"I'm pretty sure I told you to thread it lightly with Father Tenpenny."
Knowing that the reprimand would come the moment he and Tanner re-entered the bullpen, Steve smiled warmly, hoping to offset his partner's growing ire with his ever-present charm, as he sat down in one of the guest chairs in the inner office, ready to face the consequences.
"I was just using deductive logic, like you taught me to. He was the one who decided to blow up, call us a bunch of pesky city workers and walk out on our conversation."
"I heard all about that…deductive logic...for the last half hour, as a matter of fact.", Mike growled with a headshake, then rested his injured hand on the desk, "Father Tenpenny has been a religious authority in this city for about as long as you have been alive, Buddy Boy."
"Well, if he called you to complain, he obviously wasn't heading to the soup kitchen like he claimed…", Steve shot back, earning himself another glare, "The man is lying, Michael. Doesn't that mean anything?"
"He doesn't lie.", Mike countered sharply and raised his hands when he saw Steve open his mouth to protest, "Cover for somebody maybe. But not lie. He never lies."
Leaning forward and rubbing his eyes in growing frustration, the young Inspector let out a chuckle, before facing his partner again.
"Care to tell me what the difference is? Because you just lost me."
"He's not that kind of person. You'll have to trust me on that one, Buddy Boy.", Mike said soothingly, trying to ease the tension quickly spreading in his office.
"And yet…he is withholding information on a murder case."
"I know that. He's also a good man. Socially awkward maybe, but a good man. Over the last thirty-some years, he's pulled more people off the streets than I care to remember. He is not a killer. He's a savior if anything."
"Mike, you of all people taught me not to be blinded by acquaintances. To…to always keep my eyes open, especially when it involves people we know. Don't let somebody's accolades blind you to the truth."
"I know…and I am aware of that particular lesson.", the Lieutenant countered and drew in a sharp breath, his intense gaze finally settling on his agitated partner, "He isn't a killer though. He might just be covering for somebody. The question is who? And why?"
