Crime, Friendship and Other Things

Chapter Three: Follow the Trail

5th of November 2038; 23:10:17

A yawn escapes me before I can stifle it, earning a scoff from Chris as he walks towards my desk.

'What?' I snap, deciding that the pretence of alertness is now futile and rub my eyes like a small child just before bedtime.

'When did you actually come to work today?' he asks, leaning on my desk as if to better inspect the dark circles that I know must be forming beneath my eyes. 'And when does your shift actually end?'

'No rest for the wicked,' I comment, letting my hands fall back onto the table. 'Anyway, why're you still here? Shouldn't you be home, looking after that sprog of yours?'

He chuckles softly, already slipping his phone out of his pocket to find some pictures. 'Do just have an aversion to your house or something?'

'She lives in a cupboard under the stairs,' comes Gavin's teasing voice, causing me to inwardly groan. I sometimes forget that he's here just as often as I am. 'You could always come stay with me.'

'Yeah, hard pass, Reed,' I tell him simply, turning my attention to the phone Chris now has angled my way. Behind him, I see a tall figure that I don't recognise. Dark hair, a familiar blue triangle emblazoned on the front of his jacket, and an armband that stands out against the grey of his sleeve. I forgot to find that officer about the protestors this morning, I really should get around to seeing him.

'Here he is,' Chris says, pulling my attention back to him and the phone. He's kind enough not to mention how long he's been trying to get my attention for. I can feel Gavin's gaze on me though, that piercing concern that neither of us really acknowledge and yet that seems to go both ways.

'Damian, right?' I ask, taking the phone carefully and looking at the small baby grinning out of the picture. Ursula's holding him, and while she looks slightly dishevelled there's no hiding the joy glinting brightly behind her eyes. The three month old already looks like he's going to be a handful.

'Yeah.' There's no hiding the affection behind Chris's voice, the pride in the fact that Damian is his. 'He's a right little monster sometimes though.'

Gavin grumbles something, and I feel him leaning on the back of my chair to get a better look at the phone. 'He looks like you.'

'I'd hope so,' I tease, before handing the phone back. My brow pinches as I lean back, and Gavin curses before removing his wriggling fingers free. 'Surely you can get better hours though.'

Chris shrugs, smiling at the picture before putting his phone away. 'He's actually been pretty good at sleeping. I'm more help during the day.'

I nod; it makes sense.

'Excuse me,' a polite voice interrupts, drawing all attention to the android that I saw earlier. He glances placidly around our little group, obviously trying to figure something out.

'No,' snaps Gavin, and I lean back to poke him just below the ribs.

'How can we help?' I ask the android, shooting him a welcoming smile. He's not in the usual uniform that I see around the precinct, and I'm not used to any other androids coming this side of the gate.

He tilts his head ever so slightly, reminding me of a curious puppy. Are androids really not used to people asking questions? Is it all just orders to them?

'I'm looking for Lieutenant Anderson.'

'Good fucking luck,' mumbles Gavin before he stalks off.

Chris offers me an apologetic smile before following his current partner.

'Why're you looking for Hank?' I ask, slowly standing up.