Hal already wasn't in the best of moods when he arrived at metro, and the sounds, some people would call music, meeting him before he opened the door, didn't do much to improve that.
With the doorknob still in his hand, he took a couple of breaths, trying to regain his composure. The encounter with Emily had gotten to him, more than he was willing to admit to even himself. Why did he keep going back there when he knew what it would lead to? ...
He shook the thought of him and entered the Metro. Will, Gwen, Casey, Maddie, and Tom and Margo shared the same table. Will, had a stunned expression on his face when he saw Hal walking up to them.
"I don't believe this...you came", he said. Margo turned her head, "Well, I'd be careful if I were you, maybe he's just coming over because he received a complained about the loud music". "You call this music, Hal remarked when he arrived at the table. "This isn't music, this is...noise".
"Ow", Casey jumped in, "Do you have any idea how long it took me to get this band here tonight? They're on top of every chart!". "I take you at your word", Hal replied with a grimace and took place in the chair Tom pulled up for him.
"So...what made you decide to come after all?", Will wondered. "Well, maybe I figured if I didn't my son would not let up and would come up with an even more cruel some event to drag me to, so ...I decided to take my chances with this bash".
Will had a look on his face that made it clear he wasn't really buying, but got distracted by Gwen pulling him into the dance floor. Casey and Maddie followed second later. After exchanging a quick look with margo Tom got up, "why don't I get us something to drink?", he said and left the table.
"You okay?", Margo asked not a second later. "You know...if one more person's gonna ask me that question today, I swear, I'm gonna –" "Okay, okay, okay", Margo quickly cut him off, "just asking. "So...what's up?. Come on, Hal, I know you, something's bugging you. What is it?".
"Nothing...everything... Shanks called called...earlier tonight. There'd been a reported break-in ...at Emily's", he added in reply on Margo's surprised look. She rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother...and you went over there to have a look yourself". And...was there a break in?", she asked when he didn't reply immediately.
Hal nodded, "I waited for forensics to arrive...maybe they can pull some prints - -'. "And?", Margo pressed. "And...nothing". "So, you got into an argument with her, Margo concluded.
She sighed when Hal again didn't reply. "Hal...why do you keep doing this to yourself? I told you before and I'll tell you again; you stay away from her! Emily Stewart is poison to you, if you keep going back there...she just might do you in for real, next time around".
Hal nodded, but Margi felt as if she would have had more of an effect had she been talking to a brick wall. "I'll go see what's keeping Tom", Hal then said and left the table.
Two steps from the bar, Paul suddenly approached him. "I heard Emily reported a break inn", he said. Hal tried to ignore him. "What are you gonna do about that?", Paul demanded to know. Hal pointed at Margo, "The chief of detectives is sitting right over there, why don't you ask her?". Paul scoffed, "That's just so typical of you...just shift the responsibility to someone else, right!". Hal closed his eyes, while needing every ounce of self control not to turn around and take a swing at him that would wipe the smug smile of his face.
"I'm sure Margo will know what to do, so why don't you just go back to your latest wife and let the cops handle this, all right!". "In other words, you're not gonna do a damn thing about this", Paul laughed mockingly. "I should have known...should have known you would not lift a finger to help h—", half swirled around, "I suggest you walk out of her, right now", he answered in a low, dark tone of voice. "Or else?", Paul asked. Hal took two steps in his direction when all of a sudden, out of nowhere, Will appeared, "dad, don't!", he said while pushing Hal back, then shot a furious look at Paul. "He just looking for a fight".
Tom walked over and backed Will, who was having trouble holding his father back, up, "He's right, Hal, just walk away. This is exactly what he wants...come on", he used his free hand to push Hal away.
While Tom and Hal returned to the table, Will turned to Paul. "What the hell is your problem!". "My problem! Why don't you ask him that! When's the last time he did anything to help her!". Will shook his head in disbelieve.
"Oh, right...once...he reached out to her once, and immediately he's this big 'hero' to everyone!". "oh, right... that should have been you off course", Will mocked. "I have a question for you Paul, just out of curiosity; did it ever occur to you that this whole mess...all it never would have happened at all if it hadn't been for you in the first place!'. "I didn't think so", he laughed when Paul didn't have a quick response. "Why do you do me...why don't you do us all a favour and stay the hell away from him!"
Will walked off. Paul looked over at the table, hesitated for a second or two, then left the Metro. At the bar, a man turned around to watch him leave, looked over the table turned back and ordered another drink
The new day had just begun when Margo spotted a man walking into the station, looking around him." Good morning, I'm Lieutenant Hughes, can I help you?". "I hope you can", the man replied, "I'm looking for Hal Munson".
"Oh, I'm afraid the commissioner isn't in just yet, maybe I –", ""Commissioner?", the man interrupted her. '...Yes, so...would you like to wait, or do you want me to give him a message? Who can I s—"—
"no, no, that's okay...I'll find him myself. Thank you. ...commissioner", the man muttered and turned around to leave, just as Hal entered the station. "Oh Ha--- sir", Margo said, "This m...Mr...Mr?...", she looked at the man who didn't reply. ..."Mr, is looking for y—", she could see Hal freeze for a few seconds when he saw the man's face, then walking up to him to just a few inches away.
"What the hell are you doing here?". "Is there a law against visiting old friends...commissioner?". "There is, when the old 'friend's you, Hal replied while boring his eyes deep into the man.
Hal's hostility towards him, startled Margo who, without realizing, placed herself in between them. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I didn't catch your name", she said trying to steer the conversation away from the tensed atmosphere.
"" I apologize", the man smiled. ""My name is –" "Nobody" Hal interrupted him in a sharp tone of voice. Margo looked at him in mounting disbelieve. "And you were about to leave. Like...right now". The man smiled again. "I'm sorry. I can see I came in a bad time, I'll stop by later...when it's more convenient". "I wouldn't recommend it", Hal replied while not taking his eyes of the man for a second. The man nodded at Margo, then left the station
"What...what was that all about?", Margo asked, she looked at Hal, still staring at the door after the man had long left. When he turned to face her it was as if he was a million miles away. "Who was that?", she asked.
"Nobody", Hal said again. "really?...well, it seems to me that Mr. 'nobody 'got you pretty worked up, so –"
"Margo...just let it go, okay?". Hal, something's got you obviously very upset. What is it!".
"I said; drop it!", Hal said, raising his voice in such a manner a sudden silence fell over the squad room. "I'm sorry", he apologized, ""I didn't mean to ...it's just...It's not important, I'll handle it...I'm sorry okay?".
"Okay", Margo replied making it very clear she wasn't buying any of it. "Okay. Well, I suggest we all get some work done around here?", Hal said loud enough for everyone to hear. The cops that had been staring at them, quickly shifted their attention back at to what they had previously been doing. Hal nodded, then headed for his office
"What the hell was that?", Jack, who had witnesses the episode from a distance asked while walking up to her. "I don't have a clue, but that look...something's not right here. Something's definitely not right