Name: Barethan D.
Hawthaw
D.O.B: April 1st 2520
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Deceased: September 5th 2555
Cuase of death: Live dismemberment
Next of kin: Zarethan Hawthaw
Relationship to deceased: Twin brother
Suspects: None
Case Status: Cold case
~
“What’s that?”
Seth’s baby blues were glued to the papers in front of him.
So lost in what he was reading he didn’t even look up while answering, “Police report.”
Placing his coffee to the side I snuck a peek.
“No way! Thier twins!”
The file was snapped shut before I could even dot the I’s or cross the T’s.
“Will you stop that!”
“Stop what?”
“Piss off Rexy. If I want you to know something I’ll tell you.”
“If you told me I wouldn’t have to look over your shoulder.”
His eyes narrowed at me in a, “Can you be serious for one second.” Kind of a way.
“Well it’s true.”
Using his finger and thumb he rubbed at the bridge of his nose like he was trying to find tthe strength to deal with my logic.
Finally looking up he leveled me with his best, “I’m your boss so you have to do what I say” stare.
“Or maybe you could just be content in the fact that I’m your boss and if I want to tell you something I will.”
Called it.
“Now see I would do that,”
“I can feel a but coming.”
So I stretched out the word just to show how much I didn’t appreciate his illogical thinking.
“Buuut how will I ever learn how to be a PI.”
That made him blink rapidly like two engine pistols firing on all cylinders.
“You want to be a PI?”
“Why else would I be here.”
“You’re not just saying that to get information?”
Scowling I resented that he would think so low of me that I would resort to such trickery.
I mean that does sound like me but still.
“Nope. From the bottom of my heart it’s the truth.”
“Wow.”
When he didn’t say any more.
My previous confidence went down the gugler making my stomach sink.
“Don’t you think I can do it?”
My voice small as my shoulders slumped.
“No,” The pause after the word no was so long my stomach sank deeper.
He quickly followed it up with a, “I mean yes of course you could do it. It’s just. Why now?”
Shrugging my shoulders I pointed out.
“I’ve always wanted to, you just never asked.”
There goes those pistons again.
Twice in one day, I was on a roll. The source of this chapter is g.com.
“Well. I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything. Just teach.”
“You mean right now?”
“Why not, scared I’ll be better at it?”
The sound of his chuckle returning my confidence with a side of that’s right buddy anything you can do I can do better.
I could see the gears clicking as he scrutinized me from his side of the desk.
Leaning back in his chair his back going straighter I braced myself for the rejection.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll teach you how to be a PI,” here he paused for dramatic flare before finishing his sentence.
“If you tell me what happened on my last date.”
It was my turn to run pistons at a million miles a minute.
2 to 1.
Still my lead.
How was I going to do that.
I’d been trying for weeks to get it out of him.
What makes him think I could figure it out on my own.
Hiding the fact that I was gritting my teeth contemplating on how the hell I was gonna pull this rabbit out of my arse.
“We got a deal?”
Flashing my best “I got this.” Smile even though I certianly did not got this I nodded.
“We have a deal.”
“We’ll see how much you’ve been paying attention.”
“Chellenge excepted. Just you watch I’ll have the case cracked so fast you’ll be begging me to be your padewan.”
His eyebrows raised.
“Starwars? That’s the reference were going with?”
“Of course who doesn’t love a good Starwars take.”
“Fair enough. May the force be with you then.”
Exiting his office I set to work.
Once at my desk I pulled out a notpad and pen because what PI doesn’t have a notepad and pen.
I fully planned to Nancy Drew myself all over this shit.
First I had to write down what I already knew.
Location: Gail’s meat shack.
Not the most inventive names for a resturant but we are talking about the slums here.
Oddly enough they were actually one of the nicer places to eat.
Date: February 20th 2565.
The only problem was the date had ocurred over six months ago.
The more time that’s passed the harder it is for people to remember details that could be relevant.
Time: 2000.
The only reason I know this is because I was across town stalking the previously mentioned stalker.
It would’ve taken Seth half an hour to get to me on foot making the incident 2000.
Unless he wolfed it.
In that case it would be more like 2020.
Possible leads: resturant staff.
Maybe the incident happened at the resturant.
In that case I’m sure they would have some recollection of what happened.
As I was going through various ways to deduce the events of Seth’s illustrious date night I began to wonder something that had never occured to me.
Who did Seth even go on a date with?
Sure he told me he was going on a date in passing which was the only reason I knew about it but he’s always here.
When he’s not here he’s working in the field.
When would he have had time to even meet this person.
Whoever it was I’ll find out soon enough.
Grabbing my bag I stood up to head out.
“Where are you going?”
Stalling mid step I shot back a hasty, “out.” Only to jump back as a lightening fast Seth slammed the door shut with an outretched hand just as I was was about to open it.
2-2 even stevens.
“What the hell?”
Crossing his arms he leaned against the door preventing me from leaving while I stood there wondering how I was supposed to complete my chellenge if he wouldn’t let me go.
“Ground rules first.”
Groaning towards the ceiling I tapped my foot in irritation.
My eyes returned to meet his.
“Really Seth?”
“Either follow the rules or the deals off.”
“Argh fine. Out with it. What are my restrictions.”
“The rules,” emphesis on the word rules.
“Are. No investigations at night.” Each rule illicited a raised finger on his closed fist.
“You tell me where you’re going to be at all times.”
“Seriously Seth!”
Ignoring my outburst he concluded.
“If you get into any trouble you call me immediately.”
His hand fell back down to his arm with an imagined crack of the whip.
“Got it Rexy?”
“What’s to stop you from cheating if you know the direction of my investigations?!”
“One. I don’t cheat. Two. If I’m going to teach you to be a PI I need to know that you’ll listen to my directions. Even if you don’t want to.”
“So this is a test then?”
“Something like that.”
Taking a deep breath preparing for the supression of my very rebelious nature even though it went against the very marrow of my bones I looked him sqaure in the eyes.
“I except your terms.”
“Good. Now where are you going?”
“To Gail’s meat shack.”
“To do what?”
“Hey you never said anything about what I was doing.”
“Rexy,” his tone reminded me of my dad when he used to chastise me everytime I wasn’t listening to him.
I reacted exactly the same way.
With a slight huff of breath blown to the side of my mouth while side eyeing him in my best, “I was listening.” Face.
“Fine! I’m going to talk to the staff to see if they remember anything from that night.”
“Good girl. Now off you go.”
Like an overbaring mother, he opened the door.
Smiling from ear to ear because for the first time ever he’d quelled the brat in me while silently closing the door on my pouting arse.
“Annoying hulk of a PI prat!”
Sure.
I was talking to a door.
Still counts.
He’s a shifter after all.
Most likely he was laughing his arse off on the otherside knowing I just had to get the last word in.
Even if it was after the fact.
First things first.
Gail’s meat shack.