Copyright HRC - Characters courtesy of Alliance, to be returned, in tact asap!

 

A Means to an End

 

It was Valentines Day - Fraser sat at his desk looking at half a dozen cards, all stood in one straight row along the back edge of his desk.  He glanced up to see the few bouquets of flowers that now adorned the table pushed up against the wall of his office.  This happened to Fraser every Valentines Day.  Women he’d never met before would send him cards and flowers - it was something he was beginning to get used to.  He was twiddling something in his fingers.  It was an unopened card.  The writing on the envelope was familiar to him - the words were flowing and the writing style quite distinguished.  Could it be from Meg?  He sighed - no, it couldn’t be, why would his superior officer send him a silly Valentine card?  He dropped it into his “in” tray, he would open it later.  His attention was drawn to a commotion in the hallway.   Turnbull, duster in one hand, bottle of polish in the other, was making quite a fuss about receiving a card himself.  In fact, he was so overcome that Fraser had to sit him down and answer the front door to the Consulate himself. 

 

In the doorway stood a small boy, clutching in his arms a long thin black box.  “Constable Fraser sir?” the boy enquired.  Fraser moved forward and acknowledged the boy, “Yes young man - how can I help you?”    The boy didn’t say anything, instead, just held out the box and gestured for Fraser to take it from him. With possession of the box transferred to Fraser, he gently tugged at the end of the white ribbon, which was tied in a neat bow around the box.  As the ribbon came away, Fraser lifted the lid and revealed a single dead rose laying in crisp white tissue paper.  The little boy turned and scuttled back outside, Fraser ran after him and offered him a dollar for his troubles, while enquiring where the box had come from.  The boy pointed to a car parked opposite the Consulate.  With that, the boy snatched the dollar from Fraser’s hand, without even noticing it’s Canadian currency, and ran off down the road. 

 

The card attached to the stem of the rose read, quite simply, “Come with me this time Ben?”.  Only one person ever called him that.  Victoria.  He lifted his head, his heart pounding in his chest.  His eyes landed upon the car parked opposite, and his eyes met with hers.  It was Victoria. 

 

Fraser dropped the box and rose onto the concrete beneath him.  As it landed the crisp petals fell away from the head of the flower and blew away in the wind.  He ran down the steps of the Consulate.  In a moment, Victoria had slammed the car into drive and was starting to speed off down the road.  Fraser flung himself at the car, only to be hit by the tail end as Victoria swiftly turned the wheel and spun the car around.  The force took Fraser’s legs from underneath him and he landed on his back in the middle of the road.  He shook his head and scrambled to his feet catching a glimpse of brake lights disappearing into the distance. 

 

There was no use chasing after her, besides, that was exactly what she wanted him to do.  This time would be the last, and she would play by his rules.

 

Fraser shook his head and brought himself back to reality.  He stood up and walked back across the road towards the Consulate.  As he began to walk back up the steps he realised that Inspector Thatcher was standing in the doorway with a look of total amazement on her face.  In a second he found himself in her office being disciplined.  He was very protective of details, and as usual, with Turnbulls interjections, he managed to escape a full interrogation. 

 

As he sat back down at his desk he noticed that there was a small tear along the right arm sleeve of his normally immaculate uniform.  This was most unusual.  Maybe a sign of weakness?  He ran his finger along the tear and shook his head.  No, not a sign of weakness, but of determination.  This time it had to end - for good.  He looked again at the unopened Valentine card sitting in his “in tray”.  He picked it up and opened it.  There was a simple message written inside inviting him to dinner that evening.  Sighing, he placed the card and it’s invitation to dinner with the rest of his Valentine ‘invites’.  How narrow minded of him to think his Commanding Officer would send him a Valentine!  His mind began to swirl with thoughts of Victoria.

 

Hearing the cupboard door ‘click’ behind him, he began to hear his Father’s voice recalling the advice he offered when Victoria last betrayed him - “You’re not going to get it son - that second chance”.  He turned to face the ghost, but his Father had disappeared.  He was wrong, and Fraser had been given his second chance with Victoria.

 

He was a little unsure whether to involve Ray this time.  Of course, Ray didn’t mean to shoot him last time, it was an accident - but it showed the lengths he was willing to go to for his friendship, and more importantly, his duty.  Fraser didn’t want her dead - in fact, the thought of her dying was almost incomprehensible to him, he just wanted her do to her time and understand what she had done wrong - if that was possible.  Justice was all he asked for.  “Is there justice in love?” he questioned himself. 

 

*****************************************

 

After a lot of edging around the subject, Fraser ushered Ray into their ‘usual’ closet conference room, Dief following close behind.  He shut the door quietly and began to tell Ray the events of that morning.  Ray instantly reacted as Fraser knew he would and went straight into “Chicago PD” mode.  As the closet door flew open, Fraser grabbed Rays’ arm and pulled him back.  He didn’t want this to get out of control, Victoria was a smart lady - of course she already knew that Fraser would involve Ray and this time they had to out smart her.  Ray, now calmed down, realised what Fraser was driving at - he gently released the door handle and calmly walked back to his desk - he needed to start things moving.  They both knew that they had to move quickly, to act before she did - after all, she would be waiting for them - she was ready, that was why she’d come back.

 

Fraser observed a few strange looks as he followed Ray out of the closet; mind you, it was not such an uncommon sight these days – the Cop, Wolf, and Mountie all in the store closet together.  Everyone at the Chicago PD was quite used to Fraser’s odd ways.  He took a seat at Ray’s desk, Francesca instantly homing in on him.  She mothered around him and fussed at Dief, which of course the wolf loved, when Ray practically yelled at her to go away.  “Confidential Police work” he bellowed.  She scuttled off in an indignant fashion, but of course, was now intrigued by what the two men were involved in.  Since becoming a Civilian Aid at the Police Department, Francesca had learned to excel at involving herself in things that did not concern her - or Confidential Police work, as Ray so professionally put it!  It was a knack she acquired, and built on, as she grew more confident in her work.  She loved to show off, and with a little determination, she could involve herself in almost anything, if she wanted to - and with her curiosity aroused - Francesca was now on a mission to find out just what her brother and Fraser were up to! 

 

She picked up a few old files that lay in her “out” tray, and walked over to a filing cabinet a few desks away from where the two men sat, deep in conversation.  She picked out the odd word, “Diamonds, cabin, fire” - none of which made sense to her, but she was not easily deterred.  Shoving the misfiled papers into any drawer, she swiftly moved back across the room to her desk and picked up her phone.  She dialed into Rays phone extension and grinned to herself - oh, she was just ‘so’ clever! 

 

Ray slammed the phone down.  The two men, looked at each other, nodded as if in agreement, and began to walk out of the building.  It was as if they knew what the other was thinking.  Francesca slowly placed her phone down, as she said “Goodbye” to an imaginary caller.  As Fraser walked by, she held out a hand and touched his arm, “See ya later Frase” she said gently and smiled at him.  He answered in his usual polite manner, but with a sense of urgency in his voice.  Francesca was not perturbed, she knew what was planned and would help them out, whether they wanted help or not.

 

*****************************************

 

“You’re sure you wanna go through with this,” asked Ray as they drove through the streets of Chicago.  Ray took a sharp corner, and Fraser’s Stetson slid across the dashboard of the Riv.  He reached out and put his hand on the brim to stop it, “Yes Ray, that’s where she’ll be.  It’s my last chance”, he paused “my second chance” he said.   Ray corrected him “Hey Frase, it’s ‘our’ chance, we’re partners - remember?”   Fraser nodded and pulled the Stetson back to the center of the dashboard.

 

Ray knocked the car into neutral, and rolled quietly to a standstill.  He switched off the engine, removed the keys and held them out to Fraser.  “She’s all yours,” he said slowly.  Fraser took the keys and stepped out of the car.  The air was thick with the smell of the city, a streetlight flickered above him - night was creeping in.  The sound of Ray slamming his car door jolted Fraser back to reality.  Again, the two men glanced at one another and nodded.  Ray pulled back his jacket to show his gun held firmly in its holster, while Fraser clutched the keys to the Riv firmly in his hand.  They acknowledged each other across the car roof and Ray headed off to enter the building.  Fraser, now standing alone with the keys to the Riv in his hand began to wonder if he was ‘really’ doing the right thing? 

 

Ray sat in the booth feeling a little nervous.  How could Fraser be so sure this was where Victoria would show up?  A moment later Ray heard someone outside putting a quarter into the release mechanism of the sliding door. The show was about to start.  Now Ray remembered - this was where Victoria arranged to meet Fraser last time, where she told him about the stolen diamonds, the money, everything.  His heart raced as the blind flew upwards; he blinked at the light that beamed into his eyes, eventually focusing on a woman, standing alone on the other side of the glass.  Francesca!

 

She depressed the button and spoke “Hey Ray!  Thought I’d drop by and……. no wait a minute, first you gotta tell me what you’re doing here?” she said with a wry smile on her face.

 

The door at the end of the darkened hallway clicked shut and Francesa tossed a glance in the direction of the noise.  Ray, his suspicions already aroused shouted “Frannie, DOWN!  HIT THE DECK” – as two gunshots rang out and the glass shattered around Francesca’s body as it fell to the floor.  In an instant Ray was at her side.  He knew Victoria was already gone as he heard the scream of the Riv’s tyres from the road behind the building.  He held Francesca in his arms, his face stained with blood and tears.  “C’mon Frannie, this ain’t part of the plan”.  He looked up into the darkness as the sound of police sirens moved closer.  He shook her lifeless body again “Hold on, Frannie, hold on”.

 

*****************************************

 

“You have to trust me Victoria.  Trust me – this time, I won’t let you down?”  said Fraser, dangling the keys to the Riv in front of her.  She held the gun steady  - her only means of escape was the man who had betrayed her, twice, but then she had betrayed him too.  Lowering the gun from its point of aim, she lurched for the keys.  He snatched them away from her grasp, and then he turned and ran towards the car.  Inside, quickly, he pushed the keys into the ignition, turned them, put his foot on the gas and drove straight towards her.  Within metres of sending her sprawling across the bonnet of the car he slammed on the brakes and stopped.  He pushed open the passengers door and spoke “Come with me, you’ll regret it if you don’t.” Those words had haunted him for too long and now they would haunt her – forever.  The police sirens were fast approaching; she had to make a choice.  “Come with me” repeated Fraser, holding out his hand to her, and in a second, she was inside the car and they were away.

 

Victoria knew that Ben would not turn her in, at least not right away, that was too easy for him – he liked a challenge, and she certainly posed that to him.  After what seemed like a lifetime of driving, Victoria was no longer going to play his game – she wanted to play by her rules and no one else’s.  Raising the gun to him again she quizzed “Where?”  No reply.  “WHERE?” she demanded.  Still no reply from Fraser.  Suddenly she grabbed the handbrake, forcing the car into a spin, pushing the barrel of the gun even harder into his shoulder.  Turning the wheel against the handbrake, Fraser brought the car to a stop.  He grappled for the car door handle and suddenly the door flew open.  Fraser ran around the car to where Victoria was still sitting inside.  Enraged by her, he began to smash on the window.  Seeing her cowering away, he pulled the passenger door open and dragged her out of the car.  He held her in front of him, gripping her arms so tightly that she could not move.

 

“Look” he said out of breath.  He pointed straight ahead. 

 

“Look?  Look what”? demanded Victoria.

 

“There!  2 miles ahead – it’s the Canadian border.  If we get across there, we’re home free.  Trust me” he said again, with an almost comical expression, releasing his grip on her. 

 

Victoria had trusted Ben before, much to her own resentment.  “Why?  Why should I trust you – again?” still holding on to the gun she turned and pushed it back into his arm “C’mon Ben – humour me?”.

 

He knew she wouldn’t shoot him – she’d had far too many chances to take him out before and never carried through.  “OK” said Fraser.  “You want to know ‘where’ do you?  I’ll show you where – right now”.  Forcing her back into the car, he slammed the door, shattering the window.  He then got back in the car and put his foot down hard on the gas.  The car moved off with a jolt, causing Victoria to lose her grip on the gun and send it flying out of the window.  Speeding towards the border she screamed at him frantically trying to put her feet on his and hit the brakes.  “Fortitude Pass” he shouted at her face “Fortitude Pass”.  “This has to end Victoria – it will end where it started”.  

 

“What?” she screamed back at him, desperately trying to stop the car – she had never seen this side of Ben before and for once in her life, she was - terrified.

 

“A day, a night, and a day.  That’s how long it snowed for” shouted Fraser above the noise of the car.  “I held you in my arms.  The Windhover – your recital of that poem kept me alive.  It was as if I had known you forever – across a thousand lifetimes – and this – THIS is how you repay me.  It’s has to end Victoria.  You – me – or both of us – but is has to end”.

 

With the Canadian border looming up on them and a whole wall of blue lights and cops in their way, Victoria managed pull the steering wheel in her direction.  Fraser hit the brakes but it was too late.  As if in slow motion, the car left the road and began to roll.  It was as if someone had flicked a switch and every sound and breath of the moment had ceased.  Silence. The wreck lay upside down, creaking under it’s own weight.  Fraser stretched out his arm to Victoria, their hands met and he tightened his grip on her.  Then suddenly her fingers became weak and her hand slipped from his. 

 

Fraser began to whisper in the silence of the air :

 

“I caught this morning morning’s minion,

Kingdom of daylight’s dauphin,

Dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon,

In his riding of the rolling level,

Underneath him steady air,

And striding high there,

How he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wind in his ecstasy……”

 

But before he could continue……she was gone.  “It wasn’t meant to end like this” he said, softly “Come with me, you’ll regret it if you don’t……..”   “Haunting words for the haunted” thought Fraser as he closed his eyes and let the silence envelop him once again.

 

*****************************************

 

The two men stood facing each other across the hospital hallway.  Fraser already knew – Ray didn’t have to speak.  Francesa was gone too.  Victoria’s soul could not rest alone and had taken Francesca with her, as if in repayment for his betrayal.  There was no forgiveness to be found between the two men, they both knew what stood to be gained, and lost by their friendship.  Fraser was right though – this was to end as it had started.  Ray nodded his head at Fraser across the hallway and Fraser nodded a solemn acknowledgement back to his friend.  As they both turned and began to walk away in opposite directions, Fraser suddenly stopped and remembered something.   “Ray” he called out. 

 

Ray stopped and turned to look at Fraser.  Without a word Fraser threw him the keys to the Riv.  Ray put his hand out and caught them.  He smiled and put them in his pocket, whereupon his hand found an envelope.  He read the addressee, simply written ‘Benton’.  He handed it to Fraser, then turned away and continued walking, tears streaming down his face.  “Thank you kindly” said Fraser as he took the card.

 

He opened it slowly – another Valentine.  Inside the message said “Dinner at 9pm – Italian style”.  Slumping into a chair, Ben put his head into his hands and let out a rare show of emotion as tears streamed down his face.  The card was from Francesca.

Please sign the Guestbook

Return to Index