Sugar Hearts
folder
Fantasy & Science Fiction › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
15
Views:
3,418
Reviews:
40
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
2
Category:
Fantasy & Science Fiction › General
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
15
Views:
3,418
Reviews:
40
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
2
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
Chapter Five
Many thanks to Rin-Chan, Girl in a Tree, Pudding333, and razielslittleflamekaat for their lovely reviews! Your kind words are more valuable than gold to me. And yes, we will be seeing more of James in this story...right now, infact. *Smile*
James Kelley is the creation of my friend Queenie, who was so very kind to let me use him in this story. Thank you, Queenie!
Sugar Hearts
Chapter Five
Pepper squinted into the blizzard. The wind seemed to slap at her from all directions, and for a moment, she completely lost her bearings. For a moment, she felt like she’d tumbled into a galaxy full of swirling, dancing, snowflake-shaped stars. Then Pepper forced herself back to reality. Fixing her eyes on the sidewalk beneath her feet, she threw her full weight against the wind. Took one step. And then another. And then another.
Finally, her face stinging from the cold, Pepper reached her destination. The grey stone steps leading to the police station had been freshly salted, allowing her to scurry up them with relative ease. Once she reached their summit, she grabbed the nearest glass door, yanked it open, and hurled herself into the waiting warmth.
At first, she could only huddle in the foyer, gasping for breath. The journey from her car to the police station had been less than three blocks, but she felt like she’d run a mile. Gradually, however, the heat reinvigorated her. Pepper shook some of the water from her red leather coat, and tried to fix her hair, which now clung to her scalp like beached seaweed. Hopeless. Nothing to do but try to get through this. Looking around, Pepper spotted a large room full of desks and very busy people. That seemed like a good place to start. Drawing a deep breath, she began to stride toward it.
Despite Marzi’s frequent brushes with the law, Pepper herself had never been to a police station. She hadn’t known how to dress. After much consideration, she chose her favorite red dress, which she wore with red and white striped stockings, because they always made her feel so cheerful. And if she was cheerful, maybe she could also be brave. However, as she approached the nearest desk, the young man seated there abruptly stopped pouring sugar into his coffee and gave her a look which forced Pepper to wonder if she’d made the right decision after all.
“Hello,” she greeted, giving him her best smile. “I need to speak with James.”
“James?” The young man at the desk smirked, and Pepper blushed as she realized her mistake.
“Officer Kelley,” she clarified, trying to pretend that his first name had never left her lips. “I want to speak to Officer Kelley.”
The young man twisted in his seat, before yelling across the busy room. “Hey, Lane! Tell Kelley that one of his ‘friends’ followed him to work.”
Pepper felt her blush burn hotter. Fighting the urge to turn and run, she dug her fingers into the leather of her red handbag, and fixed her eyes on a spot just over the young man’s head. Hours seemed to pass. Then, finally, she heard a friendly voice.
“Miss Pennycandy?”
“James!” Pepper exclaimed, overcome by her happiness at being rescued. But a snicker from the young man at the desk quickly signaled that she had once again broken protocol. “I mean, Officer James. That is... Oh, dammit.”
“Perhaps we’d better go into my office,” James suggested.
Not trusting herself to speak, Pepper merely nodded, and allowed herself to be led into an unremarkable room. As soon as they were inside, James pulled the door shut behind them. Then he helped her out of her coat and hung it on a rack beside his own.
“I’m so sorry,” Pepper apologized, terribly afraid that he would be angry with her. “They aren’t going to let you live this down, are they?”
But, to her relief, James only laughed. “Don’t worry about that lot. It’s always something with them. They don’t mean anything by it.” Still smiling, he gestured to a chair. “Please. Have a seat.”
As she sat down, Pepper’s glance strayed to a folder lying open on James’s desk. Half buried beneath various typed documents, she spotted the photo of a teenage boy, his body resting on faded carpeting. The boy looked so peaceful that it took her a moment to realize he was probably dead. Instantly, she thought of Marzi, lost somewhere beyond her reach, and her breath rebelled against her, rushing into her lungs so fast that she nearly choked on it.
Quickly, James snapped the folder shut. Then, to further conceal the documents from her, he sat on them. His overzealous chivalry drew a smile from Pepper, despite her concern for Marzi.
“Now,” James began, his tone deliberately light as he tried to distract her from the horror of what she’d just seen. “Why don’t you tell ‘Officer James’ what he can do for you?”
“It’s about Marzi.”
James arched his eyebrow. “That’s usually my line.”
“Yes.” Pepper bent her head, fiddling with the gold clasp on her purse. She longed to be back in her kitchen, where her hands always knew exactly what to do, and where her mind could be focused on neat, orderly things. She always suspected that Marzi would be the one to finally drive her beyond the borders of that peaceful sanctuary. “Sometimes, Marzi vanishes for a day or two. He doesn’t mean to worry me – he just doesn’t think. Marzi never thinks. It’s like he’s afraid that if he does, he’s suddenly going to turn into someone like me.”
“And that would be a bad thing?”
“Marzi thinks so.” Pepper lifted her head, searching the face of the police officer she’d come to think of as her friend. Such a commanding demeanor. He could probably scare the hell out of criminals when he wanted to. And then, turn right around and comfort a crying child. That was what Pepper felt like. Like a child, lost and helpless, forced to put her trust in strangers. “But this time, he’s been gone for five days. Not a note, not a phone call, nothing. I’m really worried.”
For a moment, James didn’t reply. Then he leaned forward, clasping her hand in his, and Pepper felt a strange calm come over her. Suddenly, her hand forgot its nervousness at being deprived of familiar routines – suddenly, it knew just what to do. It didn’t need to do anything at all. It could just remain there, inside of his, and be safe.
“Pepper.” His voice was earnest now, all traces of play banished. “I realize this isn’t what you want to hear. But considering the sort of people your brother associated with...”
“I know.” Pepper struggled to keep her voice from breaking, to prove to James that she, too, could be strong. “I’m sure I seem very sheltered to you, living my life far away from grim reality. A princess in her sugar castle. But I’ve never deluded myself about my brother, or the people he hangs around. I know that most of them don’t place much value on human life. But if something has happened – if Marzi is...” She trailed off, unable to say it. “If he is, I just want to know.”
“You’re a good sister, Pepper.”
Pepper smiled again, her vision slightly blurred by tears she was determined to keep from falling. “You probably won’t believe it, but Marzi used to be the most devoted big brother. When we were kids. If my scoop of ice cream fell on the sidewalk, he’d give me his. If I was scared of monsters, he’d crawl under my bed to prove there weren’t any. If I wanted some silly charm bracelet for my birthday, he’d use his coin collection to buy it for me. He was always looking after his little sister. Then, when I was ten, we found out that I could—“
Just in time, Pepper caught herself. James was her friend. But there were still some secrets they couldn’t share. “We found out that I had a talent for making candy, and Marzi didn’t. Suddenly, his little sister didn’t need looking after. And Marzi just kind of lost his place in the universe. I don’t think he’s ever really managed to find it again.”
James nodded. “I understand. The thing is, I’m in the middle of this case right now – something really bad. Kids getting murdered.”
Pepper remembered the photo of the dead boy, and suddenly her own request seemed petty and selfish. That poor child was probably a complete innocent, while Marzi...well, she loved her brother, but there was no denying that he’d been asking for it.
“Of course,” she murmured, rising to her feet. “I’m sorry to have bothered you. I... I guess I’ll try to make a few inquiries on my own.”
“Don’t you dare.” James caught her arm, and Pepper marveled that such large hands could be so gentle. “Those people are scum. I don’t want you going anywhere near them.”
Pepper flushed, pleased by his concern, but also determined to take action. “I have to do something!”
“Alright.” James raked his fingers through the curls of his black hair. “Alright. I’ll look into it. On my own time, if I have to. But promise me that you won’t do anything until you hear from me.”
“Thank you!” For a moment, Pepper nearly kissed James, but thought better of it. Instead, she opened her handbag, and dug around in it, until she found a small red box, which she proudly placed on his desk. “Your favorites. Chocolate espresso truffles.”
Clearly bemused, James shook his head. “You’re a whirlwind, Miss Pennycandy. You show up, and you look like such a nice, proper girl. But by the time you’ve blown through a room, nothing is the way it used to be.”
Pepper giggled. “I hope that’s a compliment.”
“I’m not sure it’s a compliment. But it certainly is interesting.” Gallant until the last, James helped her back into her coat. “And remember. Don’t do anything until you hear from me.”
“I promise.”
On her way out, Pepper saw the young man who had initially announced her presence. He and several other officers were clustered around the water cooler, apparently oblivious to her, because Pepper could hear his voice, in a shrill mockery of her own. “I want to speak to Officer James...” Pepper frowned. Then her eyes fell on his desk, and the nearly full cup of coffee resting on it, with several unopened sugar packets scattered nearby. Pepper’s frown turned to a wicked smile. As unobtrusively as possible, she ripped open one of the sugar packets, and poured it into the young man’s coffee, while whispering a spell that would give him hiccups for the rest of the afternoon. Then she turned her back and strode out into the snow.
James Kelley is the creation of my friend Queenie, who was so very kind to let me use him in this story. Thank you, Queenie!
Sugar Hearts
Chapter Five
Pepper squinted into the blizzard. The wind seemed to slap at her from all directions, and for a moment, she completely lost her bearings. For a moment, she felt like she’d tumbled into a galaxy full of swirling, dancing, snowflake-shaped stars. Then Pepper forced herself back to reality. Fixing her eyes on the sidewalk beneath her feet, she threw her full weight against the wind. Took one step. And then another. And then another.
Finally, her face stinging from the cold, Pepper reached her destination. The grey stone steps leading to the police station had been freshly salted, allowing her to scurry up them with relative ease. Once she reached their summit, she grabbed the nearest glass door, yanked it open, and hurled herself into the waiting warmth.
At first, she could only huddle in the foyer, gasping for breath. The journey from her car to the police station had been less than three blocks, but she felt like she’d run a mile. Gradually, however, the heat reinvigorated her. Pepper shook some of the water from her red leather coat, and tried to fix her hair, which now clung to her scalp like beached seaweed. Hopeless. Nothing to do but try to get through this. Looking around, Pepper spotted a large room full of desks and very busy people. That seemed like a good place to start. Drawing a deep breath, she began to stride toward it.
Despite Marzi’s frequent brushes with the law, Pepper herself had never been to a police station. She hadn’t known how to dress. After much consideration, she chose her favorite red dress, which she wore with red and white striped stockings, because they always made her feel so cheerful. And if she was cheerful, maybe she could also be brave. However, as she approached the nearest desk, the young man seated there abruptly stopped pouring sugar into his coffee and gave her a look which forced Pepper to wonder if she’d made the right decision after all.
“Hello,” she greeted, giving him her best smile. “I need to speak with James.”
“James?” The young man at the desk smirked, and Pepper blushed as she realized her mistake.
“Officer Kelley,” she clarified, trying to pretend that his first name had never left her lips. “I want to speak to Officer Kelley.”
The young man twisted in his seat, before yelling across the busy room. “Hey, Lane! Tell Kelley that one of his ‘friends’ followed him to work.”
Pepper felt her blush burn hotter. Fighting the urge to turn and run, she dug her fingers into the leather of her red handbag, and fixed her eyes on a spot just over the young man’s head. Hours seemed to pass. Then, finally, she heard a friendly voice.
“Miss Pennycandy?”
“James!” Pepper exclaimed, overcome by her happiness at being rescued. But a snicker from the young man at the desk quickly signaled that she had once again broken protocol. “I mean, Officer James. That is... Oh, dammit.”
“Perhaps we’d better go into my office,” James suggested.
Not trusting herself to speak, Pepper merely nodded, and allowed herself to be led into an unremarkable room. As soon as they were inside, James pulled the door shut behind them. Then he helped her out of her coat and hung it on a rack beside his own.
“I’m so sorry,” Pepper apologized, terribly afraid that he would be angry with her. “They aren’t going to let you live this down, are they?”
But, to her relief, James only laughed. “Don’t worry about that lot. It’s always something with them. They don’t mean anything by it.” Still smiling, he gestured to a chair. “Please. Have a seat.”
As she sat down, Pepper’s glance strayed to a folder lying open on James’s desk. Half buried beneath various typed documents, she spotted the photo of a teenage boy, his body resting on faded carpeting. The boy looked so peaceful that it took her a moment to realize he was probably dead. Instantly, she thought of Marzi, lost somewhere beyond her reach, and her breath rebelled against her, rushing into her lungs so fast that she nearly choked on it.
Quickly, James snapped the folder shut. Then, to further conceal the documents from her, he sat on them. His overzealous chivalry drew a smile from Pepper, despite her concern for Marzi.
“Now,” James began, his tone deliberately light as he tried to distract her from the horror of what she’d just seen. “Why don’t you tell ‘Officer James’ what he can do for you?”
“It’s about Marzi.”
James arched his eyebrow. “That’s usually my line.”
“Yes.” Pepper bent her head, fiddling with the gold clasp on her purse. She longed to be back in her kitchen, where her hands always knew exactly what to do, and where her mind could be focused on neat, orderly things. She always suspected that Marzi would be the one to finally drive her beyond the borders of that peaceful sanctuary. “Sometimes, Marzi vanishes for a day or two. He doesn’t mean to worry me – he just doesn’t think. Marzi never thinks. It’s like he’s afraid that if he does, he’s suddenly going to turn into someone like me.”
“And that would be a bad thing?”
“Marzi thinks so.” Pepper lifted her head, searching the face of the police officer she’d come to think of as her friend. Such a commanding demeanor. He could probably scare the hell out of criminals when he wanted to. And then, turn right around and comfort a crying child. That was what Pepper felt like. Like a child, lost and helpless, forced to put her trust in strangers. “But this time, he’s been gone for five days. Not a note, not a phone call, nothing. I’m really worried.”
For a moment, James didn’t reply. Then he leaned forward, clasping her hand in his, and Pepper felt a strange calm come over her. Suddenly, her hand forgot its nervousness at being deprived of familiar routines – suddenly, it knew just what to do. It didn’t need to do anything at all. It could just remain there, inside of his, and be safe.
“Pepper.” His voice was earnest now, all traces of play banished. “I realize this isn’t what you want to hear. But considering the sort of people your brother associated with...”
“I know.” Pepper struggled to keep her voice from breaking, to prove to James that she, too, could be strong. “I’m sure I seem very sheltered to you, living my life far away from grim reality. A princess in her sugar castle. But I’ve never deluded myself about my brother, or the people he hangs around. I know that most of them don’t place much value on human life. But if something has happened – if Marzi is...” She trailed off, unable to say it. “If he is, I just want to know.”
“You’re a good sister, Pepper.”
Pepper smiled again, her vision slightly blurred by tears she was determined to keep from falling. “You probably won’t believe it, but Marzi used to be the most devoted big brother. When we were kids. If my scoop of ice cream fell on the sidewalk, he’d give me his. If I was scared of monsters, he’d crawl under my bed to prove there weren’t any. If I wanted some silly charm bracelet for my birthday, he’d use his coin collection to buy it for me. He was always looking after his little sister. Then, when I was ten, we found out that I could—“
Just in time, Pepper caught herself. James was her friend. But there were still some secrets they couldn’t share. “We found out that I had a talent for making candy, and Marzi didn’t. Suddenly, his little sister didn’t need looking after. And Marzi just kind of lost his place in the universe. I don’t think he’s ever really managed to find it again.”
James nodded. “I understand. The thing is, I’m in the middle of this case right now – something really bad. Kids getting murdered.”
Pepper remembered the photo of the dead boy, and suddenly her own request seemed petty and selfish. That poor child was probably a complete innocent, while Marzi...well, she loved her brother, but there was no denying that he’d been asking for it.
“Of course,” she murmured, rising to her feet. “I’m sorry to have bothered you. I... I guess I’ll try to make a few inquiries on my own.”
“Don’t you dare.” James caught her arm, and Pepper marveled that such large hands could be so gentle. “Those people are scum. I don’t want you going anywhere near them.”
Pepper flushed, pleased by his concern, but also determined to take action. “I have to do something!”
“Alright.” James raked his fingers through the curls of his black hair. “Alright. I’ll look into it. On my own time, if I have to. But promise me that you won’t do anything until you hear from me.”
“Thank you!” For a moment, Pepper nearly kissed James, but thought better of it. Instead, she opened her handbag, and dug around in it, until she found a small red box, which she proudly placed on his desk. “Your favorites. Chocolate espresso truffles.”
Clearly bemused, James shook his head. “You’re a whirlwind, Miss Pennycandy. You show up, and you look like such a nice, proper girl. But by the time you’ve blown through a room, nothing is the way it used to be.”
Pepper giggled. “I hope that’s a compliment.”
“I’m not sure it’s a compliment. But it certainly is interesting.” Gallant until the last, James helped her back into her coat. “And remember. Don’t do anything until you hear from me.”
“I promise.”
On her way out, Pepper saw the young man who had initially announced her presence. He and several other officers were clustered around the water cooler, apparently oblivious to her, because Pepper could hear his voice, in a shrill mockery of her own. “I want to speak to Officer James...” Pepper frowned. Then her eyes fell on his desk, and the nearly full cup of coffee resting on it, with several unopened sugar packets scattered nearby. Pepper’s frown turned to a wicked smile. As unobtrusively as possible, she ripped open one of the sugar packets, and poured it into the young man’s coffee, while whispering a spell that would give him hiccups for the rest of the afternoon. Then she turned her back and strode out into the snow.