Chapter 6: Sometimes You Gotta Go Home

          After Giselle’s funeral, Yuri became paranoid and stressed.  Elliott took on the job of trying to make her feel better and to try and get her to realize that she needed to talk to someone.  So, within a week of Giselle’s death, Yuri went to Dr. Elizabeth Grimes’ office of Psychiatry and began therapy.  She hated the way Dr. Grimes stared at her and then wrote on her pad.  She felt like she could see through her.  Dr. Grimes continued to remind Yuri that she wasn’t there to judge her.  Still, Yuri felt like she shouldn’t tell the doctor everything.  One thing was for sure, that Yuri realized that the myth wasn’t a myth at all.  They really do ask you about your mother or at the very least...your parents.  Talking about Teresa was a sore spot.  She and Teresa hadn’t spoken since she was assaulted.  Yuri knew the flowers she received that day were from her, but she still never got a formal apology.   She knew she might not ever get one either.  Yuri knew that the only thing that kept her mother from totally disowning her was her dad.  Daniel was her guardian angel growing up and though she’d felt betrayed by him, she knew he would never let Teresa do her harm.  Dr. Grimes had been very helpful with the things she could fill her in on in such a short period.  In only a couple of week’s time, they had ventured into the realm of Yuri’s dark side.  Yuri intimated that she had done some reprehensible things, and Dr. Grimes became curious and asked questions.  Yuri however just wanted to get to the bottom of things.  Time was of the essence and she could not let Drake catch her sleeping.  She needed to relieve some of the mental burden so she could get back on top of her game.  Drake was way too close, and she needed to get a grip so she could handle him fittingly.  In the last few weeks since their conversation in the yard, Drake had continued to harass her.  Even though he stopped requesting her sexually, the threats on her freedom were unending.  Drake always managed to call when Elliott was around.  She and Elliott were stronger than ever in spite of Drake’s efforts to hurt their relationship.  He was there for her all the way.  He couldn’t have believed he would ever support or seemingly condone murder, but Yuri had a way with him that no other woman could claim.  He loved her so deeply that he was willing to sacrifice his own well being to make her life better.

Besides therapy and a renewed relationship, Elliott and Yuri had made another leap.  Within the past month, Elliott moved out of his apartment and into Yuri’s loft.  It was big enough to accommodate them, so it made the most sense.  Yuri had been wearing her ring even though the two hadn’t quite announced it to the world.  When Teresa got wind of Elliott’s proposal, her horns sprouted up again, and she decided that she could re-pitch the society induction to Yuri.  She knew she couldn’t go about it the way she had, so she hatched a plan to cater to Yuri’s sensitive disposition.  Knowing that Yuri was grieving Giselle, she decided with the help of Serene, to establish an art school scholarship in Giselle’s name.  Teresa also decided to plan an engagement party for Yuri.  Breeya was enlisted, to her own chagrin and so was Bethany.   Now, all Teresa needed was for someone to convince Yuri to attend a “gathering” at the family’s home to lure her there for the surprise party.  It took Teresa ONE week to throw together the affair.  The best food, wine, music and decorations were purchased in a flash to celebrate the daughter of Daniel and Teresa Hart’s impending marriage.  Teresa called in favors from all her closest associates and some of Daniel's family to drop what they were doing and attend the special event.  Daniel was enthusiastic because he wanted for his ladies to mend fences.  Ever since he’d come home, he and Teresa had agreed to work on their own marriage.  He wanted his family together again...so any monies Teresa needed to fund this party, he gave.

“I don’t think Yuri is going to come here, Daniel.  She is so stubborn.” Teresa said to Daniel over breakfast.  “Well if you’d apologized in person sincerely and not with an anonymous bouquet of flowers, she might consider it.” He responded, cutting her a look.  Ever since she had attacked Yuri, and Daniel had chided her about it, Teresa had been demure and less bitchy.  It didn’t hurt that for effect, Daniel had taken a picture of Yuri’s face and sent it to Teresa’s email address.  She was so ashamed of what she had done, that she’d barely spoken a word for nearly a week following.  “What good what that have done to tell Yuri I was sorry?  She hates me.  Yuri is never going to forgive me.”  “Well, we won’t know that will we, until you actually try to apologize.” Daniel said.  He got up from the table and kissed his wife goodbye and said, “Don’t worry Tee, if Breeya cannot convince her I will take it upon myself to get her here.  You just make this the best party you can for our little girl’s engagement, ok?”  She nodded yes as Daniel picked up his briefcase and walked out the house.  Teresa had the table filled with all the plans for the party.  She only had a couple more days before the affair was to take place.  She wanted it to be the best social gathering of the year.  Impressing Yuri was top priority.  She had kept it to herself, but she missed Yuri, dragging her from event to event.  Having her in attendance was always comforting.  Not having her around in the past several weeks was her secret agony.  She had no answers for the sisters in the society when they asked where Yuri was.  Yet...as embarrassing as it should’ve been for her, she was more sad than ashamed.  She never really knew how much she loved and adored Yuri until they weren’t on speaking terms.  She also realized just how proud she was of her youngest daughter.  She admired the gallery, the online business...even her completion of college and her maverick attitude.  She admired Yuri’s guts to live to her own standards.  No matter how hard she’d been on her, Yuri stuck to her guns about the life she wanted to lead.  Teresa wanted this party to be one big apology to her daughter...and maybe even get on her good side long enough to change her mind about being sponsored into the Black Lioness Society.  Now, who would Teresa be to not at least TRY to work her own personal angle?  After all, Yuri was about to be married, before 30...all the specifications she swore she would never fulfill.   Yuri could be a lioness, Teresa thought.  Teresa smirked to herself that she was so close to getting what she’s always wanted...Yuri in her spitting image.  The only thing missing was Teresa’s devil horns and the evil-intended-clichéd rubbing of the hands.

Breeya hadn’t spoken to Yuri in a long time.  She attributed her MIA cousin to new-found love, business, love-lost, smoky affair, tragic loss of friend, and love renewed.  She herself had a man, so time away from the very neurotic Yuri was a breath of fresh air.  She missed her though.  She wanted to be filled in on all the things that she’d missed in their very sporadic and short conversations over the phone.   The only thing about this visit was that it was Teresa-inspired.  She dreaded doing her aunt’s grunt work, but she knew that Yuri deserved to be catered to and invited back into the family she loved dearly.  She wanted Yuri to be happy for once and seeing her celebrate her and Elliott’s love was exactly what was needed.  So, she sucked it up and invited Yuri to their hideout, “The Cocoa Café” where everything was either made from chocolate or was spiked with it.  She ordered for Yuri knowing she would most likely get the chocolate-laced coffee stirred with a cinnamon stick.  Just as the coffees and almond croissants were arriving, Yuri walked through the door.  She was dressed in denim pedal pushers and a flowing floral print halter with a white jacket.  She had on her white Chloe shades and had a white Coach bag.  Though she looked pretty, Breeya could see the stress written on her face.  She wasn’t very good at hiding it.  Yuri always thought she was, but Breeya could always read her well.  It was probably why and how Breeya became her sole confidante growing up.  Breeya stood up and greeted her cousin with a huge tight hug.  They then sat down and Yuri said, “Oooh...thanks for the cinny chock.”  Breeya smiled and said, “Now, come on...it hasn’t been that long since we were here.”  “It seems like it.  I’m sorry that I’ve been busy and what not...” Yuri began.  NO, don’t even do it.  You’ve had a lot on your plate Ms. Yuri.  I understand.  Family is not bought, we are paid in full.  We are yours for life.”  Yuri almost got teary-eyed.  “Yes, I have been swamped with one thing after another.  GiGi’s death has taken a toll on me...I wake up in a cold sweat a lot.”  Yuri's voice drifted for a second, snapping out of it with Breeya’s touch on her arm.  “Talk to me Yuri.  Do you need to talk?  I’m here for you always Smurf.”  Yuri smiled at Bree’s childhood name for her.  “I will be ok...life must go on.  I have to deal with Corrine now, because she is acting in GiGi’s behalf with the gallery and she doesn’t know a single thing about art.  Thank God, she and I get along well or I would be up a shit’s creek.”  Breeya just listened as Yuri filled her in on some of the latest events.  The ONE thing Yuri made sure to leave out was the way GiGi died.  She wasn’t ready to come to terms with that.  Breeya had been there for her when she killed Jon and Stone, and had even suspected that the handsome banker named Hanley had gone missing at her hands.  This one though was not for her ears.  Breeya would call her a head case for sure.  Once Breeya had sat through a quick updating, she decided to throw in the thing that was behind her invite in the first place.  “Well, I know that you’ve been going through a rough time, Yuri.  So much has happened to you in the past few months.  Why don’t you do yourself a favor and take your mind off of everything?”  Yuri raised one eyebrow and said, “So what do you have in mind, because it seems your intentions are showing.”  Breeya smiled.  “Look, my mother asked me to attend a social function with her for charity.  She bailed at the last minute and now, I am holding two invitations to something I didn’t sign up for in the first place.”   “What is the function about and where is it?” Yuri asked, sipping on her cinny chock.  She looked at Breeya from over the rim of her mug and saw a familiar look on her face.  Then it dawned on Yuri, this was Teresa-bound.  “Oh, no.  I know you aren’t going to ask me to go to something planned by my mother.  Please tell me Breeya that this function you're speaking of isn’t my mom’s project.”  She said.  Breeya put up both her hands and said, “Wait...before you come to a conclusion, please hear me out.”  Yuri bit her lip and gestured for Breeya to state her case.  “This particular function isn’t just ANY function, Smurf.  Aunt Tee is throwing this affair in honor of Giselle.  She wants to set up a scholarship for art school in Giselle's name...and I know she would appreciate you showing up.”  Breeya’s eyes were sincere and Yuri could feel that Breeya was not comfortable with asking her for a favor this big.  “Why is she doing this?  I mean, she barely knew GiGi.  She can’t be doing this for me we’re not even on speaking terms.” Yuri pondered.  “She IS doing this for YOU dimwit.” Breeya laughed.  “Aunt Tee is trying to make amends.  She wants to do something to show you she is concerned...so what if it IS self-serving, and she comes off looking altruistic.” They both laughed knowing that there was always an ulterior motive where Teresa Hart was concerned.  “I am having a hard time believing that even though my mom loves to throw bashes and call them functions or charities that she would think to do anything for ME.  Besides, how is it that she is so concerned with founding something in GiGi’s name, when she never ONCE picked up the phone to check on me when she died?  My father was the concerned party there.” Yuri stated bitterly.  Breeya knew she had a point, but the truth was that she wasn’t here to state the obvious.  She needed to convince her cousin to show up at the Hart mansion in two days.  “Ok, I know Aunt Tee isn’t the most maternal creature...but she IS doing this for you.  She knows that she hasn’t apologized for hurting you or been supportive about many things, but this is her way of making amends or at least trying to.  Please come with me Saturday?” Breeya batted her eyelashes mockingly.  Yuri said, “Ok, fine.  I will go with you.  Do you think you can finagle an extra invite for Elliott, because I don’t seriously believe I could get through a night of bullshit without him.  He has become my rock.”  “No problem, Yuri.  I promise you Elliott is welcome.  You two dress formally and meet me at my place at 7pm.  We will show up on time a half hour later.  Is that okay with you?” Breeya asked.  Yuri sighed in concession to her cousin’s pleas. “Sure...your place at 7pm sharp.  I will have Ell in his best threads all to impress the head lioness.”  They talked a little more and shared a few more chocolate infused treats and then went their separate ways.

Yuri had walked to the café to enjoy the day.  She had been in such a funk, but when Breeya had called to invite her to coffee, she instantly felt lighter and decided to take in the day.  Walking back towards the gallery, Yuri got a bad feeling.  With the way life had been surprising her she didn’t know what she’d find if she looked into the direction of where her skin was chilling.  Reluctantly, she looked over her shoulder and saw Drake cruising slowly along the block watching her.  She ducked inside a shop to shake him.  The bell signaled her entry as a she heard a polite voice say, “Welcome to Nyla’s Keepsakes.  My name is Rayne, may I help you?” she said.  Rayne was a tall woman of at least 5’10 with piercing hazel-grey eyes and brown skin.  Her curly locks bounced as she spoke and for a second, Yuri had forgotten why she was there.  “Uh, no...I was just browsing the shops.  I am not really looking.” Yuri said, looking back at the door.  She had never allowed anyone to shake her up like this, but lately her nerves of steel had become jelly.  “Well, we are having a sale on crystal.  Everything crystal is 60% off of the ticketed price.  So, if you do see anything or need help let me know and I will be happy to assist you.” Rayne said cheerfully.  It was annoying to Yuri because she just wanted to hide.  She perused the aisle where the crystal was and came upon a beautiful crystal figurine.  It was shaped like a bloomed rose and was frosted.  She picked it up without looking at the price and turned to take it to the counter.  Yuri bumped right into Drake.  “So, you think it’s going to be easy, huh?  Do you think I am going to let you go?  Okay, so you called my bluff...but I could’ve used that evidence against you.” Drake said.  “I don’t want to talk to you, Drake.  You are not who I love and I don’t care what you think you have on me, I will not return to your bed.”  Drake grabbed her arm and said, “Don’t fucking talk to me like I am some kind of stalker.  I am a decorated detective.  This isn’t puppy love Yuri.  I am in love with you.  I know you felt something between us...say you did.” He begged.  “Even if I HAD felt something in the beginning that feeling died the moment you began blackmailing me for sex.”  “Well you weren’t cooperating Yuri.  You thought you had me pegged.  Once you’d slept with me, you thought I would stop investigating you.  Isn’t that why you slept with me in the first place?  You just wanted to make sure I didn’t suspect you for Hanley Mill’s disappearance...right?”  Yuri knew it was true.  She had seduced this man to keep her freedom and now she was judging him for using that DVD to keep her around.  Either way, her freedom was on the bargaining table.  “Look, I have to go.  Please let loose my arm so I can pay for my item and leave?” she said in an asking tone.  Drake let go of her arm and said, “I’m not trying to hurt you.  You can go.”  Yuri walked around Drake and paid for her crystal rose.  Once she got outside and walked a few paces, she heard Drake say, “It’s not over, Yuri.  Count on the fact that I get what I want.”  She never looked back...she walked to the gallery and cried in the safety of her office.  She cried for Jon, Hanley and Giselle.  She cried for the lies she’d told and for the lives she’d taken.  Her heart was burdened with the spirits of these people.  Last but not least, she cried for how she had gotten into this predicament with Drake Price.  Ever since he’d walked through the doors of her gallery, he’d become a problem.  She prayed that things wouldn’t get worse, but somehow she knew that was improbable.  She had too much to answer for.

Drake walked around the corner and got back into his car.  Simone said, “Did you get her to admit anything?”  “No, she is too smart.  She hasn’t gotten this far because she’s dumb.  She knows just what to say and how much.”  Drake had enlisted Simone in his get back plan to catch Yuri.  If she didn’t want him then Elliott couldn’t have her either, but now he had to reconfigure things to make his investigation look legit.   He had crossed the code of ethics when he slept with her, so he had to find proof that no one could refute.  Drake knew that Yuri had said enough to make someone suspect her, but he wasn’t so sure about taking down the woman of his dreams with the woman who was pregnant with his child.  He didn’t want to give Simone too much information before he could process everything and decide how far he wanted to take this.  He only wanted to scare Yuri into reconsidering her feelings...and somehow that made sense to him.  Simone said, “We have to find out how she could’ve gotten hold of that drug she used to poison GiGi.  I mean, scopolamine isn’t exactly something you get over-the-counter, Drake.  Did Carlene tell you what sources that scopolamine is found in?”  Drake said, “It comes from the belladonna plant...the deadly nightshade.  It’s a wild plant that grows in some parts of Northwest America.”  Simone thought about at it and said, “Do you think she is smart enough, to take the plant and convert into an indigestible poison?  I mean, does she have an underground lab or something?”  Simone’s humor was masking her frustration.  Drake then said, “You’re over-thinking it Monie.  Carlene says she could’ve easily squashed the berries of the plant and gotten the same deadly results.”  Simone nodded and ran her hand over her neat ponytail.  “Ok...well let’s start looking around the places she could’ve happened upon this plant.  I can get a picture of it and we can search around her residence, the parks near it, and even check near the homes of her closest relatives and friends.  You know...my Aunt Mallory has a huge garden, you saw it.  GiGi and Yuri were there a lot.  Let me check there too.” Simone suggested.   Drake could hear the hunger in her voice.  The ultimate desire to apprehend the woman suspected of killing her cousin.  Knowing that the tea was made for her was even more of a reason to get on it.  Drake was still daydreaming about Yuri.  Simone had gotten a call and was preoccupied.  Then Drake was startled out of his thoughts.  “OH MY GOD, Drake.   That was my cousin Corrine.  She says that Teresa Hart sent an invite to attend a surprise engagement party and joint fundraiser for a scholarship named for GiGi.  This is on Saturday.  We have got to go.  We can get close enough to her family and ask some pertinent questions about your little Yuri.” She said sarcastically.  “Then it’s a date.  We will get all formal just to show up and blow the lid off of Ms. Hart’s ruse.” Drake said.  He just made the statement to seem gung ho, but he dreaded seeing his Yuri on the arm of Elliott.  Every time he saw them his heart sank and he felt the desire to shoot him.  “You and I back together again, solving crimes.  We have got to make it worth the trouble.  This chick is crazy and no one knows it.  I want to either lock her ass up for life or have the honor of putting a bullet in her.” Simone said with eagerness.  Drake wasn’t excited one bit...because he had a different plan than Monie’s and she knew nothing about it.  His plan was self-serving and quite permanent.  He wanted to make sure there were no holes in his plan...Elliott’s death had to look good.  Once the mission was completed, then and only then could he prove to Yuri how much he loved her.  There would be no way she could deny him once Elliott was out of the picture.

Saturday arrived with Yuri very nervous.  She had purchased a new dress for the evening and had made sure that Elliott had his suit.  She knew that all the Beaumonts had been invited, so she realized there was a very real possibility of her running into Simone...and by association, Drake.  She had rehearsed in her head over and over the way she would handle both pains in her ass.  Elliott had insisted though that she make the best of the opportunity to be close to her family...her mother especially.  Yuri on the other hand was very skeptical of any potential she and her mother had for any cozy moments.  Teresa was a slick character.  Where there was a will there was only HER way...so Yuri knew there was an agenda for tonight.  “Baby, can you tie this for me?” Elliott asked, giving over his tie to Yuri.  “I can’t tell if you men NEED us to do this, or if you just like it.” She said.  “Anytime I can get to feel your hands on me are moments of NEED for me.  Just tie my tie woman!” Elliott laughed.  She tied his tie in a perfect bow and kissed him.  “How do I look baby?” she asked.  She modeled her strapless empire dress.  The dress stopped right above her knee to show her shapely gams and she had on a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes with a sequined T-strap.  “You look so damn sexy baby.  You might not make it to this party.” He threatened.  “Let’s go, so we can be on time...my mother despises lateness.” Yuri said.  She picked up her sequined purse and sheer wrap sprinkled with small sparkles.  They left the house and made their way to Breeya's house.  Breeya and Keith lived in a cute 3-bedroom cottage style home not 5 minutes away from the Hart mansion.  Breeya and Keith stepped out of the house dressed sharply.  Breeya was wearing a pale yellow dress with several flowing layers.  The straps were twisted and right in the middle of her sweetheart neckline was a crystal brooch.  She sported a pair of pale yellow tie-up shoes with a rose at the toe.  Breeya had hair twice as long as Yuri’s and wore it in a slick pulled back ponytail with a yellow rose clip.  Keith had on a simple but chic chocolate brown suit.  “WOW...you look gorgeous Breeya.  You're not too shabby either Keith.” Yuri said smiling.  Keith thanked her and commented on how beautiful she looked.  Keith and Elliott shook hands and spoke as the girls introduced them.  Breeya said, “Yes, you do look damned good yourself, Ms. Yuri.  You look perfect for the night’s festivities.”  Yuri looked at her with a raised eyebrow and said in her mind that something was not being said about the party.  She just prayed that it wasn’t a surprise induction into the Lioness Society.  “Well, let’s go people...time is a-ticking.” Elliott said.  The couples got into Elliott’s 300C and drove the block to the entrance of Yuri’s family home.  They got out and parked the car in the huge garage meant for family vehicles and walked to the house.  There were so many cars that Yuri wondered for a second if this was all about the charity.  If so, this was a wonderful turnout and could really build press for the foundation dedicated to Giselle’s memory.

Once they reached the huge double doors, they opened as if someone was expecting them...which of course they all were.  Keith and Breeya entered first and then stood by the sides of Daniel and Teresa, Serene and Trenton, and Joel and Camilla.  Everyone seemed to be in attendance that had any community connections with the Harts...but there was also a lot of family there as well.  Breeya’s mom was there, but so were a lot of Daniel’s family.  Yuri spotted her dad’s siblings, her Uncle Allen and Aunt Maura.  Her first cousin April was there who she hadn’t seen in years as well as April's husband, April's brother Allen Jr. and his wife, Cheyenne.  They were Uncle Allen’s children.  Aunt Maura had a set of twins only, and they were there also...Kaiyah and Keeyah.  Before she could ask what was going on, Daniel answered her thoughts.  “Yuri Loren...this is unmistakably more than a dedication to Giselle Beaumont’s memory.  As well as raising money and founding the scholarship in her name, we are also celebrating yours and Elliott’s engagement.  We felt you deserved to have your love celebrated and your family and friends gathered to congratulate you and Elliott on your upcoming nuptials with this party in honor of you and the very special and missed Giselle.” He said with the pride of a lion.  His chest was heaved and he had a champagne glass in one hand and the other placed on the small of Teresa’s back.  Yuri was stunned to speechlessness and almost back-pedaled.  She wanted to run away, because it looked like the scene of a cult movie...the kind where the rich, well-dressed people try and get you to join them.  Something had to be wrong as far as Yuri was concerned...no way her mother would do all of this for her.  Just then Teresa walked over to her and Elliott and handed them both champagne.  “To Yuri and Elliott on a wonderfully short engagement and an exceptionally long marriage.” Teresa said as they held their glasses up and then drank.  Yuri sipped hers and looked at Teresa with suspicious eyes.  Teresa caught on and tried to smile with her eyes to make Yuri more comfortable.  Yuri did see her effort and returned the softness.  Daniel spoke, ending the stare between the two women.  “Say something, Yuri...Elliott...come lovebirds, don’t keep us in suspense.  When is the big day?”  Yuri and Elliott looked at one another with confusion.  They hadn’t even discussed it.  They had been fine as of late with simply being together and living in the same space.  Elliott decided to take the lead since Yuri was still processing the shock.  “Well, Daniel...Teresa...family and friends...we appreciate this celebration of our love.  We hadn’t set a concrete date yet, because we are still enjoying the newness of us.  Though, we have considered a winter wedding, we are looking at pushing that up and getting married in the fall.” He said.  Everyone’s voices clamored and people clapped. Teresa beamed at being in plan overload, pushing ahead for a September wedding.  It was 3 months away, but she could do it with her hands tied behind her back.  “Well, I am on board for any planning that you need help with.” Teresa offered.  Daniel said, “Come on Yuri, say something.”  Yuri felt pressure creep in on her temples, and Elliott could tell she was stressing.  He whispered in her ear, letting her know he was there.  She took the floor.  “I just want to say thank you for the many friends and family that took out time to come to support me and Elliott’s love.  I also want to thank those who are here to help support the Giselle Beaumont-Lewis Foundation for Art Scholarship.  This means a lot to me and I know she would be honored to have kids go to school in her name.  She was so very special and she will be missed.” Yuri said those last words choking back tears.  She ended up running off to the bathroom to collect herself after the applause ensued.  Elliott excused himself and went to check on Yuri.  Daniel announced, “Everyone, I think Yuri isn’t used to all of this attention.  She will be fine.  In the meanwhile, enjoy the food and wine, and don’t forget that there are platters circulating where you can place your cash and check donations for Giselle’s foundation.  Everyone began to circle the house mingling and eating hors d'oeuvres and drinking expensive drinks.  Meanwhile, Elliott caught up to Yuri in the bathroom with Breeya in close pursuit.  “Yuri, open the door baby, it’s me.”  “I’m ok Elliott...just give me a moment to catch my breath.  Go talk with my dad.” Yuri suggested.  Elliott wasn’t about to leave her like that.  “NO, Yuri, open the door.  I want to talk to you.” He demanded.  Yuri relented and opened the door.  Breeya arrived just in time, but Yuri told her she would be ok.  Breeya felt bad, because she begged her to come under false pretenses and was worried that she may have injured her cousin’s fragile psyche by springing this all on her so soon after Giselle had died.  “Baby, are you ok?” Elliott asked sitting on the edge of the tub.  Yuri was trying real hard not to smudge her make-up.  She said, “I feel like a fraud, standing there speaking on behalf of Giselle and I am the reason she is dead.  She would be alive and enjoying her new marriage if it weren’t for me.”  Elliott stood up and held her while she cried.  She pulled back to check if there was make-up on his shirt.  “Look, Yuri...for what it’s worth, you didn’t mean to kill her.  You couldn’t have known that Simone would bring those teas along with her to the hotel room.  We both know that what you did wasn’t right, but we also know it wasn’t aimed at GiGi.” He said.  Yuri pulled back again and said a little louder than Elliott had hoped for, “DOES IT MATTER THAT I DIDN’T AIM AT HER?  SHE IS DEAD, ELLIOTT.  GIGI IS DEAD AND IT’S BECAUSE I AM CRAZY AND SELFISH!” Yuri yelled.  Elliott shook her and said, “HEY, stop it Yuri.  You are getting help.  You're taking a step towards help and accountability.  It will take time for you to get there, to the point where you are able to forgive yourself, but you will.  The best thing you can do right now, is try not to do anything else to compromise your heart and spirit.  Go out there and represent the best way you can.  The rest will have to wait.  Right now there is a room full of people who are here to give in GiGi’s name and you are the reason why they are here.”  He looked at her as if to ask if she understood and she said, “Ok, ok baby...we will go out there and represent her.  She knows I didn’t mean it.”  “Right, she knows baby.  GiGi knows.” he replied. Elliott gave her a hug, she fixed her make-up and they went back out to the party.  As soon as she rounded the corner to the dining room, Teresa spotted Yuri and pulled her to the side.  Yuri fully expected a tongue lashing but got sympathy instead.  “Yuri, I know losing Giselle has been hard on you.  I want you to know how sorry I am for not being there for you...and for...for hurting you.  There, I said it.  I am sorry for what I’ve done to you.” Teresa said.  Yuri broke down.  She fell into Teresa’s arms and bawled like a baby.  Teresa walked her into her office and sat her down.  They didn’t get a chance to talk further, because Daniel came in insisting they join the party.  Yuri choked back all her emotions, because she didn’t want her father to see.  He would swear it was something Teresa did.  “Ok, daddy...we’re coming.” Yuri said.  The two women stood up with Teresa taking Yuri’s hand and leading them both back to the great room.  For the first time since she was very small, Yuri felt Teresa’s love as a mother.  Teresa felt the love also...she could feel that things were looking up for her and Yuri.

When they entered the great room, people were nodding and stopping Yuri to give her congratulations and hugs.  She had never been the center of attention before, so this was all so overwhelming.  She found Elliott’s face in the crowd, and felt a sigh of relief.  He walked over to her and hugged her, whispering in her ear, “You look beautiful my love.  Let’s stick together tonight, ok?”  Yuri nodded and kissed him gently.  Yuri saw the flash of cameras and realized that she and Elliott had just given the newspaper a photo op.  She just smiled lovingly at her fiancé and allowed the moment to be beautiful.

An hour or so into the bash, Yuri had already spoken to every well-wisher...twice!  She heard her mother and father dedicate the scholarship to Giselle, and hand off a certificate honoring Giselle to her parents.  Yuri was beginning to enjoy her and Elliott’s party, when she spotted Drake and Simone.  She tried to prepare her mind for a conversation with the two of them, but with Drake and Simone, it was always a mind-numbing experience.  Drake walked up to Yuri and said, “Congratulations, Yuri.  You and Idiot...I mean ELLIOTT must be pretty happy.”  Yuri knew Drake was sarcastic so she just tried to ignore his conspicuousness to be quite the jackass.  “Yes we are...Elliott and I are VERY happy.  He knows how to love a woman without holding a gun to her head to get that in return.”  Drake’s ego took a blow.  Her words stung and made him feel powerless...powerless to make her fall in love the way Elliott had.  “You don’t know anything about love, Yuri.  The way I feel for you is beyond anything that Elliott can promise you.” Yuri shook her head in awe for the fantasy this man was having about a one way obsession.  There was no question that he was unbalanced.  How did he believe he came close to measuring up to a man that loved her enough to know her deeds and not hold them against her?  She looked at him and felt pity for his mangled mind and said, “YOU need to turn that statement around on yourself, for it is YOU who knows nothing of love.  Enjoy the evening Drake.  Try the shrimp canapés, they’re really good.” Yuri strutted away; walking into Elliott’s waiting arms.  The two of them continued to mingle.  Drake’s face was a clear expression of what he was thinking.  He wanted to kill Elliott and possess Yuri.   “Hey, what is it? What are you thinking about? Did she say anything else about the night the teas were poisoned? Simone interrupted his thoughts.   Drake looked at Yuri one last time and said to Simone, “No, she didn’t say anything.  I’m gonna look around and see what I can find interesting.”  “Be careful, Drake.  I’m going to mingle and see what I can dig up from these people.  There has GOT to be something I can get from this family.” Simone said as she slapped Drake on the back, held her pregnant stomach and prepared to grill the guests under the guise of a grieving pregnant family member of Giselle’s.  Drake watched her waddle away, exaggerating the burden of her pregnancy and then skulked off to tour the home’s more private areas.

Drake slipped into a room that looked like a French room.  He marveled in the style and elegance of its décor, never having been inside someone’s home with so much money to blow.  He looked around the piano-shaped desk and deduced that he was standing in Mrs. Hart’s office.  Black Lioness Society crap was neatly placed across the desk in fancy beige suede portfolios with a paw print embossed on the front.  He opened a few pages, skimming through.  Just some boring take on people’s lives meant to make them look good for initiation into a self-important group of black folk.  He left after looking around a little more not feeling like the room held any clues to his case.  He decided to move upstairs.  He looked around all the rooms, stopping in front of a closed door with a golden “Y” on the door.  He turned the knob and stepped into Yuri’s adolescent room.  A sense of discovery fell over him and he realized that he was in the heart of Yuri.  The room was pale lavender with white crowning. Her bedspread was cream silk and she had gold, lavender and cream pillows on her bed.  He went and sat down on the bed and laid back.  He looked around at the white bookcase with the myriad of books, stuffed animals and figurines.  The pictures on the wall were clearly her own.  The room was very neat and obviously hadn’t been lived in for a while.  It was clean, but then it was too clean.  He got up, opened the drawers to the desk and dressers, finding nothing.  He opened the closet only to find a few fancy dresses and a few other items hanging up.  The bottom of the closet was clean and so was the top.  He thought for a moment that the search was becoming a dead end...until he went to the window.  He looked outside and saw the beautiful gardens that had been landscaped professionally.  His eyes were stuck though, on a line of pretty lavender flowers growing wildly along the fence line.  He scrambled for the picture that was in his back pocket and looked at it and the foliage outside.  He moved quickly to go downstairs and when he opened the door, he walked right into Yuri.  “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN MY ROOM?” she screamed.  He was genuinely thrown off and said, “I...I was just looking around.  It’s a beautiful house and I was taking in the scenery.  Why, is there something you don’t want me to find?” Drake asked, looking to throw her a curve ball.  “NO...there isn’t anything you would find that would make or break this case of yours.  I just think it’s rude to go through people’s things and sneak around their homes.” Yuri said.  Drake decided to toy with her a while longer.  “Your room is pretty, Yuri.  Would you like to go inside with me and recreate some high school memories?”  “GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!  JUST TAKE YOUR PREGNANT BITCH AND LEAVE MY PARENT’S HOME!” she said.   He said, “sure thing, Yuri...no problem.”  He headed straight downstairs and began looking for Simone.  He spotted her by the punch bowl talking to her cousin, Corrine.  He spoke to Corrine and asked her to excuse them and pulled Simone to a corner.  He opened the picture of the belladonna plant and said, “I think I saw this plant in the backyard...and guess whose room window I saw it from.”  Simone’s eyes lit up and she said, “Ok, let’s go.  Let’s check it out.  Carlene will want a sample of it to run through the lab.”  He kissed Simone on the cheek and they both walked swiftly to the nearest patio door.  Just before they reached the exit to the yard, a brawny man of 6’5” stopped them and said, “Hey, you (pointing at Drake) and YOU (pointing at Simone) are no longer appreciated at Ms. Yuri’s party.  I will escort you both off the premises, with two other guards.  Turn around quietly and walk towards the door.”  Simone was furious.  She said, “What the hell is this?  Giselle Beaumont-Lewis was my cousin...this is her dedication as well.  I am family, I am supposed to be here.”  “Ms. Yuri and her fiancé have expressed discomfort in having you here...you HAVE to go.  To the door please.” He said as he ushered them towards the foyer.  Drake went with the flow and instructed Simone to go with the flow as well.  When they got outside, Drake thought that the guard would close the door behind them and they could sneak behind the house and take a peek at the plant...but the guard named, Yusef, took them ALL the way out the security gate and closed it.  Since no guest cars were parked beyond the gate, there was no excuse for them to be left there.  Drake’s plan went up in smoke really fast.  He knew his only way in was to be invited or to get a warrant.   He decided to fill Simone in on all that he had found.  He also shared his and Yuri's exchange.  That pissed Simone off; because she felt that had he not baited her, Yuri may have not moved to get them both bounced out of the party. She had told him to be careful.  Now, they would have to collect evidence some other way.

Inside, Yuri had pulled Elliott into her mom’s office and filled him in on Drake’s snooping.  She was worried about what he had found.  After that she had excused herself to catch her bearings.  She knew he couldn’t have found much.  Yuri was really curious as to what Drake had found.  She wondered if his sudden exit out of her room was propelled by a finding...but what?  Yuri knew there wasn’t any paper evidence, but there was a lot at the Hart manse, that had helped her get rid of Stone and had ended Giselle’s life unintentionally.  As for Hanley...well, she had blacked out and opened her eyes to Hanley’s throat cut and tongue missing.  She snapped out of her spell to find the kitchen knife in her hand...but what she did with the body was her most clever move to date.  She knew her mother had contracted landscapers to come in and redo her garden area...so the night she killed Hanley, she drove out to this house and buried his body under the wonderful pear tree that was to be planted a few days later.  She took the body, dragging it, struggling with it all the way out here to the house.  She dug a few more feet down and dropped Hanley in the hole.  She covered it up with some of the dirt...and when the tree was planted; all evidence of Hanley's murder was buried along with it.  That was a secret she had yet to divulge to Elliott.  Where Hanley was buried wasn’t anything she wanted to talk about.  Once Yuri was sure that Simone and Drake were safely off of the house’s property, she went back up to her room.  She stood at the same window that Drake had.  She could see the belladonna from there.  She had taken the berries and made juice from them and had taken the leaves and flowers and had steeped them and combined the belladonna tea with the berries.  She had done this more than once.  She had even thought on more than one occasion to drink the concoction herself to end her miseries.   Her mother had cautioned her several times while growing up, to be very careful in her choice of “flowers” to pick from the huge garden...all pretty petals weren’t to be handled.  Knowing that Yuri and Joel were particularly curious eaters, she had told them that the berries on the plant would make them very ill.  In her rage and discovery of Stone’s disrespectful intentions toward her, she decided to make him drink the berry juice.  She had heard him more than once say how much he loved to drink, so she didn’t think he would notice the taste of anything new...he was a lush.  Yuri, though...wasn’t the type of girl to simply take instruction, so reading up on the deadly nightshade plant that dwelled in her yard was a must.  When she found out that the plant’s venom didn’t just make people ill, but also killed...she knew it was the perfect plan.  Stone deserved to die...he was a blatant example of why women hated men, and she wanted him to pay for his indiscretions.

Yuri must've been missing too long, because Elliott found her in the window with her thoughts.  “Where the hell have you been, baby?  Everyone is looking for you.  You’ve been gone for over a half hour…So Drake and Simone got escorted out?” he asked. Yuri turned around and said.  “I caught Drake in here nosing or on his way out from nosing.  He rubbed me the wrong way and I asked Yusef to oust him and his bitch...but I was only up here reminiscing.  Looking around my childhood room.” She said.  Elliott took a look at the room for the first time and said, “Nice, Yuri.  This is a nice room babe...but truth be told, it looks more like your mom’s taste.” He laughed.  “Yes...” Yuri said sitting on her bed.  “...my mother wouldn’t let me or Serene decorate our own rooms.  She got a designer to come in and “sense” who we were and decorate from that.”  Elliott then said, “I know your taste” as he sat beside her with a wanting look in his eye.  They began kissing and caressing and before they could go any further, Serene barged in.  They jumped up and fixed their clothes and Yuri said, “Still don’t know how to knock, huh Serene?”  Serene rolled her eyes and said, “Look, mom and dad are looking for you.  They want to cut the cake and serve before the actual wedding.”  She turned on her heels and the frisky couple followed laughing and acting like kids.

They cut the cake and drank more champagne and was even invited to stay overnight at the mansion to forgo driving.  The next morning, breakfast was served and Elliott and Yuri returned to their home.  Elliott planned for the day to be all about them...but what he really needed was for him and Yuri to plan what they were going to do in the case that Drake found something in the house.  Yuri was on edge about it, but she knew that HER solution to the problem wouldn’t be Elliott’s.  Elliott had never hurt anyone in his life, so she knew he wouldn’t agree with her tactics.  It was quite possible that how she handled the two cops in her life, however extreme...may be a solo act.  Elliott asked her, “What do you think will happen if they found out about the plant? You HAVE to ask these questions Yuri.  Drake may know by now.”  Yuri paced the floor and said, “I am not going to let Drake and Simone ruin our lives.  I’ve thought about it and maybe if they weren’t who they were and I hadn’t slept with Drake and knew Simone’s cousin...maybe I would be scared enough to confess...but these two people are just as twisted as I am.  They have their own agendas and I don’t want to give myself over to them.” She said in tears.  Elliott rubbed her thigh and shoulder and said, “Don’t talk like that...you aren’t giving yourself over to ANY one.  You and I can figure a way out to make the blow softer.  Until we can talk to Dr. Grimes and decide what’s best for you, we aren’t making any moves.  Do you understand me?”  She nodded her head yes...hoping that Elliott’s plan would see the light of day and she wouldn’t have to do to Drake and Simone what she had in store for them.  They settled into the day and were doing fine, when the phone rang.  Elliott was sleep so Yuri answered.  “Hello.”  “Go to your window and look down.” Drake said.  She hopped off her bed and sprinted to the window.  When she got there, Drake was standing there holding a branch of the belladonna plant.  Her mind went blank.  She wondered where he got it from...but, it didn’t matter because he knew what had killed Simone.  Yuri thought in her mind right then and there, Elliott’s way, whatever it was...would never work.

Chapter 5: It's All Fun And Games Until Someone Gets Hurt

          A week elapsed with Drake and Yuri seeing each other all of the time.  On his command, Yuri would put on lingerie and show up to his door.  She never wanted to see him at her loft because she still felt that it was a sacred place of memories for her and Elliott.  She had called Elliott a couple of times to make sure he was okay, but she knew he wouldn’t return any of her calls.  After one of her excursions with Drake, she noticed Elliott had let himself in, packed his things and left, leaving her keys on the kitchen counter.  She cried every single night since Drake had showed her the DVD.  When she asked Drake once why he didn’t use the evidence against her, he told her, “Because, my sweet...I protect the woman I love.  Besides if you offed him, he must've deserved it.  You wouldn’t just kill a man in cold blood would you?”  She never asked again.  She didn’t even try and acquire a copy of the DVD because she knew Drake was smart enough to have more than one.

Giselle’s bridal shower was up and coming and she had to be there...after all, she was a bridesmaid.  Yuri had missed several fittings for her gown, but Giselle finally caught up to her business partner, who had taken several days off most recently.  Giselle knew that Yuri was reeling over her break up with Elliott, but she also knew that Yuri Hart never opened up willingly to anyone but a select few.  Giselle knew that they had broken up, because Elliott had come by to drop off the extra set of keys to the gallery.  Giselle had ALSO heard from Simone about Yuri’s association with Drake, which worried her badly.  Giselle knew that Simone was pregnant, so she sensed that it wouldn’t be long before it was known by Drake, and then Yuri.   While Yuri was being fitted for a simple but elegant gown of the lightest possible yellow, Giselle began talking.  “Look, Yuri, I heard about your dating Drake and I just wanted to say that...” Yuri shot Giselle a hard cold look that said don’t say anything else.  “...she is my cousin, Yuri...and she and Drake were heavily involved until he started prioritizing his career above Monie.” Giselle said in a tone of humbleness.  Yuri turned a ¼ of a turn to the seamstress’ motion and said, “From what I understand, he and “Monie” aren’t a couple anymore.  So, as far as I am concerned, her time is up.  I am sorry that your cousin is probably still in love with him, but it isn’t my problem in the least.”  Giselle was unnerved by the detached way Yuri spoke.  She knew that Yuri could be eccentric sometimes, but she also knew her to be kind and compassionate.  “What is going on with you Yuri? When did you become this way.  You were so happy with Elliott, and now you are so cold.” Giselle pointed out.  Yuri said, “Elliott and I aren’t a couple anymore either, so I would appreciate it if you didn’t bring him up.”  Giselle didn’t protest...she figured that maybe Yuri would tell her sooner or later.  “Now...let’s finish up here so we can go back to the store and check on the registry...a bridesmaid’s work is never done.” Yuri said, bringing the conversation to a close.

Two days later, it was time for Giselle's bridal shower.  It was planned by Yuri, Bethany, and Giselle’s oldest sister, Corrine.  Everyone Giselle knew and loved was in attendance, including Simone who was escorted by her sisters Kassie and Milani and their mom, Renee.  The hotel room was decorated in Giselle’s colors...a very pale peach and an almost yellow cream.  Balloons, streamers, flowers and candles were strewn through the room.  It was very beautiful and Giselle was happily surprised.  The festivities were emceed by Giselle’s sister, Corrine, Yuri, Bethany and a few more of Giselle’s family members assisted.  Yuri managed to stay as far away from Simone as possible, even though she couldn’t escape her glares.  She stayed close to Bethany, who could sense Yuri’s uneasiness.  Finally, when Yuri was playing a game with the other ladies that required her to divulge a sexual secret or suggestion, Simone made a smart comment referring to Yuri as a pro hoe.  Yuri's face froze and Giselle got a bad feeling.  Corrine and Giselle both tried to intervene and laugh off the comment, but it was too late...Yuri was incited.  “Do you have something to say to me, Simone? You are welcome to state your issue.” Yuri said calmly.  “I said it already BITCH!  You are a professional whore!  You are the type of woman that would be a homewrecker!” Simone accused.  Simone couldn’t tell if it was the hormones or the fact that she knew Drake was seeing Yuri.  Either way, Simone knew she sounded irrational for the mere fact that she and Drake had been over long before Yuri came along...but there was something about Ms. Hart that made Simone want to scream.    “Come on, Monie.  What is wrong with you? Please don’t do this here...this is GiGi’s day.  Can you hold this until everyone is calmer? I am sure that this is a misunderstanding...you don’t even know Yuri.” Corrine said.  Kassie attempted to calm down Simone, but she was livid.  Kassie didn’t understand where the tirade was coming from, but Giselle did.  She just didn’t know why her cousin chose now to vent her frustrations.  “Please don’t do this here.” Giselle begged.  “You’d better tell your cousin to watch how she addresses me.” Yuri said.  “TALK TO ME BITCH, DON’T TALK AROUND ME.  I'M STANDING HERE IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE!” Simone yelled.  Kassie tried to shush her sister, but Simone yelled louder, “THIS IS THE BITCH THAT DRAKE HAS BEEN SEEING! THIS WHORE IS...” before anyone had seen it coming; Yuri had punched Simone in the jaw.  Everyone was shocked and had risen to their feet. Bethany yanked Yuri and said, “What the hell, Yuri!!” Yuri said, “THAT THIRD ‘BITCH’ WAS A DEAL BREAKER AND THAT ‘WHORE’ GOT HER DECKED!”  Family got up to support Simone, but by that time, Giselle and Bethany had already dragged Yuri to the other room.  “Yuri, what the hell has gotten into you? You hit a pregnant woman!” Giselle said.  Yuri’s face ran emotionless and Giselle forgot that she didn’t know.  She knew Simone had yet to tell Drake, so obviously, Yuri wouldn’t know either.  “She is pregnant?  Does Drake know this?” Yuri asked.  “No, Simone hasn’t told him yet.  And you shouldn’t either until Simone is ready.” Giselle answered.  Yuri's mind began clicking.  A plan was hatched in Yuri’s mind immediately.  Simone had become useful to her, but she hadn’t figured a way to make sure that Drake knew of Simone’s pregnancy before bartering her freedom with the life of his child.  Before she could think that through any further, people were banging on the door.  Giselle wasn’t sure whether she should open up...she didn’t want an all out fiasco.  “OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR GIGI!  TELL THAT BITCH TO COME OUT HERE!” someone screamed from the other side of the door.  Yuri, said, “COME ON THROUGH BITCHES...WHOEVER WANTS IT CAN GET IT!”  “Simone is on the couch holding her face.  Simone is going to press charges.” Giselle heard someone say.  She thought it sounded like her cousin Tracy.  Tracy was rough and didn’t play when it came to fighting so it was no surprise that she was leading the wild pack of family that was there to defend, poor Simone.  Giselle yelled back through the door, “LOOK, NO ONE IS FIGHTING ANYONE...AND IF YOU ALL LOVE ME YOU WILL GO AWAY AND LET ME HANDLE THE SITUATION! THIS IS MY FRIEND AND THIS IS MY SHOWER AND ITS ALREADY RUINED...SO, PLEASE DON’T GET CRAZY!”  Giselle heard the ladies cussing and leaving the door.  She sat down and began to cry.  “I cannot believe this shit, Yuri.  This isn’t like you.  Why are you with Drake anyway?  I thought you were in love with Elliott?” Giselle asked.  “I don’t have time to go into it...” Yuri started.  She looked around the room for her bag and remembered that it was hanging on the closet door in the main room.  “...can you go get my purse off the closet doorknob?” she asked Bethany.  By now Bethany was in complete shock having witnessed her boss’ rage and violent side.  She jumped up quick and complied, like she was still at the office.  When Bethany came back with Yuri’s bag, Yuri said, “I am going to leave now.  All I know is that NO one better put their hands on me...and if Simone wants to press charges, then she is free to do what pleases her.  Just remember, that I am dating Drake.”  Yuri walked over to the bedroom door and opened it.  No one was there.  Yuri, Bethany and Giselle walked to the front door.  Yuri passed all the ladies who seemed to be in a low whisper on the way out, she stopped and took one good look at Simone, opened the door and left.  When Yuri left, the bevy of women in Giselle’s living room began clucking in a frenzy discussing what had transpired.

          After everyone had finished discussing the situation ad nauseum, Simone, Kassie and Giselle’s sister, Corrine cleaned up for the bride-to-be.  Giselle was tuckered out and had gone to sleep a couple of hours before.  Simone was sitting on the couch about to fall asleep when she decided to call Drake.  She figured now was as good a time as any to confess her pregnancy.  Besides, she couldn’t be sure what GiGi had told her “friend” and didn’t want for him to find out in anything other than a respectful manner.  She pulled out her cell and pressed speed dial number 3.  Drake picked up on the first ring, which threw Simone off.  “Hey, Monie...what’s up? How’s everything going?” Drake asked.  “I need to talk to you right away...it’s an emergency.  I should’ve told you this a while ago, but now it is imperative that you meet me at my apartment in an hour.” Simone said.  Drake was put off by her sudden urgency to speak to him since she had recently been so stand-offish in his presence.  He agreed and in under the allotted hour sparing a good 10-15 minutes he arrived at her place.  He beat her there, so he decided to get the spare key and let himself in.  When Drake entered the apartment, he sensed something strange and went into detective mode.  He pulled his gun out and carefully went into each and every room to make sure there were no intruders.  He noticed the terrace door was unlocked, but then Simone never locked it...her logic was that she lived on the 3rd floor AND she had a 9mm gun to make sure they never got further than the door.  He dismissed the thought of an intruder and put his gun back in its holster.  He smelled something in the air reminding him that Simone loved scents and oils...he missed her in that moment.  Just as he took a seat on her bed’s suede duvet, he heard Simone enter the apartment.  The lights came on in the order to which part of the house she walked through.  When she got into the bedroom, she smiled and said, “You still know your way around, huh Drake?”  She walked over to the chair near her nightstand and took off her jacket, put down her purse and placed her gun down gently.  The sight of this beautiful woman handling a gun with grace and authority always turned Drake on, but he had to remember that he was falling in love with Yuri and wanted to remember that, no matter what he and Simone once had.  “How have you been, Monie?” Drake asked.  “Fine, just doing what I do best.  How are things with you?”  “They’re good, Simone.  I know you are still a little pissed at seeing me with Yuri.” He added.  Simone sighed, “Please let’s not start this off on the wrong foot...I called you here to talk serious about you and me.”  Drake had sensed this coming but couldn’t prepare fully for what he was about to hear.  “I’m pregnant, Drake.  It’s yours and I am 4 ½ months along.” She blurted.  Drake’s jaw fell and he was immobilized for a moment.  Simone noticed his shocked expression and said, “Don’t worry, Drake...I’m not asking you for anything.  You can be a father to this child without worrying that I want more from you.  You are free and clear of ME...but, I expect you to be in his or her life.”  Drake clearly hadn’t bounced back from the news and was now leaning on his knee looking at Simone’s frame.  She was slim and always wore clothes a size too big to hide her shape.  She hated the attention she used to get when she first joined the force and had made a habit of not wearing form fitting clothes.  She removed her shirt to reveal a tank top underneath.  That’s when he saw that she had a small bulge that looked very much like a pregnant woman’s belly.  He stood up and walked to her, immediately placing his hand on her stomach.  She allowed him this close moment to bond.  When she looked up at him, she saw a glimpse of the old Drake.  Drake on the other hand, saw for the first time that she was wearing a slight black eye. “What happened to your eye, Monie?” he asked. Simone shook it off and shrugged it off as an arrest gone badly. Drake admonished her for not being more careful in her condition.  Simone wasn’t comfortable with this much attention from Drake.  She backed away walking over to her dresser and pulled out a pair of pajama bottoms.  She excused herself for a moment and went to the bathroom and changed.  While in the bathroom she stood over the sink, stared at her image and forced back tears.  She gathered her curly hair into a ponytail and clipped it safely into a barrette and went back to the bedroom.  Drake stood up and met her with an embrace.  He told her that he would be there for her.  He would always have her back.  In his eyes they would always be partners like in the first days as rookies.  He made sure to stay long enough to give her the assured feeling he knew she needed.  They said goodnight and Drake went on his way.

          On the ride home, Drake thought of the baby that he and Simone had created.  He remembered loving her and wanting the best for them both...but it wasn’t in the cards.  The powers that were, weren’t about to allow him to throw mud on the Franklin name.  Simone would never know if he could help it.  He knew she would blow her whole career to prove to her father and his friends that they couldn’t throw their weight around and run her life.  Now, he had to figure out how he was going to deal with this news.  There was no way Simone would hide the parentage of this child, and those privy to their relationship would know anyway.  So, basically the trouble he had worked so hard to avoid was still about to surface.  He decided that he would have to sit down with Simone another time and map out a plan of action...then it hit him.  YURI...she was his woman now...at least that’s how he saw it.  He knew that considering that she wasn’t quite the willing participant, that she might be tempted to use Simone’s pregnancy as leverage.  He didn’t think she was above it...he knew she either had killed Hanley or had something to do with it.  Anyone who was trying to survive and keep their freedom would do anything to preserve themselves when pushed.  This is something he had to keep under wraps...or was it possible she already knew.  Sure, Giselle was Simone’s cousin, but she was also Yuri’s trusted business partner and friend of several years.  He would find out and then apply what he knew to a plan to be devised later.

          Meanwhile Yuri was home sitting up in bed going over some portfolios for new art exhibits.   She wasn’t really into them though...she was in a trance.  She was thinking about the day’s events.  She now knew that Simone was carrying Drake’s child and though she wasn’t an evil individual, was prepared to concoct a way to hurt Drake through his child.  Simone was a problem.  Not just an “ex-girlfriend-type” problem, but an “ex-girlfriend-who-is-pregnant-and-is-a-cop-type” problem.  She needed to be handled quickly...but she had that covered.  Simone was too easy as far as she was concerned.  Her weakness was that she believed her job made her impenetrable.  She was too cocky about her license to bear arms...so it made her vulnerable because anyone who knew her knew she didn’t live in fear.  This would make the getting so much sweeter when Simone was on the receiving end of Yuri’s brand of revenge



          The next week was Giselle’s wedding.  The bridal party of 8 all met at the Downtown Hyatt Hotel, where two suites were rented for the preparation of the ceremony being held at the Church of Saints, a block down.   Giselle was in her room with her bridesmaids, Yuri, Simone, Corrine and Kassie.  The bride’s traditions were fulfilled once the ladies were dressed.  Corrine gave Giselle an old bracelet to wear that was given to them to share by their paternal grandmother.  Simone bought her a new pair of drop diamond earrings to match the stones on her tiara and engagement ring.  Kassie lent her cousin a diamond cuff bracelet she got for her 21st birthday, and Yuri completed the tradition with a blue panty set to be worn underneath Giselle’s sprawling gown.  The girls were pretty tame and got along well.  There were other family members gathered around which helped to diffuse any tensions.  Giselle hoped it was the presence of her mother, aunts and grandmother that helped Yuri and Simone remain civil.  Simone however, was always watching the very quiet Yuri...waiting for her to show a sign of fear or nervousness.  Yuri was way too cool for Simone.  Yuri never once wavered in her stoic exterior.  Her ability to interact harmoniously with all around her only served to take the seasoned officer in the room off balance.   Simone wanted to ruffle Yuri’s feathers but knew it could potentially make Giselle’s day go downhill.   Yuri on the other hand was holding in a personal worry of her own.  She hadn’t brought up the pregnancy to Drake, and he hadn’t mentioned it either.  She was wondering when she should dangle her leverage over Drake’s head.  She looked at Simone once or twice in the process of readying Giselle, and sensed a sign of slight discomfort in her.  A lot more than Simone had sensed in her.  Once they had looked one another over, gotten the bride ready, and had cackled amongst the other hens in the room, there was nothing left to do but to get the show on the road.
       
           The wedding was magnificent.  It wasn’t particularly expensive, but it was done so tastefully and with such creativity and imagination, one would have figured the wedding was extravagantly put on.  Giselle had saved for years for her wedding, even before she’d met her husband-to-be.  She had planned it down to a tee...everything she wanted she knew how to get without breaking the bank.  She saved her most expensive purchases for her gown, the catering, the flowers and the wedding cake.  All other details were studied and gathered from years of clipping ideas out of magazines and wedding books.  Her bouquet was made of the most beautiful stargazer lilies.  They were a wonderful shade of peach and yellow...her theme colors.  Yuri and Corrine wore floor length dresses in a pale shade of yellow, while Simone and Kassie wore peach.  The girls wore their hair in the style of their choosing, but were given the same hair accessory...a crystal clip in the shape of an elongated heart.  Yuri’s hair was deep waved, parted on the side, with one side swept and kept with the crystal clip.  When Giselle made her way down the aisle, Yuri shed tears of joy and pride, watching her close friend live out her dream.  The wedding went off without one snafu.  The reception was off the hook.  Everyone enjoyed themselves, drinking and dancing...laughing and mingling.   Giselle was the epitome of a glowing bride.  She reflected pure happiness.  The bouquet was tossed and caught by none other than Simone.  The garter belt was caught by Giselle’s brother-in-law...who tried to marry Simone on the dance floor...thanks to too many martinis.  Yuri danced with the groomsman who walked her down the aisle until he had to be ushered off the floor with a huge hole in his pants...his split backfired.   When Simone’s father noticed the striking woman on the dance floor, he asked his niece, Corrine who she was.  “Oh, that’s Yuri Hart, Uncle Greg...GiGi's partner at the gallery.”  He looked at her cold and nodded okay as Corrine danced off towards her friend.  Gregory Franklin had laid eyes on Yuri Hart for the first time in 12 years.  The young woman who was the main suspect in the only case he’d never solved.  His wife noticed the scowl on his face and led him onto the dance floor for the obligatory electric slide moment of the night.  Nonetheless, the commissioner barely took his eyes off of her.  Giselle shimmied in her wedding dress smiling happily beside her handsome husband, Chas Lewis.   The party continued until 3am.
Everyone went home making it safely to their respective destinations.  Simone stayed behind however in the suite seeing as it was there to be used until 11am that morning.  There she slept off the day’s exhaustion.  She got up around 5 to retrieve one of the canned iced teas she’d brought from home and placed in the hotel fridge.  She opted to drink water instead.  She went back to sleep and woke again around 9:40am.  She yawned and stretched to limber up her bones.  Pregnancy had created joint pains...she’d awakened to them every morning since becoming pregnant.  She slipped on her flip flops and began walking toward the bathroom, when she caught something in her peripheral vision.  She looked down to find Giselle on the floor near the table.  She immediately knelt beside Giselle’s limp body and felt her pulse...there was none.  Giselle was still warm, so she couldn’t have been there long.  Simone began repeating over again, “Come on, GiGi...open your eyes.”  Giselle was gone.  She never heard a thing.  Not Simone calling for help, or the EMT calling her name...nor did she hear her new husband, Chas’ voice asking her to come back.  No one could figure out why or how Giselle died.  There wasn’t anything suspicious about the surroundings.  Simone had never even heard Giselle enter the room.  Giselle had returned to straighten up a little and pack the rest of her make-up for her honeymoon.  She had packed her stuff and was about to leave.  Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.  The only thing that was clear was that Giselle had died the day after her dream wedding.  Before she could even consummate her marriage and head off to a paradise of her choice, she’d lost her life.

Yuri got a phone call at around 11am that day from Corrine.  Corrine was sobbing so loudly and incoherently that Yuri barely made out the words, “GiGi is dead...she just dropped dead right there in the hotel room.”  Yuri’s hand loosened its grip on the phone and she nearly fell off the edge of the bed.  When Corrine told her what happened, Yuri was confused.  She couldn’t understand the details just given to her.  It seemed surreal to be sitting there in that time and in that space being told her closest and dearest friend was now dead.  Yuri jumped up and went to the hotel.  She was met with questions as to who she was, but was was given passage and escorted into a banquet room by Giselle’s cousin, Eric.  Once there, she asked Corrine what happened...and Corrine was clueless.  The entire time they were in the banquet room, Yuri walked around listening to what people were saying in regards to the tragedy.  She was looking for answers from anyone.  Then she heard something interesting.  She heard Giselle's friend mention that all she did was go to pack her make-up.  Giselle’s friend had also mentioned that the detective on the case had questioned Simone and that she had surmised that Giselle had straightened up and packed, drank one of Simone’s teas and was probably going to leave.  When the detective on the case asked how Simone knew if she’d drank a tea, Simone answered because she hadn’t opened one yet, and one was sitting on the table nearly gone.  All the people on Giselle’s case knew Simone and knew this was her family, so they asked her very little.  It was also the moment in which a lot of her colleagues found out Simone was pregnant.  The whispers grew into loud booms of disclosure once Drake came on the scene.  He spotted Simone and went to her, hugging her as she collapsed in his arms.  The detectives and forensic scientists continued gathering up all the evidence they could and then finally leaving the family and friends to process the loss of a cherished bride.

“Are you okay? Have you eaten anything?” Drake asked Simone.  She was crying in a low moan and barely answered, “Yes...Kassie fed me.”  Drake looked around finally spotting Yuri for the first time since stepping in the room about a half hour before.  Though Yuri’s back was to him and she was talking to Corrine and an aunt, she had noticed Drake’s entrance and had decided to downplay their connection.  Drake must've come to the same conclusion and decided not to leave Simone’s side and speak with Yuri later.  “I am going to find out why GiGi died, Monie.  I promise you that okay?” Drake said.  Simone just shook her head and began drifting off.  He woke her only to ask if she wanted to go home...she said no.  She wanted to go home with Kassie...so Drake arranged an officer to take them to Kassie’s apartment.  Everyone began to disperse. Corrine took her mother and aunts home and Yuri began walking towards the door as one of the last to leave.  As Yuri got to the threshold, she felt her arm pulled softly.  She wanted to make it out of the room without having to speak to Drake.  She didn’t appreciate the way he had forced her into this “relationship” so she was as busy and elusive as she could be.  “Yuri, can I talk to you now that everyone is gone?” Drake asked.  Yuri turned and allowed him to lead her to a chair.  “Please make this quick...I promised Corrine I would go to the house with the family.”  “This will not take long.  I just wanted to know if you were here when GiGi died.  Where were you?” Yuri’s facial expression said it all.  She was shocked he would ask her such a thing.  “I was home sleeping off a hangover, damnit.  What kind of question is that?” Yuri asked with genuine tears in her eyes.  “Come on, I’m a detective, baby.  You know I have to ask these things.  Besides, I only asked if you were here.  I thought maybe she may have said something to you or given you a clue as to what happened to her.”  “Oh, please...that’s bullshit and you know it!  You're only asking me this shit because of the Hanley tape. This whole situation you and I are in is insane.” She shouted.  “Keep your voice down, Yuri.  My colleagues are right outside.  Look we will talk about his later.  When I leave the office I will call you and you can come over to my place.” Drake said caressing her shoulder.   She just agreed by nodding, so she wouldn’t have to go back and forth, but Yuri planned on being hard to pin down.  

Yuri got home and took off the clothes she’d been in all day, to get into a shower and make it back over to Giselle’s family.  She’d taken off her jeans and shirt, and was just sitting on the edge of the bed when it hit her.  She killed her best friend...the one person besides Breeya that had not abandoned her.  She knew that sooner or later they would determine the cause of death and realize it was homicide.  Yuri had no idea that those iced teas would end up in the hotel room.  When she’d snuck in Simone’s apartment the night of the shower, she had hoped that Simone would be the one to die.  All she could hope for now is that, if indeed they traced the cause of death to something in the tea, that they would suspect Simone for one reason or another.  She knew in her heart that no one would believe there was a single motive for Simone to want her cousin dead. Her biggest problem was, Drake.  Drake wouldn’t ever suspect Simone for murdering her own cousin...and once it was determined that the poisoned tea came from Simone’s personal stash, the next question would be who wanted to kill HER?  Everyone had seen Yuri attack Simone at the shower, and Drake would catch on pretty quickly.  He would sooner or later come to the conclusion that Yuri may have been involved.  The thought of all those possible scenarios became a burden too heavy for Yuri to carry and she broke down crying.  She fell back onto the bed and curled up with the shirt in her arms and just bawled loudly.  She felt so low and so evil.  She cried out that she wanted to die.  She was tired of hurting people and justifying it by saying they’d hurt her first.  Giselle, though...had never hurt anyone...especially her.  This was insane.  Yuri jumped up, ran to the kitchen and took out the chef’s knife.  She was about to slice her arm, when she heard the doorbell.  She thought, saved by the bell if ever.  She was hysterically crying and still decided to open the door.  She was disoriented and forgot that she was only wearing panties and a bra.  She flung the door open and almost fainted.  “Yuri, are you okay?” Elliott said.  He saw her lose balance and swooped in to catch her.  He laid her down on the sofa and asked again, “Yuri, are you okay?  I heard about GiGi and I rushed right over, it’s all over the news.”  She just looked at him and passed out.  
      
Yuri awoke to the smell of food cooking and the television on in her room tuned into a business channel.  She saw Elliott’s laptop where it used to be, on the ottoman.  It was wonderfully familiar. She looked at the time and it had been 3 hours since she’d been home.  She wondered how Giselle’s family would feel that she hadn’t made it.  She picked up the phone and started dialing.  “If you're calling Giselle’s family, Corrine already called.  I told her that you were sick and would be over this evening.  Would you like for me to go?”  She dropped the phone and started crying in her hands.  What did she do in life to deserve a man like Elliott?  He came in and took her into his arms.  He knew she was fragile right then, and he wanted to make it all go away.   He thought of how she had hurt him, but it didn’t matter.  What he had learned about Yuri in a short period of time was that she trusted few...she had a heart, but she kept it well guarded.  He watched how the members of her family treated her, and knew she wasn’t used to people genuinely caring for her feelings.  So, when he saw the news about the sudden death of a day old bride named, Giselle Beaumont-Lewis, he knew he had to rush to the side of the woman he called his caramel queen.  “Why, tell me that, Elliott...why are you here taking care of me?  After the way...” Yuri cried...but Elliott covered her mouth with his finger and said, “No...Don’t say it.  Yes, you hurt me Yuri, but I still care what happens to you.  I knew you would be handling this alone.   Has ANYONE even thought to call you or come over to console you?  Your mom and dad are people about the community.  I know at least ONE of them has heard about GiGi’s death.”  Yuri was honest.  She told Elliott of how, yes...her father had called and offered to come over, but she told him as she had told Breeya and Bethany, that she was going to be with the family.  Elliott calmed at the thought that some of her loved ones had reached out to her.  To answer her question, he told her how he felt.  “You are someone special to me still, Yuri.  I have tried to put behind me the feelings I have for you, but they won’t be deferred.  I have gone out on a date to think of someone other than you, and I ended up telling her in the middle of dinner that I was making a mistake.  I tried to take that engagement ring back to the store, but again...I couldn’t.  You are my soul mate.  And though we hit a road bump, I am not sure I want to walk away.  I have deduced that there is something going on with you.  I am here Yuri.  I want to help.  I want to support you.  I would die for you.  I would KILL for you.  Please don’t push me away. Let me love you.”  The look on Elliott’s face was of pure plea.  He wanted her to open herself up and he wanted to protect her and make life better but she was making things hard.  He wanted his queen to know she had him.  No matter what the tragedy, he was hers...and he wanted her to be his as well.  Yuri saw the look on his face.  She closed her eyes to consider telling him the truth.  She opened her eyes and she jumped back away from Elliott.  “YURI...what’s wrong baby?” he turned around and back to her and said it again.  She didn’t respond, so he shook her.  “YURI.  Please, baby snap out of it!”  She was staring at Hanley, Jon, Stone, and Giselle.  They were standing in back of Elliott just staring at her.  Hanley was dripping blood from his neck.  Jon was dripping water.  Stone was drooling an acidic substance, and Giselle was crying.  They were standing there in judgment of her.  They wanted her to come clean...so she did.  “They won’t go away...I killed them so they haunt me.  I have done bad things Ell.  I’ve hurt people irreparably...I have taken people’s lives in the name of being hurt.  I can’t do it anymore.”  He was confused, but Elliott let her continue to talk.  She told him everything.  From Jon to Giselle, she told a horrific story of betrayal, broken psyche and spilt blood.  She was confessing at breakneck speed but Elliott was hanging on to every word.  He was shocked and even appalled at some of her actions...but what he saw through that was the broken woman she was.  Years of Yuri not seeing things in the proper perspective had led to this.  Moments of malicious thought justified as self-preservation.  All she had been through, and all she was responsible for, was more than Elliott could’ve made up in his own mind.  This was a movie from one of those women’ channels that had the absurdly cheesy titles.   He listened intently though, making sure she knew he was attuned.  He held her hands and rubbed her arms to show concern and love.  Yuri noticed, that the more she confessed, someone went away.  She told of the boy she chained to a pier’s stilt, and he vanished.  She confessed the murder of a banker ready to invest his love and he left too.  When she told the tale of the club owner who had stolen her heart and was planning to steal her money, he too went away.  The last one wouldn’t leave though.  Giselle stood there continuing to cry and shake her head...not in shame, but disbelief.  She wanted to know why and how this had happened to her.  “I knew Simone would be trouble when I found out that she and Drake were an item...but when I discovered she was pregnant I knew she would always look at me sideways.” Yuri stated.  Elliott was floored, but he still loved her.  “Baby, how could you attempt to murder a woman who is carrying an unborn child?” Elliott asked.  She cried hard and shook her head no fast and said, “I don’t know.  All I know is that these two people could mean the end of my life.  Drake has evidence that places me at the scene of the crime and Simone is suspicious of me as well.  Maybe it is more relative to the fact that I was seeing Drake, but she has it out for me.”  “Maybe, we could go to a psychiatrist and tell them what has happened.  We could then consider going to the authorities.” Elliott suggested.  Unlike when Breeya would suggest it, Yuri was ready to consider anything.  She was at her rope’s end and needed to be pulled in by someone badly.  “What about Drake?” Yuri asked.  He had the copy of Hanley’s home security DVD and she knew he would use it if he even sensed resistance.  “Well considering that he is an officer of the law, who has suppressed evidence in order to take sexual advantage of a suspect...he would most likely lose his badge.  Jail time could even be in the cards for him.   Maybe we could figure out how to use to our advantage that he is or was sexually involved with the commissioner’s daughter.”   Yuri loved the way he was thinking.  Just then her cell phone rang.  She reached over and got it from the nightstand.  The caller ID read, Drake.  She showed it to Elliott and he nodded for her to answer.  “Hello.” Yuri said wearily.  “Where the fuck are you?  You were supposed to meet me at my place.  What did I tell you before?  Do I have to remind you how much I love you?  That I am sacrificing myself to protect you?  You can’t even fulfill a simple request?” Drake was ranting.  She let Elliott hear him...that’s when Elliott took the phone.  “This is Elliott, Drake...Yuri’s fiancé.  I would appreciate if you would not call her anymore.”  “FIANCE?  Are you fuckin’ kidding me?  Yuri is MY fuckin’ woman...a DVD with her murderous ass on it says so.  So your punk ass can give her back the phone, unless you want to see her cuffed and led out for murdering Hanley Mills.” Drake threatened.  “Well, seeing as you have been withholding evidence, I doubt it’s that simple.” Elliott pointed out.  Drake was thrown off by Elliott's cavalier attitude to what he had just said.  He wondered if Yuri had told her “fiancé” what she’d done.  He considered that maybe Elliott was an accessory after the fact.  He couldn’t let these two take him down.  He had fought too hard and lost too much to step into his detective career.  He wanted to go further, but he considered what Elliott was saying and decided to play it cool.  “Let me speak to Yuri.” He asked aggressively.  Elliott played along and handed Yuri the phone.  “Yes.”  “You need to be here tomorrow at 9pm sharp or I will kill him.  I will kill him and make it look justified.  Be here Yuri, or you won’t like the result.” Drake said...and then hung up.  She closed the phone and smiled at Elliott but he could already read the fear on her face.  “What did he say to you?  Tell me.  We didn’t come this far to let some words come between us.”  Yuri looked at him and a tear fell out of her eye.  “He said he would kill you.”  “Don’t worry...what else did he say to you?” Elliott queried.  She told him that she was due to be at his place tomorrow at the time given.  She was ashamed at how things had turned out.  She couldn’t even look Elliott in the face.  He pulled her chin up to his eye level and said, “Don’t worry, Caramel...you AND I will go over there at 9 tomorrow...we are going to get this bitch ass cop.  As for tonight we have some making up to do.”  The sly look on his face told the tale of what he wanted to do.  They hugged, and over his shoulder she still saw Giselle in the corner of the room crying and shaking her head.  She wasn’t satisfied with the confession to Elliott.  Giselle needed more to move on.  Yuri hoped it wasn’t more than she was willing to give.

Drake’s phone rang almost immediately after hanging up with Yuri.  His head was twisted.  He couldn’t wrap his mind around her being back with her ex.  He was sure that was over.  He had to figure out how to get rid of him...he had become obsessed with possessing Yuri.  Her coldness was a turn on, because he knew there was more to her.  He could feel her soul; at least HE thought he could.  “Hello...Detective Price. This is Carlene, come down to the lab.  This woman was murdered.” The coroner said.  He hung up and left quickly.  He sped down to the precinct’s lab, wondering what Carlene had discovered.  He got to the lab and walked over to a focused Carlene.  Carlene was one of Drake’s secret crushes.  She was small in stature, 5’1”, brown skin the color of creamed coffee, with light brown hair and blond highlights on a short wispy layered cut that fell below her ears.  Carlene didn’t even know he existed.  Not because Drake wasn’t attractive, but because she was quite aware that he and Simone had something.  She could tell when she saw them together.  “Hey, Drake.  I went over only a few of the things in that room.  Just some small items that were found near her body, but this iced tea can was the third thing I picked up and the FIRST thing to get my undivided attention.  Here, look through this.” She instructed, handing him a magnifying glass.  He looked at the top of the can.  “Do you see something odd about the top of that can?” she asked.  “There’s a puncture, right under the pop tab...small but it’s there.”  “Yep, someone injected something into this can, and the bride drank from this.  Give me some more time, and I will tell you what I find...but I bet you whatever foreign substance that was in this tea, is in Mrs. Lewis’ system.”  Drake nodded his head in agreement.  “Okay, get on it right away.  I have some leads to follow, and I am going to need some concrete proof to what it is I already suspect.”  Carlene saluted mockingly and said, “Trust me, I WILL find something.  Get back to me by 3am.  I gotta go over the contents of her stomach and this can.”  Drake said bye and Carlene got to work. This was the time for him to check in on Simone.   He hadn’t seen her since they were at the hotel, so he wanted to make sure she was okay.  Especially now that she was carrying his child he had to make sure that she was being taken care of.  He didn’t fully get how she ended up pregnant considering they’d always worn protection...but he figured nothing but abstinence was 100% foolproof.  He dialed her number and Kassie picked up the phone.  “Hey, Drake...she is lying down.  Do you want to leave a message?” Kassie asked.  “No it’s okay, I just wanted to know if she was okay.  So, she’s still at your house?” he asked.  “Yea, she didn’t want to be alone and neither did I.  She may have found her, but GiGi was my cousin too, you know?”  “No, of course.  I am really sorry about your loss.  Tell Monie when she wakes up that I called to check on her.” Drake stated.  Kassie promised to tell her and the call ended.   All the way to another scene, Drake ran everything through his mind.  He was trying to get the missing piece to the puzzle.  He knew it lied with Yuri, but what exactly that was, was eluding him.

A few days later, there was a gathering at the Beaumont home immediately following Giselle’s funeral.  All of her friends and family were gathered to support one another through such a tragic loss.  A huge blown up version of Chas and Giselle on their wedding day was framed nicely and placed on a display easel.  Surrounding the picture were candles and flowers and memories captured in candid shots of Giselle the “artsy one” of the family.  There were pictures of her as a baby, Giselle in her tomboy stage, and the last years of her happiness with Chas and their dog.  Nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles, and friends were all in attendance.  Yuri had been there all day helping to prepare food and making sure that the dishes were displayed nicely.  She knew that a lot of the dishes were contributed by those in the next room. People liked to see that others were enjoying their recipes so she made every dish look appetizing even if it wasn’t.  She herself had made a roast beef with potatoes, carrots and onions; a huge pan of baked ziti and apple bread pudding.  She was still walking around her house seeing Giselle follow her from room to room, so keeping busy was a necessity not an option.   She had made a roast duck and parmesan potatoes, but Elliott made sure that stayed behind.  She made sure that all the older people and the children had eaten and was now just cleaning up.  Yuri had brought along Elliott for support...but she knew that as soon as Drake laid eyes on the two of them, he would fly into destruct mode.  She knew he would be especially put off because she showed up the other day at 9 with Elliott in tow.  They argued a little but to avoid a scene he just asked them to leave.  She hadn’t spotted him yet, but fully expected to see him soon.  While serving a few family members slices of cake, Yuri spotted Drake come through the door, with Simone on his arm.  Yuri got heated just looking at her.  It wasn’t jealousy, but a disdain for the cop bitch that had it out for her for no other reason than a feeling and a man.  Simone came through the door looking every bit the part of a distraught pregnant woman.  She was clearly milking Drake’s attention.  Drake escorted her to the arms of a family member and began greeting those along the way.  Drake spotted Yuri across the room and made a beeline towards her.  She hadn’t kept their appointment properly and he was heated about it.  He got 2 feet in front of her, when Elliott slid behind her and hugged her.  Drake stopped in his tracks and felt his brain sizzle from jealousy.  He also felt like they were throwing their renewed relationship in his face and he didn’t like it one bit.  He still hadn’t bounced back from the other day.  He wanted to hurt Elliott real badly for showing up with Yuri.  He had been thinking of making love to Yuri for days and wasn’t pleased with the little surprise.  Drake knew she reveled in her moment of rebellion.  He wasn’t finished with Yuri yet, so he walked up to her.   “Can I speak with you for a moment, Yuri?  I promise not to hold her up, man.” Drake stated, addressing Elliott.  “No problem, man...that is IF she wants to talk to you.” Elliott retorted.  Yuri felt that this wasn’t the appropriate place to talk shop, so she declined Drake’s request for a one on one.  “No, Drake.  This is the day my friend has been laid to rest and I would rather not discuss whatever it is you want to talk about.” She said firmly.  Drake smirked and nodded his head in a shameful way.  “You WILL discuss whatever I like, and if ya boyfriend wants to listen in he can.  What the coroner told me about GiGi’s death, you will want to hear.” Drake said.  Yuri looked at Drake with a killer stare and Elliott looked at Yuri worried.  Drake watched both their expressions and said, “Yeah, I thought so...just meet me in the yard in 15 minutes.” Then Drake walked off.  Elliott pulled Yuri into the bathroom and said, “Don’t worry Yuri, whatever evidence he has he won’t use...if he was using this evidence he wouldn’t tell you, he would issue a warrant for your arrest.”  Yuri looked like she was zoning out.  Yuri looked at Elliott and said, “I don’t know what to think.  This cop is deranged out of his mind...I can’t even believe he made it into the force.  He is hell bent on owning me for some reason.”  “Well it IS good baby...in his defense.” Elliott laughed, vouching for Yuri’s sex.  He was trying to lighten the moment.  Yuri slapped him on the shoulder and hugged him.  She had never been this comfortable with anyone.  She had never felt this safe.  Here was a man who knew her deeds and still loved her.  She didn’t even wonder if something was wrong with him.  She knew it was just because he loved her that much.  After they hugged, they opened the door to find Simone standing there waiting.  She didn’t know they were inside, but the look on her face read volumes.  Elliott just said, “Come on baby.”  Simone’s mind snapped. “BABY? WHOA...are you telling me you are screwing TWO men over?  Well, then that makes you the whore I named you earlier...doesn’t it?” she said.  Elliott tried to pull Yuri away.  Yuri knew she was mourning, but then so was she...in a way NO one knew but Ell.  She couldn’t believe this bitch was so wrapped in her own feelings, that she couldn’t gage the right moment to speak on a thing.  First it was Giselle’s shower and now her funeral gathering.  “Look, Simone.  Not here.  Not now.  You hate me? Well take me on another time...but this is GiGi’s day.” Yuri turned around and walked off and Simone went into the bathroom crying.

No one was outside but Drake.  It was such a beautiful day, but everyone was inside consoling one another.  Drake was smoking a cigar with his hand in his pocket, staring at the beautiful garden that Giselle’s mother had planted years before and was now abloom with seemingly every color of the prism.  He heard the patio door open and turned to see Yuri and Elliott step down onto the patio.  He watched them walk toward him and it seemed like Elliott faded away and all he could see was Yuri.  She was wearing a black form fitting skirt that stopped at her knees and a tan sleeveless sweater.  She had a jacket, but it was inside.  He thought to himself that she looked so radiant with her hair pulled back in a loose bun with stray ringlets around her face.  He loved her so much and he was determined to sway her from the clown ass brother that seemed to be on HIS time.  He had never fallen so fast for any woman before, not even Simone...and he wanted her more than air.  “Now that I have your attention, let’s get something straight.  I can act like this shit isn’t an issue and dismiss any investigation in Yuri’s direction, or I can make it real fucked up for her.  I can get past all the charges that you have thought up, to make this look like a legit investigation...so you can stop thinking that you’ve got me by the balls.” Drake said.  Elliott hugged Yuri tighter and said, “What exactly is the evidence you say you have?  Or is it just more rambling?”  Drake’s face tensed up and he felt like taking out his 9 and shooting a hole between Elliott’s eyebrows.  “The evidence is that your girl here injected a poisonous substance into several cans of iced tea belonging to Simone Franklin, a pregnant cop.” Elliott kept a straight face and began rubbing Yuri’s back.  Yuri said, “I don’t know what you're talking about.  How would I get access to anything belonging to Simone?  I don’t even know where she lives.”  “You know where she lives AND you were there...the night of GiGi’s shower as a matter of fact.  It was YOUR perfume I smelled in Simone’s apartment that night.  I didn’t realize it until I smelled it on you again a few nights later when I was fucking you...” Drake said to get a rise out of Elliott to no avail.  “...I just thought maybe you took a little look-see in Simone’s place to see what you could dig up on her.  Then when GiGi died and the coroner found the poison in the can, the puncture under the tab, and small trace amounts of the substance in GiGi’s system...I realized you did more than just look around.  I am just trying to figure out how in the hell you got up 3 stories to gain access through her terrace.” He said, while puffing on his cigar.  Yuri didn’t flinch.  She knew he had her dead to rights, but she wasn’t about to cop to a damn thing, especially the fact that she worked out climbing rocks.  She was smart enough to know, that all this was his theory.  If the police had more to connect her to the crime, they would send more than just DRAKE.  “Like I said, I don’t know what you're talking about.  I don’t like the little bitch, but I wouldn’t and couldn’t have poisoned a pregnant person.”  “How did you know Simone was pregnant?” Drake asked.  “GiGi was my friend, Drake.  When she found out we were seeing each other briefly, she got worried.  GiGi was especially worried the night of the shower, when Simone and I had an altercation.  She scolded me for hitting a pregnant person.  Now, would I go and poison her AFTER finding out she was pregnant?” Yuri asked confidently.  Drake pondered the question for a minute and then answered, “Yes, you would.  If you thought she was a threat to you.”  “Why would she be a threat to me?  You can NOT be referring to our little involvement?” she said gesturing to herself and Drake.  “Women are scornful and vengeful...if you thought she was a problem for us you could do anything.” Drake retorted.  Yuri laughed so hard and loud that Elliott had to look at her.  Drake’s blood was boiling; he didn’t appreciate her taking him for a joke.  “What the fuck is so funny?”  Yuri calmed down from her giggle to answer, Yuri said, “You are so damned delusional...you and I aren’t in love.  I didn’t even want to be with you.  You threatened my fiancé, my business, my freedom.  I was basically enslaved to you.  Do you think I would really give a damn about Simone trying to reclaim you?  I would encourage it if anything...ANYTHING to get you out of MY life.”  Yuri laughed and then coldness ran over her.  She said, “YOU on the other hand are the one who should be poisoned.”  Elliott said, “Whoa, Yuri.  Watch what you say to him...he is an officer of the law.”  “OH PLEASE!  This is the same person who just got through admitting that we were involved.  Do you think he has an ability to see clearly?  There are two upstanding citizens standing here...grieving no less.  Who and where are his witnesses to say that I threatened him?” Drake smiled.  “I am here to say so.” Simone said out of the blue.  “If you are going to talk shit, you shouldn’t leave your back to the door where someone could walk in and hear you.” She said stepping onto the patio.  “I was looking for Drake, and I found him...here being threatened by a spoiled bitch.”  Yuri clenched her fist and said, “Be careful, that got you knocked on your ass the last time.”  Elliott held her and said, “Okay, that’s enough.  I’ve had it with this exchange.  Look, Detective, if you have anything else you’d like to ask Yuri and me, you can do it at the precinct with a warrant and our lawyer.  Otherwise, discussing this matter off the record is no longer an option.”  He led Yuri away and she held eye contact with Simone until she was no longer in sight.  Simone held her glare as well and became surer at that moment that Yuri was to be watched.  Drake stood there and it dawned on him...he’d never mentioned, WHEN someone broke into Simone’s apartment and contaminated her tea.  He only mentioned to her the fact that he knows she was in the apartment the night of the shower.   For all Yuri knew the tea could’ve been contaminated at the hotel or even before the shower.  Yes, indeed Ms. Hart was the culprit.  Now, all he had to do was figure out how she got hold of the drug used to kill Giselle...and whether or not she had any still lying around.  Simone spoke and snapped him out of his stupor.  “What was all that about?  Did the break-up go bad?  Why is Ms. Socialite threatening you?”  Drake looked at the mother of his unborn child and said, “Let me fill you in.”