Episode 43 Fire & Ice (Patreon)

Zoe Andersen Routh

“Finally, what took you so long?” She asked as Pam finally entered the pickup and sat on the passenger seat. She quickly stepped on the accelerator and headed to the convention center. She wanted to get there early to get a better spot for parking.

“Sorry.” Pam quickly apologized. “I had to help Jim look for those stupid parts!”

“What parts?” She asked.

“It’s those stupid, tiny robot parts that I got for him.” Her best friend scowled in annoyance as she glanced back at her house as they headed down the street. “He even took a day off from work just to finish it, and he’s been going at it since last night!”

“He hadn’t slept?” It took Jack a few days to finish his tall duck robot, and she was surprised at how complex it was to assemble despite not requiring any glue to keep the piece together. She was amazed at the amount of detail and articulation the robot was capable of, looking like some sort of futuristic Greek warrior with that Corinthian-style plume on top of its head.

“He was determined to finish it,” Pam replied. “He said he’ll stop once he finishes at least one of the legs. I didn’t realize what I got for him was the most difficult one.”

“It also explains the price.” She added. “Jack already got a display case for it.”

“Men.”  Her best friend sagged on her seat in defeat, as if she was giving up on trying to understand her husband’s recent obsession. “So where are we going again?”

“There’s a gun show in the city.” She explained. “How about we take a look, get you a gun since you told me you’re interested earlier, and then hit up lunch?”

“That sounds good.” Pam nodded in agreement.

“Then in the afternoon, I’ll help familiarize you with your weapon, and then let’s get smoothies and dessert after.”

“Perfect.” Pam grinned.  “Is Jack not coming?”

“He had to suddenly fill in for a fellow professor.” She replied. “Besides, while he loves firearms, I think he enjoys bladed weapons.”

“Well, he is a historian.” Pam mused. “How many swords does he have by now?”

“There are three that I know of, and I think I saw him checking another one online on his computer.” She would have put more of a fuss about his recent purchases, but she knew that would only make her a hypocrite with the amount of firearms and accessories she currently had stored in their bunker. “I think I saw him checking a full medieval armor set the other day on his phone.”

“Medieval armor?” Pam laughed.

“I’m pretty sure he wants one to match the futuristic cosplay armor that he wore to a convention.” It was a good thing they had purchased the neighboring property, or else she would be worried about their home running out of space. “Anyway, are you ready to go?”

“Let’s go, Zoey!”

They got a good parking spot quite close to the entrance, and after they paid for their tickets, she wasted no time in checking out the exhibitors and what they had for display.

She spent an hour wandering around the gun expo with Pam and even helped her friend select a Glock-17 as her purchase. They then made their way into a corner at the very edge of the event grounds that had a white shipping container with targets inside, while concrete blocks and sandbags surrounded the structure. It looked like the organizers had made a temporary shooting range, and from what she could see, it seemed safe enough as they took the necessary precautions.

It looked like there was a competition going on about who could hit the most targets comprised of metal plates about 75 yards away. The targets were small, about the size of a saucer, and each metal gave off a different sound when struck by the bullet.

The sign outside proclaimed that if the shooter was able to hit the targets in the correct sequence, it would play a recognizable tune. Anyone could use it as long as they used a weapon purchased from the gun expo.

“You got this, Zoe!” Pam grinned. “Here! You can even use the Glock we bought!”

“Why not?” There were only a few people lined up, and those who attempted the course failed to hit the targets or missed entirely. To her, it looked like the real experts, marksmen who could easily hit those targets even at a hundred yards, weren’t present yet due to the early hour.

“Can I take a few shots first?” She asked the man behind the table leading to the course. “I need to dial it in.”

“It’s fine.” The man immediately agreed while giving her a wide smile and wink. He even offered to help her with her stance, but she politely refused, as she realized the man was trying to hit on her. Didn’t he see the ring on her finger? Apparently not, as his eyes constantly strayed to her chest, and she wasn’t even revealing any cleavage!

Pam rolled her eyes when they exchanged glances, and she made her way to the side and waited her turn as she started loading bullets into the magazine.

She looked up as she filled the magazines when she heard the familiar tune of " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star " from the targets and realized a woman was hitting the targets with impeccable speed and accuracy.

Applause rang out as soon as the woman finished, and she nodded in approval as the winner made sure the chamber of her weapon was empty before storing it in a holster.

She smiled when she recognized the face of the shooter, who turned around to allow the next participant to have a go at the small targets.

“Do you know her?” Pam asked.

“That’s Robin Scherbatsky.” She replied. “She’s a journalist from New York who interviewed us while we were in Baltimore last year.”

She remembered that the woman wanted to move since she revealed that she wasn’t happy with her situation on the East Coast. Seeing her now in Los Angeles made her realize that her fellow brunette must have taken their advice to move to California seriously.

The reporter must have sensed someone else looking at her since she moved her head in their direction. She could see the surprise and recognition in the brunette’s eyes as soon as they locked gazes, and the reporter wasted no time moving to their spot.

“Captain Andersen.” Robin greeted with a smile.

“I see you followed our advice.” She returned the greeting with a smile of her own and invited the brunette to take a seat on their small table. “This is Pam, my best friend.”

“Hi!” Pam waved quickly. “That was amazing!”

“That was easy.” The reporter replied, though she still looked pleased at her performance, judging from the satisfied look on her face. “I’ve been shooting firearms my whole life.”

“Your father, right?” She shared. “I’ve met him when he visited with the Olympic delegates from Canada.”

It seemed like there was a complicated history there, judging by the way the brunette’s smile vanished for a moment. She quickly decided to switch topics and invited her to join them for an early lunch.

She took her spot at the range, cheered on by Pam and Robin, and she made quick work of the metal targets.

Ping!

Ping!

Ping!

A smooth, quick change of the magazine, and she finished the sequence, faster than Robin had done. As soon as the last target was hit, applause erupted from the mall crowd that was watching. She even got a free steel tumbler with the company logo printed on the side, similar to what Scherbatsky received after shooting the targets in the correct sequence.

“Okay, I seriously need to practice shooting weapons,” Pam admitted as they headed to the exit. “I feel inadequate standing between the two of you.”

“I think Zoe’s better than me.” Robin Scherbatsky admitted. “Marine sniper, right? I don’t have much practice on those aside from the hunting rifles.”

“Then I have to show you the range my old gunnery sergeant now runs. Where are you staying right now?”

“I’m staying at an Airbnb right now,” Robin answered. “I got a job offer from KWLA, mostly thanks to that interview with you and your husband.”

She showed the reporter her favorite restaurant, and she watched as Pam and Robin ordered alcoholic drinks while she settled for a milkshake along with their lunch.

“Where’s Jack, by the way?” Robin asked.

“He’s on leave from the LAPD to finish his Master’s.” She answered.

“Why did you ask?” Pam added.

“Well, I just want to hear something from a guy’s perspective,” Robin revealed. “Let’s just say, my decision to move to California wasn’t well received by some of my close friends.”

“I’m sorry about that.” Looking closer, she noticed the hurt look on her fellow brunette’s face. “What happened?”

“We… were a group of close friends, but friendships change, you know?” Robin shared. “Two in the group got married and had kids and eventually moved out, one is afraid of commitment, and the other is a hopeless romantic. Ted, the romantic, seriously got angry when I shared my plans with him. I’ve never seen him so angry before.”

“Did you two date?” Pam asked.

“On and off. It was complicated and messy.” Robin gave a strange smile that she instantly recognized. She saw the same thing every day in front of the mirror when she was married to her ex-husband. It was a smile full of regret and bitterness, but still trying to be polite to others.

“I think he seriously believed we were meant for each other, that I would eventually be the mother of his children.”

“That’s… something.” She and Pam exchanged looks.

“I know it may sound creepy, but that man really tried his best to find his true love. He dated so many women, only to fail spectacularly with them.” Robin shook her head in disbelief. “Even then, I’ve never seen him that angry before. It was like I betrayed him.”

“Maybe he still has feelings for you?” She suggested.

“I doubt it. The last time we hung out, he was bragging to me and Barney about this girl that he was seeing, and he was sure she was the one.” Robin answered. “I tried to apologize and explain my side, but he’s not answering my calls or replying to my texts.”

“Give him some time,” Pam assured the reporter. “You know how men are. And he would have to understand why you decided to move here.”

“Maybe I can arrange some time so that you can talk to my husband.” She added. Maybe Jack could give a different perspective to help the reporter. She knew her husband had a positive impression on Robin Scherbtasky, and she was confident she wouldn’t deny her request.

Jack Routh

The call by the university came early that morning, asking if he was available to fill in for Professor Fox since she had to fly off to Europe at the last minute with her assistant, Nigel. It was a simple matter, really, since he just had to proctor the class on an exam, and he didn’t have to prepare any notes.

He was also attending his first class for the graduate program later, and decided to accept the request since a few more hours earlier than he planned was easily manageable. He wouldn’t be able to swim, but he could find another way to exercise later. Maybe Zoe would enjoy a late-night stroll down the beach later.

He stopped his car, since Zoe had decided to use the pick-up as her primary vehicle, when he spotted a police officer blocking the entrance to the parking building. He immediately noticed that the man, though appearing far older, wore the long sleeves of a rookie.

“What’s happening, Officer?” He asked when the man approached his driver’s side window.

“I’m sorry, sir, but there’s a situation.” The man tried to look stern, but he could tell that the man was nervous. “You’re going to have to find another area to park your vehicle.”

“Maybe I can help.” He offered. “Who is your training officer?”

“What?”

“I’m a police officer on leave.” He explained. “I also graduated from this university, so I know the layout pretty well despite the recent renovations.”

The man looked befuddled for a moment, then shook his head. “Listen, pal, pretending to be an officer is a serious offense.”

“I know. It’s against the law according to the California Penal Code 538d.” He replied.

“Step aside, Badger.” A familiar voice from the ramp called out. “Come on through, Jack.”

“Sergeant Ellis.” He nodded to the officer from Metro. The rookie officer looked confused as he stepped back from the entrance ramp. “What’s the situation?”

“Bomb threat on some professor’s car.” Calvin Ellis explained. “UCLA PD had to ask Metro for assistance, and some of your friends in Mid-Wilshire decided this was a good opportunity for the new rookies. I’m not going to turn down the offer, though. Go ahead and park. I’ve just cleared this building.”

He was able to park near the entrance, stepped out, and joined his friend from Metro, who was now surrounded by a few familiar faces.

“They also roped you into this?” He exchanged a quick handshake with Tim Bradford and gave a nod to Nyla Harper in greeting. The two rookies stood out with their long sleeves, though only one looked uncomfortable.

“What can I say?” Bradford merely shrugged at his teasing. “Grey is a big believer in giving the rookies exposure early on to a wide variety of cases. Bomb threats and the procedure behind them are near the top of the list.”

“Officer Barnes.” He turned to the only rookie he knew and gave her a quick nod. She immediately stood out with her crisp uniform, neat haircut, and straight body posture that oozed confidence compared to her fellow rookie.

“Officer Routh.” Barnes returned the greeting. “I didn’t know you’re on leave.”

“How did you come to that conclusion?” He asked.

“If you were still reporting for Metro, Sergeant Ellis wouldn’t have greeted you that warmly.” The former army replied. “And I haven’t seen you or your wife in the station since she started her maternity leave.”

He glanced at Bradford, who was now wearing a smug look on his face, looking like a proud father.

“You’re… you’re Jack Routh?” Badger stared at him with wide eyes. “I’ve heard so much about you!”

“Let me guess, from Chen and Nolan?” He asked.

“The two have taken him under their wing,” Harper admitted, and then turned to Sergeant Ellis. “It’s as you suspected, there was no sign of an explosive device on the target’s vehicle or anywhere else on the parking lot.”

“So it’s one of those cases.” He smiled as he remembered a few cases of bomb threats from truly desperate students who wanted more time to study or had beef with their professors. “UCLA PD called for help?”

“They did, and they’re checking the other parking buildings as well.” Ellis yawned and scratched his chin. “It’s back to Rampart for me. Thanks for the help. I’ll go round up the other members of my team.”

 “I’m off to follow up on a lead on another case. See you around, Routh.” Tim waved and headed back to where his shop was parked, followed by his stoic rookie, who gave a quick nod in farewell before she ran after her training officer.

He was about to head to the classroom, where he was supposed to proctor, when he heard a message from Ellis’ radio.

“22-Charlie, Code 4 on a DB. It’s by Parking Lot 11, on Sage Hill. Requesting an 11-44.”

There was a mild pause in the frequency before the dispatcher on the other end of the line responded, her voice sounding much more alert. “Copy that 22-Charlie, sending a coroner to your location.”

“They'd better hurry. The body’s… frozen.”

“Copy that 22-Charlie.”

“DB?” Badger looked worried. “Is that…”

“Dead Body,” Harper replied. She looked disturbed by what she heard, but he could see she was trying to look confident in front of her rookie. “There goes my peaceful morning. Let’s go, boot, we have a new crime scene to secure.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” Badger replied and headed to the shop.

He was tempted to follow his officers, but he knew it wasn’t his responsibility and headed to the classroom. He made a note to follow up on the case, and it was rare to find a dead body on the campus grounds, especially one that was apparently frozen. This was likely a homicide, and the killer dumping their frozen victim somewhere remote indicated they knew what they were doing.

Sage Hill was the most remote area on the campus, and it was used as a natural habitat for endemic species of flora and fauna and was meant to be an outdoor learning space for students, faculty, and researchers. This meant that the killer had some knowledge of the campus and had some degree of connection to his alma mater.

He narrowed his eyes, deep in thought, and resolved to be more vigilant than usual. He had a wife and unborn child to get home to.

Something must have shown in his face as the students inside the classroom immediately grew quiet when they noticed his entrance. There were around forty of them, all staring at him with wide eyes. He quickly schooled his expression to a more neutral look and stared at each student in the eye.

“I’m the proctor for this exam.” He stated. “Get to your seats.”

He dumped his bag on the chair, and when he opened the drawer, he found a bounce back paddle ball, probably confiscated from a student. He played with it for a few moments, expecting the students to prepare for the exam, but when he looked up, he noticed that the students were still frozen in place.

“Let’s go.” He repeated. “You might not have to call me professor, but you have to move your ass when I say so. Get to it.”

There was a rush as chairs scraped against the floor as the students rushed to their seats.

Matthew Garza

The thawing body of the woman in the morgue looked peaceful in stark contrast to the activity around her. Medical examiners from the city and his field team crowded around the cadaver, trying to get anything at all that would lead them to her killer, but that so far proved elusive.

It was frustrating since the victim was a very well-known figure in the city, and it was the first time that they didn’t need to do an actual fingerprint to identify the body. Unfortunately, they were unable to keep it under wraps, and word of the famous news anchor’s demise quickly spread, and in a span of a few hours, it became national news.

Lisa Mays was a popular figure in late-night news, but the pretty anchor was widely known to be paranoid about her privacy, which unfortunately made things more difficult for the investigation. Her social media was handled by the station's PR firm, and her own was sadly inactive, giving no clues to the events that led to her demise.

She was last seen on the Thursday broadcast, and she must have died over the weekend, with her body dumped in a remote location within the campus.

“The scant DNA sample we recovered can’t be used.” The coroner gave the news he was dreading.

“What about the CCTV footage?” He asked his team.

“Nothing stands out.” Agent Page reported. “I even asked the groundskeeper and the guards. No one saw anything unusual.”

“Well, keep looking.” He ordered.

“Yes, sir.” Page replied.

The higher-ups were really making him feel the pressure with this one. And with the Olympic Games just around the corner, the timing couldn’t be worse with a high-profile murder. He had even heard that the city put up some fancy display for the visiting International Olympic Committee delegates to show off the capabilities of the LAPD and how safe the venues were for the athletes and tourists.

“Sir, you might want to see this.” Laura Stensen handed him a tablet, and he frowned as he looked at the data from the analysis.

“Are you sure about this?” And he thought things couldn’t get any worse. He had to keep a tight lid on this case now. He couldn’t allow the press to know that Lisa's murderer was a possible serial killer.

“It’s the only footage we have of Lisa Mays before she disappeared,” Laura replied. “The height and build of the man with her matches the footage from New York with those missing women.”

“And they’re all in the same age bracket, too.” He mused. It was a pity that the camera footage couldn’t be enhanced further. What they do know was the killer from New York was possibly a Caucasian male with an average build and dark hair, and there was nothing else to go on.

“We’re still not 100 percent sure if they’re the same killer,” Laura added. “But we shouldn’t discount the possibility.”

He stepped out of the morgue and waited in the lobby, analyzing every detail of the women missing in New York. He needed more help and suddenly remembered the man who helped catch the copycat serial killer.

It was a pity that the Bureau suddenly lost interest in recruiting Routh, and he knew the answer. The man’s actions in apprehending a famous Royal spooked a lot of people in power, and he knew without a doubt that they, too, had skeletons in their closets. They didn’t know what Routh would do if he found out, and the man had a talent for sniffing out bad eggs and then mercilessly crushing them under his foot without hesitation.

He could visit Routh again and catch up. Last he heard, the man was on extended leave from the LAPD to finish his Master’s. He spotted Page stepping out of the morgue and waved her over. She would be perfect for this, since he knew she had a good working relationship with the man from the last assignment she had.

“Agent Page, what do you think about inviting Routh for lunch?” He asked.

“Jack Routh, sir?” Agent Page raised an eyebrow in question.

“We need to solve this case fast, and I want all available resources working to deal with this.” He explained. “What’s Routh's favorite food again?”

“Well, he has a big appetite…” Page began. "And I did see him ordering burgers at the hotel..."

Jack Routh

“Sorry, but I have a scheduled appointment for lunch,” Jack replied over the phone as he drove down the street, following the GPS map that Nikolaj put in. The exam went smoothly, and he wondered if what Sydney Fox’s assistant Nigel said about the students being menaces was actually true.

They were very well behaved and respectful, and not one hesitated when he asked them to leave all their smartphones in a cardboard box by his desk to avoid any distractions. They were very polite too, and left the classroom in silence when they were finished with the exam to avoid disturbing their classmates.

 He walked around the room while they took their exam, and he could see they were taking the test seriously with how they stared straight at their exam papers, posture rigid, and their back straight. Not one head glanced at his or her seatmate’s test paper, and he was proud of the integrity they showed. It wasn’t like this when he was a student, and there were always a few people who didn’t study and relied on cheating to get by.

They finished early, too, and since it wasn’t his job to mark the papers, he was free when Nikolaj called and asked if he would like to join him for lunch with some colleagues. He quickly agreed, since he wasn’t looking forward to joining the notorious long lines in the campus cafeteria.

“It’s not at a restaurant, is it?” He asked the actor as he turned to a corner.

“No, my friend prepares the best meals,” Nikolaj answered. The actor looked excited, judging by the smirk he wore ever since he picked him up in front of his house. The man claimed it was for a bet and didn’t elaborate further.

“As long as there’s enough of it.” He replied.

“Don’t worry. She cooks enough to feed a small village.” The actor laughed.

“So what can you tell me about this bet?”

“Sorry, it’s a surprise. But I promise it’s harmless. They’re good people.” The older man answered.

They arrived in front of a large white mansion with Spanish-style accents, only it was much bigger and had two floors and a larger front yard. There were already a few cars parked outside, but there was enough space for his GR86 to park right between an Audi and a silver Benz.

“Let’s go!” Nikolaj got out of the car first, walking down the stone path with a spring in his step, and quickly pressed the doorbell by the door.

They only waited for half a minute before the large wooden door opened, and a very pretty blonde opened it with a smile on her face. He knew that woman after watching the film Prometheus in his past life.

“Nikolaj!” Charlize Theron quickly gave his neighbor a quick hug and then turned to him.

Her pretty smile immediately disappeared, and he watched as her mouth partially opened while both her eyebrows rose up.

“Fuck me.” The blonde actress blurted out.

He didn’t know what to say and shot Nikolaj a questioning look, but the actor only burst out in laughter.

“Sorry, sorry.” The actress quickly apologized and stepped back, allowing them to pass through the door. “I was just surprised. Come in! Please!”

“Thank you… Miss Theron.” He told the woman. He was still not sure about what was going on.

“Just call me Charlie.” The pretty blonde smiled. “I can’t believe you’re actually here!”

“Alright, Charlie.” It was a surreal feeling being asked by a well-known Hollywood actress to address them by their nickname. He couldn’t wait to tell Zoe about this. “I was promised by Nikolaj that I’ll have an excellent lunch.”

“And he was right.” Charlize slipped a hand on his upper arm and escorted him to what he assumed was the dining area. He could already hear more voices coming from down the entryway.

“Nikolaj won.” The blonde announced to the room. Immediately, the noise died down as every eye turned in his direction. He could hear gasps from the people in the room and glanced at the other guests and immediately recognized a few faces.

“Why didn’t I think of him?” The only redhead in the room, Jessica Chastain, complained as she massaged her temples in irritation. Beside her was a brunette whom he immediately recognized from one of his favorite films, Edge of Tomorrow.

Across from Jessica was a man with a slightly smaller build than his own, whom he recognized as the actor who played Thor, Chris Hemsworth. Beside him was an older blonde whose face he could recognize but couldn’t put a name to.

There were other guests, and he was pretty sure that one of the taller blondes was the actress in Suicide Squad who played Harley Quinn.

“I’ve been dying to meet you!” Harley Quinn rushed over. He expected a handshake but was surprised by the quick hug he received.

“I can’t believe you brought the unicorn.” Thor slapped Nikolaj in the back before he gave his own handshake, which he quickly returned. “You’re a big guy, aren’t you? What’s your workout routine?”

“I just jog and swim.” He replied. He gave Jessica a brief hug in greeting and finally learned the name of the other blonde in the room, Nicole Kidman.

It turned out that Charlize Theron was hosting a simple lunch with the friends she had made while filming a movie, and they had just finished principal photography. Their host was quick and efficient and didn’t waste serving the food she had prepared.

Nikolaj was right, and the food could easily feed twice the number of people in the room. He particularly enjoyed the Boerewors, and in his opinion, it was the best sausage he had ever had. It was served with a porridge called Chakalaka. He loved the meaty, juicy taste of the sausage and quickly helped himself to a second serving.

He spotted Charlize looking smug while he ate, and he slowed down his eating so as not to appear rude, but their host didn’t seem to mind.

“Have some more.” Charlie smiled and pushed another plate over.

“What is this?” He asked as he inspected the toasted sandwich that looked like it had been left too long on the grill.

“We call it toasties,” Charlize explained. “Take a bite first.”

He did, and he immediately tasted cheese, onions, and tomatoes. It surprisingly worked well with the charred bread.

“It’s good.” He admitted as he took a second bite.

“See?” Charlize beamed and gave a look at the other guests around the table. “It’s not an acquired taste.”

“Jack will eat nearly anything.” Jessica playfully argued. “You forgot he’s a cop, and he’s used to eating from food trucks between his shifts.”

“I clearly remember someone eating the takeout I brought home for Zoe from a food truck.” He gave Jessica a look.

“That’s different.” The redhead answered. “Those Cubanos were amazing. Didn’t the chef open a restaurant later?”

“El Jefe.” Nikolaj joined the conversation. “It was Jack who showed me where I could get those cubanos, and I became friendly with the chef and his wife. Their son even helps them in the food truck on weekends.”

“That’s adorable,” Charlize commented. "You have to take me to that restaurant."

Their host brought out a few wine bottles, and it was there that the rest of the guests started asking him questions. They were very curious about his private life, though he appreciated that they didn’t push too much with their questions.

“So why don’t you attend the Grammys?” Margot Robbie asked. “Your songs are widely popular. I’ve seen numerous covers from other artists.”

“That’s more Taylor’s thing.” He explained. “I’m more interested in the creative aspect. I’m not interested in the awards.”

Thor engaged him in more conversation about his time in Metro. Apparently, the man was studying for the role of a soldier in an upcoming film. The Australian actor admitted he was practicing in a range that specialized in training actors for films, and he wanted him to join on the weekend to see how he was holding up.

An hour later, he was leaving Charlie’s house after a couple of selfies and a promise to return with Zoe for a proper backyard cookout.

“So what did you win in the bet?” He asked Nikolaj when they were back on the road. Charlize explained that every weekend, she would assign one of her friends to bring a plus one to one of her events, and whoever was the most elusive and difficult to track down would win the bet for the month.

“Charlize will be the one to prepare the food when my extended family flies over for a visit,” Nikolaj answered. “Nukaka will be happy.”

Nikolaj had explained that the last winner was when Jessica was somehow able to bring Bill Murray to one of Charlize’s cookouts.

By the time he had arrived home, he was sleepy with a full stomach and immediately fell asleep for the afternoon. He woke up disoriented and yawned and suddenly felt a warm body cuddled to his side on their couch. Zoe must have arrived shortly after he did and decided to sleep beside, using his arm as a pillow.

He wouldn’t have woken with that since he was used to his wife’s presence, and he even recognized her scent. No, what woke him up was the warm temperature. He looked around their unusually dark surroundings and wondered what had happened to their AC.

“It’s too hot,” Zoe mumbled. It was obvious that his wife was still not fully awake when he moved to sit up. “Turn on the A.C., honey.”

He reached for his phone and noticed something strange. There was an emergency alert on the screen, warning of a power outage.

He immediately stood up and checked the power to the house. The batteries should have kicked up automatically, but he realized the safety switches must have automatically triggered, automatically directing any surge caused away from the electrical components. He was thankful that he had invested in the EMP hardened units for his inverters despite them costing nearly twice the retail value compared to a standard one.

One long press to the power button of the inverter and it immediately flickered on with a beep while the small LED powered up, showing the remaining power in the batteries. A few lights placed strategically in their house turned on, and he headed back to the living room to turn on the AC.

Cool air began to blow once more after a minute, and the smell of stale air gradually vanished.

“What happened?” Zoe was now awake, rubbing the sleep from her eyes while she sat up on the couch.

“There’s an emergency notification on my phone about a power outage.” He replied. “It must be significant enough to trip the safety switches of our home grid.”

“Do we have enough juice remaining on the batteries?” Zoe asked.

“We do, and if the outage lasts any longer, we have the backup generator as a last resort.”

“Good.” He smiled widely, stood up, and stretched. “I heard from Jessica that you had an eventful lunch today.”

“I met some of her and Nikolaj’s colleagues.” He answered. “The highlight for me was the food.”

“It was that good?”

“The best. That sausage called Boerewors was amazing.” He still couldn’t believe how juicy and tasty it was. "It’s long, and made into a spiral shape, and extremely juicy. You have to try it.”

“I saw the pictures.” Zoe headed out to the main door and stepped out. He followed behind her and noticed that the usual noise from the city was muted. It was dark, and he could only hear the faint sound of cars from a block away.

They walked around their property, making sure the gate was locked, and saw that many people were out on the street, trying to cool off. Only a few houses had visible lights on, and theirs wasn’t visible due to the tall walls surrounding their bungalow.

“I’m glad we’re on leave right now.” Zoe shook her head. “Can you imagine the chaos in the station because of this?”

“They should have back-up power to handle this.” He replied. The city suffering a massive blackout just as the sun was setting was a difficult scenario to handle.

“This is worse,” Zoe replied, though he noticed that her eyes were glued to the screen of her smartphone. “From what I’m reading, a few substations are destroyed, triggering a systematic collapse of the entire city’s grid. We could be talking days until they get the grid back on.”  

They could now hear faint sirens from the distance, indicating that emergency vehicles were in the process of responding to calls all over the city. They retreated back inside their house, using minimal lights to conserve power for the rest of the night.

“What do you want for dinner?” He still felt full, but he knew Zoe would be hungry by now.

“Why don’t we just cook ourselves?” His wife suggested. Zoe’s phone suddenly buzzed, and she opened it and suddenly cursed after reading a message.

“What is it?” He asked.

“Remember that nice reporter we met in Baltimore?”

“Yeah, Robin Scherbatsky. We met her father during the large-scale exercise.” He remembered having a pleasant meal with the reporter and a cordial interview later.

“Well, she decided to listen to our suggestion to move to the West Coast,” Zoe explained. “I met her this morning when I accompanied Pam to purchase her own weapon at a gun expo. She joined us for lunch.”

 “What does she tell you?”

“She doesn’t know anyone in the city since she just moved in.” His wife looked concerned as she read the message on her screen once more. “She said that she couldn’t connect to 911 and that there are strange men roaming just outside the apartment she’s renting. I think she might be in trouble.”

“I can check up on her.” He replied after a moment of thought.

“It’s going to be difficult getting to her area. She’s in West Adams.” Zoe looked worried. He understood her reaction, since he knew that area was nearly as notorious as Skid Row.

“I can take the bike.” He started to get ready and put on his jacket. “Besides, we have more than enough space in the neighboring property. She can stay there for a few nights.”

“Wear your vest as well.” His wife ordered. “I’ll monitor your location through your phone. and also prepare dinner.”

“Yes, honey. I’ll be careful.” He promised.

Robin Scherbatsky

She looked through the peephole again. She heard muffled shouts from the landlord’s door after he allowed a group of men in.

When the power went out, she headed to the hallway to check if it was only her apartment that had a problem. Unfortunately, she stepped out just as a group of five men entered the apartment building as they made their way to her new landlord’s door.

She didn’t miss the looks they gave her, and she quickly headed back to her apartment, but not before she heard the crude and vulgar comments about her ass. She would have panicked if not for her baby hiding under her pillow.

She felt lost and alone for the past few days, ever since she made her move. Marshall and Lily were too busy with their growing family, with a third one on the way. Barney continued to flirt with every New York eight while also disappearing for weeks at a time to some remote island in the Bahamas with his latest conquest. And Ted… she was worried for her friend.

She could see that he was still reading her messages, but he was totally ignoring her. It was only by a stroke of luck that she met Zoe Andersen Routh earlier that morning, which alleviated her feelings of isolation.

It was nice to chat with Zoe and her best friend Pam. The two were very welcoming, and she was genuinely happy when she learned that Zoe was expecting after the other woman explained why she couldn’t order any alcoholic drinks during lunch.

She wasted no time in exchanging contact information with the two, eager to make new connections in the city. That proved crucial, since she couldn’t call the police thanks to the massive power outage. The lines were busy, and she could hear sirens all over the streets. She had never experienced this level of chaos in New York.

Zoe did reply that she was sending someone over, and that she should pack a small bag if she wanted to stay over, since they had power in their area. She was amazed by the generosity of the woman and quickly accepted the offer. Now it was only a matter of waiting.

She jumped when someone knocked loudly on her door.

“Who is it?” She called out, rushed over, pulled up her gun from under the pillow, and switched the safety off.

“We… just… we just wanted to ask if you have a lighter.” She could hear the laughter of the men through the door and tightened her grip on her weapon.

“I don’t have a lighter.” She replied. “Please leave!”

“That’s rude.”

“Yeah.”

“Why don’t you open the door so we can speak properly?” The apparent leader of the group replied. “You see, my boy Ricky still owes me some money, and gave me and the boys a bad mood. I thought you’d be kind enough to hang out with us and keep us company. You know, raise our spirits.”

“We have booze, and some top-shelf stuff to smoke if you’re up for it.” Another voice added.

“No!” She raised her voice to show them she meant business. “I’m not interested!”

The doorknob suddenly rattled, and she knew that someone on the other side of the door was trying to push it open.  

“Go away!” She yelled. “I’m calling the police!”

“Baby, don’t be like that!” The leader still tried to sweet-talk her. She was no one's baby. “We don’t mean you no harm! We just want to get to know you a little better! A hot babe like you shouldn't be alone.”

“Besides, can’t you see the police are busy with this blackout?” Another man joined in. “It’s scary out there, and we promise to keep you safe.”

“I’m armed!” She yelled out. She was done playing around and aimed her Desert Eagle at the door.

“Scary!” The men laughed at her threat.

“I will shoot anyone who comes through this door!” She replied.

“Yeah right, and the Punisher is coming for us.” The leader laughed.

“She told you she’s not interested.” A familiar voice reached her ears. She lowered her gun and moved quietly until she reached the door and peeked through the peephole.

She spotted Jack at the end of the messy hallway, with the group of men now facing him with their backs to her door.

“Who the fuck are you?” The leader with the red hoodie demanded.

“I’m a police officer, and the woman behind that door you were trying to get in called for my help.” Jack Routh replied. “It’s your last chance to walk away.”

“Are you kidding?” The men laughed. “You might be a big guy, but it’s five against one.”

Routh merely shook his head. “It’s three against one.”

“Do you know how to count, asshole?” The leader grinned, seemingly amused by Routh's boldness.

“Once I take out the leader, which is you, I’ll have to contend with one or two enthusiastic wing men.” She couldn’t understand why Routh was talking so casually in front of these dangerous-looking men with tattoos and piercings like he was in the park discussing the weather. Wasn’t he scared?

“The last two guys…” Jack made a point to look at the other men in the back. “…they always run.”

“I think this guy’s high,” One of the men in the back told his companion.

Routh ignored the laughter and moved to a ready position, arms partially raised and his legs slightly apart. “It’s getting late. Remember, you wanted this.”

She could tell that the men were a bit unnerved by how Jack Routh was acting since she caught a few of the men in the back exchanging confused looks. The leader attacked first with a blinding punch.

She watched in awe as Routh suddenly moved underneath the punch, showing surprising speed for a man his size. His counter was brutal with a swift elbow to the leader’s nose while he held the back of the man’s red hoodie, preventing him from collapsing on the floor as blood dripped down from his nose to the floor.

“It’s okay. Get up.” Routh seemed almost gentle with his words, and once the man was back on his feet, bent over and clutching his nose, he kicked the man right between the legs with a kick so strong she was sure she saw the leader fly up a few feet before collapsing on the ground as he screamed in pain.

She wondered if Jack was a prophet, since, as he predicted, two men pulled out knives and advanced on her savior.

Routh didn’t panic and merely picked up an empty bottle of whiskey from the floor to use as his weapon.

He was merciless and swiftly moved between the two attackers, dodging the knives by mere inches. His counterattack was brutal as he used the bottle as a club and broke the first knife wielder’s wrist and then threw it at the second attacker’s head in one smooth motion.

Both fell to the ground at the same time, one screaming in pain while clutching his broken wrist with his other hand, and the other was knocked unconscious.

Routh stared at the remaining two men, who both stepped back in fear when her rescuer took one step forward in their direction. This was so surreal.

“Pick up your friends and get out,” Routh ordered. The two men sprang like rabbits away from her door, and she wasted no time opening it as soon as Routh drew closer. She quickly stepped back and allowed the large man to enter, and for the first time, she felt totally safe in the city since the blackout happened.

“Did you put it back on safety?” Jack asked, pointing to the gun in her hand. He looked like he had just come back from a friendly stroll in the park. Who was this man? “Dessert Eagle, Zoe would be jealous.”

She felt like she was dreaming the whole time while she was riding behind Jack Routh on his bike. Her heart was still pounding, her mind replaying the short, brutal fight that happened outside her apartment.

Jack had helped her secure her belongings in a simple backpack, and by the time she opened the door, the hallway was clear, aside from the bloodstains on the floor. Jack didn’t even bother to look at the mess, and she quickly hurried after him until they reached his bike.

She was given a helmet to wear, and within a minute, they were cruising through the now chaotic streets of Los Angeles.

She tried to think about the fight again. Jack tried to give the men trying to break into her apartment multiple chances to leave. He was so calm and collected, and she couldn’t believe that beneath that handsome face was a deadly, ruthless warrior capable of dealing with a group of armed men like it was nothing. Was that a result of his training with the LAPD’s SWAT?

She had so many questions in her head. Who knew Sugar, the musician capable of melting women’s hearts with his music, could be so lethal? She shivered a bit, thinking about the young man she was now hugging by the waist. His presence was so intoxicating… she now understood why the pretty police captain fell for this man.

He had a big heart, too, since he was willing to travel to the other side of the city just to ensure her safety, even though she was just an acquaintance at best. He was so different from the male friends she had. He actually reminded her a bit of her father with how decisive he was, confident, and clearly, he was a man of action as well.

“We’re here,” Jack said over his shoulder as they slowed down. She spotted a charming Spanish bungalow house with a large tree in its plaza as soon as the gates opened. By the door of the house, she spotted the woman she was with that morning, and she quickly waved in greeting.

“I guess we found that time to get a man’s perspective after all.” Zoe teased as soon as she removed the helmet from her head. “Hope you like roasted beef sandwiches for dinner.”

The cool blast of air from the AC felt heavenly, and she immediately removed her sweater so that she could quickly cool down. The timing of the blackout was terrible on such a humid night.

“Thank you for picking me up.” She told Zoe.

“You’re welcome,” Zoe replied with a smile and then turned to her husband, who had just finished storing the bike. “Any problems on the road?”

“I just ruffled some feathers,” Jack Routh replied.

She raised an eyebrow and stared at his rescuer. That was just ruffling some feathers? Then what did it mean if he was truly out hunting for blood? She shivered, not from the cold this time. She didn’t want to know.