Post by Danielle Basch on Aug 9, 2017 4:01:27 GMT -5
IP Casino Resort
Biloxi, MS
April 21, 2016
There was an awkward pause as Danni LeBlanc stepped out of the elevator, the strange, masked figure following her into the hallway. Aside from the black and silver luchador mask, he wore a shirt bearing his likeness, along with the words “Bird of Prey” printed in silver against the metallic red outline of an eagle.
The entire night had been filled with awkward pauses, coupled with this unshakable feeling that something just wasn’t right. Perhaps it was instinct’s way of telling Danni that a second date was not going to be in the cards for them. In fact, she found herself already regretting the one she was on, but wanted to figure out a nice way of letting him down. With a nervous look in her eyes, she cleared her throat as the elevator doors slid shut.
Danni: Look, Bird... I’m going to be honest with you. I’m beginning to think that this was a bad idea.
Bird tilted his head to the side. If he looked confused, she couldn’t tell through the mask.
Bird: What are you talking about? I thought things were going great?
Danni: Well, it’s two things actually. First off, the mask. I mean, I know you have your reasons for wearing it, and I’d never tell you to anything you aren’t comfortable with. But at the same time, I pretty much gave you my life story, but you can’t even give me your real name.
Bird: But...
Danni: And second, and this is perhaps even more of an issue than the mask...
She paused, the hint of a tear forming in the corner of her eye. Her voice started to crack, but she managed to shake it off. She looked into his eyes, but even they were hidden behind a pair of white colored contact lenses.
Danni: It’s just... too soon for me. It’s only been two months since Jax died. There are still times when I come home and for that one split second, I can hear his voice. I hope you can understand...
Bird: Yeah... I guess I do. Look, I’m sorry if I pushed you.
Danni: It’s okay. It just wasn’t the right time. Friends?
If ever there was a time when Bird of Prey would have a dejected look on his face, it was at the mention of the word “friends”. For any guy looking to get anywhere with a girl, this word was a death sentence. Nevertheless, as she stuck out her hand, he felt compelled to shake it.
Bird: Yeah... friends.
Danni smiled sheepishly as she released the handshake, then turned to walk away. But before she could take a step down the hallway to her room, Bird of Prey grabbed her arm, spun her around, and planted a hard kiss on her lips. Danni pounded on his shoulders in protest before finally managing to shove him off, following up with a slap across his masked face as she stared back at him in anger.
Danni: WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU!?
Bird: Just figured I’d show you what you were gonna miss out on...
Danni dragged her arm across her mouth, wiping off the kiss as she continued to glare at him.
Danni: You son of a bitch... get the hell out of here!
As she uttered those words, the elevator doors slid open. With one final angry shove, she pushed Bird of Prey back into the elevator, spitting at his feet when he tried to step out.
Bird: Aww... just when I thought we were getting somewhere....
Danni: If you ever come near me again, I will rip your balls off with my bare hands and force-feed them to you!
As the elevator doors slid closed, Danni started to back up, walking backward down the hallway until the doors were completely shut. With a disgusted growl, she turned and ran back to her room. As she opened the door, she pulled out her phone, quickly pulling up a phone number.
Danni: Yeah, I need to speak with Jason Perry. Tell him it’s urgent....
She hurried into the room, slamming the door behind her.
July 14, 2017
Oceanside Police Department
Oceanside, CA
Danni LeBlanc walks down the hallway of the police station, her arm tightly linked with Donovan’s as they head toward the office of Lieutenant Saadat, the officer overseeing the case involving Danni’s totaled car. She and her boyfriend appear to be well into a conversation as they approach the door leading into the office.
Danni: And that was the end of it, or so I thought. He disappeared from the AWA sometime after that. I tried talking to the Director of Wrestling Operations about it, but all he would tell me was “It’s been dealt with” or “Don’t worry about it.”
Donovan: And yet here we are, worrying about you not even being safe in your own home.
Danni: Well, if it’s what I think it is, then we’ll have found the single answer to a whole slew of the problems we’ve been having lately...
The office is empty, save for the familiar furniture from the last time they had been there. The couple sit down in the two chairs opposite the high-backed leather chair that sits behind the desk and begin to wait.
Donovan: When did you say your lease was up on that condo?
Danni: End of this month, actually. And you can bet your sweet ass that I’m not going to be renewing.
Donovan: After what happened, who could blame you?
As Danni and Donovan continue their conversation, Lieutenant Saadat enters the room, once again with her hair pulled back into a tight bun at the back of her head. In her hand, she carries a thick manila folder, which she sets down on her desk before she takes her seat. She then tents her hands as she looks at the couple from across her desk.
Lieutenant Saadat: Good afternoon, Ms. LeBlanc; Mr. Basch. I’m sorry to call you in so suddenly, but there have been some recent developments in your case that we figured you would want to be made aware of...
She gestures toward the folder before opening it up. At the top of the pile of papers inside was a printout of a set of fingerprints. She pulled it from the folder and pushed it across her desk.
Lieutenant Saadat: This is a printout of a set of prints our forensics team lifted from your car. As you can see, one of the prints lifted from the emblem that was left on your doorstep is a perfect match.
Danni: Well, that’s to be expected.
Lieutenant Saadat: There’s more. After some extensive searching, we were able to find a match.
The look in the lieutenant’s face darkens as she rifles through the stack of papers in the file, stopping at another set of fingerprints. Danni and Donovan can see that beneath Saadat’s hand, there is a picture, even though her hand is covering the face.
Donovan: Why do I have a feeling I’m not going to like what I’m about to hear?
Lieutenant Saadat: That may be because the man behind the destruction of your car has been under your nose the entire time... Mr. Basch, you’ve probably even shared a locker room with him...
Lieutenant Saadat removes her hand from the paper with the fingerprints. Danni and Donovan lean over to get a closer look, only to turn to each other with looks on their faces that are a mixture of shock and disgust.
Danni: Son of a....
With an aggravated growl, Danni gets up from her seat, locking her hands into her hair. Donovan gets up as well, looking like he is seconds away from driving his fist through the wall. He quickly manages to compose himself long enough to turn to Danni.
Danni & Donovan: Zane Story...
Lieutenant Saadat: Upon further investigation, we obtained a warrant to search the suspect’s locker....
Another officer enters the room, a clear plastic bag labeled “EVIDENCE” in his hand. He walks up to the desk, setting the envelope on the surface. He gives the lieutenant a respectful nod, before quietly slipping out of the office. Lieutenant Saadat opens the envelope, pulling out a black luchador mask with silver iridescent accents. Danni lets out a gasp, quickly clapping her hand over her mouth.
Lieutenant Saadat: Does this hold any meaning to you?
Danni can only stand there, her face frozen in shock. After a long, drawn-out moment of silence, she speaks, her voice a shaky whisper as she stares at the mask.
Danni: This... this was Bird of Prey’s mask. He wore it everywhere he went... he probably even slept in the damn thing, for all I know.
Donovan: Care to clue me in?
Danni merely continues to stare at the mask as if she has seen a ghost, shaking her head.
Danni: Zane Story and Bird of Prey... they’re one and the same.
Lieutenant Saadat: A spurned ex-boyfriend?
Danni is quick to shake her head no.
Danni: Nothing could be further from the truth. We only went on one date, and it ended badly. I hadn’t spoken to him since...
She casts a glance toward the floor, breathing heavily through clenched teeth.
Danni: Since he signed with West Coast Genesis under his real name... WITHOUT the mask. He’s been making my life a living hell ever since.
Lieutenant Saadat: Do you wish to press charges?
Danni: You better believe I do! But there IS something I need to do before you throw the book at him....
END