Chapter 11

What. The. Fuck.

Viola was channel surfing on the couch. “Hey, nice of you to pop in.”

“What… But I was just… How did that happen?”

“Pretty sure we can all teleport. Comes with the flies,” she sang, and then popped a kernel of popcorn into her mouth. “You all right? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

“Yes, yes I am.” I took a deep breath and resolved to deal with the revelation of teleportation abilities later. “I was thinking about you…”

“You were?” She grinned playfully.

“There’s a detective that wants to talk to me. Like now, actually.” I held my arms against my chest. “And I’m kinda freaking out here.”

“Why? They’ve got nothing on you.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” I said. “This morning on the drive in, I remembered my underwear. It was torn off in the struggle.”

Vi dug into her purse and produced the mangled panties. “You mean these?”

I gasped. “How did you get them?”

“Well when I went back to get your car, I remembered how that dick was, with his pants down and everything. Doesn’t exactly jive with the whole heart attack scenario. So, I dressed him, which was totally gross by the way, and looked around to make sure nothing else was out of place. That’s when I found your underwear.”

I did a little happy dance and gave Vi a great big hug. “You’re a lifesaver! What did I do to deserve your friendship?”

“I got your back, babe,” she said.

“I mean it, this is amazing. You’re amazing.” I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

She smiled, rubbing the spot. “That was nice.” Her eyes searched mine, and I got the feeling she was eager to see what would happen next.

“I hate to say thanks and run, but there’s a detective waiting to talk to me, and if I don’t get back there, I’m probably going to be arrested.”

“Understood, we can pick this up later,” she said. “Be confident, they’ve got nothing.”

I nodded, and then remembered how I arrived. “Oh shit, how do I get back?”

“Same way you got here, just in reverse.”

She might as well have been speaking another language. My panicked expression must’ve clued her in as to how clueless I was.

“You were thinking about me, right?” She smiled one of her mischievous little smiles. “Mmmm, that sounds so fucking great. Getting me wet just saying it.”

“Vi, I’m not…” I looked off to the side, avoiding her gaze. “…a lesbian.”

“Neither am I.” She ran a finger down my arm: a light, sensual touch. “But I can’t control who I’m attracted to.”

I was flattered more than anything. Viola was undeniably hot. It was unusual for anyone so beautiful to be interested in me. Looking at her sexy smile, I found myself questioning my own preferences.

But I didn’t have time to explore the thought. “Look, I’m already late, I have to get back there.”

“So think about where you were, wanting to be back in that same spot.”

“That’s it?”

“Yep, it’s that easy,” Vi said. “But please don’t ask about landings.”

I closed my eyes and concentrated, picturing the plant and the hallway across from my office. When I opened them again, I found myself falling into the poor unsuspecting ficus. It spilled on the floor, topsoil going everywhere.

I glanced around and breathed a sigh of relief at seeing I was alone. I apologized to the ficus and set it upright. Then I pushed my shoulders back, lifted my chin up, and walked into my office.

Inside, Detective Paxton was there as promised. At least a dude that looked like a cop, who was checking out everything on my desk, was there. He shook a snow globe I got as a souvenir from a trip to Las Vegas. And then he picked up one of the action figures on my desk, which I occasionally used as muses when I ran into a difficult coding issue. In his hand, he held my favorite – Bele the Cheron.

“I love this episode,” he said as turned towards me. I wonder how long he knew I was there. But then again, I guess it would be difficult to get the jump on a detective.

“Such an insightful social commentary, of the times. It’s amazing how political the original series could get by simply masking differences in the form of aliens.”

It was a brilliant, succinct analysis. I couldn’t help but smile at hearing it and discovering a fellow Trekkie. It was a show that somehow slipped through the cracks, after the Star Wars re-re-re-reboot of 2037.

“I’m Kate,” I said, and held out my hand for him to shake. As expected, he had a firm handshake, strong but not overpowering. It didn’t help my nervousness that he was attractive. His hair wasn’t anything special, just a short, clean cut afro, but his eyes were kind and unassuming and his dark brown skin made him seem exotic somehow. I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what I found sexy, maybe it was his smile. It wasn’t contrived or forced. He seemed totally genuine, which was a rare and beautiful thing, as I discovered at the bar the other night.

“Detective Paxton,” he said, and presented a business card. “But you can call me Alex.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said. “What can I help you with? Got a stored procedure you need fixed?”

I laughed uncomfortably at my lame attempt at humor. “Cause…that’s what I do around here…”

The tight-lipped smile on his face was at once both sympathetic and disapproving. “Is there somewhere we can speak in private?”

I pointed to a conference room in the far corner, one of the few rooms that actually had a door. He led the way, and behind him I took a few deep breaths, straightening my posture in an attempt to ready myself for the interrogation. I can do this, I thought. The detective turned on the lights and closed the door behind me.