The Scarlet Dove - Issue 18

Issue Eighteen ~ Badge Bunny

Chapter One

Leaning close to the mirror, Starling Chase inspected her battered face. All the swelling had gone down but there was still some light bruising around her cheek and jaw. Her right eye remained rimmed in purple, light enough but just too uneven to look normal. Likewise, a mosaic of bruising spread across the right side of her collarbone, fading but still noticeable.

Guess it's another day of heavy make up and turtle necks, she thought with a sigh.

The delicious smells of Lacey making coffee in the kitchen were seeping into the bathroom. As usual the brunette had the morning news blaring: "...nearly a week since the mysterious Ashton-Uhaul fire and questions continue to pile up. Federal investigators refuse to answer many questions, but they have stated that quote; 'the stockpile of weapons and the organization of personnel, well exceeds the needs of any privately owned security company.' The Ashton legal team continues to refuse comment, though it appears that Ashtoncorp is distancing themselves from now-former Junior Vice Chief Administrative Officer Pierce Ashton, who seems to be the key person of interest after having been found on the scene. Indictments are expected to be handed down early next week... on to happier news, the first lady of Warden City will be hosting her third annual bridal expo this weekend..."

The bathroom door swung open and Lacey entered carrying two cups of coffee. She was still wearing the plain white T-shirt and pajama pants she'd slept in. She offered the redhead one of the cups but pulled it back when Starling reached for it.

"Did you use all the hot water this morning?" the brunette asked suspiciously.

Starling frowned sheepishly. "I tried not to."

Lacey's eyes stayed narrow, as she slowly extended the cup of coffee. Starling took it with a grateful smile, inhaling the decadent aroma deeply. The other woman had already figured out exactly how she liked her coffee too, the perfect amounts of cream and sugar. The redhead savored her first swallow, as if she could taste the affection put into mixing it. Once Starling was distracted by the drink, the brunette's free hand shot out, grabbing the towel wrapped around her curvaceous body and yanked it off!

"Hey!" Starling gasped, blushing instantly.

The brunette grinned salaciously as her eyes devoured the creamy curves of Starling's voluptuous hourglass figure and plump, round breasts. Lacey set down her coffee and pulled the naked redhead into a deep kiss. Her pretty green eyes fluttered shut, melting into the kiss. After blindly placing her own cup on the counter, Starling wrapped her arms around Lacey's neck and sank deeper. A rush of excitement was accompanied by the tickle of butterflies in her stomach and the racing of her heart. She could feel the brunette's firm little boobs pressing into her own soft globes. Starling couldn't help but giggle as Lacey's hands slid down her back, and grabbed two handfuls of her pert, round booty! Feeling the other woman squeeze her peach-like cheeks sent exhilarating tingles up her spine.

"Lace...are you trying to get me wound up!" Starling asked breathlessly, breaking the kiss but not pulling away from the embrace.

"How could I resist?" the brunette purred. "With you flaunting this amazing body of yours and getting ME all wound!"

"I was not!" Starling gasped in mock-indignation. "I was being perfectly modesssmmmmmmmm!" Lacey silenced her with another kiss.

Starling melted all over again as the other woman's warm, velvety tongue squirmed into her mouth. She felt a hand tickle over the flare of her hips and slide down between her thighs. Without really thinking about it, Starling took a step, spreading her legs to allow Lacey full access to her prim, hairless mound.

"My good girl shaved this morning," Lacey moaned. "And expects me to resist playing with her?"

Starling bit her lip, as Lacey began stroking the soft lips of her labia. Her chest and neck flushed hotly, sending a quiver down her spine ending in a wetness between her legs.

"Ed w-will k-kill us...if we're l-late again..." she sighed through trembling lips as Lacey's delicate fingers continued to fondle her dewy petals.

"Ed? You're thinking about some guy?" Lacey teased. "I guess, that's what I get for falling for a straight girl."

Before she could reply, Lacey fingered her clit and completely scrambled Starling's brain! Moaning deeply, she wilted against the brunette, nuzzling into her neck. Lacey, who had become incredibly adept at finding Starling's button, toyed with the swollen nub making the redhead tremble and whine. Her hot little pussy gushed, soaking the other woman's fingers and her knees shook so hard it was a struggle to stay upright.

"B-baby, please," Starling moaned. "We've been l-laid...LATE...every day this week..."

Lacey squeezed Starling's pussy so tight the redhead convulsed and squealed erotically, clinging to the other woman so she wouldn't collapse.

"Fine fine," the brunette sighed.

When she released the younger woman and stepped away, Starling had to brace herself on the edge of the sink to keep upright.

"Here I am trying to fuck my girlfriend, and all she can think of is work," Lacey groaned. "Typical."

"Lace, don't..." Starling's smile was wide, irresistible. "I'll make it up to you after work, I promise!"

"You bet that sweet, round ass, you will!" the brunette spanked her sharply making Starling yelp! Climbing into the shower, Lacey paused and fixed Starling with a serious gaze. "Oh, but...BUT...if I have to take another cold shower today, I'm coming out and you're going to fuck me till I'm warm! I don't care how late it makes us!"

Starling gulped and nodded. Lacey winked, and turned the shower on, pulling the curtain. The redhead picked up her coffee and went back out to the bedroom to start putting on her makeup.

She tried very hard not to imagine Lacey storming out of the shower and throwing her on the bed to ravish her senseless. She failed. Before Starling even realized it, she was climbing back into the shower to fuck her girlfriend.

Chapter Two

"It's been a week and nothing has happened, maybe Dominion left town...maybe you already won!"

Starling frowned, "I think we both know that's the unlikeliest possibility."

"Yeah, wishful thinking I guess," Lacey grumbled as the elevator doors opened.

The two women walked out into the bullpen of the River Run offices. Starling was wearing a cream-colored sweater dress with a cowl neckline to hide the bruising across her collarbone. Her luscious crimson hair was styled in thick waves, and draped over the right side of her face, even though the bruising there was already camouflaged by her impeccable makeup. Lacey had thrown on a pair of blue jeans, with a light gray T-shirt sporting the logo of some indy-rock band, and a black blazer. As usual her slinky, brown locks fell casually about her shoulders. It had taken her roughly a third of the time to get ready it had taken Starling.

"I think we both know that if Dominion hasn't made his move yet, it just means he's about to," the redhead dropped her voice so only Lacey could hear. "And even on the off chance that he is gone already...Maddox isn't!"

"I just don't know if you're ready."

"It's been a week, Lace," Starling reached out to stroke the other woman's cheek. "A really great week...but now I'm healed and rested, it's time for me to finish this!"

"Okay, so maybe I'm not ready," the sullen brunette crossed her arms.

"CHASE! STEWART!" interrupted Ed's all too familiar voice as the women reached their desks. "You're goddam late again! Third time this week!"

"I know, Ed, I'm so sorry!" Starling replied sheepishly.

The aging editor approached with an expression even more sour than usual. He crossed his arms and glared at the redhaired reporter, customarily gnawing an unlit cigar.

"Just cuz your promo piece for the bridal expo doubled sales for a couple days don't change the rules," he grumbled. "No stars around here, just journalists!"

"Of course, sir."

"Cut the crap, Ed," Lacey sighed. "We're only forty-five minutes late, it's supposed to be a flexible schedule..."

"Well normally I ain't got some copper waiting on the glamour girl here," he thrust his grizzled chin toward Starling.

"A cop?" she asked, throwing a suspicious glance at Lacey.

"Yup, in my office," Ed confirmed. "Waiting outside when I got here, asking about you, been here ever since."

"What's he want?" Lacey asked.

Ed shrugged. "Tight lipped sumbitch wouldn't say."

"I'll go talk to him," Starling said flatly. She turned and headed towards the editor's office.

"Copper?" the brunette sighed, nervously. "Geez, Ed how old are you?"

"Old enough to know trouble when I smell it brewin'."

Ed's office was walled entirely in glass, so Starling could see the man waiting for her. Clearly he was a large man, even sitting behind Ed's desk. His wide frame was carrying more than a little excess weight. His face made her think of a bulldog, with a perpetual five 'oclock shadow darkening his jowls. A cheap suit hung awkwardly on his frame, as he skimmed over some of the paperwork scattered across Ed's desk.

"Miss Chase, I presume," he spoke in a gravely rasp without even looking up at her.

"Yes and you are?"

"Quinlan," he replied. "Detective Quinlan." Now he did look at her, his eyes dark with heavy lids.

"How can I help you Detective Quinlan?" Starling tried to keep her tone light and quizzical.

"You fuck Pierce Ashton, right?"

Starling felt her high-boned cheeks warming immediately. "I beg your pardon?"

Quinlan reached under a rumpled trench coat laying across the desk next to him and produced a manila envelope. When he opened it a pile of photos spilled out. Starling's green eyes widened as she realized they were all of her naked pictures with Pierce. Each copy had been cropped and zoomed differently, but her naked tits seemed the prominent feature of all. Feeling her blush deepen, Starling swallowed, unconsciously crossing her arms over her chest.

"That's you isn't it?" Quinlan barked.

"Y-yes."

"So... you fuck Pierce Ashton."

Starling scowled. "I suppose, but I don't appreciate..."

"Was it just the one time or is there an on-going relationship of some kind?" Quinlan cut her off.

"I don't see how that's any of your business," the redhead spat.

Quinlan grinned. "Lemme tell ya 'bout my business, missy! I got your sugar daddy, boytoy, or whatever, coolin' his heels in a cell downtown. I got an office full o' feds talkin' possible terroristic threats which puts him and anyone close to him under that patriot act bullshit...so you might wanna sit that cute little ass down and make it my business or you just might find yourself on a romantic getaway to Cuba...all expenses paid!"

He's bluffing, Starling surmised without softening her scowl. But why? Does he really think one of Pierce's bimbos will know anything about the Uhaul facility? Or did Maddox send him to rattle me? Only one way to find out, I guess...

The redhead sank into one of the seats across from the detective. "I saw Pierce more than once," she admitted. "But there was nothing serious or on-going."

"Just a billionaire booty-call then," he chuckled. "Can't say I blame him with a booty like yours."

Starling swallowed a disgusted retort.

Quinlan reached out and rearranged the pictures, revealing some security camera stills of her from the day she first went to scope out the Uhaul facility. "This is you too, correct?"

"Yes." The reply squeezed through tight lips.

"Did you rent a unit?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I wanted to shop around."

"I bet," the detective snorted. "Wanna know what I think?"

"Not particularly."

Quinlan smirked. "I think you were runnin' some kinda honeypot!"

Starling's jaw dropped. "I would never!"

"Sure sure," he rolled his eyes. "Smart girl like you, with a body like that...I think you were probably cookin' a story on that facility and thought you could use your, uh..." his half-squinted eyes dropped to her thighs. "...feminine wiles to get the inside scoop."

Starling shifted uncomfortably, crossing her legs. "I most certainly was not!"

"Hey, nothin' wrong with it," the detective chuckled. "I'm actually just here to see if you know anything we don't."

"I'm sure I know plenty you don't," the redhead spat. "But I'm afraid I can't help, Pierce and I were merely acquainted on a personal level."

"Very personal from the looks of it," he chuckled. "So you don't have any information or leads on that Uhaul franchise owned by Ashtoncorp?"

It's not owned by Ashtoncorp, idiot! Starling thought, shaking her head in response. Trying to trip me up aren't you, almost clever.

"And what about the property at Hastler and Rankin?"

"I'm sorry?" Starling blinked, confused.

"Don't play dumb with me," the detective snapped. "The Ashtoncorp property located at the corner of Hastler boulevard and Rankin street, what do ya know about that?"

"Nothing," Starling answered honestly. "I'm not sure where you got your ideas about me, but all I know about the Ashton conspiracy is what they're reporting on the news."

"Thought you worked for the news."

"I just do women's interest pieces, Mr. Quinlan."

"Detective!"

"Of course..."

Finally, Quinlan threw up his hands and stood. He tucked the trench coat into the crook of his arm and moved to stand directly beside her. The redhead shifted away, uncomfortable with his proximity.

"Fine, maybe you're not as shrewd as I took ya for," he sighed, reaching down to rearrange the pictures yet again. "But I find it awful coincidental..." He pulled a picture from the bottom and laid it on top. Starling found herself staring at yet another security camera still, this one of her bent over Peirce's desk as the billionaire plowed her from behind. "...That you were with him the day before the fire."

"Two days before," she murmured, feeling a lump form in her throat.

"Yep, that's what I meant," Quinlan grumbled, laying his card on the picture, careful not to cover the image of her naked form. "You think of anything pertinent, you g'on ahead and gimme a call."

Starling nodded wordlessly, staring at the picture. Detective Quinlan left, muttering under his breath. He hadn't been gone more than a minute before Lacey and Ed came storming into the office.

"Are you okay? What did he want?" Lacey began a string of questions, most of which Starling missed as she scrambled to gather the pictures back into the manila folder.

Ed calmly reclaimed the seat behind his desk.

"He just asked about my relationship to Pierce Ashton," Starling explained. "Wanted to know if I knew anything about the stuff on the news."

The two women exchanged a knowing glance.

"Figured it was something like that," Ed rolled his eyes. He scanned the papers cluttering his desk and snorted. "Blasted fool, desks a mess now! I'll be all day straightening it out..."

"That's really all he wanted?" Lacey asked.

"Yes," Starling replied sternly, then flicked her emerald eyes towards their desks.

"Anything else, Ed?" Lacey asked immediately.

"Anything else?" Ed balked. "No, go get back to work!"

The two women left, hurrying back to their desks. Starling stuffed the manila envelop all the way to the bottom in one of her drawers.

"So what was that all really about?" Lacey asked in hushed tones.

"Well, he really did just ask me about Pierce," the redhead explained. "But he thought I was running some kind of scam or something, trying to get inside info."

"He must've been talking to some of the gossipy bitches around here," Lacey chuckled.

Starling didn't think it was funny, but her mind was on other things anyway. "He did mention another property though. Do you know where Hastler and Rankin are?"

"I know the roads," the brunette replied after some thought. "But not what's on them specifically."

"Apparently Ashtoncorp owns another property there," Starling explained. "In all the research I did it didn't show up even once."

"Do you think the cops screwed up?"

"No, I think it's something that's buried even deeper than the Summit or the Uhaul..."

"...Which means it's probably connected to Dominion one way or another."

"Exactly," Starling nodded. "Which further means the Scarlet Dove needs to check it out, as soon as possible."

Chapter Three

The Scarlet Dove soared above Warden City. It was trying to rain, clouds spit sporadically and drizzled mist keeping the soaring superheroine damp and cold. Despite the weather, she couldn't help but notice how innocent the city looked from that height. The way it lit up at night made it seem so new and modern, almost pristine. Nothing like the seedy metropolis she'd come to know, rife with generational crime and conspiracies decades in the making.

Maybe if I can just reset some of those clocks, she thought, the wind whipping at her lush crimson locks. Maybe something better can grow in this place. I think that's what my father wanted, not to stamp out crime but to help grow something better...or at least the possibility of something better.

The young heroine veered across the night sky, flying over Rankin street. The neighborhood below seemed to be mostly deserted. It had the look of a place that had been over developed in hopes of becoming a bustling center of commerce but turned out to be located a few blocks too close to the wrong side of town. Now it was just a handful of unused buildings and a half empty strip mall.

Finally, she reached Hastler Boulevard and swooped down to perch on top of a parking garage which was cattycorner to the building in question. It was difficult to focus through the chill. Her white spandex bustier and matching bikini bottoms were wet and even more clingy than usual. Her thick crimson mane grew less and less cooperative, slowly becoming a tangle of damp curls.

Pushing those frustrations out of her mind, and her hair out of her masked face, the young heroine scanned the area. It was late enough that any shops still operating out of the strip mall were closed, so passing traffic was all but nonexistent. She had seen only a single security camera on the building's roof but expected there to be more. She wasn't leaving without a look inside.

The building itself was a blocky, two story brick building. Certainly nothing up to date or glamorous. The simplistic design looked old and had no signage. In fact, it seemed to be completely abandoned.

Along the building's eastern side two rows of windows looked out on a dark, narrow alley. The heroine decided one of them would be her best point of entry. Windows on the second story weren't likely to be surveilled, how would anyone enter through them? ...unless they could fly!

The Scarlet Dove stepped from her perch, gliding the short distance across the street. She banked quickly down the alley, reaching a second story window and finding it unlocked. Sliding it open, she pulled herself through into an empty office space.

A mustiness hung in the air. Starling scanned the room, searching for any surveillance or security measures. There did not seem to be any. Creeping out into the hallway, she found every office on the floor to be completely empty and covered in a layer of dust. There was no elevator, just a stairwell at the end of the hall. The thump of her golden heels on the stairs reminded her how ill-suited to stealth her heroine uniform was. The first floor smelled slightly cleaner, or at least dryer.

The heroine started up the hall, glancing in on another empty room to her left. The moment she did a hulking shadow lunged at her from the right!