Taylor always a few steps behind Harper. She is looking out for her by not taking up all of her space and Harper is more than appreciate that fact. There are people who actually believe that Taylor is one of Harper's assistants. They occasionally hand things or pass on the information that her mind cannot comprehend. James is her savior in a way. He would jump in and take care of whatever that is thrown at Taylor although he constantly needs a minute to function properly. The red-eye flight has defeated everyone in one way or another. Harper seems to be the only one who has enough sleep on the plane. She curled up in her seat and utilized the five-hour in the air well. She is as active and energized as she has always been. Meanwhile, Taylor is sleep deprived. It was a smooth flight but her mind couldn't seem to find enough peace to settle. Fortunately, this is not the first time she has a sleepless night.
"Do you want my coffee?" Harper offers the iced coffee that she has drunk half of it. She shakes it a bit for the ice and the plastic cup to create such annoying sound just to get Taylor's attention. "No poison. I've tasted it and haven't died."
"Yet." Taylor takes the coffee from Harper and follows her out of the elevator to her radio station interview. She watches Harper greet the staff and the DJ hosts with her cheerful smile and her charming eyes. Harper's passion in what she does amazes her. She really loves what she does and she is really determined to do her very best. She hasn't shown a tiny bit of annoyance to the interview questions that start to get repeated over and over again. People want to know the same exact things and Harper answers them with the same exact energy that never fails to soar through the roof.
It is a big radio station in New York. Everything looks high-tech and new; even the smell. Harper's team watches the broadcast session from another side of the glass partition while Harper settles on the rotating bar stool behind the desk that is filled with the state-of-the-art equipment. For a second, while putting the headphone over her head, Harper steals her glance at Taylor who seems to be enjoying her leftover coffee as she, again, takes her eyes on the trip of surveillance. There is something about Taylor. She hasn't been able to point it out yet but whatever it is, it draws her in. She is almost like a puzzle book that she wouldn't mind going through page by page just to see what the answer in the end would be.
"You've recently done a cover of your fellow Australian artist's song and the producers decided to put it in a show?" One of the DJ hosts mentions towards the end of the interview.
"Yes. It is super exciting. We've actually planned on making a special video together when he flies up here next week. It would be amazing." Harper says with genuine excitement that spills out of each word as her eyes suddenly get sparkler.
"We should be able to hear it live." Another DJ says while looking back and forth between Harper and his co-host. "Can we hear it live right now?"
"We should. Do we have a guitar player here?"
Harper giggles. "I actually have a pianist with me if you can find me a piano keyboard or something."
"Say no more." The DJ holds up his hand to Harper. He is as excited to pull this through because he knows if the show turns out to be a big hit, this video of this performance will be the same. "Someone showed me this roll-up piano the other day. Can we somehow get that?"
While the DJs and the radio staff try as fast as they can to pull a spontaneous live performance on the air, Harper spins the stool to make sure that her eyes land on Taylor whose mouth is shaped into a no. Yvonne immediately takes the coffee cup from Taylor's hand while Luke makes sure that she is pushed through the door into the glass-wall room. They don't know this trivia about Taylor but they do know a thing or two about Harper. They trust Harper's decisions although sometimes they are not the best ones.
"Seems like we found an actual keyboard instead. Is that okay?" The DJ directs his question towards Taylor who is now settling on the stool next to Harper and looking indifferent to everything around her.
"Sure." Taylor nods as she takes the headphone from Harper. The music sheet is handed to her and before she gets to get ready, the keyboard is plugged in and the light on the dash shines as bright as the star in the room.
"Hmm." Harper tries to get one of the staff's attention but she is in the rush to get everything ready that she doesn't notice the tiny wave from her. The paper that was handed to her is a full-on music sheet; not an ordinary music chord that is a lot easier to understand.
"I can read it." Taylor says as soon as she pokes and sees what Harper could possibly want. She places the sheet on the desk and her fingers on the keyboard. She moves her fingers around a bit and nods to the DJs to suggest that she is ready. "How long will people talk about this if I mess up?"
"Well," Harper whispers and smiles as her hand finds Taylor's thigh in order to tap the rhythm for her. "You don't look like a type who messes things up."
"Ah. You're too trusting, Harper."
After a few more introduction of the song from the DJs, it is their cue. Taylor doesn't seem to be nervous at all although this is definitely not on her detective job description. She looks calm and confident at every note she presses on the keyboard as if this is something she does regularly. Harper watches the scene like the melody has just killed off everyone around and now there are only her and Taylor. Her hand that is on Taylor's thigh fails to tap any beats. It just stays there like it has just found the most comfortable resting place. Taylor needs to concentrate a million times more than usual when Harper's eyes don't leave her be. Also, Harper's voice, it is too beautiful for something that is far from a love song. It is too beautiful for someone that is far from a lover. Taylor can't help herself but glances over at Harper and lifts a corner of her lips up. Harper smiles back while her mouth and her mind can still find a way to not fail her to finish the song.
"Wow." The DJs claps their hands and cheer as if the performance was the best they have ever seen. Then, one of them look past Taylor and Harper to the team outside where Luke gestures something to them; something they have to say as a part of the deal. "Now, before you go, a very quick question about the special video you've mentioned. Is your co-star Will Moser going to be in the video?"
"Oh, boy." Harper exclaims quietly and flips her hair back casually. She knows that they will mention Will. She knows that she has a part to play and she needs to play it well. "I think you just have to wait and see."
"We have to wait and see?"
"Wait and see." Harper shrugs with a sneaky smile.
"And that's all we're going to get, folks. Don't forget to stream Thea McFarlane's new show next week. Thank you for joining us today, Thea. It's always been a blast to have you here."
"Thank you for having me."
"This is also Thea's biggest hit yet." The DJ puts the song on to finish the show and takes this time to say goodbye to Harper. She gestures something towards both DJs and makes them both laugh as Taylor excuses herself out of the room. A fist bump from James is waiting for her at the door and he looks more than impressed by her hidden talent.
After a few pictures taken with the radio staff and the DJs, Harper and her team make their way towards the elevator. Harper takes a quick glance over her shoulder to see if Taylor is behind her. Once she gets her confirmation, she proceeds to make a conversation to kill the suspicion that may appear from the fact that she has been checking if Taylor is around a bit too often now. It gradually starts to be her new habit that she might not be able to lose.
"What are we doing after?" Harper asks Yvonne who is now right beside her.
"Not we." Yvonne locks the tablet screen and turns to Harper. "You. You're having lunch with Will. Luke has taken care of everything."
"Right." Harper responds as she steps into the elevator. She goes straight to the far end of the elevator and leans against the handrail. The space next to her is soon occupied by the girl who seems to be more than she appears to be.
"I know the song. I've heard it." Taylor tilts her head to the side and whispers to make sure that Harper is the only one who hears her words in this small box.
Harper smiles and turns to Taylor. "I told you I had a song."
"You did, didn't you?"
"How much trouble will you be in if I happen to run off right now?" Harper's question instantly gains the intense stare from Taylor. Harper tries to make it sound like a joke but Taylor is not easily convinced.
"Depends." Taylor whispers.
"On what?" Harper whispers back.
"On whether you run off with me or without me."
Harper smirks like a devil who has just heard the best news of the worst deed. "Okay."
As soon as the ding sounds and the door slides open, Harper grabs Taylor's hand and breaks out of the crowd in front of them. Harper is proceeding one of her not-the-best decisions but she is so sure that it will be one of the-most-rewarding ones.
"Excuse me." Harper says to make enough room for both of them to exit the box. "Excuse me."
James is the only one of her team who is already out of the elevator while Yvonne and Luke are pushed to the sides. Harper winks at him and drags Taylor with her with such speed that Taylor needs to try rather hard to catch up. She is not prepared for this. She thought Harper wouldn't do it.
"Thea!" Yvonne calls out the name but the runaways don't slow down their steps, not one tiny bit, as they jog across the hall to the back exit. "Where are they going?"
"I don't know." James shrugs.
"Why didn't you stop them?" Luke asks.
"I am paid to assist her. I assisted. If I ever stopped her, she would be... unassisted." James grins. He has been spending enough time with Harper to know that there are some certain feelings flying out of her towards Taylor. It is not wise but it is not his place to tell her that. She needs to learn that by herself.
As for those whom James has assisted, their journey begins so unwillingly but so pleasantly at the same time. Taylor doesn't complain that she is dragged and thrown into a yellow cab in order to get to the place unknown. Her job is to watch Harper. Her job is to go where she goes. So she is basically doing her job right now. She doesn't think she cares much about all others. Harper doesn't care much about that lunch with Will. She knows it is wrong to stand him up like that but this scenario with Will is not what she wants to from the start. The publicist teams know how to get people hyped up about their show and Will seems to reciprocate well towards that. He is great but spending all her time with him just to turn fume into fire is not exactly ideal for her.
They get on the ferry and get away from the bustling city to Staten Island. It is rather easy when Harper is not exactly the Hollywood big name yet. People hardly recognize her; only a few youngsters that approached her for some selfies. Taylor still keeps her distance and just follows Harper to wherever she wants to go. Her hand still remembers Harper's touch. It was some sort of a drag but within it, there is this mysterious comfort that has left a visible remark on her mind. She cannot shake it off her head now. She cannot stop thinking about maybe they should do it again now.
"Can you eat Thai?" Harper stops her steps and turns to Taylor. She looks up from her phone to see that Taylor is staring right at her as if she is the only living thing around. Taylor is staring as if she has something important on her mind and she is about to let it be heard. "What is it?"
"I think we should go back." Taylor suggests something that sounds sensible and proper. "Wherever you want to go right now, they are not checked and confirmed."
"I've been to so many places that are not checked and confirmed by the LAPD." Harper confronts Taylor who is a bit taller and quite a bit more matured than she is.
"Now, it's different. It's for your own safety."
"Isn't it your job to make sure that I'm safe? And basically, you're here with me so what's the problem?" Harper is winning the argument without having to try that hard and Taylor isn't even being soft and letting her win. She is winning by facts. "Besides, you have a gun."
"I don't have a gun." Taylor denies so calmly with a smirk.
Harper scoffs playfully. Taylor doesn't even try to lie. She just straights up lying with a liar tag attaching on her forehead. "How did you even pass the polygraph test?"
"Fine." Taylor sighs and looks at the girl with the prettiest smile. "We'll have Thai and we'll go back."
"No, detective. We'll have Thai. We'll go to Fort Wadsworth. We'll go back." Harper adds a tourist attraction she has just looked up into their plan. It is not exactly the first name that comes up but it is definitely the place that might have a little bit of something for both of them.
"You're not going to Fort Wadsworth."
"I am. And your job is to watch me. That means you and I are going to Fort Wadsworth."
"It's a fort, Harper. It's just an old building. There is..." Taylor looks down at her feet and tries very hard to think of the name she wants to say. "a fort in LA. We can do that first thing back. I'll let my partner know."
"That is Fort MacArthur and it is in San Pedro. And I know that even though I'm from Australia." Harper watches Taylor not budging even an inch or blinking even ones. "You've never been in Staten Island. I've never been in Staten Island. Taylor, please?"
Taylor tries to avoid Harper's eyes that are on her. She can feel it through her skin that it is the type of sight that can easily crack her. Then, a touch lands on her arm and forces her eyes to meet hers; the ones that shine so bright and sparkling like the water that is touched by the sun. "Okay, fine. But make sure you stay within my sight and my reach."
"Yes, ma'am."
Once they arrive at the fort, Harper's face reflects everything on her mind. She is quite disappointed. She isn't disappointed by the spectacular view. She is disappointed that Taylor is quite right. It is basically an old building that looks creepy; even it is in the broad daylight. She pretends to read the information board at the overlook area and tries to sneak some glances at Taylor. She doesn't want to lay her disappointment and uninterest on the table. She doesn't want to hear the 'I told you so'.
"Do you think there are ghosts here?" Harper asks without taking her eyes off the information board although the matter she has raised is unrelated.
"Definitely." Taylor answers with a slight sigh. She begins to realize that this can get her into some kind of trouble. The only way out for her is to get Harper back safely. "There is one standing next to you right now."
Harper slowly looks up from the board. She knows Taylor is probably joking but the only problem about that is she doesn't know her that well to be certain. "Detective, come on."
Taylor puts her finger to her mouth and shoos Harper quietly. "Don't let them know that I'm some sort of an authority. They might follow us home. It would take hours to do the sage cleansing thing in that huge house of yours."
"Haha. Right."
"Sorry." Taylor directs her apology past Harper's shoulder to the void. She smiles when Harper clears her throat nervously and starts to step closer to her. "Let's go back then."
Harper checks her watch and puts on her best negotiation skill again. "There is a trail leading to the fort. We should check that out."
"Harper."
"You've agreed to it, detective and you need to pull through." Harper insists with so much determination in her voice and desperation in her eyes.
Taylor pauses as she tries to read that contrast. Harper is not exactly an open book but when her back is against the wall, she drops all her bluff like crumps of bread. "You don't want to go to that lunch with that Moser guy."
"What?" Harper's voice takes the unintentionally high notes and her palm starts sweating like a school girl who gets caught stealing gum from the gas station. "Is that on my file?"
"That is on your face."
"The only thing that is on my face, detective, in your own word, is my beauty."
Taylor chuckles ridiculously. "I never said such thing."
"You did." Harper stumps away before pausing to wait for Taylor to catch up and once she does, Harper stumps for more.
The trail leading to the fort itself is nothing but creepy. It is gloomy and neglected. There are trees, leaves and grass covering the old structures that used to be a battery. Harper keeps her promise that she will be within Taylor's sight and reach; in fact, she is within the range that Taylor can feel the warmth from her skin and the sound of her breath. Then, her steps are grounded in front of the small tunnel. Without any words, Taylor takes Harper's hand and walks her through the dark tunnel she has insisted on walking.
"I wasn't scared." Harper announces while her hand is still in Taylor's although they are a few steps away from the tunnel now.
"I know you weren't." Taylor takes her hand back and keeps it secure in her pocket.
"Just to be clear."
"Of course." Taylor puts on her poker face and nods so convincingly. Then, her phone rings. It is from the person with a rank in front of her name and it signals the trouble Taylor might be in. She watches Harper take her steps away in order to give her some privacy with the call. "Breslow."
"See me in my office as soon as you're back in LA. Detective Park will keep his eyes on Miss McFarlane during that time." Captain LaRoche orders with a serious tone. "And get her back to Manhattan. This is not a vacation time, detective."
"Yes, ma'am." Taylor responds so soundly and touches her blouse's placket as she is reminded that they are never alone. There are a third pair of eyes watching and this is terribly wrong move to pull. As she hangs up her phone, she looks up to see that Harper is nowhere in sight. Her heart quickly raises and her mind is hit by the severe blizzard. "Harper."
Then, there is a scream. The scream that cannot belong to someone else as they are the only two people there. Taylor's instinct alarms her to reach for the gun at the ankle holster and cautiously approaches the source of the sound. She is now more than certain that this whole thing is a big mistake. Her decision was somehow clouded and this is the consequence.
"Harper." Taylor; with the gun in her hands, takes cover at the corner of the old structure. There are steps leading to the emplacement and whatever happened to Harper, it happened here. "Harper, call out."
"Detective." Harper finally responds to the call but she still sounds so off that Taylor's mind cannot settle for peace.
Taylor takes her deep breath and pops out of the corner with the gun pointing at whoever or whatever that might have harm the girl she was assigned to protect.
"Whoa." Harper raises her both hands as soon as she sees the gun pointing towards her. She is sitting on a step that she accidentally slipped on her way down. She was taking her time to wipe off the dirt on her jeans but that time appeared as a period of threat on Taylor's end.
"What happened?" Taylor lowers her gun and tries to figure out the situation that has got her more scared than the time she was on the plane. "You slipped?"
"Yeah." Harper pushes herself up and wipes her hands together. "You said you didn't have a gun."
Taylor puts her gun back into the holster with her old calm face. "I don't. I found it in the bush."
"Right." Harper finally makes her way down from those slippery steps and fully feels the different energy Taylor is spreading out. It is cold and it is dull.
"Let's go back." Taylor says bluntly without any elaborations or even a smile.
"Are you alright?" Harper pulls Taylor's arm and forces her to face her. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's just..." Taylor begins her explanation and realizes maybe she doesn't have to. "It's out and open. It's not safe."
"But you're –"
"Let's go."
So they go back. They go back through the same short dark tunnel. The only difference this time around is the hands are not met. Taylor keeps both of her hands in her pockets and just walks as close to Harper as possible instead; close enough for Harper to feel her presence and close enough for Harper to feel the distance that is about to come as soon as they reach the light.
Hi,
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy it so far :)