Fake Reflection

Kimmie blindly slapped her hand around on the night stand in search for the beeping alarm clock. She hit the snooze button, and let her hand slide off the alarm clock, and dangle over the edge of the bed. She would have slept for a few more minutes, but Jasper, her 3 year old Golden Retriever had other plans. “Jasper, no.” Kimmie said pushing his face away when he started to lick hers. She wiped the dog slobber off her face, and propped herself up on her elbows. “I love you and all,” she said looking at the dog sitting next to her on the bed, “But you lick your own butt.” she said scratching his head before climbing out of bed. Stretching her arms above her head, she made sure her alarm was off, and made her way into the bathroom across the hall.

Jasper followed her out, and sat patiently by the front door while she did her business. It was a daily routine. She’d open the front door to the fenced in yard, and make a pot of coffee while he roamed around the yard. She didn’t have a back yard, but that didn’t bother her too much since the coast was her back yard. A cozy one bedroom house on the beach, perfect for the two of them. She’d join Jasper outside, and drink her coffee as the sun came up, and then go for their morning run beside the water. Then it was shower and off to work. It was a daily routine she was comfortable with.

Today was a little different though. Today was her first day as Detective Reynolds. She was the only one of her father’s five children that followed in his foot steps. Detective Philip Reynolds a well respected, and decorated man of the law. He caught one of the most notorious serial killers in the state of California, and was never afraid to put his life on the line if it meant saving another. Her mother was your typical house wife, but also worked part time at a local diner. Her father made enough to live without financial troubles, but her mother wanted to work part-time, you know just in case. It was one of the things Kimmie learned from her mother. Always expect the unexpected. Of course no one could have expected having their parents ripped away in their early teens.

Kimmie wasn’t your typical girl. Growing up with four older brothers, how could she? Her mother helped keep her in touch with her girly side, but she was always allowed to be who she wanted to be. Do what she wanted to do, and ever since that night that took her parents, all she’s wanted to do was live a life they would be proud of. Deep down inside she knew they were. She loved being a cop, protecting the people, and bringing criminals to justice. Of course the focus she’s put into her career hasn’t left much room for a love life. The last relationship she had ended horribly anyway, so she’s just been focusing on her job. Jasper was good enough company for her. She had a small circle of friends, and her brothers, she didn’t feel the need for anything else right now.

She let out a content sigh when she shut her car door after arriving at the LAPD. Finally she was able to ditch the uniform, and dress casually. Finally she was done with patrol. So many new and exciting cases awaited her, and she couldn’t wait to get started. She’s been working for this her whole life, and she was finally content with the way things were going for her. She walked through the doors of the department, and through security. People she knew, and even a few she didn’t, congratulated her on her promotion as she made her way through.

“Damn it.” Kimmie cursed herself as she scanned the boxes of doughnuts set out next to the coffee, none of them containing the one she wanted. She knew she should have stopped and got something on her way to work. “Looking for this?” the familiar voice of her best friend and partner came from behind her. She turned to the smiling face of Shane. He had a small Styrofoam plate holding a glazed doughnut. “Have I told you lately that I love you?” she asked taking the plate from him with a wide smile. “Yea, but a guy never gets tired of hearing it.” he said plopping an arm on her shoulders as they made their way to their desks. “I love you.” she said with a grin, giving him a peck on the cheek.

Shane and Kimmie have been best friends since they were old enough to walk. His father, Richard, is the police chief, and was partners with her father. Both families are very close, and spend as much time with each other as possible. Shane has two older sisters, who Kimmie likes and gets along with, but her and Shane just clicked. He was her shoulder to cry on when she lost her parents, and always knew how to make her feel better….get that smile out. They were pretty much inseparable since then. Kimmie and two of her older brothers moved in with the Halifax family after her parents died. Her two oldest brothers were in college. It was an arrangement Philip and Richard put together. Their jobs were dangerous, and the only people they trusted with their families lives were each other. Kimmie took the death of her parents the hardest, but she had to do something that no 13 year old girl should ever have to do.

“You excited for our first assignment?” Shane asked once they reached their desks. They kept their desks pushed together facing each other. “Yea, you have any idea what it is?” she asked him taking a bite of the sugary goodness in front of her. “What makes you think I would know anything?” he asked playing dumb. She gave him a knowing look as she chewed her food. “What? He doesn’t tell me everything.” Shane said on the defense. Ever since his dad has been chief, he’s been showing Shane how things are done. Shane is usually the fist to know when something is going to happen weeks before it’s suppose to happen. Kimmie knew her and Shane were getting promoted, two weeks before the other two officers that were promoted with them did. Small advantage of being close with the boss, and the bosses son. “You can’t sit there, and tell me you know nothing about it.” she said grimacing at the departments coffee. Hers was better. “All I know is the new commissioner is the one giving the assignment.” he told her honestly, giving her a sympathetic look. She groaned, and folded her hands down on her desk before dropping her head down on them. “Don’t look at me like that.” she scowled him without looking up. “Sorry.” he said looking towards his father’s office that was further back behind him.

Kimmie knew it had to be big if he was coming in to give the assignment. Usually it’s Richard that does that, but he was someone she didn’t particularly want to see. Shane’s desk phone rang, and Kimmie’s head popped up. “Halifax,” he answered, “Yea, be there in a minute.” he finished hanging up his phone. “Ready?” he asked standing with a small smile. “No.” she grumbled, but stood anyway. “Tell ya what,” he said placing an arm back on her shoulder, “He gets out of line I’ll shove my sweaty socks down his throat.” he said giving her a wide smile as they walked to the chief’s office. “Awe you’d do that for me?” she asked pretending to be love stuck. “You know it.” he said giving her a wink and opening the door to his dad’s office. “Anything for my baby sister.” he said as they sat in front of Richard who smiled at them as they came in. “But I’m older than you.” she said looking at him in amusement. She only had him by a month, but she was still older. “What’d up pop.” he said to his dad, ignoring Kimmie’s statement. Richard chuckled at the two as Kimmie playfully glared at Shane. “You’re just going to sit there and ignore me aren’t you?” she asked with a smile shaking her head, hearing a chuckle come from him, “I swear if I didn’t-” she was cut off when the office door opened, and her smile instantly vanished.

Remember the relationship that ended horribly? Enter said douche. Commissioner Kevin McNicholes. Though it was Sergeant McNicholes then. A superior that charmed his way into her heart, and then ripped it in half. “Commissioner.” Richard greeted him as he entered. “Chief.” he said shaking his hand. “Detective.” he said greeting Shane. Playing nice, Shane greeted him, giving him a little extra squeeze as he shook his hand. “Kimmie.” he said connecting their gazes. “It’s Detective.” she said sharp looking away. He rolled his eyes, and propped his brief case up on Richards desk. “I suppose you’re wondering what your first assignment is, and why I’m giving it to you.” he started pulling several folders out of his case.

“Have you heard of the gang Avenged Sevenfold?” he asked laying the folders out on Richards desk. “Yea. Depending on who you talk to,” Kimmie started suppressing her hatred for the man standing next to her, and focusing on her job, “Some call them heroes, some call them criminals.” she said making quick eye contact with Kevin before looking to the files in front of her. “Doesn’t matter who you talk to,” Shane said grabbing one of the files, “They’re all a bunch of criminals.” he finished opening the folder. Kimmie looked at him a bit unsure before shrugging off his statement. “Well we have reason to believe they are involved in the Drug Cartel.” Kevin said as he opened the remaining folders on the desk. “Whose we?” Kimmie asked a little more bitter than intended. “Not important.” he said low. She rolled her eyes, and looked at the files.

Each one had pictures of a different member. These were arrest records. Charges that have been brought up, but there was never enough evidence to connect them to anything. “We’ll start with the leader,” he said walking behind Shane, and yanking the file out of his hands. “Matthew Charles Sanders aka M. Shadows.” he said plopping the open folder on top of the rest. “He’s believed to be the mastermind behind all their jobs. He gives the orders, and is a cold blooded killer.” he said as Kimmie looked at the mug shot. He wasn’t unattractive, but no one looks their best in a mug shot. There were all kinds of charges brought up against him. Murder, drug running, kidnapping, Grand theft, the list goes on and on, but nothing stuck.

“Next is his right hand.” Kevin said moving Shadows file off the top. “Brian Elwin Haner Jr. aka Synyster Gates.” he said as Kimmie scanned the file. Again he wasn’t unattractive, and had just as long of a list as Shadows. “He’s pretty much Shadows’ personal bodyguard. He’s always with him, or calling the shots when he’s not around, and just as dangerous.” Kevin finished bringing another folder to surface.

Kimmie had to suppress a giggle when she seen the next mug shot. “This is James Owen Sullivan aka The Rev.” Kevin said with a look that was not amused. Kimmie let a half smile show when she looked at the picture of Jimmy’s smug smirk as he flipped off the camera. He had different charges. Federal hacking charges, conspiracy, as well as similar charges as the rest. “No known hacker has been able to touch The Rev’s unique genius,” he explained, “He’s believed to be the heart of the gang. Without him they wouldn’t be able to get away with the crimes they commit.” Kevin finished letting his distaste for the gang show.

“Next is Zachary James Baker aka Zacky Vengeance.” he said bringing Zacky’s file. He had a bunch of weapons charges added to his, and was a most wanted bomb maker. He also had a pair of the most piercing green eyes Kimmie had ever seen. “Vengeance has way of making unique weapons, and bombs. None of his explosives are ever the same, which makes it harder to pin any charges on him. There’s never any pattern linking him to the bombs.” he finished moving to the last folder on the desk.

“Finally we have Dr. Jonathan Lewis Seward aka Johnny Christ.” he said as Kimmie looked over the picture of a man with blonde and black hair. It was an odd look, but still none of the men were in the unattractive department. All he had was a bunch of accessory charges. “Some would consider him a prodigy. Graduated high school at 15 and had a Medical Doctorate by 21.” Kevin said showing no signs of being impressed. He had a fiery hatred for Avenged Sevenfold. The way they acted like they ruled the fucking country. People praising them, calling them heroes. It made him sick. They were criminals, cold blooded killers that needed to be put away.

Kimmie looked at the files on the desk, confusion washing over her face. “Isn’t there more than five?” she asked looking at Kevin for the second time since the briefing started. “There’s believed to be 8 altogether,” he started to explain, “We believe that their legal council, Jason and Matt Berry are members as well as a woman they call Synderella. The three of them have never been arrested on any charges. We believe Synderella is Synyster Gates wife Tammy Lynn Haner.” he finished. Kimmie nodded, and adverted her gaze from his piercing blue eyes. A pair of beautiful blues that use to make her weak in the knees, and now all she wanted to do was rip them out of his skull.

“This gang is not one to be underestimated. They’re smart, dangerous, and know what they are doing,” Kevin said taking his eyes off Kimmie, and looking amongst the three, “We can’t get the evidence to charge them, which is why we’re sending you two in undercover.” he said finally reveling their assignment. Kimmie’s heart picked up a little. This was a big assignment for her first one. She was a little nervous, and at the same time a little excited. This was something completely different than patrol, and she couldn’t wait to do it. “How are we getting in?” she asked. “Through this.” Richard spoke up for the first time since they started. He set a newspaper ad in front of them.

Sevenfold Inc. seeking Security and Housekeeping personnel. Job description will be given upon interview. All applicants will be subject to a physical, background check and Facial Recognition. Please send Resume to P.O. Box 109, Huntington Beach, CA.

“Facial recognition, really?” she questioned with slight disbelief. “Fraid so sweetheart.” Richard said “You have got to be kidding me.” she mumbled. “Like I said, they’re smart.” Kevin said flatly. “Your entire life has been wiped clean, and new ones have been created. Here’s your new identities.” Kevin said handing Shane and Kimmie each a folder. Inside was everything they would need to take on their new person. Drivers license, Social Security card, Birth certificate, even the key to their new residence was taped to the inside. “How are you able to just erase our lives?” Kimmie asked as she looked through the file. “Lets just say I’ve met some new people since we last saw each other.” he said with a smirk. “Oh you mean when you were thigh deep in that slut?” she asked, not looking up at him, a smirk of her own coming out as his disappeared. Shane snickered next to her, and Richard cleared his throat, giving her a warning look. She silently apologized to him with her eyes, and he gave her a smile that assured her, he wasn’t really upset. “Your backgrounds haven’t been altered that much. Names have been changed,” Richard started to explain trying to ease the tension a little, “Your parents death has been altered a bit as well.” he said giving Kimmie a sad look. She gave him a nod as she came across the falsified newspaper article about her parents dying in a car accident.

She fought back tears as she skimmed the article. It wasn’t how they died, but it still brought back so many painful memories. “Your resumes have already been sent,” Kevin said bringing her out of thought. “These are your new phones,” he said pulling two cell phones out of his brief case, and handing them to them, “They will be calling you within the next couple of days. I suggest you go home and start packing.” Kevin said as he put the arrest records back in his brief case. “How do you even know we’ll get the jobs?” Shane asked as Kevin headed for the door. “Don’t blow the fucking interview.” he spat walking out.

Notes

Here we go chapter one. This came out a lot longer than intended, and will probably be the longest chapter in the story. Hope you guys like it as much as the first :)