Chapter 36
We'd been sitting on a bench in the hall outside the gallery for at least four chapters into The Thomas Crown Affair. We were still too close to the incident in my opinion, but the guards weren't letting anyone downstairs until the police gave the okay. Police were moving past us to and fro, but the Kindle was keeping me occupied. The art theft wouldn't leave my brain, hence the book I was reading.
Monroe nudged me and I glanced up to see Nick walking toward us. As he walked he was conversing with another guy with a badge hanging around his neck. This guy had short black hair with a matching mustache and goatee. He was slightly taller than Nick and in his late thirties if I had to guess. He must have been a detective, too. Upon closer inspection, he was sporting earrings in both ears, which didn't seem very detectively to me. The gold hoops sparkled under the lighting against his dark skin. Both men continued to walk toward us. While Nick moved with caution, the other detective walked with purpose. There was something about him. He had confidence... swagger. Maybe it was just the earrings.
They both glanced in our direction briefly. Detective Swagger seemed to recognize Monroe. Neither of them said anything to us as they approached the crime scene. They stopped in front of the yellow police tape hanging across the gallery entrance to talk to a cop who had been moving around quite a bit since he'd arrived. The other detective had called him Sergeant Wu. The Sergeant was shorter than Nick, with jet black hair and a wide smile that crinkled up to his almond shaped eyes. The smile seemed in bad form given the situation.
"Looks like the Hunger Games have come to Portland again," Sergeant Jokes-a-Lot said. It hadn't been funny the first three times he'd said it to the other cops. Nick and Detective Swagger didn't laugh either.
"What, you mean it's another death by arrow?" Detective Swagger asked with one hand resting on his hip.
"Yeah, it went right through the guard's chest just like before," he replied. "Maybe he's playing Cupid instead?"
"Whatever he's playing, we gotta find this guy before he breaks anymore hearts."
The sergeant lifted the yellow tape and they all stepped inside.
I turned to Monroe and whispered, "Nick didn't even say anything to us."
"Yeah, he tries to keep us and him, umm, separate when he's working."
"Oh," I said flatly. "So, I guess we just wait here then?"
"Yeah, looks like it." Monroe let out a sigh. "So, what are you reading?" I showed him my Kindle. "Well, I guess that's an interesting choice, you know, considering," he chuckled. I leaned against Monroe's shoulder and continued with my book.
"Is that the clock guy again?" Detective Swagger faintly said from behind the wall of the gallery. "He's always popping up out of the woodwork, isn't he?" I closed my eyes and listened further.
"Uh, yeah. That's him," Nick replied awkwardly.
"Wow, that guy can't catch a break."
"Well, it was his girlfriend that actually witnessed it," Nick replied. "He wasn't around when the whole thing happened."
"That one that's sitting next to him out there? That's his girlfriend?"
"Yeah. I, uh, overheard a couple of officers discussing witnesses when we came in."
"Huh. Well, how about that," Detective Swagger replied. "Maybe I need to pick up clock making as a hobby."
"Why, you need to make up for some lost time, Hank?"
"Man, you're slipping, that one wasn't even funny. You been taking lessons from Wu?"
"I'm sure there are other ways to show a woman a good time," Nick continued with a chuckle.
I shook my head then turned to Monroe. If I could hear them, undoubtedly he could, too.
"How often do you frequent the police station?" I asked.
Monroe pressed his lips together. "Uhh… Recently or collectively?"
"I don't want to know, do I?" He shook his head 'no' as I asked. Ignorance was bliss. I was reminding myself of this more and more.
"You know, things happen," Monroe said, shifting in his seat.
"Yeah." I reached for his hand. "Things happen," I repeated as I looked out into the hallway of cops. Things were definitely happening today.
We sat and waited until Nick and Detective Swagger returned. They approached us and I stiffened in my seat.
"I'm Detective Griffin. This here is Detective Burkhardt." They were both looking directly at me. Monroe apparently already knew them. "We're gonna need you to come to the station so we can get a statement about what you witnessed today."
"Sure, of course," I replied quickly, nodding as I spoke.
Detective Swagger asked, "You weren't hurt at all, Miss...?"
"Davenport. Renée Davenport. No, I wasn't hurt. I'm still a bit shaken, but I'm fine."
"I realize you've been through a lot today. It shouldn't take too long, and then you'll be free to go home."
"We're on our way back to the station now," Nick said, "so if you wouldn't mind just heading that way."
Hank looked at Monroe and added with a smirk, "You still know how to get there, right?"
Monroe stammered, "Uh, yeah. I, umm, remember where it is."
Both detectives walked off and Monroe and I stood, which felt really good after sitting for so long.
"You know this really isn't how I planned this day going," Monroe said as we walked toward the stairs.
"Just another fun day in Portland," I sighed.
A/N: We got a little Hank and Wu action! The characters are expanding. (:
It's a short chapter, but I enjoyed the jokes. Hope you did, too.
On to the precinct!