Ink and Intrigue

Chapter 6: Deep-Fried

☽Season 1, Episode 6☽

Knowing that her ex-stepmother Meredith was in town, Avery avoided the apartment as much as she possibly could. Sitting at her desk, Avery looks up as Kevin sets a coffee cup down in front of her.

"Why are you here so early? Usually you get in after me but L.T. told me you've been here for a few hours," Kevin asks, sitting at the chair next to her desk.

"My ex-stepmother is in town."

"Oh, and she and your dad don't get along?" He asks, sipping his own coffee.

Avery chuckles, shaking her head, "No, they get along great. In a very...particular way that their kids wouldn't want to hear."

Kevin makes a disgusted face, "Oh, gross."

"Yeah, so I dropped Alexis off at a friends last night and then came in and slept in the bunk room. Got some paperwork done and now I'm ready for whatever case comes in today," She smiles, putting a finished stack of paperwork on Beckett's desk for her to sign off on.

He looks at his phone, "Good, cause we've got a fresh one. Come on, I'll drive."

Avery smiles at him, grabbing her coat, "Thanks, Kev. You're the best," She kisses his cheek before heading to the elevator, looking back to see him froze with a dopey smile in the same place, "You coming?"

"Oh, y-yeah, right," He quickly races over to her as the elevator opens and she gets in.

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Esposito tells Beckett and Richard, "Vic's an African-American male, early 20s. Multiple stab wounds, contusions on the arms and torso. The body was discovered by a homeless guy."

Avery crouches down next to Kevin as she makes her own observations, "He was beaten, maybe tortured."

Kevin, who is slightly thrown off by how close Avery is, states, "Looks like some kind of ritualistic killing."

Beckett, giving Kevin a look, "You think?" Standing up, Beckett looks to Richard, who is staring off into space, "Hello? You okay?"

"I had sex with my ex-wife this morning," He says.

"Ew!" Avery grimaces, shuttering in disgust. 

The others give him a look, prompting him to explain a little more, "My first ex-wife, Meredith, Alexis' mom. And she's thinking about moving back to New York. Do you know what that would mean to me? That would be a very special brand of hell-the hell of a deep-fried Twinkie."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Avery asks her dad.

"A deep-fried Twinkie?" Kevin asks. 

"Yeah, the guilty pleasure that you know is bad for you, so you only do it once, maybe twice a year for the novelty."

Esposito and Kevin both nod, "Ahh."

"But a deep-fried Twinkie every day is-"

"Dad!" Avery cuts him off, "There is a dead guy, right here, can we show a little respect?"

"I don't think he can hear me."

Beckett shrugs, "Okay, how about a little self-respect then?"

Avery chuckles, avoiding the slight glare her dad sends her, before she reaches over to check the victims mouth, "What are you doing?" Kevin asks.

Richard supplies, "There's probably a little pouch in there," Avery pulls one out.

"How'd you two know?" Beckett asks.