"Favorite color?"
"Black is a classic"
"Very true, but a it's also technically shade. Ugh, okay. Your turn."
"Conspiracy theories"
"Some are just the crazy rantings of paranoid minds, but it's simplistic and naive to believe that the government is totally open with the masses. Some have to be true, but they're hidden under the bad rep the truly insane ones give the whole idea."
"Good answer" Munch said and looked up at the ceiling as if for inspiration. Although initially awkward, he and Audrey had stated to get to know each other by rattling off ideas or topics or categories, to see how the other felt about them. And they were surprisingly in sync.
"Hey. My turn. And…opinions on...your job?"
"Oh." Munch said, not prepared for this one. "I like it- as much as someone can. I feel like I'm helping people more then I could when I worked homicide. Still it gets to you. Better now that I'm a sergeant, but…the victims never leave you." He thinned his lips, deciding that he'd said too much to this young girl who was regarding him so solemnly. "Nothing you'll have to worry about, though. How about you? What are you thinking for a future profession?"
"Oh you're not gonna like this."
"Try me"
"Lawyer" "Hey, don't give me that incredulous look. If you can honestly say that you've never had an innocent man or women put on trial, then I will desert the idea completely. The profession will be obsolete. So?"
"Touche" was all John could respond.
"That's what I thought" Audrey grinned, pleased with herself.
"Well then." John said. "Christ, it's late."
"At this point I'd dare say it's early."
"Do you…you have school, right?"
"Yeah, that thing."
"Are you ready Do I have to do something?"
"Calm down sergeant, I've got it all under control. I boarded there for a year already."
"I can't believe you were living in New York for a year and I never met you."
"Yeah, good old Padre and I were abroad for so long I think he forgot for a while that his long lost love ever even had family, much less one that lived in the same city as his hospital."
"And now I get to see you every day"
"Don't worry detective. I'm good company." Audrey said, easily swiping one of his fedoras from the counter and placing on her own head, tilting it forward. "And on that note, I bid you good night."
As she spun- literally, spun, into her room, John couldn't help the fond grin that was on his face. He had known this kid for less than 24 hours, and yet she was already growing on him. It was more than her charm though. He'd had four wives, and none had lasted very long at all. It had been quite some time since the fourth. He'd been alone for that whole time, and hadn't even thought about the idea of having a family. After all, how could he give a kid the responsibility of him? But with Audrey, he was realizing that the good company might be worth it after all.