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. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y09QDOt93
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. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLvwqZPpbT
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??222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI88iRfamH9
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. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlHChvCdVq
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.’222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjFYVHkkIT
“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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAEfzKaMdW
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.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5Sn5Lq4BW
She was about to open her mouth to snap at him but got promptly interrupted. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXX5sRT3Gc
“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?” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxsOswyOAv
“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. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgstjBLbeB
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!” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qQfuxdN3Y
“Detective? This man’s just a simple off-“ 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTzChanD6B
“Actually, we already met this morning!” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE2exiqDUe
“Oh?” Intrigued, Meredith looked at the man with that little sparkle in her eyes, Liz knew all too well. What is happening here?222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBVRdyZ5L5
“Yes, at the crime scene. I caught Ms. Glaze trespassing.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwh4KhVkVm
“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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtRri4ox5t
You could say that with a bit more conviction Meredith.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNzES6KP2z
“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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb02CbKNl2l
“Oh, that's very generous of you, Detective.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzxZdAkbo0
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?” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpG2cp8fb7S
Urgh… There it is. The icy smile from hell.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoCnxckP2D
“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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFyFTWSgwJ
Hey!222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWuYh2x4As
“So, I hope you know what deal you’re about to sign here, Mr. Matthews.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaRvvYsS23
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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex8PMb2N8h
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!222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIuHPv3llx
“Alright, then. I’ll leave her in your capable hands, Detective. Be a good girl, Liz.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofLxEhV6hP
“Mhmm, sure.” I’m gonna vomit right on this carpet. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPDIweGgcH
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…” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Bw59teAA1
“Listen, up.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZJVEj2Bkr
“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. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VnMoAszE9
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?” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2G8KJdZ08
“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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7Uh3DMYQa
Oh, believe me, I would love nothing more than doing that. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizqlOMn4uL
Liz sighed. “Well, I’ll start easy then. What’s your name?” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3mmHxO4wK
“Aww, after all that animosity, you actuallyare interested in me!” He said, smiling from ear to ear. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBiVFdBzdr
What’s with the sudden golden retriever impression?222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSrgWoxDAV
“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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxeqbGPuZU
“You could just call me Detective Matthews then. Your boss seemed fine with that.” “That’s not your real name though.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm8s5BYaiE
His smile grew wider, albeit she didn’t think it possible. “See, you are interested. You want to know the real me-“ 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82yoTRrjWl
“Alright, I’ll just give you a name myself then. How does Kyle without style sound?” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrWXZiUBhL
“Leon Enfield. So, just call me, Mr. En-“222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsNbvvkQhk
“Leon, it is. Alright.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiBZajeEhL
“Oh, do I get to call you Liz th-“ 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYmhuxOugx
“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?”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oWcaNF96u
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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aPqlpx1GT
Believe me, you wouldn’t emit authority even if you were the head of the police.
“Ooookayyy… How did you do it then?” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeJ2MWeY9a
“Do what?” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8YfEWOVGZ
“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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlxwvc5pMh
“Oh, so you do like my suit!” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatN1JugrAq
“Not the point.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UhQdPYR64
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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRN6TWzyWS
“Your.. badge… You shouldn’t have a detective badge.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j9NdTmbN9
Scratching his chin, Leon looked away, chuckling nervously. “Ah, well, about that…”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnedYS58Mhj
“You stole one.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMQaeWhqSH
“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.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S14k30BDq
“You stole a detective badge! I can’t believe it! How do you still have this job???”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69twST2QI5
He shrugged. “I’m good at what I do.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmBhy8VSCl
Yeah, at being a thief. Liz shook her head in disbelief. 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgGFEQDx66
“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.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AfmRas42U
“You did this before.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUowCPC5PHp
“…Maybe.” Leon mumbled quietly, a tiny bit of guilt dropping from his voice.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9Uv8zzqqj
“So, you’re a serial offender. Great.”
The officer chuckled nervously again before asking in a rather timid tone “Uhm… Next question?”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvLBKLWpKH
“Ok, then… What did you do to Meredith?” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUopXbTVrnP
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?”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKJ1BlNxx6
“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.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83jTUHgdFs
“Ahh… That. Well… Uhm… You see…”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4C1ZOegKOM
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???”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsL1HV3jaG
“Well, from her behavior earlier, apparently something that… didn’t feel very good?” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkp0TWjVRZ
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.” 222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBxNu5KqnF
My dirty mind??? “Excuse me!?”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVFgUcCdd0
“Not excused. In hindsight of what happened this morning, what you’re implying is completely inappropriate. And couldn’t be further from the truth.”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VS5vUYoPP
“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.222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApTQIlRxE8
“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?”222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbtZacrcC1
“Violet Baynes’s.”
Violet… Where have I heard that name before- Wait.
“You don’t mean-“222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUCEkj6qER
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 line222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECEXQJDxVs
It's a roller coaster ride for one222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNw5kqSrHwU
When we know it's do or die and were running out of time222Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoE8Zus3SV
Against The Current - Brighter
