The Victory
By Elise
Chapter 2
It had been a long fucking day of busting chops. He had to lean on all but five on the list of forty parolees. They only had to call for pick up twice. Bud didn’t understand how the scum got out of prison in the first place.
Exley was waiting at the desk for him. “Don’t tell me you had so much fun you’re coming back tomorrow.”
Snorting Bud tossed the clipboard with the list on the counter. “I don’t remember you being such a comedian.”
“Probably because you were to busy trying to put my head through a wall.” Ed put his hands up in mock defense. “Not that I didn’t deserve it. I had different ideals then, found out they were wrong.”
When the bigger man didn’t reply Ed slapped him on the shoulder. “I’ve got a date otherwise I’d let you buy me a drink. When you come in tomorrow report to Homicide.”
“Homicide?” He couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice or off his face.
Walking by to the door Exley confirmed it. “Homicide Detective White, sounds pretty good doesn’t it. Tell Ginny hello for me.”
Bud drove back to the Victory still stunned. He was going to get a chance to be more than muscle. Pulling in he saw Ginny walking out of the room she had been in that morning. She was carrying wads of newspaper to the dumpster.
Getting out of the car he nodded to her. She waved back. Bud started to go to his room then before realizing it, he was standing in front of the room Ginny had been working on. This room was devoid of furniture and reeked of fresh paint. He looked around thinking it was a professional looking job. Even the trim had been painted in a contrasting blue.
“Did I miss any spots?” Came her voice.
Bud looked at the woman beaming with pride at her handy work. He couldn’t help the grin that appeared on his own face.
“Uh… Just one.” He pointed to the tip of his nose.
“Oh gads!” She ran over to the bathroom and looked into the mirror giggling at the blue streak on her nose. “I can’t seem to help making a huge mess when I paint.”
He returned the smile when she walked out of the bathroom. “It looks good, nice colors, very L.A.”
She smiled a little wider. “Thank you. How about dinner? I have a small ham that should be about done.”
He shook his head about to protest but Ginny just looked over her shoulder on the way out. “Give me another fifteen minutes to get everything on the table.”
There was no chance to say yes or no so he gave her twenty minutes then walked over. Once in the office she called for him to come on back. She was still wearing the paint spattered clothing and the little blue spot still on her nose.
The managers living space wasn’t large just enough room for two people to live comfortably. He walked into the living room and off to the side was a little dinning area with an open kitchen. The furnishings weren’t overly feminine as he had expected but then the entire hotel was done up in cool blues and greens. It all seemed very Ginny.
Something else he noticed, there were no pictures of family. Most women had some kind of photo or portrait of their family. Bud just stood there glancing around watching her fuss with setting the table. She suddenly looked up as if she just remembered he was there.
“I’m a terrible hostess! Please come sit, fill a plate.” She sat a basket of hot from the oven biscuits on the table then joined him. When his stomach quietly rumbled at the eatable fragrances Bud wasn’t shy about filling that plate. He noticed Ginny had done the same. She wasn’t going to be like most women and eat like a bird around a man.
After they had slowed their hungered pace Ginny took a long sip of sweet tea. “How was your first day back on the LAPD?”
Bud shrugged the jury was still out sort of. “It was good as first days go I guess.” He couldn’t help but add the next it was a big deal for him. “Tomorrow I start in Homicide. I didn’t expect a detective post that quick.”
“Homicide, that will be exciting. You’ll do great I can see you have a good head on your shoulders.”
Pausing for a moment to study her he could see she really meant those words. In the past people didn’t compliment his intelligence, much less give him credit for having any. “I don’t know about a good head but at least I get to use it for more than a battering ram.”
She laughed. Ginny could see the impressive Officer White using his brawn for the good of mankind. But she could see there was something more to him. From what he was saying not many people gave him the opportunity to show it.
Ed had told her of their history and Bud’s passion for protecting women. How she wished someone like him had been around when she was a kid. In truth she felt safer knowing he was staying there, at least for a while. “Is you room alright? You know if you need anything just knock.”
Bud nodded. “Its fine, a great room. I uh… I don’t get my first check till next week. Ed is going to see about an advance so it may take a day or two so just let me know what I owe and...”
Ginny waved a hand. “Nonsense. I’m not even really open yet. You are welcome to stay as long as you need.”
Figuring he wouldn’t like a hand out not that she was offering the room as one. Ginny added. “I tell you what. If Ed hasn’t worked you to death on your day off you can help me install the rest of the light fixtures. Keeping me off that ladder is payment enough.”
He remembered how nice it was next her on that ladder. A grin appeared before he could stop it. He wondered if she still smelled like flowers. Before his thoughts went further he finished the meal and claimed to be tired.
With a sweet smile Ginny walked him out. They stood on the front step of the office. Bud shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “Thank you for dinner, everything was really good.”
Ginny seemed perfectly comfortable in the moonlight. “You are very welcome. Thank you for the company."
Bud made her go in and lock the door before he walked across the way to his room. It seemed colder in there. Maybe it was because the room was on the end toward the road. Looking in the mirror he thought, or because a pretty lady is over there and you are sitting in here alone.
Ginny washed the dishes and put up the leftovers as her thoughts drifted to dinner. It felt odd having him for dinner but at the same time it was nice to have someone to fuss over. She had been on her own for so long she had to remember how to act at the table. Her mother probably rolled in the grave over the size of her helpings.
Laughing to herself at the shock possibly on her mother’s face. Well at least Bud didn’t seem to be bothered by it. Finishing her chores she walked over to the window ledge where she left her book. Looking out she saw Bud watching her from his window. She smiled and waved he waved back then she turned off the light and went to the bedroom.
***
The next day started out boring. Bud spent the morning settling into his new desk and thumbing through some old files left on the desk for anything important. Ed came by and rescued him for lunch.
That’s when it picked up, just as the waitress was delivering their meals the guy at the bar waved at Exley. “Hey phone!”
A short time later they arrived at the home of some wanna be starlet she was going to be all over the front pages now. To bad it was her final appearance. The lovely blonde lay sprawled across the coffee table with a man’s necktie wrapped around her neck.
Bud looked into the lifeless brown eyes and thought it was a shame. Ed found her purse a driver’s license said her name was Elena Glenn. Her address book said Susie Glendale of Oakpark, California.
Exley snorted. “At least she didn’t have to travel as far as some to have her dreams shattered.”
Shrugging Bud looked around for any other evidence. There were tell tale signs of just how her last hours had been spent. A couple of wine glasses were overturned on the carpet. The bottle of wine knocked over and spilled out down the victim’s arm. Something caught his eye as he bent down to look under the table. Under the edge of the sofa was a condom.
Pointing it out Bud commented. “Maybe it was a casting call.”
Exley chuckled as they went through the rest of the house. There was a stack of business cards by the phone. The one on top belonged to a Mr. Lance Gracen Agent to the Rising Stars.
They had to wait for the body to be picked up so they helped take finger prints and bag evidence. Bud was itching to talk to Gracen. He had a feeling the arrows were pointing his way. They found brown hairs on the body of the starlet and there was skin under her nails. She had scratched her attacker pretty good from the looks of it.
Bud was annoyed when they finally got to leave the scene. Then it took another four hours to track down Gracen at a night club. The place stank of too many bodies. It was dark but Exley picked him out at a table in back flocked with lovelies.
Walking over they flashed badges and the women scattered. The detectives sat on each side of the brown haired man. “Lance Gracen Agent to the Rising Stars?”
The man in question leaned against the curved back of the booth they sat in. “Why yes what can I do for you officers? I bet I can get you walk on parts they always need a couple of fine looking officers like yourselves.”
Exley looked over at Bud who pulled down the collar of Gracen’s shirt reviling three deep scratches. “You wouldn’t happen to know a pretty blonde named Susie Glendale would you Mr. Gracen?”
The man squirmed under the stern gaze of Officer White. “She…she was a client. Her Hollywood name was Elena Glenn. Nice girl. Some….something happen to her?”
When Exley remained silent Bud continued the public interrogation. “I think you know what happened to Susie. We found skin and blood under her nails Lance. You have scratches just about the right size for her nails. You’re missing your tie. We found it around Susie's neck. We also found more intimate evidence. So what happened she didn’t do the job or wouldn’t so you got mad? Got a little carried away?”
Lance looked back and forth between the detectives. “Fine the slut was using the casting couch. I was supposed to get her the part but she jumped over me and went right to the director. I walked in on the finally. He laughed and said I lost my commission on this one.”
The detectives nodded then pulled the man to his feet and hauled him out to the car. When they got him booked and the reports written it was well into the wee hours of morning.
When Bud pulled into the Victory Ginny was sitting on the office steps. Getting out of the car he saw her wipe her face with the heel of her hand. Concerned as to why she was crying in the moonlight, he walked over and sat next to her.
She smiled weakly. “You put in a long day.”
Shrugging he looked up at the full moon. “I swear those things bring out the crazies. Worked my first homicide. Caught the bastard too. Makes for a lot of paperwork though.”
She grinned a bit. “I’m glad for you. That’s pretty impressive to catch the killer that quick.”
He shrugged again tried for a bit of levity. “Not really it was all there and the guy confessed when we called him on it. You wouldn’t be waiting up for me now would ya?”
Ginny found herself wanting to lean into his shoulder and let it out but she didn’t, she sat with her knees pulled to her chest arms wrapped around and clasped in front as if she could hide from the world like that.
She shook her head giving White the impression of a little girl. “I couldn’t sleep. Don’t let me keep you up though I’m sure you’re exhausted.”
“Actually I’m wound like a top.” He gazed at the woman curled on the step. She seemed so small and delicate almost fragile. Bud tried to think fast on a way to find out what had caused the tears she wiped away.
“You wouldn’t happen to have anything cold to drink? I should have stopped on the way back but most places are closed.” That was a bald face lie but maybe she was new enough around to not have noticed the late night joints.
Ginny nodded and almost seemed relived. “I’ve got some iced tea in the fridge.”
Uncurling from the step she stood and waited for him to be behind her before going inside. Bud followed her to the kitchen and watched as she pulled out two glasses and filled them with tea. “Sweet?”
She had asked and he almost said yes, you are but didn’t think she was up to a joke. “However you fix yours if fine.”
Looking around the small living quarters he noticed again that there were no family photos or signs of childhood mementos that most women had about. He really didn’t like tea but it was a way to get her mind off whatever was upsetting her.
She handed him a glass and he took a long sip and tried not to cringe as they sat on the couch. When she switched on the lamp he noticed the furnishings here were all second hand, worn. She had all new furnishings for the guest rooms but not her own.
“Ginny how’d you get stuck with this old dump? Ed told me you got an inheritance why the Victory and not some nice place in town?”
She grinned but it was a sad grin. “I did get an inheritance from my father’s estate. It probably would last me longer if I had stayed on the east coast but. But I needed to find some place new. A place where Ginny Wilson was just a face in the crowd. I saw an ad in the newspaper for this place and called them up. They were honest and said it should be condemned. I saw a place like me. I guess I figured if I could fix up this old dump there was hope for me.”
Bud sat back and really looked at her. How could Ginny see her self in this sad and broken down place? She was beautiful and strong. “I don’t know how much Exley’s told you about this place. But uh… the Victory and I have history. Unpleasant history. I keep expecting it to creep up and tap me on the shoulder but it never does. I even tried looking for something to remind me of what happened here. There is nothing left of that Victory. You’ve erased the bad things that were left here and made it a nice place.”
Before she could stop it a salty tear rolled down her face. “Thanks, that means a lot to me.”
Hearing him say that this was a new Victory gave her a glimmer of hope that she didn’t realize she wanted. Ginny wanted a new life away from all the horrors of her past. That past had different ideas. It plagued her dreams creeping in like a shadow blocking the sun. She hadn’t slept a full night since childhood.
But if a half fallen down wreck of a place like the Victory could be new and fresh free of it’s terrible past. Well maybe she could too. It would just take a little longer. She was suddenly tired.
Bud watched her eyes getting heavy. She was dressed in pajamas with a soft mint colored robe. Taking her glass as it absentmindedly started to tip Bud pulled her to her feet. “Come on let’s tuck you in.”
For some reason Ginny didn’t argue she just let this man she barely knew take her to the bedroom. Something about him made her feel safe, protected. Bud pulled back the coverlet and she sat on the edge of the bed. He knelt and pulled off her slippers as she put the robe on the end of the bed.
Like a little girl she laid down and he pulled the covers over her. He tuned off the light and couldn’t resist a light kiss on the top of her head. She was already drifting off. Quietly he closed the door and made his way to the office. Locking the inner door and the office doors as he left.
He was tired but it was a good kind of tired. The kind of tired you feel from a good days work. Or maybe it was Ginny. Her skin was silky when his hand brushed her arm pulling up the quilt. Her hair was soft and smelled like flowers. She was lovely nestled into the pillow long lashes on her cheeks.
Falling into the comfortable but large bed in his room Bud almost regretted leaving her. Ed had spoken for her though. Like that really meant anything. Exley knew Lynn was spoken for when… Well that was then.
Now he had a chance to do better for himself. He was a homicide detective not just the captain’s heavy. Maybe he could win a girl like Ginny. Who the hell was he kidding? He just got out of a bad relationship. Still it was a nice thought for one day to have a girl like that to come home to.
The next morning Ginny woke to the sound of a car engine. Her alarm clock read seven, a late rise for her. Stretching she actually felt good this morning. Getting up brushing her teeth getting ready for the day she hoped Officer White had another good day back.
On one of his many visits Ed Exley had expressed concerns about Bud’s return to LA. He had told her a bit about their working together. It seemed he was leaving a lot out. Bud had mentioned the Victory being a place where bad things had happened like Ed had. But Bud said she had erased them, the bad was gone and the Victory was new.
Maybe there was hope that the bad things in your past will fade away and you can be new. She wanted that to be true but knew it was going to be more than a fresh coat of paint and new carpet to erase her past. If only she could let it go. Bud wanted her to talk last night but she couldn’t tell him. It was her dark secret.
Ed had said he was kind of a brute. Last night Bud was gentle and sweet putting her to bed even kissing her good night. No he wasn’t a brute he was her White Knight. Laughing to herself at her foolish ideas. As if he would be interested in her. Ginny Wilson was far from a Hollywood starlet.