20XX/10/03 – Late Afternoon
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With a sigh Liz leaned back in her office chair. She had been writing on her article the whole afternoon without a break and only now was she finally somewhat content with what she had produced. 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjqJaTxz0q
Whoever thought that writing an article or even a small column for the newspaper was an easy task deserves to get strangled on the spot. “Come on, you already did all the research! Look at all these notes you have. You only need to bring these on paper now. Can’t be that hard.” Yeah, right. You could have all the notes in the world and it still would be for nothing if you didn’t manage to turn them into sentences. And even if you managed that, it wouldn’t do you any good if the reader would skip over the first few sentences, only to decide the whole thing was garbage to wipe your ass with on the toilet. Which you shouldn’t do by the way. Totally clogs the pipes. And revoking that… Plain nasty. The point is that you always have to take your readers into account. Your text has to be interesting but not exaggerated. You have to cover all the facts without making things too convoluted. What is the point in cramming everything in three sentences when later no one understands shit of what you were trying to say. And let’s not start with having to keep an eye out for the allowed space and number of letters. 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy4Au5UpgG
There really were a lot of things to consider. And Liz wanted to smack everyone left and right who dared to imply otherwise. Only owning all the equipment and ingredients needed to bake a cake didn’t make you some kind of master pâtissier after all either.
Guess, I can show that to Meredith later. Presumed that that man leaves her office anytime soon. How long have these two been talking in there??431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwKCXihRSa
She had only noticed it from the corner of her eye, but at some point a man had entered their agency. As focused as she had been, Liz hadn’t really taken note of him other than him wearing some fancy blue suit. He had slipped into her boss’s office and so far Meredith’s door had remained shut after that. Liz could only presume that they were still talking. Unless they were preoccupied with other things. 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBVfF0NJ2t
Nah, this is Meredith. That woman is basically married to her work.
She shook her head with a chuckle. Now that she had finished her article she could dispose of a few of her Post Its. Her head was already full with new things to note down, so a bit of space on her board was definitely needed.’431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xHtCGutdI
“Oh, someone seems to be in a good mood now. Who knew Ms. Glaze was actually capable of expressing a smile? And a quite cute one at that.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukwf1zQzTm
Oh, hell no.
Liz’s head snapped up and once again her eyes were met with that overly ambiguous smile. He really was one of a kind. The man of her dreams. Her upcoming nightmares to be precise. Not again.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMtB13d5wm
She was about to open her mouth to snap at him but got promptly interrupted. 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1FhbPnocq
“Ah, ah! Don’t say it.” He waved his index finger in front of her mouth to stop her from talking. “I know what you’re thinking. But you’re still wrong. I’m not stalking you. And I have no intention to. Well, unless you want me to. I hear some people are into that-“ Liz batted his hand away with an annoyed groan.
“I get it, I get it. So, just- Stop talking!” She let out another sigh. “Well, what are you doing here then? And what’s with…” She gestured wildly at his clothing. “That?” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhzdjYV8Sz
“Oh! This? I thought it appropriate to go for a change of clothes before coming here. I got it from a friend of mine. And completely free of charge too! It’s a nice suit isn’t it?” He spun around and did a few poses for her. 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNgzuOv12c
What are you? Some kind of magazine model? Liz only raised an eyebrow at his display, not deeming it worth her time to even bother with a reaction of any other kind. Realizing he wouldn’t get anything from her, the man stopped in his tracks. Returning back to business, he quickly fixed his posture, but not before coughing awkwardly a few times.
“Oh, Liz, I see you have already made acquaintance with Detective Matthews!” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4ZT7iZoBE
“Detective? This man’s just a simple off-“ 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmzyuuPIKo
“Actually, we already met this morning!” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1PVs4uLJd
“Oh?” Intrigued, Meredith looked at the man with that little sparkle in her eyes, Liz knew all too well. What is happening here?431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPSMo9f7Px
“Yes, at the crime scene. I caught Ms. Glaze trespassing.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoacbqcRfxE
“Trespass-?! Oh, there surely must be some kind of mistake here. There’s no way Liz here would ever do anything that goes against the law.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwf8XMBjQq
You could say that with a bit more conviction Meredith.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs16YlVtgi
“Detective Matthews” offered her boss a gentle smile. “Oh no, she’s not in trouble, Ms. Ramirez. I let her go. There won’t be any consequences whatsoever for Ms. Glaze.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklbj3xZMc5
“Oh, that's very generous of you, Detective.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3TM0nJEcA
He stopped her with a wave of his hand. “It was nothing, really. In fact, Ms. Glaze actually promised to help out in the investigation as a means to show her gratitude.”
“Excuse me? I did what now!?” Liz, who had been quiet for a while, yelled in exasperation. She darted an outraged look at the so-called Detective, clearly not intending to go along with whatever game he seemed to be playing. Her boss however, didn’t seem too happy at her immediate protest. “Liz~ Do I need to help jog your memory again?” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9zhkiEXit
Urgh… There it is. The icy smile from hell.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkYktVQ0wY
“N-no need.” Seeing as her employee was, admittedly, not all too amused but at least seemed to have given up on protesting, Meredith smiled at the Detective. That’s when Liz noticed something strange in her boss’s demeanor. The way she held her posture wasn’t as upright as normally. She was lacking her usual aura of confidence and authority. It seemed like she was slumped. Her whole presence seemed… smaller. And that smile, it was definitely strained. Earlier she had still been her usual self, but now… Something was wrong. And she hated not knowing what it was.
“Well, you have a good eye, Detective. Liz is one of my best and if there’s someone here that can be of assistance in your investigation, it’s her. Although, as talented as she is, she can also be quite the, let’s call it, handful.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KDPMfUMju
Hey!431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslFuuRK1Pf
“So, I hope you know what deal you’re about to sign here, Mr. Matthews.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmu7IVPFsvy
The man chuckled, seemingly not bothered by her words at all. “Don’t worry, Ms. Ramirez. I have dealt with much worse individuals. I’m sure I can handle a woman with a little rebellious streak.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeJJJWZmIp
Oh, really? Well, I don’t know if I can handle a man with a huge streak of pain in the ass coupled with a load of incapacity!431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17qKsaSz02
“Alright, then. I’ll leave her in your capable hands, Detective. Be a good girl, Liz.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDXJ4uNGIu
“Mhmm, sure.” I’m gonna vomit right on this carpet. 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBRXofGZxL
Deeming the conversation to be over, Meredith bid her goodbyes and excused herself back into her office. That left an internally fuming Liz alone with a currently very smug “Detective Matthews”.
“Well, looking forward to working with you, partner!” He held out his hand in a gesture of amicability. A gesture the young woman had no intention of reciprocating. Instead, she scoffed as she leaned back on her chair. Seemingly intimidated by the way she was glaring daggers at him, he awkwardly dropped his arm back to his side. “Uhm…” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSk5GuwD1g
“Listen, up.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVb8n7Xpus
“All ears.”
“As much as it pains me to admit it, it seems like my boss just decided that I’m stuck with you. So, here’s how this is gonna go. First, you’re gonna answer my questions. Depending on your answers I might, and this is a very big maybe here, be inclined to offer my assistance. However-“ He raised an eyebrow at Liz as she leaned forward again. In one swift motion she placed her elbows on her desk, propping her chin on her folded hands. The way her lips curled up into a smirk gave him an ominous feeling in his stomach. “- if I find myself unsatisfied with your answers, I will make sure to turn every minute we’re getting to spend together into hell on earth for you~ Understood?”
For a few seconds the man blinked, seemingly at a loss for words. Then he wiped his hands on the blue fabric of his suit as he let out a nervous chuckle. 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSfnXy5vH6
Not so smug anymore, are we? Amused by his display, Liz’s lips curled upwards a little bit higher. The next moment however, her expression froze in place. Without further ado the “Detective” spun around and grabbed an empty office chair from a nearby work space, pulling it in front of her desk. Much to her dismay he left it with the backrest facing her, effectively seating himself on it from the wrong direction.
“What are you doing?” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0jyQkZvMj
“Well, if I’ll have to answer your questions, I might as well get myself comfortable.” Sprawling his arms over the backrest he looked at her with anticipation. In fact, he almost seemed… excited. “Alright, I’m ready. Hit me.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJNX3aP5qn
Oh, believe me, I would love nothing more than doing that. 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLlEANW5EK
Liz sighed. “Well, I’ll start easy then. What’s your name?” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gM1GJWvXc
“Aww, after all that animosity, you actuallyare interested in me!” He said, smiling from ear to ear. 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rbxVCanTo
What’s with the sudden golden retriever impression?431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRLahC3oxQ
“Excuse me?! No, I’m not! I just don’t vibe with not being able to call the people I have to associate with by their names.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUpBB1HAaq
“You could just call me Detective Matthews then. Your boss seemed fine with that.” “That’s not your real name though.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbz3xOuVbE
His smile grew wider, albeit she didn’t think it possible. “See, you are interested. You want to know the real me-“ 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiooy10fzE
“Alright, I’ll just give you a name myself then. How does Kyle without style sound?” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTOfybYFyg
“Leon Enfield. So, just call me, Mr. En-“431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbkH0c2s5C
“Leon, it is. Alright.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgY1XAWLmR
“Oh, do I get to call you Liz th-“ 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWZxdR1l3X
“Over my dead body.”
Leon sighed in defeat. Although he seemed to try to hide his sulking, he did a terrible job at it. His act earned him a chuckle from the brunette though before she started rummaging in her coat. Soon she pulled out the notepad he had already briefly seen this morning, albeit this time she actually opened it. Skimming through to a blank paper, Liz readied the pen she had grabbed from the scattered mess on her desk. “Alright, next question. Why did you tell Meredith you were a detective? Embarrassed about your actual rank, or lack thereof?”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCq8oD5JoUy
He scoffed at her jab. “Not at all. I just simply found it to be more efficient for my investigation to have people think I got a higher position in the force. The wonders a little authority will give you.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5tbkpBNqV
Believe me, you wouldn’t emit authority even if you were the head of the police.
“Ooookayyy… How did you do it then?” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXoXrluVaO
“Do what?” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGfGrzfiD9
“Sell your detective identity. Meredith isn’t stupid. She wouldn’t just believe someone to be a detective just on their word and fancy looking suit alone.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlXVeRKPeP
“Oh, so you do like my suit!” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvkYKNqMjB
“Not the point.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWnTxOVcJz
He stopped before he could trail off in a completely different direction again. “Oh, yeah, right. Well, it was easy really. I just showed her my badge.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyExfXpHFhS
“Your.. badge… You shouldn’t have a detective badge.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvvNM0nfSz
Scratching his chin, Leon looked away, chuckling nervously. “Ah, well, about that…”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnra6lWYagB
“You stole one.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Bk66hvZNw
“Borrowed. I told you this morning, I don’t steal things. I borrow them for as long as I need them and bring them back later.”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf4xFmvIQn
“You stole a detective badge! I can’t believe it! How do you still have this job???”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak4ZVivp24
He shrugged. “I’m good at what I do.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhD7v9qfC5
Yeah, at being a thief. Liz shook her head in disbelief. 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U68fawTKF
“Don’t worry, Ms. Glaze. The real Detective Matthews is a friend of mine. He rarely uses his badge. In fact, I can guarantee he won’t even notice that it’s gone.”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTdXQAB1LJ
“You did this before.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPmDJTQQm2
“…Maybe.” Leon mumbled quietly, a tiny bit of guilt dropping from his voice.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPVEYY3rXt
“So, you’re a serial offender. Great.”
The officer chuckled nervously again before asking in a rather timid tone “Uhm… Next question?”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIovBATFRiB
“Ok, then… What did you do to Meredith?” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDQ25iqq99
That question seemed to catch the dark blonde off guard as he tilted his head in confusion. He squinted at her for a few seconds while seemingly trying to deduce the hidden meaning to her words. Sadly however, thinking about it hadn’t made him any the wiser, forcing him to reluctantly inquire further. “What exactly do you mean?”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9eRDBK05s
“Well, I dunno how many hours you’ve spent in her office, but she definitely wasn’t her usual self after she stepped out of it with you.”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HRxGO7qvk
“Ahh… That. Well… Uhm… You see…”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76eNdYZ2Go
What’s with the sudden awkwardness here??? Please, dear god, don’t tell me-
A shudder ran through Liz at the mere thought of the two of them together and she violently shook her head to get rid of the disturbing images forcing themselves into her mind. As if to prevent him from spilling any risky details of whatever they had been doing, she threw her arms forward in a defensive stance. Flailing her hands in front of his face, she desperately fumbled with the words. “Y-you know what? Forget it! I never asked that question. I don’t wanna know anything. I don’t care about whatever was railing-, I mean happening in there. Or if you guys used protection. I- I don’t need any details!”
“Protect-!?” Leon exclaimed, completely baffled. “Ms. Glaze, what do you think your boss and I were doing in her office???”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWUYDFPCp6
“Well, from her behavior earlier, apparently something that… didn’t feel very good?” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxJGDGfecn
Leon scoffed, straightening himself upright on his chair. He crossed his arms and stared at Liz in a mixture of disbelief and irritation. “Honestly, I don’t quite know if I should feel offended here or be in awe as to how dirty your mind is Ms. Glaze.” 431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSvajbkjng
My dirty mind??? “Excuse me!?”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLIxYKtueC
“Not excused. In hindsight of what happened this morning, what you’re implying is completely inappropriate. And couldn’t be further from the truth.”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtVL0LcwpW
“Oh, really? Well, pray tell then. What did you guys do in her office for such a long time?”
The young woman now crossed her arms as well. For a few moments the two of them sat like that. Their arms crossed, staring at the other. At last, Leon let out a sigh.431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbp1J0MCeZq
“You know, I’m actually surprised that you don’t know. After all, you saw her body this morning.”
Body? The only body I saw this morning was-
“Whose body?”431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf0Xerlb9F
“Violet Baynes’s.”
Violet… Where have I heard that name before- Wait.
“You don’t mean-“431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4mg9yozf2
Leon nodded. “I told your boss that one of her employees got murdered.”
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Every single time that we lay it on the line431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB5k8Z6lBA
It's a roller coaster ride for one431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYC9cjZyOI
When we know it's do or die and were running out of time431Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcBDHL2MNA
Against The Current - Brighter
