Working the Case

4

𖤍𝙵𝚒𝚗𝚗𖤍

It's difficult to fall back asleep after waking up in the middle of the night, so I don't attempt to do it.

But I do go back up to my room after Agent Hopkins leaves me alone downstairs. I sit up in my room while I wait for the sun to come up.

By the time eight o'clock rolls around, I'm ready to join the rest of the agents I heard go downstairs earlier.

I can hear faint conversation as I begin down the stairs. I'm still learning all of their names but I'm confident I at least have their last names down. I only have one first name down as of now.

Evie. Or Agent Hopkins, I should say.

Agent Hopkins is the only one I've had a real conversation with, and the only one I want to have a real conversation with. Something about her makes me want to laugh. It's the way she's so aloof with all of her other coworkers—and everyone around her, for that matter.

I may or may not have pissed her off last night. I know she isn't too fond of the fact that I don't seem to have a reaction to the deaths around me, so that seems to be what's frustrating her.

A cheery voice greets me when I make it to the last step. "Good morning!"

I catch the eyes of a blonde woman who stands with the rest of the agents. Agent Mills, I believe.

I give them all a kind smile. "Good morning." I return as I begin towards the desk on the other side of the room. I don't actually need to sit here, but I like to anyway.

It's hard not to glance in the agents' direction when I sit down. In failing to do so, I watch Evie silently excuse herself from the others. She looks back at me, making eye contact immediately.

I don't look away from her. I smile while she hesitates to start stepping closer to the desk.

She reaches out to set two things down in front of me. A brown paper bag and a coffee cup. Evie presses her lips together, not quite glaring at me. "I apologize." She declares.

I look down at the items she just set down on my desk then back at her. "Is this a peace offering, Agent Hopkins?" I laugh softly at her effort.

She reaches out to nudge both of them closer. "I overstepped. I apologize." She repeats. "Bear claws, right?"

I try not to laugh so I don't piss her off even more. "Did you get me my caramel Frappuccino and my favorite doughnut?" I ask, squinting down at the things she set down.

Evie purses her lips. "Do you accept my apology or not?" She questions, boarding on harsh.

I lean forward to bring the bag and cup closer to me, accepting her offering. "Thank you." I smile way too widely. I'm too happy about her offerings.

I'm sure they mean nothing to her. Maybe just a way to get me to shut up about what happened last night so she doesn't get in trouble.

Still. She got me peace offerings.

Evie nods once. "You're welcome."

And with that, Evie spins on her heel sharply to turn away and go back towards her team.

"Wait," I straighten in my seat. She pauses, almost reluctant to do so. Then turns back to me with a sigh.

"Yes?"

I give her a gentler smile. "I am scared." I whisper, leaning in a bit closer. She falters at that. "But scared doesn't get us anywhere, does it?" I tilt my head with a hum.

Her shoulders sink as she slowly steps up closer. "Fear is a natural reaction to a tragic event such as this one." She reasons. "It's okay to feel and show."

I shrug softly as I lean back in my seat. "I'd prefer not to." I hum, keeping that same smile up for her.

Evie purses her lips to the side. "We're about to present our working profile to the station." She offers, pointing her thumb over her shoulder.

I have no idea what that means, but I nod anyway.

"You might need to come in for questioning."

I frown. "Jason couldn't tell you anything?"

Evie shakes her head. "No, I'm sorry." She sighs. "But also..." She pauses for a moment. "I'm sorry—Someone else was murdered last night." Evie breathes, uncomfortable telling me. "Did you know Lauren Hitches?"

Fuck.

I nod slowly. "Yeah." I mumble, my eyes drifting away from her as I process what she just told me.

Evie clears her throat. "I'm so sorry." Her hand drops to her wrist, absently scratching. "She was found this morning. A, um...few feet away from the back of the inn."

My heart drops.

Evie frowns. My expression changed. "Finn?" She coaxes.

"That's what I heard last night. The rustling." I point out with a heavy breath. "Shit—I thought it was just an animal walking around." I lift my hands to drag them through my hair.

Evie almost recoils. "I'm very sorry, Finn." She apologizes again, quieter this time. "But I wasn't with you when it happened. You came down shortly after."

I stare at her. "You...You think I did it?"

Evie shakes her head. "I don't think so." Her voice sounds smooth, neutral on the idea. "But you don't have much of an alibi right now, and we can't be biased about anything."

"Right." I mumble, looking down at my desk. "Right—I get it." I'd be doing the same thing if I was in her shoes.

Evie nods once and glances over her shoulder briefly. "If you come to the station willingly, no one will talk to you or threaten cuffs." She whispers, leaning in closer. "You could leave her before we do." She urges.

I stare down at my peace offering. "Hey, give this to me again later, will you?" I scoot them back over to her with a half-smile.

"Sure." She takes them back off my desk.

Evie straightens and begins moving back towards her team. I go the opposite direction towards the door. The man who seems to be their boss, Agent Adler, glances at me then back at Evie.

I don't think he likes whatever he sees.

Once I walk outside, I catch sight of a cop car parked on the curb. I can barely see the yellow tape on the side of the inn, but I don't walk over to see more. I go the opposite direction, towards the cross walk to get to the station.

Jaywalking on the way to the police station seems like a dumb idea.

On the way, I try to wrap my head around what I heard last night. I don't want to, but I'm sure I'll be asked about it.

All I'll be able to offer is that I didn't hear a voice, necessarily. A few snapping twigs, maybe a grunt. I don't even know. I was half asleep.

What the fuck is going on out here? And why would she be here? I don't understand.