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FIC: Guilty by Association - Charles/Erik, XMFC - (10/13)
Title: Guilty by Association (10/13)
Author: Regann
Pairing: Charles/Erik (XMFC)
Rating: PG-13/R
Word Count: ~4,800 for the chapter (total: 50,000+)
Warnings: discussion of murder, violence and prostitution
Disclaimer: I don't own anything; I just play with them.
Notes: Everything I know about law enforcement and investigative journalism, I learned from watching television. Don't expect any more realism here than you'd find on an episode of CSI or L&O. There is also State of Play influence in this fic as well, although you don't need to have seen it to understand anything in this fic.
Summary: While investigating the homicide of a John Doe who he suspects might've been murdered while working the streets as a prostitute, Detective Erik Lehnsherr finds an unexpected ally in a hooker named Charles who seems as determined as he to solve the case. As they become more deeply involved both with the case and each other, there's just one thing that Charles neglects to mention -- that he's really an investigative journalist, one quickly convinced that what they're dealing with is more than simple murder. cop!Erik, fake-hooker-slash-reporter!Charles, Modern AU.
Previous Parts available at LJ, DW and AO3.
Guilty by Association (Part 10)
**
Given the late night Erik had spent on stakeout at the Meridian Building, Darwin's call came much too early the next morning.
"You're beginning to make a habit of this," Erik told Darwin as he slid out of bed, reaching around on the floor for his jeans.
"Payback for years of abuse," Darwin replied, not sounding the least bit apologetic even in the face of Erik's irritation.
Erik tucked the phone between his ear and his shoulder while he pulled on his jeans, glancing back toward the bed to make sure his activity hadn't awakened Charles. For once, he hadn't risen earlier than Erik and disappeared; Charles was still deeply asleep, face smashed against the pillow in what looked like a very uncomfortable position. Erik snorted softly under his breath before he quietly stepped out into the hall. "Well?" he asked into the phone as he headed down the stairs of Charles's brownstone. "I assumed you called and woke me up because you had something, not just because you missed me."
"I take it the stakeout was a bust?" Darwin asked.
Erik sighed. "It was always a long shot."
"True."
"So what did you find out, Darwin?" he asked impatiently.
"Oh, by the way," Darwin said, and Erik was sure it was for effect. "If I had wanted to be a real estate agent, I wouldn't have went to the police academy."
"Muñoz...."
"Okay." Erik could hear something shuffling in the background, probably papers or files. "So I checked out everything I could find on the Meridian building, there was nothing very interesting there. Most of the office space seems to be rented out to legit businesses who've been operating there for more than a few years. The dance studio's been there the longest."
"So you didn't find anything."
"However," Darwin continued. "Only two of the offices have been rented out within the past year. I figured it might be a good way to start looking at it, you know? Anyway, that's where it got weird because I recognized one of the new leasers."
That caught Erik's attention. "What's the name?"
"Janos Quested."
Erik frowned, even though Darwin couldn't see it. "Never heard of him."
"That's why it's weird," Darwin explained. "I don't know him from an investigation. I know him through Alex. But that's not the interesting part, as I'm sure you're starting to realize."
"Alex works on the Governor's reelection campaign," Erik remembered. "So this Quested has something to do with Shaw?"
"Your favorite person," Darwin quipped. "And Janos just isn't connected to Shaw -- he's his personal assistant. Total right-hand guy. Everything Alex does has to go through him."
Erik felt his pulse speed up a little as the adrenaline hit his system. "Someone in the Governor's office might have the clout to make our evidence disappear," Erik said. "Or lean on Frost for some breathing room."
"That's what I was thinking, too, but it's not like we have any evidence," Darwin said.
Erik thought for a moment. "Do you think Alex would mind a surprise visit?"
"From me?" Darwin laughed. "Definitely not. From you? A different story."
"He's never even met me," Erik pointed out.
"There's a reason for that."
"Call your boyfriend and let him know we're coming by in a little while," Erik said, his tone clear it was an order and not a request. "Call me back and let me know when."
"Hey, wait a minute," Darwin said. "There's still that other stuff."
"Other stuff?" Erik asked, half-distracted as he tried to figure out Charles's ridiculously complicated coffee maker.
"The address you gave me yesterday before the Meridian building?"
Erik's stilled, almost holding his breath as he waited for the answer. "Well?"
"That address you gave me belongs to a Brian Xavier," Darwin said. "He bought it almost ten years ago, no tenants or anything that I could find."
Erik thought about the photo in the living room of Charles with Brian Xavier and Charles's vague discussions about his "freelance" status, the way he seemed to have the time, money and connections to help Erik track down a murderer with no worries about what it was doing to his business. Erik wasn't very familiar with high-end escorts but he knew some of them did it for that rush alone, for the chance to find themselves in the company of rich and powerful men.
They didn't come much more rich and powerful than Brian Xavier.
"You still there?" Darwin's voice was tentative but it snapped Erik out of his reverie.
"Yeah, sorry," Erik said. "I'm hanging up now, call Alex, then call me back."
"Sure, sure," Darwin grumbled as he disconnected the call.
Erik tried not to think about unpleasant things like why Charles was living in a house owned by the prestigious editor of the Times and instead focused on his coffee, the new details of the case he'd learned from Darwin and what he wanted to steal from Charles's cabinets for breakfast. He'd just settled on scrambled eggs and toast when Charles shuffled downstairs in his robe, still yawning.
"I thought perhaps you'd gone," Charles said, coming around to fill his tea kettle with water.
Erik paused where he was pushing the still-runny eggs around in the pan. "Tired of me already?"
"Of course not," Charles protested, the firmness of his declaration at odds with his unruly hair and sheet-creased cheek. "I...like having you around, if it hasn't been obvious."
Erik didn't want to admit it but he felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. "It's not the Ritz," he deadpanned. "But it'll do."
Charles smiled.
By the time they finished breakfast, Darwin had called with Alex's response, which had been confused agreement to his request.
"I didn't tell him why," Darwin said. "Don't make me regret this."
Erik had filled Charles in on Janos Quested and his connection to the Meridian building, but he hadn't told him much about where they were going, just that they had an interview lined up and he was welcome to come along. There really was no reason to let him come, Erik knew, but somewhere along the way, the investigation had become theirs and not just his. Erik didn't see a point in cutting Charles out now.
When they pulled up, Erik could see Darwin waiting for them in front of campaign headquarters and that Charles was frowning out of the window at the office they'd come to visit. "This is the Governor's campaign headquarters, yes?"
"How did you know that?" Erik asked.
Charles shrugged. "You'd be surprised."
As they stepped out of the car, Darwin walked over to join them, throwing significant looks between Charles and Erik like his eyebrows could demand an explanation. It was Erik's turn to shrug as he introduced them. "Darwin, this is...Charles," he said. "Charles, this is my partner, Detective Muñoz."
"A pleasure," Charles said, offering his hand to Darwin. Erik watched Darwin take it, still shooting looks at Erik. "Come on," he told them. "Alex is waiting."
Erik hadn't spent much time inside a campaign headquarters, but the hubbub that greeted them on their way to Alex reflected what he'd expected -- ringing phones, posters everywhere, flustered office workers dashing to and fro. Darwin weaved through them with little problem or interference from the employees, while Erik and Charles trailed behind him, letting him lead the way.
Since Erik had never met or seen Darwin's mysterious Alex in the year he'd known of his existence, he had no idea who they were looking for in the busy office, and he didn't know they'd reached their destination until he saw Darwin stop to speak with a young blond in a finely tailored dark suit. His estimation of Alex rose when it was obvious that he wasn't trying to hide exactly who Darwin was to him, if their affectionate greeting was any indication.
"So this is your partner, huh?" Alex said as he approached, nodding in Erik's direction. Then his eyes slid to Charles. "And this is definitely a surprise."
Charles smiled. "Hello again, Alex. How have you been?"
"Busy," Alex said with a laugh, seemingly oblivious to both Darwin and Erik's looks of disbelief. "What are you doing with these two?"
"I'm helping with their investigation," Charles said smoothly, only a hint of mischief in his reply.
Alex's eyebrows rose at that, matching the expression on his boyfriend's face. "How did you swing that?"
Charles shot a look at Erik. "Maybe one day I'll tell you," he told Alex.
"You know him?" Darwin asked, tugging a little on Alex's arm.
"Yeah?" Alex answered. "Apparently so do you."
"How?"
Alex shot Charles a confused look before meeting Darwin's eyes again. "Work?"
"You don't sound very sure," Darwin pointed out dryly, and Erik was wondering just what kind of personal drama he'd accidentally created with his decision to bring Charles along. Of course, it wasn't like he could've known that Darwin's slick politico boyfriend would know who Charles was, much to Darwin's obvious jealousy.
"Speaking of work, I'm sure Alex has some that we're keeping him from," Charles broke in, earning a grateful smile from Alex and a terse scowl from Darwin. To Erik, Charles said, "How about you ask him your questions so we can all move along?"
Erik decided it was probably a good idea for all involved. "Any idea why Janos Quested would have rented office space in a building called the Meridian?"
"No," Alex said immediately. "I mean, I guess he could have personal reasons that aren't related to the Governor, but I'm not sure when he'd have the time. He handles everything for Governor Shaw."
"How about Shaw?" Erik asked. "Any reason he'd have to have some separate office space that's not connected with his campaign or the governorship?"
"Again, not that I'm aware of, but it's not like he tells me everything." Darwin received the brunt of Alex's frown, which mirrored the still-sour expression on Darwin's face. "Just what is actually going on here?"
"We can't really discuss it," Erik said. "It's part of an ongoing investigation."
The look Alex was giving both Erik and Darwin was withering enough to peel the paint from the walls. The only person who wasn't being treated to it was Charles, and Erik was too busy trying not to think how Charles and Shaw's election campaign intersected for him to be so friendly with Alex.
When it was obvious he wasn't going to get a better answer, Alex narrowed his eyes. "I don't have time for this," Alex said. "Detective Lehnsherr, I wish I could say it's been nice to meet you. Charles? Good to see you again." He shot Darwin a final glare before he stalked off. "I'll see you later."
Darwin sighed as he watched him walk away. "That went well."
Charles shrugged. "I don't think Alex is really the person who would know."
"Think we should just ask Quested?" Darwin asked.
"Or Shaw," Erik suggested. "Why bother with the middle man?"
Darwin looked even more apprehensive at that than he had after Alex's unfriendly farewell. "You know that's not a good idea."
Erik did know, but that didn't mean he didn't want to. Of all the names that had come up in the investigation, Shaw was the only one who had come close to having the connections to sabotage the case the way it had been, and Erik was tired of being one step behind whoever it was. The fact that was Shaw one of his least favorite people only added another dimension to his determination. "If he's involved ---"
"And if he's not, it'll be your badge," Darwin cut in. "Frost has already told you to back off and we have no evidence. We can barely tie Quested to Smith, let alone Shaw."
Erik wasn't happy about it but he knew Darwin had a point. "Any other suggestions?"
Charles had been standing to the side, arms crossed as he listened to the detectives' discussion. When it was obvious that Darwin had no answer, he spoke up. "I'll do it."
"You'll do what?"
"I'll talk to Janos or Shaw. Whoever," Charles said.
"You're just going to walk up and interrogate the governor?" Erik asked.
Charles rolled his eyes. "No, I'm going to walk up, smile and say hello. We'll see where it goes from there."
"I think he's asking how you're going to even get that far," Darwin said.
Charles looked close to rolling his eyes again. "The governor and I are -- well, let's call it friendly. We've had dealings in the past."
The faint look of disbelief that had appeared on Darwin's face earlier was back with full force. "Friendly?"
Like you are with Brian Xavier?, Erik wanted to ask but he stopped himself, if only because he was still having trouble dealing with the idea that Charles had any relationship to Shaw, let alone one that could be termed friendly. It was obviously a euphemism and the implication made something hot and sharp rise up in his throat. He looked at Charles, all solemn blue eyes and overlong hair, and tried to push away all the unpleasant thoughts that had been circling his brain for the last twelve or so hours, starting with their conversation from the stakeout and ending with the last, added insult of Sebastian Shaw.
He failed.
"Fine." Erik said, turning away, putting his back to the room and to Charles. "Darwin? Let's go."
"Erik?" Charles asked. "What are...?"
"I'm going back in to the precinct," he said.
"I thought you'd taken the day off," Charles said. Erik could hear the confusion in his voice that he'd probably see in Charles's face if he turned around.
"Change of plans."
"All right." Charles's voice was soft, perhaps even hurt.
Before he wasted all of the effort by turning around and making a scene, Erik headed out, Darwin on his heels, refusing to think about Charles as he left him behind.
**
Charles watched as Erik and Detective Muñoz disappeared out of the office and tried to ignore the speculative looks he was getting from the interns who were loitering around. He frowned, arms still crossed, staring after them for who knew how long before he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"You all right?" Alex asked when Charles startled out of his contemplation.
"Oh, you know," he said with a wave of his hand, not quite up to repeating a lie like "I'm fine." It was obvious that something had soured Erik's mood considerably and Charles had the nagging feeling it wasn't something connected to the case.
Alex also seemed troubled, jaw clenched tight. "Did those assholes just leave you here?"
"Indeed they did," Charles admitted with a hollow laugh. Transportation was the least of his concerns. "It's not a problem, I can catch a cab."
"I don't know what was up with Darwin," Alex told him. "He's usually not so...I don't know, jealous? That's not him at all. I don't know what his problem was today."
Charles's smile was wry. "I do," he told him. "Just tell Darwin exactly how you met me and it'll clear the misunderstanding right up."
"By telling him about a new media and journalism summit?" Alex asked.
Charles nodded.
"You sure you don't want me to give you a ride out of here?" Alex asked him. "It's not a problem."
"I could use a favor," Charles told him. "But not that. Where's the governor right now?"
Alex glanced at the clock on the far wall. "Actually, I've got him doing a softball Q&A with one of the Times reporters. A woman, something Scottish?"
"Moira MacTaggart?" Charles supplied.
Alex nodded. "Yeah, her. It should be over in less than an hour though. Why?"
"I want to talk to the Governor," he admitted. "Now seems like a good time to clear up a few things."
"Charles," Alex groaned, shaking his head. "Do I even want to know?"
"It will be horrible for your blood pressure," Charles admitted. "But it could turn out to be nothing. Don't start worrying quite yet."
Alex eyed him for a moment before speaking. "Maybe I should take back that 'good to see you,' Charles."
A genuine laugh escaped Charles at that. "I am sorry, Alex," he said with a smile. "Hopefully you won't have to."
But Alex was smart enough to be worried by the appearance of two detectives and an investigative reporter asking about his candidate, and the anxiety was apparent on his face even as he bid Charles a friendly goodbye. Charles almost wished he'd taken him up on the offer of a ride when he found himself hustling into the newspaper's building right around the deadline for Shaw's interview to be over, but he had decided he'd done enough damage to Alex's relationships for one day and hadn't wanted him any more involved than he was already was.
Luck was with him because Charles saw Shaw with his dark-haired, suavely-dressed assistant near the elevators just as he bounded up the stairs, still exchanging parting pleasantries with Moira who Charles could tell felt like she'd far more Sebastian Shaw in her day for the moment, which meant Charles's interruption wouldn't be as unwelcome as he'd feared.
He pasted a smile on his face and headed over. "Governor," he said in greeting. "Fancy meeting you here."
Sebastian Shaw, immaculate in his suit, returned Charles's greeting with a megawatt politician's smile of his own. "Well, well, Charles Xavier," he said. "It's been a while. How have you been?"
"I've been good, Governor," he said, shaking hands with him. "And yourself?"
"Can't complain," Shaw said. "Although I'll be glad when this campaign nonsense is over." He glanced at Moira, still wielding that smile. She, on the other hand, was giving Charles a strange look, trying to express something through various facial tics that he couldn't quite decipher. "I'd like to get back to focusing on the work instead of politicking."
Charles didn't let his smile waver. "Well at least you've had the chance to spend some time with our lovely Moira here."
Moira was now openly glaring at him but Charles ignored it as Shaw laughed. "She's been very...thorough," he said. "But I wouldn't expect anything less from your paper."
"Not mine, my father's," Charles corrected him. "I just dip my toe in now and then when I find a good enough story." Charles made sure to imbue his voice with just enough innuendo on the topic to hopefully elicit a question from Shaw.
He wasn't disappointed. "No wonder I haven't seen you around," Shaw said, still affable and genial. "This election has shaped up to rather a rather tedious affair, especially for a young man like you."
"Actually I'm working on something, but yes, it's not related to the election," Charles told him. "Maybe you've seen some of it. About the body they found in the Bronx last week? The one they think might be a prostitute?"
Charles hoped he wasn't imagining the flicker he thought he saw in Shaw's eyes where they held Charles's steady gaze. "That does sound more your speed."
"Well I'm pretty sure there's more than meets the eye to the case," he said. "Nothing like a good mystery to unravel."
Janos shifted restlessly where he stood at Shaw's side. "Governor," he murmured, clearing his throat. "You're going to be late for your next appointment if we do not leave now."
"Oh, yes, of course," Shaw said, then favored Charles with another smile. "It was a pleasure to see you again, Charles."
Charles returned it. "Same here, Governor. Good luck with the election."
"I know I can count on your vote," he said before turning to Moira. "Thank you for such an invigorating interview, Ms. McTaggart." With that, he swept off toward the elevators, Janos at his side whispering furiously as he pulled out his Blackberry.
As soon as the elevators doors slid closed behind them, Moira rounded on Charles. "What the hell was that, Charles? Really?"
Charles dropped the pleasant pretence he'd put on for Shaw. "Things have been progressing this morning, Moira, with the story," he told her, gently guiding her toward her desk, fingers around her elbow. "I really need to borrow your brain for a bit."
"I have a deadline," she reminded him. "I just finished with Shaw!"
"I noticed," he said. "But I think he might be involved, Moira. That's what the point was with that little display."
"I knew it had to be something," she said as they reached her desk and she pulled her arm from his hold. "But I was more worried about your father killing us both."
"Always a possibility for me," Charles admitted. "But you'll be fine, love. You're like the daughter he never had."
"He has Raven."
"You're like the daughter he had and actually likes then," Charles told her. "Either way, you're safe."
She crossed her arms. "So are you going to tell me about these developments or not?"
"Gladly," he began, then launched into an abbreviated version of what he'd found out. He didn't give her much detail on the how, but he told her about the key card for the Meridian, and then the stakeout that hadn't revealed much, followed by explaining the connection Darwin had found between one of the offices and Janos Quested. Somewhere in the middle, Sean wandered over with a stack of papers and a cup of coffee which he shamelessly held out for Moira, who took it with nothing more than a distracted murmur of thanks as she listened to Charles.
By the time he'd finished explaining the events of the morning that led to his ambush of Shaw, Moira had finished the coffee. "I think you're right that there's something there," she stated. "But it's really tenuous, even for us."
"I know, but I feel that we're on the right track finally," he said. "First the Tabram case, then the escort thing, it's all just been distracting us from what's really going on but I think we're there now."
"We still need a solid connection or else we're fumbling around in the dark, I don't care how sure your hunch is."
"Wait a minute," Sean said. "Are you guys looking for a way to connect Shaw to Elliot Smith?"
"That's exactly what we're talking about," Moira told him. "Why, did you find something when you were digging into Smith?"
"No," he answered, fumbling with the papers he had in his hand. "But I did find something when I was looking into Shaw."
"Why were you looking into Shaw in the first place?" Charles wanted to know as he watched Sean spread his papers across Moira's desk and start thumbing through his files.
"I was doing background for Moira," he explained. "But then I noticed something strange and I got distracted, so I followed it for awhile."
"And it led to Elliot Smith?" Moira asked.
"Not quite but close." With a triumphant wave, he brandished a small stack of papers he'd stapled together. "Okay, so you had me looking into his campaign finances, right?"
"Right," Moira nodded, then said "What?" when she noticed the look Charles was giving her.
"Alex Summers said it was a softball Q&A," he told her.
Moira snorted. "Alex Summers is a remarkably naive dear to be working in politics."
"Anyway," Sean continued. "I noticed that there's this one PAC, right, that's killing for him. I mean, they are throwing money out left and right, and it's why his campaign numbers were pretty low, because they're so generous, which was why I decided to look into the PAC. Most of its money is coming from a local real estate company but that company is actually just a subsidiary of another corporation."
"This is starting to sound interesting," Moira said, eyes lighting up. "What else?"
Sean was positively glowing under her attention. "So, the real estate firm is actually part of a holdings company out of Nevada, SGS Holdings." He paused, obviously for effect, and grinned. "And guess what it counts among its holdings?"
"What?" Charles asked.
"THFC, Inc.," Sean announced.
"The HellFire Club," Charles realized.
Sean's grin got even wider. "Yup."
Charles caught Moira's eye as it began to sink in for both of them. "That can't just be a coincidence."
"That Shaw's campaign is being backed by money that may or may not be coming from an escort service..." Moira continued.
"And then one of its escorts is murdered and the evidence for the crime goes missing from the police station," Charles finished.
"I did good, right?" Sean said.
Charles grinned at him. "Better than good, Sean. You might've caught that murderer after all!"
"Maybe it's time to fill your dad in," Moira told him. "This is getting into that territory."
Charles agreed with Moira's assessment but he was actually more worried about someone else. "I need to go," he told them. "I've got to tell Erik."
"Go?" Moira echoed as Sean asked, "Who's Erik?"
"Yes," he said to Moira, then to Sean, "He's my...well, he's been helping me on this case. But he could be in serious hot water if this is going where we think it is."
"So call him and let him know, then we'll go talk to Brian," Moira told him.
Charles shook his head. "I need to tell him in person." Given their chilly separation at Shaw's campaign headquarters, Charles wasn't even sure if Erik would take his call if he tried, and...the truth was Charles wanted to check on him himself. "It won't take long, an hour and a half, tops. Then I'll be back and we can break the news to Dad."
Moira sighed. "Fine, I can work on this other stuff until then, I guess."
"You're a doll," he told her with a quick squeeze of her hand. "I swear, it won't take long at all. I'll be back before 4 o'clock."
"I'll time you," she warned, and he acknowledged it with a wave, already half-way through the bullpen toward the elevators.
Charles knew where Erik's precinct was because of his long connection with Hank, but he hadn't made much of a habit of roaming around inside of it, looking for its detectives. It took him longer than he would've liked before he saw a tall, familiar form that was almost as good as finding Erik himself.
"Detective Muñoz," Charles called out. "Darwin!"
"Charles?" Darwin turned, still looking a bit cool toward him. He would've apologized and tried to clear up the matter if he hadn't had more pressing concerns. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for Erik," he said. "It's vitally important I speak to him."
Darwin grimaced. "Good luck with that. Frost kicked him out when he showed up and I think he's turned his phone off."
Charles frowned. "Why?"
Darwin shrugged. "I don't understand the moods, I just weather them."
Charles lowered his voice. "I think I figured it out," he explained. "Who killed Smith and why, and how it's related to Sebastian Shaw."
Darwin's eyes widened and he leaned in a little. "Seriously?"
He nodded. "I want you to tell him to call me as soon as you get a hold of him, all right? I want to fill him on everything."
"I'll keep trying," Darwin promised. "It's just...Shaw's not his favorite person."
"So I've become aware," Charles said dryly. "I mean it, though. I've got it all figured out more or less. I think. Just have him call me and tell him to be careful, yes?"
"I will," Darwin promised. Then he added, "You could just wait around for him here."
Charles shook his head. It was tempting but he did have his own job to do. "I have an appointment," he explained. "But I'll be waiting for his call."
Darwin waved him off and Charles made a dash for the exit. He'd already spent a fortune in cab fare for the day, but he didn't want to waste a moment, so he headed down the street, keeping his eyes peeled for an empty taxi. He knew that once he and Moira finished letting his dad know about what they'd found that Brian Xavier would be ready to jump on the story, to attack it with everything they had until they figured out where it was going. Charles hoped he'd have a chance to speak to Erik before he was swept up in that whirlwind; he wanted to explain himself before someone else -- Darwin, most likely, once he'd spoken to Alex -- revealed his deception.
Tucking the lapels of his coat closer around his face, he was just about to step out toward a cab he saw someone exiting when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.
He'd barely even turned around, just enough to get an impression of a severe, vaguely familiar face, before there was a pain in the back of his head and everything went black.
**
End of Part 10
Author: Regann
Pairing: Charles/Erik (XMFC)
Rating: PG-13/R
Word Count: ~4,800 for the chapter (total: 50,000+)
Warnings: discussion of murder, violence and prostitution
Disclaimer: I don't own anything; I just play with them.
Notes: Everything I know about law enforcement and investigative journalism, I learned from watching television. Don't expect any more realism here than you'd find on an episode of CSI or L&O. There is also State of Play influence in this fic as well, although you don't need to have seen it to understand anything in this fic.
Summary: While investigating the homicide of a John Doe who he suspects might've been murdered while working the streets as a prostitute, Detective Erik Lehnsherr finds an unexpected ally in a hooker named Charles who seems as determined as he to solve the case. As they become more deeply involved both with the case and each other, there's just one thing that Charles neglects to mention -- that he's really an investigative journalist, one quickly convinced that what they're dealing with is more than simple murder. cop!Erik, fake-hooker-slash-reporter!Charles, Modern AU.
Previous Parts available at LJ, DW and AO3.
Guilty by Association (Part 10)
**
Given the late night Erik had spent on stakeout at the Meridian Building, Darwin's call came much too early the next morning.
"You're beginning to make a habit of this," Erik told Darwin as he slid out of bed, reaching around on the floor for his jeans.
"Payback for years of abuse," Darwin replied, not sounding the least bit apologetic even in the face of Erik's irritation.
Erik tucked the phone between his ear and his shoulder while he pulled on his jeans, glancing back toward the bed to make sure his activity hadn't awakened Charles. For once, he hadn't risen earlier than Erik and disappeared; Charles was still deeply asleep, face smashed against the pillow in what looked like a very uncomfortable position. Erik snorted softly under his breath before he quietly stepped out into the hall. "Well?" he asked into the phone as he headed down the stairs of Charles's brownstone. "I assumed you called and woke me up because you had something, not just because you missed me."
"I take it the stakeout was a bust?" Darwin asked.
Erik sighed. "It was always a long shot."
"True."
"So what did you find out, Darwin?" he asked impatiently.
"Oh, by the way," Darwin said, and Erik was sure it was for effect. "If I had wanted to be a real estate agent, I wouldn't have went to the police academy."
"Muñoz...."
"Okay." Erik could hear something shuffling in the background, probably papers or files. "So I checked out everything I could find on the Meridian building, there was nothing very interesting there. Most of the office space seems to be rented out to legit businesses who've been operating there for more than a few years. The dance studio's been there the longest."
"So you didn't find anything."
"However," Darwin continued. "Only two of the offices have been rented out within the past year. I figured it might be a good way to start looking at it, you know? Anyway, that's where it got weird because I recognized one of the new leasers."
That caught Erik's attention. "What's the name?"
"Janos Quested."
Erik frowned, even though Darwin couldn't see it. "Never heard of him."
"That's why it's weird," Darwin explained. "I don't know him from an investigation. I know him through Alex. But that's not the interesting part, as I'm sure you're starting to realize."
"Alex works on the Governor's reelection campaign," Erik remembered. "So this Quested has something to do with Shaw?"
"Your favorite person," Darwin quipped. "And Janos just isn't connected to Shaw -- he's his personal assistant. Total right-hand guy. Everything Alex does has to go through him."
Erik felt his pulse speed up a little as the adrenaline hit his system. "Someone in the Governor's office might have the clout to make our evidence disappear," Erik said. "Or lean on Frost for some breathing room."
"That's what I was thinking, too, but it's not like we have any evidence," Darwin said.
Erik thought for a moment. "Do you think Alex would mind a surprise visit?"
"From me?" Darwin laughed. "Definitely not. From you? A different story."
"He's never even met me," Erik pointed out.
"There's a reason for that."
"Call your boyfriend and let him know we're coming by in a little while," Erik said, his tone clear it was an order and not a request. "Call me back and let me know when."
"Hey, wait a minute," Darwin said. "There's still that other stuff."
"Other stuff?" Erik asked, half-distracted as he tried to figure out Charles's ridiculously complicated coffee maker.
"The address you gave me yesterday before the Meridian building?"
Erik's stilled, almost holding his breath as he waited for the answer. "Well?"
"That address you gave me belongs to a Brian Xavier," Darwin said. "He bought it almost ten years ago, no tenants or anything that I could find."
Erik thought about the photo in the living room of Charles with Brian Xavier and Charles's vague discussions about his "freelance" status, the way he seemed to have the time, money and connections to help Erik track down a murderer with no worries about what it was doing to his business. Erik wasn't very familiar with high-end escorts but he knew some of them did it for that rush alone, for the chance to find themselves in the company of rich and powerful men.
They didn't come much more rich and powerful than Brian Xavier.
"You still there?" Darwin's voice was tentative but it snapped Erik out of his reverie.
"Yeah, sorry," Erik said. "I'm hanging up now, call Alex, then call me back."
"Sure, sure," Darwin grumbled as he disconnected the call.
Erik tried not to think about unpleasant things like why Charles was living in a house owned by the prestigious editor of the Times and instead focused on his coffee, the new details of the case he'd learned from Darwin and what he wanted to steal from Charles's cabinets for breakfast. He'd just settled on scrambled eggs and toast when Charles shuffled downstairs in his robe, still yawning.
"I thought perhaps you'd gone," Charles said, coming around to fill his tea kettle with water.
Erik paused where he was pushing the still-runny eggs around in the pan. "Tired of me already?"
"Of course not," Charles protested, the firmness of his declaration at odds with his unruly hair and sheet-creased cheek. "I...like having you around, if it hasn't been obvious."
Erik didn't want to admit it but he felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. "It's not the Ritz," he deadpanned. "But it'll do."
Charles smiled.
By the time they finished breakfast, Darwin had called with Alex's response, which had been confused agreement to his request.
"I didn't tell him why," Darwin said. "Don't make me regret this."
Erik had filled Charles in on Janos Quested and his connection to the Meridian building, but he hadn't told him much about where they were going, just that they had an interview lined up and he was welcome to come along. There really was no reason to let him come, Erik knew, but somewhere along the way, the investigation had become theirs and not just his. Erik didn't see a point in cutting Charles out now.
When they pulled up, Erik could see Darwin waiting for them in front of campaign headquarters and that Charles was frowning out of the window at the office they'd come to visit. "This is the Governor's campaign headquarters, yes?"
"How did you know that?" Erik asked.
Charles shrugged. "You'd be surprised."
As they stepped out of the car, Darwin walked over to join them, throwing significant looks between Charles and Erik like his eyebrows could demand an explanation. It was Erik's turn to shrug as he introduced them. "Darwin, this is...Charles," he said. "Charles, this is my partner, Detective Muñoz."
"A pleasure," Charles said, offering his hand to Darwin. Erik watched Darwin take it, still shooting looks at Erik. "Come on," he told them. "Alex is waiting."
Erik hadn't spent much time inside a campaign headquarters, but the hubbub that greeted them on their way to Alex reflected what he'd expected -- ringing phones, posters everywhere, flustered office workers dashing to and fro. Darwin weaved through them with little problem or interference from the employees, while Erik and Charles trailed behind him, letting him lead the way.
Since Erik had never met or seen Darwin's mysterious Alex in the year he'd known of his existence, he had no idea who they were looking for in the busy office, and he didn't know they'd reached their destination until he saw Darwin stop to speak with a young blond in a finely tailored dark suit. His estimation of Alex rose when it was obvious that he wasn't trying to hide exactly who Darwin was to him, if their affectionate greeting was any indication.
"So this is your partner, huh?" Alex said as he approached, nodding in Erik's direction. Then his eyes slid to Charles. "And this is definitely a surprise."
Charles smiled. "Hello again, Alex. How have you been?"
"Busy," Alex said with a laugh, seemingly oblivious to both Darwin and Erik's looks of disbelief. "What are you doing with these two?"
"I'm helping with their investigation," Charles said smoothly, only a hint of mischief in his reply.
Alex's eyebrows rose at that, matching the expression on his boyfriend's face. "How did you swing that?"
Charles shot a look at Erik. "Maybe one day I'll tell you," he told Alex.
"You know him?" Darwin asked, tugging a little on Alex's arm.
"Yeah?" Alex answered. "Apparently so do you."
"How?"
Alex shot Charles a confused look before meeting Darwin's eyes again. "Work?"
"You don't sound very sure," Darwin pointed out dryly, and Erik was wondering just what kind of personal drama he'd accidentally created with his decision to bring Charles along. Of course, it wasn't like he could've known that Darwin's slick politico boyfriend would know who Charles was, much to Darwin's obvious jealousy.
"Speaking of work, I'm sure Alex has some that we're keeping him from," Charles broke in, earning a grateful smile from Alex and a terse scowl from Darwin. To Erik, Charles said, "How about you ask him your questions so we can all move along?"
Erik decided it was probably a good idea for all involved. "Any idea why Janos Quested would have rented office space in a building called the Meridian?"
"No," Alex said immediately. "I mean, I guess he could have personal reasons that aren't related to the Governor, but I'm not sure when he'd have the time. He handles everything for Governor Shaw."
"How about Shaw?" Erik asked. "Any reason he'd have to have some separate office space that's not connected with his campaign or the governorship?"
"Again, not that I'm aware of, but it's not like he tells me everything." Darwin received the brunt of Alex's frown, which mirrored the still-sour expression on Darwin's face. "Just what is actually going on here?"
"We can't really discuss it," Erik said. "It's part of an ongoing investigation."
The look Alex was giving both Erik and Darwin was withering enough to peel the paint from the walls. The only person who wasn't being treated to it was Charles, and Erik was too busy trying not to think how Charles and Shaw's election campaign intersected for him to be so friendly with Alex.
When it was obvious he wasn't going to get a better answer, Alex narrowed his eyes. "I don't have time for this," Alex said. "Detective Lehnsherr, I wish I could say it's been nice to meet you. Charles? Good to see you again." He shot Darwin a final glare before he stalked off. "I'll see you later."
Darwin sighed as he watched him walk away. "That went well."
Charles shrugged. "I don't think Alex is really the person who would know."
"Think we should just ask Quested?" Darwin asked.
"Or Shaw," Erik suggested. "Why bother with the middle man?"
Darwin looked even more apprehensive at that than he had after Alex's unfriendly farewell. "You know that's not a good idea."
Erik did know, but that didn't mean he didn't want to. Of all the names that had come up in the investigation, Shaw was the only one who had come close to having the connections to sabotage the case the way it had been, and Erik was tired of being one step behind whoever it was. The fact that was Shaw one of his least favorite people only added another dimension to his determination. "If he's involved ---"
"And if he's not, it'll be your badge," Darwin cut in. "Frost has already told you to back off and we have no evidence. We can barely tie Quested to Smith, let alone Shaw."
Erik wasn't happy about it but he knew Darwin had a point. "Any other suggestions?"
Charles had been standing to the side, arms crossed as he listened to the detectives' discussion. When it was obvious that Darwin had no answer, he spoke up. "I'll do it."
"You'll do what?"
"I'll talk to Janos or Shaw. Whoever," Charles said.
"You're just going to walk up and interrogate the governor?" Erik asked.
Charles rolled his eyes. "No, I'm going to walk up, smile and say hello. We'll see where it goes from there."
"I think he's asking how you're going to even get that far," Darwin said.
Charles looked close to rolling his eyes again. "The governor and I are -- well, let's call it friendly. We've had dealings in the past."
The faint look of disbelief that had appeared on Darwin's face earlier was back with full force. "Friendly?"
Like you are with Brian Xavier?, Erik wanted to ask but he stopped himself, if only because he was still having trouble dealing with the idea that Charles had any relationship to Shaw, let alone one that could be termed friendly. It was obviously a euphemism and the implication made something hot and sharp rise up in his throat. He looked at Charles, all solemn blue eyes and overlong hair, and tried to push away all the unpleasant thoughts that had been circling his brain for the last twelve or so hours, starting with their conversation from the stakeout and ending with the last, added insult of Sebastian Shaw.
He failed.
"Fine." Erik said, turning away, putting his back to the room and to Charles. "Darwin? Let's go."
"Erik?" Charles asked. "What are...?"
"I'm going back in to the precinct," he said.
"I thought you'd taken the day off," Charles said. Erik could hear the confusion in his voice that he'd probably see in Charles's face if he turned around.
"Change of plans."
"All right." Charles's voice was soft, perhaps even hurt.
Before he wasted all of the effort by turning around and making a scene, Erik headed out, Darwin on his heels, refusing to think about Charles as he left him behind.
**
Charles watched as Erik and Detective Muñoz disappeared out of the office and tried to ignore the speculative looks he was getting from the interns who were loitering around. He frowned, arms still crossed, staring after them for who knew how long before he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"You all right?" Alex asked when Charles startled out of his contemplation.
"Oh, you know," he said with a wave of his hand, not quite up to repeating a lie like "I'm fine." It was obvious that something had soured Erik's mood considerably and Charles had the nagging feeling it wasn't something connected to the case.
Alex also seemed troubled, jaw clenched tight. "Did those assholes just leave you here?"
"Indeed they did," Charles admitted with a hollow laugh. Transportation was the least of his concerns. "It's not a problem, I can catch a cab."
"I don't know what was up with Darwin," Alex told him. "He's usually not so...I don't know, jealous? That's not him at all. I don't know what his problem was today."
Charles's smile was wry. "I do," he told him. "Just tell Darwin exactly how you met me and it'll clear the misunderstanding right up."
"By telling him about a new media and journalism summit?" Alex asked.
Charles nodded.
"You sure you don't want me to give you a ride out of here?" Alex asked him. "It's not a problem."
"I could use a favor," Charles told him. "But not that. Where's the governor right now?"
Alex glanced at the clock on the far wall. "Actually, I've got him doing a softball Q&A with one of the Times reporters. A woman, something Scottish?"
"Moira MacTaggart?" Charles supplied.
Alex nodded. "Yeah, her. It should be over in less than an hour though. Why?"
"I want to talk to the Governor," he admitted. "Now seems like a good time to clear up a few things."
"Charles," Alex groaned, shaking his head. "Do I even want to know?"
"It will be horrible for your blood pressure," Charles admitted. "But it could turn out to be nothing. Don't start worrying quite yet."
Alex eyed him for a moment before speaking. "Maybe I should take back that 'good to see you,' Charles."
A genuine laugh escaped Charles at that. "I am sorry, Alex," he said with a smile. "Hopefully you won't have to."
But Alex was smart enough to be worried by the appearance of two detectives and an investigative reporter asking about his candidate, and the anxiety was apparent on his face even as he bid Charles a friendly goodbye. Charles almost wished he'd taken him up on the offer of a ride when he found himself hustling into the newspaper's building right around the deadline for Shaw's interview to be over, but he had decided he'd done enough damage to Alex's relationships for one day and hadn't wanted him any more involved than he was already was.
Luck was with him because Charles saw Shaw with his dark-haired, suavely-dressed assistant near the elevators just as he bounded up the stairs, still exchanging parting pleasantries with Moira who Charles could tell felt like she'd far more Sebastian Shaw in her day for the moment, which meant Charles's interruption wouldn't be as unwelcome as he'd feared.
He pasted a smile on his face and headed over. "Governor," he said in greeting. "Fancy meeting you here."
Sebastian Shaw, immaculate in his suit, returned Charles's greeting with a megawatt politician's smile of his own. "Well, well, Charles Xavier," he said. "It's been a while. How have you been?"
"I've been good, Governor," he said, shaking hands with him. "And yourself?"
"Can't complain," Shaw said. "Although I'll be glad when this campaign nonsense is over." He glanced at Moira, still wielding that smile. She, on the other hand, was giving Charles a strange look, trying to express something through various facial tics that he couldn't quite decipher. "I'd like to get back to focusing on the work instead of politicking."
Charles didn't let his smile waver. "Well at least you've had the chance to spend some time with our lovely Moira here."
Moira was now openly glaring at him but Charles ignored it as Shaw laughed. "She's been very...thorough," he said. "But I wouldn't expect anything less from your paper."
"Not mine, my father's," Charles corrected him. "I just dip my toe in now and then when I find a good enough story." Charles made sure to imbue his voice with just enough innuendo on the topic to hopefully elicit a question from Shaw.
He wasn't disappointed. "No wonder I haven't seen you around," Shaw said, still affable and genial. "This election has shaped up to rather a rather tedious affair, especially for a young man like you."
"Actually I'm working on something, but yes, it's not related to the election," Charles told him. "Maybe you've seen some of it. About the body they found in the Bronx last week? The one they think might be a prostitute?"
Charles hoped he wasn't imagining the flicker he thought he saw in Shaw's eyes where they held Charles's steady gaze. "That does sound more your speed."
"Well I'm pretty sure there's more than meets the eye to the case," he said. "Nothing like a good mystery to unravel."
Janos shifted restlessly where he stood at Shaw's side. "Governor," he murmured, clearing his throat. "You're going to be late for your next appointment if we do not leave now."
"Oh, yes, of course," Shaw said, then favored Charles with another smile. "It was a pleasure to see you again, Charles."
Charles returned it. "Same here, Governor. Good luck with the election."
"I know I can count on your vote," he said before turning to Moira. "Thank you for such an invigorating interview, Ms. McTaggart." With that, he swept off toward the elevators, Janos at his side whispering furiously as he pulled out his Blackberry.
As soon as the elevators doors slid closed behind them, Moira rounded on Charles. "What the hell was that, Charles? Really?"
Charles dropped the pleasant pretence he'd put on for Shaw. "Things have been progressing this morning, Moira, with the story," he told her, gently guiding her toward her desk, fingers around her elbow. "I really need to borrow your brain for a bit."
"I have a deadline," she reminded him. "I just finished with Shaw!"
"I noticed," he said. "But I think he might be involved, Moira. That's what the point was with that little display."
"I knew it had to be something," she said as they reached her desk and she pulled her arm from his hold. "But I was more worried about your father killing us both."
"Always a possibility for me," Charles admitted. "But you'll be fine, love. You're like the daughter he never had."
"He has Raven."
"You're like the daughter he had and actually likes then," Charles told her. "Either way, you're safe."
She crossed her arms. "So are you going to tell me about these developments or not?"
"Gladly," he began, then launched into an abbreviated version of what he'd found out. He didn't give her much detail on the how, but he told her about the key card for the Meridian, and then the stakeout that hadn't revealed much, followed by explaining the connection Darwin had found between one of the offices and Janos Quested. Somewhere in the middle, Sean wandered over with a stack of papers and a cup of coffee which he shamelessly held out for Moira, who took it with nothing more than a distracted murmur of thanks as she listened to Charles.
By the time he'd finished explaining the events of the morning that led to his ambush of Shaw, Moira had finished the coffee. "I think you're right that there's something there," she stated. "But it's really tenuous, even for us."
"I know, but I feel that we're on the right track finally," he said. "First the Tabram case, then the escort thing, it's all just been distracting us from what's really going on but I think we're there now."
"We still need a solid connection or else we're fumbling around in the dark, I don't care how sure your hunch is."
"Wait a minute," Sean said. "Are you guys looking for a way to connect Shaw to Elliot Smith?"
"That's exactly what we're talking about," Moira told him. "Why, did you find something when you were digging into Smith?"
"No," he answered, fumbling with the papers he had in his hand. "But I did find something when I was looking into Shaw."
"Why were you looking into Shaw in the first place?" Charles wanted to know as he watched Sean spread his papers across Moira's desk and start thumbing through his files.
"I was doing background for Moira," he explained. "But then I noticed something strange and I got distracted, so I followed it for awhile."
"And it led to Elliot Smith?" Moira asked.
"Not quite but close." With a triumphant wave, he brandished a small stack of papers he'd stapled together. "Okay, so you had me looking into his campaign finances, right?"
"Right," Moira nodded, then said "What?" when she noticed the look Charles was giving her.
"Alex Summers said it was a softball Q&A," he told her.
Moira snorted. "Alex Summers is a remarkably naive dear to be working in politics."
"Anyway," Sean continued. "I noticed that there's this one PAC, right, that's killing for him. I mean, they are throwing money out left and right, and it's why his campaign numbers were pretty low, because they're so generous, which was why I decided to look into the PAC. Most of its money is coming from a local real estate company but that company is actually just a subsidiary of another corporation."
"This is starting to sound interesting," Moira said, eyes lighting up. "What else?"
Sean was positively glowing under her attention. "So, the real estate firm is actually part of a holdings company out of Nevada, SGS Holdings." He paused, obviously for effect, and grinned. "And guess what it counts among its holdings?"
"What?" Charles asked.
"THFC, Inc.," Sean announced.
"The HellFire Club," Charles realized.
Sean's grin got even wider. "Yup."
Charles caught Moira's eye as it began to sink in for both of them. "That can't just be a coincidence."
"That Shaw's campaign is being backed by money that may or may not be coming from an escort service..." Moira continued.
"And then one of its escorts is murdered and the evidence for the crime goes missing from the police station," Charles finished.
"I did good, right?" Sean said.
Charles grinned at him. "Better than good, Sean. You might've caught that murderer after all!"
"Maybe it's time to fill your dad in," Moira told him. "This is getting into that territory."
Charles agreed with Moira's assessment but he was actually more worried about someone else. "I need to go," he told them. "I've got to tell Erik."
"Go?" Moira echoed as Sean asked, "Who's Erik?"
"Yes," he said to Moira, then to Sean, "He's my...well, he's been helping me on this case. But he could be in serious hot water if this is going where we think it is."
"So call him and let him know, then we'll go talk to Brian," Moira told him.
Charles shook his head. "I need to tell him in person." Given their chilly separation at Shaw's campaign headquarters, Charles wasn't even sure if Erik would take his call if he tried, and...the truth was Charles wanted to check on him himself. "It won't take long, an hour and a half, tops. Then I'll be back and we can break the news to Dad."
Moira sighed. "Fine, I can work on this other stuff until then, I guess."
"You're a doll," he told her with a quick squeeze of her hand. "I swear, it won't take long at all. I'll be back before 4 o'clock."
"I'll time you," she warned, and he acknowledged it with a wave, already half-way through the bullpen toward the elevators.
Charles knew where Erik's precinct was because of his long connection with Hank, but he hadn't made much of a habit of roaming around inside of it, looking for its detectives. It took him longer than he would've liked before he saw a tall, familiar form that was almost as good as finding Erik himself.
"Detective Muñoz," Charles called out. "Darwin!"
"Charles?" Darwin turned, still looking a bit cool toward him. He would've apologized and tried to clear up the matter if he hadn't had more pressing concerns. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for Erik," he said. "It's vitally important I speak to him."
Darwin grimaced. "Good luck with that. Frost kicked him out when he showed up and I think he's turned his phone off."
Charles frowned. "Why?"
Darwin shrugged. "I don't understand the moods, I just weather them."
Charles lowered his voice. "I think I figured it out," he explained. "Who killed Smith and why, and how it's related to Sebastian Shaw."
Darwin's eyes widened and he leaned in a little. "Seriously?"
He nodded. "I want you to tell him to call me as soon as you get a hold of him, all right? I want to fill him on everything."
"I'll keep trying," Darwin promised. "It's just...Shaw's not his favorite person."
"So I've become aware," Charles said dryly. "I mean it, though. I've got it all figured out more or less. I think. Just have him call me and tell him to be careful, yes?"
"I will," Darwin promised. Then he added, "You could just wait around for him here."
Charles shook his head. It was tempting but he did have his own job to do. "I have an appointment," he explained. "But I'll be waiting for his call."
Darwin waved him off and Charles made a dash for the exit. He'd already spent a fortune in cab fare for the day, but he didn't want to waste a moment, so he headed down the street, keeping his eyes peeled for an empty taxi. He knew that once he and Moira finished letting his dad know about what they'd found that Brian Xavier would be ready to jump on the story, to attack it with everything they had until they figured out where it was going. Charles hoped he'd have a chance to speak to Erik before he was swept up in that whirlwind; he wanted to explain himself before someone else -- Darwin, most likely, once he'd spoken to Alex -- revealed his deception.
Tucking the lapels of his coat closer around his face, he was just about to step out toward a cab he saw someone exiting when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.
He'd barely even turned around, just enough to get an impression of a severe, vaguely familiar face, before there was a pain in the back of his head and everything went black.
**
End of Part 10