Criminal Detective

Adrian Benson

"Claire" Miranda beamed as she stepped into the office. Gregory's eyes darted towards her and his lips matched Miranda's bright smile.

"Hey" Claire responded with a small smile then walked towards them. Miranda got up from her chair and engulfed Claire in a tight hug before she released herself from her.

"How are you?" Miranda asked and Claire nodded.

"I'm good, how are you guys?"

"We're alright" Gregory smiled "You weren't at work yesterday?"

"Yeah, a friend of mine lost her sister, I had to attend her funeral"

Miranda's face fell "I'm so sorry. May her soul Rest In Peace. I hope she's holding up fine?"

Claire nodded "She's doing okay"

"I'm really glad you came today though" Miranda grinned "I was starting to get tired of having so much Gregory around me"

Gregory raised his hands with a shocked expression on his face which made Claire laugh.

"Hey?" He said but Miranda ignored him.

"What about Sarah? Any chance she was boiling with rage due to my absence?"

Gregory arched an eyebrow "Didn't she call you?"

Claire shook her head in negation "I don't even think she has my number, to be honest"

Miranda laughed "Sarah, Sarah" She said while she shook her head.

"So, was she mad?"

"I'm guessing she would've been, if she was around as well" Gregory said and Claire's eyebrow arched.

"What do you mean?"

"She's sick. We heard she caught the flu or something so she won't be in the office for a couple of weeks. She did say she'd send a supervisor here though but he won't be arriving until Thursday" Miranda said and Claire exhaled in relief.

"Thank God" Claire looked around her "So, there's really no need for me to be here?"

Miranda smiled "You? Yes. Us on the other hand, we're definitely going to lose our jobs if she finds out we were absent"

"Tough luck" Claire smirked and Miranda smacked her arm.

"Stop it"

The trio laughed before Claire took a deep inhale.

"Well, I guess I should be headed home then"

"Don't you wanna hang out a bit before you leave?" Miranda pouted.

"Yeah, we're actually headed to Porter's" Gregory said referring to the fast food restaurant she was dragged to the other day.
"We'd like to gossip a little"

Miranda shook her head.
"Come on, Gregory. Gossip, really?"

He shrugged and Miranda sighed.
"Well, I don't want to use those exact words but he's right"

Claire smiled at them both.

This was definitely the closest thing she has had to friendship in a long time, putting Susana and Amy aside, Claire had never really had friends. Now, she could feel the budding growth of a wonderful friendship amongst co-workers and she didn't want to take it for granted.

Susana and Amy.

"I should probably pay them a visit" Claire thought to herself.

"So, do you wanna tag along?"

She smiled "Sure, why not?"

The duo both shared bright happy grins that you would almost think Claire had offered the world to them.