Tangled up in Blue

Lonnie was awake before dawn. She lay there looking at the profile of the man who was next to her. What was it about him that made her want to risk her career for him? What made her love him? He wasn't the most affectionate guy, outwardly anyway. Bud White was damaged goods and that's all there was too it. Maybe she was a nurturer at heart or maybe she was damaged goods too.

She never expected to fall in love with him and it was because of it that she had to keep some secrets. There was more than a modicum of discomfort surrounding the hidden truths.

"Don't ever forget I love you, baby," Lonnie whispered to just before she touched her lips to his. He stirred and wiped his face as if she'd been some kind of unknown irritant. Lonnie waited until his breathing leveled off again then she slipped away. He'd be upset when he found her gone and so would Tom. She didn't tell the entire story to either of them, just bits and pieces.

Bud's scent was heavy on her but she didn't shower. Lonnie pulled her clothes on and slipped out into the misty morning air. The smog would be heavy today in LA but what else was new.

She didn't take the car. Her instructions were to grab the bus that would take her to Santa Monica Boulevard. She wasn't a dozen steps before the corner when it happened. She was just digging into the little change purse she had when something rustled in the bushes and she turned toward it. It being a rather large man. Just as their eyes met, he barreled out toward her wrapping his arms around her waist. Lonnie braced to hit the cement sidewalk but it didn't happen. Instead she was swept up and carried into the open doors of a van that had pulled up with perfect timing. This was a planned abduction and who else could have planned it besides her contact? She got her bearings and moved back against the metal wall of the van.

"Angel., what the fuck is this all about?"

"You nearly blew my cover, Lonnie. We're taking you in."

"In? To where?"

"To disappear. I talked with White yesterday. He told me what you'd found out and I'm wondering why you didn't say a word to me. My guess is you're not play acting with White. My guess is you got too close to your charge."

Lonnie stumbled on what she was going to say. "I...well...how else was I supposed to make it feel real to him?"

"Looks to me you were not making it feel real. It was real. Was being in the past tense."

"No! You can't do this to me. You can't do it to Bud."

"Listen, Lonnie. You know the case is the most important thing here. If you went and got yourself all tangled up in blue with Bud White then that's your problem. He'll get over it. It won't be the first time for him. Now, I want you to tell me everything you know about him. Was he hooked up with Stens in the deals?"

Lonnie went quiet. She felt an ache in the pit of her stomach so deep that she thought she'd vomit. It took everything she had to stop from crying. She knew better. She knew why she was brought here but things happened. Bud White had her from the first words he'd spoken to her, even if they were... 'freeze, put your hands up'. She was squeezing her eyes to hold back the sting of tears when she finally spoke. "Bud is not nor was he ever on the take. You may have been right about Stens though. It may be what got him killed. Tell me it wasn't you who killed him, Angel. There's nothing shittier than killing one of your own no matter what they do."

"We didn't take him out. My guess is that Archer did it. It's why we're calling you in. Bud told you I was on the job didn't he? How the hell could you work for Archer knowing that? You both fucked up, big time."

"Where are you taking me?"

"Back to HQ."

"LAPD?"

"No, FBI. You're going to have to be reassigned or eliminated."

What the hell did she mean by eliminated? Would the FEDS pull a Jimmy Hoffa on her? Who the hell besides Thomas knew she was out here anyway. No one would miss her and even Thomas didn't know how she was connected other then being a private gumshoe. The word escape became one that tumbled around in her head more than any other but how the fuck do you escape from the FBI?

"Turn around, Lonnie."

"Why?"

"We have to make this look official. As if we're bringing you in for a violation. I'm going to cuff you but don't worry. I won't make them tight."

"Fuck you! You're not cuffing me."

"You want to bet?" Angel nodded at the man who'd dragged Lonnie into the van and between the two of them they made short work of putting the bracelets on her. "There we go, Princess. We didn't hurt you, did we?"

"At the risk of repeating myself ...fuck you!"
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Bud's arm fell to the side of the bed next to him and he was surprised but not alarmed to find the spot empty. He thought she'd gotten up earlier. He thought he heard her say that she loved him. Maybe she had breakfast ready. Christ, he was getting old. His knees creaked and his back hurt a little bit. There was a little bit of haze in his brain but it didn't matter. He was used to it. He got up, used the bathroom and dressed himself. Bud scuffed his feet as he made his way to the kitchen. It didn't dawn on him at first that the room was still dark. The least she could have done was made coffee. Speaking of she, where the hell was Lonnie.

"You let her sleep in buddy boy?" Thomas scratched his arse as he walked across the kitchen in his shorts.

"No. She's not in bed. She got up a while ago. I thought..." The penny dropped. Both men checked every room in the small house along with the basement, back yard and garage. Lonnie was no where to be found.

"What the fuck happened to her?" Bud's panic rang out with the disguise of anger shrouding it..

"Did she say anything to you?" Thomas asked

"Not a fucking word." Except the I love you thing, which he wasn't about to share.

"Check the street. Maybe she just went for a walk. You go right, I'll go left. Circle the block and meet me back here."

Both men separated. Thomas slipped his feet into a pair of flip flops and headed down the street. He checked every walkway, driveway, nook and cranny along the way. Bud did the same but something didn't feel right to him. He spotted the bus stop and wondered if she could have? Maybe someone there saw her. He walked that way until something caught his eyes. Lying on the ground was the small change purse she'd often carried in her pocket. He bent to pick it up. As he wiped some of the dirt off of it he noticed the grass between the sidewalk and the curb was torn up. Bud White's heart sank all the way down to his balls. Who could have? Why?

"Decker!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. Bud turned in a complete circle looking for any other clue. "Decker!" he shouted again. The urgency in his voice brought the odd shod PI running as fast as he could.

"What is it? Did you find her?"

Bud shook his head. He held the purse up then nodded toward the scene of the struggle.

"Who the fuck would ..." Thomas stopped and his eyes met Bud's. "Archer?"

"Who else? But why? I'm going to have a talk with that mother fucker now. If he didn't then he knows who did."

"I'm coming with you, White."

Bud wasn't going to waste time arguing with Thomas. They were in his car and on the way to the posh aerie in the hills that Archer called home.

"White, you don't think this was just a random thing do you?"

"What are the odds of it? If he's got her I'll kill him. If he's hurt her I'll fucking beat the hell out of him then I'll kill him ...if he's ..."

"Don't even fucking say it. Why would he risk killing her? Maybe he just wanted her out of the game, Bud. We can't speculate anymore or we'll go nuts."

Thomas may have been driving a Ferrari but it wasn't fast enough for Bud. His fingers tattooed against the A post and his foot tapped the floor. When he and Thomas brazenly pulled into Archer's driveway, a set of familiar eyes opened wide in surprise before the attached body retreated from sight.

Alice Stensland was really a good looking head. Now that her title of housewife was a thing of the past she'd polished up her sow's ear self to be a real silk purse. Amazing what a little Lancome and a nice dress will do for a broad.

"Armand. You've got company. It's Bud White, Dick's partner. He's got some guy with him. Some guy I don't know. You can't let them see me here."
"Don't worry. I'll take care of this. Go upstairs, Alice." He watched her move away before he made his way to the patio to see what the two men wanted. Armand called to them before they'd spotted him.

"What can I do for you two gentleman today?" he asked in his smooth as silk way.

Bud looked up at him and growled out. "Get your ass down here, Archer, before I come up there and clean the floor with you."

"Take it easy, Bud," Thomas hissed. "We want answerers first, then blood."

Telling Bud to take it easy was like trying to pull a bulldog off a meat truck.

"Am I to assume that you have some disagreement with me, Officer White?" Archer called back. "I'd like to keep my face intact if you don't mind. Tell me, who is your friend and what do you want?"

Bud stepped forward but Thomas took his arm. He was taking his life in his hands at this point but Bud wasn't stupid. He directed the anger at Archer not Thomas.

"My name is Thomas Decker. I'm a private eye. Officer White and I are looking for a mutual friend. She was working for you and we thought you might know where she is. Lonnie Brannigan."

"Diplomatic asshole," Bud growled under his breath.

"Ah yes. Miss Brannigan. She's doing some work for me. I'm sure you know the nature of it, Officer White, but I must admit I've not seen the lovely detective yet today. Has something vile happened to her?"

Bud shook loose from Thomas and took several stops forward. "Why don't you tell us? In fact, why don't you come down here and give me the pleasure of pounding it out of you. I'd much rather it that way."

"Now, now, Officer White. Why would I do anything to hurt or hinder Miss Brannigan? I can assure you that she's not here."

"Prove it. Let us search the house."

"If you leave your body guard outside, Mister Decker, I'd be more than happy to let you search the house. It seems the man's soul purpose in life today is to do me bodily harm and I'm afraid I'm not up to it."

"Archer, you fucking prick. One way or the other I'm going to rip your head off and shit down your neck. Where is she?" Bud spat.

"Do you see what I mean?" Archer was still as calm as could be but inside his heart fluttered over the thought of one of them turning up Alice Stensland. It would be difficult to explain at the moment.
"Those are my terms. Take it or leave it. Decker can come up and look. If you choose to persist, Officer White, I'll be forced to call the precinct. From what I understand there are a few people downtown who would like to speak to you regarding your partner's untimely demise. They'd be killing two birds with one stone if they came here now."

"You dirty son of a bitch - "

"Bud!" Thomas shouted sharply. "She's not here. Lonnie is not here. Come on pal, if you get yourself nabbed there won't be anyone to find her but me. I need your help. We've got to look elsewhere."

"How do you know that?"

"I know. It's too easy. Come on. Let's go. We'll find her. I know we will." Thomas raised his eyes to Archer. "Sorry to bother you, buddy. If you happen to hear from Miss Brannigan please have her call home."

Thomas turned to walk back to the Ferrari. He hoped to hell Bud followed him.