chapter word count: 537 (oops)

noir heart: thirteen

Jack tries and fails to stifle a huge yawn – but as he does so, he watches for Elsa's reaction.

Curiously, she doesn't follow suit – and continues to silently regard him with dull, blank eyes – she had been awake all night after witnessing something horrific, so no surprise there in his mind – framed by a weary, pale face that wears an expression of numb acceptance, rosy lips parted with exhaustion, and a platinum blonde braid that bears more than a few flyaway hairs.

"Sorry," he offers apologetically, "late night."

"That's perfectly fine." she answers quietly with a cracking, slightly raspy voice – and he wonders why it's taken an entire department of detectives, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree for her to finally speak. "There's no need to apologise. I understand."

Jack flashes a half-smile of pity and sympathy. "I bet. I've got to say, you seem to be coping well despite what you've seen. How are you feeling?"

She looks away, and there's a fraction of a second where it looks to Jack like she's going to break down. "I do feel tired. I suspect it hasn't sunk in yet; it's like the images I see in my mind are from someone else's memories, and I am merely a spectator." she speaks in a barely audible monotone. For some reason, Jack has to suppress the small urge to wrap her up in his arms and enable her to cry - but such a gesture isn't exactly on the How to Interview Widows manual.

"The shock will do that to you, unfortunately." he says sympathetically, briefly looking away to scratch behind his right ear before returning his gaze and continuing, "Look, I know things look dark and cold at the moment, and it feels like the entire world's against you...but I want you to know that we'll do everything in our power to get the person responsible."

Her smile widens, and it sings of appreciation and gratitude, but also of numbness. "Thank you. That means so much." she murmurs, nodding slowly in acceptance.

"No problem." he quirks a half-smile. "Listen, I'm sorry, but there's going to be a few hard questions I have to ask, but I need to ask them. Okay?"

She blinks slowly as she nods - and it strikes him how awfully at ease she is. Probably still shock.

"Uh…would you like a drink before we start? Our coffee isn't great, and I think Detective Bunnymund drank all the tea…" he offers, and can practically hear the 'Oi!' in his head.

"No, thank you. I'm fine." she murmurs, her lips curling into a weak smile.

"Sure." he says, and stretches theatrically while stifling another yawn before continuing, "So, in your own words, Mrs Black – could you describe what you witnessed last night?"

"In truth – and I am ashamed to say this – nothing." she answers softly, but with a heavy edge of sadness.

"Come again?" Jack raises his brow in dumbfounded surprise, and lifts his pen from the notepad before even the first word has been written.

Well, this is just fantastic.

fantasy oh yea: Hehe. I felt it was about time I brought ol' Jane Moors back.
sara99: I don't know about perfect. :P
miki fubuki: Thank you so much! I always worry about characterisation.
e-teens: Aster is always fun. Merida isn't actually in the original plan, but story planning is fluidic so, if the plot directly benefits from her presence, she'll be in it.
kira: Sorry! This make it better? Thank you for the "Trust" review.