The Woman in Blue

Misha thought she was dreaming. It took her a moment to realize that the knock she was hearing was actually very real. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, then stumbled to the door. At just five feet tall, she needed to stand on her toes to see through the peephole. Though distorted in shape, she could clearly see the police ID being shown to her. She opened the door to find an attractive young Hispanic woman dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. “Hi, Miss Bradley. I’m Officer Ruiz.” “Hello,” Misha said sleepily. “Today’s your lucky day.” “The guys have been caught?” “Not that lucky.” “What do you mean then?” asked Misha as she stood back to allow Ruiz to enter the room. “What’s going on?” “Someone’s claimed you.” “Claimed me?” Misha’s confusion was growing ever so deep. Ruiz nodded. “Some detective from Ukiah. It’s nice up there. You’ll like it.” “You mean this person specifically requested me?” “Apparently so.” “Do you know who it is?” The woman pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and unfolded it. “Detective Dale Richardson.” Misha’s heartbeat quickened as she remembered that the counter woman had worn a business suit and not a uniform. Perhaps that meant she worked undercover and wasn’t just a regular cop. “Ever seen her?” she asked. “Just for a few minutes before she headed back to Ukiah. She was only here on business.” “Was she wearing blue with shoulder-length dark hair?” Ruiz nodded. “How am I supposed to get there?” “She was going to come back for you, but since I need to see some people there anyway, we agreed to have me drive you up there,” said Ruiz, “just as soon as you can get dressed. We’ll stop for breakfast first if you’re as hungry as I am.” “Sure,” said Misha before brushing her teeth and throwing on a pair of navy sweatpants and a maroon T-shirt. “All set?” asked Ruiz. Misha nodded. “Then gather up whatever you have here and we’ll hit the road.” On the way down to Ruiz’s car, Misha asked, “So just to clarify if it’s who I think it is, did this woman happen to be tall and skinny with dark eyes?” Ruiz thought a moment. “You know, I believe she did look pretty much that way, so yeah, I’d say that description fits. She was pretty with her makeup on, but struck me as the kind who might look a little dull without it.” Misha’s heartbeat quickened even more. “So her hair wasn’t very long, was it?” “No, not really. Why? Do you know her?” “I think I’ve seen her,” Misha replied, trying to contain her excitement. “What about the others in WitPro? Any claims on them?” “Not that I know of,” said Ruiz. “Looks like you’re the only wanted one so far.” Misha chuckled. After breakfast at a coffee shop, the two headed north for Ukiah, which was almost two hours away. “What’s it like there?” Misha asked. “It’s a small town. It doesn’t get cold there, but it’s cooler than here. The temperature’s more stable year-round, like in the seventies. It’s about an hour inland. I’ve only been there a few times, so I can’t tell you much about the place. It seems like a rather quaint and pleasant town if you ask me. There are more farms and woods and fewer people and houses.” Throughout most of the ride, the two rode in silence to the drone of the radio. Each was lost in her own thoughts, Misha’s mainly consisting of this mystery woman she would get to meet after all. She wondered why the woman offered to take her in. Did she sense her attraction and find her attractive as well? I hope so! thought Misha with nervous excitement. Or maybe she was just being kind, figuring she was doing the department a favor. After all, I must’ve looked terrified! But why me? wondered Misha, remembering the strange yet wonderful magnetic force that had seemed to pull her towards this woman when they were face to face. Ruiz picked up a map that was between the two front seats. “Almost there,” she said after taking a quick glance at it. Once they entered the town of Ukiah, Misha’s heart beat faster. A sign loomed just ahead.

WELCOME TO UKIAH

POPULATION 2002

INCORPORATED 1969

The town did appear rather quaint and simple. People weren’t in such a hurry and the buildings weren’t so tall. Eventually, the houses grew sparse, the vegetation denser. Misha found the lush landscape to be beautiful. There was a serenity about the place that put one at ease, though Misha was anything but at ease. No, her heart pounded with anticipation. She could only wonder if it really was the woman in blue who had offered so generously to take her in. It must be, she told herself. Who else would ask for me specifically? Certainly, none of the other officers she’d encountered. They were all local. Ruiz eventually pulled the car onto a narrow road that was heavily wooded. Set a ways back from the road, Misha could see scattered houses peeking through the trees. Then the pavement ended, and Ruiz stopped the car. “Let me look at this again,” she said, picking up the directions which Misha assumed the detective had given her. “Seven-one-eight, peach-colored house.” She put the paper down and moved on through the narrow dirt road. About four hundred feet past a large blue house, they saw, poking through the trees, a driveway that stretched about fifty feet. Misha’s heart pounded away as she observed the two-story peach-colored house as they drew closer to it. It was well-surrounded by woods with only small patches of grass in the front, back, and sides. The car crept up the dirt drive and came to a stop in front of a double garage. The front door then popped open. Misha’s heart was racing a mile a minute. She expected the woman in blue to appear, but instead, out stepped an older woman who appeared to be in her fifties. Judging by her attire, Misha took her to be the maid. She wiped her hands on her smock and approached the driver’s side of the car. “Hi, I’m Celine, Miss Richardson’s maid,” said the short, stout woman. “Hello,” said Ruiz. Celine looked past Ruiz at Misha. “And you must be Misha?” she said with a smile. “That’s me,” said Misha. “Well, why don’t we get you settled. Come along, dear.” Misha took hold of the duffel bag she had and got out of the car. “I’ll just say goodbye now and wish you luck, girl. I’ve got to fly. The people I need to see are expecting me soon.” “Ok,” Misha said. “Thanks for the ride, Officer Ruiz.” “No problem.” Ruiz swung around in a small clearing where Celine’s old green car was parked and headed back down the driveway. Misha turned to face the woman who smiled pleasantly. “Come along, sweetie,” she said. “Ok, Mrs…” “Celine will do. That’s what everyone calls me.” “Does Dale live alone?” asked Misha. “Yes, she does.” Misha followed Celine into the house. It was a lovely house indeed. Spacious yet cozy. The right side of the downstairs had a huge living room with a ceiling that extended two stories. Towards the back, on the second floor, Misha could see up into a loft that appeared to be set up as an office with a computer and all. The living room ran underneath the loft. The left side of the downstairs had a kitchen with an eating area by a spacious window, and a bathroom and utility room in the back of the kitchen where the door leading to the garage was. The house had no cellar. “The house is lovely,” said Misha. “It is,” agreed Celine. “I’ve been Miss Richardson’s housekeeper for quite a while now.” “Do you live here, too?” “Oh, no. No, I have a smaller place about ten minutes from here. I usually only come to clean every other week, but since you’re here, I may come around more often.” “You don’t have to,” assured Misha with a laugh. “I’m a very neat person. In fact, I should earn my keep by doing some of the cleaning, so you can tell Dale she can fire you.” Celine stilled, stiffened, and looked at Misha incredulously for a brief moment. Then, as if she hadn’t heard Misha at all, she continued on with the tour of the house. The furniture throughout the house was modern. Misha spotted a picture of Dale, but couldn’t tell for sure if it really was her. A young woman was standing between an older man and woman, presumably her parents. She had her arms around their shoulders. Her face was too shadowed to see clearly. She couldn’t tell how long her hair was or how it was styled, but she could see it was dark. The woman smiled broadly, showing a set of beautiful, even white teeth. At the very top of the stairs, to the left of the loft, was a bathroom. Beyond that were two bedrooms on opposite sides of the hall. The master bedroom was in front. Misha could only glimpse a portion of it. “This here is where you’re going to be,” Celine said, gesturing Misha towards the smaller room in the back. “Oh, ok,” said Misha as she stepped past Celine and into the room. “I’ll let you get situated. Dale won’t be in until this afternoon sometime, so if you need me, I’ll be downstairs,” said Celine, seeming to be rather relieved to get away from Misha. “Thanks for the tour,” Misha called out after her. The room was small with only a twin-size bed in one corner, a small nightstand and dresser, and a wooden chair. Misha slid the closet’s sliding door open. The closet was empty save for some old mystery novels that sat on the shelf. Not having hardly anything to unpack, she pulled out her little radio headphones, which had been stuffed in her purse that had been recovered at the crime scene and returned to her, minus her ID card, which was thought to be with Lawson. Misha touched up her makeup and took down her hair, which had been piled up in a bun. She wondered why she ever bothered to let it get nearly to her knees as she fought with the many tangles she had. Once it was fully brushed out, she put it in a braid, plopped down on the bed, threw on her headphones, and hoped it wouldn’t seem like an eternity before Dale arrived. She’d been in suspense long enough, she thought, as she closed her eyes and tried to focus on the music. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dale pulled the silvery blue late-model car into the garage next to the old white pickup. Stepping out of the car, she didn’t know what to expect. All she could do was hope that she hadn’t misread the girl. After all, she’d really feel both bummed out and foolish to be taking in a girl she was attracted to who was either straight or simply not attracted to her in return. She didn’t think she could live with something that looked so good that she couldn’t have unless the girl turned out to be a real bitch, so for now, all she could do was hope for the best. An image of the sweet-looking girl formed in her head as she shut the car door. A slow, sensual smile then formed on Dale’s lips. At least she’s healthy, smoke-free, drug-free, and has no record, she thought to herself as she opened the door off the utility area where the washer and dryer were. She closed the door behind her and went into the kitchen. “Hi there,” Celine greeted her. “Hi,” Dale said with a smile. “How is she?” “Last I looked in on her, she’d fallen asleep.” “Oh?” Celine finished wiping the counter down, then turned to face Dale. “You know, honey, I’m not one to meddle in your affairs, but I don’t know about this one. I mean, she’s awfully young.” “Perhaps,” said Dale, “but we’ve all got to be young at some point.” “Oh, to be twenty-one again, or even your age, Dale,” said Celine with a wistful expression. Dale chuckled. After the two spoke for a few more minutes, Celine gathered her purse and left. Dale turned and headed for the stairs. All was silent as she ascended them. The door to the guest room was open. She rounded the corner and leaned in the doorway. There she lay sound asleep on her side, facing the door, one hand tucked under the pillow with her long braid splayed out behind her. Dale thought she looked just like an angel, so tiny and sweet. I don’t know who you are, my sweet one, but I do know I already love you, Dale thought to herself, surprised by her intense feelings. Wasn’t love at first sight only supposed to happen in romance books? Obviously not! Sensing a presence, Misha stirred. She blinked her eyes open. In the doorway, a figure came into focus. My God, she’s hotwas Misha’s first thought. She recognized her right away. This was definitely the woman in blue with the penetrating brown eyes. Rubbing the sleep from her blue ones, she began to sit up. “Hi there, Sleeping Beauty,” said Dale. “Hi. I-I guess I fell asleep,” stammered Misha. “Well, you’ve been through a rather exhausting ordeal,” said Dale, stepping into the room and taking a seat in the chair that stood just a few feet from the bed. “Sorry I couldn’t be here to greet you personally.” “It’s ok,” Misha said with a smile. Now that they were up close and personal, Misha studied the mesmerizing woman before her. She was a plain, simple, ordinary woman by most people’s standards, no doubt, but to her she was beautiful. She wore jeans and a white T-shirt with a leather gun holster slung over her shoulder and across her middle. She appeared both slim and fit. Her sensual lips were sexy, and her eyes held a look of confidence and experience. Although considered to be smart for her own age, Misha sensed that this woman was older than she was and had seen a lot more. Misha sat upright. “That’s the longest braid I've ever seen,” said Dale. Misha smiled. Dale was so taken by just how breathtakingly beautiful this creature, given to her by the Sacramento police department, truly was, and how fortunate she was to have been in the right place at the right time. The girl’s blue eyes sparkled as did her auburn hair. Though petite, she could see that she was strong and in good shape, something she expected anyway once she learned she was an aerobics instructor. Dale leaned her elbows on her thighs in a casual yet sexy pose that made Misha’s heart speed up. “So, you wanna talk about it?” she asked. Misha thought about it. “There’s really not much to say. It was scary, but now that it’s over, all I can really do is be thankful I’m alive and hope the guy’s caught. Think he’s been caught yet?” Dale, who now rested her chin on the back of one hand, shook her head. “Not that I’m aware of.” “Oh,” said Misha with a shrug. “Now it’s time to learn the dos and don’ts of the program,” said Dale, still holding her gaze intently on Misha. “What did you say to Celine when you and Officer Ruiz pulled up and she said, ‘You must be Misha’?” “I said I was.” “Right, you did. And that’s where you screwed up. Misha’s a beautiful name, but for now, who are you?” “Oh, that’s right. I’m Nina Bradley,” Misha chuckled. “Mmm-hmm,” said Dale, nodding slowly as a smile began to form on her lips. “And where is she from and what does she do?” “She’s a hairdresser from Indiana. Her parents own a farm, and her brother’s a carpenter.” Dale sat back, clasping her hands behind her head. “Very good. At least there’s nothing wrong with your memory, which is good because there are a few more things you need to know.” “What’s that?” asked Misha. “Well, being in the Witness Protection Program means you’re going to have to feel like you’re a kid all over again for a while.” “How so?” “By having to tell me where you go, who you’re hanging out with, and by respecting and obeying any judgment calls I may make.” Misha continued to listen intently. “For example, if you tell me you want to go shopping at a particular store in Sacramento and I don’t think it’s a good idea, then the answer’s no. Got it?” asked Dale with a smile. As good-looking as you are, I don’t think I’ll mind playing report and permission with you, Misha wanted to say. Instead, she said, “I got it, boss.” Dale laughed, then continued. “Then there’s the testifying, of course. I don’t know if this sicko will ever be caught, but if he is, you’re the only survivor capable of speaking out for the baby and the other victims.” Misha nodded sadly and studied Dale’s face for a moment. “Do you mind my asking how old you are?” Dale shook her head. “I’m thirty.” “Do you have to have a phony identity too, because I’m staying at your house?” “Nope,” said Dale, leaning forward again. “Just you. When you’re alone with me,” Dale said with a smile that made Misha smile in return,” you can be Misha, but when others are present, excluding Celine, you’re Nina. Got it?” “Got it, Detective.” Dale’s smile broadened. “What about getting some of my things that my friend’s storing for me? Would that be ok?” “No, I’m afraid not. You never know if somehow Lawson’s discovered you’re friends with this person and is following anyone that goes near them to see if they can lead him to you. We can’t take any chances. No phone calls to anyone you know, either. He could, for all we know, have connections within the phone company. For now, your old life must cease to exist. Sorry, hun, you’re just going to have to make some sacrifices for now, but it won’t be too bad, I promise. We’ll do all we can to accommodate you and make you comfortable.” “Ok,” Misha agreed. “I understand the importance of the things I have to give up for now. Since I’m not exactly working at the moment, how am I going to pay for my share of the expenses?” “The state will give you an allowance for a while. Even so, how about if we work as a team? I’ll make the money, and you take care of the house.” “Ok,” said Misha. “That doesn’t, however, mean I’m going to fire my housekeeper.” Misha felt her face turn red as she looked away, trying to suppress her smile. When she turned back to face Dale, she found her smiling with amusement, never breaking her intense gaze till she finally stood up. “How about something to eat now?” Misha hadn’t thought much of food, but now that it was mentioned, she realized she was a bit hungry. “Sure.” She stood up and followed Dale downstairs. Dale went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “Does Celine cook, too?” “No, just cleans. Let’s see,” Dale said, rummaging through the contents of the refrigerator, “they said that when asked, you said you’d eat anything short of spicy stuff or horseshit.” Misha giggled as Dale turned to face her with a smile. “I stocked up on everything but spicy stuff and horseshit yesterday, so how about we start with some roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and maybe some veggies?” “Sounds good. I can throw something together for us if you’d like.” “Oh, she cooks, does she?” “A little.” “Then I’ll leave you to whip something up while I go through my mail. I’ll be up in the office. Just give a yell if you need me.” Dale showed Misha where things were before heading up to her office. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “That was delicious,” said Dale with a smile after they’d eaten as the two of them settled down on the couch to watch TV. “Thanks,” said Misha. “It takes a while to make, but it’s worth the wait.” “Indeed, it is. Nothing beats homemade mashed potatoes made from scratch as opposed to all that instant junk that’s so popular these days.” The phone rang, and Dale reached towards the end table to answer it. “Hello?” A brief pause of silence, then, “Ok, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” She hung up the phone and turned to Misha. “Sorry, sweetie, but I have to run.” “Police business?” “Yeah, I’m afraid so. That’s the life of a cop; you never know when you may have to run out.” Misha smiled with understanding as she held one of the throw pillows upon her lap, arms draped over it. “Think you’ll mind staying here alone?” “No, not at all.” Dale gathered her purse, which was by the door. “Remember, never open the door or call out to anyone who may come to the door, ok?” Misha nodded. “Keep the blinds shut and the TV at a volume that can’t be heard outside. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen, and don’t worry if I’m not back anytime soon. In fact, I may not be in till pretty late. Meanwhile, I left you the number of my cell phone in case of an emergency.” “Got it,” said Misha. Dale winked at Misha and left the house. By the time 10:30 rolled around, Misha was too tired to stay up and wait for Dale any longer, so she went up to her room and changed into a long, sleeveless nightgown. The blue cotton garment was a size too big for her and looked a bit dumpy, but what did she expect for a state hand-me-down? Leaving her door partway open, she clicked off the light and climbed into bed. Once settled comfortably, she drifted off with images of Dale present in mind. She saw her intense brown eyes, her sexy lips, her white smile, her lean, firm body… Suddenly, there was a loud crash. Misha bolted upright and was about to get up off the bed when the door burst open and the room was suddenly awash with light. A man stood in the doorway with a dark ski mask on and a long rope in his hand. Misha shrank back against the wall in terror. Wordlessly, the man approached the side of the bed and stood before Misha. Yellow teeth appeared in the mouth hole of the mask as the man formed an evil grin as he stretched the rope taut. Misha screamed and screamed and screamed… “Misha, wake up! Misha!” “He-he’s going to strangle me!” “No, Misha, you’re dreaming.” “W-what?” “You just had a nightmare, babe, it’s ok. See?” Light from the hallway allowed Misha to focus on Dale’s beautiful face. She knelt by the bed, gently stroking Misha’s damp hair back away from her face while Misha struggled to get her breathing and pounding heart back to normal. “Oh, thank God it’s you!” Misha said with relief, wanting to reach out to Dale. Dale sensed this and gathered Misha into her arms without hesitation. Misha clung tightly. Dale tenderly kissed the top of Misha’s head. “It was so real and so scary,” explained Misha, still clinging to Dale. “A man in a ski mask was going to strangle me.” “Not a chance, sweetheart, not a chance. My job is to protect you and keep you safe, remember?” Misha nodded her head, which still rested on Dale’s shoulder. “If it wouldn’t make you uncomfortable, how about climbing into bed with me for the rest of the night?” Dale suggested softly in Misha’s ear. “I’d like that.” Misha reluctantly released her grip on Dale and rose from the bed, noting that it was 2 AM, and followed Dale, who wore a long T-shirt that fell to almost the middle of her thighs, into her room. “Here we go,” said Dale, “Just scoot on over to the far side.” The bed was much more comfortable than the other bed had been. In no time, Misha settled in, wrapped in Dale’s warm embrace, and fell asleep until the alarm woke them both six hours later.