A slice of cake in a store bought container landed on GG Baraquin’s desk with a thud, startling GG out of glaring at her computer screen. She looked up to see a smiling Theo. She looked back down at the cake and then back at Theo, confused.
“Happy First Case Day!” His explanation was not what she wanted of expected, but she smiled anyway.
“For me?” She put her hand over her heart in mock surprise. “But I didn’t get you anything.”
“Did you figure what she could be pulling us in for?” He asked, grabbing his chair from his cubicle.
“Well,” she grabbed two plastic spoons from her desk and and moved to allow Theo to share a part of the screen and her desk. “Considering both of our strengths and cases that they have, I’m thinking either email hacks,” she slides a file in his direction as he nodded. “Or one of the millions of cases on police brutality that we have. Like this one, rapey mcRapist attacking over forty-five women of color in his six years on the squad.” She slide a much larger pile in his direction. “I chose that one because everyone says he’s a “Nice guy” and “would never do that” and frankly, I want to know why a nice guy wouldn’t do something like this.” She picked up another file. “Or we could go with this one, a prison fight club a la Luke Cage.” She observed the pile. “I haven’t read all of them, but I’ve read enough to know that chances are we are getting something from this pile,” she pointed and the larger stack. “The volume is on our side.” Theo looked at the two files in front of him as GG opened up her cake to take the first bite.
“I can tell you that it’s not either of these these.” He polished of his cake, throwing it in the trashcan and picking up the file.
“What? How?” GG asked with a mouth full of cake.
“Well, Huang and Nettles got the rape case-” he handed the folder back to GG.
“Curse those two!” GG threw her fist in the air in mock disgust. Theo laughed and was going to continue when he saw the conference room starting to fill up. He tapped GG on the shoulder, nodding his head in the direction of the people filing in. She rushed the last few
“Alright team listen up,” FBI Director Tabitha Miller called the room to order. “I would like to welcome GG Baraquin and Theo Baez,” She pointed to the couple sitting front and center. “I figured that since we have been chasing this ghost for a year, it would benefit us to at least get a fresh set of eyes on the case.” sunk lower into her chair while Theo seemed unaware of the attention they were currently getting. Tabitha pointed a remote at the projector in the middle of the room. An image of a woman popped up on the projection screen. She was dressed in the standard Sheriff’s uniform, a bright smile on her face. “This is Diana Ford. What can anyone tell me about her?”
“She is responsible for about thirty-two grave robberies in the last year,” GG straightened in her seat, while Theo scribbled something on the legal pad in between the two of them. She glanced at the note he left before glancing up at him. “You have to be kidding,” she mumbled.
“Is something the matter?” Tabitha asked innocently.
“She’s from my hometown,” GG spoke up. “She’s about the same age as my sister,” she shook her head, “Anyway-”
“That’s enough from you,” Tabitha cut her off. “Anyone else have something to add?” SHe surveyed the room, looking for her next victim. When no one spoke up, she heaved a heavy sigh. “Luckily for you guys, there is nothing left to report on her. The only reason we know this much is because of her DNA.” Tabitha pushed a button on the remote again causing the projector to turn on. “We need to go on a fact finding mission so that we know exactly what we are up against. I need to know what her motivation is, what her next move is. I need to know what she is going to do before she does it.” She pulls out a packet and starts to read off the page. “We will have two teams on a fact finding mission and I need good profilers on it, which is why these two are here.” She motioned to GG and Theo. “Baez, you and I will be going to Chicago, which is where the last grave was robbed. Amd Baraquin, you and Fitz will be going to Gedeh.” She slide a binder in front of GG. “Talk to anyone that may have known her. I want you to be able to write her life story by the time you are done. That way it would be easier for you to track her down.” GG nodded, already flipping through the binder. “Alright everyone else, keep up the good work and we will be back here with new, valuable information. Everyone filed out of the room except for GG and Theo. Theo drummed a pen against the table as GG continued to thumb through the binder. Once the last person exited the room, they both turned towards each other.
“Thomas?!” GG screeched. Theo grabbed her shaking hands, trying to soothe her.
“It’s for a few days, two weeks tops-”
“But Thomas?” she forced through deep breaths. “Why him? Why not you?”
“She clearly needs me in Chicago,” Theo reminded her. “You are going to be okay.”
“I’m gonna have to spend time with my grandfather. And talk to him- Oh God.” GG forced her head through her knees as Theo rubbed tiny circles on her back.
“It isn’t going to be so bad,” Theo comforted her. “You at least get to see your sister and Emily. You get to hang out with Michael, you’re going to have a great time.”
“Are you going to be okay?” GG asked. Theo offered a bright smile that let GG know that she was probably blowing things out of proportion. Theo rose from his chair, offering GG his hand to help her up. They both walked out of the room. On the way to their desk, they ran into Thomas Fitz.
“I look forward to our time together, GG. I’m sure we can accomplish something there,” he grinned widely at GG. “Theodore, good luck with Tabby. She’s a ball buster,” he laughed loudly as he walked away from the pair.
“If he gives you any trouble, punch him in the nose, like you are supposed to do to sharks.”
“I don’t know what it is about him, but he makes me uncomfortable,” GG confessed.
“I am going to take a gander that it is because he is a white male with some sort of power that he could be corrupted with and that doesn’t bode well for someone who is a black female trying to do the best job she can?” He glanced over at GG who stared back slack jawed and wide eyed. “Was that on the spectrum?”
“Don’t do that to anyone else but me before someone slaps you.” GG walked into her cubicle without another word. Theo made it to the cubicle next to hers and peered over the divider.
“I’m sorry,” Theo mumbled through his hands.
“I’m not mad, T. I was just caught off guard.” She looked through the papers in front of her. “So the itinerary says that I leave in two days, so I should probably head home and pack.” She grabbed one of his hands. “Gives me a chance to get some things done and maybe do some research done before I have to visit these guys. I will call you tonight if I don’t see you. Deal?” Theo nodded his head, giving her hand a squeeze before letting go and returning to his own work.
GG picked up her belongings and headed to the elevator. As she passed by the staircase, she felt her chest tightening, the sound disappearing. Here we go GG thought as she turned towards the stairs, watching as she milled through people to get to edge of the staircase. Without any warning, she flung herself off the edge, tumbling down the stairs and ending up in a crumpled pile on the ground floor. She watched as people milled around her, not really paying attention to her mangled body. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jolt back to reality, standing in the middle of the walkway. She turned to see Theo looking at her, a blank expression that she was sure matched her own.
“I just thought that I forgot something, no big deal,” she beamed at him, continuing on her way to the elevator. She pushed the down button, shaking her head vigorously when the sound started to fade again. The doors finally opened and she stepped into the surprisingly empty elevator. Once she pushed the button to go to the ground floor she was forced to stare into the chrome of the elevator doors. She noticed that her wig was the wrong color and set too far to the side, that she had gained a weight, especially in her face, making her look like she was retaining water. Her tights were rolling down, causing her dress to ride up a little. GG tried adjusting all of these things as her breathing came out in harsh pants. She gave up on adjusting her attire when breathing became difficult. She counted backwards from ten in her head, trying to fill her lungs enough that she didn’t feel like she was drowning. Eventually she wrapped her arms around herself, took a deep breath, closing her eyes and started to whisper. “Razors pain you, Rivers are damp, Acids stain you, And drugs cause cramp. Guns aren't lawful, Nooses give,Gas smells awful.You might as well live.” GG opened her eyes again once the blockage in her throat was released and she could unwrap her arms. She sighed in relief, a small smile on her face.
“What’s that from?” GG jumped when she heard another voice in the tiny metal box. Turning her whole body around, she noticed Tabitha near the buttons.
“Uh, it’s Dorothy Parker,” GG mumbled. “A poem called Résumé.”
“Sounds depressing,” Tabitha offered. “Walk with me, talk with me,” the doors open just then and Tabitha ushered GG into her office. “I guess you’re wondering why I chose you to head this case.”
“Well,” GG clarified. “You aren’t actually having me head the project as much as-”
“We brought you on at eighteen because you had one of the highest aptitude test that I have seen in a long time, and your psychology professor told me that you were very observant,” Tabitha continued. “You proved that when you came to visit. The things you picked up on...You convinced three agents that you had been with the agency for years, and that you had even worked with them. Some of our most proficient agents. To the point that they wouldn’t believe me when I told them that you were only visiting. That kind of manipulation and reading of a situation is noteworthy and, quite frankly, remarkable. Which is why I need you on this case.” Tabitha laid a hand on GG’s shoulder. “I need someone who can quickly read a room in order to retrieve vital information. This is a strange case and I need you to go into this with a clean slate on the ground floor.” GG was still staring at Tabitha’s hand on her shoulder.
“Okay,” she conceded. “So, why do I have to go with Thomas?” A smile broke onto Tabitha’s face. Instinctively, GG stepped away from her, causing Tabitha to tighten her hand on GG’s shoulder.
“Well, I have gotten several complaints about Thomas and his methods as well as how he treats some of the staff.” Tabitha finally let GG go, causing her to release some of the tension.in her shoulders. Tabitha rounded her table and sat down at her desk, facing. “I need you to babysit him while I investigate this. There is no Chicago trip. I need Theo here to look through some of his stuff. Can’t do that while he’s-”
“Why can’t you just take statements from his victims?” GG asked candidly. “I mean, if it’s credible enough to launch an investigation, then it should be good enough-”
“Careful calling them victims. We don’t know that they are,” Tabitha cautioned. “I trust that you can keep this a secret for now, until we find the information we need.” GG gave one nod, before walking out of the office. She took a few steps out of Tabitha’s vision before she readjusted herself; she straightened the dress sleeve, trying to puff it out to no avail. She finally settled on smoothing the back of her puff before pulling at a few coils in the top. She discreetly wiped the oil left on her hands across her dress and walked out of the door.
“Hey mama-”
“Well, hello, dear sister o’ mine,” Alyna Baraquin Obi sang over the receiver. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Well, “ GG started, “I am going to be coming home for a couple of days-”
“Uh huh,” was Alyna's distracted reply.
“And I was wondering if I can stay at-”
“You are bring home the white boy again, aren’t you?” Alyna chuckled. “If you are afraid of what he’s going to say, then why do you put yourself through it? Just leave the guy at home.”
“Two things. One, this is a business call. Two, does he still react whenever you and Em kiss?”
“Whatever,” she scoffed. “So, if you aren’t bringing home a disapproval, then why-”
“The guy that’s coming with me is white.” The other end of the line was silent for a moment before a guffaw was heard on the other end of the line. “And I’ve gained more weight-”
“More than you gained last time?” Alyna’s voice was five pitches higher now. “You are going to kill yourself with all the food-”
“I am aware, thank you,” GG scoffed.
“You clearly aren’t,” Alyna snapped back. “You do realize that being obese causes cancer? Diabetes? I mean, I know that Grandpa is pretty healthy but Grandma was-”
“I. Know.” GG cut off Alyna in a clipped tone. “
“What do you want out of life?” Alyna asked in a soothing tone. “It’s like you have given up, but-”
“Look, I am sorry to disappoint you,” GG sighed, done with the conversation, “But I gotta figure out this travel plans out. Tell Em and Michael I said Hi.” She hung up before her sister could get into an argument. She had paused packing to look into the mirror on the back of her door. Even though she wore an oversized Star Wars T-Shirt, she was acutely aware of the rolls on her back as well as the protrusion of her stomach. She started to pull at the skin on her neck and her face, her breathing speeding up. Before she could lose control, her phone started to ring. She let it ring a few moments as she calmed down before looking at the caller ID. Great
“Hi grandpa-”
“Please tell me that you are leaving the white boy at home,” GG closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Theo is Cuban, and no, her isn’t making this trip with me.” She heard her grandfather sigh on the other end of the phone. “However, the partner that I have been assigned for this case is white-”
“Honestly?” Aubrey interrupted. “So, what happened to Timothy?” he asked.
“Theo, Oba. His name’s Theo,” GG corrected. knowing fully well that the elderly man would forget any moment now. “And this is not for any other reason but work.”
“Well, why can’t they get you a place closer to where you have to be?” he asked indignantly. GG could see that his rant was going to go on for a while, so she put the phone on speaker, allowing her grandfather to rant as he complained about government jobs as she carefully removed her hair from the rubber band from her hair, frowning and the amount of hair that was pulled out with it. He moved on to how cheap America was as she freed herself from her dress, kicking off her shoes as well. She grabbed a pair of shorts and a t-shirt as her grandfather was winding down, quickly throwing them on as her grandfather was winding down.
“Actually, Oba,” GG finally spoke after the older man said his piece. “The case that I’m working on is in Gedeh, so-”
“How’s the weight coming on?” Aubrey asked abruptly. GG looked in the mirror, poking and her legs and her stomach, frowning.
“It’s good,” she lied, cringing at the inevitable reaction that she will get when she showed up at his home in a few days.
“That’s good. I’m glad-” there was a crash from her grandfather’s end.
“Oba-” GG stared at her phone when she heard the click on the other end. Maybe he finally got a cat she wondered, knowing that no one but her sister ever visited the old man. GG did not want to get the older man back on the phone just to continue down the path that they were going, knowing that it would just have them both in terrible moods when she arrived. She turned on her relaxing playlist and put on her headphones heading into the medicine cabinet and grabbing all of the bottles there. GG then started parsing out pills in a weekly pill container. She didn’t hear the insistent knocking on her door, nor did she hear the voice that called out to her. She didn’t know that anyone had used her spare key and entered her apartment. Which was why she swung her elbows back when someone tried to take off her head phones. Whoever was behind her caught one of them, swinging her around.
“What the hell?” She yelled at Theo. “You could have knocked or something.”
“I did,” he corrected her. “I also yelled through the door, banged on the door. Remembered I had a key and then let myself in.” GG rolled her eyes at his confession turning off her music and going back to sorting her pills. Theo picked up a bottle and frowned. “You can’t be serious. You can’t keep letting this happen. Even if-”
“Their family, Theo,” GG turned to face him again. “And I would like for us to get along-”
“So you are literally going to ingest poison for them?” He asked incredulously. “I get not wanting to actually fit with them but GG,” He picks up a random bottle. “I mean, isn’t ephedrine illegal?” GG snatched the bottle away from him. “I mean. this morning, you were fine. Hell, we had an oreo eating contest this morning-”
“That was before I knew,” GG took a deep breath. “Look, they are just looking out for my health.” Theo mulled over this information, choosing his words carefully.
“So, what about you mental health?” he asked. “Because that’s the one we know for sure is in peril. Or is it as long as look acceptable to them everything is okay.”
“Why are you here again?” she replied in a huff.
“To keep you company and offer moral support for this trip.” He threw himself into her couch. “And to help you pack.”
“Well I’m already done, so-”
“I’m not leaving you here alone tonight.” GG narrowed her eyes as Theo settled into the couch, emphasizing his words.Turning her back on him she continued to sort out her meds as he watched. She didn’t like her private routine being observed, she started to feel like a caged animal. She quickly filled the container and gathered all of the pill bottles in her arms and walked back to her bathroom. She could hear Theo get up from the couch and follow her into her bedroom. She focused on putting the bottles away and walked back out to the living room. Theo had already removed his shoes and his suspenders. GG dropped the bag at the door of her bedroom before walking back to the bathroom. She then pulled her phone out of her pocket, seeing that it was already ten at night.
“What’re plans tomorrow?” Theo shouted into the bathroom as GG walked to the bathroom, towel in hand..
“Uh, I have a date with my therapist,” she recalled, turning on the water in the shower. “Then I’m getting my hair done and coming back here to do a character sketch.” She grabbed her toothbrush and toothpaste, throwing them in the basket hanging from the shower head. For a bit the only sound in the apartment was the T.V. being turned on in her room and the water running. GG had stipped down and entered the shower, adjusting the temperature of the water. She stepped out for a moment again to close the bathroom door and shoved her shower cap over her head. GG then made quick work of her teeth and face, making sure she cleaned all of her teeth and her tongue. She lathered up a washcloth and started scrubbing at her skin vigorously, trying to get as much dirt of as possible. She then grabbed the razor. Dragging the blade across her skin relieve a majority of the tension that her body had held onto. She focused on not cutting herself as the blade glided down her arms and legs, removing the hair that had grown in the four days since she last shaved. She finished and turned off the water, inviting her anxiety back. She stood in the shower for a while longer, regulating her breathing. She reached out for her towel, finding it at an odd distance, drying herself off and wrapping the towel around her body.
“Jesus! Fuck!” She shrieked after she moved the curtain to find Theo sitting on the toilet facing her. “I thought you were watching T.V.”
“Yeah, nothing’s on,” he confessed.
“So, listening to me shower was, what? More-”
“The fire alarm also went off in here,” he informed her, holding his hand out for her to use. “I opened the door to let the steam out.” She steps out of the shower and Theo lifted her chin as she tightened the towel around her.
