Greg and Kendall exit the lift.142Please respect copyright.PENANA8DOg12LnDu
"Remember, just a talk and nothing more." She looks up at him. "You don't want to risk getting the chief in more trouble."142Please respect copyright.PENANAflzjSinLR0
"Yeah yeah yeah, I know." He rolls his eyes. "Go be useful. I'll catch up in a bit. I know what I'm doing."142Please respect copyright.PENANAfS9wlW2Gu6
Kendall sighs, "Alright, Greg." She walks away towards the IT-department.142Please respect copyright.PENANA8v3EWG0vng
He watches her walk away for a moment before looking around for Simon. He doesn't see him around the offices so he goes down to the gym. Finally, he hears the pair of voices he was looking for. He dips silently into the locker room and hides just on the other side of the first row of lockers along the backside of the wall.142Please respect copyright.PENANAilKQHpNcjP
The door opens with a slam moments later.142Please respect copyright.PENANAY6RukoaahJ
"Ow! Simon! Watch it, bro!"142Please respect copyright.PENANAZ7HJmaQvzA
There is a chuckle. "What, Robster?"142Please respect copyright.PENANA5GNCLGUKRU
"You know what! That was my nose!"142Please respect copyright.PENANAL8oL8LE8W3
"Agh, you're too sensitive."142Please respect copyright.PENANA9YGWjp2MZz
Gregory sticks the end of his foot out in front of Simon and is rewarded as Simon stumbles over and nearly falls.142Please respect copyright.PENANA75rCGkD9QU
"Mmh, sorry, Simon, Robby, didn't see you there." He smirks.142Please respect copyright.PENANAQNwhbqSwTS
Simon looks up at him with narrowed eyes.142Please respect copyright.PENANAgxcKNNImIz
"I think I left my towel back at the machines..." Robby says, starting to back away.142Please respect copyright.PENANAZuKWeteshq
"Just wait right there, Robby." Greg nods at him before looking at Simon. "I'm only here to talk."142Please respect copyright.PENANAkph4BuJ1a6
Simon snorts and crosses his arms, smirking. "What? Does McIntosh have you on a short leash, fido?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAhM9oCmamR2
Gregory stands up straighter. "He might have talked me out of pummeling you, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him." He grins. "But if you'll just stand there, shut up, and bloody listen, I'll be civil."142Please respect copyright.PENANAESlfBjpRk3
"Whatever." He rolls his eyes, still grinning.142Please respect copyright.PENANAEyinQ7jeTA
"That was a cowardly thing to do, to run whining to your uncle when Ian critiqued you. But I tell you, it won't happen again. Because, if I do find out you went whining back to him over something so stupid again, I'm going to wipe that bloody smirk off your face and shove it up your arse." He stands over him with a straight face that slowly turns into a menacing grin. "Then I'll wait. I'll wait until the doctors Dye have one super messy cadaver downstairs. You know, the ones with lots of blood and guts dripping everywhere. I'll grab you by that greasy mop you call hair and wash their floor with you.142Please respect copyright.PENANAsIAawGV1BW
The smirk and color drain from Simon's face. "You wouldn't."142Please respect copyright.PENANAdMRShZ0clJ
"Do you know that for fact?" He raises a brow. "And you can feel free to tell your bloody uncle about me. The worst he could get me on is common assault at this point. It'd show how much of a chicken you really are and I'd be out before I have time to sit on the bench. And once out, the first thing I'll do is to come visit you."142Please respect copyright.PENANAvg2GoyzAkh
He looks at Gregory in silence now.142Please respect copyright.PENANA930YeVHEFN
"And want to know the real reason why I'm going so easy on you today?" He grins. "Because I've heard that Tushingham dame your uncle sent in is going to make your week a living hell, too. But if she doesn't, I will the moment she's gone." He grabs a handful of Simon's black hair and forces him to meet his gaze. "Do we understand each other, Inspector Greene?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3Uwk5vlPC
Simon only snorts, rolling his eyes again. "Like I'm scared of you." He then smirks.142Please respect copyright.PENANAFfIYMH3UaH
Gregory narrows his eyes as he releases his hair and wipes his hand on his trousers. "Maybe I'll bloody break your nose after all. Robby would gladly say he hit you in the face with his locker door, wouldn't you, Rob?" He glances over at the Indian.142Please respect copyright.PENANAB0O2DqWANz
Robby looks at the floor and nods.142Please respect copyright.PENANAAf9VwNylvJ
"See? This one knows when to be quiet and follow directions."142Please respect copyright.PENANAFVgYY8sPV8
Simon shakes his head. "Is that all, Harris? Are we done now?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAt816MNLzxR
He presses his mouth into a thin line. "Yes, I am done, but don't you forget this chat." He says lowly.142Please respect copyright.PENANA5lE2JpEgnf
"I promise I won't..." Robby mumbles off to the side.142Please respect copyright.PENANAjDdcIGtaTQ
Gregory sighs, almost appearing amused for a second. "Well maybe you can keep him out of trouble then." He gets the door handle and glances back at Simon. "Because this is your one and only warning, Simon. Chief McIntosh is your superior officer. You are to give him your utmost respect. I'm done with you being an insolent prat. Try me if you dare and you'll see I'm not kidding." He then leaves the room, slamming the door behind himself.142Please respect copyright.PENANA132R7WHreS
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Meanwhile, Kendall walks into the IT department. She looks around the small group of geeks and finally spots Rufford in the corner with another guy. She walks over, watching as Rufford hands the other guy a stack of papers.142Please respect copyright.PENANAjkkZCG9Dlu
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"Thanks again, Smith—Or, or am I to call you Rufford?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAvNxRfli0AL
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"Whichever you want." Rufford smiles, sitting back in his chair. "And of course, anytime."142Please respect copyright.PENANAVzDbIx5XPi
The unknown guy nods to him before he turns and tips his hat at Kendall. "Miss," he says as he passes her and leaves.142Please respect copyright.PENANAVhhJMk0x25
Kendall raises a brow as she drags over a stray chair. "Making new friends, Ruffy?"142Please respect copyright.PENANA6O0OwhEqYk
Rufford chuckles as he closes a browser window. "He's the new guy, just trying to make this easier on the poor boy."142Please respect copyright.PENANANfltggcn8P
"What was his accent anyway? Irish?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAjgDfZcD16s
"Perhaps, or Scottish? Not my area of expertise."142Please respect copyright.PENANAdC6xle6zBe
"What department?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAW6q34ga5LE
Rufford looks thoughtful. "I think a basic officer right now. I think he said his name was Callum Frazier? I just gave him some basic information that might make his transition in easier."142Please respect copyright.PENANAKCuSIkgSZx
Kendall nods and sits down. "So have you found anything for our case?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAXrZN6YNcaq
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"Honestly, I haven't even looked yet. Today has just been barmy. It's like everyone and their cousin's computer has been having problems....stupid new updates." He mutters as he pulls up another window.142Please respect copyright.PENANAfxQB2FxSgl
"Oh! Then you won't mind if I do something really quick first?" Without waiting, she tilts the monitor towards herself and inserts a flash-drive into the hard drive.142Please respect copyright.PENANAfEH0OusRtf
"What are you doing?" He frowns slightly.142Please respect copyright.PENANAyzG8aix8hq
She glances at him as she types in what looks like gibberish in a small text box. "Putting my back door back into the system. I have to redo it every time you update the system."142Please respect copyright.PENANAG3dT9Ot1jl
"So YOU'RE the virus that keeps showing up but I can't seem to exterminate." He exclaims.142Please respect copyright.PENANAnl5HFWzb4j
"Shhh! It's not malicious, jeez. It's just so I can use these programs on my laptop at Greg's....completely harmless."142Please respect copyright.PENANAwHLDHa3GiC
"Completely lazy."142Please respect copyright.PENANAyG9BLDl2M1
"You try finding time to swing by here when you're running around with Greg." She huffs. "And then having to deal with Simon nearly every time...trust me, it's not lazy."142Please respect copyright.PENANAoRtJTgvLG2
Rufford just shakes his head. "What are we going to do with you?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAUASwmjJl7Z
"Say bad Kendall and then look the other way would be okay, I think." She finishes typing a code and ejects her flash-drive. "Okay, she's yours again."142Please respect copyright.PENANANh6bDirY5T
Rufford tilts the monitor back towards himself with a side glance at her. "One of these days you're going to get me fired."142Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5TAOdQ600
"No, what you have up and running in the background is what might get you fired."142Please respect copyright.PENANAzIAginTCzV
"I haven't the foggiest what you're talking about."142Please respect copyright.PENANADlkx4BfBx5
"Mmm hmmm. So you're not playing LOTRO at work?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAVbDNNngwA9
"Pffft, no."142Please respect copyright.PENANA5eA3QLzHrN
"Liar." She sticks her tongue out at him. "But you better not be taking EtTuBearte into Moria without Regina and I."142Please respect copyright.PENANANy7TM2ZpyY
Rufford looks dramatically offended. "I am a bear of my word! How dare you make such dastardly accusations?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2DKlSkbKT
"Ah hah! So you admit it!"142Please respect copyright.PENANAnODCPAjoiU
"I admit nothing." He grins and pulls up a database. "Victims?"142Please respect copyright.PENANA4Xfr20HrdW
Kendall hands him her notes from the Dyes. "So far, those four. Looking for all the usual."142Please respect copyright.PENANAYLDdXK3Akw
"Alright, you want the results while you're here or emailed?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAlwof0S4Aju
"Would both be too much of a bother?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAbsjs3329PR
"Not a bother at all."142Please respect copyright.PENANAJlGbZflXhq
"Brill." She scoots the chair closer to see the screen. "So how is Regina doing anyhow?"142Please respect copyright.PENANADB5fxqRPGE
Rufford blushes softly under his freckles. "She's wonderful as always."142Please respect copyright.PENANAUmG0JA82Xc
"You haven't asked her yet, have you?"142Please respect copyright.PENANA1jZXdmGXqr
"How did I know you were going to ask that?"142Please respect copyright.PENANA11Bjd3BVXd
"So I take that as a no?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAIVVImSv1l6
"I just...I don't know, Kenny....She'll probably laugh or say no..."142Please respect copyright.PENANAdQNBFKpXLF
"No she won't! I've been your third wheel for what, three years now? She'll say yes. Trust me, she's waiting for you to."142Please respect copyright.PENANA8SE60dfoc9
He glances at her. "Maybe..."142Please respect copyright.PENANAtPaZ9tmhEN
"No maybes, just trust me on this one." She pats his shoulder. "You're a good chap. She's lucky to have someone like you."142Please respect copyright.PENANAWPYkk4NDQt
"If you say so," he sighs before turning his attention back to the screen. "Got your notes out and ready? Starting to get results."142Please respect copyright.PENANAlhqQMvQxTi
"I do, but print a copy off for Gregory. He'll want to look them over in the cab later."142Please respect copyright.PENANA5w08Wn5FHo
"Right, right...Say! Why haven't you tried getting him to play too? You know you want him there." He grins.142Please respect copyright.PENANAkbJWdMK1vG
Kendall frowns slightly. "He doesn't do computer stuff."142Please respect copyright.PENANA1vH1Gi6L2u
"You and I both know he can if he wants to, and we both also know you can be very convincing."142Please respect copyright.PENANAOZPsCGnPuh
"Yeah, but you know how competitive I am....And he'd be such a noob."142Please respect copyright.PENANAwnKjQS73bT
"So teach him how to play! Maybe he'll develop some feelings while slaying orcs with you." He winks.142Please respect copyright.PENANABHu3Lhpy8t
Kendall snorts and softly smacks his shoulder with her notebook. "Oh shut up!"142Please respect copyright.PENANA0BgO7saMGs
Rufford laughs. "Okay, okay," he clears his throat. "Looks like Mr. Harrelson was recently widowed--widowered? You get the point." He scrolls down. "Ex-military... Wealthy background... Run for a local parliament member spot a few times, never was elected."142Please respect copyright.PENANAXDCIg5buLx
"Anything else?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAkKFzvZsWaP
"Nah. Rest of this is just blah blah, boring, don't care, not helpful. Let's move on to Mr. Vance."142Please respect copyright.PENANAfyc4Ay35gT
"Gregory knew him."142Please respect copyright.PENANAjOVLDqtgsV
"Oh did he now? Fascinating...But then, with his drinking habits I can't say I'm too surprised. Vance was a heavy alcoholic and playboy want-to-be. Numerous restraining orders from many women...Woah! Dude was busted for a couple black-market dealings, too...Don't really see much else on him. What did Gregory say about him?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAyphtcPQ3IQ
"Just that he was a heavy drinker and gambler and his dad banned him from all their parties."142Please respect copyright.PENANA9HG4POAas1
"Mmh, he must have made some money then with his dealings if he was rich enough to even consider Harris parties."142Please respect copyright.PENANAJThUiOZioT
"Perhaps...Or struck it well in the casinos."142Please respect copyright.PENANAIHYkygF62n
"Doubtful. Anyway, Ms. Laurel. She owns a small shop downtown. Recently divorced, has two kids. Nothing much more interesting than her hair and tattoos."142Please respect copyright.PENANA5xwvmbhDhM
"Her poor kids though...I mean, she was just found this morning." She bites her lip.142Please respect copyright.PENANAnRuaPHSTFc
Rufford glances at her and nods. "Probably will be going into their father's custody, so I wouldn't be too worried for them. Now, it's going to take a bit more effort to find anything on Mr. Moore with him being American...Hopefully the States will be cooperative and release any information they have to us soon."142Please respect copyright.PENANAYI71WZcfdE
"Brill. Can you let me know when you have those results, please?"142Please respect copyright.PENANAAYXMwLSH6H
"I'll email them right over and text you." Rufford prints off the documents and hands them to her. "Do you need a highlighter? Regina went a little barmy when I was restocking office supplies last weekend."142Please respect copyright.PENANA5Rhz9l7Fiz
Kendall chuckles. "In that case, I'll take two."142Please respect copyright.PENANAWEzwZEKvPK
Rufford nods and hands her two from the drawer. "Say hi to Greg for me."142Please respect copyright.PENANAHM8G5cGuWl
"Will do, thank you." She nods, getting up from the chair. "And you, say hi to Regina and propose to her already! I'm still waiting to be a bridesmaid." She sticks her tongue out at him.142Please respect copyright.PENANAvDz5V4U89e
"We'll see." He sticks his tongue out back at her. "Now shoo! Or I will start exploring Moria on my own."142Please respect copyright.PENANArBcQkf7H3h
Kendall chuckles. "Later, Ruffy." She then takes her papers and highlighters and leaves the department in search of Greg.
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