Charged

Found. 12

Chapter 12.

Trying to avoid meeting Catherine who had an ire look on her face, Tom hid in the Chief's office. It gave him the chance to speak to the Chief about the case. Better said...used it as an excuse to get out of talking to Catherine. Knowing very well it would piss her off more, but it felt better to hide than face her."If Kent isn't the murderer then who is?"

"It's possible that he isn't, but there's also a possibility that he was involved in her murder. I think there's someone else involved too. I mean the drugs were put in Nicky's food so whoever did that must've been real close with Nicky to get access to her food." Tom whispered softly even though he and the Chief were the only ones in the room.

"Okay, but, why are you whispering?" Chief Bennett whispered as well to play along with such foolery, which he was use to at this point. That's what happens when you've been with Tom as long as he has. "It's Cat. She keeps giving me the stink eye. I didn't tell her about my doubts beforehand. So I'm going to stay here with you till she doesn't want to kill." He said with a shaky laugh, still in a whispering tone.

Chief Bennett stared at him blankly, lowering his eyes. "You know she'll find you, right?"

"Not as long as I stay here with the best father in the whole world." Tom praised. It was obvious he was just saying that so the Chief would allow him to stay longer.

"Get out of my office." The Chief ordered sounding rather tired. "Come on. I still have to discuss the case with you." He tried to convince him but it was a waste of time. The Chief had his own problems as it was. He doesn't just sit behind a desk all day long. Work loads were piling up and he had to solve them.

"That's why you have a partner, and Catherine to help with the case. Leave!" He ordered one last time, this time Tom had no choice but to leave. "Fine." He said feeling ignored. He felt as if the Chief was siding with his daughter. "You know you're committing murder by sending me out there." Tom turns to say. "Out!"

He carefully opened the door and as expected the first face he saw was, "Cat," he terrifyingly said, stumbling back a little. "Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you." He acted like he was the one being avoided and that pissed her off more. She silently took two steps forward, backing him up into the room. "Hi dad." She waved him from behind Tom and he smiled widely with a shake of his hand. Then she closed the door staring blankly at Tom.

"It's late. You should go home and rest. Greg has already left. You should do same." The blank expression on her face scared Tom more. She turned and began walking away. Tom sighed and rushed after her. "I could drop you off?" He offered walking behind her trying to catch up to her speed. "My dad said I could borrow his car, since he's working late again." She answered, rejecting his offer.

"Look, I'm sorry. Alright," he grabbed her hand and she stopped instantly. She pulled back her hand and folded it in front of him, making sure not to make direct eye contact with him. She was too mad to look him in the eye directly. "I should have spoken to you about it. I just wanted to be sure—"

"You always feel the need to keep me in the loop. It's something you've always done. We may not be partners but we are working on this case together so I would've appreciated it if you could've spoken to me first beforehand. Ha- and do you know the worst part. You're gonna do it again anyways. Coz that's the kind of person you are. You work alone." She said easing up a little and snickering as she turned to leave again. This was one of the few times Tom knew he was wrong. And it didn't feel good.

He shook the uneasiness of being wrong off. The feeling was weirdly familiar and very uncool to him. "I'm wrong?" He mumbled and turned to find the whole precinct quiet and staring at him, but they all got back to work when they made eye contact. He wasn't embarrassed, just annoyed by his obliviousness.