Author's Note: Well it took a lot longer than I expected (a move, a new job, and several trips later to be exact) but day two of the investigation has finally arrived, in fact I got so caught up on the next part that it was long enough that I decided to turn it into two chapters. The next one's almost done…
Summary: BLSDP reflects on and observes how his new job works during the morning hours of preparation and interviewing….
Oh, and just to be clear….Mary had a little lamb: these stars indicate a singing portfolio, to be exact a very off-key singing portfolio, so it's a good thing you actually can't hear him! Just in case you've been sleeping through these stories and haven't noticed, BLSDP is a bit young and excitable at present.
Learning Curve
Ah! It's a brand new day, and in an hour I get to leave for the coolest job ever! My boss is currently shaving and preparing for work. I was kind of surprised to find out he's kind of compulsive about his looks sometimes… It really doesn't fit the modest and serious personality, but then The Boss doesn't have the usual reactions that most people have. That's part of why I love working for him, he's always interesting!
Yesterday was definitely an enlightening experience. Beyond the whole crime scene, evidence collecting, and disturbing thoughts about suspects, I saw a whole new Detective Goren. The Boss was beyond focused and absorbed on every detail of the house, the scene, and random facts I couldn't connect to anything about the situation. I've decided though, that either Eames always understands what he does and why automatically or she can read The Boss' mind, because no matter what they did or how unexpected some of his actions yesterday were to me, she just went along with them or anticipated them ahead of time.
Our Alex is so amazing! I can't believe we get to work with her every day! I don't understand why The Boss doesn't have signs all over her for no one else to touch. I would. Oh man…I would… Those soft delicate hands…I'm having day dreams just thinking about them… I never really took myself for the jealous portfolio type, but Eames is special, and I really don't like the idea of any one but me and The Boss getting to enjoy her. Nope, just ours…there better not be anymore cops sniffing after her. If the Boss doesn't do something about it, I will!
We did a lot yesterday: we inspected the crime scene, questioned people, talked to the ME (I just learned that means medical examiner, one of the first new words I learned for my new job.), and looked over all the info we could find on the family. I have all of the notes and records for all of that stuff tucked away inside me right now…it's kind of a nice full feeling… I have all that important information just waiting, neatly sorted into pockets, for The Boss to look at whenever he needs it again.
Oops! Time to go…The Boss is picking me up so we can leave. Bye apartment! Don't get bored while we go off and have an exciting time catching bad guys while you stay here all quiet and stuff…
Hehhe… Sometimes you just have to tease them…
Hey Boss? Are we taking the Subway or the car? Huh, huh? I want to know! We really need to work on your communication skills. You're not bad with talking to stuff, unlike most humans, but when you're distracted by all those thoughts in your head you never tell me anything! This is why I'm sure Eames is telepathic; she's got to be to understand you when your mind wanders off like this.
Hey look! We're taking the car after all. We must be running late or something…although I always thought New York traffic in the early morning was better attempted by public transportation. But then, I'm not very familiar with how to get to and from our apartment and work yet. Too bad Eames isn't picking us up, that would have been fun, but I think we usually get to work before her like yesterday. That was the impression I got from The Boss anyway.
Ah…Work, Sweet, Work. Here at last! Oops…I think I wiggled in excitement just a little too much… The Boss nearly lost his hold on my briefcase. Well, technically it's the Boss' briefcase, but I'm the one that sits in it, he only stores stuff in it, so I really think it's more mine than his, don't you?
Ah fresh air! Or at least as fresh as a room usually full of cops sweating at desks can be. But I'm not complaining, even if I'm not quite used to the cop culture just yet, I'm one of their team and I'm sure I'll grow comfortable with even the oddest of quirks. They can't be as calm and sensible as my boss, after all.
I just love my spot on The Boss' desk; I can see everything from here. Eames' desk, the coffee maker, the Captain's office (that's such a boring way of saying 'the big boss guy'!), Eames' desk, the interrogation rooms, did I mention Eames' desk? Hey where's The Boss going? Oh, bathroom break. Sometimes I'm really glad I'm not a biological. The whole idea of disposing of waste like that just sounds so… disgusting! Can you imagine me leaking fluid and waste like that every five or six hours…ugh!
Enough of that subject, I'm going to inspect my papers while I wait for him to come back. Hmm…Single mother, messy divorce three years ago, no current boyfriends, two past ones that need to be looked into more, oh and the stalker guy… they're having several things searched on the computers to try and find him. Apparently he's been stalking the lady for several weeks, she reported it to the police. Someone thought they saw him the night of the murders so he's our prime suspect (that sound so cop-like!).
I really thought all humans automatically liked children until we started this case, kind of like the way Marcy and Penny gush at pictures of kittens and cute guys, but obviously a human stabbed the lady and her kids up, so I must not know as much as I thought I did about humans. Why would anyone want to do that anyway? It seems rather uh…wasteful I suppose would be the word, not to mention very, very messed up!
People are starting to wander in as the The Boss sits back down at his desk. Oh, The Boss wants my papers now! Yes sir! Papers, sir! I feel so useful. It's so cool, having everything ready for him like this… Have I mentioned I love my new job? Oh yeah, about three times already….hehee…Sorry about that. But who can blame a guy when they've never sat at the desk of the best detective in New York and watched the rest of the squad file in. There's just nothing like it!
Oh! Oh! Oh! Eames is here! Oh, what a beeauutiful morning! When Alexandra Eames walks into the door…I just want to jump and skip for joy…. because it's a beautiful morrnnninggg……..
Ahem… Ignore my unprofessional behavior…but then the humans didn't notice so it wasn't a big deal. You see, there are advantages to not having a real voice!
Anyway, we're all going over our notes now, before we go off to interview a bunch more people today. We're going to talk to the dead lady's co-workers at first. The Big-Boss-Guy walked in the door and came directly over to check on our progress with the case. Either we must be big stuff around here, or this is a very important case. I haven't been around long enough to figure out which yet.
I've decided I like The Boss' boss. Not that it was a decision that took much time, mind you, but I did take the time to consider it carefully. Humans don't get quite as attached to their bosses as things do, but they still have a huge effect on the humans' lives, and thus ours. So, it was important to figure out what effect the Big-Boss-Guy had on my human. I decided it was a positive one: The Boss seemed to like his boss and I personally think he's kind of cool, he just exudes calm and style and the silver head covering (oh right, hair) didn't hurt his image. Plus Eames obviously likes him, and the great and wise Eames, besides having the most beautiful hands I've ever seen, is usually right.
Sara Carlythe (the dead lady) had worked at a company that specialized in managing databases (something having to do with computers I gather. I've never really met a computer socially, but supposedly they're going to make portfolios an extinct species of office supplies. Yeah right!). It was a particularly segregated community of business managers and computer techs. Apparently our victim was one of the few who was a part of both cultures, both enjoying technical and science fiction world as well as being a beautiful blonde business woman with great management instincts.
First we talked to several of Ms. Carlythe's coworkers. All of them seemed to be shocked she was dead, most kept repeating how nice and professional she was, and a few expressed their disdain of single mothers dating choices, assuming that it must have been a boyfriend who killed the family. One guy insisted it was a company conspiracy to kill of those of the geeky persuasion. The Boss questioned him seriously about why the thought so, but Eames rolled her eyes discreetly and made sarcastic comments about watching too many Star Trek episodes rotting his brain.
JT Hanson as Data Security Manager was Sara's boss. Even his desk plack had TJ written on it, which made me think. Nicknames are something I've never really been around before. Maybe I need one… Black Leather Special Deluxe Portfolio is a bit long… hmm.. BLSDP? Still a little pretentious for a nickname. SD? Nah. How about something different… Like Wonder Cop Portfolio or Super Portfolio Dude! WCP or SPD, yeah… the second one sounds way better abbreviated. I'm SPD and I'm the Portfolio to stop crime and save the day!
Anyway, Mr. Hanson was decidedly friendly and attempting to be cooperative although he seemed a bit weird to me... I'm not sure why, but Eames said afterwards that she thought he had been attracted to Sara and The Boss had wondered if it was reciprocated. Nobody at the office could tell us, but there'd obviously been several to the office who'd be jealous of Sara Carlythe's boyfriends. JT Hanson did give us some information on the stalker situation. He said that she'd been really upset about it the day before her death and thought perhaps she'd seen someone from her kid's school on her errands, perhaps following her, but she wasn't sure if she was just paranoid or not.
All in all, I didn't find our questioning sessions very useful at all. In fact, half the time I didn't understand why Eames and especially The Boss wanted to know some of the things they asked. It's a good thing I'm not the one asking them! So back to the office we go for more detecting.
End Chapter
Coming soon (I promise! It's half written!) SPD finds out how little he knows about cops, criminals, Goren, and humans in general.
Also, before you accuse me of Trekkie Prejudice, I love Star Trek (oddly it's one of the very few TV programs I was allowed to watch as a small child. Flintstones no, but TNG was fine.) and all fun made at its expense is also aimed at myself. So now you have at least one thing to blame why I turned out a little kooky on.
