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Clay Costigan, a bored Edenridge housewife’s favourite distraction. 

[color=B1E4FC]“My door is always open if you need anything, officer”[/color] The [url=https://superstarsbio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Kat-Dennings-Height.jpg]woman[/url] clad only in a robe pressed herself against the doorway as she watched the young police officer leave her home. 

As he walked out of the front door, he buttoned up his black uniform shirt and made sure all his badges were still attached. Mrs Bolan was always a good time. She ran a local florist and spent most of her time surrounded by beautiful things, maybe said things rubbed off on her? Since she was still absolutely gorgeous and up for a certain kind of fun. Clay had bumped into her before starting his patrol on Main Street and when the offer arose to go back to her place for a coffee and a snack? What type of gentleman would he be if he were to refuse? 

Sure, it would get back to Cat no doubt but at least he knew this wouldn’t hurt her. She knew what he was about and this was harmless fun for him and a sweet release for Vanessa Bolan who was really struggling right now. With her husband constantly away on “business” she just needed to be seen, to be loved and appreciated. Clay could never promise that long term but at least for the short time they were together, she would be the most important thing in the world and that was enough for her.

[color=BCDD81]“Understood. You have a pleasant evening ma’am”[/color] He nodded before climbing into his cruiser and reversing out of the driveway. Mrs Bolan loved the role play.

For the fourth night in a row, Clay had pulled the solo patrol card on the Southside. Chief Broadus had made it clear that he really didn’t want his team patrolling the streets alone but until Mayor Grimm gave him some funding for the Boston brass decided to bequeath them any kind of financial backing then his back was up against a wall, his hands tied behind his back and he was being fucked gently in the ass with a chainsaw. The Chief did have a way with words that’s for sure.

There was part of the young officer that felt that he kept on drawing these shifts because he was the low man on the totem pole, the rookie that needed to earn his stripes. Yet somehow, he still doubted it. Edenridge was infected with a disease, no God fearing man would let anyone go out onto those deadly streets without backup unless there was absolutely no choice. 

The current red ball case that was a fixture on the department whiteboard was the missing persons file on [url=https://assets.popbuzz.com/2021/26/who-did-kiana-madeira-play-in-trinkets-1625226612-view-0.png]Bailey Darensbourg[/url]. A twenty two year old former Clover that had been missing for three weeks; another in the long line of cheerleaders that had suffered a great misfortune in good ol Edenridge town. Bailey had struggled ever since high school, developing a dependence on drugs and alcohol after an apprenticeship with Reagan Ramsey. Many believed she would be the one to escape, bright, bubbly and actually genuinely kind. Sadly, the wicked fates had other plans for her. Bailey’s parents had reported her missing after not hearing from her for a few days, they hoped to the dearest god that she wouldn’t become just another Edenridge statistic. Clay knew Bailey in high school, she was a few years younger so there wasn’t much to it but she was cool and always seemed nice. David knew her more for sure.

[i]All units this is dispatch; we have reports of a domestic disturbance on Harrow Road. Anyone free to respond?[/i]

[color=BCDD81]”Dispatch, this is patrol car sixteen. I’m in the area, I’ll swing by and check it out”[/color]

Clay pulled onto Harrow; it was a quiet, out there kind of road. There were only a few houses, most of them vacant. He had heard that the Mayor was planning on demolishing the entire neighbourhood in favour of a mall. On the one hand, that would be kind of sick because the populace wouldn’t have to make the trek into Boston. On the other hand, people would lose their homes. It was a catch twenty two if ever there was one. As his patrol car crept down the street looking for any sign of life, Clay noted only one house with any lights on. He pulled up outside and shut off his engine.

He recognised the place. What was the name of the guy that used to live here? Bordeaux? Yeah that was it. Clay had ventured this far south for tutoring in Math. Simon Bordeaux was a genius in that shit. Should’ve gone to MIT. Yet he was still wasting away in this shitty town. Clay wasn’t exactly friends with the kid so he didn’t know his circumstances, though he did remember that one time he actually attended tutoring that Simon mentioned not having any parents and being stuck with just a Grandfather. Put two and row together and it seemed likely that Bordeaux got stuck taking care of the man that took care of him.

Clay climbed out of his car and made the short walk up towards the front door of thirty five harrow. He knocked thrice and waited for a response. Nothing. He tried again. Still nothing. [color=BCDD81]”This is Edenridge Police. We got a call about a disturbance from this address. I can see your lights on, please open the door so we can clear this up”[/color]

Silence. The air was thick with something that Clay couldn’t quite put his finger on. Something that felt off. He didn’t like whatever it was. He waited for the passing car to go by before he put his ear to the door and in the ether, heard the muffled noise of a distinctively female voice. Realistically at this point he should’ve waited for back up and warrant but fuck that. If someone needs help, it was Clay’s job to do so. Everyone saw him as a pretty boy, a foundling who had every little thing handed to him. That wasn’t even remotely the truth. Clay just wanted to help.

He put a hand on his gun before checking the door handle; unlocked. He cracked open the door slightly before letting his dark eyes peer inside. The breach in the doorway revealed a filthy homestead. Left over food, clothing, all manner of nastiness all over the place; a far cry from what Clay remembered. [color=BCDD81]”Hello? EPD, is there anybody here?”[/color] He unholstered his gun and pointed it forward as he brushed through the front door and into the house.

Clay had no fear in these kind of moments. One would assume that this pretty boy would he shutting bricks but that was not the case. He had a reputation for a certain way of living, that was what it was. Yet Clay, for all his faults, was desperate to help his community. For too long, Eden had suffered at the hands of the criminal element. He wanted to bring justice to his kin and his peers and make Edenridge safe for the future. It wasn’t a tagline, it was what he truly believed. 

He made his way silently through the house, gun at the ready. It was a bungalow and every time has been cleared save the bathroom at the back of the property. Clay had his department issued sidearm trained at eye level against the door as his thoughts drifted to his family; his parents and sister. His thoughts drifted to David and Jamie, Fran, Russ and of course Cat.

Pushing the door open, Clay was greeted on one side with the site of a girl tied to a radiator, mouth gagged, tears rolling down her face and on the other side with a young man holding a shotgun aloft, aimed directly at the officers chest. “Well well, Clay Costigan, I didn’t know you were a cop” it was [url=https://64.media.tumblr.com/be32c1f8aa2e90b268a64616e0d27c40/tumblr_oxdyxgxIQY1sfqmqho4_500.gif]Simon Bordeaux[/url] and the girl, the girl was Bailey Darensbourg!

[color=BCDD81]”Simon, buddy? Long time. Listen I’m not sure why you’re pointing a gun at me or have Bailey chained to a radiator but we’re gonna need that to stop now kay? Let her go and we can figure this out”[/color]

[color=FCCCD6]”I can’t do that, Clay. I do that, you put me in cuffs and I don’t see the light of day again”[/color] Simon was obviously a nervous wreck. He was shakey, sweating and looked like he hadn’t slept in days. 

Clay glanced over at Bailey; she seemed unhurt from what he could see. No cuts or bruises, no outward wounds. It seemed liked the confinement was the main source of discomfort. [color=BCDD81]”Si! Come on man, whatever happens now doesn’t end well for you ok?”[/color/] He raised a calming hand towards the terrified young woman. [color=BCDD81]”It’ll be ok, Bailey. I’m gonna get you out of here”[/color]

[color=FCCCD6]“No, no you won’t”[/color] Simon pulled the hammer back on his gun [color=FCCCD6]”You know, Costigan. More than most. The pressure of being something of being somebody in this fucking place. You were, what, a prince jock behind Callahan and O’Hara. Davey turned out a diddler and Francis a faggot so all the pressure was on you to be perfect. I had a perfect, perfect grade average but still
I’m stuck here. I’m supposed to be working on Space X right now! Bailey, bless her, Thrown out by the ice bitch in favour of the Belmonte girl, hooked on drugs. No one ever makes it out of here aliveX You, me, Bailey, we were expected to be everything in this town. Now we’re nothing. We’re less than zero”[/color]

It was hard not to see some truth in Simon’s words. The expectations in Edenridge were real and everyone suffered through time differently. [color=BCDD81]”Wait, so you kidnapped Bailey for what? To tell her she’s not good enough?”[/color]

[color=FCCCD6]”No.To put her out of her misery and maybe finally fuck a cheerleader but you know all about that, don’t you buddy?”[/color] Simon raises his gun further and took aim at the young officers head.

That was all he needed to hear. Clay’s body cam had captured all the footage of Simon and Bailey and there was no way that it wouldn’t hold up in a court of law. He dropped his pistol down and squeezed the trigger once, shooting Simon in his left knee cap and forcing him to the floor. This was the first time he had pulled the trigger on a life person. Watching his old school mate fall to the floor, his knee popping like a viral video form dr pimple popper; Clay didn’t even flinch. He was ice cold baby.  As soon as Simon dropped the gun and crumpled to the floor, Clay ran over to Bailey and took off her bag [color=BCDD81]”Hey, hey, are you ok?”[/color]

[color=15AFBC]“I…I…l”[/color] She struggles to speak in part due to the dehydration but also because of the overwhelming feeling that Simon had planted in her heart. [color=15AFBC]“He was right, we are nothing, less than nothing”[/color]

He stroked her before letting out a great sigh. [color=BCDD81]”You’re everything, Bailey. Don’t let someone like him te you any different”[/color] Clay moved over to Simon, who was writhing around in the floored whimpering like a sad dog. He looked towards the still gun and kicked it away before he pressed his own weapon against the criminal's forehead. [color=BCDD81]”Simon Bordeaux you are under arrest for the abduction of Bailey Darensbourg”[/color]

[color=FCCCD6]”Same old Clay. You’re just as guilty as me for being lesser. You should be locked up with me, then again, Clay Costigan would he too pretty for prison right?”[/color]

[color=BCDD81]”You think Clay Costigan is pretty? Thanks bud bur, you're still going to jail”[/color] 

Once back up and and an ambulance had arrived, Clay took to sitting in his cruiser starting at the Bordeaux house. Times have changed, people have changed. Was Simon onto something? Was he really less than others? He could certainly see why they’d think that? What had he ever done? Who had ever loved him?

Man, he needed a sandwich.