The Phantom Files (Prologue cont.)

Ollie sat down across from his partner at the booth in the bar. She was laying with her head on the table, a beer bottle in her weary hand and her other arm draped under her face to hide it under her mane of raven black hair. Ollie sighed and lifted his own bottle to his lips. This was his only drink of the night…someone had to drive home after all. But LeeAnne was already on her 5th bottle.
“That’s enough, Richie…”
“Oh it’s RICHIE now huh!?” LeeAnne snapped, lifting her head only to take another gulp of beer. Her cheeks were a little red and her eyes were clearly drooping. “Earlier it was all ‘LeeAnne dear, go and talk to the STOOPID manager and get his confession like a good little GURL!”
“Keep your voice down.” Ollie hissed. “I think you’ve had enough to drink…you’re embarrassing yourself, AND me.” LeeAnne glared at Ollie and then at her bottle before lifting it to her lips once again.
“Ya know I don’t get ya, Ollie…” She slurred. “Ya act all cool and all that jazz when we’re on a crime scene…but then when you think I’m drinking myself under da table…you get all momma bear on me. Like…what’s the deal!?”
“Maybe it’s because I worry about you sometimes. I don’t like having to carry your sorry ass all the way home.”
“Well maybe I LIKE being carried home….that didn’t come out right….”
“No it didn’t. Hence the reason you need to stop. Here, let me take that.” Ollie reached over and plucked the bottle from her hands. She gave him a look of defeat and leaned back in her chair, letting out a long belch which made Ollie groan. “You could TRY to have some shame…”
“I jusz don CARE…” She snapped, running her fingers through her hair and shoving empty bottles aside. “I’ve been a woman for like…3 whole months and you ain’t got no idea whad its like! It’s….it’s freaking crazy!”
“Oh do tell.”
“Like…I have to go to the bathroom sitt’n down! An an an I can’t even…ya know go walk’n down a sidewalk without some perverted BASTURD givn my ass a slap! What a bunch of PRICKS!” She cried, leaning against the table and reaching for her bottle again. Ollie held it out of the way, seeing that LeeAnne had clearly had enough. Ollie just gave her a look of sympathy. He knew she didn’t want this. She hadn’t asked to become a woman, and she certainly didn’t deserve this treatment, but maybe this was a good chance to get it all out?
“Yeah that sounds rough…are you feeling okay?”
“NO! I’m not feeling ‘okay!’ I mean I ain’t even toldya about what happens once a month for me! It’s like nothing but PAIN and…an an an blood and an an lots of chocolate and…and...........wow the room is spinning WAY too fast…”
“You’re drunk.”
“NO your FACE is drunk you…pffahahaha! That doesn even make sense! Ahahaha!” The entire room was turning and staring at her now and Ollie felt himself blushing.
“LeeAnne?”
“Like why ya keep call’n me that?” She snapped. “I’m not suppos ta be a gurl ya know! I’mma GUY!”
“Oh my god…” Ollie grumbled. “Please stop talking right now…”
“I’m a GUY and I didn’t ask ta be a gurl! I don’t wanna be a woman!! I wanna be a man again and…I…ugh…be….ugh…oh man…” Ollie glanced up at LeeAnn who was now turning very green. His eyes widened and he pointed to the bathroom, knowing what was about to happen.
“MOVE!’ LeeAnne leaped up and sprinted towards the restroom. When Ollie saw which one he winced. “NO NOT THAT ON-oh god no…” LeeAnne had just run into the mens bathroom. Clearly she still wasn’t used to that change, or was too drunk to remember. After a few minutes, LeeAnn stumbled out, rubbing her mouth and stumbling against the wall. Ollie walked over to her, trying his best to hide the bright red blush on his face.
“I think it’s time for us to go, LeeAnne.”
“Like…whaz the big deal? People throw up in barz all da time!”
“You ran into the mens bathroom!” Ollie hissed. LeeAnne turned to look at the signs and blinked a few times at the male stick figure behind her on the door and shook her head in shock.
“N-no way! That guy was TOTALLY wear’n a skirt when I looked at it before! That sign was CHANGED!” She poked Ollie defiantly. Ollie rolled his eyes at her pathetic lie, trying to save face. Or maybe it wasn’t a lie and she was so drunk she thought the signs had been switched. Ollie didn’t know and he didn’t care. With so many eyes staring at them, he knew he had to get LeeAnne out.
“Oh my god, this is not happening right now…c’mon…you’ve had enough.” Ollie sighed. He grabbed a few bills and tossed them to the bar tender before leading LeeAnne out by the arm. “I’m taking you home.”
“HEY! I can totally walk home by myself! I’m an adult!”
“We’re 30 miles from the house!”
“……….Oh right.”
“Just get in the car…” Ollie groaned, helping her inside. When she was buckled up, he climbed into the drivers side and fired up the car. “I don’t think we can ever come back to this bar again…”
“Good riddance…all the waitresses were lousy anyway!” LeeAnne moaned before finally leaning back and passing out. Ollie pulled the car onto the street and, after driving for almost 5 minutes, couldn’t stop himself from bursting out into laughter.
“Yeah she got it all out alright…”

Ollie drove up to his modest house at about 2:00 in the morning. Fortunately they were off duty tomorrow and wouldn’t have to wake up early to head out. He and Richard could sleep off their argument…but he silently hoped Richard would take it to heart. The house was two stories and built for 3. There was a bed downstairs, a bed upstairs, and a bed in the basement for guests. That was where Richard, or LeeAnne, slept. When LeeAnne had stumbled upon his doorstep three months ago, Ollie didn’t want to worry or endanger his wife Vivian in anyway, so he told her LeeAnne was simply his new partner and she’d lost her old apartment in a fire, and needed a new home for the time being. Vivian was more than happy to give her the basement room. Ollie often wondered how he’d been so lucky as to marry a woman as kind as her. It was that very thought that made him so ashamed of himself for lying to her.
“We’re home, sleeping beauty.”
“Mmmf…” LeeAnne grumbled, climbing out of the car and falling on her face in an almost comedic movement and thud. Stifling a life, Ollie ran to her side and helped her onto her feet.
“Clean yourself up, you idiot. Vivian is going to give us both a lecture if you wander in like this.”
“Oh let’r…she ain’t my wife.”
“No, but she IS mine…and it’s by her good grace that you have a bed to sleep in.” Ollie pointed out. “Now march young lady.”
“Yes DAD…” LeeAnne moaned, fumbling up the steps to the front door. Before she even got there though, the door opened up from the inside. Standing on the front porch was Ollie’s lovely wife, Vivian. She was about the same height as LeeAnne with short wavy hair that was a lovely dirty blonde. Her eyes were dark brown like melted chocolate, but right now, rather than their normal inviting warmth there was a hint of concern and disgruntled annoyance.

“So here you two come, dragging in!” She announced. “Oh my word, LeeAnne what on Earth? You stink of alcohol.”
“Yeah…funny story behind that…” LeeAnne tried to cover up.
“I don’t need to hear it. Ugh, it’s hard enough having ONE smelly cop coming home in the evening. I figured a young lady like yourself might have a BIT more dignity.” Ollie smirked at Vivian referring to LeeAnne as a young lady and watched as LeeAnne forced a smile and walked in.
“I’ll get a shower in the morning.” LeeAnne sighed. “Right now I REALLY need to lay down.”
“I changed your sheets today, LeeAnne…please don’t get sick in them.” Vivian called back.
“HA HA HA!” LeeAnne called back in mocking laughter. Vivian smiled and turned to face her husband, planting a kiss on his lips.
“How’re you sweetie?”
“The case was easier than the drinks afterwards.” Ollie admitted.
“The poor girl must be going through a lot.” Vivian muttered.
“She is…more than you could imagine. Thanks again for letting her stay with us.” Ollie said, hugging his wife warmly.
“Oh sweetie, it’s no trouble. She’s very helpful and polite. But I don’t want to turn this house into a charity home, alright? Please don’t keep bringing her back here drunk as a skunk.”
“I’m doing my best…she’s just being stubborn.”
“She learn that from you?” Vivian teased, rubbing her husband’s bearded chin as he grinned back at her.
“Could be…but I learned it from you.” He winked, touching their noses together in that way Vivian always liked. She giggled and kissed Ollie softly on the lips, holding it for a few moments before letting go.
“You sir, need a shower. I’m not letting you in my bed smelling like that.” She whispered.
“If you insist, darling…I suppose I can clean myself up for you.” He smirked. “Let me just check on LeeAnne real quick, okay?”
“Sure dear…while your at it, take her some asprin…I think she’ll need it when she wakes up.” Vivian sighed. “Your partner’s a sweetheart…but sometimes I do miss Richard.” Ollie froze a moment and felt himself clenching up a bit. He wanted to tell her the truth, but he knew that she wouldn’t be able to deal with it. He simply nodded in response. It was for her own good.
“Honey?” Vivian spoke up,
“Mm, yes?” He asked.
“You were going to check on LeeAnne?” She reminded him.
“Right! Right of course.” Ollie smiled. “I’ll go take care of it.” He kissed his wife one more time on the cheek before going down the basement steps to the old room.
It was darker down there, but the large sliding screen doors let in a gracious amount of moonlight, illuminating the inside and giving eerie shadows to the floor. The twin size bed in the corner was where LeeAnne slept, but right now she was laying in bed looking at her phone, staring at the screen with droopy, tired eyes.

“Yo…LeeAnne…” Ollie called. “You still awake?”
“Yeaah…” LeeAnne moaned, rubbing her head. “Feel sick…”
“You’re gonna have one killer hangover tomorrow.” Ollie laughed.
“The story of my life…we gotta work tomorrow?”
“No. So sleep in…you need it, sweetheart.”
“Dun call me that you jerk…” She laughed, trying to roll over and ignore him like a child. Ollie laughed at her and stood up again. She always acted so childish when she was drunk, it was almost adorable. She’d been like this even before her transformation.
“Goodnight, partner.”
“Nigh, Ollie.” She slurred. Ollie turned off the lights and walked out of the basement. He hurried upstairs and took off his shirt to get in the shower when he looked on the counter and saw the asprin bottle laying by the sink.
“Oh dammit, I forgot…” Snatching up the bottle quickly he ran back downstairs to drop off the bottle with LeeAnne. “You still awake?” There was no reply. He walked in cautiously and glanced to see that LeeAnne was out cold, her phone clutched in her hand. Had she been drunk dialing?
“Oh my gosh…what were you doing with your phone?” He smirked, sneaking over to look at the screen. He slipped the phone out of her hand and glanced at the screen…and his smirk vanished immediately. It was a photo. A photo he’d seen many times before on his partners work desk.
It was a picture from a year ago when Richard has taken his family to the beach on vacation. There was his wife, Diane…her long brown hair wet and matted to her body, wearing a beach straw hat on her head and a black bikini. She was beaming at the camera, while holding a small three year old boy in her hands. The child was waving and laughing, his eyes the same deep blue as his fathers…and hair short and brown. He was holding a pale in one hand and his mother was helping him wave by wiggling his arm. Standing beside them, covered in sand, and wearing nothing but a bathing suit was Richard…the real Richard. His tan skin and black hair all wet and sandy. He was wearing shades, but behind them were blue eyes that rivaled the ocean in depth. He was smiling…the happiest he’d looked in months. Just staring at them all hurt Ollie’s heart.
He set the asprin down and carefully put the phone back next to her. She twitched a little but didn’t wake. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, walking out of the room and up the stairs again to his waiting shower, but his heart was heavier than it had been before. Deep down, Ollie knew that Richard was still suffering. So much had been stolen from him. His family, his life…even his gender had all been stolen from him. He didn’t deserve this…no one did.
“Guess that’s why you came to me for help, huh?” Ollie muttered.