Summary: Fischer and La Cour decide on being flatmates. At first everything looks perfect but on their first day in the apartment, La Cour has a "vision". Now he needs to confront the feelings he never knew he had. Meanwhile they both must also focus on a straining murder case of a young boy. Would they succeed in solving all the mysteries?
Author's note: Please note that I took some liberty with the plot of "Rejseholdet". The story takes place somewhere in season 3 close to Fischer getting his haircut ('cause I think he looked adorable). I ignore whole Ida plot - I disliked her for some reason and am presuming in this story that Fischer just left his wife and lost custody over the son. I also presumed La Cour in the end left Helen as he was not feeling up to the role of a father. Beside those facts I tried to make the characters believable.
Of course, I own nothing although Mads cooking in my kitchen would be nice.
I'm not a native English speaker so I apology for any errors or unnatural sounding wording.:)
Chapter 1
"C'mon, buddy," Fischer was practically begging when they were getting out of the car.
" I don't know, man..." La Cour sighed. "You already owe me a lot of cash."
"That's exactly my point! If we share flat, we would split the rent and I could piece by piece return your money," Fischer lighted a cigarette like he always used to when they arrived at their destination. "Listen, I live in a run-down hotel which is eating away most of the money I make. That's ridiculous!"
Thomas looked at him and knew the man made a point there. However, he was still reluctant when it came to living together with someone. He had a talent for driving people away. He really liked Fischer and didn't want to ruin their friendship.
"You and me are perfect match for flatmates. We both single, screwed up our relationships with women, both have kids and both are policemen working in the same team," Fischer listed with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. "And, of course, I like you."
"Thanks, man, that was touching," Thomas mocked and smiled.
Fischer was right, if they already hadn't driven each other crazy, probably nothing would happen if they live together.
"Alright, alright, you win," La Cour gave up.
Fischer's face suddenly bloomed with joy. He smiled so wide that his fangs were showing.
"Really?" he asked like a child given permission to eat an ice-cream.
"Yeah," Thomas smiled sheepishly as Fischer's enthusiasm was contagious.
Alan gave away a winning shriek sounding like "Yeehee" and with all the force grabbed La Cour by shoulders and gave him a smooch on the cheek. Then he almost run up the stairs to the police station.
"What am I getting myself into?" thought La Cour and still stunned, followed his friend.
Of course, everybody else was already present so they took seats nearest the exit and waited for the chief inspector to start.
"Okay, since everyone is here, I'll start…" said a middle-aged man who was apparently the boss here. The room grew quiet and he continued by showing them some photos on the whiteboard.
"The victim… boy is Michael Price, age 5. Found dead in the ditch near the entry road to the city. A man who found him, erm… John Fry is a common drunk. He fell down the ditch while going back home on feet from drinking party with his buddies. He luckily managed to stop a police car by walking to the middle of the road. Although completely drunk he stuttered about the corpses. The body was on the other side of the town from the nursery where the boy had last been seen. The Prices' house is not far from the nursery. Teachers claim that the boy, since he was 4, walked home alone as his parents worked till late. Apparently, he was given the key to the apartment. He either disappeared walking home or was kidnapped from the house."
"Was there any indication of break-in?" interrupted Ingrid.
"We're checking it. But for now, haven't found anything."
"What about the drunk?" asked IP taking some notes.
"He has fast alibi – been drinking in the pub with lots of people inside. Besides, he's really a harmless guy. We were lucky that he found the body and stopped the police."
"So nobody saw anything suspicious in the nursery?" Fischer asked, his face now stern and focused, so unlike the child-like expression he had worn outside the building. "He was a 5-year-old walking home alone, goddammit!"
"Yeah," the police officer was not comfortable under the scrutinizing gaze of the short-haired man. "We share your concern. The director of the nursery intervened with the parents as soon as she found out about the solitary walks but they assured her they live nearby and no tragedy ever occurred. It was alarming but nothing could be done without the parents cooperation. The teacher says that she always watched the boy until she lost sight of him behind the corner. After that he needed to walk straight past a few houses and there was his house. She was also concerned but had other children to take care of. No witnesses so far."
"How long was the boy missing before you found the body?" asked La Cour focusing all attention on him.
"Not even a day…" the constable shook his head in disbelief. "He didn't come home from the nursery about 4 p.m., but since the parents were working late, they informed us only at 9 p.m. We started our search by interviewing people and followed the boy's usual path. John Fry found the body at 5 a.m."
"Okay, I think we all know what to do," Ingrid stood up and took the floor. "Fischer is responsible for interviews, La Cour – crime scene, Gaby – reports and IP…"
"The rest," finished the older man with a smile like he always used to.