Someone to Lose

Interviews

You and your team have compiled a reasonable list of interviewees by the time another body shows up. Narrowing down a legitimate pool of witnesses and potential suspects had been a tall task with a tight-lipped town like yours. Lips that got even tighter around two new faces. Knowing this you had Emily and Luke stay at the station and do other digging to better profile the suspect.

Regardless of their roles, however, the agents put their time in. There wasn't a single person working on the case who didn't average a 10-12 hour work day. Everyone pulled their weight.

Despite your different roles you'd found that you and Emily crossed paths often. It started brief and unsubstantial. Quick brushes by with polite smiles when you were headed to different corners of the small station. No different than running by anyone else. Then one evening you'd caught her pooling over some old files and dropped her a cup of coffee on your way to your office.

At first she'd barely registered you enter, so focused on what she was reading. Her eyes eventually landed on the lidless paper cup, coffee still hot enough to release a bit of steam.

"Do I look like I need it that bad?" she laughed.

"Finish up and get some rest, Prentiss," you tossed over your shoulder on your way out by way of answer. You didn't stay for her to test it to see if you made it right. You knew you had. You paid attention to that stuff with your guys, and she was no different. Certainly not.

Since that night Emily seemed to go out of her way to engage with you. She'd come and lean on your doorway to talk about the case, or whatever, really. You particularly enjoyed her big smile while she spoke with you, which contrasted nicely to her usual stoic appearance. You came to look forward to her popping in, but you tried your best not to look forward to it too much. That would be silly. So you looked forward to it a very normal and regular amount.

Anyway.

Back to the present: The new body and the interviews. Right.

By the time the station got the call, you'd had paperwork to finish so you sent the boys to go secure the scene and Alvez tagged along. You found you really liked Luke. He's what you imagine your guys will be after a few years. The boys were earnest and incredibly hardworking, but they lacked the type of easy confidence that Luke had that came with age. A sense of comfort in his role, which just emanated from him.

With the men gone, you and Prentiss were on interviews. Although she was a newcomer, you figured a stranger in uniform along with a familiar face like yours made a perfect pair to interview. Nothing more unassuming than two women just asking a few questions. As you'd hoped, the two of you blew through potential witnesses and potential persons of interest together with ease. You were surprised at how well you complemented eachother. Transitions between each session were seamless, and her questions were either perfect segues for yours, or they were so clever even you hadn't realized what she was getting at any more than the individual across the table had until she'd caught them in an inconsistency.

Eventually the guys returned, and with the last individual interviewed you all found yourselves at 6pm with a full day under your belts.

"Okay I'm calling it," you announce. "Our days have been too long. We've put our time in so let's get out of here."

"You guys going to the bar tonight?" Joe asks

"Oh man I forgot it's the third Wednesday of the month," Danney answers, rubbing his eyes in a weak effort to get the tired out. Joe was less than deterred.

"Let's go! Feds, you too. It's great. The drinks are dirt cheap, the beer comes by the pitcher, and the music is entirely questionable."

At Prentiss' confused expression you speak up, "It's open DJ night. Anyone over 21 can come and have a go at the music. It's rarely great, but always fun."