Fire and Ice

Chapter 6. To Work Again

"Dude, how's your sister?" asks Maeve as she drinks from her coffee mug, laying back on her chair at her office desk which is now on the opposite side of me. Not much better but then again, not much worse. At least this way, I won't have to strain my neck by popping it up and looking at her every five seconds.

I can just glance over and there she will be. Maeve's golden locks drape over her shoulder as she tries not to be a little shit towards her superior officer. All of a sudden, when I'm about to answer her, Captain Dex calls me into his office, "What's up, Cap?" I ask him.

"Take a seat, Detective. I see I have to address two concern with you today. Number one: Why aren't you sitting with your partner? I was promised that you'd try very hard to make it through this case without going back into your.." Captain Dex looks over to Maeve, "other habits. Needless to say, may I remind you that your partner is not Detective Maeve Roux? That the partner that you should be putting in 110% effort is Detective Archie Williams? Astoria, I expected better from you."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir." I say as I look to my feet.

"Astoria, the second load of business isn't any better. The Angel of Death has attacked once more and Interpol haven't been able to catch her. She has just killed the Prince of Spain, Prince Francisco de Grace at four am last night. May I ask you, where you were during these hours, Detective?"

"I couldn't sleep, sir so I texted Detective Maeve Roux."

"Astoria, enough. Where were you yesterday?"

"My sister was sick with a stomach bug that she didn't want to pass onto anyone and so to prevent casualties from this illness, she told me that I should stay home. You can ask her if you want to." I tell Captain Dex. That part is actually true.

My younger sister, Cassandra or Cassie as we all call her, was actually sick yesterday morning and begged me to stay home, being worried that I'd give someone a stomach bug. It's pretty cute, coming from a seven year old, but honestly, what's not to love?

"Right, I will take that into account, Detective. From now on, Detective, you are not allowed to take any more leaves as such. This job is much more important than what a silly seven year old has to say. Now, get back to work." Captain Dex says, "Oh, and Astoria? Please go get Williams and get me a coffee. I'm absolutely parched!"

I chuckle and leave, closing the door behind me. Captain Dex, my family members and Maeve are the only ones allowed to call me Astoria. Maeve calls me 'Tori' over text but she also protests to call me that in public, or even just Astoria.

But with me being so formal and all, I can't handle that. Cassie calls me 'Ass' because she thinks it's funny and that's the only swear word she knows. Mum calls me 'Angela' because that's what she wanted to call me at birth but she made it my middle name instead and that's where my assassin code name comes from. Dad just calls me 'Tori' or 'Assie' depending on his mood.

"Sup, Ass." says a voice.

Fuck not him.

"Thanks but no thanks. Shut the hell up, Williams. We're grabbing coffee for the Cap. Want anything?"

"All I want is you-"

"I can't hear you!!"

"Yes, you can."

And he's right. Yes, I most certainly can.