Young didn't know Eli Wallace very well, he'd met him a few times around town and at various events and happenings, but had never really met him. As soon as they were out of the room the young man started talking ten to the dozen about inconsequential matters, and kept up the monologue all the way to the lab.
The lab from the accident had been largely repaired but was still out of use. Eli told them honestly he was taking them the long way round to avoid areas with classified work. Young suspected that Eli would find it extremely hard not to be honest, and that Eli had two settings, tell the truth or don't talk about it.
He found himself warming to the young man, there was something rather endearing about him, and it was almost surprising when he broke into an explanation of something so wildly technical that Young didn't even know what he was talking about, let alone why it was important or relevant. Brody seemed to understand however, so Young nodded vaguely and left them to keep the conversation going.
The lab was now empty except for a table along one wall, but Eli retrieved the files and spread the accident photos out on the table. There was a lot of blood in the photos. Young remembered it clearly, having been to the scene and as he turned to orient himself in the room relative to the photos, his mind produced him a disturbing double exposure image of the scene that day.
Brody didn't talk much, but was practical and professional, no doubt he had many of this sort of crime scene, and Young was glad he was so calm, as he seemed to be keeping Eli grounded. Young remembered whilst by all accounts Eli had reacted well in the crisis he had been in deep shock after the accident and it was only three months ago.
Brody evidently concurred with the conclusions of the accident investigators, that the whole incident was a terrible accident. Whilst the machine had failed which had led to a catastrophic system failure, the checks and maintenance schedule had been followed, all routine safety procedures had been observed.
They went through the reports, walking round the room, placing sheets of paper on the floor to stand for various things. Young stood back and watched, only adding a comment where he thought the "objects" had been incorrectly located, as they worked through the timeline of the accident.
They followed it through. Volker's realisation that there was a serious problem, Volker calling Rush over then calling Caine the expert with that system as Rush tried to shut down the system. It was Greer and Doctor Damji who had called up to Armstrong. Rush had sent both Volker and Caine out when it became evident that the overloading system was not going to be shut down. Armstrong, Chloe and Eli had arrived. Armstrong had entered the lab with Rush, they had managed to partially isolate the machine from the system then Armstrong had thrown Rush out and manually managed to contain the system damage until the machine blew.
The witness statements, within the bounds of normal variation for a traumatic event, tallied. There was some variation on a few points, Armstrong ordering Rush out as opposed to physically throwing him out the door and locking it. Still that was to be expected in witness statements. Brody examined the blast evidence, the coroner's evidence, and the system reports from the factory. Everything tallied. He turned back to Young.
"Unless I'm missing something Sheriff, there's nothing new to find here."
Young was waiting in the in the office at midday the next day, trying not to clock watch. Brody had been in the office glued to his laptop and a bunch of the reports from the previous scenes. Camile had gone back up to Icarus to interview the staff who had been at the accident, but he hadn't been needed and to be honest there was more than enough to keep him busy. The scene reports from the previous day needed completion, evidence reports from the previous fire had arrived from the lab and a series of telephone calls needed to be made.
All of which kept him busy and distracted until he got off the phone to notice it was twenty to twelve. His mind refused to cooperate, waiting for TJ arrive. Damn. He tried to give himself a stern talking to. This was not a date, this was lunch with a friend, but he was still restless and nervous up to the point that she walked into the office.
He was stunned.
He hadn't realised how long her hair was. Rather than the complicated pleat she normally wore to work, it was caught back off her face but hung around her shoulders in a shining cascade of white gold. He had a sudden urge to run his fingers though it. He dragged his eyes away from her hair.
She hadn't noticed his yet and it gave him a moment to study her. The uniform had been replaced by a calf length skirt in a warm brown corduroy, knee high leather boots, and as she took off her coat, he could see a lace edge scoop necked top under a brushed cotton shirt in a matching blue. The outfit looked...tactile. He pulled himself together and walked forward.
"Everett." She said, smiling.
"Hi." He stepped round the counter. "Where do you want to go?"
It wasn't much of a question. There were two diners, two bars and Becker's deli within reasonable distance. They settled on Becker's deli, being the closest and having the best food. Somehow Becker always managed to make something amazing out of simple ingredients. It did mean running the gauntlet of town gossip but Everett figured he'd been single for three years and divorced for nine months and it wasn't like he was doing anything wrong.
They went to the deli and sat near the back, away from the majority of prying eyes. As usual the place was filling up fast, but they managed to get a small table against the wall. Becker's sister Leah came over and gave them a couple of menus and Young steered the conversation to the safe topic of food they liked. In the end they both went for the same, Swiss cheese with tomato relish and salad on sun dried tomato bread. Somehow the thought they liked the same thing warmed him.
Leah brought them coffee to be going on with while their food was made and TJ steered the conversation to the weather. While they sipped at their coffee she told him about the latest weather news she had heard before she came out, predicting another reasonably heavy fall of snow. Young commiserated with her, it wasn't what either of them needed in their jobs.
The snowy weather got on to the topic of whether the lake would freeze hard enough for skating soon. TJ apparently loved to skate. Young listened to her tell him about it, what she loved about it and admitted himself that while he could just about skate, he wasn't very confident. She smiled at him and told him that she'd have to teach him to skate properly, and though the thought of embarrassing himself in front of her out on the ice wasn't a great one, he found himself agreeing as her face lit up while she was talking about it.
He smiled back at her and ordered them both a slice of hot apple cinnamon pie and custard. Over pie they discussed sports and how badly the local hockey team were likely to do this year. The conversation moved on to other topics, and lunch ended all too soon, the crowd in the deli thinning out.
Young stood, TJ took her purse out.
"Not that I'm old fashioned," he said, "but this is my treat."
She looked at him then smiled as he turned towards the counter.
"Okay," she said smiling, "as long as you let me pay for dinner."
He paused, stopping mid-turn, and looked at her. He wasn't sure what his expression was, he suspected a little startled. Her face fell a little.
"We don't…"
"It'd be great." He said. "I'd love to."
"When?" she asked.
"When do you have a free evening?"
She smiled in relief.
"I'm on lates for the next four days, but I could do Saturday or Sunday?"
Young smiled back.
"Saturday then. Shall I collect you?"
She nodded. "I'd like that. Let me write my number down."
She scribbled her number of a piece of paper while he paid at the counter. When he was done she walked him back to work. On the doorstep they paused and he turned to her.
"I enjoyed that."
"Me too." She said handing him her number.
She leaned in kissed him on the cheek. "Ring me Saturday afternoon and I'll let you know what time to collect me." She said. "I'd say ring me before but I'll be asleep or on shift most of the time."
Her voice was apologetic.
"No," he said, "that's okay, I'll call you Saturday."
"Till Saturday then." She said.
He watched her get in her car and drive away before he went back into the office.