Paragon - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

The station had a social night. That involved several questionable bars and even worse ones when Jamie and Will were involved.
The pool tables were surrounded by our squad and several over units. It was still a shock to see so many upstanding mortals drinking and throwing their moral manners to one side. A few recruits made calls to buy girls rounds for every shot they landed on the pool table. Of course they weren't stupid enough to make such calls to coworkers...
I watched from the safety of our booth as mortals became more drunk and lips became looser. Some had already decided that they would retire all together or begin what they intended to finish later on.
"Hargreave, seems to be making the most out of social night..." Jamie smirked with his ice blue irises caught on the new officer tangled in a red head devouring each other at the corner of the bar.
I didn't bother turning. I could hear the uneven pulses from here. I sighed through my nose before levelling him with a look.
"What?" He asked.
"I'm sure you were once young and foolish." I paused. "Scratch the foolish part. You still maintain that."
He scowled with a quick smile. "I hear plenty about Harrison and his tragic love life. It's about time I–"
"Never heard a word from my own." I finished for him with a simple look.
"You're not like most women I've met, Fletcher."
I chuckled. "I'm not like any you have met."
His brow creased as I said this and he paid a bit too much attention over his pint of Guinness. I shrugged in my black leather jacket. It was the least formal item I owned... despite the custom suede fit.
"So no interests?"
"No interests." I confirmed, turning my eyes away and landing them directly upon a woman that entered the bar. Upon a woman with hair piling down one shoulder in dark waves. One that had striking green eyes and one... that looked entirely out of place in an expensive suit with a watch and bag to match.
"Fletcher." Will seemed to repeat as he nudged me.
I flinched for once. Turning to him in question with nothing but her profound scent on my mind now. He laughed at me before nudging my gin and tonic closer.
I eyed it before picking it up and devouring the rest. I placed it down carefully before levelling the men with a calm smile.
"Gentlemen."
They gawked at me as I rose and left a ten pound note on the table. I didn't have a spare thought for my social faux pas. I needed answers. Or maybe I needed proximity–I mentally slapped myself and tucked my shirt in below my jeans. A comfortable garment I must admit.
I watched her cross to the front of the bar surrounded by hungry testosterone. I had no doubt she could hold her own in a place like this. It was more a question of what she was doing here in the first place that caught my curiosity. Once, twice, but three times... that was deliberate.
She dipped her head forward with ease showing off her hips and the dip of her waist as she did so. Nothing but a charcoal pencil skirt and white shirt adorned her now. Several males did not miss the move as she ordered the same brand of gin and tonic to match my own. I took a quick breath before leaning against the bar several bodies away from her.
She drank slowly as the music beat in smooth rhythm behind us all. I watched as a male engaged in conversation. She smiled politely and even laughed lightly as they spoke within the crowd. I watched as her eyes scanned faces beyond their conversation and she nodded only giving half of her attention to the bearded male before her. That was until those eyes met my own.
I dipped my head in knowing.
She said something to him before moving. She stepped out of the eyes of many looking upon her and soon leant on the space before me. I didn't even bother to appear surprised. But the smell of her hit me in full force... both sweet and immeasurably desirable all at once.
"Are you stalking me?" She asked, making to appear scorned.
A laugh actually left me at her audacity.
"I think we both know that it is not I who is following."
She took a long sip before shaking her head and turning to me with those sharp features that did not seem so vulnerable now. "You speak like my grandparents."
I stared at her in shock as she smirked at me.
"Don't be so offended. Not many keep the decent vocab outside the office." She noted with a head shake.
I frowned, watching her more intently as she waved down the bar tender again and threw up two fingers. Not many picked up on my older syntax. Not many even understood the fatal differences let alone–
"I don't need–" I began as she ordered more of the alcohol.
"Yes you do." She answered me with a tailored look. I felt like this was a Quinn Adams look that I had yet to understand fully. But it meant there was not room to argue.
"Why am I being harassed by a lawyer twice in one week?" I deadpanned, raising an eyebrow. At this point I was trying to control the burning raging in my throat from this woman.
She flashed a look to me, putting her empty glass down and setting her white shirted elbow on the dirty bar–I almost advised against it. Almost.
"The fact that we are in the same bar is not harassment." She deflected with a scoff.
"The place is a dive. Deliberately selected by our station's social department to liven the evening if we need to intervene off duty." I answered in total confidence. "Unless you are about to tell me a top fortune 500 company sends their employees to such places for client meetings?" I finished with a knowing look.
It had the desired effect and her heart seemed to skip and stutter along with the colour of her cheeks. Why was that so much more appealing... any mortal could be attractive. But she was that and something else entirely–was it intellect? A mind that lingered on the same wavelength? So many bored me within the first five seconds of opening their flapping lips. She commands attention in a way that isn't asked for. She states things that were not openly obvious and she certainly had an eye for the finer details.
Different was suspicious.
She collected her full glass from the bartender and pushed another towards me. Which reminded me.
"And how exactly is it that you know what I am drinking tonight?"
She took a long drink, stirring with her straw before giving me a side long look.
"I summed you up the moment we met. Details are my area of specialty."
My eyes narrowed on her as I raised my glass and smelled the very same brand of gin and cucumber. I took a sip and dropped her nod.
"As is my own."
"Yes, quite the detective from what I've seen" She said cryptically with humour in her eyes over her glass.
I sighed and set the glass down.
"Just ask me, Quinn."
Her eyes seemed to grow nervous and animated all at once. She leant forward on her elbow and played with the base of her glass. "I know you said something to Epsom." She stated flatly. "It wasn't drug charges and it sure as hell wasn't a speech on right and wrong. A man like that doesn't change the way you made him."
I watched her carefully as she watched me back. It was a dangerous look. One that wanted answers. One that many mortals would wear. But not many mortals could completely side track me with their scent alone. That sweet and intoxicating thing...
"You're asking me about police business as a lawyer or a civilian?" I responded cooly.
"Both."
"Both wouldn't receive any information." I smirked.
"Then why–"
"You need to know when to drop something. I think in your position you would realise that this is in your best interest." I emphasised as I set the drink down and stood from the bar.
To my utter surprise she caught my arm. My blood spiked colder and I thanked the non existent gods that the leather protected me. I glanced down at her hand and she realised herself and dropped it quickly.
"I just want to know what you said." She implored with almost desperation.
It was completely beyond my understanding. The perfect opportunity to forget that creature before her but she needed all the answers. I wasn't sure if I was impressed or irritated.
"I made him believe that the law firm was no longer his best option, Quinn." I returned honestly as her green eyes widened. "His own mistakes wrote his path out. There is nothing else to tell."
"So it was blackmail." She summarised simply.
I chuckled, picking up the drink and swirling the contents in ice. "Not even marginally. What are you even doing asking an officer of the law that?" I smirked.
This time a slow smirk graced her own full lips. I decided it was beautiful then and there. It was a marvellous thing and it made my thoughts wonder about the feel of them. I quickly shot the thought from my mind as she spoke again.
"I think your friends need you."
"What makes you say that." I returned without looking behind me. Knowing the two of them would already be making gestures my way.
"You're a smart girl." She laughed. "You already know how I know that."
"Girl?" I repeated in exasperation.
"You barely look out of your final year."
"My degree was a long time ago." I murmured more truthful than she would ever realise.
"Someone so experienced would know their way around a pool table then." She summarised with a knowing grin.
"What makes you say that–"
"Fletcher!" Will called, clapping me on the shoulder suddenly. "It's not like you to make friends so I'm taking this opportunity to call doubles right now."
I sighed deeply and took the rest of the drink in one gulp.
"I'm flattered but I should be getting an early nigh–" She tried to get out.
"FLATCHA!" Jamie boomed in a drunken Irish slur as he neared us with four pool cues barely in his grip. Will mouthed an apology while I turned to the beautiful lawyer that took this much better than I would have.
"I'm not dragging you into this against your will." I emphasised.
"You're not." She agreed. "But he definitely is and I'm not one to disappoint." She winked and my cold blood sang loudly in my veins all at once. Of course. Of course she would side with the two deranged mortals I had the pleasure of working with.
She patted my shoulder as I stared in shock, picking up a cue out of Jamie's hand while he whooped and Will grinned. I resisted the urge to break the empty glass in my hand.