Bad Blood (6Questions)

Day 19

"How was your night?" I scoff a little at dear long Louis when he makes his abashed entrance into the very wooden breakfast room.

Corners of his lips go down in an embarrassed smile. He falls in the chair opposite me. "How was it. My back aches like hell, my neck is stiff in this only position and my head is soon to explode. Otherwise... honestly, that's the question I kind of meant to ask you... What happened last night?"

I smirk more and pour some of the dubious instant coffee in my mug. He has no idea, does he. "Um. You call me Doug now," I choose for starters.

Carson slowly nods and stretches out his hand. "Louis."

"We're past this, captain. Coffee?"

"Yes, please," he withdraws his elongate arm and squeezes his temples.

"You also promised me a repetition tonight," I fill his cup with the waggish little lie. Good one, innit.

Its effect is priceless, I see an artless horror in Carson's eyes. "Did I?" Seems he had enough the first time. But the awkward morning will past and I think he'll keep his word. That I've just put in his mouth.

"I have the feeling we forgot to pay for the last round. So it's just right we come back, no?"

"Jesus Christus," he mumbles and tastes his coffee or so it's called. "I was a disaster, wasn't I? I'm really not..."

"Used to bachelor Friday nights?" I finish for him, "I know." I couldn't unnotice. "It was fun, though."

He makes a doubtful face. Obviously. It wasn't great. I had a cop to look after, to get drunk, to not lose, to drag home. And then get rid of him and spend the night alone.

The first girl thought we were gays. The second had to go because Carson petered out and I was forced to go find him just at the time he started showing off his badge and shooter to some guys in the backyard who would possibly kill him just to get those exciting toys in their hands. The third girl got passed to Louis so he'd stop fleeing and had some fun himself - for the five minutes before he fell off his chair and almost broke that poor girl's ankle. The fourth one left us halfway home when it turned out Louis would need a little more than just a helpful hand to make it to the hostel, or just up the one step over the 'chasm' to the bus.

And then there was the Marianne issue... I rather pretend I remember about the same bit as Carson.

"It was fun," Louis chooses to agree to my surprise. He remembers big nothing but tries to play cool and I acknowledge that positively.

"Now the serious part."

"First we have to visit Grieser's house," he nods, getting down to the business with due esteem despite his still ruffled hair and tired bags under his dark eyes.

"I've been there a few days ago. Tom's mother stays there but not Tom at the moment, nor did he leave any track."

"It still all begins there. What he took with him, what he told his mother, what his room looks like, anything may help us. It's unfortunate we don't have a search warrant..."

I look at him.

"... but hopefully his mother is a nice old lady to invite us in and exchange a few words with us - she may be lonely since her son's absconded, no?"

Oh, good. That sounds almost right and legal. I'm glad to see Carson's not completely the guy I assumed he was. For some reason, reason called Marianne, he's willing to exceed his powers and principles. And it's the only way to manage her rescue mission, I'm only happy he realises it. There will be time to play cops later, now we're simply the reckless heroes who stop before nothing. Have fun at night, walk around useless rules, and safe the girl they're not obliged to in any way but still wanna tear her away from the villain's hands. I pent up my dark amusement.