The LPFs - The Linkin Park Files

[woodyloveslinkin]

10. 15 p.m. Houston Police Department

 

"Agent," nodded the sherriff as he welcomed the female Agent into another room.

"Sherriff," replied Sarah as she went into the room that the sherriff had escorted her into. It was the room that many movies had depicted as sly and nosey, the room that stood behind the glass mirror in the interrogation room. "How's it doing for you down here at the station?"

"Well you know Agent, all the same really I guess," his thick Texan accent replied as she smiled as she diverted her attention to the suspect that sat down at the table with a glass of water one side and on the other a pen and paper for a confession. "Criminals now days Agent Lee, they think they can get away with anything, don't you think, Ma'am?"

"That's why people like you and Agent Harris are here for, to put them in their place," replied Sarah smoothly. She diverted her attention back to the Sherriff who stood next to her. "Where is Agent Harris by the way? I didn't see him when I came in."

"He's on his way, well, that's what my boys are saying anyway," answered the sherriff. Sarah couldn't help but to feel a bit anxious to see Rob again. There was something in her that just etched at her to see him again. Maybe it was the security he held in his aura or maybe it was something else. She knew she didn't like Rob at all than more than a friend and a partner in her crime fighting lifestyle, but she wasn't a really outgoing person, compared to Rob. Rob didn't know, nor did hardly anyone, but she had a boyfriend who was in the American army and currently fighting overseas. Sarah got a bit sad when she thought about Tyler being so far away. She shook her head out of the daydream before she could stop to think about her relationship with the man any further. "I've seen some pretty weird cases in my career in the HPD, but this has got to be one of the weirdest I've seen."

"The content or the motive?" asked Sarah.

"Both actually," answered the Sherriff. Sarah looked in to see the shrewed up image of the man that had previously come after her.

"Cute pie," Sarah heard him in her ear say to her and she remembered that disgusting look he gave her. It was a look as though she belonged on a kid's shelf next to plush toys, smiling aimlessly into the air and forever sitting still, waiting to be played with. Sarah shook her head as she realised that she had to go in sooner or later to face her demons.

Sarah passed the Sherriff swiftly and exited the room that contained the Sherriff and a number of other officers. She shortly arrived in the interrogation room and sat down opposite Benji without saying a single word his way.

"So tell me Mr Bourdon, tell me a tale of your crime," Sarah said, poetically. "Tell me how you killed the mockingbird and fooled the fool." Benji laughed in the Agent's face.

"You think I'm going to spill my guts out just like that to you, Agent?" asked Benji laughing again. "You think wrong."

"Cut the crap Bourdon and tell me, why did you do it? Why did Kenji do it?" asked Sarah. There was just bare silence. "You're an accessory to murder so I would be speaking if I were you. I am your best friend that can get you a deal with the DA and I'm your worst enemy that can make you look like as though you killed Jesus."

"So what kind of deal are you willing to give me if I speak?" asked Benji.

"I can give you my word that I won't cut your tongue off," answered the FBI Agent briskly. "Anything more of that right now, is asking too much of me. Without my knowledge of the reasons behind such an act of terror, I can't give you what you want. But instead, I'll be giving the DA's office what they want. Now, think hard Mr Bourdon, is that what you really want to do?"

"What time am I up for if I don't speak?" asked Benji.

"Up to ten years without parole," answered Sarah. "And if you talk, we can give you but we can't promise you, say about five years or so by parole. It's up to you wither you want slash the time you do in half. It's up to you, Mr Bourdon."

"What do you want to know?" asked Benji.

"Is everything you said in the warehouse earlier on, true?" asked Sarah. "For an example of what was said, your wife consented to having a personal relationship with Mr Midnight and you know what was said, so why am I repeating it?"

"Megan's dead because Ravyn wanted her dead," Benji started to explain.

"I may want to remind you that lying in a federal investigation is considered perverting the course of justice and it is illegal," Sarah quickly reminded the man. Benji nodded slowly. "Go on. I want to hear more and I think there are a couple of questions gone unanswered. I don't like unanswered questions Mr Bourdon."

"She wanted her dead," Benji repeated. "She was poisoning David's mind with ideas like he should leave his wife because his wife doesn't treat him as well as she should. They were also having an affair in which Ravyn was quick to jump to a conclusion about. Megan should've left the country because she knew what Ravyn was capable of."

"And what's that Mr Bourdon?" asked the FBI Agent, leaning back into her chair and crossing her arms. She was very intrigued by what Mr Bourdon had to say for himself.

"You don't what she's capable of until it's too late," answered Benji. "I can't even answer that question fully. She's got so much power over Houston's medical and legal societies, you just don't want to mess with her."

"So what happens if you get in her way?" asked Sarah.

"You end up like Megan, she stuffed around with Ravyn's family," answered Benji. "Her and Kenji on the other hand.."

"What about her and Kenji, Mr Bourdon?" asked Sarah. "If my memory recalls correctly Ravyn blasted him with a bullet and knocked you fair smack into the ground outside."

"Kenji...well, he had physical proof that he was a bit of a nutter," answered Benji. "He had been on anti-depressants for half his life and he wasn't quite in touch with the real world. I guess that's no excuse for his actions, but it's a good excuse compared to what Ravyn's got up her sleeve. Do you know what she does to people's lives?"

"Let me guess, destroy them?" suggested Sarah.

"She turns their corpses into ash so next time you go to put flowers on their grave, you're only putting flowers on ash that has a tombstone," explained Benji. "Where is she?"

"I can't answer you on that one Benji," answered Sarah. "What about Matilda? What was said about her, was that the truth or do I have to put your ass on a lie detector?"

"I'm only telling you of what I've been told and as far as I've been told, yes, it's Agent Harris' child," answered Benji. There was a silence between them for a couple of minutes, until Benji spoke up again. "So, is that what you wanted?" Sarah nodded. "So what time am I up for now?"

"Still ten years without parole," smiled Sarah, as she got to her feet and Benji sunk into his chair in disgust. Sarah stopped at the door and turned around. "The ten years was for you being so difficult. I don't like playing games in my job Mr Bourdon. And it's sad that you've had to learn that valuable lesson the hard way." Sarah turned back around and left the room without another word said.

Sarah wasn't amused or slightly entertained by the frightening aura and reputation that the coroner hid so well amongst the other living civilians of Houston. It sort of reminded Sarah of Kill Bill without the gore and fountains of blood everywhere.

[woodyloveslinkin]

10.45 p.m

 

"Where have you been Agent?" asked the Sherriff, standing in front of the main adminstration desk. Then his attention was diverted to the small child that the FBI Agent was guiding along with his spare hand. "Didn't know you had a child, Agent."

"I don't, the kid's not mine," grumbled Rob, as though he was guilty of being father to the child, or so he assumed that he wasn't according to Ravyn's previous objections. Rob stopped in his tracks as did the child who seemed dazed and confused. "Got the coroner in for questioning yet?" The Sherriff shook his head. "Why not?"

"Because you can only question suspects when you know where they are, and right now...." he paused for a second. "We don't know where she is."

"Well, she has a child which she has left behind for other people to take care of, you call that a smart criminal?" asked the FBI Agent. The Sherriff shook his head. "I didn't think so. She's bound to come back looking for her child."

"How sure are you of that, Agent Harris?" asked the Sherriff. "She had the guts to leave her child behind in the first place, what makes you so sure that she'll come back for her when her own ass is on the line?"

"Maternal instincts is to protect their child first," reminded Rob, bluntly. "It's not that hard to figure out. She's a coward for doing that, to a child of Matilda's age. At the end of the day though, I somehow knew something along the lines of this would happen."

"How so, Agent?" asked the Sherriff, frowning.

"Gut feeling," answered Rob, briefly.

"But it still stands as that she hasn't come back for her child and until she does do that, I'll be telling myself that she won't come back for the child of hers," the Sherriff commented.

"Especially if Matilda was one of the reasons why she wanted Megan dead so badly," came the famaliar voice of his FBI partner. Rob looked to his side to see the redhead Agent standing with her arms crossed and looking unimpressed. "She was the one that ordered Megan's death by any means. Megan started to interrupt the whole concept of the ideal happy family that Ravyn had wanted for the family she wanted to settle down with, even if it meant living with stepdaughter that she didn't really like. She wanted the family to stick together and not break up, like David's previous marriage. She didn't want to become an ex-wife of David's."

"Nice analysis Agent," smiled Rob. "I missed hearing such things."

"You've got a child on your hands now?" asked Sarah, as she had noticed the child next to him who was slowly falling asleep. She looked back at her partner. He nodded. "There's something you need to know about Matilda, Rob and I don't know if I should be the one to break it to you." The Sherriff cleared his throat as he left the scene. Sarah walked up to her partner.

"What is it Lee?" asked Rob.

"She's yours," answered Sarah. "Now before you start asking me how I know and stuff, I'm going to cut a long story short. Ravyn did it out of shame and I understand how she feels." Rob didn't say anything as he shook his head. He was about to deny it but at the last minute, he found no use in defending himself. He should've seen this coming and he somewhat felt the blame should be on him for his ignorance of the situation. Sarah looked to the child and then looked back at Rob. "I can see you in her."

"Thanks," Rob managed to say as he was literally lost for words. He had to be strong but at the same time he was angry. Angry at everyone who knew and hadn't told him, mainly Ravyn for lying about it and being in so much denial about it.

"There's also another thing you have to know," Sarah continued on. She looked as though she didn't want to say it all, but Rob knew Sarah too well, she was bound to spill it eventually. Sarah opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out.

"Where is she?" asked Rob. "Where's Ravyn? I want a word with her."

"I..."Sarah trailed off in her sentence. "I was meaning to get to that point." Her tone had suddenly dropped to a serious tone.

"What is it, Lee?" asked Rob. "Spill it." Sarah swallowed hard. "Is she okay?"

"She's a traitor," answered Sarah. "She was plotting all along with Kenji and Benji, Joanne's husband. First it was all fun and games, until we turned up and I found myself at the bitter end of the stake."

"Where's that asshole Kenji now?" asked Rob.

"She shot him," answered Sarah. "And the paramedics couldn't revive him."

"Who's she?" asked Rob. "You're talking about Ravyn right?" Sarah nodded. Rob laughed and then realised something, that woman was always capable of anything. He had learnt this lesson on their first encounter but he had never really admitted it until now. "You're joking?"

"I really wish I was," answered Sarah. "Benji and Kenji were plotting with Ravyn against us, so that we would either leave this place with the case unsolved or with either of us in the grave." She was going to add some more things on about how Ravyn wasn't to be trusted, but she knew within herself it wouldn't make sense. "What would you do if you had to take care of Matilda?"

"Why can't Ravyn do it?" asked Rob. "She's been hiding my child away from me, for how many years now? She can damn well carry on mothering the child. Okay, I'll be in Matilda's life but...seriously, how are we supposed to explain the terms of why I wasn't around in my child's life to her?" Sarah exhaled deeply, feeling a bit uneasy. "What are you trying to tell me? That, Ravyn's handing custody over to me suddenly? After all these years? Is that it?" Sarah shook her head. "Then cut to the chase Lee, and stop your nonsense, because I don't know what you're trying to get at and honestly, it's starting to annoy me." Rob was still trying to process that he was the child that was holding his hand still, and not saying anything, father. He couldn't comprehend why Ravyn would do that to him. Was it to get back at him for leaving her all those years ago? Or was it out of sheer bitchiness? Sarah didn't say anything but she only swallowed hard. "What is it going to be Agent Lee?"

"You have to take her now," answered Sarah. "Even if you don't like it or don't want her in your life. You're her father."

"So now, you're on Draiman's side about this?" asked Rob, getting hot-headed. "This is bullshit and you know it as well as I do."

"I'm not saying that!" objected Sarah.

"You are too!" snapped Rob. "I know when you're taking sides Lee and you're taking sides right now!"

"How can I take her side when she's not even alive?" Sarah blurted out. Yes, it was the thing that she had been etching to tell Rob, well, one of them at least. Rob's expression changed dramatically. "She was found dead about twenty minutes ago by one of the search squads we had out on the field looking for her. I'm sorry Rob to be the one to tell you that." Rob felt his heart drop a million miles down the face of a cliff. "She killed herself."

"So what am I supposed to do with Matilda then?" asked Rob, softly.

"You're technically now her legal guardian," answered Sarah. "It's either that or she goes into a foster home and I don't think you want that for her."

Sarah and her fellow Agent stood their for a number of minutes more discussing Matilda and what Rob was going to do with her. He finally agreed to take a child on board alongside a hectic and demanding job. Sarah felt proud that Rob was doing this for the child that he had just found out that he had. Sarah knew he would make the best father in the world to Matilda. Now came the hard part, telling Matilda that she had only a father that she never knew existed until now.

 

THE END

[Ravynlee]

Aww well done - poetic I think that after everything that happened there was a semi-happy ending. i agree there was nowhere left for Ravyn to go after what she had done so that was smart writing - and as for Rob well aside from his denial (why can't she take care of her? The whole Ravyn's a murdering criminal you're trying to bring to justice, that same woman you're trying to arrest, why can't she raise your child? Idiot. Sarah ashould have slapped him for that, but it was shock, so passable)

One thing I don't understand - what happened to Benji? Did I miss something? Did he just fade out into the background, or is it inferred the agents will spend the immediate future trying to tie up loose ends - maybe I didn't read it all right. But anyway, doesn't matter, realistically they solved it, so all's well that ends well or so they say. Good that despite it all they both (and Matilda) came through alive.

And I can't help but think that now Rob and Sarah might just appreciate each other more... and maybe with a kid in the mix maybe something more, who knows?

Overall job well done.