More Christmas Wishes
This year was the hardest. Having worked closely with Peter on several cases she was beginning to understand just how her sister felt about him. When they first met, Peter had virtually ignored their relationship, grudgingly working with her. She later believed it was because she looked so much like her sister, that he was having a hard time separating his feelings for her. She believed he was keeping his distance, doing his best to avoid her off-hours. Now their relationship was different, and this time Jody couldn't get her mind off her partner, wanting something more than he probably could provide.
'God if I could only talk to Kira," she thought. 'Maybe she could straighten me out. It's not fair. I wished I never agreed to come to Peter's party.'
Jody looked up to see Lo Si standing in front of her. She had not heard him approach.
"What are you looking at," she snapped, then quickly amended her words. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to . . ."
"Of course you did not. Your heart is troubled."
Jody had heard of things about the Ancient, but she didn't know if they were true. "Lo Si, can you . . ." she stopped in mid sentence, realizing that what she was asking sounded crazy. "Never mind. It was a crazy notion any way."
"Do not be so certain. Anything is possible, if one believes. This night especially is filled with possibility."
"Unless you believe in those things," Jody scoffed. "I don't know. I think I'm going to go home. Tell Peter I'll see him tomorrow."
Jody patted Lo Si on the shoulder then headed out the door. She wasn't aware of the look that Lo Si had on his face, one of thoughtfulness. She was also not aware of the words he had uttered as she left.
"Your wish is granted. I hope it will give you insight and peace."
Jody drove through Chinatown, her thoughts turning more toward her sister. Her eyes turned toward an alleyway, and she slowed the car until it came to a complete stop. After making sure the car was in park. Jody checked to see if her gun was in place then picked up the single flower that lay on the seat beside her. Despite the errand she intended, Jody wasn't taking any chances. She let loose and deep sigh then headed into the darken ally. This probably wasn't a good idea, but she didn't want to come here during the day and have someone question her reason for being in the ally. Tonight felt somehow appropriate and maybe, this might ease her soul just a little.
Jody walked to the spot where Kira met her death. There was no evidence now, having been removed a long time ago. Only the usual trash and debris found in such places remained. Jody knelt down and deposited the flower on the very spot where Kira lay. The fast acting poison that killed her had been from a Chi Ru master, Peter had said, an assassin that appeared to kill without a single touch. It was Nicky Elder who discovered the truth behind the assassin's method, a poison so quick and lethal that once it did its work, it disappeared completely from the person's body, leaving little to trace. If you didn't know what your were looking for, you might not have recognized it for what it was.
Jody's was so preoccupied with her thoughts, that she did not hear the person approach. The light touch on her shoulder nearly startled her out of a year's growth. Before she could stop herself, she was reaching for her gun, and back peddling herself against the wall.
"Don't move!"
"Easy, sis. I didn't mean to startle you."
"No, it can't be," Jody's eyes became wide with wonder, shaking her head in disbelief and keeping her gun aimed at the woman who stood in front of her. 'No, you're dead. This is impossible."
The woman with Kira's face stared at Jody then smiled. It was a smile that was so familiar that Jody could not deny the possibility, and yet she still did not want to believe that the woman was her sister.
"Come on Jo you know it's me."
Jody slowly lowered her gun. Only one person in the world called her Jo. "Kira?" Jody hesitated only for a second when Kira held out her hand to help her from the ground.
"I'm not going to bite."
Jody discovered that the hand was warm to the touch and very solid. As she was pulled from the ground, Jody enveloped her sister in a tight embrace. Burying her head into her sister's shoulder Jody cried out her anguish.
"Oh Kira, I thought I lost you. They told me you were murdered. They even had a funeral. Why didn't you tell me you were in hiding . . ."
"Whoa sister. I'm not in hiding. I did die."
"But how . . ."
"Let's just say I'm answering a prayer, but my time grows short."
Jody stared at Kira then gave her a smirk. "You sound like one of those ghosts from A Christmas Carol. That was our favorite Christmas story remember."
"I remember, but it's true. I don’t have a whole lot of time."
"I can't believe it, you're really here."
"Well, you better believe it," Kira replied. "It wasn't easy either, but I knew my sister was in trouble and I wanted to help, so tell me what's going on."
"I thought because you're dead you might know everything."
"Jody, you don’t know the half of it."
"I don't understand."
"It's a long story, so please tell me what's wrong before my clock runs out."
Jody looked at her sister then suddenly felt guilty at her own feelings toward her partner. How could she tell her own sister she was in love with the very man she was supposed to have married.
"It's about Peter isn't it?"
"How did you know?" Jody asked astounded.
"I know that look. You used to give me that look when I caught you spying on Peter and me."
Jody's feelings of guilt disappeared as quickly as they came. She realized at that moment that if she couldn't share her feelings with her sister, she could not share them with anyone, and her sister was here, if only for a short time. So, Jody gave a deep sigh and shared everything, from the moment that she learned of her sister's death to when she was transferred and became Peter Caine's partner. She told her sister how Peter had treated her, but then their partnership seemed to grow, and yet Peter still kept her at a distance.
"I even went as far to tell him how I felt after we had that earth quake. You should have seen the look on Peter's face. He was flattered, but . . ."
"But you were hoping that he'd feel the same way and he didn't."
"No," Jody said quietly, her disappointment clearly showing in her voice.
'You know, I'm going to tell you something that I never told anyone," Kira stated. "I don't think Peter would have married me either."
"You said you and Peter were engaged."
"I only said that to drive you crazy."
"He led you on. That son of a . . ."
"Oh don't blame Peter. I realized that he must have had someone hurt him real bad for him to avoid anything like marriage. Having been his partner for only a year and I am certain you are aware of it too, Peter is over protective with the people he loves."
"I did notice it, but . . ."
"You thought it might be different with you."
"And I thought because we were twins, maybe he didn't want to get close to me because I remind him of you," Jody added.
"We may look alike, but we are certainly not the same," Kira pointed out. You were always the better cop than I was. I got killed remember."
"Then why doesn't Peter give me a chance?"
"Because he's destined for another path."
"Kira, I don't understand. How can you know what he's destined for?"
"Jody, if you and Peter are going to get together, it won't be while both of you are cops. Peter is destined for something else. I don't know what, but I felt it the moment when we were in our first shoot out. You know Peter is a marksman. Remember at the academy, we kept hearing rumors about a student who on his first day of training with a firearm had perfect marks. Well I checked it out. Turns out it was Peter Caine."
"Maybe Blaisdell taught him how to shoot. After all, he was fostered by him."
"No, Jody," Kira replied. "Peter Caine hadn't picked up a gun until he had gone to the academy, he told me."
"I still don't understand."
"There's more to Peter than just being a cop. Can you really see Peter advancing in the ranks and making Captain?"
"Well, maybe it could happen," Jody tried to convince herself.
"Jody, you are a good cop. You could rise to be Captain some day, but Peter, he is destined to be more than just a cop. Trust me. You know I wouldn't lie to you."
"But what about . . ."
"If you and Peter are destined to be together, it will happen in it's own time. You must have faith and trust. And you must keep love burning inside, letting him know that you will always be there waiting for him. Let Peter find his path first, then we shall see. I've got to go."
"Oh please don't go," Jody pleaded.
"I must. Before I do . . .I love you sister."
Jody felt something being pressed into her hand. It was a broach, one that Kira had always worn on her jacket. The broach was of a heart, and in the heart were two stones. Jody recognized the broach as the one that she gave her sister for Christmas the year both of them graduated from the academy and had been assigned to different precincts. Even though they were apart, they would always be together in their hearts. Jody gazed down at the broach in amazement. She remembered that very broach being pinned to her sister's dress uniform before her burial, and now it rested in her hand.
Jody looked up to comment on it to her sister, but Kira was gone. She was once again alone in the ally. It was then that Jody remembered the cryptic words of Lo Si. This night was filled with possibility, and the impossible had happened. Jody gave a sigh and headed back toward her car. She had been given a gift, something tangible and real and even a glimpse into a future that might yet be. It was all up to her to make it happen, and perhaps some day, she would make Peter see just how much love she had to give.
The End (until Next Year)
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2006.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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