Piece It Together - Gavin Reed

25

Arriving back at the precinct, she dropped off Gavin's keys and coffee at his desk, "You got me coffee?"

"Yeah. I mean, I did steal your car for a short while so it felt necessary to get you something."

"You didn't get me a sandwich?"

"I'll give you half of mine if you want?"

"Nah, it's fine, I'll just get something from the truck out back."

"Your loss." Moving to walk away, she realised that she forgot something. "Oh, I'm hanging out with Tommy tomorrow."

The brunette nearly choked on his drink, holding his chest and coughing as he took in her words, "Tommy? As in, the Tommy who called you a slut and gave me the scar on my nose?"

"Yeah, we bumped into each other at the cafe and he asked if we could hang out during my lunch tomorrow and I agreed."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, he's a lot more mature now! He's happy for you for getting out of your old habits-"

"I don't need praise from a guy who ruined your fucking life in high school."

"I feel the need to point out that you also had a hand in ruining my life in high school."

"Well, at least I fucking made up for it!"

"Gavin, I am not going to argue with you during work in front of everyone. You can't dictate who I spend my time with."

"He could be dangerous!"

"You're overreacting, Gavin! Seriously, leave me to live my life."

"Whatever." Picking up his cup, he left the building to get some air leaving a frustrated h/c to sit at her desk and eat her lunch. She hated arguing with Gavin; she knew that it hurt both of them but she wasn't going to let a man tell her how to live her life.

It was after her lunch that Nines rushed over, telling her that there had been another killing. Sucking in a sharp breath, she followed him to the car which Gavin had already started.

The ride to the scene was a short one, the victim being a woman a year younger than the rest of them.

"Oh my god, that's Abby!"

"You were involved with her as well."

The cause of the death was the same as the last two times: a cavern in the body shaped like a heart where her beating heart should have been but didn't sit. Every time they saw this it was nothing but a gruesome sight.

"Nines, do you mind inspecting the body this time? You might find something that we can't."

"Of course."

"Gavin, you're with me." A grunt of agreement was heard as the two checked around the house. It was a run-down part of the city that barely any semblance of society. The house was relatively tidy besides the dishes that were piled in the sink and a couple of stray clothes that had been strewn on the floor.

Entering her bedroom, they found nothing out of the ordinary. There had been no sign of a struggle meaning that it was someone trusted enough to bring them into her home.

"I didn't know Abby very well. What was she like?"

"She was... timid but freaky."

"Gross, can't you say that less crudely?"

"Wow, New York changed you."

Rolling her eyes, she searched through the drawers for any notes left behind but it seemed like there was nothing. With a sigh of defeat, the two went back to the scene of the crime where Nines was kneeling next to the body, touching some of the blood and bringing his fingers to his tongue.

"Nines! What the hell are you doing?" Y/n yelled, disgusted at what he just performed. Gavin looked shocked and was about to berate the android for messing with the crime scene but he was cut off.

"I'm analysing the blood. I can take samples in real-time."

"Wait, you can do that?"

"Yes. It seems that all of the blood belongs to the victim. However, I do believe that they fought back due to the damage done to their nails." He lifted the corpse's hand delicately, showing them that the girl's nails were slightly broken and had traces of skin cells.

"Do you think she clawed at them?"

"Probably. And those are sharp nails too - she probably drew blood."

"So, she fought back. Where does that get us?"

"Nowhere."

Sighing, the three finished up their investigation. With the rest of the day going slow, the detectives made their way home. Both were quiet, as usual, although this time the air was thick and the two couldn't even look at each other without wanting to scream again.

Gavin felt guilty for letting something as stupid as Tommy wanting to hang out with his colleague get to him and take over his emotions. He knew that he got jealous easily but taking it out on the girl he still pined for wasn't right.

Y/n also felt guilty. She knew that he was feeling on edge about what was going on, seeing the look in his eyes when she took his keys was something that hadn't left her mind since she saw it.

Arriving home, Y/n was quick to give the cats some attention and food before she started on a meal for the two of them, opting for something quick and simple like a salad.

Gavin sat in his room on the side of his bed, his head in his hands as he thought of the case at hand.

3 women had died, all of them being people he was in a 'friends with benefits' situation at some point in his high school career. This person also knew Y/n and was targeting her, someone who Gavin also had relations with but she was different to the rest because he genuinely loved her.

Lifting his head up, his eyes shone with realisation. Y/n wasn't the only motive. Y/n was someone who was also loved by one of her own flings. A fling who loved her to the point of shouting it out to the world which drove her away. A fling that knows that she slept with another guy after him. A fling who knew that the two loved each other.

Y/n wasn't the only motive. Gavin was too.