The Italy Crossover - 2022 - PART 03
We got it! Andreea sounds self confident and turns laptop's screen to Tomas. She had found surveillance tapes showing detective Bruni arguing with Danielle Villanueva and turning aggressive on the way
Tomas nods.
– There’s the connection.
– There’s more to it, Andreea’s face turns to stone. – We got the other one too. Plus new victim.
She plays the other tape showing very tall blonde woman in action. What a monster. Tomas eyes narrow.
– This is the woman the witness saw with Villanueva's and leaving construction site just before witness’s corpse was found. He pics up the burner phone they used to contact Vitale.
– I’m calling them to arrest Bruni and inform we found the accomplice to murders with heavy evidence.
Andreea nods.
– I’ll make sure they get the information we found. I’ll gather the evidence and I'm going to Villanueva’s to find that poor victim we saw on tapes before anyone can tamper with the new scene.
- See you there. I'll follow you shortly.
________________
"How many more of these...lock tethers....has the Moore woman set in place for you?"
Elke turns and looks up at the building they just left. She hesitates, not wanting to divulge too much information to Danuta. Trust is something she has little of anymore.
"Oh, there are several more, but they can't stay hidden away for long. Olivia is so very talented with her spells and casting, but I'm sure news of the deaths here has already reached her. These Gatekeepers are going to be harder to find."
"Lovely," Danuta huffs.
Elke looks up at the man hanging out of the window of the building they left.
Nude, eyes removed, arms and legs bound at wrong angles, the special symbols to break Olivia's tether carved into his chest and back, and dangling from his genitals via an electrical cord.
As each of the guardians Olivia had in place is dispatched, Elke feels a bit more free. Feels her powers getting stronger, but still has to use more power to keep herself healing.
"I do have to say, you do amazing work, Miss Szymańska. Small works of art you create. It's quite spectacular."
Danuta nods. "I take pride in my work."
_____________
"Come in." Detective Bruni walks into Vitale's office and leans against the wall.
"Angelo...what's happening?" She smiles sweetly. She holds her arms out. "Don't love me anymore?" She laughs. "Come on, partner."
He returns the smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "Nothing's going on. Just busy. Detective Segreto's been working on some new angles and--"
She slips up to him quickly and taps his chest. "AND THAT is what I'm
talking about, Angelo. You...palling around with that leering Segreto
working on shit I know NOTHING about?"
Detective Vitale goes cold. "Like your interesting find at the Villanueva residence?"
The two stare for a moment, then Chelsea sweeps around his desk.
"So...what has the great Segreto found, hmmm?" She scans the papers on his desk, but the only thing that stands out is a photo of Danuta. She sighs. "Angelo...come on. We're good partners. We're good friends."
"Things change."
Chelsea curses under her breath and stomps out of the office.
Detective Vitale frowns, sad about the whole situation.
______________
Snare 01
When the call came in there was a quiet surge of action in the office - quiet and low among a select few.
Two figures entered the building from the garage level and were spirited upstairs and into a conference room on the fourth floor.
Vitale and Segreto were brought in along with Sargent Petri - A Special Task Force Officer with the Arma dei Carabinieri.
The briefing was short and to the point. The screen showed the surveillance tapes found on Danielle Villanueva's laptop - Detective Chelsea Bruni screaming at Villanueva in a hostile manner.
Together, they work with the two officers assigned to follow their target - Detective Chelsea Bruni.
Snare 02
Chelsea grinds her teeth and moves back to the office garage quickly. The two blockheads following her were ridiculous. She stops when she sees her car - the massive yellow wheel lock clamped onto the Fiat's tire.
"F^CK...." she growls as she turns to head in the other direction.
Vitale, Segreto, and Petri walk towards her.
"Detective Chelsea Bruni - you are under arrest for suspicion--"
Vitale doesn't get a chance to finish. Chelsea makes a run for it, moving down the alley to her right making a break for the back.
Tomas stands in the path hand raised. "Detective Bruni..."
Chelsea screams with rage as she slips and scampers back to her feet. She hops the wall and back the other way, but the other one is there.
Andreea raises her arms. "There's nowhere to go, Detective Bruni." Andreea watches the woman turn and head back in the same direction she started. She looks at Tomas and motions to her neck.
Bruni was caught in the snare.
Chelsea Bruni tries to get around Vitale and twists her ankle. She crashes to her knee.
Vitale snags Bruni's arm.
"CHELSEA! Enough!"
Segreto and Petri close in around her as Detective Vitale slips the cuffs around her wrists.
–––––––––––––––––
Vitale pours himself another glass of whiskey and sat in the half light. He glances at his phone.
3:45am. Hours. 16 to be exact.
It had been a long, horrible day. Getting Bruni to the holding area - her cursing him the whole way until Segreto offered to take over. He owed him something for that one.
Then there was turning in all of his files on her and going over them with the people from Arma dei Carabinieri, Jansen, and Conti to make sure they had what they needed for their time with her the next day.
Then....his questioning. What did he know about his partner? When had he suspected her of nefarious activity? Had he participated in any way? Another inspection of his gun...his office...his car.
Angela called him later telling him that they spent two hours at their house searching there as well.
Detective Vitale lets out a sigh. Sometimes getting what you want is a mixed blessing.
He pours himself another glass before heading to the cot and army blanket.
________________________
- I think we are almost done. Andreea nods when detective Bruni was caught and put under arrest. – This was so ugly case I want something to balance it.
– What would it be? Tomas smiles at her.
– Let’s go out to eat, have some drinks and continue tomorrow. Free night? I need to vent out a little before Bruni’s interrogation begins.
– I like this train of thought, Tomas nods. – It’s been rough case.
– Weird one too, Andreea sighs.
– So, shall we?
– Oh no. What are you thinking. I’m not going to go out in my working clothes. I want to refresh a little! Andreea protests firmly.
– Quite surprising, Tomas points out.
– I’m a woman after all, Andreea shrugs. – If I can drop work mode for awhile I’m certainly going to do it. I can crawl week in a dirt but there's no way I'm going out looking like this!
- You look lovely, Tomas looks at Andreea one hour later. – If it’s not too much to say.
– Thank you, she smiles. – Compliments are nice. So no. Wasn’t over the line. She says approvingly and turn around to show it all.
– Good. Tomas gives her a look over. She really looks amazing in her high heels. There’s certainly perks working in Italy – at least when you were leg oriented man.
I like this place, Andreea looks around.
– It got very good reviews in tripadvisor, Tomas smiles to her. – You like prosecco? I sure could use a glass.
– Is there a woman who wouldn’t like sparkling wines? He gets almost flirty smile from Andreea.
– I know several, Tomas chuckles as they sit down to their table.
– Hard to believe.
– That there’s women who don’t care for glass of bubbly or that I know several women? Tomas raises his eyebrow in playful way.
Andreea purses her lips and laughs out.
– Didn’t expect you to turn funny – or flirty!
– Does it trouble you? Tomas smirks.
– I guess this is a new side of you, She admits. – but no. I don’t mind, her voice goes velvety.
– Good. I’m in good spirits, Tomas says and nods to waiter bringing the menus.
– Me too. Feels good to get the case together.
– There’s no way that snake can slither out now, Tomas muses. – Let’s press the rest of it from her tomorrow.
– Agreed. But no more talking about work?
– No more of that. So. Prosecco?
- I was wondering. You have anyone waiting you back at home? Tomas casually asks. Andreea’s brows knit together for a moment.
– Do you know what makes a good agent? She looks right to Tomas's eyes
– You are probably going to tell me.
– I have nothing to loose. Nothing that could be used against me anymore. Nothing to make me scared of or fear for. I’m the one they put on high risk missions.
– And yet you told me to fight for love. That’s contradiction. Tomas points his fork to Andreea’s direction.
– You are different.
– Are you saying I’m not good agent? Tomas challenges her.
– No. I didn’t mean it like that.
– So how did you mean it then?
– You still have a heart. You are a good man.
– Andreea, Tomas sighs. – Don’t do this to yourself.
She doesn’t answer but just stares into nothingness.
– I understand you lost a lot, Tomas looks at her emphatically. – You are one of the most striking woman I know. Intelligent, capable, great team player and don’t you know how beautiful you are?
– I think that’s enough of that, Jansen. Andreea’s tone has a slight warning but she can’t hide she liked to hear those things.
– You can still have it all. Just saying
Location @inborgovico_
Food made by @atelier.tea.o.rama *
Note - This was a really cool scene. Aurora took the figures - table, food, and all - when she went out to eat and set them up on the table to shoot them! SUPER cool and the shots came out great!
Darling, wait! I think there’s a loose lash in my eye, Andreea coos and fishes for her pocket mirror. She opens it up and checks her face. – Soo much better. You know it feels so nasty if there’s lash turned to wrong way, she continues putting the mirror away and leans into Tomas side and runs her hand over his chest. It looks like they really are a couple and she wants some attention from her man.
– We have a shadow, she whispers. – Presumably same as before.
– I noticed too, Tomas fakes a smile and tugs a strand of hair behind Andreea's ear. It could look like a fond gesture but they are both very attentive, on high alert of their surroundings, getting ready of action.
– Single male in dark clothes. Just around the corner, Andreea fakes a smile too.
– Good work. Distract him. Keep those hips swinging, Tomas whispers and they continue walking.
– I need to visit the snake exhibition. I’ll catch you later, Tomas says and turns from other corner.
– Eww, why couldn’t you use the restaurant’s restroom, Andreea wrinkles her nose up. – At least wash your hands before you touch me again, she shakes her head, talking to shadows Tomas disappeared to.
– It’s getting colder so I’m moving on! Please, hurry up!
She keeps her hips swaying when she walks along darkening alley. Drawing her shawl closer to her with movements that could be seen fragile or even little scared.
Man in dark clothes emerged from the shadows. He stayed hidden but followed Andreea closely. Her high heeled long legs kept him watching little too long.
He was about to turn to look where did the other one went, when he felt barrel of gun pressing to the base of his skull. – Don’t move, Tomas growls.
Who do you work for? Tomas slams the man against the nearest wall and presses his gun against his face.
– You don’t understand what you are dealing with! The man says.
– Why don’t you tell us what we are dealing with then? Andreea casually says and joins them. Her heels make clacking sound on cobblestones.
– You are messing with world you have no idea of! You should back of now when you have the chance!
– Right. He’s high, Tomas voice gets bored.
– No. No! You don’t understand! The man starts to look around frantically. – If they catch me talking to you--
- Who?
– I can’t! They’ll kill me if I tell!
- You're having a very good chance of getting killed right here if you don’t start singing, Tomas grunts pulling his authority over the man.
Andreea picks up her phone, starts to dial up to their retrieval team while Tomas holds the man in place.
– Why do you follow us?
– I was told to keep an eye on you!
– Why! Tomas pins him to the wall from his collar.
– To find out more of you.
– Who?
– I can’t tell!
– Who?!
The man looks at the barrel of gun in terror.
– You are the police!! You can’t do this!
– Oh bohoo, Andreea shakes her head. - We use the methods we find the best.
- The name, Tomas snarls, intimidates him more. He puts the safety off and his finger starts to push the trigger slowly. Man panics.
- Elke. Elke Giacccc--
His words are cut short when his eyes bulges outward. There’s sickening gurgle from his throat and he falls down to the ground.
- What the hell?! Andreea yells out!
Tomas let’s out long and colourful curses in swedish. He glimpses at Andreea, whose normally emotionless face shows terror. But only for a few seconds.
– Call the team! Tomas croaks out. Uh, his voice wavers from the shock too.
- I am calling all the time! Andreea yells, holding the phone.
Still clutching his gun Tomas starts scouting the perimeter. What the hell? What the hell is going on?! His gaze sweeps the rooftops, narrow streets and he spots movement on the back alley.
Going after! Tomas shout outs. Andreea nods, holding her gun on the other hand, looking vary and already speaking rapid Italian to the phone. Her eyes scan the area too as she kneels down to check the corpse.
Tomas springs into action. He got a good look of the suspect and the direction she was going. His heart was beating fast. Shocked what they just have witnessed but he didn’t let himself to feel it. Those things come after the mission. He cut his normal train if thought to concentrate to cut the culprit from fleeing. Time for only mission operatives.
Suspect went to this courtyard, knew she was run after. Tomas kept his position hidden, kept searching from his hideout. Then it hit him. Sudden sense of presence. Feeling someone was very close. There was nobody, he doubletook it already, did it again but saw no one.
Still the feeling of being close to someone, something(?!) started to rise. What the hell now? Was there somekind chemicals? Something he missed earlier?
He gathered his willpower and concentrated on blocking the weird feeling away. It was starting to feel like someone tried to force it’s way into his brain?
Mission.
Objective.
Concentrate.
Tomas shook the feeling away, blocked it from his mind and found his resolution again.
There! The woman was doing something, held her palms upwards and kept rapidly chanting. Like doing some sort of prayer?
Feeling of someone trying to get into Tomas’s head started to increase again and whatever she was doing was clearly source of this nauseating dizzy feeling.
Tomas didn’t hesitate. The other guy fried from inside and he didn’t plan to end up in same way. She was in point blank and he took it.
Woman's kneecap bursted open from the shot and she shrieked out, collapsed to the ground crying from agony. The feeling inside Tomas skull deceased immediately. She really was cause of it. What was it? What the hell it was?!
Tomas approached the woman carefully. He didn’t know if she was armed or if she still had other tricks on her sleeve. He had seen enough already.
– Try anything and you'll have another bullet, he stated, made it clear he wouldn’t hesitate to shoot her again. Not deadly anyway. This was the lead they were looking for. The one who could lead them to this cult thing. And they were going to get bottom of this case.
– She will rise, woman pants. – She will guide us again!
Another freak-o. Dangerous one though.
– That’s enough! Not a word!
They can hear distant sirens approaching. Several police cars and ambulance coming closer. Woman’s pale face twists in pain and settles in resolution.
– Viva Morte Bianca! She spits out and before Tomas has time to react more, she makes some weird words and then she’s gone too. Chokes and turns limp.
Dead end. Literally. All the leads were lost. Back to square one. Tomas stares dullenly to the wall. Adrenaline starts to worn out, leaving him frustrated, scared and powerless. Completely beaten. His hands were shaking.
How would he explain the shooting. He couldn’t say the woman tried to …tried to what? Manipulate him? Conjure him? That felt like thoughts of a mad man. He couldn’t possibly write that on report. It sounded like he wasn’t in control anymore. Like he was loosing it all. But was he?
No. I’m not imagining things.
– Jansen!! Andreea shouts and runs to him gun ready in hand. – I heard a shot and --- oh no. She noticed another dead body for that evening. – Tomas. Tomas! Are you alright?! Her concerned eyes search him.
– No. He shakes his head. – I’m not alright.
Andreea nods, shows she still hid her emotions, her shock still at bay. She glances the way she came and sees other police coming closer.
– Ok. Try to hang in there. Let’s get this done. We’ll talk later.
omas curses for hundreth time and collapses to the chair. Best part of the night was behind them after the corpses were taken away, all files filled and forwarded. It took hours. They managed to go on like nothing unusual happened except both of them kept chainsmoking.
They came back to their headquarters and first thing Tomas did was open a bottle whiskey.
– Pour for me too, Andrea says kicking away her heels. – I don’t know what happened. What happened?!
– I don’t know! I don’t fucking know what went on!! Tomas snaps and empties his glass with one go. He continues to second that. – We lost all our leads!
– I know! No need to shout at me! Andrea yells back.
– Hell with this! Tomas feels frustration and anxiety he didn’t know was possible.
Andrea walks around the room like caged animal. She stops to drink her whiskey and continues her steps.
– I’ve never seen anything like that.
– Me neither, Tomas rubs his temples. – I felt he was starting to fry.
– You felt that?!
– I held his collar? I felt the temperature starting abruptly rise. I didn’t realise he would… Tomas swallows the rest of the words.
– Uh. Andreea shivers and sucks more smoke to her lungs.
- What happened with the other one?
Tomas doesn’t reply right away. Instead he curses in swedish.
– Tomas, tell me? I saw the report you gave and it made no sense. You are covering up!
– Nothing makes sense now! Tomas growls.
It was like… I don’t know. I think she was the one who did it and she tried to use that for me too, but… Tomas frowns again.
- How?!!
– Fuck should I know!! Tomas bellows.
– I said don’t yell at me!! Andreea raises her voice too. – I’m just as upset! It was like we were thrown into lousy scifi novel but it was for real?! It happened for real!
- I.. I think she tried to get me too and I .. I’m sorry, Tomas watches his partner's outburst.
– Ok. Ok. Did they drug us at restaurant? Some hallucinogens? Andreea tries to find other explanation. – That can’t be. We both saw what happened. The rest of the team saw the state of the victim too. And the second one couldn’t die from a bullet to a kneecap. Perhaps she had cyanide capsule or other nerve poison.
Tomas grunts and takes another drink. Andreea stops her circling to suck smoke into her lungs.
– Tell me again. The attack. How did you know it was an attack? This just doesn’t make any sense.
– I told you already! Like something tried to reach into my mind? Take control? I know it sounds crazy but I’m not loosing my mind here!
– I know. Andreea rubs her face, frustrated and nervous. - I know you aren’t crazy. I was there too,
- I don’t know what to think. What to feel. I feel… violated? Fuck. I felt scared?!?
– It’s ok. You were attacked, Andreea tries to calm him.
– I don’t even know what to believe anymore!! Tomas springs up from his chair.
Tomas finds them being very close. Bother tense, schocked. Scared even?
– Shit. I’m shaking. I never do that, Tomas whispers.
– Mm. Me too. Andreea nods.
– Ok. We need to calm down.
– Mm. We really need to, Andreea says. - We really need to…
Her eyes go wide and it takes a moment for Tomas to realize why. He has put an arm around her, pressed her closer to a half hug. Feeble attempt to comfort them both. And then he realises to more pressing reason for her bewilderment. Andreea can feel him being aroused.
Hold on. Wait... oh, thanks buddy. Great timing!
– We really need to get the control back, Tomas says, tries to find assuring tone of voice failing it completely.
– I know, she whispers in her sultry low voice. More velvety than ever. – I know.
Tomas frowns and touches gently Andreea’s hair. The way she said it sounded like she was agreeing to more than words said.
Andreea looks away and let’s out a long shaking breath before taking eye contact again. like she came into conclusion.
- Tomas, I trust you.
He knows excatly what they were talking about now. It’s not easy to trust, let them close, put yourself into vulnerable state. Especially after what they just went thru. They were already shattered in pieces. Tomas swallows. This night is turning even more bizarre as it was.
– I trust you, he replies.
- No attachments. No unnecessary feelings. Just to get the control back? Andreea rules the situation.
– Agreed. Tomas nods and stumps his cigarette.
– Clean with capsule, she touches lightly her arm.
– Same here.
Tomas touches Andreea’s neck again, let his fingers travel to her collarbone and pushes the shoulder of her dress down. They are looking straight to each others eyes as he carefully touches her and is about to lean in to kiss her.
- No kissing on the mouth, Andreea says, turns her face away. – Too much feelings. I don’t want to disturb myself more.
Tomas wanted to but it wouldn’t be wise. She was right. They were already messed up and it would bring out lot of unnecessary feelings, making situation ever more harder.
Andreea holds her breath and let it out as a long sigh as Tomas bares slowly her upper torso and cups her breast. Gentle, slowly fondling her. She moans quietly and gets a angry frown.
– Don’t you dare to make love to me! She exhales and puts her hand underneath Tomas shirt. He grimaces when she scratches his skin with her nails. He growls out aloud, letting her know he got the message. Rough it is then.
It was very different compared to Tomas’s earlier jobs in Italy even without the twilight zone happenings. He never crossed the line, never had any flings especially not with collagues. Andreea was breathingly beautiful, very sexy woman but he never looked at her that way. (Not much anyway) Oona was his first priority and he would never cheat on her. But now, Oona was gone. Andreea was there.
Andreea wasn’t a bit submissive nor was Tomas. If someone would have seen them they would have thought there was something non consensual going on. Two trained specialist against each other. Both fought for control, needed to have it and then safely loose it when their bodies melted together. Tomas got her finally pinned down and his feelings of terror melted away with lust and he found peace inside her.
Tomas wakes up alone in late noon and cold sheets indicate Andreea has left long time ago. No feelings, no attachments. Just like they agreed on.
He touched his sore shoulder where Andreea bit him. He still felt little indentations from her teeth underneath his fingertips. That was going to leave a mark. Talk about a wild ride!
Nothing like he had experienced with Oona, but situation was so damn diffirent. Oona was so fragile, she couldn’t handle anything rougher in bedroom without getting anxiety attack. Whereas Andreea took him as much he took her. Left him marked. Took what she wanted.
Then there was the bitter truth. It wasn’t him Andreea wanted. He was just a man she trusted and was conveniently there, in same pinch as she was. She probably thought about her deceased husband when she closed her eyes and turned her face away. Tomas feels a sad sigh escape his lips. Anyway. It helped. He felt better, more clearer than yesterday. More in control of himself and his thoughts.
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