It had a completely different feeling.
Alfendi had never been very far into Scotland Yard. The most he had seen was the lobby and the path to Hilda's office and that was in the complete opposite direction from the forensics department.
There was a similar sense of urgency in the building, but it was very different than the one Alfendi had grown accustomed to working with the London Times. Instead of being the air feeling excited, it felt more… ominous.
Alfendi jumped aside as another officer darted down the hallway, nearly running into him. Alfendi prayed that by the end of these few weeks he'd still retain his sense of humor and not be turned into another drone like the rest of the robots wandering around here.
"This way, sir." The officer in front of him said, opening another door for him. "Here is the forensics department."
"Thanks." Alfendi tossed over his shoulder and stepped into the room.
More than half of it looked like a laboratory. There were bright fluorescent lights and strange equipment littered everywhere. One small corner of the room consisted of three desks crammed together.
Before he could analyze the room further, there was a flash of orange and someone was shaking his hand very enthusiastically.
"Oh! You must be the camera guy from that highlight! Great to have yah on the circuit! I've been running the photography show until now so if you need any pointers just holler. Loved that piece on Agent P you did, by the way! DI Lawson was just saying the other day how–"
The man stopped for his first breath, still shaking Alfendi's hand the whole time. Alfendi blinked rapidly trying to process everything the pipsqueak was saying. The man couldn't be much taller than Lucy Baker. Actually, he might be shorter. The small man had a huge bushel of ginger hair, most held back by a headband that made him appear taller than he was.
"Anyway the name's Hague! But folks around here call me–"
"Sniffer!" A rough voice snapped. "Don't talk his ears off on the first day."
"Yes, ma'am!" Before Alfendi could blink, the man was back in one of the desk chairs.
Alfendi looked up to see a woman, rolling on a chair toward him, an IV drip attached to her arm. She was a sickly looking woman, even without the IV drip Alfendi would have been worried for her well being. Her voice was deep and scratchy, she had dark bags under her eyes, and was hunched over, as if she didn't have the strength to carry herself up.
"So you're Alfendi Layton, eh?" The woman looked him up and down and sneezed. "We run a tight ship here in forensics. One slip up and you're out. No exceptions for you, Tabloid. We clear?"
This must be Florence. He didn't expect someone with such a feared reputation to be so… sickly. He wasn't sure why she thought he worked for a tabloid, but best to clear that up before that name stuck.
"I don't write for a tabloid–"
"We clear?!" The woman smacked her hand on a desk.
"Yes, ma'am!" Alfendi found himself shouting with a salute. After a moment, he glanced at his arm and lowered it, wondering why on Earth he felt compelled to do that.
"Good." She nodded. Alfendi felt a surge of relief wash through him. She was definitely going to be interesting to work for. "Pack up your things, we've got a case."
"Oh! Oh!" Sniffer was back at his side suddenly, bouncing up and down excitedly. "Can I drive Florence?"
"You can't see over the–" There was a sneeze. "–wheel, Sniff." The woman deadpanned.
"Yes I can! You know… in some cars… sometimes…" Sniffer seemed to realized what he was saying as trailed off.
"Make Tabloid drive." She rolled back to her desk, talking over her shoulder. "I expect you two back in an hour."
"Oh, okay!" Nothing seemed to keep this one down. "C'mon, Mr. Layton! Let's burn rubber!"
Before he knew what was going on, he was being shoved back out the door.
"So, this is your first crack at investigating on scene, isn't it?" Sniffer asked the moment they sat down in the car.
"Well, sort of." Alfendi admitted. "Working with the press, you don't really investigate from this sort of angle."
The man gave him an encouraging pat. "You've gotta be rearin' to go then!"
"Well, I don't really know how to…" The only thing he was nervous about was messing up on the job. He didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Hilda or mess up and have to go back to face Florence's wrath.
"Oh, it's easy!" Sniffer didn't seem too concerned. "I'll show you once you get there. Plus you already know Agent P, and I bet she'll help you out!"
"Agent Pertinax will be there?" He tried his best to keep the eagerness out of his voice.
"Oh yeah!" The man nodded enthusiastically. "Did we forget to mention that?"
"Oh. Well. Cool." He tried his best to stay aloof.
"Thought you'd be more excited, what with you being keen on her and all."
"What!?" Alfendi stiffened in surprise and the car veered sideways for a moment.
"Woah! Watch out there!" Sniffer exclaimed, as Alfendi corrected his driving.
"Erm. Yeah." Alfendi coughed loudly and cleared his throat. "So what do I need to do?"
From the corner of his eye Alfendi swore the man next to him was smirking. "I'm gonna go in and start taping up the evidence. You just take pictures today, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah…" Alfendi pulled the car into apartment complex.
"And don't sweat it, okay?" The tiny man put a reassuring hand on Alfendi's shoulder. "We won't bite on your first day!"
"Florence might…" Alfendi muttered quietly as he stepped out of the car.
"What was that?" The ginger pipsqueak poked his head around the front of the car.
"Uh–What flat is it?" Alfendi said innocently.
"I'll lead the way C'mon!"