unsolved ≫ jake peralta

IV. NEW YORK, NEW YORK

The plane touched down at LaGuardia just as Ivy was finishing the first book of her brother's series. She was right, it was a quick read, as it was composed mostly of pictures. She was a bit embarrassed to be reading it in business class, in her pantsuit as she drank a cup of bad, instant airplane coffee. But, she found that she enjoyed it, in an ironic sort of way, if she dissociated enough from the fact that her brother obviously knew nothing about how to properly investigate a crime.

She grabbed her briefcase and backpack, then exited the plane and followed the signs to the baggage collected area, where she grabbed her suitcase. According to Agent Murray, she was to be meeting a person who would take her first to her new apartment to drop off her things, and then on to the precinct to meet the rest of the team.

After securing her bag, she headed towards the receiving area, where many drivers held signs with the names of their guests. She scanned the signs, finally locating "Ivy Auden" scribbled hastily on a piece of ... was that a napkin taped to a pen? She believed it was. She looked down, seeing that the man holding it was wearing a clip-on tie and a flannel, which was haphazardly tucked into a pair of jeans. Over it was a zip up hoodie, and he was wearing sneakers.

She thought back to her morning concern of her pantsuit wrinkling. Clearly, the NYPD was not strict on dress codes.

Was that really her ride? She thought for a moment that the man might have just been a taxi driver sent to collect her, but sure enough, an NYPD badge was slung around his neck. She gripped her briefcase and walked over to him, smiling politely.

"Hello, I'm Agent Auden," she said, holding out a hand to him.

He shook it, a wide smile filling his face. "Agent Auden! Nice to meet you. I'm Jake Peralta. Captain Holt just went to —"

"Peralta, I told you to throw that away. We are not welcoming Agent Auden to the city with your used donut napkin and a —" A man dressed in a captain's uniform appeared, a neat sign with Ivy's name on it between his hands. "Oh. Agent Auden, I presume?"

"Yes sir," Ivy replied, shaking his hand.

"Raymond Holt, Captain of the ninety-ninth precinct. Welcome to New York. I see you've met Detective Peralta?"

"Thank you, Captain Holt. It's a pleasure to meet both you and Detective Peralta," she said, offering them both a polite smile.

"Can Detective Peralta help you with your bags?" Captain Holt asked.

"Thank you, but I've got it," Ivy replied.

Captain Holt nodded. "Fine. Peralta and I will drive you to your apartment in Brooklyn, and then immediately to the precinct. I've got some pressing matters to attend to. Does that work for you?"

"Yes sir," Ivy replied. "Anything works, really. We can always head straight to the precinct if that's better."

Captain Holt turned to Detective Peralta, who nodded. "Agent Auden, I'd be happy to swing you by your apartment after work to drop off your things, if that's okay?"

Ivy nodded. "Thank you. That will be fine. I'm eager to get to work on the case, so unpacking can certainly wait."

They left the building, heading for the car the two officers had driven to the airport.

"When Captain Holt said we would be having an agent from the FBI join us, I was expecting a crusty old man who smelled like ... I don't know, moth balls and prunes," Detective Peralta rattled on as Captain Holt drove them to Brooklyn.

A smirk filled Ivy's lips. "Don't judge me too quickly, Detective Peralta. I might have mothballs in my suitcase."

He let out a laugh and turned to his captain. "Captain, can we keep her?"