Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or ideas from The Killing. It's all just way too much fun.
Spoilers: Season 1, episode 5
DAY 5
Linden is waiting for Holder by the car, outside Ft. Washington high school. Holder saunters over. He is returning from the coffee shop across the street, carrying one coffee in each hand and a paper bag in his mouth.
"Take your time," says Linden sarcastically. She takes the bag and one of the coffees. "Thanks," she adds.
Holder is all business. He's already been brainstorming during the coffee run. "So, Friday night, Ahmed gets the wife out of the house, brings Rosie over to get it on. Then, bam, something goes wrong, and the brother's taking a moonlit drive to Discovery Park."
"Cancels the flooring company so he can clean up before the wife gets home," Linden continues. However they get along or don't, they're on the same page with the case.
They start walking toward the school.
"I'd bet on it, if I was the gambling type." Interesting choice of words he made there, Linden thinks.
"You're not? Pretty nice you made score back there."
"What is this, twenty questions? It's like a first date. Are you checking me out, Linden? "
"There's plenty of women with poor judgment out there, I'm sure you'll get lucky." There it is again, that
deadpan humor, he thinks. She must be joking… right?
"Not now. I'm, uh, celibate," he responds. HA! Bet she wasn't expecting that answer.
"Celibate as in no sex?" She has to admit, she didn't see that coming…
"That's what it means, don't it? Six months now." Anything else you'd like to know, Linden? he thought.
They're walking up the steps of the school, and Linden turns to look at him as she climbs.
"Personal reasons," he continues without prompting.
"That's nice." Sarcasm? he wonders. It's hard to tell with her.
"It's not the usual convo on a first date, but there's just something about you, Linden, just makes me wanna open up. We moving on to my diet and exercise next?" He's rewarded for his humor with the tiniest hint of a smile.
They enter the school, and it's back to business.
Holder
Well, well, well… Linden's awfully interested in my life… I mean I get it, we're cops. It's part of the job to check people out, pick up on things, observe and whatnot... And yeah, that was a lot of money that she saw me with… I'd probably have been curious in her situation, too. But something tells me it's more than that. She's surprised. Intrigued, even. That's me, a mystery wrapped in a conundrum. I bet she's used to having people all figured out. If she can figure me out, more power to her.
Really, as weird as it may be, it wasn't a big deal to tell her that stuff. Can't think of anyone else I'd have told it all to… but for some reason, she's easy to talk to. I mean, really, who's she gonna tell? She's the kind of person you have to really work to extract information from, after all.
She's not easy to get along with, for sure, but she's not so bad. I'm pretty sure she likes my jokes, even if she won't admit it. It's almost like a challenge to get her to smile even the tiniest bit… and I love me a challenge! She's almost growing on me, as crazy as that sounds. She wouldn't even be the worst person to be stuck with as a partner – which is an actual possibility, since I'm betting that she's gonna end up sticking around… Wish I could put money on that one, cause I'd need a much bigger envelope to hold all the money I'd win.
Linden
Holder really flatters himself. He didn't really think I wouldn't ask about that big envelope of money he was showing off, did he? That's what they invented banks for, so people didn't have to walk around with all that cash!
The question is, do I take him at his word about that whole Blackjack thing? I've known him all of five days. There are people that I've known for five years and I still don't trust them – come to think of it, I don't think I'd say I can trust anyone I've known for five years – or most people who I've known longer than that, either. That's probably the right response in this situation as well… And OK, so far he's been straight with me – at least he has as far as I know, that is. Really, it could all be lies… it definitely wouldn't be the first time.
But for some strange reason, something about him that makes me want to trust him - which is probably a big mistake. I've made that mistake too many times before. Which probably means I shouldn't tell him a thing, and not believe anything he says either. Why am I even having this conversation with myself? Really, I should know better than to trust anyone by now.
Not that it matters, because I'm leaving tomorrow night. And getting married in a few weeks. Three weeks, I think? Oh boy, is it bad if I've lost track…? That is what I want for my life. To be in Sonoma with Rick and Jack. Security. Stability. I don't want to chase after murderers for the rest of my life, to work all night and day and lose myself. I've already done that once, and I'm lucky that I have another chance.
So what do I care what Holder's up to? I don't. It doesn't matter. He hasn't been as unpleasant to work with as I thought he'd be - he's smarter than he comes across at first, even if he's a pain in the ass – which he definitely is. And boy, does he think he's hilarious! What an ego.
But none of it matters – the good stuff, the bad stuff, what I think of him… none of it.
Because I have Rick. Because I'm moving to Sonoma. Because I'm walking away. Really. I am.
Tomorrow night.
…
It was late as Linden and Holder arrived back in what had once been her office, the office that they now shared until further notice. Linden shed her jacket, setting it on the chair beside her desk as they entered. Holder was still wearing his jacket, still standing, pacing slowly around the room.
"You got somewhere to be?" Linden's tone could be described as icy. It wasn't the first time he'd heard that tone, not by a long shot.
"Don't you?" he shot back. "Starts with an S, ends with an A… So-no-ma?"
Linden's gaze followed him for a minute before returning her attention to the case files in front of her. Without looking up again, she said "Don't worry, I'll be there soon. Jack and I leave tomorrow night. You can alert the press."
"So you think you're really leaving this time? Or you just practicing? Just trying to get our hopes up…"
"Very funny," Linden replied. She didn't look amused. I knew this was coming, she thought. Let's get it over with.
"Cause you know, it's cool, if you changed your mind you can just say so. I know what a pleasure it is to work with me." Holder sat down at his desk, directing his boyish grin straight at her. What's he so happy about? she wondered. He reminded her of a puppy… in a lovable but very annoying way.
"Don't flatter yourself, Holder. Besides, who said it was a pleasure?" Oh snap, Linden! he thought. Deadpan humor strikes again. It seems to be her specialty.
But still no smile. He was close though, he could feel it. OK Linden, is that how you wanna be? he thought. "What's wrong with being in a good mood? You should try it, you might like it… once you understand that that's what's happening to you. New experience and all."
Holder's enjoying this way too much, thought Linden. Why does he care what mood I'm in, anyway? "Hilarious, Holder. And who made you the expert on happiness?"
"Oh, I ain't claiming to be no expert or nothing. Just got myself a positive outlook… or I try to anyway. Some days it works better than others. It's all about how you deal with things. Life's too short and all that crap, you know?"
"Eloquently put. I've never heard that version before," Linden replied, the corners of her mouth turning up almost imperceptibly.
And there it was. The hint of a smile. Just a little one… but it was there. Why did it feel like such an accomplishment? Damn, but she's a pain in the ass, he thought.
"Come on, Linden, you know you're my BFF!"
"Shut up, Holder." Was that an actual smile on her face this time?
Holder starting moving slowly towards the door. "Alright, Linden, it's the middle of the night. I'm going home to sleep for a few hours, and you should too. For once, you should listen to one of my ideas. The dead will still be dead tomorrow."
"You're even more hilarious late at night, you know that?" she asked evenly. It was pretty late, and she was tired. But she had work to finish up if she wanted to leave tomorrow night. Which she did. Which she would.
"This is what I've been trying to tell you all along!" Holder stood in the doorway, leaning on the doorframe with his arms crossed, grinning.
"Shut up, Holder." He was a pain in the ass alright, but he was an OK guy.
"You coming or what?" He leaned his head against the doorframe and stifled a yawn.
"I'm leaving tomorrow night, I need to keep working." She stifled a yawn of her own.
"Suit yourself, Linden. Hasta manana."