The Heart Collector (Under Editing)

Chapter Twenty-Five: Peace-Offering

Fare sighed at the door to her apartment closed. Not only was she physically drained, she was emotionally. After the call with Agatha and Commodore Link, Fare wandered the halls of the hospital instead of returning to the room with Jasmine. She wanted to calm the storm brewing inside of her head before confronting the coroner and the Truthfall captain, but her luck was never there. One turn around a corner landed her face to face with him. 

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Fare stopped in her tracks when she saw him. Novus had done the same. He was drinking coffee in his grey Captain's uniform, but his padded vest was off, exposing a black undershirt. When Fare turned to walk back from where she came from, Novus spotted her.

"Fare! Wait!"

Fare ignored him and walked as fast as she was able. Novus managed to get in front of her front and blocked her from progressing.

He held his arms out; careful not to splash his coffee, "Wait, please."

His eyes were begging. She sighed and crossed hers arms in silent permission for him to continue.

Novus slowly lowered his arms, "I'm sorry. I knew that this would more than likely break your trust in me, but you have to believe me when I say that I had no other choice."

Fare rolled her eyes, "You said that before. It is not helping your case. If anything, you are just digging your grave more."

She tried to walk around him, but he grabbed her arm.

Her eyes shifted, "Let go."

Fare tried to yank her arm free, but his gripped tightened. Before she could attempt to do anything else, he dragged her over to a nearby closet and locked the door.

When she recovered from her shock, she said, "What the Hell are you doing!"

"Shh!" He scolded, "For once, just shut up and listen."

Fare narrowed her eyes at him, but did not utter another word.

He ran a hand through his hair then spoke softly, "Geez Fare. I knew going into this that you could be hardheaded, but this is ridiculous. I know that you a pissed at me, but hear me out. While you were unconscious, I was taken in for Leadership Hearing. It was there that I had to tell my side of what happened with Crow and explain how you were involved."

"So, you revealed my closely guarded secret. For what? To keep your badge and rank?" Fare whispered angrily.

"Yes-I mean no. Not exactly."

She raised an eyebrow, "Well? Which is it?"

Novus was clearly rattled because he kept disheveling his hair, "Yes, I did tell them about Agatha, but if I hadn't, then we all would be dead."

Fare stared at him, "Huh?"

"At the Leadership meeting, members of the Fae Council, a few other Division Commodores, and Commodore Link were present. Many were calling for my immediate dismissal and for time in jail. Others were calling for your death or life in prison. Commodore Link was the only one that was suggesting an alternative."

"I can see why he would stick up for you, but why me?"

"Because he thinks the same way I do about the line between man and Fae."

Fare was a surprised.

"Okay. Then how did he manage to outvote the others when everyone, but him was calling for blood?"

"He proposed that someone with your capabilities would be a great asset and would be a waste if you were imprisoned or killed."

"So, I am damned to be their puppet for the rest of my life."

"I didn't say that."

"Huh?"

"When the case is closed, the charges against you will be fully exsponged as well as any past indiscretions with the promise that you will answer when called for any consultations. There is a catch however."

"Of course there is a catch."

"Commodore Link called me after hanging up with you. He said that the only way that they'll honor this agreement is if you close this case in a week."

"What!" 

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Fare stared at the cup of coffee that she had just poured herself as she leaned against the kitchen counter; contemplating the events that led her to the position she was in. When she had downed the remainder of her coffee, there was a knock at the door. She opened it and came face-to-face with a plastic bag. She looked around it and saw Novus in a blue button-up and grey jeans. This was the second time that she had seen him out of his usual Truthfall garb. She realized that she must have been staring for awhile because he cleared his throat to gain her attention.

"Um, can I come in?"

Fare slightly shook her head to bring her back to reality then stepped aside.

"What's in the bag?" She asked as he walked past and towards the kitchen.

"To-go from that diner we first met up at." He set it down on the counter then rubbed the back of his neck, "I thought that it would be a good peace-offering."

At first she was going to refuse the food, but after she thought of her very empty fridge, she decided that it would be a waste.

Fare walked over and dug into the bag, "Just because I'm eating the food doesn't mean that I've forgiven you."

While her back was turned, she could sense that Novus had a big smile plastered across his face.