#Garage Doors Portland

[allaboutdoors1]

Seasonal garage door maintenance is essential for keeping your door running smoothly all year round. Before winter, it is recommended to check and lubricate moving parts with a silicone-based lubricant and inspect the weatherstripping for any damage. In summer, cleaning hinges and rollers help lubricate components to reduce friction and adjust the opener’s settings for temperature changes. However, getting help from a professional is always handy. Regular inspections from a good garage door services provider like All About Doors also help you spot minor issues before they turn into costly repairs. By taking these simple steps, you’ll ensure your garage door remains efficient and reliable. If you’re curious about additional tips and tricks, there’s plenty more to explore! Read our most recent blog post about seasonal garage door maintenance.

Seasonal garage door maintenance is essential for keeping your door running smoothly all year round. Before winter, it is recommended to check and lubricate moving parts with a silicone-based lubricant and inspect the weatherstripping for any damage. In summer, cleaning hinges and rollers help lubricate components to reduce friction and adjust the opener’s settings for temperature changes. However, getting help from a professional is always handy. Regular inspections from a good garage door services provider like All About Doors also help you spot minor issues before they turn into costly repairs. By taking these simple steps, you’ll ensure your garage door remains efficient and reliable. If you’re curious about additional tips and tricks, there’s plenty more to explore! Read our most recent blog post about seasonal garage door maintenance.

[robertpallesen]

Street Scene, Portland, OR © Robert Pallesen

[shawnrealty]

Maximize Your Profit: 5 Home Remodeling Projects That Actually Pay Off

When you’re thinking about selling your home, one of the biggest questions is: How do I get the most money from the sale? Sometimes, the answer leads to home remodeling projects. But what type of remodeling will actually help you make more money? I’m going to share five remodeling projects that can increase your home’s resale value based on data I found. Additionally, there are several other…

[ecording]

Exterior Portland An enormous two-story stucco home with a hip roof in tuscan beige as an example

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Exceptionally beautiful 1971 mid-century modern in Portland, OR. 4bds, 5ba, 4,281 sq ft. $1.095m.

There's something about a floating wood-burning fireplace. They're always the perfect height.

The living room has a blue upholstered bench wall. Interesting.

Open concept living room/kitchen. Island has everything you need.

The mini bar is hidden behind the doors- Company is coming and you're not cleaned up? Shut the doors. Very cool.

Angular guest powder room.

Spiral stairs out in the hall.

Believe it or not, this home has 6 levels. They put a single person elevator in the center of the spiral stairs and look at how they numbered the floors.

Beautiful family room with nice big fireplace. Love the blue tile. Look at the loft above. This home has stunning architectural detail.

Here we are up in the loft where there's a lovely small sitting space and a home office/work space.

There's also a deck up here.

And, you can see down to the kitchen.

Beautiful primary bedroom with built-ins. You can see the en-suite in there.

It also has a sauna.

This room has a built-in red desk. It can be a den or a bedroom.

Not sure what this is.

This is a guest apt.

It even has its own deck.

There's a nice workshop in the garage.

The home has decks on every level.

It's totally in the trees on an 8,276 sq ft lot.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6432-SW-Burlingame-Pl-Portland-OR-97239/176558973_zpid/

[flemingology]

remind me i'm yours ─ jessie fleming x reader

in which: jessie gets jealous and needs a reminder that you're still hers

warnings: feelings of jealousy and insecurity, bit suggestive near the end

wc: 2.3k

a/n: based on a request i got on my previous account. i didn't know if you wanted the insecure jealous or moody jealous, but i did my best! hope you enjoy it :D

"Hands off, Fleming. Keep it in your pants!", you pushed Jessie's hands away which had started to wander into dangerous territory. You eagerly leaned into her kiss initially, but when her hands started to roam from the small of your back across your bum, you knew you wouldn't be out the door anytime soon if you had let her continue her ministrations.

After spending way too much time on your hair and makeup, you were finally applying the finishing touches of your look you put together for your cousin's birthday party. Simon was turning 30 today, a special occasion which called for something more than dinner and drinks.

You were wearing your (and Jessie's) favorite long black dress, paired with a set of black high heels. You kept your makeup simple but visible, and swapped your usual flower earrings, the ones that your girlfriend got you for your 6-month anniversary, for a pair of golden hoops.

Jessie made sure you knew how she felt about your look, being extra appreciative of the way the dress accentuated all your curves and bumps.

She pulled away from the kiss and wrapped her arms around your midsection when you turned back to the mirror, having to reapply some lipstick after your short heated moment with your girlfriend.

"You look beautiful, baby," Jessie pressed a kiss against your exposed shoulder. You leaned your head back against hers and reveled in the warmth of her embrace. You pressed a soft, loving kiss against her cheek and mumbled a quick thank you before wiggling yourself out of her grip and moving past her out of the bathroom.

"Let's get going. We don't want to be fashionably late again."

You and Jessie had a reputation of being late anywhere you had to be. Your lack of sense of time, paired with Jessie's lack of self control whenever you were wearing something she liked, turned out to be a disastrous combination in the past. Late to parties, late to game nights with the team, late to family dinners – all of which had led to relentless teasing whenever people found out the reason why you two were late so often.

You waited by the door as Jessie pulled on her shoes, throwing her the car keys that were on the counter of the kitchen before making your way out of your apartment and to the parking garage.

In the car, Jessie's hand took its usual spot on your thigh as you played with her fingers. You hummed along to some songs on the radio, made comments about the traffic or the weather but the drive was mostly quiet, in a comfortable way.

You arrived at the venue almost right on time, both of you proud of your time management. Having to navigate Portland traffic you were afraid you'd not make it in time, but you did. The both of you went around and greeted everyone at the party, catching up with family and (old) friends before settling down at a table with some other invitees.

A couple hours passed and you and Jessie were having fun together. You shared a couple drinks, your girlfriend being mindful of her alcohol intake as she had to drive you both back home later that night. She had just returned to your table from the bar with a drink you requested, when she noticed your chair was empty. She assumed you had gone to the toilet, so she put your drink down on the table and sat down again, talking to the other people you two had been conversing with all night.

When 15 minutes passed and you still hadn't returned, Jessie knew you weren't just gone to the toilet. She shuffled on her seat and subtly tried to look behind her back, scanning the room to see whether she could find you. After a couple of seconds, her eyes locked onto you. You had your back turned to her but she could tell you were in conversation with someone, clearly having fun as she heard the faint sound of your laugh ringing through the room.

Jessie wasn't someone to get jealous quickly. She knew you were happy and well satisfied, you making sure to remind her of that on many occasions. Most of the time, if feelings of jealousy surfaced she did pretty well to subdue them. Jessie was very levelheaded and did a good job at reminding herself of how happy you were with her and of all the times that you reassured her that you wouldn't want anyone else. But if there was anything specific that triggered Jessie's jealousy, it was physical touch. She didn't mind when people hugged you, kissed your cheek, placed a hand on your arm – she did when she thought they were being excessive.

Jessie tried her best not to stare, but they made it hard. She couldn't see the face of the person you were talking to, but she did notice how they kept placing their hand on your arm. After a while she got pulled out of her trance when someone snapped their fingers in front of her, which caused her to blink a few times and look up at the source of the disturbance. When she noticed it was your mum who had come over, Jessie tried her best to plaster an earnest smile on her face and got up to give her a hug. The both of them got lost in conversation and Jessie forgot about her worries for a little while, until after another good 15 minutes you made your way back to the table.

"Hi baby, I'm sorry. I came across my best friend from primary school," you pressed a kiss against her crown as you went to sit down next to her again, taking her hand in yours. "Thank you for the drink." You were met with nothing but a tight-lipped smile and silence in response to what you said, but you soon got pulled back into conversation before you could ask what was up. Jessie felt a bit stupid now that she knew it was just your childhood best friend, but she couldn't shake the feelings of jealousy that had nestled underneath her skin.

The night ambled along and before you knew it the clock was nearly hitting 12. You nudged Jessie's arm and silently let her know that your social battery was running out. She took it upon herself to excuse the both of you, saying your goodbyes before walking back to the car.

The car ride back home was quiet once again, but it didn't feel as comfortable as the ride earlier this afternoon. The silence felt heavier, accentuated by the fact that Jessie's hand didn't take place in its usual spot on your thigh – both of her hands were now gripping the steering wheel tightly.

You tried a couple times to engage into light conversation, making comments about things that happened at a party, but you couldn't get Jessie to participate much more than a hum or a forced chuckle. You decided to let it go for now, not feeling like you would make any progress to find out what was going on inside her head for now.

Jessie parked the car in its usual spot and got out wordlessly, making her way over to your shared apartment. She took off her jacket and hung it on the coat rack, leaving the car keys in their designated spot on the kitchen counter. She pulled you out of your haze by pressing a chaste kiss against the side of your head while you were taking off your heels, before making her way to the bedroom. The quick showing of intimacy took you off guard, and ushered you to get unready quickly.

By the time you entered the bedroom, your Canadian had already climbed under the covers. You quickly undid yourself of your makeup and did a shortened skin care routine, before joining her and immediately turning towards her so you were face to face. You tucked a piece of hair behind her ear before you spoke.

"Anything on your mind? You've been awfully quiet," she visibly gulped upon hearing your words, shaking her head a little too enthusiastically. You frowned and lowered your hand until you cupped her cheek, rubbing your thumb along the soft skin. "Are you sure?"

You didn't like to pry, but you also knew that Jessie needed a push more often than not to talk about her feelings. She sighed and you could see she was internally debating her options. She rolled back onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, your hand dropping to her chest, to which you cuddled a little closer and put your head on her chest too.

"It's stupid, really. I know it's stupid," a frown etched onto your face, not knowing in the slightest what she could be on about. You didn't reply, leaving her the space to speak further if she wanted to; which she did. "Please don't laugh at me?"

Your frown deepened upon hearing what she said, confusion very present. "I wouldn't, not when I know something is bothering you. You know that," you accentuated your words with a kiss against her exposed chest.

You felt her chest rising and falling, courtesy of her taking a deep breath before she spoke up. "I got a little in my head earlier, when I saw you talking to your friend. They were being quite handsy and you know how I get when that happens," you hummed when she got silent, encouraging her to say more.

"I felt really stupid about it when you came back to the table and told me she was your childhood best friend, so I just went quiet. I felt embarrassed but couldn't shake the jealousy and I didn't really know what to do with myself. I'm sorry if I ruined your night."

You chuckled lightly, pushing yourself off of her chest and leaning your weight on your forearm that was positioned on the mattress. "Ruined my night?", you questioned as you cocked your head. She looked at you, for the first time since she started speaking and gave you a merciful look.

"I didn't even know, baby. I know you were in your head about something, as you were so quiet, but I didn't know what about. I didn't want to pry there because I knew you'd not want to talk about it, but I'm happy you told me now."

You noticed how her shoulders relaxed a little, growing more comfortable into speaking about her feelings of jealousy with you.

"As you said, it was just my best friend. I'm sure she didn't mean anything with any of those touches, she's married to a man after all," Jessie's cheeks grew red at those words, realizing how silly this situation was. She shot you a look from the corner of her eye and noticed the smile that was dancing on your lips. "Don't laugh at me, please."

"I'm not laughing!", you held your hands up in defense as you pulled her back into you, laying face to face again. "No need for you to be jealous, Jess. Your bed is the one I'm in at night, and I wouldn't want to change that for the world," you started. You pressed a quick kiss against her nose before you continued. "It's okay to be jealous, really. It just shows that you care for me, and love me. And to be honest, it's really quite hot. But I promise I'm yours, I am now and I will be for as long as you want me."

Jessie's gaze found yours and she looked at you lovingly before cocking an eye at you, surprised at your words. Your hands found her waist and you pulled Jessie's body flush against yours, before continuing. "I like it when you get jealous, or possessive, what ever you want to call it," it was your turn now for your cheeks to grow red.

"Still, I shouldn't have been. Now I know that it was just your friend, it really does feel a little silly."

You pressed your index finger against Jessie's lips, signaling her to be quiet – to not talk about it anymore. You caught her off guard when you straddled her hips in one swift movement, grinning down at her from your position on top of her. Your legs were spread on each side of her waist and Jessie's hands instinctively grabbed your sides, digging her fingers into your hips as you leaned down and pressed a loving kiss against her lips. A soft moan escaped Jessie's throat as you deepened the kiss, something she would probably be embarrassed about if it wasn't followed by one of your own right after. You bit Jessie's bottom lip and let it go with a pop when you broke the kiss.

"It's okay, really. Don't feel bad about it. Misunderstandings happen, okay? As I said; it just shows to me that you care for me and love me. It's cute."

Like clockwork you noticed her cheeks turning a deep shade of red, but you decided not to tease her for it and lean back into a kiss. You swiped her bottom lip with your tongue, silently asking for permission to enter her mouth which she eagerly granted. You tested the waters by teasingly rolling your hips against hers, causing Jessie's breath to hitch. She dug her fingers deeper into your sides and helped you roll back and forth on top of her, the extra leverage of her arms causing your arousal to grow quickly.

And when her hands started to wander this time, you didn't tell her off like you did this morning.

[bellysoupset]

Jonah was more than a little jittery when he finally made it to Portland's airport, Angie rubbing his arm in a rhythmic manner that was annoying more than comforting him, but he wasn't gonna tell her that.

Thank God for Lucas, Jonah nearly chuckled at the thought. It wasn't the first or even the third time he thought this in the last 20 hours and the irony wasn't lost on him. Luke was waiting for him at the end of the disembark area, but he opened his arms for a hug and it was Angie who leaped forward to jump on him.

"How are you, kiddo?" he said, his voice muffled as he swooped Angelina into a bear hug and pulled her feet off the ground. Angie's whole face turned a shade darker as she blushed bashfully, a huge smile on her face.

"Next trip you should tag along," she said, pushing his arm in a playful manner.

"I'll hold you up to that invite," Lucas' was all smiles and Jonah could see right through him, keeping Angie busy so they didn't need to rehash uncomfortable details in front of the teenager. Instead of greeting Jonah, he planted a hand on the man's nape and squeezed in a comforting way, tugging Jon closer to Luke could press a kiss on the top of his curls.

Jonah huffed, shoving his friend off by the chest and staring ahead. He had a million questions, but he didn't want to ask them in front of Angie. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but he didn't want her knowing something he knew Leo wouldn't want to tell. His fiancé was terribly private with strangers and Angelina was still that to him.

"You're staying with Wendy, that's alright, Ange?" Luke asked, putting her luggage in the trunk of his car and piling Jonah's on top of it. Angie's eyes darted between Jonah and Luke and she frowned.

"Is Leo alright?" Her voice was careful, measured and Luke smiled at her, slamming the trunk closed.

"He'll be fine, he just needs some cuddles from your brother," he said smoothly, as if Jonah wasn't right there. Angie nodded, not looking very convinced.

"Okay... Yeah, staying at Wendy's fine, as long as I'm not imposing."

"She volunteered her couch," Lucas yawned, opening the backseat door for the girl and gesturing for her to get in, "it's bigger than mine and much comfier, otherwise you'd be staying with us."

"Aw," she pouted, getting inside, "I was looking forward to knowing Bella better, she seems so cool."

"She is," Luke sounded incredibly smug, "we're gonna have dinner together, you'll have the chance to chat- Jon, get inside, man."

Jonah wasn't sure how he was even functioning, the past twenty hours since Luke's call had been hellish, consumed by worry. He hadn't rested at all and it was definitely getting to him, he felt almost dizzy.

He was half dozing off against the window for most of the drive, switching between staring at Leo's messages - not a single new text - and listening as Luke continued to talk with Angie. College, exchanging tidbits about Europe, asking her what she wanted for dinner-

"Jon, we're here," Luke shook his knee gently and Jonah blinked, rubbing his eyes. He hadn't realized he fell asleep, but now they were inside his building's garage and Lucas was already getting his bag out of the trunk.

"You're not coming up....?"

"Nope, tell Bell we're waiting for her downstairs," Luke passed him the handle of his bag, then pulled Jonah into a sudden, but unsurprising hug, "he's alright," he lowered his voice so Angie couldn't hear from inside the car, where she had turned around in the backseat to watch them, "shaken, but he's okay. I think he just needs you."

Jonah nodded briskly and Luke let go of him.

He wasn't sure what he expected, but it certainly wasn't to hear Leo's laughter the minute he crossed the doorway. Jonah let go of his bag, shutting the front door gently and hearing as Leo giggled, "noooo, he's hot, you're just mean-"

"He looks like a very stressed rat," Bella's voice was clearly amused and Jonah walked further in, smiling as he saw they had collected half the blankets of the house and were curled up in the living room couch, Leo's head pressed to Bella's shoulder and her fingers combing through his hair as they watched House of Gucci.

"Hi?"

Leo's head snapped up so quickly he nearly hit Bella's chin, missing it by a couple inches, "Jon!" he tried to get up, but they had trapped themselves with the blankets and all he managed was to almost fall off, legs tangled.

Jonah leaped forward too, stepping over Bella's legs and nearly falling as well, pulling Leo into a tight hug. He had been so fucking worried, it was a huge relief to be able to touch him.

Leo let out a groan, his face pressed to Jonah's neck, "can't-breathe-" and Jon pulled back, cupping his face. Somehow he had thought Leo would look worse, but he looked just as fine as ever. His hair was definitely dirty, because instead of pin straight it was so wavy it had almost turned curly, and there were dark circles like bruises under his blue eyes as well as more than a stubble covering his cheeks... Other than that he looked fine.

"God-" Jonah lurched forward haphazardly, lips smashing together in a kiss that was nearly a bruise. Leo breathed out, hands coming up to cup his cheek and lips pressing against his, the tip of his nose was freezing pressed against Jonah's cheekbone, "you're alright- You're ok," Jon chanted feverishly, pulling back and studying his boyfriend's face.

Leo's eyes were overly shiny and he sniffled, but nodded and then pulled back, his whole face turning red as a cherry as they realized Bella had been directly under them, watching, completely trapped by the fact they were each stepping in one end of the blanket.

"No, don't mind me, this is cute," she said sarcastically, causing Leo to let out a watery chuckle.

"Sorry," he tried to pull back from Jonah, didn't manage when his boyfriend didn't let go, so instead Bella rolled out of the couch in the most convoluted way.

"Luke's waiting downstairs," Jonah said, cringing as he realized how dismissive he had been. Luckily this was Bella, who didn't take offense easily, and she raised a thumb up, crawling to grab her boots from under the couch.

"One of you text us later," she said, her voice coming out muffled, "or Lucas is gonna come here and I know none of you want that-" she sat down on the ground to put on her combat boots and JD appeared as well, trying to chew on the cords, "and don't worry about Angie, we got her."

"Angie's here?" Leo asked and Jonah completely ignored it, leaning in so he could press his whole face to the side of his boyfriend's, inhaling him.

"We got her, don't worry," Bella shrugged, "between Wendy and Lucas she'll be so busy she's gonna want to go home," she stood up, looking around for her purse and grabbing it, "I'm serious, text us."

"Okay," Jon mumbled and heard a small exasperated huff, before Bella's footsteps vanished down the hallway, her voice coming "no baby, you can't come with me-" as she kept JD inside and then the door shutting.

Jonah breathed out and Leo turned slightly, tilting his body back so he was able to look him in the eyes, "I'm glad you're home."

"What happened?"

Leo's brows dipped and his lips tugged on the corners, "I was hoping Luke would've spilled it all-"

"I don't wanna hear it from Luke, I wanna know it from you," Jonah scoffed and Leo nodded, then pulled him down to the messy couch.

Jonah had had time enough to come up with a thousand hypotheticals, so as he heard the ballroom class tale, he was both relieved it wasn't something worse and floored by the cheer improbability of it.

He didn't miss the way Leo's voice became squeezed and weird when he said Amelia didn't even remember him or how she had called him by his father's name. His boyfriend gulped down, looking away and hugging his knees, as if he wanted to turn himself into a little ball, "and that's it. Wendy drove me home and the guys have been keeping me company since."

Jonah sighed, "you called off work?"

"Wendy did it for me," Leo snorted, "she said she was my doctor," he pressed his chin to his knee, "I'm okay, I- I'm not okay," he corrected himself, meeting Jonah's eyes, "but I'm not as bad as they seem to think I am... I called my therapist and he suggested I go back up to twice a week instead of only once, at least for this month."

"Okay," Jon scooted closer, not able to stomach the tiny distance between them. He wanted to scoop up Leo and not let go for the next eight or nine hours.

"I keep- I keep thinking of her face, right?" the blonde picked at the skin of his fingers, "and how she- How she didn't even recognize me... I just feel so... So small-"

Jonah reached forward, grabbing Leo's hands before he could peel another layer - judging by the state of his thumb, this new habit had already been causing damage - and tugged at his wrists, forcing Leo to uncurl and fall against him.

"I was crawling up the walls when you didn't text," Jon told him, smoothing Leo's hair back gently, "and then Luke did and I just... It was like the ground fell under me. I haven't been able to even think right until now-"

"I'm sorry," Leo sniffled, tearing up all over, "I wanted to, but-"

"No," Jonah glared at him, "I'm not mad at you, I'm saying this so you understand you're not small... I'm so so sorry about Amelia. I wish none of this had ever happened to you, I wish she wasn't in this town-"

Leo nodded, wiping angrily at his eyes and brushing away the tears clinging to his lashes, so Jonah continued, "but I need you to know whatever your brain is telling you about being small or unloved- It's not true. You're my whole damn world, Leo."

That did it and Leo's face scrunched up as he started to openly cry, throwing himself over Jonah, letting out a pained sob as Jon kissed his temple and chanted quietly, over and over, "I love you, I love you, I love you."

[mikaela-granger]

The Long Wait (Season 5) Chapter 6

Rat King

Fandom: Grimm

Pairing: Sean Renard/OFC

The Long Wait Masterlist

A/N: Trubel is back in Portland.

***Nick’s POV***

Once Nick got over the shock at seeing Trubel, he quickly swept her up in his arms. He didn’t have time to question where she had been or how she had found him. All he knew was that she needed a hospital. “Trubel, can you hear me?” Nick asked. Trubel groaned.

After heading back through the side gate, Nick hurried up the stairs to the deck and back into the house. “It’s Trubel.” Nick told her as he passed by her, heading towards the garage.

“I know. Is she alive?” Adalind asked looking concerned.

“I’m taking her to the hospital.” Nick answered. Adalind rushed ahead of him, quickly opening the door leading to the garage before opening the back door of the car. Nick gently laid Trubel on the back seat. Closing the door, he looked at Adalind. “Stay here. Lock the doors. I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.” Nick told her, getting into the driver’s side. The car was quickly started before he peeled out of there, heading towards the nearest hospital.

Nick had spent months worrying about Trubel; wondering where she was and even if she was alive. Her return was a relief; however it had led to many more questions. Nick had told hospital staff that Trubel was a police officer involved in undercover work, hoping they wouldn’t ask too many questions. Why was Trubel wearing body armour? Why did she had so many false documents and foreign currency? The phone he found in Trubel’s jacket had the same type of security measures to access it that Chavaz’s phone had required. So, Nick had been right. The group Chavaz worked for had taken Trubel. Was Trubel working for them now? As Nick was waiting to hear from the doctors, his phone rang. Silently groaning, NIcik pulled it out of his pocket, hoping it wasn’t a case. Thankfully, it was Adalind.

“Adalind, everything ok at home?”

“Uh, I don’t know. There was a phone ringing by your bed. It was Chavez’s phone. I answered it, thought it might be important. They asked for you.” Adalind explained.

“A man’s voice?”

“Yes.”

“And he talked to you?”

“A little. He wanted to know if ‘she’ got here.”

“Trubel?”

“He didn’t say a name.” Adalind said. “And I was going to offer it. There’s more –.”

“Not over the phone.” Nick told her, glancing around the waiting room.

“I hope I didn’t screw things up.”

Nick saw the doctor enter the waiting room. “I gotta go.” Nick said quietly to her, before hanging up the phone.  He stood up, approaching the doctor. “How is she?”

“Stable. CAT scan revealed no internal injuries. Probably would have been a lot worse if she hadn’t been wearing the body armour.” The doctor told him. “Now, I’d like to keep her under observation for at least another twenty-four hours.”

“Well, can I talk to her?” Nick asked, relieved that Trubel wasn’t grievously injured. It sounded like she was going to be ok.

“I just gave her a sedative. She’s still in a lot of pain.”

“Just to let her know that I’m here.” Nick said.

The doctor nodded. “Ok. Just for a couple of minutes.” He conceded, before leading Nick to the room Trubel was in.

As Nick entered, he partially closed the door before approaching the bed. Trubel stirred, her eyes opening as Nick reached the bed. A look of relief crossed her face as her eyes came to rest on him. Nick gently took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I knew if I could just get to you, it’d be ok.” She told him, her voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry I didn’t –.”

Nick shook his head. “It’s ok.” Nick assured her. “I’m just glad you’re alive.”

Trubel closed her eyes, tears leaking out. Sucking in a breath, she opened them as her gaze fell on the jacket in his hand. “You have my jacket. That’s good.” She gasped out.

Nick glanced at the jacket before looking back at Trubel. “Found a few things.” He commented.

Trubel was speechless for a moment, no doubt wondering what to tell him. “There’s so much to…” Trubel cut herself off, looking towards the door.

Nick heard someone enter, glancing over his should, he saw it was a nurse. Looking back at Trubel he told her “Just try and get some rest. They’re gonna keep you under observation for twenty-four hours.”

Trubel didn’t seem to like the idea of that. “I think maybe I can go now…I feel ok.” She said, trying to get up.

The nurse quickly approached her. “No, no, no, no, no.” She said, gently pushing Trubel back. “That’s not a good idea.” Trubel laid back with a sigh. “Come. You’ve been given a sedative. We don’t have your name yet. Now, I know you’re a police officer.”

Trubel quickly glanced up at Nick before looking back at the nurse. “Lauren Cole.” Trubel told her. She looked back at Nick, giving him a slight nod. That was one of the names on the driver’s licence Trubel had in her jacket.

Nick looked at the nurse. “I can get you the rest of her information.” Nick advised.

The nurse smiled. “Good.” She said before looking back at Trubel. “Well, Miss Cole, you’ve had a rough night. You need to get some rest.”

“Just try and sleep.” Nick told the younger Grimm. He gave her hand another squeeze before leaving with the nurse.

“These are her clothes.” The nurse said, handing him a large plastic bag. “Do you have her licence?”

Nick nodded. “I do.” He answered, pulling it out and handing it to the nurse. “Right here.”

“Thanks.” She said, moving behind the desk at the nurse station while Nick came to stand at the front.

“Oh, and if anything changes. Call me.” He instructed, handing her his business card. “Here’s my card.”

The nurse nodded. “Of course.” She said. “I’ll make a copy of her licence.”

Upon returning home, Nick moved the bike Trubel had arrived on into the garage. It was a very nice bike, although it was covered in marks and scratches. Where exactly had Trubel gotten it? Had she stolen it? Pulling out his phone, Nick quickly took a photo of the licence plate, before sending it to Hank and giving him a quick call. Hank was going to have Wu run the plates.

Nick entered the main house and found Adalind standing near the kitchen. “How is she?” Adalind asked.

“She’s stable.” Nick answered, heading to the fridge.

“Could you talk to her?”

Nick shook his head. “Not much.” He said, closing the fridge, beer in hand.

Adalind sighed. “I can’t believe she’s here.” Adalind said, leaning against the counter. “I thought she was dead. Is that her motorcycle?”

Nick set the bag of clothes on the floor before opening his beer. “Maybe. She might have stolen it.” He said, turning to face her. “But she was wearing body armour, carrying three false identifications and a lot of cash. This has got to be connected to Chavez.”

“How did she know to come here?” Adalind asked, looking a little worried.

Nick shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe she was looking for Lorelei.” Nick said, stepping closer to Adalind. “Look, when you called me, you said there was more.”

“Uh, the guy on the phone recognised my voice.” She told him. Nick frowned. “He said my name, and, I think I recognised his voice.”

“Who?” Nick asked her.

“I’m pretty sure it’s Meisner.” Adalind answered. “He’s the one who got me out of Europe, took me to your mother. He’s the one who brought Diana to Lorelei.”

Nick sighed. “I am so sorry this happened.” Nick said. And he was. This was supposed to be a safe place. The last place anyone would think to look for him. Perhaps he should have moved them into the safe house he had set up. “I thought I had gotten us away from all this.”

Nick’s phone started ringing, and Nick quickly pulled it out and answered it. “Wu.”

“Hey. Hank’s with me, I got you on speaker.” Wu greeted him. “I ran the plates. Motorcyle is registered to a Lauren Cole.  3618 NW 19th Ave, apartment 505. So far, so normal. Then, I pulled up Lauren Cole’s driver’s licence.  You will never guess who it is.

Nick didn’t need to guess. “Trubel.”

There was a pause on the other end of the phone. “You want to tell us what’s going on?” Hank asked him.

Nick sighed. “I don’t know what’s going on.” He admitted. “She showed up here, pretty beat up. I took her to the hospital.”

“How bad is she?” Hank asked, sounding concerned.

“There’s no internal bleeding, but they want to keep her under observation for twenty-four hours.”

“Did she say why she’s Lauren Cole?”

“No.”

“Anything else?” It was Wu this time.

Nick thought about it for a moment. “Check out Lauren Cole’s apartment.” Nick instructed. “But do it out of uniform.”

“Copy.” Wu confirmed. “By the way. Miss Cole’s motorcycle cost 30 grand. And that’s just the base model.”

Nick had moved back to stand opposite Adalind. “Given the fake ID’s and the amount of cash she had on her, I doubt she’s driving the base model.” Nick sighed again. “I’ll check it out and see if there’s anything else I can find.”

“Nick.” Hank said. “Good to know she’s still alive.”

Nick let out a breath. “Yeah.” He agreed. It was good to know. Nick ended the call, placing his phone back into his pocket.

“This is getting very complicated.” Adalind commented.

“Yeah, it is.” Nick agreed. “I got to take a look at that bike.”

***Sean’s POV***

Sean’s meeting with Andrew and Jeremiah have given him more to think about. If Andrew was elected, he wanted Sean in the position of Chief of the Portland Police Department. That certainly did appeal to Sean. It was something he had been working towards throughout his career. And Sean was aware of the politics involved in achieving such a position. Working with Andrew, publicly supporting him would aid Sean in his goal of reaching that position.  A part of Sean couldn’t help but wonder if this was the right time to take on such as position. Lorelei would be giving birth in a few months, and they would have their hands full with four children. However, the promotion would mean a pay rise and a more flexible schedule.

“Sean, if being Chief of Police is something you want, then you should go for it.” Lorelei told him, gently pressing a kiss to his pectoral muscle.

The girls were in bed. Sean and Lorelei were as well, although they hadn’t been sleeping. Sean glanced down at his wife. “Are you sure?” He asked, absentmindedly trailing his hand along the smooth skin of her arm.

Lorelei looked up at him. “Of course. If this is something you want, then I will support you. Hell, if you want to become Mayor yourself one day, I’ll support that too.”

Sean laughed, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I don’t think that would be happening anytime soon. But thank you.”

***Adalind’s POV***

It was getting late, and Nick still wasn’t home. Adalind couldn’t help but worry. His job as a detective was dangerous enough without all the Grimm stuff, and whatever Trubel was involved with. Over the past few months, Adalind had come to care a great deal for Nick. And not just because he was Kelly’s father. The feelings she had for Nick…she couldn’t quite explain them. But she didn’t know if she should be feeling them. Sometimes she wondered if Nick had similar feelings, but it was hard to tell. Like his sister, and mother, it was hard to get a read on Nick Burkhardt’s emotions. It was something they all seemed to share, hiding their true emotions on certain things.

Adalind gently rocked Kelly, humming softly to him as fell asleep. Once she was certain he was out, she gently placed him in the bassinet in the living room. Adalind looked up as a beep came from the security monitors, alerting to activity captured by the motion sensors. Making sure Kelly was settled, Adalind walked over to look at the screens. Hopefully, it wasn’t some kind of threat. Adalind selected the camera that had picked up the motion, enlarging the image to see whether it was an animal or a person. Sucking in a breath, she saw what appeared to be a man stepped into the camera’s sight. She zoomed in a little more, recognising the figure. It was Meisner. He looked directly into the camera and said something she couldn’t hear. Maybe her name.

Adalind stared at him in surprise for a moment before she moved out the back door, down to the side gate. “Meisner.” She greeted the man.

“Adalind.” He said with a nod, as she stepped to the side allowing him to enter the property. “I don’t have much time. I’m glad you’re alright.” He said, looking at her intently.

“You too.” Adalind told him, looking at him questioningly.

“I’ll tell you as much as I can.” He said, stepping closer to her as he looked up towards the house. “But I have to see her.”

“Who?” Adalind asked, not willing to just give away Trubel’s name. Just in case. She needed him to confirm it was she he was looking for.

Meisner looked at her. “Trubel. I know she’s here. I tracked her bikes GPS.”

Adalind gestured to the house. “Come inside. I need to call Nick. Trubel was hurt and Nick took her to the hospital. But I’m not sure which one.”

In the house, Adalind used Meisner’s phone to call Nick, hoping he would answer. Thankfully, he did.  “Hello.”

“Trubel’s life is in danger. Where did you take her?”

There was a pause from Nick’s end. “Who is this?”

Meisner looked frustrated. “There isn’t time. I know she came to you.”

“No. I’m telling you anything until you tell me who this is.”

Meisner handed the phone to Adalind. “Nick. It’s me.” She said.

Nick was quiet again for a moment. “Adalind. Where are you?” He asked, sounding concerned.

“At home. It’s Meisner. He’s here with me.” Adalind told him. “I didn’t know he was coming, but I trust him.”

Meisner took the phone from Adalind. “Listen. I need you to tell me where she is. If you won’t, you need to go to her. They’ll find her.”

Nick sighed. “St Joe’s. I’ll meet you there.”

Meisner ended the call. He looked at Adalind. “Thank you.” He told her before disappearing out the back door and into the night.

Adalind let out a steadying breath. Who were the ‘they’ Meisner referred to? Hopefully one or both of the men would make it to the hospital in time to help Trubel. If they were going to bring Trubel back here, she would need a bed. Adalind moved towards the ground floor guest room to get it ready for their guest.

When Nick returned, he was carrying Trubel, who was still in her hospital gown. Adalind opened the door for him. “I got the guest room ready.” Adalind said, gesturing towards the door.

Nick nodded as he quickly walked into the nearby guest room, gently placing Trubel down onto the bed. Adalind helped him pull the blankets over Trubel as she groaned in pain. “Nick…” She murmured. “They’re gonna take me.”

“Not anymore.” Nick assured her. “You’re with me.”

Trubel shifted slightly. “I have so much to tell you.”

“Shh, later.” He told her.

Nick straightened up and turned to look at Adalind. “Is she alright?” Adalind asked in concern. She couldn’t help but feel a little protective of the younger woman. Trubel was important to both Nick and Lorelei; she’d saved Sean’s life and tried to help Diana back to the Royals.

Nick nodded. “Yeah. Thanks to your friend.” Nick said as the two of them stepped out of the room.

Adalind looked at him. “He was there?”

Nick approached her, staring intently at her. “Tell me about Meisner.” Adalind looked at him in confusion. “I need to know who he is.”

Next Part

Taglist: @zoexme, @nu1freakshow, @star-yawnznn, @bella250

Banner by @cafekitsune

[beardedmrbean]

A woman who escaped a cinderblock cell in a man's garage in Klamath Falls, Oregon, was abducted hundreds of miles away last month in Seattle, and now authorities are looking for more potential victims across multiple states.

The man, 29-year-old Negasi Zuberi of Klamath Falls, posed as an undercover police officer and kidnapped the woman in the early morning hours July 15, then shackled, sexually assaulted her and locked her up, according to court records.

He was arrested and federally charged with interstate kidnapping, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Lichvarcik said at a news conference Wednesday.

Authorities said Zuberi has been linked to sexual assaults in at least four more states, and they are searching for more potential victims. He's lived in multiple states since 2016, possibly including California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, and Nevada, the FBI said.

Fighting for her life, she escaped bloodied

The victim in Klamath Falls, who wasn't identified, "briefly slept and awoke to the realization that she would likely die if she did not attempt to escape," according to a criminal complaint.

The "makeshift" cell was made of cinderblocks and a metal door that had been installed backwards so it couldn't be opened from the inside, the complaint said. There was also an exterior door, and the cell had been built to be soundproof, Klamath Falls police said in a press release.

She banged against the door, bloodying and bruising her hands, until she managed to open it, the FBI in Portland said Wednesday. According to Klamath Falls Police Captain Rob Reynolds, the victim was able to break welds on the door, rip a metal screen off of it, and crawl out. She had lacerations on her knuckles from punching the door and walls, Reynolds said.

She then retrieved a gun that belonged to Zuberi and escaped. She climbed over a fence and flagged down a driver who called 911.

"The woman fought for her life, beating the doors and the walls of this cell with bloodied hands," Stephanie Shark, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Portland field office, said Wednesday. "The victim’s focus, actions and her will to survive triggered a law enforcement response that may have actually saved many other women from a similar nightmare."

"The victim is strong and courageous and right now she is physically OK," Shark said, adding that she was being offered resources.

'There are more victims'

Zuberi had solicited the victim to engage in prostitution before telling her he was an undercover officer, the criminal complaint said. He drove her about seven hours and 450 miles away, officials said Wednesday.

"Sadly, we believe there are more victims," Shark said.

The FBI said investigators believe Zuberi has used different methods to "gain control" of victims, including drugging their drinks, impersonating law enforcement officers and soliciting sex workers before "violently sexually assaulting them. Klamath Falls police said the victim reported that Zuberi had "police patches, a taser, and other law enforcement equipment."

"Some of the encounters may have been filmed to make it appear as if the assault was consensual," the FBI in Portland said in a press release. "The victims are threatened with retaliation if they notify the police."

He was arrested in Reno, Nevada, in a Walmart parking lot where he was with his wife and one of his children.

Handwritten notes found appear to show planning

In his house, authorities seized notes that were handwritten and included a sketch of an underground structure with "foam insulation" and "waterproof concrete," according to the criminal complaints. One of the notes featured the title "Operation Take Over" and a to-do list:

"Leave phone at home"

"Make sure they dont have a bunch of ppl in their life. You dont want any type of investigation."

The home where Zuberi held the woman in the garage is owned by Klamath Falls Mayor Carol Westfall and her husband, Kevin Westfall, according to court records. They evicted him after his arrest.

The Westfalls said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY on Wednesday they are "shocked and dismayed."

"We applaud the actions of the woman who helped capture this person and prevent him from committing further atrocities," they said.

An attorney listed as representing Zuberi in court records didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from USA TODAY on Wednesday. Zuberi is also known by the names Justin Joshua Hyche, Sakima Zuberi, and Justin Kouassi, court records show.

He's expected to appear in court in the coming weeks after being returned to Oregon, Lichvarcik said.

[jaygarage]

🚗 Jay’s Garage: Your Trusted Auto Repair Destination in Portland, OR! 🚘

At Jay’s Garage, we know how much your vehicle means to you. It's not just a mode of transport but a vital part of your daily life. That’s why our mission is to provide reliable, efficient, and transparent auto repair services to keep your car running smoothly. Located in the heart of Portland, OR, Jay’s Garage is more than just an auto repair shop—we’re your partner in keeping your car safe and roadworthy! 🚦

🛠️ Comprehensive Auto Repair Services

Our team of skilled technicians brings years of experience to handle all types of vehicles, from compact cars to SUVs and trucks. Whether you’re dealing with a persistent engine issue or need routine maintenance, Jay’s Garage has you covered:

🔧 General Auto Repair: From minor fixes to major overhauls, we provide top-notch repair services for brakes, suspensions, exhaust systems, and more.

⚙️ Engine Diagnostics: Is your “check engine” light on? Our advanced diagnostic tools will pinpoint the problem and ensure efficient repairs.

💨 Air Conditioning and Heating Services: Stay comfortable all year round with our HVAC system repairs and maintenance.

🔋 Battery and Electrical Repairs: Dead batteries and faulty electrical systems are no match for our experts!

🚘 Oil Changes and Routine Maintenance: Regular maintenance is key to a long-lasting vehicle. Trust us for timely oil changes, tire rotations, and fluid checks.

🛞 Tire Services: From patching punctures to replacing worn-out tires, we ensure your vehicle has the grip it needs on the road.

💡 Why Choose Jay’s Garage?

At Jay’s Garage, our focus is on delivering exceptional service that sets us apart:

Customer-Centric Approach 🤝: We value transparency and communication, keeping you informed every step of the way. No surprise costs or unnecessary repairs!

Certified Technicians 🏅: Our team is highly trained and equipped with the latest tools and technology to handle any issue.

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Convenient Location 📍: Nestled in SE Portland, our garage is easily accessible and close to public transportation.

Affordable Prices 💵: Quality service shouldn’t break the bank. We offer competitive pricing with no compromise on quality.

🕒 Fast and Reliable Service

We understand that being without your car can be inconvenient. That’s why we prioritize efficiency without compromising on quality. Most repairs are completed within the same day, so you can get back on the road as soon as possible.

🚦 Safety First

Your safety is our top priority. Every vehicle that comes through our doors undergoes a thorough inspection to ensure it’s in peak condition. From checking brake pads to ensuring proper tire pressure, we leave no stone unturned.

🌟 Testimonials From Happy Customers

Don’t just take our word for it! Here’s what our satisfied customers have to say:

“Jay’s Garage saved me in a pinch! My car broke down, and they had it running like new in no time. Highly recommend their services!” – Sarah L.

“Honest, affordable, and efficient. It’s hard to find a mechanic you can trust, but Jay’s Garage is the real deal.” – Mark R.

“Great customer service and even better workmanship. I’ll be bringing all my cars here from now on.” – Emily T.

🚙 Beyond Repairs: Building Relationships

At Jay’s Garage, we believe in building lasting relationships with our customers. We’re here not only to fix your car but also to provide guidance on maintaining it for years to come.

🧑‍🔧 Meet Our Team

Our team consists of dedicated, passionate, and friendly individuals who love what they do. From the moment you step into our garage, you’ll experience the difference of working with professionals who care.

🌈 Proudly Serving Portland

As a locally owned business, we take pride in serving our community. Whether you’re a daily commuter or planning a road trip, we ensure your vehicle is ready for any journey.

📣 Visit Jay’s Garage Today!

Ready to give your vehicle the care it deserves? Stop by Jay’s Garage today and experience the difference in quality and service. We’re here to keep your car in its best shape and ensure your driving experience is smooth and worry-free.

📞 Contact Us

🚗 Let’s keep you on the road without a hitch! Reach out to us today:

🏢 Address: 734 SE 7th Ave, Portland, OR 97214, United States 📞 Phone: +1 503 239 5167 📧 Email: jaysgarageoregon@gmail.com

We look forward to serving you! 🌟

[allaboutdoors1]

To maintain your automatic gate‘s longevity in Oregon, perform regular inspections at least twice a year. Focus on essential components like sensors, motors, and hardware. Clear debris from tracks and hinges, and lubricate moving parts monthly or quarterly to prevent rust and wear. Clean your gate regularly to avoid deterioration, and consider waxing for extra protection. Pay special attention to weather-related issues; manage snow and check for loose hardware in high winds. Keep an eye out for unusual noises or slow responses as signs that repairs may be needed. For further insights and tips, there’s more to explore. Read our most recent blog post about how to maintain your automatic gate for longevity in Oregon.

To maintain your automatic gate‘s longevity in Oregon, perform regular inspections at least twice a year. Focus on essential components like sensors, motors, and hardware. Clear debris from tracks and hinges, and lubricate moving parts monthly or quarterly to prevent rust and wear. Clean your gate regularly to avoid deterioration, and consider waxing for extra protection. Pay special attention to weather-related issues; manage snow and check for loose hardware in high winds. Keep an eye out for unusual noises or slow responses as signs that repairs may be needed. For further insights and tips, there’s more to explore. Read our most recent blog post about how to maintain your automatic gate for longevity in Oregon.

[robertpallesen]

Garage Door, Portland, OR © Robert Pallesen

[spaciousreasoning]

Hops and Downs

My blood sugar was down to 285 on Friday morning, a good sign that the small steps taken over the last couple of days have paid off. This is not, of course, the end. The process is only once again beginning. I have been here before, and it requires constant vigilance, something for which I do not have a good track record.

Following a breakfast of cheesy eggs and toast, we went to Chuck & Alice, a little store in downtown Springfield, to buy some cards and gifts for a couple of upcoming birthdays. After that it was on to Rooted Remedies, the little herbal apothecary in downtown Eugene where Nancy likes to shop.

In addition to purchasing a couple of her favorite tinctures, Nancy discussed with the owner the possibility of using the hops growing on our back deck for some kind of herbal treatment for anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia. A pillow filled with hops is a popular folk remedy for sleeplessness, and we might eventually give that a try.

We had looked up car wash locations, and there is one near us, but we put that off until next week. We did stop at Albertson’s to grab a few more items best bought there, like the bagels from Franz Bakery, a family business that started in Portland after immigration from Germany in the early 20th century. We’ve been enjoying their everything bagels and Nancy decided to add some cinnamon/blueberry bagels to the mix.

Also under consideration was another stop at Jerry’s, where we want to pick up a doorknob for the door from the garage into the kitchen. There is evidently no key available, so when we lock it as we leave out of the garage, we have to come back in the front door. A simple replacement knob should take care of that.

After a nap and some internet thumb-twiddling, we began preparing dinner. We started with a spaghetti sauce, cooking up garlic and mushrooms, adding ground beef and a jar of marinara, plus more ingredients, including a splash of red wine and a sprinkle of adobo. While that simmered, we built a salad, made some garlic toast, and, finally, boiled up some pasta. It made for a delicious dinner, and there’s sauce left over for at least one more meal.

As the meal settled into our stomachs, we got out and took a stroll around the big rectangle in our neighborhood. It’s an easy walk, lasting 15 or 20 minutes, and just before 8 p.m., when we set out, the sun was only a few minutes away from setting and the temperature was pleasant, thanks to a mild breeze.

Having completed our exercise, we watched the final episode of the German edition of “Professor T.” The team producing this version had written their own arc leading up to the end, quite different from the original Belgian version. The British version, which is continuing on PBS, is still in production for new episodes, so it remains to be seen if it will stick to the original scripts. There are also French and Czech versions of the program, but we have not discovered whether they are available on any streaming platform.

[scary-movies-on-netflix]

THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1 (2024)

We start with a dude running through the forest, but the Strangers catch up with him and kill him!

We next join a young couple, Man and Woman, as they are driving to Portland, Oregon, for her job interview.  After some product placement, they stop along the way in “Venus,” a crappy little spot on the map, and there is some predictable and trite tension between the big-city sophisticates and the small-town yokels.  Anyway, Man’s car won’t start, and they have to spend the night, by renting a local AirB&B!

The house, a lodge, seems ok, and Man and Woman start to get it on, but someone knocks on the door.  Man opens the door and there is a young woman standing in the shadows of the porch.  “Is Tamara here?” she asks.  “No,” Man says curtly.  “I think you have the wrong home,” Woman adds.  The young woman leaves.  Later, Man discovers that his inhaler (he has asthma)  has been left in the truck.  He takes a motorcycle back to the town.  Woman is alone, and someone bangs on the door.  “Is Tamara here?” the same young woman from before asks through the door.  After about two minutes of door stuff (looking out the peephole, more banging, etc.) we see that a Stranger is in the house, by walking behind Woman!  Woman decides to calm down by smoking a joint.  She plays “Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven (1801), and we pull away to look at her from behind, and the Man in the Mask is sitting right behind her!  Except his name is now Scarecrow!  This isn’t nearly as effective a scene as in “The Strangers” (2008), where he stands behind Kristen and watches her putz around in the kitchen.  That scene was entirely plausible; we’re all afraid of who might be sneaking up behind us in the darkness of our own home.  This scene, in this movie, is obviously a cinematic conceit, as Woman suddenly suffers from movie-blindness and can’t just glance up at the mirror hanging over her.

Anyway, in town Man collects his inhaler, dealing with the creepy garage owner, and he gets some burgers from a local stand, and the owners seem peeved that he requests something vegetarian.  At the cabin, Woman takes a shower, and Scarecrow is standing right there, watching her!  We know because we see him, and also because of the blaring horror music!  Woman finishes her shower and then the lights go out!  She is looking for the circuit breaker and she suddenly seeks Dollface!  She has the same mask but she’s also wearing a black cap, so we don’t see her hair, so she might not be a blonde this time.  Woman runs upstairs and hides in a closet.  She hears footsteps and someone opens the door, and it is Man!  Woman is freaking out, and he tries to placate her by explaining that she was afraid of a weird painting of a clown on the wall.  Then someone bangs on the door!  They see the young woman standing on the road.  Man approaches her, and she very daintily runs away.  “Yeah, fuck yeah,” Man says, “you better run!”

Ok, so the movie isn’t even halfway over yet.  Man and Woman are eating their burgers and blood drips on them, from a dead chicken hanging from the ceiling!  Scarecrow begins to hack his way through the door with an axe!  Man and Woman run upstairs and hide in a room.  We see Scarcrow, Dollface, and Pin-Up (my favorite) wandering through the house.  Pin-Up runs a knife along the kitchen counter, though not as elegantly as Dollface did in the first movie, and Dollface plays “Moonlight Sonata” on the piano.  Scarecrow hacks down the door to the couple’s hiding place and stares at them, and then he walks away.  Man and Woman attempt to flee the house.  They see that their cellphones are smashed, and then the motorcycle lights on fire.  They run back into the house and hide in the ground level bathroom.  The Strangers listen to a record, and we see Pin-Up rest her head on Scarecrow’s chest.

Woman, who is an architect, figures out that the house is raised above the foundation, and they escape by crawling through the bathroom vent.  They are crawling under the house, and she places her hand on a nail!  She manages to not scream as Pin-Up is walking in the room above them.  They escape the house and run to a building in the rear yard, but Pin-Up is already there!  They poke around a bit.  Woman suddenly sees Pin-Up, and then Scarecrow tries to grab her through a window, but Man now has a shotgun!  The Strangers flee.  The couple sneak back to the house.  They hear someone on the porch, and Man blasts him!  With the shotgun!  Unfortunately, it appears to be the owner of the house, who was coming to make some repairs.  Man freaks out a bit, and they then try to escape in the man’s truck.  Then Pin-Up throws a brick through the window, and Scarecrow crashes the Stranger pickup into them! 

After some bullshit, Man and Woman run separately into the surrounding forest.  Woman is being pursued by Dollface.  She reaches a spot from earlier in the movie, when the Strangers were chasing that first guy, and she hides herself in some leaves.  Dollface eventually leaves, and Woman uses the home owner’s cellphone to call the police, and she discovers the dead body of the guy from the beginning!  She then tries to run away, but Dollface catches her and knocks her out and drags her away.  Meanwhile, Scarecrow and Pin-Up are chasing Man.  Man overcomes an asthma attack , and he gets the drop on Pin-Up!  She gesticulates at him and laughs maniacally.  Man appears ready to shoot her, but Scarecrow appears and knocks him out. 

The couple wake up inside the cabin, bound hand and feet and arranged side-by-side in two chairs.  “They got us,” Woman says sadly, and Man asks her to marry him.  “Yes,” Woman says, and then Pin-Up stabs Man!  We are now behind the couple and see that the Strangers are facing them in a line, just like the first movie.  Scarecrow walks behind them and knocks over Man’s chair.  Woman asks, “Why are you doing this to us?”  Pin-Up leans in close and says, “Because you’re here.”  Scarecrow then stands before Woman, and Pin-Up gives him a knife.  “Fuck you,” Woman tells him.  He looks closely at her. He stabs her, and he knocks over her chair, too.  The Strangers look at each other, and then they hear the cops approaching!  They leave the house and flee the scene in the Stranger pickup. 

We next see that Woman has been taken to a hospital, because she survived.  It is a dark and stormy night.  “TO BE CONTINUED,” we see, with some annoyance, but it is not the end!  We get a mid-credits scene.  Still in the previous scene, Woman opens her eyes and sits up, and Scarecrow is lying next to her!  Now, the end.

This was okay, I guess.  Since the Strangers died in the last movie, I guess you technically need a reboot, and I am glad that someone cared enough about the characters to place them in another film.  This one is a throwback to the first movie, a home invasion thriller.  The movie is competent overall, if a bit heavy handed with the musical cues and jump scares.  Those little flourishes are what drag this down to the level of just average. Man and Woman deliver fine horror performances.  I appreciate that the Strangers are more or less normal people.  They aren’t superhumanly fast or strong.  Except for the piano mirror scene, you can sort of follow their movements realistically as they track the couple.  Their final line, “Because you’re here,” calls back to, “Because you were home.”  The Strangers are trying to blame their victims for their own deaths.  “If you hadn’t been here, you’d still be alive.”  I’m interested in seeing where this goes in the next two movies.

[hometoursandotherstuff]

Welcome to the metal treehouse. It's a 1979 build in Portland, OR. 4bds, 3ba, $800K.

It has a garage, but I don't like that it's built on wood boards. You can see that 2 already had to be replaced.

Entering the front door, the kitchen is to the left and the living room is on the right.

I like the black marble fireplace. There are high ceilings with some open balconies.

It also opens to the deck.

The kitchen is nice with light modern cabinetry and black counters. The shelves look open, but they have glass doors, which is much more desirable.

Look at the shape of the sink.

It has a high ceiling with beams. The only thing is that if the new owner wants a larger fridge, it won't fit.

The dining area is next to the kitchen and it's a large area, that would accommodate a formal dining table, faced the other way. In this photo you can better see the high ceiling and beams.

This is very nice- along the wall they installed a large desk. If you don't need a home office, it would be great for crafting, or a nice little art studio.

The principal bedroom is a good size, and it's very light and bright.

The bath is cute- it has a lovely counter and walk-in shower.

This empty bedroom looks nice and big.

The 2 remaining bedrooms are also empty and surprisingly large.

And, this bath has a different look. Very nice.

This is a useful utility room- it has storage.

This deck looks like it's got cement flooring.

And, these 2 are wood.

I still wish that the garage was on cement. The house is in the trees, but the lot is .41 acre.

[ritualoftheancients]

Ritual of the Ancients Chapter 12: Bullet holes are stylish, right?

by Roan Rosser

This is a chapter of a complete vampire novel with a trans-masc main character and a gay romance subplot. New Chapters are posted every Sunday. If you like the novel and want to support the author, ebook and paperback copies can be purchased here.

*****

I pulled up in front of a small house belonging to one of the officers I’d seen at my apartment the other night. I’d picked it over the other one mainly because it was closer to where Jack and I lived—a house in a residential neighborhood in northeast Portland. After the fight and the drive over here, it was after 11:00 pm. All the lights in the house were out and no car was in the driveway, but it could have been in the closed garage. I sat in the car, staring up at the house.

What was I going to say? Take me to your leader? I snorted. Like that wasn’t cliché at all. But I needed to know more about what was going on. I checked the note again. This officer’s name was Kevin Newland.

Gathering my courage, I got out of the car and went up the walk. I knocked lightly, not wanting to wake anyone. Then, when no one answered, I pounded harder. A light flipped on upstairs, so I lowered my hand and waited. A few moments later the downstairs light came on and the front door cracked open.

The officer peered out through the crack, rubbing blurry eyes. I recognized him from both my apartment building and his employee file picture. “Can I help you?”

Instead of answering, I pushed the door into him, knocking the officer back a step. In his sleepy state, Kevin couldn’t keep his balance, and he fell to his butt on the tile of the entryway. I stepped inside and closed the door behind me.

“Hey!” Kevin exclaimed, sounding more awake now.

Still riding the high from draining that vampire, I leaned down and grabbed the neck of the officer’s T-shirt, which proudly displayed him a graduate of Oregon State University. Figured he was a beaver. Rivals to my school, the ducks. I still felt loyalty to my school, despite the fact that I hadn’t finished my degree. A wave of anger went through me, hot and sharp.

Balling the fabric in my fists, I hoisted him into the air and slammed him against the foyer wall, as if he didn’t have a foot of height and a hundred pounds on me.

“Who is trying to kill me?” I growled, getting in Kevin’s face. I actually wasn’t even sure he was involved; he could have lied on the report because he didn’t know how to explain how I got away from him and his partner. But if he did know, I was hoping that by bluffing, that I could rattle him into telling me something.

Even though I wasn’t thirsty, being this close and smelling his fear and sweat made my throat ache. I could feel my fangs trying to descend. This time I was able to clench my teeth and keep them up, but just barely. I was sure my effort gave me a truly terrible grimace.

“What?” Kevin gasped, his eyes bulging. He clawed at my hands and kicked at me, but I hardly felt the blows, and he couldn’t break my iron grip. My grin widened. I could get used to this vampire thing.

Kevin’s face was turning purple, so I lowered him down so that his feet touched the floor, and loosened my grip on his throat. “There have been two attempts on my life so far that I know of, three if you count my dead roommate. You know who’s behind it, don’t you? That’s why you lied about seeing me, isn’t it!”

“No, Everett. The boss sent us to protect you,” Kevin gasped.

I stared at him. “Wait, by boss you mean…”

“Lady Ann. She was concerned about her favorite acquirer.” I rolled my eyes at that. Worried about her amulet, more like. “But I guess we got there too late.” Kevin gave me a curious look. “How’d you get out, anyway?”

I let go of Kevin and stepped back. “Jumped out the window,” I muttered, trying to process this new info.

“The window? From the sixth floor? You’re crazy, man.” Kevin shook his head.

“Why didn’t you say she sent you?”

“Would you have believed us? Besides, it’s not exactly discreet to go around yelling the name of Portland’s most infamous mob boss, is it?”

“True.” I crossed my arms and regarded the crooked cop. “If you were there to protect me, why the guns?”

“We were a little on-edge,” Kevin coughed.

I rolled my eyes. “Does the Lady know who’s after me? Or why?”

Kevin shrugged and slid down the wall to sit cross-legged on the floor. “I don’t know. Think she tells grunts like me things like that?” He winced and massaged his throat. “Quite a grip you’ve got there.”

“Yeah, I’m a…” I trailed off. Jack had said the supernatural world was on a need-to-know basis. Plus, it was my one advantage over the would-be killer. Better to keep quiet about it for now. “Been working out.”

Kevin looked up at me with pursed lips. “We searched your apartment, but didn’t find all the goods. Figured you had it on you. Lady Ann is most excited to see the latest artifact you promised her.” He held a hand out expectantly.

The artifacts stolen from my apartment were valuable, sure, but the amulet I carried had been specifically requested by Lady Ann. I didn’t know how’d she’d known it was there at the museum, since it had taken me over a week of searching the badly organized depths of the storage rooms afterhours to find it.

A surge of possessiveness swept over me, and I shivered as I fought to keep from clapping a hand over the pocket that held the amulet. I hesitated, unsure of what to say. It wasn’t just that it gave me leverage over her, the amulet was mine. I didn’t know where the feeling came from; I didn’t have any particular attachment to the gaudy gold thing. All I knew is that I would sooner cut off my own arm than hand it over to anyone.

Besides, something he said didn’t sit right with me. He’d gotten there after the apartment had already been ransacked. But he’d said “didn’t find all the goods”, implying they’d found some. I remembered the empty baggies scattered on my floor. The goods had already been taken before the cops cornered us there.

Which meant that hadn’t been the first time they’d been there that day. I backed away from the officer, feeling sick. They were the ones who’d ransacked my apartment and killed Lindsay, likely using the excuse of the welfare check to get inside. And it explained why no one had called in the ransacking: it had been done by cops. Lindsay had likely been killed after they realized she didn’t know where I was.

They’d left after that, but been drawn back by the 911 call made by the neighbor I attacked. Maybe he’d been able to describe me well enough, or maybe just the address of the call had made them suspicious that I’d made the dumb mistake of going back home.

I tried to keep my realization off my face as I stared down at Kevin, trying to figure out what to do. I couldn’t let him know I was onto him, but I needed to give him a message to give to Lady Ann.

Finally, I said, “I was mugged leaving the building the night I stole it.” I’d had enough practice at lying lately that it came naturally, rolling right off my tongue without hesitation. Plus, it helped that everything I said was technically the truth; I was just leaving out the important part and letting Kevin come to his own conclusions.

Understanding blossomed on Kevin’s face and he groaned, dropping his hand. “And you’ve been looking for it. You thought my partner and I might have been involved.”

I nodded. “Clearly I was wrong.” I turned and started walking toward the front door.

There was the scrape of a drawer opening and then Kevin said in a hard voice, “Everett, where do you think you’re going? The boss would like a word with you.”

Hand on the doorknob, I looked over my shoulder to see Kevin had a gun pointed at me. The drawer of the table beside the door was open, and an empty holster was visible inside.

I raised one eyebrow at the gun. “You think that scares me, after the week I’ve had?”

Kevin just stared down the barrel at me, eyes narrowing. He obviously wasn’t going to let me go without a fight.

I concentrated on the feeling I’d gotten before of time slowing down. I hadn’t done it on purpose yet, but it was worth a try. Being shot hurt, so it was not an experience I wanted to repeat. The world faded as I rushed toward Kevin. I knew it had worked because Kevin’s expression changed in slow motion from confident to shocked. I slapped at Kevin’s gun hand, knocking it to the side before tackling him into the wall.

A shot rang out from the gun and a window shattered. A car alarm on the street started blaring, but I barely heard the commotion as I buried my fangs in Kevin’s neck. I sucked greedily, and Kevin struggled for only a moment before sagging. Clinging to his torso, I followed him to the floor.

The blood was good, but not as good as that vampire’s had been. Funny, at the time I hadn’t liked the taste, but now I wished I had it again. I took a few more disappointing licks, and then shoved Kevin’s unresisting body away from me. Kevin sunk down, a giddy smile on his face. He didn’t look as out of it as Officer Hubbs yesterday night, but he was in no condition to stop me now. And if the venom worked like Jack had described, he wouldn’t remember me coming here or using vampire powers. Or he wouldn’t be able to trust his memory.

He deserved to die for what he did to Lindsay, but I didn’t think I could face myself if I took his life in cold blood. I already felt bad enough about hurting that vampire earlier, even though it had been self-defense.

For good measure, I took the gun from Kevin’s limp hand, then snagged the holster from the foyer table. I snapped the gun back into the holster and stuffed it in my jacket pocket before leaving the house. Kevin was already sitting up, looking dazed. The car alarm was still blaring outside.

“Come back!” he called after me with a pleading note in his voice. I ignored him and kept walking.

Jack’s car, parked on the street in front of the house, sported a newly shattered back passenger side window, and a bullet hole in the back seat. I looked back at Kevin’s shattered front window and groaned. Just my luck that stray bullet hit Jack’s car.

The lights of the car flashed in time with the alarm. Sighing, I took the fob out and clicked the alarm off before getting in. Jack was going to kill me. I just hoped he was still alive to be mad.