Chapter Two

Yang had plenty of things she loved to do but having to share her case notes with a quiet, judgmental private detective was not one of them. The P.I. didn't really poke around Yang's desk and didn't go through any of her drawers or paperwork (at least as far as Yang could tell) and Yang appreciated that. But the silence was unsettling. She had tried to compliment the other woman's outfit but was answered with a cool stare and a hesitant "Thanks."

She had to admit though, Blake took damn good notes. They were extremely detailed and it almost seemed to Yang that everything was accounted for. She had included minute details like the open latch on the back window and the cabinet door that was slightly ajar. Writing the investigative report was almost too easy with their combined notes.

When the report was finished, Yang hit print and left her desk to grab a coffee and pick up the printed report. She stirred in a packet of sugar and sipped at the hot liquid as she dropped her report off to be filed. She glanced over to her desk where she left the private eye reading some book and, seeing she was still there, headed to the chief's office to demand some answers.

The door to the chief's office was open -as usual- and all the blinds were open, allowing passing people to see inside. Yang checked to see if Goodwitch was around before walking into the office and closing the door behind her. The chief of police looked up from his mug of coffee.

"Ah, Miss Xiao Long, what could I do for you?"

"Mr. Ozpin, I'd like to ask you why Belladonna was assigned to my case and, by extension, me."

"Was she now?" Ozpin sipped at his coffee slowly as he watched Yang fidget and twist her hair around her finger. "I advised Ms. Goodwitch to hire Belladonna specifically for your case. Whatever else Ms. Goodwitch did was beyond my instruction."

"But why was she hired in the first place? This is probably just a simple heart attack victim!"

"Ah, you said just then 'probably'. I hired Ms. Belladonna because I felt she had certain skills and knowledge in an area that would benefit the closure of this case." Ozpin took a sip from his mug. "Are you doubting my judgement?"

Yang lowered her eyes and stared at the ugly rug.

"Of course not, sir," she mumbled.

"It's alright to be doubtful, detective. I've made more mistakes than any man, woman, or child. But I do not think my judgement here is one of them." Ozpin took another sip from his coffee mug. "Now if that is all, you're free to go."

"Thank you, sir," Yang nodded, turned then reached for the door handle to open the door behind her.

"Oh and detective? Could you please ask Ms. Goodwitch to step into my office as you pass by her?"

"Of course, sir."

Yang stepped out of Ozpin's office, closed the door, and walked over to Goodwitch's desk. She waited in front of the desk for a moment until Goodwitch glared up at her from her paperwork.

"Yes?"

"Ozpin would like to speak to you in his office."

Goodwitch stared at Yang for a moment before sighing and clipping her paperwork together. She placed the stack of papers neatly in the top drawer of her desk and got up to walk over to Ozpin's office without looking at Yang again. Yang didn't move until she heard Ozpin's door click shut and let out the breath she was holding.

She glanced over her shoulder to see the office's window shades dropping. No one knew exactly what went on behind that door but pretty much everyone in the precinct agreed that Ozpin and Goodwitch were an item. These speculations were only discussed after work at whichever bar they happened to choose, of course. Glynda Good-bitch would unleash her wrath if word got out that she and Ozpin -a superior officer- were banging.

Yang snickered as she walked back to her desk. The private detective was nowhere to be seen and she hadn't left the book she was reading either. Yang shrugged and woke her computer up to look over her notes for the Kovach case and was getting around to review Belladonna's notes for the case when her phone buzzed and started blasting "Hey Soul Sister." Ren shot her a disapproving look from his desk across from hers but Yang only grinned at him as she answered the call.

"Hey soul sister!"

"Yang! So, I know you're probably all busy with work and whatever but my class let out early and I was hungry so I went to buy a snack but then I remembered that I needed that money to take the bus home! I would have asked a friend to take me home but they had all already left and I still haven't gotten any of their numbers so I thought that maybe I could ask you to pick me up! It doesn't have to be right now! I can wait 'till you get off from work and just go hang out in the library or someplace while I wait!"

"Slow down Ruby! It's not a problem for me to bring you home. Besides, I'm about to leave anyway. Give me ten minutes."

"You're the best Yang!"

"Oh, I knew that already." Yang winked at Ren but he just rolled his eyes and looked away, as usual. "I'll sign out now and head over in a few."

"Thanks Yang!"

Yang hung up the call with a laugh and walked back to her desk where her mysterious new partner had just reappeared. The private eye watched Yang as she opened the desk's top drawer and fished her car keys out of the mess. Belladonna immediately stood up when Yang locked the drawer. Yang looked at her questioningly for a moment before shrugging and walked towards the door.

"See you tomorrow Ren!" Yang called out. Her lieutenant groaned behind her.

Yang hit the elevator button to go down. After a minute, the elevator dinged and the doors opened for her. She reached over to hit the first floor button as soon as she got on. When Yang turned around, Belladonna was standing at the elevator door. Yang held an arm out to hold the elevator.

"Can I help you?"

"Are you leaving?"

"Uh, yeah. I'm going to pick my sister up from school."

"Then I have to come with you."

"What-" Yang started to protest but the private eye had already stepped onto the elevator.

Yang pulled her arm back and the doors closed. She stared at Belladonna.

"And why exactly do you have to come with me to pick up my sister?"

"I need a ride home and Ms. Goodwitch said you'd be in charge of that."

"Wait so, not only am I driving you around during investigations, I have to pick you up and drop you off, too?"

Belladonna nodded. Yang sighed as the elevator dinged. The doors opened up to the first floor of the police building and Yang stepped out, followed closely by Belladonna. She waved at one of the dispatchers before she pushed through the front doors out onto the bustling streets of Chicago. Yang and Belladonna walked to the police parking lot next to the building. Yang's squad car was a spot close to the exit that Yang always parked in. She unlocked the car and Belladonna climbed into the passenger seat. Yang sighed and slid in.

A moment later, they were down the street waiting for a red light. Yang could see Belladonna from the corner of her eye staring at something out the window. She cleared her throat.

"So, where do you live?"

"13476 102nd street," Belladonna said without turning to face Yang.

"Oh, that's Gambol Road. That's on the way to my place. Do you mind if we stop to pick my sister up before I drop you off?"

"That's fine."

"Of course it is," Yang muttered.

Yang and Belladonna spent the rest of the car ride in silence. Yang called Ruby to be out in front of the campus while at a red light a few blocks away. She pulled up and Ruby bounced on her heels until she saw Belladonna in the passenger seat. She made a face but Yang glared at her before Belladonna could notice it. Ruby suddenly smirked and nearly threw the back door off its hinges as she swung it open.

"Hi Yang! Thanks for picking me up! Is this your new girlfriend?"

Yang's jaw dropped as she stared at Ruby -who was grinning- with the rear-view mirror. Belladonna looked at Yang pointedly.

"Why you-" Yang started. "No she isn't my girlfriend. She's-"

"Oh come on Yang, You don't have to lie to me!"

"I'm not," Yang said through gritted teeth. "She was assigned to this case I'm working on."

Belladonna snickered behind a raised hand. Yang glared at her before stepping on the gas pedal. Ruby and Blake both decided to stop teasing Yang- at least for the moment. The two of them talked -about what, Yang didn't know because Ruby did most of the talking- and introduced themselves and whatnot. Yang ignored them the entire time.

Yang somehow managed to speed out of the college campus without running anyone over. The drive to Gambol Road was nearly cut in half because of Yang's lead foot. She jerked to a stop in front of Belladonna's place, some condominium in which she disappeared after she got out of Yang's car.

Ruby climbed to the front seat right after Belladonna got out and closed the door.

"So a new case huh?"

Yang shot her sister a dirty look.

"Does is have anything to do with that senator? You know, the one found with kiddie porn on his hard drive?"

"You sound a little too excited concerning the subject."

"Yeah well are you?"

"No Ruby, this is just a mysterious death case. Probably just a heart attack. We get these sort of calls all the time."

"Then why did Ozpin assign a private detective to it?"

"I don't know. But if this case has absolutely anything to do with Senator Ironwood, I'll ask someone out. Deal?"

"Deal!"

"Sir, was it really necessary to hire Belladonna? Detective Xiao Long is certainly capable of handling this case on her own."

Ozpin stood at his office window and stared down at the streets of Chicago. He took a sip from his coffee mug before answering.

"I know that Ms. Belladonna's skills will be put to good use in this case. Trust me."

"I do. And that's why I'm worried."

Ozpin turned to face Glynda and smiled wistfully at her.

"Things will work out. For us, and for Ironwood. You'll see."