Hidden Alcove
Lexa placed her hands and pushed Clarke back slightly before leaning in and stealing a sweet kiss,”I love you, too.”
As Lexa made her way through the precinct she could still feel Clarke’s eyes lingering on her figure and had to force herself to not look back.
“Clarke is more than capable of handling herself. She’ll be fine.”
Lexa’s thoughts only seemed to amp up her concern for the blonde’s safety as she finally reached her truck, where her older sister leaned against it. Anya glanced up and gave her a sharp nod, silently expressing her determination to get to the bottom of this mess. Lexa and Anya climbed into her truck and buckled up before Lexa started the engine and proceeded to follow Indra, who waited patiently in her car at the entrance of the parking lot, towards Niylah’s.
Lexa’s eyes scanned the light blue house with cautious eyes as she pulled her truck to a stop behind Indra. The house, still being in the same run down neighborhood as Aaron’s, surprisingly wasn’t falling apart like the others around it. The exterior paint job was crisp and clean, devoid of any chips, and a fresh row of flowers ran along both sides of the sidewalk leading to the front door.
As Lexa hopped out from the driver’s seat she finally caught sight of Bellamy and Lincoln emerging from Bellamy’s car parked a few feet away from them.
“Looks like someone keeps this place in tip top shape,” Anya whispered as she came to stand next to Lexa.
“Maybe she has some image to uphold.”
“Image? One look at her records and her ‘image’ will be lost in the wind.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation Lexa couldn’t help but let a chuckle flutter through her lips as everyone else came to stand before them. Lexa quickly straightened up as Indra raised an eyebrow at her cackling before glancing at each individual in the group.
“Now, I want this as clean as possible. We get Niylah, bring her in for questioning, and see if we can’t find out who are two new suspects are. Got it?”
Everyone gave a firm ‘yes ma’am’ before allowing Indra to begin walking up the sidewalk towards the front door. Lexa’s eyes searched around the house once more as she continued to follow the others and couldn’t help but notice how eerily quiet the air around them had become. Somehow the peaceful silence only caused Lexa’s senses to flare out in uncertainty around her.
“More than half of the time silence like this usually means something horrible is about to happen.”
Lexa tore her gaze away from where it had locked onto a rusting wind chime hanging by on one of the house’s wind as Indra’s knuckles sent five solid knocks across the door only for the thick wood to swing up easily. Indra glanced back at them all with a steely gaze as she reached to pull the black gun that rested on her hip before cautiously making her way inside.
Everyone followed Indra’s lead and unholstered their weapons before slowly following their captain inside. Lexa’s gun dropped slightly as she looked over the spotless interior of the home. Plush grey couches flanked the large black coffee table sitting in the middle of the room and a large flat screen television was mounted to the wall, screen black as night. Lexa walked further into the room and took notice of the lack of personal touch the room missed. No pictures, no decorations of any kind. Nothing.
“Everything’s clear. No one’s in the house,” Lincoln said as he walked in from the hallway to Lexa’s left.
“Looks like this isn’t going to be as easy as I thought. Everyone pick a room and start searching. If Niylah isn’t here to give us answers then maybe she left a few clues around here,” Indra spoke.
Heads tilting down quickly in understanding everyone broke off and began the task of searching every room of the home. Making her way down the hallway Lexa, walking down the hallway, grasped the handle of the second door on her right before turning it and pushing inside. Upon entering Lexa saw a queen sized bed in the center of the room along with bedside tables on either side, a dresser that sat on the far left wall, and a small desk on to Lexa’s right.
Lexa let the door bang lightly against the door as she fully pushed it open and made her way into the room. Just like the living room, what she assumed to be Niylah’s bedroom, lacked personal touch. It was almost as if the blonde wasn’t really living in the house.
As she glanced around at the cream colored room Lexa quickly spotted a computer sitting on the corner of the desk. Lexa made her way over to the computer and flipped it open only to reel back as the screen began to scroll through random line’s of codes. Grabbing the computer from the desk Lexa made her way out of the room in search on Indra. Making her way back down the hallway Lexa walked into the kitchen where Indra currently was searching through the many cabinets lining the walls.
“Hey Captain, I found this computer in Niylah’s room. It seems to be encrypted with some sort of code. Do you think maybe we can get Raven over here to check it out?”
Indra gave Lexa an unusual smirk before pointing a finger over Lexa’s shoulder. Confused Lexa turned around to see Raven standing behind her with a smug smirk.
“I may just be a forensic analyst but I know my way around an encrypted computer. Give that baby to me,” Raven said with her hands help out.
Lexa handed the computer off to Raven who then sat the computer on the kitchen island and began working her way through the many lines of codes. Lexa watched as Raven’s brow furrowed in concentration as the fiery brunette typed away at the computer keys. A few more seconds passed before Raven pumped a fist in the air with a cry of triumph.
“And this is why you guys will alway need me,” Raven said as she shifted the computer towards Lexa.
“What ever would I do without you, Raven?”
Raven rolled her eyes at Lexa’s sarcastic comment before leaning over and watching the detective begin to move through the computer. As Lexa searched through the many files on the computer Bellamy and Lincoln choose that moment to walk in carrying a few articles of men’s clothing.
“We didn’t find much, but there’s definitely someone staying here with Niylah. We found these along with more stuffed in a duffle bag in the spare room,” Lincoln stated as he held up a solid black shirt.
Lexa stopped for a moment and turned around to glance at the clothing in both men carried,“It has to either be ‘Daniel’s’ or the blonde’s clothing. Maybe Niylah is helping one of them hide out?”
“Maybe, or maybe she’s romantically involved with one of them,” Bellamy commented.
“It’s possible. Maybe that’s why she may be apart of all this,” Raven said.
Lexa’s eyes moved from Raven and back to the computer. She stared over the screen in thought about where exactly Niylah would keep any information about who she was involved with. Scrolling through the computer’s apps Lexa’s eyes brightened momentarily at the sight of the email icon and hastily clicked on it. The app opened a new window only to once again fill with a similar looking code that Lexa had discovered earlier.
“It’s your turn again Reyes,” Lexa said as she pushed the computer back towards Raven.
As Raven began working her magic her eyes narrowed in confusion,“Well, whatever’s in this email Niylah sure doesn’t want anyone seeing it. This is one of the hardest encryptions to get around and it also makes the emails nonexistent. Basically this encryption keeps anyone out of the app and from tracing or hacking her email, but luckily for you…”
Raven trailed off as she typed slightly faster before hitting the enter button with an insane amount of enthusiasm,“I’m Raven fucking Reyes. You’re welcome.”
Lexa gave Raven a pointed thanks before scrolling through the list of inboxes. Seeing an inbox labeled ‘Private’ Lexa clicked on it and watched as a list of emails from an unknown sender began popping up along the screen. Most of the emails were filled with locations, dates, and times to where some of them only held one sentence.
“Most of these seem to be dates and times for meetings. I guess whoever she answers to doesn’t like to meet at the same place every time,” Lexa said.
Raven glanced over her shoulder and pointed to an email from only an hour ago,“That looks like the last email she received. Open it.”
Lexa moved the cursor to the email before double clicking it and allowing the window to pop open. Emerald eyes grazed over the two little words that graced the screen. Lexa turned her head towards Raven with a questioning gaze before taking a small step back and allowing the analyst to take a look.
“Who’s it from? What does it say?” Indra asked.
“It’s still from the unknown sender. All it says is ‘it’s time.’ That’s it. Nothing else,” Lexa explained.
“Guys, I found something you need to see.”
Everyone turned around towards the entrance of the kitchen as they heard Anya’s voice. Not seeing her older sister, Lexa moved out of the kitchen and made her way through the house in search of where Anya’s voice had drifted from. Walking down the long hallway Lexa came to a stop when she saw Anya standing in one of the bedrooms.
Hearing her walk up, Anya turned to look at her before pointing a finger at the space in front of her,“This painting was just hanging here. I didn’t notice any other pictures or paintings hanging around the house so it just struck me as odd. I moved it and found this little hidden alcove.”
Lexa made her way over the older detective and took a look at the hollow wall in front of them. Inside were a few folded papers and a clear unlabeled bottle of some colorless liquid that Lexa couldn’t identify. Anya reached in and grabbed the bottle and removed the cap to take a quick sniff before pushing it away from her nose and coughing at the smell. Lexa took the bottle from her hands took a sniff of its contents before quickly pulling the bottle away at the pungent smell.
“It’s chloroform,” Lexa said she handed the bottle back to Anya and reached back into the alcove to grab ahold of the papers that laid inside.
“Why the hell does Niylah need chloroform?”
Lexa unfolded the papers as Anya pondered over their motives. Lexa’s emerald eyes scanned over the few bits of information printed along the white surface of paper. There was everything from Clarke’s phone number all the way up to her social security number. What caught Lexa’s eye the most was the large red line that circled around Clarke’s address. Lexa’s heart stopped as the pieces of the puzzle finally clicked in her head.
The reason Niylah wasn’t here, the need for chloroform. They wanted Lexa to go on a wild goose chase for Niylah for one reason and one reason only.
“They’re going to take Clarke.”
Lexa didn’t give Anya the time to respond as she quickly dropped the papers and began sprinting down the hallway. Everyone turned to look at Lexa as she came barreling into the kitchen.
“Indra, call back up and have them get over to Clarke’s, now. Bellamy, you’re with me!”
Lexa ran out of the kitchen, Bellamy hot on her heels, and out of the house and began racing over to her truck. Hopping inside Lexa barely waited for Bellamy to close his door before speeding off. As Lexa pulled out her phone to call Clarke, Bellamy looked at her with confused eyes.
“What the hell is going on, Lexa? What did Anya find?”
Placing the phone to her ear, Lexa took a quick look at Bellamy before turning back to the road ahead of her,“Niylah had a hidden alcove with all of Clarke’s information, like her address, and a bottle of what I assume was homemade Chloroform. Whoever’s behind this wanted us away from Clarke. They’re going to take her, Bellamy.”
Bellamy’s eyes shifted from confused to worry as Lexa explained just what they had found. Lexa continued to drive, ignoring the speed limit, and waited impatiently for Clarke to answer the phone. With each passing second Lexa’s heart was gripped harder with fear. She was almost ready to hang up and try again until she heard the soft melodic voice of Clarke.
“Hey, you guys done already?”
“Clarke, listen to me—,” Lexa began only to be cut off by Clarke, the faint sound of knocking in the background.
“Hold on, Lexa. I guess the pizza guy forgot something.”
Lexa felt her heart leap in her throat,“NO! Don’t open the door!”
No reply came from the blonde and Lexa could only image that she had spoken too late. Lexa screamed Clarke’s name through the speaker as she heard the unmistakable sound of the phone crashing to the Clarke’s apartment floor. The only thing keeping her on the phone was the almost inaudible voices coming from the other end.
“Hey, Clarke. Remember me?
Niylah.
Lexa’s chest heaved with an alarming rate as she heard the sinister tone in the blonde’s voice. As she continued listening to the conversation flowing between the two women Lexa’s foot only pushed down harder on the gas pedal, speedometer steadily rising.
“By now I’m pretty sure you already know that I’m not really ‘Daniel’s’ friend. I’m just here to help him do his dirty work.”
“What do you want from me, Niylah?” Clarke had seethe out.
“It’s not what I want from you, it’s what my boss wants from Lexa. He’s determined to have the one thing that Lexa cherishes most in this world, and that’s you. If it was what I wanted I could guarantee you that I’d be making you scream my name in ecstasy over and over again, but sadly you’ve already been claimed by my boss.”
Rage flared in Lexa’s chest at Niylah’s words and she began calling out for Clarke once more, not hearing the last few exchanges between the women. Lexa’s screaming only turned more desperate as she heard someone let out a pained yell and the sound of heavy thumping, which she assumed was someone running across the hardwood flooring.
“Dammit! Clarke?!”
Lexa quieted down for a moment as a sudden silence filled the phone and she feared the worst. A few more seconds of silence floated around before Lexa felt her heart jump around in her chest once more at Niylah’s voice.
“You bitch!”
Another second of silence followed before a loud screech sounded out along with a soft thump. Lexa noted the screech sounded similar to the ones from the poor souls that had faced a can of pepper spray and could only guess, and pray, that Clarke had sprayed Niylah.
“That’s my girl.”
Lexa’s heart barely had time to calm before she heard the sound of footsteps going closer to the phone,“Clarke! Please answer me!”
“I’m here,”Clarke said breathlessly,“It was Niylah, Lexa. She said her boss was determined to have the one thing you cherish most in this world. She tried to take me to him!”
Having already heard the conversation Lexa’s only worry was Clarke getting to safety.
“Clarke, don’t stop. Just keep running until you get somewhere safe. I’m on my way.”
“Okay, but what if—.”
Clarke’s words cut short and Lexa pulled the phone away from her ear for a moment to make sure the call hadn’t ended before placing it back to her ear. Lexa called out to Clarke only to quiet down when the deep sound of a male’s voice could be heard.
“Hello. It’s funny how we keep bumping into each other like this. Last time though it was with a grocery cart.”
Fuck. The blonde male.
Lexa dodged around traffic as she continued speeding towards the apartment complex.
“Who the hell are you?” She heard Clarke question.
“My name is Caleb, but my name shouldn’t be what you’re worried about. Now, I do believe my associate was trying to bring you to meet out boss. He’s not a very patient man.”
Lexa heard a soft rustle against the phone before it suddenly stopped.
“I don’t think so, Clarke.”
Niylah was back and so was the racing in Lexa’s heart. There was no obvious way for Clarke to defend herself against two assailants. This realization only had Lexa slamming down on the gas pedal with full force and zipping through traffic. The sounds of muffled screaming had Lexa feeling as if a knife had pierced her heart.
“Clarke! Clarke!” Lexa yelled desperately.
“Hope you won’t miss you’re little girlfriend too much, detective.”
“Niylah, if you so much as harm one strand of hair on her head, you along with whoever else you’re working for will find a damn bullet in your brain,” Lexa spat.
“Don’t worry. She’s sound asleep right now. Besides, my boss has much better plans than killing her right now. If you want to see her again, you’ll wait for our instructions.”
And all Lexa heard next was the dial tone. Hand gripping around the phone tightly, Lexa pulled it away from her ear and slammed the back of her hand against the steering wheel multiple times, leaving an angry red mark in its wake.
“Lexa, tell me what happened.”
Lexa had almost forgotten Bellamy sitting next to her. Tilting her head back and willing away the worried tears that welled up in her eyes Lexa took a deep breath before answering Bellamy with a shaky voice.
“They have Clarke.”