Two Of A Kind

Chapter 5 – Fear

I just need an address? Frankie already told me yesterday you tracked her down. Alex rubbed her temples in frustration. She was sitting on the bed in her hotel room her phone clutched between her ear and her shoulder. Shane was watching her from the chair on the far end of the room when her own phone rang. Yeah. Have you found her yet?, Alice said from the other end. Shane sighed. This was the third time Alice had called in the last two hours. After Shane and Alex had picked up their luggage they had flagged a cab to take them to their hotel. Neither of them knew what to say about what had happened between them so they took the road most traveled and just ignored it, for now. When they had gotten to the hotel Alex had called her friend. The one who had been the one to find Marina. Suddenly Shane had heard her swearing loudly through the connecting door. Curiously she had opened it and ventured into Alex room only to find Alex furiously pacing up and down.

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Is everything ok?. Alex looked up at Shane. She sighed and sat down. Im afraid I have bad news. My contact wont give me Marinas address. What? Why not?, Shane asked in surprise. Suddenly something occurred to her. What if Marina wasnt in London? What if Alex had made the whole thing up? But why? What did she even know about this woman? Then she shook her head. No, Alex wouldnt do something like that and she looked back at her only to find Alex staring at her. Then Alex put her hand on Shanes arm and said softly, No, I wouldnt do something like that to you. Shane stared at Alex incredulously, How did you No, I dont even wanna know. Just stop doing it cos youre freaking me out, dude. Alex laughed, Sorry, its a curse I know. Ill try to control myself. Then she picked up her cell phone and continued, I dont know why, but I intend to find out. Why dont you unpack and shower or whatever while I try to sort out this mess, and she gently nudged Shane towards the door. Shane just shrugged and went back to her room closing the connecting door behind her. Apparently there were some things she wasnt supposed to hear.

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That was almost three hours ago and Alex hadnt made any progress yet. Shane brushed her hair back with her free hand and walking into the small living area said, No, not yet. Alice, man, stop calling me every five minutes. Damn, I could have been in the middle of something you know. What?!!!, Alice yelled causing Shane to hold the phone away from her ear, Youre there to find Marina! Not get laid. You do enough of that here in LA. I meant, I could have been in the middle of finding Marina, Shane interrupted before Alice could continue, Now go back to fighting with Dana and having angry *****, while I do my thing, and she hung up on a still irate Alice. When she walked back into the bedroom Alex was still on the phone her back to Shane. Listen to me you little wanker, her voice taking on a dangerous edge, You either tell me what I want to know or Im going to come down to that shithole you call an office and Im gonna break both your ***** legs! Am I making myself clear?!. Alex was listening intently to whoever was unfortunate enough to be on the other end of the line her face still angry as she turned towards Shane who was taken a bit aback by this new Alex. Then Alex winked at Shane and spoke into the phone, Ill be there as soon as possible, and added as an afterthought in a menacing tone, and youd better be there before hanging up. Wow, that was uhm scary, Shane said shoving her hands deep into her pockets. Its meant to be, Alex laughed and put an arm around Shanes shoulders. Lets go Gabby. Gabby?, Shane asked frowning. Well, Ive never seen Gabby breaking a guys legs to get him to talk. Now Xena is a whole different story, and breaking into laughter she pulled a stunned Shane out the door.

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About an hour later Alex pulled up to a grubby looking storefront on Shepards Bush Road. They had first grabbed a cab and gone to the nearest car rental place. There they had rented a fairly unobtrusive beaten up Vauxhall. Shane had offered to drive, but when she had seen the steering wheel on the passenger side, she had gladly let Alex take the drivers seat who turned out to be a complete maniac on the road making Shane grab for the oh ***** bar more than once. It turned out Alex used to race stock cars back in high school. Once the speed is in your blood, the only thing left is to just grin and bear all the speeding tickets you get, she had explained laughing.

Shane looked at the building a little doubtfully. The whole neighborhood looked a little *****, from the Tennessee Fried Chicken a few doors down to the countless small grocery stores. This is where Marina is?, she asked not really thinking their Marina would ever set foot in this type of neighborhood. No, but this is where we find out where she is, Alex said pulling Shane with her. She was about to knock when she stopped and turned to Shane. The people were dealing with are not exactly the friendly type. Shane was about to say something, but Alex placed her finger on Shanes lips to silence her. For a moment Shane savored the touch and resisted the urge to kiss Alex finger. Then Alex pulled her hand back. I know you can handle yourself. Thats why I wanted you to be the one to come with me. But I dont want you to get hurt. So just stay close to me. Let me do all the talking. And if anything goes wrong on this little quest of ours I dont want you to think about me. Just protect yourself, and she looked Shane in the eyes. Promise me, Alex whispered feeling her stomach drop at the thought of this beautiful creature getting hurt. Promise me. I promise, Shane said softly seeing the very real concern in Alex eyes. Of course she had no intention of keeping her promise. There was no way she would bail on Alex if things got rough, but if thats what she wanted to hear Jeez, you cant even keep a simple promise can you?!, Alex exclaimed exasperated and turned and knocked on the door. You know, I really hate it when you do that, Shane said glaring at Alex back. God, women were bad enough without being able to read your mind. And Alex was starting to get annoyingly good at it.

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They were buzzed in and Alex cautiously started up the stairs. Instinctively she reached back and grabbed hold of Shanes arm pulling her up at the same time. When they got to the top Alex paused at the open door in front of them effectively blocking Shanes view from whatever was inside. Hello, Bobby, she said and walked towards a fairly handsome man sitting behind a desk in the center of the room. Shane glanced around and saw another man with a scar over his left eye standing by a coffee machine on her left. Funny she thought how the bad guys always had scars somewhere on their person and she smirked. Another man was sitting on the edge of the desk a lit cigarette dangling between his fingers. He looked friendly and gave Shane a nod. Mmm looked like a case of good cop, bad cop. She walked over the coffee machine and poured herself a cup keeping an eye on Alex. Alex saw Shane from the corner of her eye and chuckled on the inside at her caffeine addiction. Of all times to grab a coffee The man behind the desk got up sizing Alex up as he walked around the desk. Suddenly his face broke into a smile and pulled Alex into a hug. Its about time you dropped in, Ace. Although I could have done without the mental image of broken legs, he said laughing in a thick American accent. Ace? Shane looked at Alex questioningly. Alex just shrugged and then said turning back to Bobby, Well, you know me, I only know how to communicate in various degrees of threats. Howve you been? You look good. So do you. Whos your friend?. Shane, Alex said waving her over, This is Bobby. We sort of grew up together. Shane walked over and shook Bobbys outstretched hand wondering where exactly they had grown up together. Then again most people wouldnt have been able to guess her past either just by looking at her. She glanced over to the man on the desk and suddenly her gaze fell on a bulge beneath his jacket. So these guys werent as friendly as they looked she mused.

There was an awkward silence until Alex broke it. So whats the address?, she said dispensing with any formalities. Bobby walked over to a filing cabinet leaning against the right wall. He opened it and pulled out a manila folder. Do you know what youre getting yourself into?, he asked turning back to Alex. Yes, but Im sure youre about to tell me again, Alex sighed and sat in the chair opposite the desk still looking at Bobby. Ms. Ferrer is not someone you want to mess with. Shell do a lot more than just break your legs if you cross her. Shane looked at him in surprise. Marina hurt anyone. This guy obviously didnt know her at all. Oh come on, she started but was silenced by Alex. I know exactly who Im dealing with. Well the details are in here, Bobby said handing her the folder. She took it and got up. Thanks Bobby, Alex smiled, Dont look so worried. Alex might be a newbie at this, but Ace is gonna eat this woman for breakfast. Bobby just stared at her looking skeptical. Alex gave him a hug and said, Dont worry, Ill be fine, and started walking to the door pulling Shane with her.

They had just reached the door when suddenly Bobby said, Wait. Alex turned around her body tensing. She had thought it was going too easy. It didnt surprise her Bobby was also working for this Ferrer woman. She prepared herself for anything that might come next. Although Bobby was an old friend, with him profit came before friendship. Hed sell out his own mother for a few bucks, if he had actually had a mother. Bobby reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a gun. He walked over to Alex as she instinctively stepped in front of Shane shielding her with her body. She felt Shane grab her arm, but she shrugged her off. If this was going to go bad, she needed her hands free. Bobby walked over to her and then he handed her the gun. Here, you might need this. For a moment Alex looked at it. Shane was certain she was going to tell the guy to ***** off, but then Alex took the gun and simply said, Thanks. She took hold of Shanes arm and pulled her out the door, down the stairs and onto the sidewalk.

Dude, are you crazy? If you get caught, Shane said starting to get a little angry now. Not now, Alex cut her off, Get in the car. She walked to the driver side and got in. Shane followed getting even angrier at getting brushed off. Before she had a chance to fasten her seatbelt Alex pulled out of there like she had a demon on her tail. Now are you going to tell me why we need a gun to talk to Marina? And who the ***** were those guys?. When Alex remained silent her eyes on the road, Shane put her hand on Alex leg. Tell me. Were in this together. I have a right to know.

Alex felt Shanes hand on her leg. Suddenly her mind flashed to Shanes lips on hers. On her neck. Her *****. Their naked bodies touching. Stop it, she told herself, now is not the time to go losing your head. She turned her eyes to Shane for a moment then back to the road. Bobby is an old friend of mine. We grew up together in an orphanage. A few years ago he moved here. Hes a small time criminal. He has certain, Alex paused, connections. When it didnt seem like Alex was going to volunteer any more information Shane asked, What about the gun? Why do we need it to talk to Marina?. We dont, Alex replied, But we might need it trying to get to her. Shane was getting confused now. None of this made sense. Marina was just here to get her head together after the whole Jenny thing. I dont understand, she said. Let me rephrase that, Alex said, We might need it when we go talk to her sister, Angelina Ferrer.