Paragon - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Will spun in his chair behind me. I did my best to scan every line of the finance reports before me and add critical links to–
"Just one."
"No." I answered without moving my eyes from the paper.
"Half of one."
"Still a no."
"You show up. No drinking–"
"Do you need no in another language?" I asked flatly, highlighting another line in yellow.
He paused his spinning. "Do you know more than school girl French?" He mocked.
I smiled darkly at the page. "None at all."
"Fletcher."
"William." I answered, looking to my computer screen for further background on known runners in the East end fast food chains. He began his speech to try and convince me to follow him to another dive full of drunks but a set of heavy footsteps caught my attention beyond the glass wall of our office.
They were heading in our direction quickly and didn't leave room for negotiation.
"Chief, what can we–"
"Save it, Harrison." The Chief Inspector dismissed briskly. He stepped up to my desk and I suppressed a sigh and bridged my hands. His brown eyes and caramel skin were a mask of exasperation. Nothing new there.
"What the hell is a lawyer doing in my office before I've had a chance at my lunch?" He demanded as I raised my eyebrows in false shock.
"Sir, this is likely some push back from a firm linked to–"
"Make this disappear, Fletcher. You know I don't like suits throwing the book around in my station." He uttered, adjusting his navy tie around his pressed white shirt that never failed to cling to a broad physique. The recruits in the station were utterly terrified when he as much as sneezed in a room. "She asked for you by name. Let's not let it get more detailed." He finished with a hard look.
She. A fantastic coincidence or exactly the mortal I did not need to see again. It was highly unlikely that she had tracked down my station in less than a night and pursued this so boldly. But then again... lawyers.
I stood from my chair and nodded. "I will handle this."
He tapped a finger on my desk before flicking his eyes back over to Will. "Progress on the East?"
"We have interviewed several leads, sir. The paper trail is harder to follow as they deal in discreet cash drops inside–"
"Drug dealers moving money conspicuously." He dripped sarcastically. "Hardly detective work. Pick up your leads. The money won't do the talking here." With that he turned and left with the same aggressive walk.
Will's grey eyes snapped to mine the moment he was out of the threshold.
"What did you do?"
"Not now." I sighed, dragging my tailored jacket off my chair and putting my arms through. "I will explain later." I supplied before he could argue. I clipped my badge to the inside of my jacket and followed the same way the Chief had left.
The station was alive with the buzz of another working day. Mortals were usually riding on whatever sugar–or otherwise high they could find at this time of day. I had no honest preference. I didn't need to shroud myself in shadow or a coffin to then stalk the nights like a cheap horror production. The stories had it so wrong about blood drinkers...
I could bathe in the sun for as long as I desired–mundane as that would be. I was not deathly pale and my skin adapted to ultraviolet just as a mortal's. Beauty. Strength. Power. But the one thing that set us apart was our temperature. A deathly cold.
My thoughts were scrambled by a familiar sound. A familiar scent.
I clenched a fist as I closed in on the lobby where the one mortal I did not want to see waited. The one mortal that should have counted herself lucky. And cashed out.
"Quinn Adams." I addressed formally but in question. She rose quickly from her seat looking entirely out of place in a pristine suit and skirt that hugged her form. Loose dark hair roamed in waves that were informal yet formal all at once. Her bright green eyes caught mine with a strange mixture of anxiety and confusion.
She seemed to shake herself out of it to remain professional. A folder was tucked under one arm and she extended her hand. I shook it briefly, feeling the flow and scent of her slap me before I quickly withdrew.
"Detective, Fletcher?" She said as more of a question. I raised an eyebrow before filling in for her.
"What can I do for you, Miss Adams?"
She swallowed and I noticed her fingers fidget with the files in the black leather folder. "Well, I needed to ask you some–questions. I understand this is... unorthodox."
I smirked at her choice of words. It wasn't often a mortal could surprise me.
"It sends mixed messages when a lawyer appears in station asking for one by name." I agreed.
"And I do apologise for putting you in this position–but I can't–" She took a breath and tried to collect herself. She seemed to be doubting her entire reason for appearing here. Now if I could just reinforce that.
"Look, I'm sure it was a shock to be directly involved with an investigation but–"
"That's not it." She said quickly, her heart rate picking up. That damn scent was burning my throat to no end. My control was suddenly being tested and I couldn't decide why. "This morning my boss–Karl Epsom resigned from my firm. We are one of the top law firms–in his senior role... he had no reason at all for such a sudden move."
I waited patiently watching as she worked herself up and readjusted her folder for the third time. I resisted the smile that was threatening. She seemed to be getting flustered just thinking about her words.
"This is not your problem." She concluded with a breath. "But you had one conversation with him and he seemed to–turn into a completely different man."
"Criminal charges can do that to a person." I lied easily.
She frowned at me as if something did not line up. The pinch in her arched brows and purse of full lips was a distraction but nothing compared to the hot pulse of that heartbeat. Taunting something so powerful and sweet right in front of me.
"Many people have tried and failed to blackmail that man and you walk in one night... and that's it." She murmured more to herself, then glanced back to me. "I'm sorry you've stood there waiting for any of this to be relevant. I came here but–it was inappropriate." She summarised, having an entirely one ended conversation.
Despite it all I chuckled and saw her cheeks tint a shade of red that stole my attention.
"Do lawyers normally ask and answer their own questions in a conversation?"
She laughed, making an effort to relax her embarrassment. "If I have a strong case."
"And you have a strong case against a detective following up on protocol?" I asked cooly.
She paled and shook her head. "God no–I have complete respect for–"
"Miss Adams."
She paused.
"I'm joking." I finished, with a concerned look. "I have come across a number in your profession but none quite so..."
"Inexperienced." She answered, deflating slightly. Clearly her previous mentor had a hand in butchering her confidence despite her youth. I would have put her close to 25.
"I was going to say apprehensive."
Her eyes flashed up to mine. There was a question burning in them and I couldn't find it in myself to deny it. "Ask me."
Shock painted her features when I read her so quickly. She cleared her throat. "We weren't on the best terms... this might not be relevant to your investigation–but his stance on promotion was that you needed to give in order to receive." She said with heavy implication.
But I needed no hint. I had heard enough in the moments before. Not to mention the stark fear that had drawn me into this in the first place. The man deserved no position of control let alone power over her. But she could not discover the truth.
"It sounds like his resignation could not have come sooner." I answered, carefully removing the anger from my voice.
Somehow–despite my cool demeanour and effortless lies–she seemed at odds. What in every hell was wrong with this mortal? I had presented her with a perfect out. Why was she not taking it and forgetting every moment before?
"I know you were only doing your job. But I need to thank you despite this." She said, surprising me again. "The situation I was in... it was not a healthy environment."
She saw the surprise on my face and smiled, it was quite remarkable... I was about to return the gesture when Will's voice approached behind.
"Fletcher! Got a green on that lead." He called, pulling his jacket over his arms walking swiftly. "I hope I'm not interrupting?" He added briskly as he passed me my sidearm and file.
"No, no." Quinn answered him. "The detective has helped me out a great deal. I just wanted to pass on my thanks." She finished with suddenly more composure.
"Until next time, Miss Adams." I answered with a nod, catching those striking green eyes briefly before following Will to the elevator. Her answering nod was a mixture of dazed and utterly lost.
Bold and surprising. That made any mortal dangerous. That created questions and attention. Two things I avoided at all costs. I had to hope she was intelligent enough not to pursue this again. When that pig of a boss returned to his full–yet limited–senses a problem might occur. But that was a future problem to address... I hoped Miss Adams enjoyed her promotion like a smart mortal should.