chapter word count: 303

noir heart: twelve

"I thought Internal Affairs was clear that Detective Frost was not to be involved in any cases until its investigation was complete?"

Captain Jane 'Maleficent' Moors is imperiously frank as always. So much so, that Aster is reluctant to turn and speak to her directly, choosing instead to listen as Jack begins the interview the usual, court-friendly way. His name, date and time of the interview, brief description of the crime…that sort of thing.

Meaning: less than a minute until show time.

"Yeah, you were…" He agrees, before muttering under his breath through gritted teeth, "and it's not I.A. doing the investigation, it's that wanker Southernisle."

"Then why," she inquires condescendingly, as though lecturing a teenager, "is it that I see him interviewing one of the most important witnesses we have ever had?"

Aster chances half a smirk as he says observantly, "You've never seen him in action, have you?"

There's a brief silence in the room, and he takes pride in the knowledge that for the first time, he's got one over the authoritarian new captain. "No," she admits reluctantly, "I can't say that I have. Detective Frost was taken off his cases before I replaced Captain St. North."

"Good man, he was." Aster muses quietly, before sucking in a muted breath and adding, "Mrs Black doesn't want to talk to anyone else, so I made a judgment call – I lied to him, and brought him in without telling you. He can do it."

He hears a dark chuckle from behind him, preceding a subtly amused observation. "You've developed quite the disregard for authority, Detective Bunnymund."

"What can I say?" he smirks to himself, and proud victory surges within him as Elsa Black finally talks.

"He was a bad influence on me."

Slightly early update 'cause you're all awesome. Next one features Elsa.

sara99: seriously blushing here.
whitelunanight: ta-da! one obvious surprise. what happened to him is actually connected in some way to Hans.
maggietheawesome: stress sucks. I know it well. Jack will have shades of Danny Williams from Hawaii Five-0 soon.
wahness: sorry! Teasing is too fun, though.
kira: it either shows a relaxed state or complete comfort. Or that could be just Jack's disregard for rules and regulations - i.e. not putting your feet on the table.
hornedgoddess: hai! You guessed right.
jpbake: you guessed right!
e-teens: He mostly doesn't give a crap, he's just making himself comfortable - and if he's in a relaxed state, he thinks it'll help Elsa to be in one too.