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Hellstinger 18. Attractions...
"Detective Matthew Hang," Alexander said as soon as a navy-blue-haired pot-bellied Asian man: in a peach shirt with rolled-up sleeves, brown elastic cross belt, and a black tie; walked into the interrogation room with a small pile of files in one hand and a steaming worldbest-grandma coffee mug in the other. "Man, you look like you've lost a lot of weight." She said with a mocking smirk on her face and a little bit of arrogance. "How is your hip?" "I don't feel like I will live much longer," Matt said, setting his mug down on the table as well as the files. "But I'll probably outlive someone, and out someone else in jail." 'How long has it been, seventeen years? Or is it twenty?" He said, putting both of his hands in his pant pockets. "Oh, and I got a promotion. It's Chief Hang now." "Congrats," Alexander said mockingly. "But I don't suppose it's long enough to dispose of your 'worldbest-grandma' coffee mug?" Alexander said with a smirk. "Oh yeah, ha ha!" Matt laughed, picking up
Hellstinger 19. ...another version.
"Self-defense, huh?" Matt said with a scoff as he read and reread Alexander's statement. "Is that disbelief I hear, Chief?" Sara said, standing beside Alexander with her briefcase sitting on the table before her. "Do you have evidence to support otherwise?" "I never said I don't believe it was self-defense, just wondering what three men want with a woman in a suit." He said with a fake smile as he signed the statement, and the bail release documents, and in no time, he was escorting Alexander out of the precinct. Alexander let out a sigh of relief as soon as she entered Sara's SUV. But didn't relax until they merged into the late-afternoon traffic. "Something tells me this case is going to get a lot more interesting," Sara said, all Alexander offered was another sigh. "So, what really happened?" Alexander gave her a dirty look, "I...I mean I am your lawyer, I need to know the truth to defend you." "The truth is; three thugs attacked us, one of them ended
Hellstinger 20. Phoenix PD.
Twenty years. It had been twenty years since Matt Hang had an encounter with Alexander, and it still ended the same. Except for this time, his mind wasn't flashing back and forth from a ten-year-old Alexandria presenting a chipped coffee mug with world-best-grandma painted on its sides; she had canceled out grandma and wrote dad with an erasable marker. To a seventeen-year-old rebellious Alexander pushing him off the roof to evade arrest. This time, his mind remained constant on the memory of the last time he saw her; the Hunters' protege, Dark Blade, dressed in an all-black unitard with a sword - stained with the blood of a dozen men - in one hand; pointing a gun at his head with the other. Although she denies it, Matt knows it was Alexander. How could he not? For almost a decade, he had been free of the horror and the sting of betrayal. But with Alexander back in his life, there is only so much he can do to prevent the flashbacks. And what did she come bac
Hellstinger 21. ...the Manor...a Mansion?
Mariposa County is known for a lot of things, but none of those things can relate to the Hellstinger Manor situated four miles out of the town's limits. It had been there before Mariposa was civilized, it was said to have been built even before Phoenix City became a thing. Underneath this great building is an entire mansion. Although now covered in cobwebs and dust from decades of neglect, it is still the greatest value of the Manor. "Are you ready?" Marcus did a sharp intake, blinking subconsciously repeatedly, and clenching and unclenching his fist. He nodded to Alexander, and on cue, she pushed the bronze door open with all her might; groaning. "Holy freaking shit." Marcus could not believe his eyes as he flashed his portable electric lamp around in awe. He vaguely heard Alexander chuckle and move around, but he didn't pay heed. "Wait until I find the power switch," Alexander said and true to her words, as soon as she pulled the power switch, electricity ra
Hellstinger 22. ... family drama.
"You're saying Cynthia is my cousin?" Marcus said in a high-pitched voice; involuntarily pacing the width of the tunnel. "I kissed, and smooched, and did all kinds of stuff with my cousin!?" "She is not your cousin, Marcus, calm down," Alexander said. "Oh really!" Marcus laughed in disbelief. "Isn't Mr. Valentine my Uncle? Oh my God, now it makes sense. You never wanted Cynthia and me together. I am not as close to her as I would like. That's why you keep telling me to get rid of her, you devious fuck-shit." "I said calm down, Marcus," Alexander's voice had changed tone. It's no longer calm and collected, it sounds like she is on the verge of exploding in his face. "She cheated on you back in high school and you still held that grudge. Don't push that on me." Alexander said, watching him pace up and down the width of the tunnel. "And she isn't your cousin for the love of God, calm down!" "Okay. Okay, I'm calm. I'm all cool and calm." He said, still pacing.
Hellstinger 23. Magic of the Oasis...
There is a difference between getting punched by a thug and getting punched by a combat expert. Marcus already figured that out. "...adapt!" The word came in perfect synchrony with a backhanded blow that landed right on his left temple and left Marcus seeing stars. "...find your opportunity!" Marcus was still reeling in the effects of the blow when a powerful downward blow landed on the same spot. On impact, Marcus felt himself fade in and out of consciousness as he went straight to the ground. "Finish your enemy." He felt a heavy foot on his chest that punctuated the end of the lesson. "You are dead," Alexander said, looking down at a disoriented Marcus on the floor, whimpering. She frowned; "Are you crying?" Marcus could feel numerous aches in almost every part of his body. When Master Keep said his training would start immediately, he had envisioned something like training his patience by slapping a bowl of water or something. Like in movie
Hellstinger 24. Tasha-anxious...
Tasha has known Marcus for almost a decade and a half; through his senior years in high school, and she has been his manager for seven years now. And yet, the work hasn't gotten any easier. Especially when Tasha has been left in charge. Currently, Big Joe and Bobby are making a mess of everything in the Family room as they play another round of blackjack with Sara as their dealer. She had tried to keep the two bouncers in check; to stop them from spilling drinks on the rugs, caution their rough handling of the side stools, and the snacks they keep munching and spilling. All to no avail. And Sara didn't help. Although unfamiliar with any of them and without a valid reason to still be in the Manor after sunset, her boldness and social skills were beyond anything Tasha could ever dream of. The level of sass with which the lawyer used to shoot Tasha's attempts down was almost dominating. Now, Tasha has retired to the bar area of the Family room with her iPad in hand,
Hellstinger 25. ...another version...
A blinding light beaconed Sara out of her sweet dreams and brought her awake. The first thing that registered was the sore in her love parts and the slight ache in her waist. Then the joy of the previous night came to her and she smiled in contentment. "Looks like you are having the morning of your life, huh?" Sara's eyes snapped open at the feminine voice. That's when she realized she was alone in bed and the company waking her up was not the one she had hoped would wake her up. "What are you doing in here?" Sara asked, sitting up in bed and holding the linen covers under her armpits and close to her chest. "Where is Marc C?" "Mr. Hellstinger has more important things to do than sending you on your way this morning," Alexander said in a mocking formal tone. "What are you...?" Sara started, but Alexander cut her off. "Don't you get it?" She asked, "You did your job at the precinct, got your boobs autographed, and even had the sex of your life from your cel