Episode 38
Jack Routh
"What are you looking at me like that?" Zoe asked as she checked herself in front of the mirror.
He just smiled and shook his head. It was surreal to know he would become a father soon. He was nervous and scared at the same time, but right now, he was mesmerized by how beautiful his wife looked.
She was still naked after drying off from her shower. One of the things he loved about Zoe was her lack of modesty around him, along with her adventurous streak. She knew he always found her attractive, and he enjoyed her attempts to show off for him. Sheer teddies, tight leggings, thong panties, and cupless bras. He relished every second of her teasing in the privacy of their home.
Her confidence in her body and looks never failed to excite him. His eyes watched as a drop of water trickled down from her collarbone to her firm breast and just missed her nipple. He let his eyes trail down to her toned body and stomach, past her navel, and to her sex.
From her reflection, Zoe's long and toned thighs glistened with recently applied lotion, and he let his gaze move further down, to her knees, calves, and feet. His eyes moved up, and he enjoyed watching the jiggle of his wife's ass as it jiggled when she moved, and he was tempted to take her right there and then when she bent down to apply lotion to her legs.
She was so beautiful.
Seeing as Zoe was almost finished with her skin care routine, he stood up from where he was sitting on the bed and moved beside her in front of the mirror, and wrapped a hand around her waist.
"It won't show yet for at least a couple of months." His wife smiled and ran her hand over her belly.
"I can't wait." He replied.
"Me too." Zoe took a deep breath. "I'm so nervous."
"We both are." He didn't have a first clue about being a father, but he was determined to be a good and loving parent. With a little one on the way, he realized he needed to make some changes.
He initially wanted to resign from Metro, but Zoe had convinced him to stay until the program's first batch of participants completed their training.
"I still don't see why we have to attend the Miss California party." He once again adjusted the collar of his long-sleeved gray polo shirt.
"Optics." Zoe explained. He admired his wife's buttocks as she put on a thong and started to slip into a light gray cocktail dress. "Can you help me with the back zipper?"
"Sure."
"Yeah, you might have caught Bloom, but you have to understand how Federal agencies work." Zoe straightened up in her cocktail dress and then started to check the dress in front of the mirror. He was happy that she kept her hair up, revealing her graceful neck, and it matched well with her dress, which showed off her shoulders and upper back. "With a large task force that involves the FBI and the DHS, you need to understand the logistics required for that joint operation."
"That means hotel rooms and other expenses are already paid for." His wife continued to explain. "Not using them is a waste of money. Just think of the last few days of the preliminaries as a vacation for these agents. And it's you who caught the killer, so you have to be there if you want to maintain good relations with the FBI and Homeland Security."
"Their people were easy to work with." Jack mused.
"They should be." His wife smirked. "Both want you to join their agencies."
Zoe was once again right when they arrived at the hotel premises. He spotted familiar faces from the surveillance team lounging by the restaurant pool, wearing colorful shirts and looking like they didn't have a care in the world. One of the team members even raised his fruity cocktail drink at him as a greeting and leaned back on his cozy chair.
"Technically, they are still doing a surveillance operation." He whispered to Zoe, who noticed the exchange.
"With Garza away, federal agents will play." She replied with a smirk.
They headed to one of the private restaurants, and he was surprised to see a few familiar faces seated at one of the tables at the corner of the venue.
"I called them to meet me here," Zoe explained as Pam, Reese, and Liz waved at them.
"Congratulations!" Pam reached them first as soon as they reached the table and hugged his wife tight. "I'm so happy for you, Zoey!"
Reese and Liz also gave warm greetings to the two of them, and once again, he felt a strange sensation inside of him as he stared at the beaming, joyful face of his wife.
"Look at you two lovebirds." Liz gave her own round of hugs. "Zoe, you're practically glowing!"
"And not because she just had sex." Reese teased. "This is on a whole other level!"
"Thanks for coming," Zoe replied. "I had to tell my best friends as soon as I learned of the news."
"And I'll be disappointed if you didn't," Pam replied, her eyes on the verge of crying. He could tell how truly happy Pam was for them, and it was touching.
"So, are you planning a gender reveal party?" Reese asked.
"Not really," Zoe replied after they both shared a look of understanding. "Maybe a baby shower will be nice when I'm in my third term?"
"Perfect!" Reese clapped her hands in delight.
"So, boy or girl?" Pam asked him. "Any preference for the gender?"
He leaned back on his seat, giving the question some thought. "I really don't care, as long as the baby and Zoe are healthy."
"Good answer, honey." Zoe nodded in agreement, and they both shared a smile. Unable to control himself, he leaned over and gave his wife a quick kiss on the cheek.
"So sweet." Liz shook her head.
"Reminds me of the time they made up after a fight." Pam revealed. "They were so lovey dovey back then too."
"Remember when Zoe fed Jack food while he was playing the piano?" Reese asked. "The bridesmaids were looking at the two of them with envy."
"When was this?" Liz asked.
"It was during my wedding reception," Pam answered. "It was also there that Jack sang that spicy song."
"Oh!" Liz suddenly snapped her fingers. "Is that the song about the Versace dress?"
"Yup." Pam nodded. "Let me tell you, that song's the best for a honeymoon!"
"Imagine if Jack performed that song here for the contestants!" Reese suggested.
"They would lose their minds." Zoe joined in on the fun.
"I'm sure Taylor could accommodate you and give you a spot." Liz turned to him.
"Taylor's here?"
"Yeah." The actress nodded. "She agreed to perform a small, private concert for the contestants when she learned how many of them are fans of her music. She's doing rehearsals right now at the ballroom."
"So that's why she's late," Zoe replied. "She messaged in the group chat that she'd be here."
"So, will you perform that song if there's an opportunity?" Reese asked him. "Because there's no sexier song than that!"
"I don't know." He replied. Sure, his wife's friends were just joking, but he wasn't opposed to the idea. He sang that song for Zoe and wondered what song could do the same right now.
"I bet there's no sexier song than the one you sang at Pam's wedding reception." Reese declared.
"I don't know, maybe there are older songs that could rival that." Liz looked thoughtful, a finger pressed on her chin.
"You have to be there to appreciate the moment!" Reese replied. "Wanna bet that Jack's performance will blow out everything you previously heard before?"
"Deal!" Liz grinned. "The winner is the head planner for the party for Jack and Zoe's baby!"
"Fine!" Reese sealed the bet and shook Liz's hand.
"I guess you have to perform then." Zoe laughed and nudged him using her elbow. "I do miss your singing. Make sure this latest one puts me in the mood."
That comment caused a round of laughter from their table from the other women.
"Oh, really?" Jack suddenly had an idea. A thought formed in his head, and he stared at his wife, whose smile slowly vanished when she saw the expression on his face.
"What are you up to?" Zoe asked.
Zoe Andersen Routh
"No!"
She felt the cold chill in her heart at what she had just heard from her husband. She simply couldn't believe he would say that to her.
"Please? It will be easy, I promise." Jack knelt on one knee and held her hands in his. "There are only a few solo lines for you, and most of the time we will sing together."
"I never sing." She shook her head. She'd rather go and lead an operation against a few corrupt generals than do what Jack suggested. She ignored the amused faces of her friends seated at the table beside her.
"You sing well enough in the shower." Jack grinned.
"C'mon, Zoe! You can do it!" Pam giggled.
"Why can't they sing it with you?" She glanced at Liz and Reese, who were looking at their antics, clearly enjoying her suffering. She was here to simply accompany her husband to the party of Miss California. How did she suddenly find herself in this difficult position?
"I can't sing this song with anyone else." Jack replied. "Only you, love."
Stupid organizers for immediately agreeing to her husband's offer to perform. Stupid Reese and her bet. Stupid Liz, who agreed to the bet.
Jack was in a happy and amorous mood ever since he found out she was having their baby yesterday. She felt the same, and she felt like she was floating in the clouds the whole time, until she crashed back to reality when Jack asked her to perform with him. It was like a bucket of ice-cold water was thrown over her head after she took a nice warm shower.
"I heard Jack's going to perform from the organizers!" She heard Taylor's voice. It looked like the tall blonde had just run a mile, judging from how hard she was breathing. "I rushed here and ended rehearsal for my last song when I heard the news!"
"Zoe's going to sing with Jack!" Pam declared. Traitor!
"You will?" Taylor squealed in excitement and hugged her. "That's going to be amazing! I haven't heard you sing before!"
"She's a decent singer." She heard Jack reply. "We were just about to go and practice."
"Is it a new song?" Taylor asked.
"You'll see." Her husband took her hand and slowly guided her away from her friends. She gave one last look at the table filled with eager faces and reluctantly allowed herself to be dragged to a practice room by her husband. Jack said they had a few hours to practice.
Taylor Swift
She had just finished the last song on her set. The pageant contestants were still screaming and clapping, and the noise they made could still be heard and felt behind the curtain. It was nice to perform in a smaller venue every now and then, since there were fewer headaches and she didn't have to bring in her full crew.
She played with the arrangements, some of the songs she sang with an acoustic flair to show off more of her developing vocal skills. The smaller ballroom seemed more appropriate for it, and the giant, massive speakers would overwhelm her audience.
"Ready to head back?" Her aide asked. When she was on tour, she would immediately get in the shower after a performance. Since this set only took 45 minutes, she was still fine, just a bit thirsty. Besides… she wanted to see Jack sing.
"No, I'm going down there." She told her aide after she accepted a towel. "I want a good view."
She rushed from the backstage and a few minutes later arrived at the table in the middle where her friends were seated. Her timing was perfect as the MC started speaking once more after handing out various minor awards to the contestants.
"And as a special surprise from one of our preliminary judges, a performance by Sugar!"
Shrieks and applause greeted the announcement as the curtains moved up, revealing Jack seated in front of the piano with a microphone set up in front of him so he could sing while playing.
This time, his wife Zoe was there, standing beside a white grand piano like those lounge singers of the sixties used to do, and holding a tambourine with metal jingles on one hand with a microphone with a stand set up in front of her.
Jack wasted no time, and she leaned closer, surprised to hear music she didn't recognize suddenly fill the air. His voice had that quality to it that very few male singers could replicate, and immediately captured her attention.
"It thought Jack was singing Versace?" She asked Liz.
"So do I." Her friend replied, looking puzzled.
"This is a new song!" She gasped in excitement.
[Marvin Gaye – Charlie Puth]
Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on…
You got the healing that I want…
Just like they say it in the song,
Until the dawn,
Let's Marvin Gaye and get in on…
"Oh my." She spoke out loud. Zoe looked a bit nervous, but she was able to slap the tambourines in rhythm with Jack's singing. Her friend looked completely at ease, but she noticed that he was not interacting with the audience this time. No, his focus was completely focused on his wife, who was also looking back at him as well.
And those lyrics! Goodness. Combined with his voice and musicality, it was a devastating combination, and she shifted in her seat, eager to hear more.
Just like they say it in the song,
Until the dawn,
Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on!
Jack lowered the tone of his voice and added a new layer to the music with the piano. He was looking at his wife with a look that shouted he wanted her. Damn. Fuck.
We've got this king size to ourselves,
Don't have to share with no one else…
Don't keep your secrets to yourself,
It's Kama Sutra show and tell… yeah
Screams erupted all around the venue. The sheer eroticism of Jack's latest song was on a whole other level. Along with goosebumps on her skin, she suddenly felt hot. Fuck, she was horny.
Whoa oh oh
There's… lovin' in your eyes that pulls me closer…. (oh it pulls me closer)
It's so subtle (it's so subtle),
I'm in trouble (I'm in trouble),
But I'd love to be in trouble with you!
Zoe's voice finally joined with her husband's, and it wasn't bad for an untrained singer. They blended well, Jack adjusting to his singing and guiding his wife to their first-ever duet.
Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on…
You got the healing that I want…
Just like they say it in the song,
Until the dawn,
Let's Marvin Gaye and get in on…
You've got to give it up to me,
I'm screaming, Mercy, Mercy please!
Just like they say it in the song,
Until the dawn,
Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on!
"Go Zoe!" Pam stood up and screamed and she joined him and stood up to whistle as Zoe sang her first solo part.
And when you leave me all alone…
I'm like a stray without a home,
I'm like a dog without a bone,
I just want you for my own…
I got to have you babe…
"It's like they're having sex through singing," Liz observed. She looked to her friend and saw the flush that covered her cheeks. She knew she looked the same, and the melody and Jack's singing were having an effect on everyone inside the venue.
She agreed with Liz, what she was seeing made her feel like she was intruding and watching an intimate moment between a man and a woman.
Whoa oh oh
There's… lovin' in your eyes that pulls me closer…. (oh it pulls me closer)
It's so subtle (it's so subtle),
I'm in trouble (I'm in trouble),
But I'd love to be in trouble with you!
Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on…
Ohh…baby… got that healing that you want… yes,
Like they say it in the songs
Until the dawn,
Let's Marvin Gaye and get in on…
She didn't realize she was now moving her body, swaying to the music, until she felt her hip hit a nearby chair. She looked around and realized that all of the contestants were up on their feet and clustered closer to the stage to get a better look.
Jack's vocals soared, like he was having sex and reached his climax, with Zoe right along with him as they sang the chorus once more.
Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on…
You got the healing that I want…
Just like they say it in the song,
Until the dawn,
Let's Marvin Gaye and get in on babe!
You've got to give it up to me!
I'm screaming, Mercy, Mercy please!
Just like they say it in the song,
Until the dawn,
Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on!
Just like they say it in the song,
Until the dawn,
Let's Marvin Gaye and get it on…
The music abruptly stopped as Jack stopped playing and stood up from his seat. Zoe dropped the tambourine, and she could hear it clearly as it fell to the ground. Cheers and whistles erupted as Jack engulfed Zoe in his arms and gave her a searing, passionate kiss in front of everyone. She realized that having a baby just increased their love and passion for each other.
"Fuck." She turned when Liz suddenly cursed. "I lost the bet."
"I'm the head organizer for the party, then!" Reese looked smug in her victory.
They sat back once more as the curtains closed. She waited, and waited, gamely posing for the pageant contestants that approached her and signing her autograph for her fans. Ten minutes in, and there was still no sign of Jack and Zoe.
Liz got tired of waiting and searched for them, and she was surprised when the actress returned with a full-on blush on her cheeks.
"Did you find them?" Pam asked.
"They're… busy." Liz sat back on her chair. "They'll be here in a bit."
"Unless they go for a second round," Pam smirked. Why were her friends sharing that look?
Her eyes widened when she realized what her friends were doing in the reserved practice room. She imagined what they looked like, and it was easy since she already had a visual reference from before. Damn, after hearing Jack's latest song, she needed to find a boyfriend of her own, asap.
She had time anyway, after clearing her schedule for next year, after she decided to take a break. But it was times like this that made her realize it was nice to have a nice man with her on her bed to relieve some urges. She looked back at one of her aides, who handed her a phone, and she immediately played it, showing a video of Jack's latest performance.
This was a real banger.
Angela Page
Sploosh.
That was the only word she could think of as she watched Jack Routh perform right in front of her. She looked around and noted flushed faces and glazed eyes of her fellow contestants. She understood their reactions.
Having the best seats for this private party, having Jack mere feet away singing with such seductive lyrics from them was simply mesmerizing, and dare she say it, arousing.
She thought her final day as an undercover agent would be simple, slip away unseen, and then get a pat on the back and a handshake for a job well done. The task force had already planned it with the organizers, and she would fail to advance from the preliminary round when they released the results tomorrow.
She did not expect much from the private party organized for them, but Taylor Swift's sudden appearance charged the atmosphere. Jack's surprise performance brought down the thunder and lightning.
"He's even more handsome this close." She heard giggles and whispers as Jack sang.
"Who is she?" Rachel Morina leaned over and asked.
"That's Jack's wife." She replied.
Her eyes never left the couple. It took her a moment to make the connection to this pretty, blushing, nervous woman in a cocktail dress that showed off her figure to that stern, formidable police captain who occasionally attended the Task Force briefings. She had to admit that the older woman looked lovely, and she could see why Routh had fallen for her.
The song they were both singing bordered on scandalous, and with the way they looked at each other as they sang, it wouldn't surprise her if the two started making out and having sex on the stage after their performance.
They even looked the part, with Zoe Anderson's hair looking a bit messed up, and several creases on her dress made it look like she was ready to have sex with her husband. Routh had unbuttoned part of his polo shirt and rolled up his sleeves, showing his muscled forearms and hints of muscle on his chest.
Girls shifted in their seats around her, and she could see more than a few using the program as makeshift fans to cool off. Eyes were dilated, mouths partially open, and those who didn't bother to wear bras on their gowns showed stiff nipples as they shifted on their seats. They were clearly aroused, and she had to admit she was as well.
When the song finished and as the couple on the stage kissed, it elicited shrieks, whistles, and screams from the girls and the audience.
"You have to introduce me!" Rachel turned to her, looking breathless with a noticeable flush on her cheeks and chest. "You promised!"
Her roommate looked noticeably calmer after her stalker's arrest. Her smile was more genuine, and her eyes finally stopped looking around for hidden threats at every corner. The younger woman still insisted on checking every part of their hotel room, including the bathroom, before dropping her guard. It was a good habit, and she approved of Rachel's precaution despite some calling it paranoia.
"Later." She tried to calm the eager woman. "When we have more privacy, I'll bring you along."
"Promise?" Rachel asked.
"I promise." She patted her roommate on the shoulder.
Hours later, she led Rachel to a smaller conference room that became the task force's temporary base for the week. Her fellow agents told her there was to be a party, and she was eager to eat more delicious food. The portions she had to eat for the past few weeks to maintain her figure were far too small.
"Whoa." She was expecting boxes of pizzas. and buckets of fried chicken. Instead, she saw a buffet table prepared at one end of the room. Several agents from Homeland Security and the FBI eagerly filled their plates while a fancy-looking drinks station was set up at the corner. Was that watermelon juice?
"What's all this?" She asked one of the agents she worked closely with.
"Last night of the operation, Freebush." The agent winked. He'd pay for that. He knew she hated her fake name.
"I didn't realize how many people are working to catch that creep." Rachel breathed out.
"That just shows you how dangerous that man truly is." The FBI agent replied. "Good luck on the finals, Ma'am."
"I was expecting Pizza." She gestured to the buffet spread. The smell from the food was already making her hungry. "What's all this? That's not in our budget."
"Routh." The FBI agent answered. "He set that up for us. Nice of him, really."
"And where is he?" She asked.
"I think they're up on the penthouse suite where Miranda Priestly is." The agent shrugged. "You have access, why don't you check?"
This was all so strange. Why was Routh celebrating? With her keycard, she headed up to the Penthouse suite, and as soon as she stepped on the floor from the elevator, she heard unfamiliar voices through the door.
"Should we be here?" Rachel looked hesitant.
"I thought you wanted to meet him?"
"Well, yeah." Rachel fidgeted on the spot. Poor girl, she was clearly tense. "But we're going to Miranda Priestly's penthouse suite! She makes me nervous!"
"She does have that effect on people." She nodded in agreement, having experienced those piercing eyes and wicked tongue for nearly two weeks thanks to her training for the pageant. "C'mon, she won't bite."
The lock beeped as soon as she tapped the key card, and she opened the door, revealing a sight that she didn't expect to see. She quickly checked the number on the room, and yes, she wasn't lost.
In front of her was a party, full of famous celebrities. Taylor Swift immediately commanded attention, and beside her was a stunning redhead, Jessica Chastain. They were speaking with Miranda Priestly, while her two assistants hovered near her.
On the other end of the spacious common area of the suite, the actor who played Jamie Lannister lounged with Jack Routh with his wife, and… was that Mary Elizabeth Winstead? Despite the people in front of her wearing casual clothes, she still felt underdressed and out of her depth.
"What... is this?" She heard Rachel whimper beside her.
She heard plenty of rumors about the secretive Rosewood Circle from the tabloids and gossip shows, and right now, she was seeing the actual members of the group firsthand. She didn't realize Miranda Priestly was part of the organization, and she wondered how truly influential they were.
There were a few individuals she didn't recognize, like the two women who were with Zoe Andersen at the buffet table. Still, she was stunned to see the likes of Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Mary Elizabeth Winstead as part of the group, and they weren't A-list actors compared to Jessica Chastain.
"Agent Page." She turned to the voice and realized Routh was standing just in front of her. As usual, the man that the bureau was desperate to recruit was the first one in the room to notice their presence. "We're having a small celebration. Care to join us?"
"Small?" Were there more hidden Rosewood circle members?
"Zoe and I are having a baby." Routh smiled. "Miss Romina, I'd be happy if you joined us too. You must be starving."
"Congratulations, and thank you!" She answered before Rachel could get a word in. Jack was right, she was starving.
The group was welcoming, not aloof and cold as she expected. Jack broke protocol when she introduced her as an undercover FBI agent, but she really didn't mind. The suspect was already caught, and it was just some paperwork that needed to be signed and the task force would be disbanded.
Rachel spent half the time in a daze, and she could see the happiness in the girl's eyes when Taylor and Jack agreed to take a selfie with her.
"You know you can't post that right away." She reminded the younger woman.
"Why not?" Taylor asked.
"Jack here was a judge for the preliminary round." She replied to the pop star. "If that goes out, some people can accuse her of favoritism."
"Fine, I'll post it after the main event." Rachel pouted. "I'll miss having you as a roommate."
"You'll be fine." She smiled in reply. "Good luck in the finals. I'll be rooting for you."
Was this really an exclusive social club? She looked around the room once more. Everyone was doing their own thing, laughing, relaxing, and carefree as they mingled with each other. She even spotted a smile or two from Miranda when she was speaking with Jack and Zoe. Maybe whatever the tabloids were gossiping about was inaccurate about the secretive group.
Still, she was curious about this strange mix of people from varied backgrounds.
Jack Routh
The smell of chlorinated water made him a bit nostalgic.
It reminded him of the memories of this Jack Routh's early days in high school and college. He wasn't the fastest swimmer, and his times weren't competitive at the 100 or 200 meter events, but he had endurance. That still allowed him to get a scholarship to UCLA but his career in swimming was not that remarkable.
A few podium finishes in state championships, but when compared to the national level, his times were lacking compared to his teammates.
Without a proper running track, he decided to use the lap pool of the hotel. It was a good workout overall, and he mentally made a note to adjust his training regimen to include swimming.
The weather was cold, but he was able to ignore the chill once he started making laps. He didn't have goggles and a swim cap, but he could see well enough in the water. He took breath every few strokes, as he felt the burn in his arms and legs as he moved through the water. Once he reached one end of the lap pool, he smoothly turned and kicked off, moving his torso and legs for a few seconds underwater before he surfaced and resumed his stroke.
Repetitive motions like this helped him think. With Zoe pregnant, he needed to adjust his priorities. He would need to resign from Metro eventually and move back to Mid-Wilshire, and perhaps take the program the Department offered for higher education. He'd been thinking about taking a Master's program, and perhaps offset some of the costs by offering to lecture at his alma mater. The rest of the time, he could resume regular patrol work, but that depended on the brass signing off on his proposal.
There was also that upcoming meeting with his uncle, and what the man hinted at in his letter about what truly happened to him under that black ops program.
As he finished twenty laps, he leaned back on the side of the pool. He was about to reach for his water bottle when a familiar scent other than chlorine reached his nose.
"Swimming, huh?" Zoe crouched down at the edge of the pool and handed him his drink.
"It's a good exercise." He replied after emptying the bottle. "Want to join me?"
"Why aren't you shivering?" His wife frowned after she touched the water's surface with her hand.
"It was cold at the start." Zoe looked adorable wearing jean shorts and one of his spare white shirts. "Once I had a few laps in, the cool water actually felt amazing."
The sun was already up, and he could see kids and their parents starting to appear beside the larger lagoon-type pool.
"At least you had a nice workout." Zoe suddenly smirked. "If you're done giving a show, would you like to join me for breakfast?"
"What show?" What was she talking about?
"Look behind you." His wife answered.
He did and was surprised to see quite a few women standing outside on their balconies. A few even waved at him. He realized that the lap pool was just right in front of the wing of the hotel where the contestants were located. When he arrived early that morning, there were barely any signs of life in the area, with only a sleepy lifeguard to keep him company. Just how long was he swimming?
"I'll get you one of those waterproof smart watches that can track your laps." Zoe must have read his mind. "I'll even join you once we find a suitable swimming facility near our house."
His stomach grumbled at that moment, and he easily lifted himself from the water. He was surprised when his wife suddenly grabbed him and kissed him, and he felt Zoe mold his body to his.
The kiss was getting heated, and he was surprised at his wife's boldness when he felt a hand grab his ass. He was about to do the same when Zoe stepped back, ending the kiss.
"We'll have more of that later before we check out." His wife looked satisfied, seemingly not caring for her now wet clothes.
"Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?"
"I told you I'm a jealous bitch. Now go and rinse off. I'm hungry." He hid his smile when his wife slapped him in the ass to get him going. It felt like the roles were suddenly reversed.
Zoe was already prepared with his towel in her arms by the time he finished rinsing off at the outdoor shower and quickly dried himself soon after.
He felt great after the intensive workout, far different from the jogging routine he usually had every morning. He and Zoe demolished their food, and had seconds and third helpings, making the most out of their stay in the hotel.
"I'll be resigning from Metro." He told his wife as they were enjoying their coffee.
He was amused at how jealous Zoe looked. Caffeine and Alcohol were not recommended to pregnant women, and his wife was now forced to drink decaf.
"I figured you'd say that." His wife replied. "Are you going back to patrol?"
"Partially. I'm thinking of using that program that lets cops earn their diplomas." He shared. "I'm also willing to give lectures in UCLA like I did with the community college. Do you think the brass will approve?"
"Submit the proposal and let's out the schedule." Zoe's grimace after taking a sip of decaf said it all. "But to be honest, I think West will be relieved if you pass that."
"What's the Commander of Internal Affairs got to do with it?" He asked.
"He's the leading candidate to be the next chief of police. It's a decision by the commissioners, and they don't want a chief who's easily influenced by NGOs and special interest groups. Coleman will be leaving at the end of December." His wife revealed. "Jessica Cortez is moving to take up command of the division in Palisades. She's tired of the political circus in Central."
"That gives her the chance to disclose her relationship with Hondo officially." He tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. "It's a good decision to resign then."
"Yes, but that means you'll take up more slack in Mid-Wilshire, especially with the incoming batch of rookies." Zoe reminded him. "I already planned out when I will take maternity leave."
"You're preparing Wade."
"He has more experience than me in police work." His wife admitted. "And he truly cares for each cop in the station. I believe John Nolan was a big part of that."
"He was really against him joining the force?" He asked.
"It was my second year as a captain on the force." Zoe replied. "That was the only time he argued with my decisions."
"Why not Lieutenant Caradine?" He asked.
"He has his hands full leading the detectives. Mid-Wilshire has recently attracted more residents and businesses moving to our area of responsibility. And that means…"
"More crime."
"And gangs are trying to move in and use the opportunity." Zoe looked annoyed for a moment. "We can't let up, and Caradine is best where he is at."
"I guess I have to step up too." He reached out and intertwined his fingers with his wife's. "I can't have our little one growing up in an area overrun with criminals."
"Yes." Zoe smiled softly and ran her free hand over her still flat belly. "We can't have that, husband."
Katie Barnes
The apartment looked sturdy and secure. She calculated the distance between this place and her new base of operations. About seven clicks east or a fifteen-minute drive, depending on traffic. This area was heavily congested, but she was up to the challenge.
Curious about Mid-Wilshire, she headed out to scout the area that she would soon patrol. Her batch mates at the academy invited her for some R & R, but she declined, not seeing the fun in getting wasted for a week in Florida.
Academy training was a breeze, and she was confident she'd do well once she was deployed on the field. She was tired of spending her days in a foreign desert and the constant fear of IEDS and looked forward to a more peaceful life. She believed reconnecting with the city she grew up in by serving with the police would help with that.
She looked up a her surroundings as she got out of her car. The Mid-Wilshire station was a big complex, and it had plenty of parking areas around it and a small park. It was built up on a slope, and she was satisfied with its defensive position. The flights of stairs leading up to the main entrance meant no car bombs could just drive through and wreak havoc, and that eased some of her worries.
Behind the glossy exterior, she spied the thick concrete structure hidden within it. There was a large basement too, and that was the ideal location in the extreme case of mortar rounds landing on her new FOB.
A couple of food trucks caught her attention, and suddenly feeling hungry, she decided to taste the local grub. The food trucks provided foldable tables and plastic monobloc chairs, and she quickly moved to one and ate her meal of two burritos and a Coke.
The area seemed to be a popular hangout area for cops, both on and off duty.
"Do you mind if I sit here while I wait for my order?" A large, tall man in a simple shirt, jeans, and jacket approached, and she immediately tensed for a moment before she relaxed. With the half a dozen cops in uniform around her, she realized she was in friendly territory.
"Sure." She replied. She watched the guy, probably around her age or younger. He seemed alert, aware of his surroundings like she was. He had also adjusted his chair, so his back was facing the dense shrubs.
"What branch of the military were you in?" The man suddenly spoke up, causing her to sit up straight. She suddenly felt vulnerable since she had left her weapon at her apartment. How did he know?
"Relax." The large man added and placed one hand on the table and the other on top of his knee, where she could clearly see them. He was still staring at the queue in front of the food trucks. "I'm a police officer, and I just came back from Metro."
"You're from Metro?" That was her goal, to serve in the famous SWAT unit. She knew there were former Marines and Army soldiers who served in that division, transitioning smoothly from military to a civilian outfit, or so she heard.
"I just transferred." The man gave a smile as he glanced at the large building of the Mid-Wilshire police station that loomed over them.
"Army." She finally replied as she answered his first question. "What gave it away?"
"Your shoes were tied in a ladder lace." The man replied and gave her a quick look. "You're wearing civilian clothing, yet your pants, military hem, and the cuff sleeves of your polo shirt are extended exactly all the way to your wrist bone."
"And it's the way you eat your meal." The man added. "The others around here are slouched, relaxed, but you're on edge, like you're waiting for something to happen at any second."
"Just got out." She replied. The man was very observant. "Then I signed up to the academy right after that."
"Your outfit?"
"82nd Airborne, second brigade combat team." She replied. "You?"
"I never served." The man replied and offered a hand. "Jack Routh, P2."
"Really?" She frowned. There were several things that bothered her about this man seated across from her. For one, he seemed like he came from the military, and his face seemed familiar. She was sure she had seen him before. "You talk like you're familiar with the armed forces."
"I am." Routh replied. "My wife was a former Marine."
Ah, Marines. She carefully controlled her expression, not wanting to insult the cop in front of her. Those jarheads she met always thought they were hot shits and always flirted with anyone with tits. While not as intense as the rivalry with the Navy, there was still some friendly, sibling-like rivalry between the two branches. The air force didn't count.
"Hey, Routh!" An older man, wearing a detective badge on his waist, approached, carrying a paper bag in one hand. "Heard you left Metro?"
"Word reached you already?" Good, it seemed like Routh was telling the truth.
"It is when it comes to you." The new arrival glanced at her. "Who is this?"
"Just someone kind enough to share her table while I wait for my order." Routh answered.
"Katie Barnes." She replied. If she was going to work on this base, she might as well start getting to know the people, especially the higher-ups. "I'm a new graduate from the Academy."
"You're two weeks early, Officer Barnes." The detective grinned. "Must be a new record."
"Figured I'd scout the area I'll be working in." She shrugged.
"Oh, I forgot my manners." The detective offered a hand. "I'm Kevin Wolfe."
"He works at the robbery and homicide division." Routh explained. "You'll be seeing him and his partner Vestri when you join Mid-Wilshire in January."
"Look forward to working with you." The detective smiled and left after she shook her hand. "He seems nice."
"He's got a soft spot for rookies." Routh explained. "Excuse me."
She was pretty sure she recognized that face. It was at the tip of her tongue as Routh picked up his order.
"I'm going to head to a coffee place two blocks from here." Routh shared when he returned to her table. "See you around, Barnes."
"Wait!" She hastily cleaned up the remnants of her meal and stuffed them inside the paper bag. "You said something about coffee?"
"Yeah." Routh nodded. "I'm a bit picky with that. You'll be surprised how difficult it is to find good plain black coffee around here."
"I'll come too." She decided. Coffee was life after all, and it was as important as water in the deserts and rugged mountains of Afghanistan.
She kept glancing at her fellow cop, intrigued by what she was seeing. Routh was still young, yet he already served at Metro, and he seemed pretty friendly with that older detective. That meant he had tons of experience already, a clear contradiction to his age.
She had to increase her pace to keep up with Routh's long strides, and his powerful build made pedestrians move away from him. He was tall, she realized, as the top of her head only reached up to his shoulder.
They passed through a small park, where they encountered a strange scene. She was suddenly on alert when she saw a crime in progress. The procedures she studied at the academy. Technically, she had the authority to make an arrest and looked to her companion and realized he was also observing the scene.
A clearly inebriated man with a large hat was swaying and dancing around the park, harassing and singing to those who were seated around the park benches. The civilians looked annoyed and tried to make the drunk go away, but the man didn't seem to care and only laughed and sang loudly while holding a bottle of liquor in one hand.
"They call me Cuban Pete!" The man sang in an off key tune. What the hell was this? "I'm the king of the Rumba beat!"
"Police!" She called out. "Drop the bottle and get down on the ground!"
To her irritation, the man continued singing and dancing, acting like he didn't hear her.
"When I play the maracas, I go chick chicky boom, chick chicky boom!" The man wiggled his ass in front of her.
Enough.
Before the man could sing another verse, she tackled him to the ground. He struggled for a moment, and to her annoyance, he started to sing again.
"The Senoritas they sing, and they swing… with this rumbero…" She tightened her hold on the suspect and pulled out her phone with her free hand to call for reinforcements, but to her shock, Routh stopped her.
"Don't bother to call this in, unless you want to spend the rest of your day doing paperwork." Routh stepped forward. "Look, the man's not drunk, I think he's high on meds or mentally ill."
"What makes you say that?" She asked.
"He's wearing a wristband from a nearby psychiatric hospital." Routh explained. "The bottle's dry, and he put pebbles inside it to use it as some sort of instrument. Besides, does he smell drunk to you?"
"No." She admitted. She thought she was going to make her first arrest.
"And look." Routh pointed to two men in nurse's uniforms running towards them. Behind them was an ambulance parked in the emergency bay with its lights still flashing red and blue.
"Thank you for securing him." One of the nurses gasped as soon as he reached them, clearly tired from running across the park. "He's a patient who managed to escape the ambulance when we were transporting him."
Routh briefly checked their identities and IDS and turned over the suspect to their custody.
"He forgot to take his meds." The other nurse explained. "Let's go, Eddie."
The patient, now identified as Eddie, looked unbothered and allowed himself to be guided by the two men back to the ambulance.
"You'll soon learn that you will need lots of patience and a bit of compassion in this line of work." Routh advised. "While you're legally within your rights to arrest him for being a public nuisance, just imagine the paperwork and reports you will have to do."
"So that threat of paperwork was not a bluff?" She asked.
"No." Routh answered. "And not all suspects are enemies, either. You have the training to easily take down any ordinary civilian. What you need to learn now is restraint. I had to learn that the hard way."
There must be a story there, she thought as they resumed walking to the coffee place. The drink was good, as Routh promised, and she made a mental note to pass by this place regularly from now on. As the tall, off-duty cop left her in the café, she finally realized why Routh's face looked so familiar.
The TV in the café played a recording of Taylor Swift's concert in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans. Beside her on the stage, in a duet, was Jack Routh. She didn't realize she spent part of her afternoon in the company of a legend in the academy.
Jack Routh
"Thanks for the ride." He waved to Nickolaj as he stepped out of the sedan.
"It's on the way anyway." The Danish actor waved back through the window, and a moment later his car joined the traffic in the busy street.
He adjusted his jacket and headed inside the car dealership. He only had one job to do here, and it was to get another vehicle. He and Zoe realized that they would need another vehicle in anticipation of the little one that would arrive in eight months or less, and his wife's GR86 was not really suitable with its two-door design.
He was sure they were in a nesting mode right now, once they came to grips with the reality of their situation. Zoe had bought newborn outfits the other day after her shift, and he, much to his wife's annoyance, bought an outdoor play set that consisted of a little playhouse and a plastic slide. He was lucky the parts all fit inside Zoe's car, but it was a close thing, and he had to drive with the beams sticking out from the back up to just right beside his head.
His eyes ran down the vehicles on display at the showroom, and his gaze stopped at the beautiful, white two-door car featured prominently at the center.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" One of the car sales representatives stood beside him as he admired the sleek yellow car. "I'm afraid it's not for sale. The owner just displays it out there to brag."
"I heard the company lost money selling these because of how long it took to develop the car." He liked the sleek lines of the Lexus LFA and how the yellow paint stood out more with the black trim.
"They did." The sales rep nodded his head in agreement. "There were only 400 built, but the resale value is insane. This is what happens when it's the engineers who are in charge of designing and building a car. It's spectacular, but it's just too expensive. The price for some of the parts alone can buy a brand new car."
"But it's still one of the top attractions in car shows." The man continued speaking. "And the sound it produces, there's nothing like it. I'm Carl, by the way."
"Jack." He replied as he returned the man's handshake. "I'm looking for a car suitable for newborns. My wife's pregnant, and we wanted to be prepared."
"Congratulations!" Carl beamed. "I just have the car for you. Follow me."
It was just as he expected when Carl led him to a row of what he could call soccer mom type models, along with SUVs. One model caught his attention, though, and he kept glancing at it between Carl's sales pitch.
"I can tell you're attracted to that one." Carl grinned. "Want to have a closer look?"
"Sure."
Carl led him closer to the Toyota Hilux. The white pick-up truck looked nicer up close, and he thought it matched well if it was parked beside his wife's GR86.
"You have good timing." Carl began. "Toyota just introduced this refreshed model this month, updated interiors, and even optional off-road attachments."
"Will car seats and baby carriers fit in the back seat?" He asked.
"Why don't you try it yourself?" Carl opened the rear passenger door for him.
It was a tight fit, and his knees hit the back of the passenger seat, but he could tolerate it if he slouched a bit so that his head wouldn't hit the roof. He knew another person with a smaller build would be comfortable in the back.
Seating in the driver's seat was more comfortable, and he had more room to move around compared to Zoe's car. What truly sold it for him was the truck bed and its electric tray cover for the carpeted flatbed. He remembered struggling to fit multiple items in Zoe's car and often had to make several trips during the renovation phase of their house when they had just moved in.
He was sure Zoe would see his reason and turned to Carl, who was seated in the passenger seat. "I'll take it."
He'd still take his bike for weekend rides, but he knew this would be his and Zoe's daily commuter vehicle in the future.
Zoe Andersen Routh
The outdoor antique bell outside the gate chimed in, attracting her attention. She got up from the ground and spotted a certain redhead standing outside with a tray of what looked like ice-cold drinks. Beside her, Mary was carrying a couple of boxes of Pizza.
"Forgot the time, didn't you?" Jessica grinned.
"I'm sorry. I didn't wake from the alarm." She didn't want to reveal that she slept late due to having had sex multiple times last night. There was just something about Jack's scent that was pleasant, and it even aroused her.
"What's all this?" Liz pointed to the pile of wood parts on the ground.
"It's a play set." She answered. "Jack bought it yesterday after he borrowed my car to buy some tools. Of course, I couldn't complain that much because I'm equally guilty. I must have bought eight sets of newborn onesies the other day."
"You're both adorable." Jessica smiled. "C'mon, let's have a snack first, and I'll help you assemble that."
"And we'd better eat the pizza while it's hot." Liz added.
She was delighted to drink a normal coffee drink for once. Her doctor did say she could drink one once a week, but she would have to go completely cold turkey in her third trimester. She wasn't looking forward to that, but it was better to be safe.
"That good?" Liz asked her after she took a sip from the straw.
"You have no idea." She replied. This was bliss.
She was surprised at how well Liz was in helping her out in assembling the play set.
"I took the odd job before when I was younger." The redhead actress shared as she wiped away a bead of sweat on her forehead with a towel. "I grew up in poverty, so I had to pick up many skills to make it. Fixing discarded or broken furniture was one of them."
"I had no idea." She was impressed by her friend's resiliency.
"Where is Jack anyway?" Liz asked.
"He hitched a ride with Nickolaj." She shared. "We talked about it, and we decided to buy a new car, one that's more appropriate for a family with a baby."
"So, like a Sienna?" Jessica grinned.
"I told Jack to use his judgment, but that's what he will probably get." She replied. "It's the most reasonable and practical vehicle for our needs."
"You're not worried he'll get a large SUV?" Jessica teased.
"That's not his style at all." She answered.
"No, his style is a white Toyota pick-up." Liz pointed to the gate that was now halfway open as a white vehicle waited.
She wanted to get annoyed as the white Toyota Hilux parked beside her car, but as she thought more about why Jack bought this vehicle, she calmed down. She knew her husband was a practical man with simple tastes, and this vehicle showcased that.
She knew it was a reliable vehicle, often joked as indestructible by the famous car show presenters she met on her honeymoon.
"Pickup, huh?" She stared at her husband with folded arms and a raised eyebrow.
"It has space enough for a car seat." Jack looked excited. "Look at the back."
She and her friends followed him as he pressed a button on the side. The aluminum that covered the flatbed started to retract, revealing a folded stroller. Okay, she saw the point.
"You guys are hilarious." Jessica giggled. "You already bought a stroller!"
"I had to." Jack replied. "Otherwise, how could I test if the detachable basket of the stroller can fit in the backseat?"
"So you have it installed?" She asked.
"Take a look for yourself." Jack gestured at their new vehicle.
She nodded in approval when she opened the car and saw the baby basket attached properly at the back. She tried to wiggle it loose and found it was attached securely to the anchor point in the seat.
"Good job, honey." She leaned in to give a quick kiss on the lips to her husband. This new vehicle was unexpected, but a welcome one nevertheless. She could see how useful it would be if they needed to purchase large items.
"Why don't we take it out for a ride?" Jack suggested and handed her the keys after he put away the stroller and the baby basket. "See how it handles."
"Just drive around?" She could do that. She looked at Jessica and Liz and decided to invite them too.
"Mmm, new car smell." Jessica commented once they all got in. "You really can't fake this."
"Are both of you comfortable back there?" She asked as she adjusted the rear-view mirror.
"Very comfortable." The redhead replied and gave a thumbs up.
"The space is almost the same as the backseat of my sedan." Liz added. "So where are we going?"
"First things first." She put in the address to the GPS in the center console and smiled at how fast and easy it was to use. "Drive through ice cream."
"Yes!" She smiled when she saw Jessica pump her fist in excitement through the rear-view mirror.
The car handled well, and she had a great view of the road around her. The added rearview cameras helped a lot, and overall, she was happy with how comfortable it was to drive their new vehicle. Fortunately, no ice cream was spilled inside the car, and they spent the afternoon with a quick snack at their favorite restaurant.
It took her some time to adjust to parking, but the rear-view camera helped a lot. They were just about to go back to Rosewood with Jack driving when Liz suggested they take a detour.
"You both are free today, right?" Her fellow brunette asked.
"We are." She looked back at her friend. "Do you want to go somewhere else?"
"I thought Jack would like a sneak peek regarding the Star Wars project I'm working on." Liz explained. "So how about it?"
"Sure." One glance at Jack and she knew what her answer would be. "We're in."
"Great!" Liz quickly gave them the address of the studio where they were filming a special scene. "Not even the other cast members know about this."
"So how do you know?" Jack asked.
"It's all thanks to you." Liz answered. "The producers and the director were happy with my suggestions that they gave me credit as an associate producer for the film. Jack's suggestion saved them a lot of money and gave my team an invitation to see the secret scene they're about to film."
"So we're now your team?" Jessica teased.
"You all are." Liz nodded, trying and failing to look serious. "I pay with pizza boxes."
"That's fair." Her husband quipped.
They arrived at a warehouse, passed by a couple of security checkpoints. Liz even had to call the director so that they could get in. Walking inside the warehouse, she was amazed to see an elaborate set built inside and a few dozen crew members working around various filming equipment.
"Please place any electronic devices here." A staff member stepped in front of them with a tray in her hands.
"They're really serious about the security." Liz explained as she placed her phone on the tray. They all followed her example and were soon let inside the premises.
"Mary!" A middle-aged man with a light beard wearing thick-rimmed glasses approached them.
"Hey Gareth."
"You never told Ms. Chastain was part of your team."
"Now you know." Liz waved them over and started making introductions. "This is Gareth Edwards, director of the new Star Wars movie. These are my friends and consultants."
"Nice to finally meet you, Mister Routh." Edwards looked eager to meet with her husband. Soon, it was her turn to shake hands with the director, and they were quickly escorted to an area prepared for them.
She immediately zeroed in on the coffee, but stopped, realizing she already had her coffee drink for today, and settled on a bottle of orange juice. Her husband, meanwhile, drifted closer to the futuristic set, with a childlike expression on his face as his eyes roamed all over.
"This is the Tantive IV." What did that even mean?
"You noticed that?" Edwards laughed. "You really are a Star Wars fan."
He had no idea. Her husband had amassed quite a collection of memorabilia in the year she loved with him. Fortunately, he was very organized and meticulous and stored them properly in his side of his office. Then there was that expensive slave Leia costume. The metal bikini kept slipping, showing off her nipples if she moved the wrong way.
It wasn't that her breasts were small. It was just that the bikini was so poorly designed that she had a suspicion that whoever came up with the idea didn't know how breasts worked. Pity, the packaging said that the slave Leia costume was studio authentic, and it even had a certificate that came along with the box. If that was authentic studio quality, she wondered how the original actress who played the character handled the constant wardrobe malfunction.
Jack seemed to enjoy the constant nip slips, though they both agreed she couldn't wear it in any costume party in the future without making some design changes.
She settled in her chair, taking everything as Jessica explained the filming process to her.
"They don't film in a linear fashion." The redhead revealed. "Most studios do that to save costs. Sometimes the ending scene of the film is the first one to be filmed, like in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy."
"And we're doing the same thing here." Edwards commented. "This is a special surprise to the fans."
"I don't think even my fellow cast member knows about this." Liz added.
"This will blow people's minds." Edwards nodded and soon left to shoot the scene.
She waited, and waited, and kept looking at her watch. Men in weird-looking helmets arrived, but they all seemed to be waiting for someone. Liz looked confused and asked a nearby assistant to ask what was going on.
"We're having problems with the stuntman who will wear the Darth Vader costume." The assistant looked worried. "It looked like he's sick with the Flu."
"Couldn't anyone just step in?" Liz asked.
"If it were only that easy." Edwards returned, looking frustrated. "The Vader costume is custom-made for a tall man with a powerful build to emphasize how dangerous and scary he is. If there's only…"
"What is it?" Liz asked.
She followed the director's gaze and noticed he was staring right at Jack, who was now playing with a glowing red lightsaber while he spoke with some of the crew.
"Routh, he's perfect!" Edwards grinned. "Do you think he will do it?"
"You want Jack to play Darth Vader?" Liz looked thoughtful. "That could work."
"I'm sure he'll say yes." She answered for her husband. "He's the biggest Star Wars fan I know."
As she expected, Jack jumped at the opportunity offered, and she was pretty sure her husband had only given a quick look at the contract before signing it. He was always more thorough, and that showed how eager he was to play the iconic villain.
Her boredom about the whole thing vanished now that Jack was more involved. Jack practiced a choreographed set of moves from the stunt team, and she watched the quick rehearsal with pride in seeing how Jack quickly mastered the moves.
Even Edwards and the producers with him looked impressed, and an hour later, filming began. This was going to be the first take, and she stood with Jessica and Liz behind Gareth and watched the scene unfold.
The lights in the hallway dimmed, far different from the bright, pristine white walls of the other set they visited earlier. This one looked more compact, with instruments and sliding doors constructed around the futuristic-looking hallway.
"Quiet on the set! Action!"
She watched as the group with the funny-looking helmets crowded around an elaborate looking work station, complete with flat screen monitors and blinking lights. An alarm sounded, making it look like they were all in an emergency.
"Got it!" One of the men yelled, holding up a thin golden object. Was that like a storage device? She didn't know.
"That's the Death Star plans." Liz murmured beside her. "That's the reason this movie was even made in the first place."
The group of men started to run to a door, but suddenly the lights dimmed, and they all looked around in fear. She had to admire their acting skills.
They all turned to the dark end of the corridor as they heard footsteps and a harsh breathing noise. Suddenly, the hallway lit up in a red hue, revealing Darth Vader standing in the middle of the corridor holding a glowing lightsaber in his right hand.
It was a terrifying moment. His height and the presence he gave off with that outfit were intimidating.
The next few hours were enjoyable, especially with the good catering the studio provided. She could see Jack grinning with the helmet off between takes, listening patiently to Edward's instructions.
The final result ended with an electrifying scene, with Darth Vader chasing the poor rebels and slaughtering them without mercy as they tried to hold him off. The sacrifice of the rebels made the Death Star plans even more important. Despite not being a Star Wars fan, she couldn't wait to see the scene on the silver screen with the special effects involved.
She was so proud of Jack. Her husband was Darth Vader.
Did that make her Padme, though?