Chapter Text
She took a swig of the bottled water, replaced the cap and inserted the bottle on to the side pocket of her back pack. She reached into the pocket of her cargo pants, retrieving the card she felt in there and checked the coordinates on the card again, comparing it against the app on her phone.
Nearly there. She moved further southwards as directed by the app and swiped the sweat off her forehead with her sleeve. As she looked up ahead, she spotted a piece of red card cut out to the shape of a heart tacked on a tree. ‘That must be it.’ And she smiled to herself, trudging over the foliage faster.
She looked around as she stood in front of the tree but she couldn’t see anything else that caught her attention. ‘Tess?’ She untacked the card to see if there’s anything written on the other side, a clue maybe, to the next spot. But there was nothing. A totally blank piece of card. She’s suddenly confused and let out a sigh. That was when she heard a creak from behind as a foot step over branches and crunching of the leaves.
She smiled as she turned round, expecting to see her girlfriend, and called out, “Tess?”
What greeted her instead was a sharp pain over her chest, and when she looked down a knife was sticking out as blood started oozing out. She suddenly felt very faint and as she let herself fall on to the ground over the fallen leaves, feeling the cool earth seeping through her shirt and she looked at the figure she knew standing still before her, looking down at her with a blank face. So this is how it ended for her, no goodbye to anyone, to Tess?
‘Why?’ Was all that she could manage before fatigue took over, she couldn’t keep her eyes open and her breathing became too painful, it was easier not to.
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Tess stepped out of the shower and wrapped the towel around her body. She reached for another towel from the holder by the radiator and started drying her hair. She then wrapped her hair in the towel into a bundle and left it a top her head. She moved towards the mirror and used the palm of her hand to swipe the mist of condensation from her hot shower.
She looked at the reflection on the mirror through the droplets of water and sighed at the image staring back at her. There were bags under her eyes, the result of another week of a hard case. Emotionally challenging but when the results are positive it made it all worth it, even when sleepless nights are the price to pay. She wondered sometimes how the rest of the team handled themselves in cases like this.
Tess knew that she’s more sensitive than others but surely, she’s not the only one to get emotionally wrecked. Anyway it felt good to be a part of team that still believes the importance of upholding and finding the truth, questioning the justice system and freeing the innocent. So, she held on to that, even though sometimes it does feel hypocritical when she thought of Matty.
She tried dispensing her thoughts by thinking of plans for the day. It was Sunday, a day she usually dedicate the morning to menial labour of housework and going through files she picked up from the legal aid office she volunteered at for the rest of the day. That is what she’ll do today she supposed, and maybe a walk just to spice it up. She tried not to think of lazy weekend mornings of brown eyes and mussed curls and of warm kisses and soft curves, of yummy whispers and giddy laughs writhing under the bed sheets well into the afternoon.
Tess huffed in frustration at herself. Why does her mind insist on going where she doesn’t want to go? She was in the middle of berating herself when she heard the doorbell. That’s strange. She wasn’t expecting anyone. She hurriedly took off the towel around her body and reached for the fluffy cotton robe hanging on the bathroom door. She put it on and fastened the tie around herself.
She quickened her steps out of the bathroom and bedroom towards the front door when the bell went off again. ‘Yeah, yeah. I’m coming.’ Without even looking through the peephole, she reached for the knob, twisted it and swung the door open.
Tess stood there shocked as her much unexpected guest greeted her with a smile she hadn’t seen in a while.
“Hi, Tess.”
“Rosa?”
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Hayes stepped out of the elevator and instantly looked towards the conference room. No one was there and she found herself almost disappointed. She looked around the floor, and apart from a few early birds around, it was still mostly empty. She didn’t think she was that early. She spotted Sam in his office and Hayes made her way towards her own. She was quite surprised though of the figure standing in her office staring out the glass into the outside world. Hayes let out a small smile although she felt quite apprehensive as to what Tess might want to talk about. That was when she noticed the other figure sitting on her couch, not anyone she actually recognized, she doesn’t think. Now she’s well intrigued.
Hayes stopped by the door, as Tess had turned around as her clicking heels had announced her arrival while her guest stood up and straightened down her blazer, facing her, waiting for Tess to make the introductions.
“Happy Monday morning, ladies,” Hayes decides to speak first as she moved into the room and dropped her handbag on to her desk and when she didn’t get any reaction from either Tess or guest, she added, “Or not.”
“Hayes, this is a friend of mine, Rosanna Rodriguez,” at which Hayes was approached with an extended arm. “And Rosa, meet the boss, Hayes Morrison.”
Hayes took the proffered hand and gave it a shake. She studied Rosanna, as she let the hand go, seemed like a very confident young woman. A very attractive woman, of Hispanic heritage maybe, not much older than Tess is but what does she know, women can be very deceiving with their looks nowadays. Tess could look as if she’s seventeen sometimes.
“So, what do I owe of the pleasure?” Hayes finally asked, directing her question to Rosanna. The other woman smiled and turned her head towards Tess. Hayes started to wonder if that woman speaks at all.
“Hayes, we have a case to pitch to you first before we get in with the rest of the guys,” Tess spoke, her voice full of false bravado, something she used whenever she’s working her confidence up to something.
Hayes just nodded her head and flicked her head towards the couch and swept her hand over the direction, indicating her intention for everyone to take a seat. Tess and Rosanna took a seat next to each other on the couch while Hayes settled herself on the single seat across from them.
“Okay. Talk to me about it.” Hayes rested her back against the seat, kept her eyes on the two women and waited for either of them to speak. Tess seemed a bit nervous and out of sorts that Hayes began to wonder if she should start worrying.
Rosanna then passed her a folder at which she took and opened and started reading. Rosanna looked at Tess as if for approval and started talking when she received a nod from Tess. Hayes listened intently and noted how precise and accurate Rosanna was, as she herself kept flicking on the pages of the file and with every single information she received, her mind kept whirring faster.
The file wasn’t really a thick one and she wondered just how much they could dig from the archives. Something was bothering her, as she couldn’t really see the indignity in the conviction.
“So why do we think this is unjust?”
Rosanna glanced at Tess and placed a hand on Tess’s thigh, which Hayes tried to ignore before answering, “The body was never found and neither was the murder weapon. And we knew Michael, he would have never done it.”
“Tess?” Hayes asked gently. Tess had kept her eyes lowered; looking down on the table all this time and when she looked up, Hayes noticed her eyes were glistened over. That was when Hayes knew there was more to this.
“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t anymore.” Tess took a deeper breathe as Rosanna took Tess’s hand in hers and entwined their fingers together.
“There’s something you’re not telling me. I don’t know whether it’s relevant to the case or not, but I’d much appreciate it if you’d let me make that call.”
“I’ve known Michael since I was six, he was my best friend and the murder victim was my ex-girlfriend,” Tess spoke as matter of fact, her voice stronger.
‘Jesus fucking Christ’. Just how much had those shoulders carried all these years? Hayes instantly knew she had to take this case on, for Tess’s peace of mind if not anything else. But there is something she needed to be sure of. She looked at Rosanna and with a slight nudged of her head and a flick of her eye toward the door implored for a moment alone with Tess. Rosanna gave her a little nod in understanding, separated her hand away from Tess, stood up and left the room. Rosanna headed towards the kitchen where Hayes watched Sam joining her.
Hayes turned her attention towards Tess, looking her straight in the eye, “Tess, do you really want to do this?”
“I have to, Hayes. I’ve left it long enough, for far too long.”
“Okay, I get that. I just want to be sure, and if you want to sit this one out it’s fine too.” Hayes gently gave Tess the option.
“No. I’m working it. And Rosa too, she wants to help. She knows this case as well as I do.”
Hayes thought about it for a while, fearing that Rosanna might be of a hindrance rather than of any help. Tess must have seen the hesitance in her eyes as Tess started to argue for Rosanna, “Hayes, Rosanna is a practising lawyer in Brazil, a fast rising star in her father’s firm. She graduated law school summa cum laude, same as me and she passed the bar exam here and in San Paulo. And she volunteered nearly half her time with the Innocence Project over there. So, if you’re worried her only contributions are going to be distraction for the boys and for you, I suppose, by the swaying of her hips, please don’t.”
Hayes raised her eyes to the heavens at Tess at being chastised and she received a small smile from Tess, “Well then, we have a case to present to the guys. No time to waste.” Hayes stood up, and waited for Tess to do the same. Tess then moved towards her and stood by her side as they looked into the conference room. Everybody else was there, chatting away to Rosanna and Hayes swore she’d never seen Sam grin as much. Nothing like a hot Latina to do the job.
Hayes suddenly felt Tess’s hand on the small of her back as Tess softly said, “Let’s do this. And Hayes?”
Hayes turned her head towards Tess, “Hmm?”
“Please try not to sleep with Rosa.”
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