Stolen Shadows

6 - Headaches

Three days later, Chief Spencer didn't show up for work.

Sophie had come in a few minutes late, preparing on the way up for Spencer's inevitable "you're late, Hale, don't let it become a habit," remark, and realized right away that Addison wasn't there.

"Katy?" she asked as she put down her bag. "Where's the chief?"

"Called in sick," Katy replied. "Something about a killer headache."

"Damn," Sophie muttered.

Katy flashed a smile. "Miss her already?"

Sophie grinned back. "Counting down the minutes to her return."

Katy laughed, focusing again on her work, when Don came striding into the room. "Guys," he called, "turn on the news."

Chigs grabbed the remote. "Station?"

"Any of them."

The TV clicked on and we all spun our chairs to face the screen. Chigs raised the volume as ABC7 popped up.

"...witnesses noticed an acrid smell coming from the building moments before it erupted," a reporter was saying. The screen flashed to a picture of a building on fire. "The fire department has confirmed that it was a chemical fire," he went on, "and authorities have reason to believe the explosion was a result of a drug lab gone wrong."

Jonny stood up, walking closer to the screen. "Holy shit," he said. "This was last night?"

"About two this morning," Don supplied.

"A drug lab, damn," Katy said.

"Was anyone hurt?" I asked.

Don nodded. "They found one body and another man escaped severely burned. He's facing charges."

Sophie turned her attention back to the screen as the others continued talking. She read the rotating headline at the bottom of the screen: Chemical explosion, 423 Central Ave, Brooklyn, man facing charges, traces of meth, cocaine, and other—

Wait. Central, Brooklyn? Sophie frowned. Hail Mary, the bar they were at just a few days ago, was on that same street a couple blocks down. That was the same area she'd run into the vigilante. What had they said that night? It's dangerous out here?

Sophie had a sudden sinking feeling. Finally, she said, "Does the Chief know?"

Don turned to her and shrugged. "I'd assume so. There's no way no one told her, even with her out today."

Sophie glanced at Katy. "Why's she out again? Sick?"

"Headache," Katy told her again. "She gets them real bad sometimes."

"Yeah, I'm sure she does," Sophie muttered under her breath.

As the commotion settled down and they all turned back to working, Sophie got up and followed Don to his desk.

"What can I do for you, Hale?" he asked.

"I heard Katy say there was a new report on the vigilante," she said. "I can run it over to the Chief after work, if you'd like."

Don glanced up at her with a thin smile. "The Chief's fine, if that's what you're worried about."

Sophie tried hard not to blush. "No, I know, I—" she cut off her rambling. "I just thought I could help."

Don slides a thick folder towards her. "I won't complain. Saves me a trip. And I'm sure Spencer wouldn't mind you stopping by," he added with a curious look.