met Kelly on the streets. Again he realized there was always something different about her. She wasn’t your normal hooker. She seemed to be involved in a world she didn’t belong to. The other girls seemed to look up to her. He’d often seen the girls fighting between themselves over a john, but he’d never saw Kelly involved. Some of these girls were very tough and streetwise. They’d sell their mother’s soul for a few dollars, just to get their next fix, but for some reason he’d never been able to fathom, they all respected Kelly.

Andy decided he’d better try and get some sleep before the sun started rising in the morning sky. He gulped the last of his drink and padded over to the table and grabbed the blanket he’s thrown there earlier. Shaking the blanket out, he stretched it over the settee. He quickly undressed down to his briefs, folded his clothes and put them over on top of the sideboard. He dived under the blanket incase Kelly decided to wander out at that precise time. He chuckled a little to himself. He must look a sight, all 6’3’ off him squashed up on this settee. His feet were hanging out of the end of the blanket. Thankfully it wasn’t a freezing cold night.

Andy wondered whether he’d get any sleep at all or whether he’d be up and down all night with cramp from being so confined. Anyway, he thought, I’d prefer to be up and dressed before Kelly rises and I’ve got a lot more to go over with her, before Dave arrives. We’ll need to make an early start. We’re in bad need of a break in the case. Right at this moment we have very little evidence, except victims, he realized.

Andy relaxed down and snuggled into the cushion. He really was exhausted. Before too long Andy was dreaming deeply. His mind taking him in every different direction, but Kelly appeared in all of his dreams. In his minds eye, she was no hooker, but a very beautiful woman that Andy was trying hard to win over. His over active imagination had him in a very sensual, but rather compromising situation with Kelly. They were lying together on his bed. Their arms and legs entwined. Kelly was stroking her finger down the length of his body, down across his stomach, until her hand reached his throbbing penis and squeezed it firmly.

Something stirred Andy out of his sleep. He woke up with a start. Looking down he realized the blanket had fallen off him during the night. His hand was inside the band of his briefs. He’d been fondling himself, while he’d been dreaming. He had a raging hard-on, which was tenting the front of his briefs now that he’d removed his hand.

He jumped to his feet not wanting to get caught in such a compromising situation, if Kelly strolled out now. Still rather drowsy from his sleep, he looked around the room to locate his jeans from the night before. That was when his eyes locked with Kelly’s. She’d been sitting quietly at the table watching him sleep. Andy’s cheeks flamed, as he angrily barked out, ‘Do you always make a habit of watching people sleep?’ Kelly smiled widely and in a husky voice said, ‘Only when they appear to be having such fun on there own.’ Andy looked down and realized his penis was still rigid and that the front of his briefs was gaping widely. He quickly swung around and grabbed his jeans from the sideboard and stepped into them. With his back to Kelly, he was rushing to zip them up, but taking care not to zip his still semi-hard penis in them. Kelly said, ‘Careful Andy, I’d hate for you to do yourself an injury.’ It was like she read his mind. Andy spun around and glared at her, but all Kelly could do was lightly laugh. Her eyes danced with amusement.

Andy stomped off into the kitchenette to make himself a coffee. He realized that the coffee was already brewing. Kelly must have been awake for some time. Andy wondered just how long she’d been watching him and exactly what had he been doing in his sleep. He knew he’d woken with his hand inside his briefs. That wasn’t an unfamiliar thing to have happen, but he could honestly say he’d never been watched before. He could feel his cheeks burning, but he was also aware that his penis flexed a little at the thought of being watched too. He could remember in his dream moaning out Kelly’s name, as she stroked him. He panicked, hoping that it was only in his mind and not something he’d said out loud.

Andy managed to calm his shaken nervous and knew he couldn’t stay standing in the kitchenette avoiding Kelly all morning. They had serious work to do. He turned towards the doorway, but before stepping through put a steely look on his face hoping to look all business. With a steaming mug of coffee in his, and without making eye contact with Kelly, he stepped into the lounge. ‘Ah, I see you’ve got yourself coffee already Kelly. Right, lets get down to work,’ he said in the most business like voice he cold muster. He was a man use to being in control of every situation and he needed, now more than ever, to take charge again.

Andy said, ‘I’ll just grab my notebook and then I want us to sit down and go through as many details as you can remember about the john you saw pick Stella up, ok?’ ‘I know we need to do this, but I’m not sure just how much more I can remember,’ Kelly said. ‘We’ll start with the car he was driving. Depending on how much we can get we maybe able to put out an alert over the police radio,’ Andy said. ‘I’m not much good with cars, Andy, but I know it was a dark blue color and I think, but I am not certain, that it was a Ford. It was a newer model, but again, Andy, I’m not good with car makes and models,’ she said. ‘Did you happen to get a look at the plates, Kell,’ Andy asked. Andy blushed slightly, when he realized he’d shortened Kelly’s name to Kell. The name he’d moaned in his dream. Keeping his eyes averted, he hoped Kelly wouldn’t see the extra color in his cheeks. ‘No, I’m sorry. I was too shocked at the time, after I caught sight of him staring back at me’, Kelly replied.

They continued on further, delving deeper into her memories of the night in question and anything else Andy could think of that might throw some light on events. Before they knew it half of the morning was gone. Andy had added a number of things to his notebook. A range of things, comments and general thoughts, which he hoped would help them solve the case.

They decided to take a break and Kelly headed off for a shower. Andy cleaned up the kitchenette and jotted another couple of thoughts down on his notebook. Before long Kelly was back, but still only dressed in Andy’s T-shirt. Andy took one look at Kelly and realized she was a little embarrassed about that fact too. It was then that he realized that the only clothes Kelly had were the ones she arrived in last night. Her working clothes.

Not wanting to make an issue of things Andy said, ‘I’ll just take a quick shower and I need to run into town and grab a couple of things before Dave arrives, if that’s ok?’ While Andy was in the bedroom he took a look at the label on Kelly’s clothes to see what size she was. Straight after showering he went into town.

After driving around for a few minutes he spotted a ladies clothing shop and decided to try his luck. He was hoping like hell that the shop assistant could advise him. Feeling slightly bemused he headed in the door only to be approached by a young woman, who was about Kelly’s age. ‘Hello Sir, can I offer you any help?’ she asked. Andy quickly responded, ‘Yeah, a lot I think. My, my cousin arrived last night and she’s had her clothes and bags stolen on the trip. I need to buy her a couple of changes of clothes, complete with underwear, etc. Could you help me?’ he stammered. ‘Certainly Sir, do you know her size, what style she likes and her age would help too?’ the young woman asked. ‘Yes, she’s a size 4, about your age and she likes the latest styles and jeans and t-shirts,’ Andy responded. ‘I’m sure I can help. Do you want to look for yourself or trust my judgment and one other thing what about a bra?’ the young woman asked again. Andy blushed and said, ‘I’ve no idea what size. Um, ah a little smaller than you, if you’ll excuse my boldness.’ The young woman’s laughter tinkled throughout the shop. ‘No problems Sir, it shouldn’t take me more than a moment and most of our clothing it very modern and fashionable. I’m sure your cousin will be delighted with your buy, she said. She promptly turned and left Andy standing there a little self-consciously. Within 15 minutes she had returned with an armful of parcels and said, ‘There you go Sir. Now if your cousin wants to exchange anything, she’s most welcome to pop back in.’ Andy quickly paid for the clothing and left the store. Next he headed for the shoe store. There was no way Kelly could stomp around in those shoes she was wearing last night, he thought. It was lucky that he had decided to glance at Kelly’s shoe size too. Within a few minutes he was on his way back out the door of the shoe shop, with another couple of parcels. He only hoped that Kelly wouldn’t mind him being so presumptuous and that she’d like the purchases.

Andy headed back to the house, which only took a few minutes in the car. He pulled into the drive and parked the car. He quickly unloaded the car and headed in the door. Kelly was still sitting in the lounge reading one of the old magazine he’d left behind on his last trip. Glancing up, a shocked look crossed her face when she saw all the parcels. ‘Good grief Andy, what on earth has you got there?’ she asked with a laugh. ‘Um, actually they’re for you,’ he replied. ‘ME, why, what for?’ Kelly quickly asked. ‘Umm, I thought you needed a change of clothes, seeing we left the city in such a hurry last night,’ Andy said. ‘Please take them and try them on. I want to know if I’m a good judge of size,’ Andy said with a laugh.

Kelly was looking quite stunned, but gratefully accepted the parcels and went through to the bedroom. Within a few minutes she returned wearing a pair of stonewash jeans and a snug fitting t-shirt. She’d even slipped on the new pair of sandals. Andy did a double take when she walked out the door. She looked gorgeous, Andy thought. Glancing up at Kelly he could see tears in her eyes. ‘Kell, is everything ok. Are the clothes not to your liking?’ Andy hurriedly asked. A broken laugh escaped her lips as she said, ‘they’re perfect, just perfect. Thank you so much Andy.’ ‘Why the tears then?’ he asked. ‘It’s a long time since anyone has bought me anything like this. I was just totally blown away,’ she replied.

Before they could continue the conversation further a loud knock reverberated at the front door. Andy knew it would be Dave arriving from the city. He quickly walked over and opened the door. Dave was laden down with an armful of mug shot books. Grumbling about the weight of them as he strode in the door, plonking them down on the table with a resounding thud.

Dave looked up and spotted Kelly for the first time. With a whistle Dave said, ‘Wow Kelly, what a difference 12 hours makes. Has he domesticated you too?’ ‘You look fantastic Kelly. You should spend the rest of your life on the Island. It certainly seems to agreed with you,’ Dave gushed. ‘Enough, enough already,’ Kelly laughed. ‘I’ll take all that as a compliment, Detective Rawkolsky,’ Kelly replied. ‘Please, call me Dave, Kelly. I wouldn’t want it any other way,’ he said.

Andy coughed to break up the mutual admiration society that was starting to form on the other side of the room. ‘I hate to interrupt, but we have work to do here,’ Andy said in a rather gruff voice. The tone of Andy’s voice even surprised him. He wasn’t sure what was really happening to him either.

‘Kelly, you need to start and work through the mug shot and see if you can recognize anyone. Dave and I need to go over my notes. We’ll do that out in the other room, ok,’ Andy said. Kelly grabbed a pile of the books and settled herself down onto the settee. It was going to take her some hours to wade through them all, unless they were really lucky.

Dave and Andy headed out to the dining room and started to work through Andy’s notes. They needed to formulate some kind of strategy on how they were going to tackle the investigation. They needed to analyze the amount of danger they considered Kelly to be in and decide whether they needed to move her to a safe house for her own protection. They tossed the latter idea around and decided that Kelly was probably most safe in their protection, besides, who knew where to find her other than the two of them.

Some hours later they broke for coffee. ‘Any luck yet?’ Dave asked. ‘No, nothing, not a damn thing,’ Kelly replied in an exasperated tone. ‘I’m sorry Kelly, but we are going to have to ask you to continue. We need you to go through every book, if that’s what it takes, to identify this guy,’ Dave informed her.

Dave told Andy that the boss had called a meeting for tomorrow morning at 9.00am and that Andy was expected to be there too. ‘He’s pulling the Vice guys in too. He wants us to work closely on this one and figures that if Vice are checking there contacts and warning them they might get lucky with some info too,’ Dave said. ‘Yeah, well that makes sense,’ Andy replied.

Dave waited around for Kelly to finish going through the books. Unfortunately nobody fit the description that Kelly had in her mind. It had been a waste of a day really. Dave collected up the books and informed them that he had to head back to the city. Andy and Dave had previously decided that it would be a good idea for Andy to stay with Kelly and go back over all she remembered, just incase something else came to mind.

As soon as Dave left Andy and Kelly started over again, right from the beginning. After a couple of more hours Kelly was starting to get frustrated with all the repetitive questions. Andy decided it was time for a break. ‘How about we get out of here for an hour or so and go for a walk and get some fresh air?’ Andy suggested. ‘Sure, anything has got to be better than answering the same questions over and over again,’ she replied. She smiled up at him, as if to say she knew it wasn’t Andy’s fault.

They headed out the door and wandered of in the direction of the beach. They strolled along in silence for a while, each lost in there own thoughts. ‘Kell, mind if I ask you a question?’ Andy asked. ‘No, not at all. I like the way you call me Kell too. Seems like I’ve heard that more than once today,’ she said with a laugh in her voice. Andy could feel his cheeks burning. He’d obviously murmured her name in his sleep. ‘What did you want to ask me?’ Kelly prompted him. ‘How did you get into the game? You’re so different to the other girls. You really don’t seem to belong?’ he said. A long silence prevailed, before Kelly hesitantly started to talk. ‘There’s a lot about me you don’t know Andy and there’s also a lot you’ve presumed too. I’m not sure whether you’re going to believe me or not, but I’m not in the game Andy. I never have been and I never will be,’ she said. ‘Come on Kelly, I’ve seen you on the streets for a few years now. I’ve noticed you on ever well known hooker drag and with a range of different girls at your side on literally hundreds of occasions,’ he said. ‘Take a moment to think Andy. Have you ever seen me pick up?’ she replied. Andy thought for a few minutes, going back over the many times he’s seen Kelly on the streets. In all that time he could honestly say he’d never seen her heading off with a john. However, he knew she’d been busted for solicitation more than once and told her so. ‘Yes, I’ve been booked, but the doesn’t mean I was involved, more accused because of association,’ Kelly replied. ‘You mean to tell me that you’re not a hooker? That you dress like that for fun and you hang around with some of the most well known hookers in the city, but you’re not a hooker?’ Andy said almost disbelievingly. ‘That’s right, Andy, I’m not a hooker. I wouldn’t say I dress like that for fun. In actual fact I hate everything about the way I look when I am on the streets and the way I need to act, but I don’t have a choice really,’ she replied. ‘Well, why the hell would you put yourself through it then?’ Andy asked, skepticism still obvious in his voice. ‘I trust you Andy so I’ll tell you the truth and you’ve always be nice and very fair to me in the past, even when you thought I was a hooker. I’ve spent the last four years of my life searching for my kid sister. She took off from home at seventeen. I traced her as far as NY and I was able to establish that she was on the game, but I’ve never been able to find her. I’ve exhausted every legal avenue open to me. I’ve gone to every shelter in the city and she’s either never been there or I’ve missed her by a week and they no longer know her whereabouts. In desperation I took to the streets. It was my last hope of finding her by living her life and playing her game too. I’ve come close to finding her on many occasions, but always seem to just miss her. I’ve even wondered whether she’s avoiding me on purpose, but I can’t really believe that to be true. I figured that my only hope was to mix in the same circle as she does. The rest of the girls know my story and admire my determination. Many have tried in vain to help me, but my kid sister has managed, intentionally or not, to avoid me successfully every time.’ So that’s my story Andy, take it or leave it, as you will.