-*-*-*-*-*-*-40'sDetectiveNoir-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Rules Or Right
Chapter Complete!Alec and Magnus go over the clues.
They hit an unexpected wall.
{*~********~*~********~*} *-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-*-Alec-* {*~********~*~********~*}Oh, this is definitely not gonna be a fun one…
He glanced over once more, eyes flickering from Magnus diligently snapping pictures over to the 'officers' standing by the tree, trying to tramp down the renewed swell of anger at Douglas's callous, obnoxious comments…and the not at all subtle insinuation regarding Magnus. Looking around he had to admit there's not really many other reasons someone would come out here.
The scene seems pretty cut and dry. Cause of death was a single gunshot to the chest, death was likely instantaneous. There's several liquor bottles strewn about and the victim was most definitely redressed after he was killed- there's no bullet hole in his jacket and the shirt itself is buttoned cockeyed, plus his belt isn't through the loops. The guy came here to hook up with someone and ended up getting murdered.
Damnit…
Cases with gay victims were always a minefield. Many shared Douglas and Brantley's attitudes- seeing these kinds of crimes against homosexuals as not only a near inevitability but in some way justified for being involved with such 'reckless, deviant' behavior. Depending on how closeted the victim was contacting those closest to them to get information became awkward and uncomfortable- outing someone was never pleasant and always made Alec feel kind of itchy.
He knew it was a necessity in order to find information and hopefully track down the killer but even so the idea of someone matter-of-factly blurting out your biggest secret to everyone you knew seemed outright cruel. He tried to be as tactful as possible but 'tact' only went so far.
And then there were the people who actually DID know, which sometimes was even more difficult than the ones totally in the dark. Some would be helpful but many still saw dragging their loved ones private life out into the public eye as a betrayal. Likewise if they have their own secrets- which…let's be honest, who doesn't- they'll usually clam up, being unwilling to put their own private lives, careers, families and everything else they've built on the line.
All of that tended to boil down to an aggravating, exhausting, tangled mess and a huge headache where by the end of the day you truly wondered if you were doing more harm than good.
He hated these kinds of cases in general but working something like this with Magnus was going to be downright nerve-wracking.
The man really was quite sharp, and surprisingly deep- though he tended to hide it behind the sensationalist personality and somewhat flamboyant mannerisms and dress. Actually he hid it so well that at times even Alec nearly forgot about it, so lost in the glittery trappings and huge persona that was so completely 'Magnus Bane'. Alec had never met anyone so unapologetically open about themselves.
In truth Alec envied that. He couldn't imagine being confident enough to be so brazen, so unapologetically out; to legitimately not give a damn what the rest of the world thought about your life or choices. He knows the man sees the looks, the dismissal, at times the outright hostility, but none of it seems to faze him, he just goes right on like they're nothing to him.
Like with Douglas's 'matter of opinion' comment looking right at Magnus. Yeah Magnus had been annoyed, but he never for a second seemed hurt or in any way intimidated.
Alec envied that…but at the same time it scared the hell out of him.
Magnus never seemed to back down from anything or anyone. It was admirable, but Alec couldn't shake the fear that one day someone wouldn't be satisfied with just a jackass comment or glare in response. And a case like this was likely to put them in contact with a lot of those types. Alec honestly didn't know how he was going to be able to handle it.
He always tried to maintain a professional air on cases, to seem impartial and remain objective. Nevertheless these cases got to him- it's always hardest when you can so easily see parts of yourself in the victim. Even under the best of circumstances he sometimes had trouble maintaining a professional distance when faced with the homophobia and bigotry that always cropped up with these kinds of cases. He really did try to distance himself, but with Magnus on the case that was going to be near impossible.
He'd worked cases with Magnus before and once the guy latched onto a case there was absolutely no shaking him. He would be there looking over the evidence, following up with witnesses and suspects, for every last detail.
Meaning he'd be right there for every jackass, homophobic, bigoted comment, joke, and outright dismissal they encountered. Also meaning every last ignorant jackass they encountered on this case would be in the same room as this brazen, flamboyant, unapologetically out, annoyingly pretty man. And odds are at least a few of them will lash out at said annoyingly pretty man.
Alec may be able to maintain an air of professionalism in most situations but he knows damn good and well that will not be one of them.
How the hell is he supposed to remain objective and professional when he's gonna want to deck about ninety percent of the people they encounter on the case?
Hell, it's already happening.
His reprimand of the officers really wasn't professional. Yeah Douglas was out of line and his comments moronic and dismissive, and he thinks he's covered it well enough to seem like his anger was about the unprofessionalism and public opinion as opposed to his own personal views on homosexuality. Still too many reactions like that and people will start to wonder.
He knows he usually covers pretty well but ignorant comments aside most cops aren't actually idiots; they know how to connect dots and read evidence.
Eventually someone was bound to notice…
And then his life would pretty much go to hell. Being out would likely mean the end of his career. You cannot be a detective- much less the head detective- and gay. Even with his father being the chief that just will not fly.
Hell, especially with his father being chief.
Alec was expected to live up to his example; to rise up in the ranks and eventually take over as chief of the SBPD.
That will not happen if he's outed.
If people were to find out it would totally and completely obliterate everything he has worked the last eleven years building. His career, life, his relationship with his parents; most every last bit of it would be in tatters. Being out is just not an option for him…
Honestly he doesn't see a way it could ever be a real, legitimate possibility, no matter how much he may wish it was.
Nevertheless if he's in a room with Magnus and some homophobic belligerent jackass odds are his 'professionalism' and 'tact' are gonna go out the window real fast.
Ugh…
Again, Damnit.
It's hard enough just on a normal day working around the station with the guy. Alec never even knows how to respond to the man. That's why he usually just goes with ignore him and try to focus on anything that isn't Magnus.
It never works and Magnus seems to take someone ignoring him as a personal challenge, using every last opportunity to poke at him just to get a reaction. It's aggravating and exasperating and he knows a big part of why he does it is because Magnus takes Alec's seemingly disregarding him as Alec having an issue with his whole 'thing', assuming Alec's uncomfortable being around him.
Which…honestly IS kinda the truth, only not the way Magnus thinks.
He is uncomfortable around Magnus but it's not in any way because he doesn't like the guy. Actually that couldn't be further from the truth. Alec is uncomfortable around him because Magnus is without a doubt the single most intriguing, attractive, enticing, entirely distracting person he has ever met in his entire life and Alec doesn't know how the hell to seem unaffected by all of that.
If he'd of met the man anywhere but at work it would've been totally different. Closeted or not he'd of at least given it a shot, tried to feel him out, see if he even had a chance with the guy. At least then he'd know where he stood and could just move on.
But he and Magnus worked together- quite well in fact- not that either of them would actually admit it. Magnus was sharp and kind of reckless and had a knack for finding the smallest, most seemingly insignificant, clues. The guy could find connections with things that would never even occur to most people. He'd never admit it to the man but there were more than a few cases that wouldn't have been solved without Magnus's assistance.
In fact over the last two years Magnus had been working with the SBPD he's actually became an invaluable part of the precinct. Alec may make little comments here or there to try to keep that distance between them but that was all just talk, a defense mechanism. A way to keep himself from doing something stupid, from jeopardizing his career; throwing everything away for one crazy, reckless risk…
It was not worth it, no matter how tempting the risk might be…
And damn was it tempting.
Even so at the end of the day they were colleagues; and Alec had a very strict policy about keeping his professional and personal life separate.
Starting something with someone at the station- anyone at the station, much less one of the most brazenly open people he'd ever met- was far too risky. Sneaking around with someone he worked fairly closely with and saw nearly every day at the station, surrounded by other officers (And of course his father) was a BAD idea. He could not be out and honestly he couldn't see Magnus keeping something like that 'In'. There's just no chance for anything that isn't a strictly professional relationship between the two of them.
No matter how much Alec may wish it was otherwise.
Besides, it's not like Magnus would even be interested in Alec to begin with. Even with the overall view of homosexuality Alec knew Magnus had more options than he could even begin to imagine.
He's not naïve; no way he's the only one totally captivated by the guy. He had to have better options. Options that weren't deeply closeted workaholic detectives and the son of the captain. Really he couldn't imagine Magnus seeing him as anything more than an overly serious, fastidious colleague.
That was probably for the best. Honestly if he really thought he had a chance with Magnus even given all the very valid, completely logical arguments against it, he didn't know if he'd be strong enough to pass it up…
Not that that'd e-
"Hey Alec, look at this…"
Alec startled, glancing over at Magnus, shaking away the swirling thoughts, moving to stand next to Magnus.
"What'd you find?" he asked curiously.
Magnus nodded, pushing a few brambles out of the way, indicating a beat up leather billfold on the ground about five feet from the body.
"There's a footprint on it, and a few more around it. Looks like a bit of blood too. I think it's a dress shoe, rather small about a men's eight or nine pretty narrow different size than the victim- high end…thinking Italian. Has a rather distinct patterning on the sole- almost like a herringbone print. If the wallet's his the prints could be from the killer. The way it's situated it doesn't look like it was actively hidden, more likely it fell out when he was being moved or redressed…could be something."
Alec nodded, beginning to reach forward before pausing, quirking his eyebrow. Magnus waved him forward.
"It's fine, I got plenty of shots. We're good to move it."
Alec nodded again, reaching down, retrieving it. He flipped it open, thumbing through. Magnus leaned in closer to see as well, settling at his side to get a clear view, absently resting his hand on Alec's shoulder. Alec took a deep breath, swallowing, trying to steady himself. Magnus tilted his head curiously, leaning even closer still, seemingly oblivious to Alec's awkwardness,
"Hmm…that's our guy alright, Eugene Dawson, 28 years old."
Alec swallowed once more, trying to keep his focus on the case and not the gorgeous man practically pressed up against his shoulder. He took one more deep centering breath, nodding, trying as always to focus on anything that isn't Magnus Bane. Glancing through the wallet he blinked, giving a low whistle.
"There's nearly two hundred dollars in here. That's well over a month's rent, definitely rules out robbery as a motive. Address is over on Freemont. Pretty swanky neighborhood, way out of my price range in any case."
Magnus gave a slightly distracted nod, reaching forward, pulling out a kind of wrinkled business card, examining it.
"The Alastair Investments firm; looks like he was a junior partner there." Magnus paused, tilting his head, glancing over at Alec, flashing a slightly hopeful smile.
"Okay, we have a name, address and his place of business, it's a good start. Hopefully it'll be enough to lead us to who he came up here with."
Alec sighed faintly, shrugging.
"It could be, though honestly I don't know how much it'll help. I mean that only helps if the person he was with was actually connected to his life in anyway besides…well this. If it was just a random hook up it won't really help much tracking them down."
Magnus shook his head.
"It wasn't…they had to of come up here together. If they rode here together odds are there's some connection."
Alec tilted his head, glancing over curiously.
"You sound pretty sure?"
Magnus nodded.
"I am. The only other car we saw on the access road was the officer's patrol car. It is possible that the killer ditched Eugene's car somewhere then came back for their own but that seems like it'd just be adding more of a chance of being caught near the body. If the killer was his hook up the most likely option is that they arrived together…" he hesitated glancing over.
"Which means for whatever reason neither of them were willing to bring the other back to their place. Likely meaning there was someone at home who doesn't know what they were getting up to…and probably really doesn't want to know."
Alec sighed, nodding.
"So odds are whenever we find the 'next of kin' we're not only gonna be breaking the news that their loved one is dead, but that they were stepping out on them with men…"
Magnus sighed, glancing around the area once more.
"Yup…"
Crap… as if these cases weren't uncomfortable enough. If the victim (And most likely whoever the victim was hooking up with) were married that's gonna add a whole other dimension of screwed up to this tangled mess, and open a veritable can of worms of suspects.
Alec gave a hopeless shrug, glancing over with a slight sigh.
"So pretty much any way we go at this, we're kinda screwed, aren't we?"
Again Magnus nodded.
"Oh yeah, completely, no two ways about it.
I definitely should've just stuck with the sewer gator."
{*~********~*~********~*} *-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-*-Magnus-* {*~********~*~********~*}Ugh…
This was SO not good…
Their victim was likely a married man found at a known hook up spot for gay men…
Yeah…
This was gonna be a hard one.
Gay victims never really got the consideration they deserved, the crimes usually written off as little more than the inevitable result of reckless, immoral behavior. It was tricky publishing articles on them as his entire thing was getting the readers to connect to the victim. That doesn't work when even the slightest inkling of homosexuality puts them off, in many cases making them actually side with the perpetrator. Over the years he's found ways around it, turns of phrase to mask it emphasizing the humanity of them as opposed to their sexuality (Which in his opinion is how it should be anyways). Nevertheless it would definitely be a minefield.
He furtively glanced over at Alec in the driver's seat.
How was he gonna handle this?
He'd been pretty quiet since they'd left the scene, deciding to head to the victims address, get that most awkward part of the case out of the way first. Magnus didn't really know how he'd do with this. On the one hand he clearly wasn't comfortable with homosexuality- he was always far more standoffish and distant with Magnus than anyone else (And the guy wasn't exactly the 'buddy buddy' type to begin with). He's always kind of quiet around Magnus, more often than not almost blatantly ignoring him.
Admittedly it was quite irksome, but on the other hand he's never actually got any comments, outright hostility or such from Alec. He was distant and quiet, but always professional- if a bit abrupt. Really come to think of it he'd never seen Alec treat anyone differently regardless of who they were or how they presented themselves.
That was quite unusual, though heartening…
Why had he never noticed that?
His calling out of the officers on their arrogant bigoted behavior, along with being mind numbingly hot (Hmm…damn) had been totally unexpected. He'd been strong and assertive; completely throwing the arrogant jackasses off. And the things he said…
The WAY he said it…
It was strong, impassioned, forceful (Again…DAMN). It genuinely felt like he took issue with their blasé attitudes…Like it really mattered to him, personally…
Almost like h-
No…don't start that…it's just wishful thinking.
'Head Detective Lightwood' is as straight laced as they come. He's the son of the captain. He is a dedicated professional and a total workaholic. And honestly, even if he did have a bit of an inkling that he might be attracted to men no way he'd ever acknowledge it; even to himself, much less actually act on it.
Maybe that's why he's so closed off, always with his head stuck in a case?
Maybe that's a way for him to keep from thinking about his own predilections. Focus on cases and things you can control and solve instead of dwelling on those you can't. Maybe he ignores Magnus because seeing an out man, comfortable with himself and unashamed of his sexuality scares him. It was a reminder of what he's trying to ignore about himself…
Maybe Magnus makes him question why he has to hide and ignore that part of himself…why he couldn't be out and comfortable with his own sexuality. Maybe Magnus made him actually want to acknowledge that part of himself…
Maybe even explore those inclinations…
Mmm…
He'd be all too happy to give him a hand with that…
Or absolutely anything el-
Stop…
Oookay…reel it in again…
You're like two steps away from needing a cigarette here and you don't even smoke.
He's not gay.
You're just getting your hopes up.
Not EVERY hot, sexy guy you want is automatically into guys. Besides a trip to what is likely gonna be a painfully awkward conversation really isn't the time for risqué daydreams about coworkers. Especially when said coworker is sitting like two feet away.
Fantasizing about hot guys is one thing but really- Time and place Magnus.
Get it together.
You're in the middle of a murder investigation, heading to the victims place to likely break the news to his widow that not only is her husband dead, but he died stepping out on her with another man. Which by the way will be even more impossibly awkward having a blatantly obvious homosexual actually IN the room for the conversation.
Somehow he doesn't think pointing out he's in fact bi would really help matters much.
Ugh…
Well…that's depressing as hell.
He sighed faintly, rolling his eyes. The noise seemed to rouse Alec out of his own thoughts, he glanced over, quirking his eyebrow. Magnus shrugged, waving him off.
"Nothing…my minds just kinda running. This case is gonna be a headache and a half."
"Yeah, no question…" he paused, sighing, clearly trying to figure out how to word what he was about to say, glancing over.
"Look, are you absolutely sure you can handle this case?"
Magnus automatically bristled a bit at that, quirking his eyebrow.
"What, you think I can't?"
Alec rolled his eyes, holding his free hand up placatingly.
"Alright now, don't flip your wig; I'm not knockin' you. I know you're stubborn as hell and saying you 'can't' do something'll just make you dig in more. I'm not saying you're too 'weak' to handle it. I'm just asking you- honestly- are you sure you're gonna be okay working this case?
The victim was found at a known homosexual hook up spot. It's likely he died because of that hook up. Meaning the killer's likely either the man he was with, his spouse- or someone hired by the spouse of him or the hook up- or even just some random homophobic bastard.
I'm not gonna sugar coat this- most every person we come into contact with on this case will have a reaction to you, and no offense, but I doubt many of them'll be good. In all likelihood Brantley and Douglas's smartass comments and dismissals will be the general rule of thumb going forward.
Hell, that'll probably be one of the more positive reactions you'll get. I'm not saying you can't work it- I'm not even saying you shouldn't. I'm just telling you, flat out, you specifically on this case is gonna be very difficult.
For everyone involved.
So again; are you sure you want to work it?"
Magnus swallowed.
Damnit…this'd be so much easier if he was just being an arrogant jerk on this, trying to order him off the case.
Magnus sighed faintly, giving a bit of a shrug, slumping back in the seat.
"I know that…trust me I am under no illusions about the bigotry and narrow-mindedness involved in these kinds of investigations. They're a freaking hornets' nest; every last one of them. Honestly most people would prefer if they were just quietly swept under the rug and forgotten. Which is the same way they feel about pretty much anything involving homosexuality, or any other identity that isn't completely straight." he sighed, glancing over at Alec, giving a bit of a halfhearted wave.
"That's exactly why I can't just step aside, even though me being on the case is likely going to cause even more issues. I know that may seem selfish but…" he shrugged, glancing over at Alec.
"A person lost their life here; Eugene Dawson. He was only 28 years old. He had a life, had a job and friends and people who loved him. And because of who he was - because he was like me- most people flat out don't care, think it was deserved, that his death was nothing…
Just like the 'officers' back at the scene.
I'm not just gonna drop it because I know that I will do everything I can to find out what happened, solve the case and bring his killer in…
And I can't honestly say I'd trust most anyone else to do that." he trailed off, glancing out the window, not really sure what else to say, Alec seemingly just as much at a loss.
Man…who'd of thought he could actually bring down the mood on a murder investigation?
"You're right."
Magnus startled faintly, glancing over in surprise.
"Huh?"
Alec shrugged, keeping his eyes on the road.
"You're right. Most wouldn't give this case the consideration it deserves. My dad, Connor, the brass…they'd just call this an 'expected outcome' and the investigation largely a waste of the departments time." he paused, glancing over, quirking his eyebrow.
"I hope you know I don't agree with them?"
Magnus swallowed, nodding, giving a slight smirk.
"Yeah…I kinda got that when you dressed down the two jackasses back there. Not gonna lie; that was pretty impressive."
Alec huffed out a slight laugh, shaking his head faintly.
"That wasn't 'impressive'; it was just being a decent human being and a competent professional."
Magnus chuckled, shrugging.
"Well compared to the other company present it was pretty impressive…though to be fair that WAS a pretty low bar there."
Alec laughed, nodding slightly.
"True, still it really wasn't much. Hopefully they'll wise up a bit…at least when they're on the clock."
Magnus gave a sharp bark of a laugh.
"Think you're dreaming there but it shut them up for the time I had to deal with them so we can only hope."
Magnus smiled faintly before sobering, giving an apologetic shrug.
"Sorry, I know having me on the case will make it a lot more difficult for you too…Hope it doesn't cause you too many problems."
Alec shook his head, waving him off.
"Don't worry about me; I'm an adult- I know what I'm getting into. I am a detective working a murder case- if they have an issue with me doing my job than really that just throws suspicion on them…though…
Never mind."
Magnus tilted his head.
"What?"
"Nothing…"
Magnus groaned, rolling his eyes.
"Oh my god, don't do that; guarantee that'll annoy me more than whatever you were gonna say…
Spill."
Alec huffed faintly, starting to shake his head before seemingly shrugging it off.
"Fine…just...alright; I know you're you and you're totally unapologetic and have no issue whatsoever charging head on at a problem- and that's fine in general, but could you maybe kind of try not to purposefully antagonize whatever loudmouthed, arrogant homophobes we come across on this case?
I realize it's tempting but we may need them to be vaguely cooperative with this and that's not gonna work if they're on the defensive…
Also I'd kinda like to finish out this case without getting decked."
Magnus chuckled, shaking his head.
"Why would they deck you if I'm the one antagonizing them? Pretty sure they'll take a swing at the 'loudmouthed pansy hack' before the 'hardnosed, straight-laced detective'. They'd see me as an easy target- I'm NOT…not even close, but close-minded jackasses can never see an actual threat under the flash and style."
Alec paused a moment, glancing over, eyebrow quirking in interest.
"A threat huh?"
Magnus gave a slight shrug.
"Come on, hasn't it ever occurred to you why I'm not afraid to stand out…why I don't just try to blend? I may not look like it, but I can handle just about anything they throw at me…I'm far tougher than I look."
Alec blinked, eyes flickering over him before quickly glancing away, focusing once more back on the road and…
W-was he blushing?
Hmm…Interesting…mayb-
Alright, don't start that again…
Magnus shook his head, clearing away that, trying to focus back on the original question…
"So again why do you think they'd take a swing at you?"
Alec shrugged.
"Because I won't let them get close enough to take one at you."
It was Magnus's turn to blink uncomprehendingly.
"Uh…wh-"
Alec sighed shaking his head, glancing over once more.
"Magnus, not gonna lie; you're loud and obnoxious and kinda a pain. I didn't ask you to come along- in fact the only reason you're here now is because you broke into my car and refused to leave- and I know damn good and well the car was locked so you most certainly broke in- but all that aside you are a civilian and I'm a detective.
I may not have had a say in you working the case with me but you are now…which means as long as you are working it you are my responsibility. I'm not just gonna stand aside and let someone hurt an innocent civilian- no matter how obnoxious said civilian may happen to be.
So, like I said maybe keep the blatant baiting of the jackasses to a minimum? At least as best you can…
Please?"
Magnus blinked once more in surprise, once again not really sure how to respond to that.
Gotta say that was about the last thing he expected, though he supposed it really shouldn't be. Alec was as moral, upstanding and law abiding as they came…he doubted the guy ever even so much as jaywalked. It would stand to reason he'd see any civilian under his protection- regardless of whatever else they were. It was one of those annoyingly endearing things about him that always kinda caught Magnus off guard.
He knew how to deal with the abrupt, clipped parts, and the snarkiness and sarcasm and the whole ignoring him thing…but this part of the man always kinda managed to throw Magnus.
He really had no recourse for that level of sincerity.
Fortunately they were usually buried in a good amount of snark and sass…It helped a lot…
Gave him something to focus on.
Magnus chuckled, smirking.
"So wait…You're responsible for me? Detective, I really don't think you know what you're getting into with that."
Alec pulled over to the curb, turning off the car before settling back in his seat, turning towards Magnus, quirking his eyebrow with a slightly sarcastic gesture.
"Yeah I do…Why do you think I was trying so hard to get you out of my damn car?"
Magnus gave a surprised laugh, the sound cutting off as he caught slight movement on the porch, the door beginning to open. An attractive brunette woman, probably in her mid to late twenties in a yellow and white polka-dotted dress stepped out, looking over at the car with concern.
Magnus sobered instantly.
Oh…crap…
He swallowed, taking a deep centering breath, catching Alec's eye. He seemed just as tense, nodding up towards the front porch,
"You ready for this?"
Magnus shrugged, giving a faint sigh, reaching for the door handle,
"Guess we'll see."
{*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*}-*-*-*-*-*-*-40'sDetectiveNoir-*-*-*-*-*-*-
* 15 *